Rev. Don Campbell
Psalm 133
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 2, 2019
“WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE”
Sin is pleasurable. If it were not, it would not be attractive. However, those pleasures are fleeting (Hebrews 11:25). Some things are good, but not pleasurable. Giving birth to a long-awaiting and much-desired child is good, but probably never pleasurable: “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth.
And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you” (Genesis 3:16).
After the death of Saul, Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, installed one of Saul’s sons, Ish-bosheth, as king and he reigned for two years, but the house of Judah followed David (2 Samuel 2:10-11). The two factions warred against each other until both Abner and Ish-bosheth were murdered. Seven and a half years after David had been anointed king of Judah, the tribes that had been loyal to Saul’s house came to David and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh” and they anointed David over Israel. He then reigned for another 33 years.
It was probably on this occasion that David penned Psalm 133:
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
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!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
Brothers dwelling together in unity is both good and pleasant. If we want the blessing promise in Psalm 133, we must pursue the unity of which David sang.
Paul addressing our propensity to pass judgment on others gives guidance in such matters and concludes with “So then let us pursue what makes peace and for mutual upbuilding (Romans 14:13-19). The writer of Hebrews adds: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:14-15).
Unity cannot grow in the alkaline soil of strife and bitterness. Show me a fighting church and I will show you a dying church.
CONNECTIONS
1. Sometimes commentators argue that Paul’s words in Romans 14 apply only to things that are of no consequence. Can anything that can destroy a brother or sister be of no consequence? (Romans 14:20)
2. Try this exercise: For the word “food” in v.20, substitute any word over which brothers and sisters in Christ have fought and divided. If it is anything other than the word of God, then what does that say to us?
