Meditation of the Day  

“Behold!  How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!  It is like that precious oil on the head, running down the beard – even Aaron’s beard – and then flows down upon the border of his robe.  It is like the dew of Hermon, which flows down upon the mountains of Zion!  For there Yahweh has decreed the blessing, even life forevermore.”  (Psalm 133) 

In a day where there are as many denominations as there are theological fancies, this is a word that Christ’s body needs to hear.  Schisms and in-fighting within God’s people is nothing new; indeed, there is nothing new under the sun! 

Here, David is likely alluding to the time when all of the tribes united together to make him king over God’s people (cf. 2 Samuel 5:1-3).  Before his public coronation, there had been severe infighting between those who were followers of Saul and those who were loyal to David (cf. 2 Samuel 2-4), and much unnecessary blood had been shed among the Hebrews. 

How sad it is today when we look around at the ‘church’ and see much of the same thing.  “I follow Paul.  I follow Apollos.  I follow Cephas.  I follow Christ.”  Are we no different today than the immature Corinthians were whom Paul rebukes severely throughout his letters to them? 

Now of course, it must be noted that David says it is only pleasant when brothers live together in unity.  Therefore, with Scripture, I am not calling for the radical and blind embrace of any and every denomination, since many of them are antichrist, and therefore must not be considered our ‘brethren.’ 

But for those of us who preach the gospel – that Christ died for our sins according to Scripture, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures – we must be willing to overlook the specks in the eyes of those who cherish Jesus Christ above all other things. 

For example: though I strongly disagree with the Reformed theology of infant baptism, some of my best friends, and greatest heroes, believe and advocate this doctrine.  How can I do this?  Because they love the Christ-centered gospel that redounds to the glory of God the same way I do, and so I gather with them at Hebron and celebrate our King David’s cosmic reign over His universe (cf. 2 Sam. 5;1).  With them I praise Yahweh as His servant David brings the ark of the covenant into Zion in glorious triumph (6:1-2)! 

So often we lose sight of the biblical idea of koinonia, or fellowship, often limiting it to our denomination.  Scripture, however, says, that all who are born-again and indwelt by the living Spirit of God are “one in Christ.”  Now we don’t have perfect fellowship, because we are – at least I am anyways – still imperfect in this world.  But this does not mean that we have no fellowship with those for whom Christ has also shed His precious blood. 

The blessing of fellowship among the redeemed is a great grace that we ought to employ more often.  How many times I could have gloried and exulted in and boasted in Christ together with a Pentecostal or Reformed or Non-Denominational brother who is also longing to do so?

Oh how the world needs to see us praising Christ, and not attacking each other!  How often the gospel is subverted by petty denominational differences. 

I’m not calling for ecumenicalism here.  That won’t happen until heaven, when we all get the kinks of our theology straightened out.  But I am calling for the love between true believers that John talks so passionately about in his first epistle.  Was it not our Lord who told us that all men will know that we belong to Him by the love we express to our brothers and sisters in Christ! (John 13:35) 

Notice also, in verse 2, how our text likens the blessing Yahweh bestows upon communal harmony and unity to the anointing of Aaron.  This is interesting, because this anointing signified his total consecration to Yahweh’s holy service.  Have you ever contemplated the idea that our sweet fellowship is meant to be an act of consecration to the Lord? That it is to be an act of service? 

Finally, David says that the blessing of such congregational unity can be likened to the refreshing dew that falls from heaven upon God’s city, Mount Zion.  It is there where His people gather together and experience the epitome of His covenantal blessings – “even life forevermore.”  

Let us gather together, especially on the Lord’s Day, to sing of the life that Yahweh has given to His holy city and its inhabitants through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us thank Him for His perfect righteousness imputed to us by faith alone.  Let us praise the Father for raising Him from the dead.  How sweet is that blessing to sing with brothers and sisters who have been redeemed by the Lamb! 

In the final book of the Bible, we see that those who are “in Christ” by faith alone will dwell forever in the heavenly Jerusalem (or Zion) that descends to Earth on that great and dreadful day.  Then, and only then, will our fellowship will be perfected.  Then, and only then, will we understand fully “how good and pleasant it is” for believers to dwell together in Zion, where we will all fall down before the throne to sing eternal praises to the King of Zion, who will ever dwell in our midst! 

But do we have to wait until then?  May we, by God’s sweet grace, experience this ‘heaven’ even now as we dwell upon this earth.  Let us take all the blessing God is willing to bestow, doing whatever is possible to procure it. 

Even so, Holy Spirit, make this a reality in schismatic culture.  Help us to cherish doctrine, but also to see what the fulfillment of the doctrine and the law truly is: love. 

In Christ, and for His glory,

Pastor Ryan

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