Living in Unity

(Theme: Selections from Psalms—Faith Set to Music)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” -Psalm 133:1 (KJV. Read Psalm 133).

Reading verse 1 of Psalm 133 brought back some very pleasant memories to me. I write the verse from the King James Version because that is how I heard it prayed, yes, prayed, for several years. A dear deacon in a church where my husband was pastor often led prayer in the Sunday morning worship service. It was his habit when he was the leader of prayer to begin by quoting this verse. By so doing, he was following a practice made popular in recent years, long after Deacon Puett’s death, of praying the scriptures. We see it recommended in a book by Beth Moore, a current author, lecturer and conference teacher. Other books are available on praying the scriptures. Think about it: Christians ought to ‘dwell together in unity’—“at one-ness.” If Christians cannot get along in the church community, how can we hope to be instruments of peace and harmony in the world?

In this wisdom psalm, short though it is, only three verses, David, writer of the psalm, pictures unity like sweet oil, even the oil poured on Aaron’s head that ran down onto his beard and his priestly robes. Metaphorically, unity is like sweet dews of Mt. Hermon, that received more moisture, falling upon the more arid Mount Zion. Where unity flows, God bestows his blessings, the major of which is life forevermore! Think about it! How many of you have been influenced by the sweet spirit of unity among sincere Christians (as I, a young pastor’s wife, was by the sincere prayer of Deacon Puett)? What is the result of such harmony? God gives blessings. And paramount among them are people coming to know the Lord in personal experience with Jesus Christ. And what is the further result? Life forevermore!

Indeed, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there (where unity is) the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore!” (Ps. 133:1-3, NIV). What bountiful wisdom to live by in the Christian community of believers! Let us pray this prayer like Deacon Puett years ago prayed it! But moreover, let us put “feet and actions” to the prayer and practice the fellowship of unity. Our times demand it. Our Lord expects it.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, May 29, 2010