Psalm 133 A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
This very brief song of ascents of David has rightly become as loved and famous among Christians as it was and is among the Jews. Its message is summed up in the first verse How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! The reason why unity among God's people is so good and pleasant is given in the final verse - For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. In between, we have one or two unusual illustrations that describe its goodness. David refers to the ordination of Aaron as High Priest by Moses and how the precious anointing oil would have been poured on the head and would have then run down on the beard ... down on Aaron’s beard and down on the collar of his priestly robe. With this picture there is the less unusual picture of the dew of the very high Mount Hermon falling on Mount Zion, where the Temple was. Presumably the higher the mountain the more the dew, hence Hermon's dew on Zion. Unity among God's people then is something that comes down from above. That is where it begins. However, it has a flowing quality that takes it to more and more people. Perhaps the idea of fragrance and refreshing is also contained in the figures used. Certainly the connection with all things holy is explicit. There is no real unity without holiness and consecration. We must not downplay the importance of unity. As difficult as it is at times, it is both good and pleasant and worth working at.
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