Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Context: Psalm 133:2-3 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! 3It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
From the lexicon: Good=agreeable, beneficial. Pleasant=delightful. Brethren=those alike. Dwell=sit, remain, abide. Unity=together (as one).
In other words: How good-beneficial and how pleasant-delightful for brethren-those of the same kind to dwell-sit-remain in unity-one accord.
Pulling it together: This psalm reminds us of the unity we ought to have in the body of Christ. 1 John 3:14 puts this idea strongly stating, We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Love promotes unity. Disunity destroys love.
The life of a healthy local church depends on love and unity between its members. Many churches fail when they fail to maintain that oneness in purpose, doctrine, character, and practice that ought to be there in Christ. Church meetings become a battleground. Splits form and new churches arise, but churches formed from split seldom succeed.
This ought never to be. We are all saved in the same way, by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are all placed into one Body, his Body. We ought not to have any disagreement that cannot be resolved. We must not let our enemy gain a foothold. We must maintain a unified front, proclaiming the Gospel to a lost and dying world.
Lord I pray: Grant me grace to be a facilitator of unity among believers, to not harbor hurt feelings, and to love as You love me.