587_The refreshing oil of harmony among brothers (Psalm 133) Psalm 133 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. Stand in the middle of a forest just before dawn and listen. You will hear creation wake up in layers. First comes the soft wind brushing through treetops, then the call of a distant bird, then another call answering from another direction. Moments later, leaves tremble as small animals begin to move, and soon a chorus of voices — none alike — fills the morning air. No single sound is dominant, but together it becomes something soothing, rich, and full. Or picture a meadow after rain. The scents of pine, wild mint, rich earth, and blooming flowers mingle. Each fragrance is distinct, yet together they bring something refreshing — something you could never smell from one plant alone. Nature has a miracle built into it: different things, different shapes, different sounds and scents, coming together to create harmony and life. Creation is full of diversity, yet it is not chaotic when it functions as God intended. It becomes a symphony and a fragrance. Psalm 133 takes us into that same miracle — but among people. This short but refreshing psalm sheds light on why David was called a man after God’s own heart. He is reflecting what is foremost in the mind of God: unity among His people. Jesus in His high–priestly prayer in John 17:20–21 prayed, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you… so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” David likely saw the children of Israel traveling up to Jerusalem from all twelve tribes, converging to worship God. That was a sight to behold. Different family lines, different regions, different stories, different experiences — yet one purpose, one joy, one God. Immediately he exclaims that sight as something spectacular, something noteworthy. Because from the beginning of human history, brothers — even those who shared the same blood — struggled to live in harmony. Cain and Abel, Abraham and Lot, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, and even David’s own sons — the list goes on. Conflict, competition, suspicion, rivalry, and division run through the pages of Scripture. When you look through Israel’s long history, unity was rare. Even after the nation was formed, hostility between Judah and Israel continued for generations. So when David saw brothers from different tribes, with different backgrounds, different levels of wealth, different traditions, all coming together in harmony for the glory of God, his heart rejoiced. “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.” Good
