Song of Ascents--Psalm 133
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.
Citing Commentary from https://www.bibleref.com/Psalms/133/Psalm-133-3.html:
"David offers a second simile to show the joy which comes when fellow believers live in harmony with each other.
Mount
Hermon is at the northeast boundary of ancient Israel. Its height and
location made it a major source of water for the region. The Jews
depended upon the early and latter rains and dew to water the otherwise
dry land and enable crops to grow. The ultimate source of this
lifegiving water was far from them, symbolizing the sovereign nature of
God in providing for their needs. Dew symbolizes fruitfulness. Like the
far-away source of a river's water, dew comes down from God; it is not
something man produces.
Similarly, Christians cannot be fruitful by depending on their own intelligence, strength, and work."
This commentary helps us understand the simile of Hermon's water sourcing, but it doesn't tie into the first verse. Living--no, dwelling--in unity is pleasant and life giving, and we depend on it like the water from Hermon.
Yet we love "agoniste" as I call it. Opposition, contradiction, conflict, debate, competition. Our culture is based on it. Our economy and politics are. Not so in the kingdom.
As with many things compared with the kingdom and now, it might benefit us to start thinking like the kingdom (where there is a "king," no "self-rule") rather than staying in this mindset.
Comments