Unity comes from a divine place, and she is the after birth of grace.
The current political temperature is cold to biblical unity.
The founding of the United States, mainly by Christ followers, and a few not Christ followers like Thomas Jefferson, embraced the model of biblical unity as spoken in Psalm 133.
E Pluribus Unum, out of one, many, is a direct reference to the biblical ideal. The French were different, their motto of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity carries different assumptions, something that will not be explored in great detail at the moment.
Offensive political tone is an unwelcomed guest in the house of God. The christian’s biblical ethic is love, and far too many turn political divisions into spiritual destruction, allowing worldly drama to dominate the sacredness of the house of God.
The Psalm is part of a greater set of Psalms famously known as the Psalms of Ascents (120-135), and no one knows the exact reason for the name.
Psalm 133 is from David, but not all Psalms of Ascents are from him.
Most likely, here is what happened.
During King David’s reign, this Psalm was sung as worshippers came to Mount Moriah, the place where the Tabernacle rested.
After the Jews were taken away into Babylon, the Psalm of Ascents signified the end of a spiritual journey, the return home for millions of Jews.
v.1
These words are so beautiful, I hesitate to say too much.
Fascinating is the word unity, which in the original text is written twice. The KJV writes together in unity to reflect that emphasis, the ESV comes across as weak in comparison.
Dwell is a rich word in Hebrew and means to settle. Abram, for example, settled in the land of Canaan Genesis 13: 12, but then settled by the oaks of Mamre Genesis 13:18. The word’s imagery is thick.
v.2
Precious is one of the most significant words in all the scripture, in Hebrew it is the word tove, which means good. But not just any good, as in good job. The meaning of tove runs deeper, and is one of the first descriptions of Gods character, in Genesis 1:4 the text says God saw the light was good.
Good in Genesis 1:4 is the same word David uses here to describe the precious oil on the head running down Aaron’s beard, all the way to his down his rob.
v.3
Dew is a kind of mist, and is found in the poetic language of Isaac when he blessed Jacob, asking for the dew of heaven to be his Genesis 27: 28. Hermon is the majestic mountain in the northern boundary of Israel, and the mountain top is a ski resort.
Zion is David’s favorite phrase for his home, and blessing is the same word given to Abram in Genesis, when God said to the Patriarch, I will bless you and make you a great nation.
