A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 133.
When entering any theme park, there are at least two portals that you must pass through before actually entering the theme park. The first is security, where they check your bag and you pass through a metal detector. This is usually cold and sterile and those passing through often are plagued with anxiety. The second is the actual theme park gate where the sounds of the park are leaking out, the smells of the popcorn and churros wafting through the air. The sights, sounds, and smells fill people with excitement and anticipation of what they are about to experience. When going through the sterile security portal, the experience feels far away and our minds often set aside the happiness we are about to experience, because we are taken out of the reason we are there. As a result, we are more likely to isolate and focus on getting through the checkpoint. In contrast, the gates of the theme park have music, decorations, and smells to fill you with anticipation. This environment encourages the camaraderie of anticipation of a shared experience that brings joy and fascination. The senses are powerful in connecting us together, and reminding us that we are here for a purpose. As we approach the gates of the theme park we unite in the excitement that awaits us. We should approach the Lord’s Table in much the same way, united with the excitement that something awaits for the faithful and we should be connected to one another so that it exudes a sensory response similar to the smells, sights, and sounds for those waiting in line to enter the theme park. As the people of Israel would climb the mount toward the temple they would sing together a series of songs and psalms. These would connect the people with the purpose they held together as they approached the worship of the Lord. This worship wasn’t an individual act, but something where the community rose up together as a united group so that the Lord might be praised and the world might be blessed by their unity.
A spirit of divisiveness arises when individuals prioritize their own well-being at the expense of others, creating a world characterized by separation and conflict. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, numerous wars and conflicts illustrate a universal state of brokenness, both from the Almighty and also from one another. The most regrettable scandal, however, is not the brokenness in the world, but the brokenness found within the church itself. This internal brokenness is not just in the separation between denominations, but in the splintered relationships within individual congregations. It manifests as isolation, factions seeking political or economic control, spiritual leaders who listen to petty chatter instead of divine guidance, and damaging gossip that is often cloaked in the language of spiritual concern. In such a state, many Christians may seek influence, but what is truly needed is the power of the Holy Spirit, which cannot be obtained through worldly means, but is essential for dismantling the walls that separate us.
Unity serves as the direct antidote to the divisive nature that is so common in our society. It is an experience that is both fulfilling and perfect, creating a delightful and beautiful sense of togetherness that fosters peace and hope. While this does not require believers to live together physically, it highlights the profound value of spiritual harmony among God’s people. This true unity is a joyful state, rooted in a shared commitment to resolving difficulties and strengthening relationships, rather than simply avoiding conflict. The church has the potential to be a catalyst for bringing people together by putting aside words that cause separation. By doing so, it can offer the world a taste of the greatness that awaits in the Kingdom of God, and when the church is unified, those outside of it will notice the difference of its people.
The psalmist uses the powerful symbol of the precious anointing oil used to consecrate the high priests, setting them apart for their sacred duty, to highlight what unity looked and smelled like. The image of this fragrant oil flowing abundantly from Aaron’s head down to the collar of his robes signifies a blessing that is both plentiful and pervasive. The oil serves as a powerful representation of the Holy Spirit, the author of unity. As at Pentecost the Holy Spirit united all the church so that the language although different was understood by all. Just as the strongly perfumed oil would have been a delight to all who were nearby, the unity among God’s people is fragrant and appealing to outsiders. Conversely, the stench of disunity drives people away, and without this holy love, our spiritual offerings are not acceptable. Just as the oil flowed from Aaron’s head to his beard, and ultimately to his body, this suggests that the Holy Spirit flows from Christ, the head, to empower the church, His body.
Just as God’s blessing is poured out on a congregation that works together in unity, that blessing also spills out to the rest of the world, which should bring believers great joy. This refreshing and life-giving nature of unity is also symbolized by the dew of Mount Hermon, which was a crucial source of life for the land of Israel. Just as the dew cools the heat of human passions and encourages fruitfulness, unity reinvigorates the church and allows it to focus on its mission of spreading the gospel. The image of dew from the distant northern mountain falling on the southern mountain of Zion illustrates the widespread and unifying power of God’s blessing, connecting in spirit those who are far apart physically. Ultimately, it is only through God’s Spirit and the promise of eternal life that the sin of selfishness in our hearts can be overcome, breaking down our divisions and making us one. Just as the people would often walk a long distance to go to the temple, the singing and unity that they embodied reached the towns and places that they passed along the way, and in the same way our unity must be a blessing to the world as we pass by.
The singing on the walk up the temple mount exemplifies the beauty and blessing of unity among God’s people. It is a state of being “good and pleasant,” likened to the sacred anointing oil that consecrates and the life-giving dew that refreshes. This unity, powered by the Holy Spirit and centered on God’s appointed place of blessing, Zion, is not only delightful but also productive, leading to “life forevermore.” The psalm serves as a powerful exhortation for believers to actively pursue and maintain such holy concord, recognizing it as a divine command and a testament to God’s presence and grace. Looking at the theme park, and we look at the reality of the world around us, which requires us to go through the security lines that steal our joy. When we are here we stand as individuals with our lives laid bare for others to pick through our belongings to determine if we are able to come in. However, there is new found joy on the other side. The sights and sounds, smells and tastes of the theme park draw us in, but the music fills us with anticipation of the wonder that awaits us. We come to the gates sharing the joy with one another, and an abundant grace is all around us. The Kingdom of God is like this, and we hearken to living like it when we join together in unity, because God’s blessing is found in the midst of our connection with one another. However, the church must also recognize that much of the world is on the outside of that security line. Hope and Joy are endangered when viewed from that side of the line, and while it might seem bleak and hard to get people to get into that line, it is the job of the church and the people of the church to bring the pleasing odors out to the security line, the music that speaks to unity needs to be sung as we approach, and the church must bring Hope and Joy and anticipation with us even in the cold security line. For our theme park is better than even Disneyland, because we await eternity with the Almighty, and the music is better, the sights more amazing, and the smells and tastes are second to none.
Horizon Community Church 