“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.”  Ps 133:3

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

We are coming to a close of the songs of degrees. We will have one more after Psalm 133. Before the mini-psalter of worship closes out, the subject of unity comes up. Unity is an important part of our worship. Our worship cannot ascend to the holy hill without unity with others of like faith.

Within the context of worship, Psalm 133 speaks of the blessing of unity. We have stated that unity is the single most powerful force that we as a collective group can bring to the work of God. And yet unity is something of our own doing. God creates the environment where unity can flourish, but we as a people must decide that we will let unity be the predominant tone between us. And unity concerns more than just our actions; unity has a spiritual dimension.

There is a special blessing that comes when brethren dwell together in unity. Quite often brethren dwell together. In fact, in Bible days the land was divided according to families. Your inheritance was in the same area as that of your brethren. And so to claim your inheritance meant to claim your place among your brethren. The same is true today. To claim your inheritance in Christ requires filling your place among the brethren.

But the blessing of unity mentioned in Psalms 133 goes beyond merely dwelling together … the blessing comes when brethren dwell together in unity. To claim your inheritance in God means to also claim your place among your brothers and sisters in Christ. Now there is a blessing that comes from choosing to dwell among your brethren. But the real blessing of unity goes beyond merely being in close proximity to your brothers and sisters. The phrase “dwelling together in unity” takes in more. It signifies the state of general concord and mutual understanding, or harmony.

Unity Requires That We Meet Together

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

The blessing of unity comes when believers commit themselves to do more than merely meet at the same place to worship. There must also be a meeting of our goals, our thoughts, and our purpose. There must be a combining of these things into a common and agreed upon force.

Where is the point that we meet? Within the context of songs sung as the people of God ascended to the temple to worship, is this song about unity. This song is about unity in worship. If each believer follows the will of God for their own life, our paths will converge at the House of God. Because doing the will of God for my life means being a part of the Body of Christ and doing the work of God on earth. What is that work? - Reaching the Lost.

There are two things that every believer shares with every other believer. A call to be part of Christ’ body, the Church and a call to reach our world with the Gospel of God’s Kingdom. If I follow God’s Will for my life, each of these calls can only be fulfilled as I claim my own inheritance among my brethren in the family of God. That happens as we gather to worship. You cannot fulfill the will of God in your life without being a part of the Church of the Living God. Enough of the false division many make between their personal relationship with the Lord and their relationship with other believers. You cannot be in unity with Christ and yet in disunity with His body the Church!

How can we have unity, agreement, and harmony when we are all so vastly different from one another? The answer is that unity requires that we meet each other at a certain place. And that place is the House of God. This is also the only place that the two major calls God places on your life can be fulfilled! You cannot be a part of Christ’s body without being a part of the Church, which is flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. You cannot reach the world with the Gospel except as a part of the worldwide, universal Church of Jesus Christ.

I am only responsible for harmonizing my own spirit with the move of God. Unity does not require me to become a spiritual enforcer and lean on anyone who is a little off key or out of time. I should focus my effort on my own spirit.

Unity Anoints and Prepares Us For Service

“It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;” Ps 133:2

The anointing spoken of here was the initial consecration of the high priest. This anointing set Aaron aside and consecrated him to the work of the priesthood. The “it” of verse 2 is the unity spoken of in verse 1. The anointing of unity is what consecrates us for service.

The precious ointment that is compared to unity was made up of several ingredients. Myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil. This ointment was used to consecrate the priesthood, the tabernacle, as well as all the furniture used in the tabernacle in the wilderness. This ointment made up of ingredients of different textures and qualities was all blended together by olive oil. The oil of the Holy Ghost causes the various individual members of the Church to blend together into one unit. And the unity that results is what consecrates everything that we do for God.

The songs of ascending would be incomplete without the subject of unity. The psalmist says that unity in like the precious ointment that consecrates for service. I must get myself in tune with the Holy Ghost so that I can be in tune with my brothers and sisters.

Now, your responsibility toward unity begins and ends with yourself. You are not responsible to make sure that someone else is in tune with the Lord and in step with the rest of the Church. Your part is to make sure YOU are in tune. Quite frankly, there will always be those who like to come and listen to the tune, but are unwilling to contribute their part toward the making of the music. It is from the general direction of this bunch that sour notes have been heard.

As a local assembly approaches a time of spiritual fruitfulness, the enemy gears up to resist. The enemy will try to distract believers from the work before them. If the enemy cannot damage unity, he will attempt to distract God’s people from the work. We must just keep climbing up the hill as we worship God.

Unity Crowns Us With God’s Blessing and Makes Us Fertile

“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.”  Ps 133:3

Again, a comparative word opens verse three. Unity is “as the dew…” The unity of brethren who worship and serve God together is compared to the dew of Hermon.

Mount Hermon was the northern most peak in the Promised Land. The psalmist sees Hermon as the “head” of Zion, in much the same way as Aaron represented the ceremonial head of Israel, as high priest. The dew or moisture that descended upon Hermon and throughout Zion was the source of fertility and blessing. Rain is not a constant thing in this region and thus the land relies heavily upon the early morning dew that it might be fertile and produce crops. Crops are planted in the rainy seasons (former and latter) but require the dew to be sustained till harvest.

I love the rainy season. I love to listen to the rain come down at night while I sleep. I love to sit at my desk and work while the sounds and smells of rain come in the opened window of my office. But nothing in this world lasts forever. The rain comes and goes.

We sing several songs and choruses about rain -

• Rain on me, Holy Spirit
• I Hear the Rain

It is all about the Holy Ghost raining down on us. And it happens! God still pours out His Spirit on those that obey Him! But every day is not a rainy day. What are you going to do on a clear, hot day, without a cloud in the sky?

On dry days, we need the dew of Hermon to descend upon the mountains of Zion. There are some days that the windows of heaven are opened and you can’t stay dry if your life depended on it! There are times that the Spirit is moving in such a way that it is almost impossible for anybody in the vicinity to not walk away blessed and renewed in the Holy Ghost. But every day is not a rainy day. On days when the sky is clear and the sun is hot, we need the dew of Hermon.

The dew of Hermon actually has the same source, but it precipitates a little differently. Rather than fall out of the sky, it descends upon the mountains and then rolls into the valleys and plains. That is the way that unity works. God works to create an environment where it can happen, and we must buy into it by investing ourselves. And that sweet unity descends from the mountains and rolls into the valleys and plains, blessing everyone that it touches. The dew of Hermon sustains crops on those days that rain does not fall from heaven. But it is a blessing from God nonetheless! It just precipitates a little bit differently.

Conclusion:

“…for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  Ps 133:3

Where does the Lord “command” His blessing to reside? In the place where unity is produced. Where will God cause the blessing of fertility to rest? Upon a people that produce the heavenly dew of unity. Where does the blessing of life evermore rest? On those that allow God to led them to unity with other believers.

Your responsibility in the unity of the Church concerns yourself only. If you are willing to become a part of what God is doing in your church and in your town you will do whatever is necessary to be a part. And if you aren’t, you will probably feel left out. But I believe there are some folks that are committed to producing that heavenly dew that will sustain us. God will command His blessing on those committed to having unity within the Church.

© 2009 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.” Ps 132:3-5

We continue our series on the songs of ascension. Perhaps you will recall that these psalms are the fifteen psalms immediately following Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and every verse concerns the Word of God. And immediately following this song extolling the virtues of God’s Word is a mini-psalter that details what the Word of God points toward. That is a relationship with God through worship.

Worship is the medium of exchange in our relationship with God. Prayer; sacrifice; intercession; praise - all of these are part of the overall tapestry that makes up worship. In short, worship is the overall picture of how we relate to God and He to us.

The psalms of ascension were written and compiled to be sung as the people of God traveled up the steep hill of Jerusalem. They were sung from memory and most are 6 to 8 verses in length. Psalm 132 is the longest of these songs of ascending. The topic of this song is the preeminence of worship in the life of the godly. One must make a conscience decision to make worship a top priority in life. And then diligence must be exercised to establish the preeminence of worship in our lifestyle. Read the rest of this entry »

“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”  Ps 131:2

Ascending in worship includes finding our place at the feet of the Savior. We will not achieve what we should in worship until we humble ourselves in the presence of God. Several years ago I preached a message from this text titled “Are You a Weaned Child or a Spoiled Brat?” You can be certain that a spoiled brat will not be able to relate to the Lord as a child of God should relate to the Father.

This does not mean that the Lord does not love children. Jesus loves the little children is one of the first songs our kids learn in Sunday school. And it is very true. They are loved in their innocence, and in their not so innocence as well. There are also childlike qualities that believers should seek to retain. Childlike faith, a lack of pretension, and humility are traits that come quite naturally for children, yet are much harder for adults to maintain. Read the rest of this entry »

“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” Ps 130:1-2

Our God is a God of hope, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. Our hope is not in what is flippantly referred to as “the almighty dollar.” Our hope is certainly not in a political party or in Washington, DC. Our hope is in Him.

Speaking of politics and the recent national election, I assume you have prayed and cast your ballot according to the way you felt the Lord directed you to vote. If the election went the way you wanted, the Lord bless you! If it did not, allow me to offer my sincere condolences to those who mourn in Zion.

Personally, I am likewise unhappy with the direction that we as a society are taking. It seems that every few years we have before us a vivid gauge of the deep divisions that exist in our world. And yet I must remind you that God is still on the throne. He establishes kingdoms, sets up and puts down rulers. And all these things are in His hands. Read the rest of this entry »

“Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.” Ps 129:1-2

Preparing your heart for worship and to enter the presence of God requires reflection as well as anticipation. We reflect upon the hardships the Lord has brought us through. We anticipate a time of victory and triumph over the forces that oppress and seek to destroy us.

Psalm 129 is a song of ascending that does exactly that. The first four verses are reflective and the last four verses are anticipatory. While the protagonist of this psalm is Israel, it is certainly within the scope of this thought to look to the Church collectively and Christians individually. And so we look back upon our past experiences and see that the Lord has not allowed us to be overcome by our afflictions, and we look forward to the ultimate day of victory and vindication. Read the rest of this entry »

“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” Ps 128:1-2

The walk is illustrative of a progressive relationship. By using a metaphor of walking to represent our relationship with God, the psalm is emphasizing progression, direction, and destination. Every walk transverses territory. Every walk takes a direction and thus excludes other directions. Every walk takes us somewhere, or has a goal in mind. Our relationship with God is a walk from where we are to where He wants to take us. It involves progression, direction, and a destination.

This progressive relationship is by nature first inward and then outward. The nature of the journey is conceived in the heart, translated to the mind, and transferred to the feet. While it begins inwardly, progress is not made until this desire to travel is transferred to those old dogs! Conversely, directionless feet demonstrate an aimless heart. Those who allow their feet to decide where they are being taken are thus because they have no real direction in their heart. Read the rest of this entry »

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Ps 127:1

The “Little Psalter” that is made up of the psalms of ascent is very organized. The psalms of ascent are the set of fifteen psalms from 120 to 134. This set of songs is divided into two groups by psalm 127, which is the middle psalm and is ascribed to Solomon. The group of ascent psalms on either side of psalm 127 is sprinkled with two psalms that are ascribed to David. This central psalm of ascent acknowledges the role of the Almighty in establishing and protecting the family. This is a worthy thing to contemplate as we prepare to enter God’s presence in worship.

God is the primary source of all our blessings. This psalm should be the credo of every head of house. Every mom and dad should have psalm 127 as their motto concerning family life. The message of Psalm 127 is particularly addressed to fathers of traditional families. Read the rest of this entry »

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps 126:5-6

Psalm 126 is the final note in the musical scale of deliverance. The scale is not complete until the notes go full circle and return to the point of beginning. To stop short of that eighth note is to end the scale without resolve.

The cycle of chastening could not be complete without restoration. This song recalls the day when God restored Israel after seventy years of captivity in Babylon. Until the notes of this psalm were sung, the story of the Babylonian captivity was incomplete. We were left hanging in a suspenseful state. There was no feeling of harmony and completeness until the captivity of God’s people was ended and Israel once again planted in the land. This is the song the nation sung to commemorate the symmetry of God’s dealings with His people. It was sung on the occasion of the holy days, as the pilgrims ascended the holy mountain to the city of David and the place of the temple.

The goodness of God cannot be understood without the last note that returns to the beginning of the scale. So much about God’s purpose and how He deals with us will not be resolved from our perspective unless we stick with Him through the entire cycle. When Jeremiah was shown the destruction that was ahead for an unrepentant people, he wept until his head felt like a pool of water. That is because from the prophet’s perspective, he could not see the purpose of God. But that purpose was completed when God brought again the captivity of Israel. So much about the Lord will never be understood without seeing His restoration, His rebuilding, His harvest. Read the rest of this entry »

“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” Ps 125:1-2

Trust is a critical element of worship. This is not trust in the sense we often use to express saving faith. But the type of trust spoken of in psalm 125 deals with trusting God to protect and keep one from the enemy and his crooked ways.

Trust expressed in worship is the absolute conviction that good will ultimately triumph and God will reward His own. This type of trust glorifies God and exalts His position in our lives.

As you prepare to enter the presence of God in worship, you should reflect upon the protection that is yours as part of your relationship with Him. He is the only security that truly exists. There is no fortress that can withstand other than that fortress that surrounds God’s people. Read the rest of this entry »

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13-14

I know that most Christians have heard countless messages that emphasize the dangers of the broad way. You have probably heard that the broad way is a path that is filled with all sorts of danger and uncertainty. Certainly you have heard that the broad way is one that has a universal destination in the region of destruction and ruin. You have probably also heard that the broad way leads to an undesirable destination and that countless souls have pounded this pernicious pavement on their way to a Christ-less eternity. All these and many other such things are indeed true about the broad way and the wide gate.

In the interests of balance and wishing to present both sides of the story, I feel led to write about the perils of the narrow way and the strait gate. It is certainly true that each path has its own set of dangers. This article is in no way meant to be an exhaustive study of the perils of the narrow way. It is however my intention to present to you some of the main dangers you will face if you choose or have chosen to travel the narrow way.

And so I present to you the perils of the strait and narrow. The first peril of the narrow way is… Read the rest of this entry »