Shalom,


Psalm 133 only has three verses, but the message is so important for the church today!


1 BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 it is like the precious ointment poured  on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. 3 It is like the dew of [lofty Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion, for there the LORD has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly].


The idea of unity here is not just everyone gathering together to hold a worship service! Although that IS pleasant and can be a real blessing, the idea of unity here means so much more than that! The dictionary definition of unity is: 

• The state or quality of being one; oneness
• The act, state, or quality of forming a whole from separate parts
• Something whole or complete that is composed of separate parts

Do you remember when Jesus prayed this in John 17:20-23?


20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching, 

21 That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. 

22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: 

23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. 

This is the "unity" that the Psalm is talking about! This "oneness" comes from each individual person  seeing the Word of God as Truth! That is where Jesus' prayer began! John 17:17...Thy Word is Truth! Then we see that this unity is just like the ointment with which the very first High Priest, Aaron, was anointed for service in the Holy of Holies! We have each received that anointing (1 John2:20). When all of those anointed ones stand together on the Word of God, there is much more power available! Then we see the comparison to the dew on Mount Hermon. I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

[As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion] This was not Mount Zion, Tsiyown, in Jerusalem, but Sion, Siy'on, which is a part of Hermon, see Deut 4:48: "Mount Zion, which is Hermon." On this mountain the dew is very copious. Mr. Maundrell says that "with this dew, even in dry weather, their tents were as wet as if it had rained the whole night." 

The Anointing, the Glory, the Presence of the LORD, is magnified in our unity! Guess what! If YOU are spending time in the Word and in the presence of God daily, and I am, too, then when we come together, IN UNITY,  we can accomplish more for the Kingdom of God than either of us alone! Hallelujah!

John 10:10-13:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. 12 But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. and the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. 13 Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them].

Of course we know that the thief is satan, and all of his cohorts. We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Who are the hired servants? I believe that these are the religious leaders of Bible times who SHOULD have known Him and didn't! They were not interested in the Truth themselves, and they tried to keep others from the Truth, too. I also believe that "religious" leaders in our time are the same! There are many who call themselves pastors who have never even received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Saviour themselves!  Another thought I have when I read these verses is that Jesus, Who is God the Son, GAVE Himself for our salvation! What other so-called "gods" have ever given their lives for their subjects? NONE! From the Old Testament "gods" or idols to the present day false gods that some serve! Not only that, but not one of them lives today! Only the One, True< Most High, LIVING, Almighty God of the Bible died and now lives! Hallelujah!

In Ezekiel 34 the LORD speaks of shepherds again! He is not happy with the spiritual shepherds of Israel and the fact that they fed themselves and not the sheep! The whole chapter is about the fact that HE will become the Shepherd of His sheep!  Then we will end with this thought from Ezekiel 33:11:

11 Say to them, As is live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why would you die, O house of Israel?

Even though the Lord has promised to protect us from our enemies and to avenge us of our adversaries, he does NOT want them to die in their sins! Remember this in 2 Peter 3:9:

9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but he is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but hat all should turn to repentance. 

Don't HATE your enemies, pray for them! What should you pray? Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers across their path to preach the Gospel to them, and that the Holy Spirit will prepare their hearts to receive! THAT prayer is pleasing to God and will reap you a sure reward and abundant blessing, whether or not they choose Him! What a wonderful God we serve! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!