Psalm 133:1 says:
1BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
The dictionary definition of behold is to observe! I think the psalmist wants us to pay attention here! He wants us to see and recognize that it is very important for "brethren", the Hebrew word, "`ach" which means: brother, brother of the same parents, or (my favorite!) brothers of the same father (make that God the Father!), to dwell together, live together, in unity. A better translation comes from the Complete Jewish Bible. It says this:
Ps 133:1
Oh, how good, how pleasant it is
for brothers to live together in harmony.
Harmony means: a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts! What a great picture of the Body of Christ! We all have different gifts, talents, personalities and callings, but we ALL have the same Father and the same commission - to go into all the world and preach the Good News - the Gospel! We will never all agree on everything UNTIL we see Him face to face! Until then, let's appreciate the good things, pray for the differences we see and glorify the One, True, most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! We'll never go wrong doing that! AMEN!
2 Corinthians 6:1 starts with: "Laboring together (as God's fellow workers) with Him". The idea is carrying on here! We are all parts of the same Body! Then we are warned in verses 14-18 NOT to try to have unity with unbelievers. It's NOT possible!
14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?15What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?16What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.17So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,18And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
There's that word harmony again! Each specific part, doing their specific job, makes a wonderful harmony! But unbelievers are NOT a part of our family! They have a desperate need to BECOME a part of the family! Let them know HOW and you will cause the family to grow, God's #1 desire!
In Judges 15-17 we see the sad result of trying to join together in unity with unbelievers! It ultimately cost Samson his life on Earth! He DID accomplish the will of God in the end, but he suffered things he wouldn't have had to suffer. Learn from the mistakes of others (WISDOM!) and you will save yourself much sadness in this life!
Shalom in Him!
