“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” [podcast]

What’s Heaven going to look like?

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” Revelation 5:9

“These are the redeemed! From every tribe and nation all seated together in heavenly places in Christ! All barriers tore down through redemption! Believers gathered together in unity to worship God! What a chorus of praise that will go right into the Lord’s ears! Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran

HOW did Jesus say the world would know Him and His true people?

“By THIS shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35

YOUR brothers and sisters in Christ, the true remnant, are NOT your enemies.

“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.” Psalms 133:1-3

“Psalms 133:1-3
Psalm 133: In Praise of Unity
Great things come in small packages. This Psalm is short but it is a literary and spiritual gem that makes up in quality what it lacks in quantity.

The psalmist has four main points. First, it is good and pleasant when brothers dwell together in unity. Second, it is fragrant. Third, it is refreshing. Finally, it is the sure guarantee of God’s blessing.

133:1 Unity among brethren is a sight to behold. However, unity does not require that they see eye to eye on everything. On matters of fundamental importance they agree. On subordinate matters there is liberty for differing viewpoints. In all things there should be a spirit of love. There can be unity without uniformity; we are all different but that does not prevent our working together. All the members of the human body are different, but as they function in obedience to the head, there is a glorious unity. There can be unity without unanimity; God never intended that everyone should agree on matters of minor importance. It is enough to agree on the basics. On everything else we may disagree as long as we can do it without being disagreeable. The real enemies of unity are jealousy, gossip, backbiting, censoriousness and lovelessness.

133:2 Unity is like the fragrant perfume that was used in anointing Aaron the priest (Exo_30:22-30). It was poured on his head, then ran down on his beard, and from there to the edge of his robe. The pleasing scent was enjoyed not only by the priest himself but by everyone in the vicinity. The holy anointing oil pictures the ministry of the Holy Spirit, descending as a sweet-smelling savor on God’s people when they live happily together, and diffusing the aroma of their testimony to the surrounding areas.

133:3 Then again unity brings refreshment. “It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion.” The psalmist sees Mt. Hermon as the source of cool, invigorating moisture for distant mountains. Again the dew typifies the Holy Spirit, carrying refreshment from united brethren to the ends of the earth. No one can measure how far-reaching is the influence of believers who walk in fellowship with God and with one another.

The final point is that the LORD commands the blessing where brothers and sisters live together in unity. Take Pentecost as an illustration. The disciples were living in harmony and peace, united in prayer and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Suddenly the Spirit of God descended upon them in all His fullness and they went forth with the fragrance and refreshment of the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.

The blessing is explained as being life forevermore. This may be understood in two ways. When there is unity among God’s people, they themselves enjoy life in its truest sense. And not only so, they become the channels through which life flows out to others.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“That there should be no schism in the body”

God our Father, like any loving parent, desires His children to love one another, to dwell in unity. He wants no strife, no schisms among His beloved children (1 Corinthians 12:25).

“And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:23-27 

G4978
σχίσμα
schisma
skhis’-mah
From G4977; a split or gap (“schism”), literally or figuratively: – division, rent, schism.

Is this difficult to understand? Not at all. Do you have good parents and siblings? And are you a parent of more than one child? If so, you know exactly the love our Father in Heaven speaks of when He commands us to “love one another” over a dozen times.

It hurts the good parent when his children don’t get along, are in strife amongst themselves. This is exactly the way the LORD is frustrated when His own children are unnecessarily at odds – His true remnant saints who live with His Word as their find divine authority. So we’re not talking about the many counterfeits. Discern. This also does not preclude the corrections and rebukes that from time to time be needed among His own people.

“UNITY IS OF GOD
The word Behold suggests that some special manifestation of unity was taking place under the psalmist’s eyes, perhaps in connection with some great religious festival; or David may have composed it to celebrate the healing of the breach after the death of Ishbosheth. We must not only be one in God’s purpose, but must be willing to dwell together, that is, to manifest our unity in outward action. For the precious oil see Exo_30:20-38 and 1Jn_2:27. Our Lord was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and we may share in His Pentecost, Luk_3:21-22; Act_2:33.” FB Meyer

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Romans 14:19

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for YE YOURSELVES ARE TAUGHT OF GOD TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

May our LORD bless you today, to edify, to build up His body, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

There will be no hatred entering glory! Be consumed in the love of God who “is love” are be eliminated from His eternal kingdom as a “murderer.”

“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. … 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 3:14-15; 4:7-8

Read Philippians 2:3-5 each morning prayerfully.

Body of Christ chapters include Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; and Ephesians 4.

Memorize this verse:

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

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