Love God Greatly - Made for Communityনমুনা

King David writes this psalm after he takes the position of king over the 12 tribes of Israel. It is a joyous song over the beauty and preciousness of the unity of the Israelites. David tells people to take note of how good and pleasant unity amongst the brethren is. David had been chased by King Saul, witnessed division and strife of his people. If anyone could appreciate peace and unity at this time, it would be King David. He describes unity through 2 symbols: anointing oil and dew.

Anointing oil was used for the consecration of the priests. The ceremony is described in Exodus 30. The first High Priest, Aaron, Moses’ older brother, was poured with fragrant oil upon his head, then flowed down to his beard, onto his garments, down to the hem. Unity and harmony when founded on the holiness of God is like the oil…precious, fragrant, spreading, flowing down to the very least.

The dew provides a cool refreshing source of moisture in the dry arid region which leads to the growth of plants and trees. It provides fruitfulness. Mount Hermon is located in the north. Zion also known as Jerusalem is located in the south. The dew would descend from the snowy mountaintops of Hermon and flow down to Zion.

Unity comes from God. Followers of Christ who are submitted and committed to Him experience unity and fellowship with Him. Believers put off the spirit of selfishness, competitiveness. We must recognize that every believer has value and purpose in the Kingdom of God. We allow each member of the body of Christ to carry out his God given gift with the Holy Spirit teaching us how to carry it out with excellence, while the Holy Spirit gives each member the boldness and confidence to step forward and walk in her purpose.

With whom are you struggling to walk in harmony with? How do you sense the Lord using that person or persons to mold and grow you into a more Christ-like spirit? Is it possible that the Lord is trying to teach you forgiveness, humility, obedience, patience, surrender of your own agenda, or selfless love?

When a group of believers comes together with a single purpose that the Lord has placed in their hearts…when believers love the Lord more than they love themselves, their agenda, their desire for recognition and acceptance…when each believer is focused on performing the task that she has been anointed to fulfill with excellence…when each believer simply wants to glorify God above everything…God’s true unity abounds. God’s unity amongst believers in Jesus Christ will flow like oil from the top, from leadership, down to every facet, every crevice, to every person brought together in His name. The precious fragrance of unity will be experienced not simply by those upon whom it falls, but also by those who witness it. Like the provision of dew from Hermon, all those acting in unity will experience refreshing renewal, fruitfulness, and life forevermore. God is glorified by unity amongst His children.

PRAYER: Father God, You give Your people the privilege of reflecting Your character to this broken world. Lord, let us never take that privilege for granted. Lord, remove the spirit of division, rivalry, and conceit from amongst Your people and Your Church. Lord, help us to be the people You have called us to be, Your royal priesthood, representing You to all who encounter us. Lord, we thank You for Your mercy and patience with us when we get it wrong. Thank you for using difficult people and conflict to grow us in forgiveness, humility, patience, and love, because this growth help us to be steadfast in glorifying You with one voice, one heart, and one mind. In Jesus’ name. Amen.