Ewald Schmidt

A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore. Psalm 133:1-3 (NIV)

This might be a short song of ascent, but it packs a powerful message: nobody was meant to travel alone on the journey of life. In Old Testament times, families over a few generations needed to live together on one family farm. It was necessary to stay together, and to work together, to protect each other against enemies and thieves. People needed each other’s help to cope, even more so before agriculture became mechanised. But from the days of Cain and Abel it was not a given that brothers would get along. Brothers can be each other’s worst enemy in life. It must be very hard not to trust your own brother!

But when brothers are living in peace, working together to reach their goals, they are capable of so much more. This wisdom is shared in Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” It is our sinful nature standing in the way of co-operation with each other. Where selfishness and jealousy rule, relationships suffer. But brothers working together are unstoppable. This ancient wisdom is still true in our time. Families who care about each other, working together towards a common goal, achieve so much more than people left on their own. It is also true of the church as God’s people in this world. We were called to be the Body of Christ in this world, and each believer has been blessed by the Holy Spirit with gifts to share with other believers. In our church we can achieve so much more when we stand in unity, working together to God’s glory.

People walking together in unity is a sight to behold. David uses two images from his lifetime to describe the holiness and beauty of people living in unity. It is as spectacular as the robe of the high priest. It is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon. We could use images from our own experience, the principle is the same: unity amongst God’s people, church and family, helps each one of us to live a more abundant life to the glory of God. We need one another to succeed in life.

Prayer: Lord, you have created me to live in relationship with other people. Thank you for my family, and my brothers and sisters in my church, who are travelling with me on my journey of life. Help me to be a blessing to others, living in unity with the people you have placed in my life. Protect me from selfishness and jealousy, help me to see every opportunity where I can be a blessing to others. Bless your people, Lord, that they may be a blessing to the world. Amen