Psalm 133 gives us a couple of graphic word pictures to help our understanding. It is a short song of David that he wrote to exalt the character of unity. In these sentences, the sweet psalmist of Israel describes the essence of unity with the figures of oil and dew.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
“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;
“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” (Psalm 133:1-3).
David first points to the anointing of Aaron, Israel’s first high priest. We can read about this in the closing chapters of Exodus. At this point, Moses delivers the instructions for the manufacture and assembly of the Tabernacle. The Lord provided meticulous details for this project, outlining how the fabrics, the metals, the stones, the boards, and the furniture were to be fashioned and put together for this portable worship center.
Clothed with Love and Care
Following His instructions on the Tabernacle structure and layout, God gave His orders regarding the clothing and commissioning of the priests and Levites who would serve in this place. This project, right down to the things related to the priesthood, involved the whole nation. The people donated the materials for the tent and its compound and also for the clothes to be worn by Aaron and the Tabernacle workers.
Exodus 28 records the details regarding “the holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2). The definition covering Aaron’s clothing stretched from head to toe. He was to have a “fair” miter to wear on his head. The shoulder pieces and the breastplate would carry precious stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel.
Along the bottom of the robe, the clothiers were to “make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about” (Exodus 28:33).
The Flow of the Spirit in Love
It is these edges, the skirts of the robe of Aaron that David draws our attention to in Psalm 133. The anointing oil would be poured upon Aaron, according instructions given in Exodus 29. The oil, a concoction unlike any other ever made, would run down Aaron’s head, through his beard, and down to the pomegranates and bells by his feet.
It is kind of a messy picture, but it is profound nonetheless. It says something to us about the fullness of God’s blessing that comes where there is unity. All are included, even those at the edges.
Unity in the Spirit flows from above to the very bottom; it touches every part. Click To TweetThink of it in the light of the Holy Spirit and His work in us and through us as believers. Christ ascended and sent the Spirit to anoint those who called upon His name. Unity in the Spirit flows from above to the very bottom; it touches every part of the ministry that is after God.
The flow must go wide and deep for the work to be accomplished fully in decency and in order. The results that we see and sense are fruit and a certain sound, as represented by the pomegranates and bells upon Aaron’s garment. This is what unity in the Spirit of God brings.
The Refreshment of the Word
David also wrote of unity as being as the dew that falls. Moses, in Deuteronomy, said the doctrine of God would fall as rain and rest as “dew” upon those who would hear it (see Deuteronomy 32:1-4). Solomon wrote that the wisdom of God breaks up the depths and drops as the dew (Proverbs 3:20).
The Word of God brings unity and establishes convictions among us. In John 4, Jesus spoke to the woman at the well after she raised a point of contention among Samaritans and Jews about the proper place to worship the Lord. He answered her with this: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
The Spirit and the Truth characterize true worship. There is “oil” and “dew” upon those who diligently follow Christ.
For more about unity and loyalty, listen to “The Anointed Unity of Loyalty,” a message by Thomas Schaller, pastor of Greater Grace Church in Baltimore.
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