Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19990516.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm One Hundred And Thirty-Three - God's Formula For Developing Corporate Unity Among God's People
(Psalm 133:1-3)
  1. Introduction
    1. Unity in a church or a study group is very crucial for there to be true fellowship and an atmosphere for edifying growth to occur. However, unity is at times hard to acquire. History is full of recorded church and denominational splits let alone the steady stream of personal level disunity crises that crop up.
    2. Psalm 133:1-3 is a short but heavily-endowed, symbolic description of how corporate unity among God's people in Israel could be developed. Its principles span the centuries to teach us its same lesson as follows:
  2. God's Formula For Developing Corporate Unity Among God's People, Psalm 133:1-3.
    1. On the surface, the psalmist appears to teach that unity for God's people is both priceless and refreshing:
      1. The Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to Ps. 133 states of this short psalm: "Unity of the brethren is pictured as being as precious as the oil of priestly consecration and as refreshing as the early mounta in dew."
      2. Indeed, the psalmist's reference to the anointing oil flowing down from Aaron's head was very costly: Exodus 30:32-33 forbade its composition being made to be used on profane things.
      3. The oil was also incredibly aromatic: The Ryrie Study Bible, KJV ftn. to Exodus 30:22-33 says of the oil that it was "highly perfumed", leaving an odor of great appeal and impact to the sense of smell.
      4. Similarly, the psalmist's picture of unity being like the refreshing dew of the snow-capped Mount Hermon of northern Palestine falling on Mount Zion instead (verse 3) certainly speaks of refreshment!
    2. However, the author of the psalm uses these figures of speech known as similes also to teach the formula for HOW such valued, refreshing unity amongst God's people can be developed as follows:
      1. There is a progression of thought that connects the two similes of the anointing oil on Aaron and the dew in Palestine, a progression from the head to the rest of the body both of Aaron and of Palestine:
        1. In the simile of the anointing oil on Aaron, note that the head of the high priest is anointed, and the perfumed oil next flows to his facial beard, then on from there to his collar on his robes, 133:2.
        2. At this collar were the connecting straps for the breastplate, which breastplate held twelve precious stones representing the tribes of Israel that were to be close to the heart of the priest, Ex. 28:15-29.
        3. Thus, the oil on the head of the spiritual leader eventually affects Israel's consecration to God by way of the leader's fellowship with God influencing the rest of the nation's fellowship and unity!
        4. Similarly, the dew of Mount Hermon, being pictured as the "head" of geographical Palestine in the north, has its refreshing dew sent down to Southern Israel to bathe Mount Zion with refreshment, 3.
        5. This blessing of Mount Zion where the pilgrims of Israel convened hoping for God's blessing as they met at the temple site is important in the context as Psalm 133 is a pilgrim psalm of "ascents," v. 1.
      2. In other words, (a) as the spiritual LEADER in the High Priest became properly consecrated to God, his FELLOWSHIP with God and SERVICE before God had spin-off blessings upon the NATION that convened to worship the Lord at the templ e. (b) This led to the NATION getting equally consecrated to the Lord and fellowshiping with Him, and then enjoying the blessing of mutual unity found in mutual fellowship with God. See 1 John 1:7 for the same thought!
      3. Thus, we have the following formula for how unity is developed or even sustained in God's people:
        1. The duly-appointed, Biblically-qualified leader becomes righteous with God and consecrates himself to live for and serve the Lord in all righteousness, love and faithfulness.
        2. This leads to this leader having great influence by way of his administrative and teaching efforts in getting fellow believers equally right with and consecrated to the Lord for life and service.
        3. AS God's people then fellowship with God, they enjoy valued, refreshing unity, 1 John 1:7.
Lesson: For priceless, refreshing unity to occur and be sustained in God's gathered people, the LEADERS of the flock must FIRST fellowship in righteousness and consecration with God, and their INFLUENCE by way of life and teaching will lead OTHERS to similar fellowship and blessed unity!

Application: As your Pastor, I am responsible faithfully to fellowship with God to start the ball rolling for our gaining and sustaining invaluable and refreshing spiritual corporate unity at Nepaug Church!