Here at Imrah, we have decided to memorize chapters together. We have started with a small Psalm, but an extremely powerful one: Psalm 133. It only has 3 verses but they are packed with very exciting messages for us. Let’s start from the beginning.
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
This week, we will deal with verses 1 and 2. Next week, in verse 3, we will reach our big finale.
Who wrote it? What kind of Psalm is it?
Firstly, we notice who wrote the Psalm: that is King David, who slew Goliath, and from whom our Lord Jesus is descended. And we also note that it is a ‘Song of Ascents’. The ‘Song of Ascents’ was a song sung while the Israelites ascended to the Temple Mount or Mount Moriah, in order to worship and serve the Lord together.
The Theme of the Psalm
Verse one states the ‘theme’ of the whole Psalm, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”. This first verse is the message of the entire Psalm; everything we read after this reinforces this delicious theme. We want to listen as God’s heart speaks to us here. The Hebrew word for ‘live’ implies a ‘celebration’; a joyous gathering! It’s a coming together of people who enjoy one another. God loves it when we are having a good time together, not judging, not comparing, not arguing, and not fighting. He loves ‘harmony’, He loves unity.
Fragrant Comparisons
Verse two makes use of a simile, telling us what this kind of unity is ‘like’: so that we get a better understanding of what the heart of our Father is teaching us.
“It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.”
This precious oil is a special blend of four very different, very fragrant spices, mixed with olive oil: Cinnamon, Cassia, Myrrh, and Calamus (Exodus 30:23-25). A beautiful ‘blend’, coming together to make one very pleasant smelling anointing oil. This blended oil symbolizes the effect of bringing together different people, all contributing their own special ‘fragrance’, all happily blending!
The Significance of the Beard, Aaron’s Beard
A beard is made of many hairs, not just one thick hair! “Running down on the beard” can point us to the fact that we are made up of many, as 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 states, “… God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body”.
The anointing oil flows onto each individual hair, affecting the fragrance of each one. It is a beautiful image. And as it says further, “running down on Aaron’s beard”, we are directed to the priestly role of Aaron. Aaron was the first Levite, the first priest appointed by God to lead His people into His presence. The unity of the Spirit produces the precious oil that flows over us all. We then can function as priests (Isaiah 61:6), providing an atmosphere for people to meet with the living God! When we are enjoying one another, blending together, respecting each other’s contribution, we become a unit that can operate in a priestly role: one that escorts others into the presence of the Lord!
The Anointing Supplied For Every Part
“…that came upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]” (AMP). It is common in the east, to which this refers, to pour so much oil upon the head that it pours down and reaches every limb of the person. This gives us another picture of the Body of Christ, referred to from 1 Corinthians 12:26-27, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.”
Think of these things. Pray about them for your family, your friends, your church…
Until next week, ‘blend’ together in the love of Christ, remembering His great prayer in John 17:21 NIV, “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe…”
Siddharth i am so lifted after hearing this beautiful interpretation. I have read this chapter so many times but have never been so blessed. Thanks buddy. May God bestow in you abundant of wisdom & knowledge that his name be glorified in and through your life. God bless you.
I am so sorry, its all for Angie… God bless you dear.
The oil is like the Spirit isn’t it? Bringing us unity in Christ….. wonderful symbols. The Spirit helps us when unity is hard to arrive at! Great Angie… thanks
my profound and heartfelt thanks to God through you Angie!
you are bringing a word to the body from our Lord and Savior that is right on time.
you honor and glorify Jesus beautifully here.
Angie amazing !! amazing post…Just so blessed to read all that you have written .We stand united in Christ JESUS..amen!!!
Wow, Angie. I love explanations and references to the Bible of what goes into the Psalms.
You do such an excellent job.
My Bible has these descriptions and references in its Psalms section. I read these all the time. I love it.
Thank you for this great article.
Hi Mike, yes, it’s good you mentioned the oil represents the Holy Spirit! The spices are blended together within the oil, as we are blended together through Him.
Thanks!
Angie