Psalm 133 on Unity

In Psalm 133:1, we read: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” There are at least three dimensions implicit in this unity which may be profitably considered.

Outward Unity

As members of one denomination with a united biblical and doctrinal standard confession, we are called to outward unity. Such unity is already a great blessing, for, due to our tragic fall in Adam, we carried only hearts of dissension, division, and hatred with us out of Paradise. Only common grace saved the world and persons from self-destruction, and paved the way for some sense of unity among mankind and in creation.

The call to unity is doubly strong in the church. The very word, brethren, used by David in Psalm 133:1, should impress this deeply upon us. The church is called to be brethren to each other upon the command of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e., to wash one another’s feet), for the sake of doctrine (i.e., the truths of Scripture), out of a sense of duty (i.e., as God’s will), to aim for a united goal (i.e., the honor and glory of God), and in terms of mutual respect and love (i.e., each ought to esteem his brother higher than himself).

Sadly, due to sin, nothing is perfect on earth. The church must also wrestle with faults and weaknesses in her members. Not only in Adam’s family was there division and broken unity. Think of Paul and Barnabas’s separation over Mark (Acts 15:39). Later, happily, the Lord would confirm the sincerity of Mark, and Paul would find him helpful for his ministry (2 Tim. 4:11). But how much better would it have been had Paul and Barnabas taken the attitude of Abraham towards Lot: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, for we be brethren” (Gen 13:8).

Satan’s goal is division. He cares little how he achieves his end — be it as a roaring lion or as an angel of light. No wonder Luther said, “Where there are dissensions, divisions, and discord, there is the dwelling of Satan.”

The fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, is peace based on truth (Gal. 5:22). And Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” (Mt. 5:5); “blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt. 5:9).

May God grant us such a spirit of peace, unity, love. Under the Spirit’s blessing and in an atmosphere of unity, His Word shall have free course in sinners’ hearts. Let us pray for this grace.

Inward Unity

Outward unity is pleasant, but insufficient to salvation. True unity among brethren is built on internal unity between God and the soul. This unity with God is crucial (Amos 3:3). It must be our constant prayer: “Unite my heart to fear Thy Name” (Ps. 86:11b).

Oh, what a great privilege to know true union of heart with God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! Then our hearts shall embrace, by grace, a peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:17). When this unity is in exercise, God’s Pauls and Barnabases can forbear each other — faults inclusive. Yes, then they can see God’s work of grace in each other, too. As a fruit of genuine unity between God and the soul, disunity among brothers melts into mutual love and respect. For true unity never revenges itself, always forgives, and perseveres in rewarding good for evil.

Dear friends, have you experienced some degree of soul-unity with God? Have you learned by grace to agree with God? To agree with Him that you have broken His Paradise agreement and deserve His just wrath of eternal condemnation? To agree with Him that there is no possibility of salvation in you as a lost and condemnable son or daughter of Adam? To agree with Him that death and hell are your just desert? To agree with Him not only in misery, but also in deliverance? To agree with Him that salvation is wholly outside of yourself in Jesus Christ and Him crucified? To agree with Him in the way of sanctifying grace, so that He may increase and you may decrease?

Oh, precious, sacred moments when the believer may experience union with his God!

Tri-Unity

Unity with God, in turn, is ultimately the fruit of a perfect, unspeakable unity among the three Persons of the sacred Trinity. God is incomprehensibly the divine Three-in-One.

Oh, what blessed fruits the Tri-une God produces! All true union with Him, and all genuine communion of saints flows out of this perfect intertrinitarian unity from eternity to eternity. Where God-given unity is, the psalmist proclaims, there are eternal fruits, “for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Ps. 133:3).

But all this is due to the precious ointment of unity being poured forth upon Aaron’s head — that is, from Jesus Christ as Head of the church — and running down to his very skirts — that is, to the church over the length and breadth of the world (Ps. 133:2).

Dear friends, may God grant us to prayerfully seek His grace for the kind of unity Psalm 133 proclaims to us: outward and inward unity based on God’s Tri-unity grace. And may the result be for many “even life for evermore.”

Then power will go out from the Word and the congregations “to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24b). For in unity, there is power. Individual drops flowing in the Niagara have little power, but when many droplets unite at the head of the Falls, the resultying power is astonishing. May God bind us by His Spirit in true unity, love, and power to the glory of His own Name.

Dr. J.R. Beeke is pastor of the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reprinted from July 1987 Banner of Truth.

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