Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalm 133 (New International Version)

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

² 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.

³ It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

David wrote this Psalm. David had a lot of brothers. Sometimes the brothers didn’t live harmoniously. David later had a lot of sons. Sometimes David’s sons didn’t live harmoniously. David had much experience of brothers not living in unity. I guess that made David an expert on how good and pleasant it is win brothers live in unity.

David, as he often did, next says a few lines of poetry. Brothers in unity is like precious oil flowing down a beard onto a collar. What? Yuck! I don’t want oil running down my face onto my clothes. Those lines must refer to some historical and cultural thing that I will take the time to appreciate some day. Move on to the next set of lines.

I do know something about being in a desert – a dry, parched place – and having the dew of a mountain come down and settle on you. There is nothing in the world as wonderful as water. Unity among brothers is like life-giving water in a place where water and life are scarce.

And the Lord bestows His blessings where there are brothers in unity.

I haven’t experienced as much dis-unity in my life as David did in his. Still, I can use a bit more brotherly unity.  I think we all can.