Psalm Devotional
The Blessings of Church Unity
Psalm 133 is particularly suitable for the Psalms of Ascent. It expresses the same joy in fellowship that we found in Psalm 122. In typical Hebrew fashion, the psalm begins similar to how it ends, with two illustrations of the point in the middle. This structure serves to focus our attention on the illustrations so that we will not only understand the point but feel it.
Behold (v. 1) tells us that something important will follow that deserves our close attention. It pertains to something that is both useful (good, v. 1) and enjoyable (pleasant, v. 1), like the fruit of the tree of life (Gen. 2:9). It involves those who have a providential connection that is very close both in relationship (brothers, v. 1) and in geography (dwell, v. 1). The blessing itself is when those who are close in these ways are also close in blessing each other in fellowship (unity, v. 1). “The Lord commanded the blessing of life forever” (v. 3b) in the place (there, v. 3b; Ps. 132:17) where He established David’s throne and the foundation of His own ark-throne (Aaron, Zion, v. 3; Ps. 132:13), and where the people gather together (dwell, unity, v. 1) to worship Him (Ascents, Zion, v. 3; Ps. 132:6-9, 13). The annual feasts were special occasions for this blessing to be enjoyed (Ascents; Ex. 23:14-17; see Ps. 122). Public worship is the time and place of these blessings for God’s people today (see Heb. 10:25; 12:22-24; 13:14-16).
