Psalm Chapter 133

A Song of degrees of David.

• Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
• 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

This goes along with the 2nd commandment that Jesus gave to us.

• Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
• 38 This is the first and great commandment.
• 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

If we can keep only these two commandments all the others will be kept also. Praise God for making things simple.

Unity is something badly needed in today's church. God moves mightily among those that are of the same mind and one accord. Naturally this would be the same mind and one accord in truth, not in false doctrine. I don't believe God wants us to be unified with those that do not even believe in His word.

But even the greatest general knows that he can't possibly win a battle if his troops are not in unity. If everyone wanted to do his or her own thing they would not win the battle. We need to be unified in the same mind and one purpose but be unified in truth and in love. I've often thought that the Vietnam war failure was due mostly because the United States was so divided on the issue. Had we all gotten behind the troops and supported them fully, that war would have been won. That is why I don't care much for war protesters while the war is going on. If they want to protest, let it be before it starts. After we send troops in battle is not the time to protest or we could we really hurt them.

We need to be united in love, in truth and in service. If one seeks his or her own glory, we can't be in unity. If everyone is seeking to get her or his own way, we can't walk in unity. If everyone really wants to seek the Lord's will and do things as He would lead us, we would walk in unity much easier. Perfect love for God and one another is necessary to achieve this.

If we bring in our own traditions and preconceived ideas without respecting an opposing opinion then we can't have unity. If we push out the influence of the elderly and assume the younger highly educated are the ones who know how to do things, we are making a big mistake. We have much to learn from the older folks who have already made their mistakes and have had experiences that the younger ones may not yet have experienced.

Unity isn't one leader pushing his opinions on everyone else to the exclusion of the opinions of others. Unity isn't going along with everything even if we think it is wrong. Unity is giving ones opinion but also respecting and listening to the opinions of others. The hardest part is keeping peace and unity if our own ideas are rejected or ignored we get a bad spirit or a bad attitude. Yet everyone can't be right so we have to allow the leaders to make decisions and pray about it if we think they are wrong.

Love is the best way to have unity. When we have love for others we will prefer them above our own wants. We will not always want our own way. We will give place to the other's opinion because we love them. Love does not exalt self. Love bears all things, endures all things and does not envy. Love among brethren will bring unity quicker than any other thing.

Yet in things that are important, true love also is speaking truth. If we see a person ready to make a mistake that could cost him his soul or his life, we have to tell him the truth even if it causes trouble. Yet in the spirit of meekness, not in a self-righteous holier than thou spirit. Unity does not mean to go along with sin or things that are morally wrong. Unity does mean not having to have one's own way if it is a non-essential thing that does not pertain to eternal salvation or important doctrines of the word of God. Unity is disagreeing with love and respect for those that believe a little different. We don't have to be like everyone else to have unity but we have to respect the right of everyone else to be different as long as that difference lines up with what God says. Even then we walk in meekness and gentle instruction, not in haughtiness.  

The Congress of the United States hardly ever have unity because of party politics. If they pass a good bill they are afraid the opposite party will get the credit so they oppose the bill just to obstruct the good of the opposite party or president. This is not unity. They don't have to all join the same party to be unified or agree on everything but they can be unified if they will lay politics aside and work for the good of the citizens they represent. 

In summary I would say that unity is laying aside non-essentials to have peace but yet standing true to the word of God without compromising important things that count. This should be done in the spirit of love and meekness always considering the feelings of others. It's not that we can't disagree or say things but it's how we disagree and speak that matters. Genuine love is the key.  DC

Psalm 134

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