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Psalm 133:1: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

 

I want to draw your attention to the context of this Psalm. The context is a pilgrimage; this is one of the Psalms of ascent. These are the songs the Jewish people would sing as they would travel to festivals.

 

They would have traveled from places where the customs and traditions of the people of God would have seemed strange.

 

Even though some of them lived in a foreign land, they would have seen themselves as citizens of the holy land. They would’ve kept the customs and traditions of their forefathers.

 

Going to a place where people loved and worshiped Jehovah God would’ve been a joyous occasion.

 

And now, for maybe the first time in their lives, they are going to a place where they will be surrounded by people who share their convictions.

 

Although some had never been to the promised land, it would have felt like coming home.

 

  • Can you imagine living in a town where your family were the only believers?
  • Can you imagine knowing there was a place where there were people just like you?

 

Saving for and planning a trip like this would have taken weeks, months, or even years.

 

Now they are close to Jerusalem, they can maybe see it just over the horizon, and they find themselves thinking, “How good and pleasant” it’s going to be around the people of God.

 

The same is true for Christians in these modern times; we are surrounded on every side by those who do not understand our convictions.

 

And when we come to the house of God and surround ourselves with the people of God, it feels like home.

 

Because just like the Jews of old, even though we live in this strange land, our citizenship is in Heaven. It’s like the song says,

 

“This world is not my home; I’m just passing through.

My treasures are laid out somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door.

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

 

We long for a city whose builder and foundation are God. Even though we live in this society and must concern ourselves with the “cares of this world,” we still live according to the customs and traditions of the heavenly Jerusalem.

 

Christian unity is built upon two essential elements.

 

  • A shared relationship.
  • A shared experience.

 

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

 

A shared relationship:

 

We are bound together by being part of God's family through Jesus Christ, sharing a profound spiritual relationship that goes beyond mere DNA.

 

 “We have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)

 

This provides us with a stronger tie than anything found in the world.

 

In the ancient world, social divisions existed based on nationality, wealth, and gender.

 

  • It mattered what nationality you were.
  • It mattered how much money you had.
  • It mattered what gender you were.

 

But then Jesus came along and turned the world upside down.

 

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

This isn’t to say there are no distinctions between these categories; the Bible affirms the differences.

 

Paul is saying that when it comes to being saved, it doesn’t matter what race, class, or gender you are. We all get saved the same way: through faith in Jesus.

 

This means there is no room for identity politics in the church because we all have the same identity: We’re all sinners saved by grace.

 

The gospel unifies people by making salvation accessible to all through faith in Jesus.

 

A shared experience.

 

We have the same father that makes us family, but our connection goes beyond that because we also have the same experience. We have all experienced the Love of Christ.

 

 

The love of Christ is active,

 

  • it seeks us when we are lost,
  • it persuades us when we are unconvinced.

 

Every Christian here has had the experience of God seeking and persuading you.

 

We feel distant from God, but He pursues us and reminds us of His love through the gospel.

 

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

God has gotten a bad rap. We seem to think of God as a righteous judge waiting for us to slip so he can get us. We are constantly feeling condemned by God.

 

The reason we feel this way is because we are so guilty.

 

  • We’re guilty of being insensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
  • We’re guilty of not being patient with our loved ones.

 

But even though we are guilty, God hasn’t come to condemn us.

 

His love chases us down and, through the gospel, convinces us of his love for us.

 

Who condemns us? The answer is not Jesus.

 

God does not condemn us because of our shortcomings. Instead, His love pursues us, using the gospel to remind us of His enduring affection.

 

All of history is the story of God’s unconditional love and pursuit of us. If you are born again, then you have experienced this.

 

  • This is why we woke up early on our day off.
  • This is why we sing.
  • This is why we sacrifice.

 

Because we have experienced the love of Christ.

 

Recap.

 

  • We’ve talked about the basis for our unity, a shared relationship, and a shared experience.
  • Now, I want to talk about the benefits of our unity.

 

The Psalmist describes the benefits of unity.

 

  • Unity refreshes.
  • Unity nourishes.

 

Unity refreshes.

 

Psalm 133:2: “It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the bread, even Arron’s bread: that went down the skirts of his garments.”

 

In the ancient Middle East, people often anointed their heads with oil to refresh the recipient and create a pleasant aroma from the fragrant oils.

 

There are two truths here. The stated truth is that unity among God's people breathes new life and creates a welcoming environment, providing refreshment and a wholesome atmosphere.

 

There’s nothing being in a place where everyone gets along.

 

On the other hand, the unstated truth highlights the negative consequences of disunity:

 

  • Disunity Breaks God's Heart: God is sad when His people are not united because it goes against His intended design.
  • Disunity hinders God's work: It creates obstacles and challenges for the community of believers, obstructing the progress of God's mission.
  • Disunity Discourages the People of God: it, among the people of God, negatively affects their faith and commitment, leading to doubt.

 

By fostering unity within the community of believers, we can create an atmosphere of refreshment and wholesomeness, both welcoming and strengthening......

 

Unity nourishes.

 

Psalm 133:3: “As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

 

As believers in Jesus, we don’t create unity; he created it. We maintain it.

 

The psalmist uses Mount Hermon to illustrate the nourishing and life-giving effect of unity among God's people.

 

Located north of Jerusalem, Mount Hermon is over 9,000 feet high and is known for its snow-covered peaks, year-round dews, and significant source of the Jordan River.

 

Unity nourishes and refreshes.

 

Unity among the people of God nourishes and refreshes; it nourishes because it comes from God.

 

It refreshes because, by contrast, there is so much division in the world that when you experience the unity that comes with being part of the family of God, it’s like a sigh of relief.

 

We've all had the experience of being in a place where there is constant tension and constant strife, and when you leave and go to a place where everybody is getting along, it frees you to be who God created you to be.

 

Our takeaway.

 

Ultimately, the source of unity is divine. God Himself commands blessings and everlasting life (Psalm 133:3). True unity is a gift from God, making it far more valuable than any human achievement.