“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalms 133:1 NLT).
Psalm 133 was written by David and is one of the fifteen psalms with the inscription, “Songs of Ascent.” Psalms 120-134 were to be sung while ascending up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to worship. In this way, worshipers brought their praise with them to the Temple. In Psalm 133, it is the unity and “harmony” of believers gathered that is celebrated.
David wrote that believers dwelling together in unity is “wonderful.” In other words, it is beneficial and therefore a blessing from God. He also wrote that it is “pleasant,” describing the favorable feeling and beauty of experiencing such harmony. He compared the pleasant experience of such accord as being like the precious anointing oil poured on Aaron’s head when Moses anointed him to be the high priest. The composition of this precious oil was made up of liquid myrrh, cinnamon, calamus and cassia with olive oil (See Ex. 30:23-24). The unified combination of these different spices and oil blended together would surely fill the whole Tabernacle with a wonderful fragrance. This expensive anointing oil was poured out so profusely upon Aaron’s head that it ran down from the top of his head, upon his beard, and even dripping down to the hem of his robes. This, David wrote, is what a blessing, what a beautiful thing it is for believers to gather together to worship in unity.
PRAYER: Dear Father, when Your church gathers together in unity for worship, we experience a foretaste of heaven. The abiding presence of Your Spirit is like the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head. When You pour out the Spirit upon us in unity, O how good and pleasant it is! Such is the future that awaits us with You. But for now, we ask that You strengthen us to keep our focus on Jesus, who is the focus of our unity. For in Christ we are one. May those far from You in this world be attracted to the good and pleasant unity of our love in Christ. In His name we pray, amen.