FAMILY UNITY (1)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for BRETHREN to DWELL TOGETHER in UNITY!” – Psalm 133:1

Another important and related virtue to Family Love is FAMILY UNITY: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for BRETHREN to DWELL TOGETHER in UNITY!” (Psa.133:1). Psalm 133 eulogizes the Beauty and Blessing of Unity. King David tells us to behold something quite pleasing and splendid – the blessing of God’s people living together in unity. Whether in a family or church setting, we must never take the bonds of faith and love for granted, knowing that, if permitted, sin can disrupt them. We experience unity when we unite in worshipping God. He breaks the power of sin and reinforces the bonds between us by His Spirit and Word.

Psalm 133 speaks of the fellowship of brethren as something that is “good” – positive and beneficial. God is abundantly good; everything He created is good and reflects in some measure His Glory and Goodness. God loves us and is willing to share in His goodness and steadfast love in all of our relationships. Also, living together in unity is “pleasant.” It pleases God and brings us joy when harmony and goodwill prevail in our relationships. Here, the blessing of the fellowship of brethren is compared to two things: Oil and Dew.

Unity of brethren is likened to the precious Oil which was poured on Aaron’s beard and robe when he was anointed as Israel’s first high priest (Exo.29). The oil was made according to divine specifications (Exo.30:22-29). It was a sign of consecration to priestly service, pointing to the equipping work of the Holy Spirit. Paul revealed that “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom.5:5). The sacred, fragrant anointing oil also points to Jesus, our High Priest and King, who anoints us with His Spirit to transform our minds and hearts to be like Him in holiness of life, purity, and love for one another.

Like the anointing oil, the unity of brethren and family is unique and sacred, setting us apart from social organizations. It's a visible testimony that we have a bond with the LORD and with each other. The fragrant oil was made in the way commanded by God. Similarly, Unity in the church – and Family Unity – must be pursued and sustained according to God's commands. He determines how we should be one. Anything else is a recipe for disaster. Unity of the Spirit does not mean unification in every form.

Unity is also likened to the Dew of Mount Hermon which brought fresh moisture and life-giving water to Zion – God’s holy city and people. Hermon is a high mountain between present-day Syria and Lebanon. The top is usually covered with snow all year. When this snow melts, moisture goes into the air. At night the air in Israel cools off quite a bit, especially near mountains. The moisture then condenses and results in an abundance of dew. The dew is important for keeping vegetation alive during the dry summer periods. This is a symbol of the living waters of the Holy Spirit who revives our drooping spirits and weary bodies with renewed strength and growth in life together as disciples of Christ; the refreshing effect of Unity in the Lord amidst Covenant fellowship.

Family Unity keeps life from withering and dying; it causes life to bloom even in desert conditions. This blessing is unique to “Zion,” the Centre of worship for God's people, where sacrifices were offered to atone for sins, pointing to Christ, the Lamb of God, and the Source and Sustainer of our Unity. By His grace we can live in true Unity as His children. We gather in His name and hear His Word, learning what it means to belong to Him together.

Family Unity is a gift of God, but also a task given to us. It begins with praying for true unity in the faith (Jh.17:20-21). It also involves doing whatever it takes to seek unity and to sustain it (Eph.4:3; Col.3:13-14). Ultimately, the blessing of living together in unity extends not only to this present life but to eternity – it lasts forever (v.3).