The Blessings of

What powerful spiritual imagery is seen in this commanded blessing of God where the wind of the Spirit brings people from all different backgrounds, races, and cultures together in peace and unity!

The were written and sung and fall on our faces before the throne. the world will believe you sent me” by real people—not Disney characters. When our journey is over, some of (John 17:20, 21 NLT). God often They are for people with all types the people who most helped us fulfill uses other people to help purge the of personalities—those with good God’s destiny for our lives may be unpleasant and nurture the good in qualities and flaws, the emotionally or the ones we wanted to be around us, even through tough times. A bunch spiritually stable, and those struggling the least.2 Thankfully, the Father is of flowers never becomes a bottle with unmet needs. Psalm 133, more interested in our character than of perfume until they are pressed. I classified as a “Psalm of Ascent,” may our comfort. suppose, we determine how sweet have been sung by the Jews returning As we explore Psalm 133, we see a fragrance is produced by the way we to their homeland following Babylonian how a descending motif reveals more respond to life’s pressing circumstances. captivity. They had survived the reasons for our ascent to praising God Not only was this unity good, it was journey with Uncle Levi, who snored, for The Blessings of Unity: “pleasant” (delightful or sweet) like and Cousin Samuel, who liked to kick, precious anointing oil. The Psalmist was not to mention Grandma Miriam and 1. Behold, how good and how not speaking of any cheap, common Aunt Jochebed who constantly fussed pleasant it is For brethren to anointing oil. This “fragrant oil” was over who was the best at cooking by dwell together in unity! prepared from crushing the finest campfire. They finally arrived at their 2. It is like the precious oil upon the spices, then blended with olive oil to precious Mount Zion or Jerusalem and head, Running down on the be used in the ordination ceremony for realized they were going to have to beard, The beard of , the High Priest, Aaron (Exodus 30:23–25). work side-by-side with these same Running down on the edge of It was used for those set apart for folks in a massive rebuilding project. his garments. special service to bring glory to God. 3. It is like the dew of Hermon, Although every priest was anointed, Descending upon the mountains only the high priest was anointed on When we dwell of Zion; For there the Lord the head (Exodus 29:7). A little sprinkle commanded the blessing— for the ordinary priests or the dab on the together in Life forevermore. finger that we sometimes use would have been sufficient for ceremonial unity, we are significance. Yet, the vessel was Precious Perfume emptied so this fragrant oil flowed doing what Prior to their exile, the Jews had down from the head, upon the collar been separated into the Northern and or opening of his garment (more literal God created Southern Kingdoms, but life had not understanding than skirt of his robe). always been that way. As brethren, On the shoulder pieces of the high us to do. they could trace their lineage back priest’s ephod were two stones with to Abraham. “Behold,” the opening the names of the 12 tribes of Israel We often use the terminology, my word, calls us to stop and look at engraved on them. On his breastplate church family, but what happens when the goodness of this restored unity. were twelve stones with the seal of families get together for the holidays or They are dwelling together again. the 12 tribes engraved upon them. family reunions? We enjoy good food, This implies more than a small family The idea is that oil once set in motion play games, and make wonderful family on a temporary trip, and it is “good would flow over these stones. In other photos. We also typically endure a few and pleasant.” This word good (tov in words, the unity would permeate the fireworks and some less obvious or Hebrew) is first seen in the creation entire nation. When we dwell together willfully ignored, smoldering embers. account when God inspected His in unity, the sacred fragrance emanates We need to learn that a little fight need creation and said “Tov.”3 When we to all those around us. God says it is not be a fatality—in our biological or dwell together in unity, we are doing tov, or very good. We see a New our spiritual family.1 Since none of us what God created us to do, and this Testament connection with Christ who have arrived at the place of perfection, is “good.” was the anointed One, the eternal high we need to keep loving and working with In Exodus, God’s goodness was Priest, who is ever interceding for our one another in this restoration process. equated with His glory. Unity becomes unity. Once it has begun to flow no one We cannot choose our biological the reflection of His character in the and nothing should be allowed to hinder family, but in any situation, if we choose community of faith and to a watching its purpose. only to be around those who always world. Jesus prayed, “My prayer for agree with us and require virtually all of them is that they will be one, nothing of us, we will never change. just as you and I are one, Father— Descending Dew Even challenges in relationships can that just as you are in me and I am The additional description the writer be effective motivation to seek God in you, so they will be in us, and uses for this unity is the descending

The HELPER Covenant Connections—Page 2 dew of Hermon flowing upon the hills ravines, and snow-covered heights do not despair. This danger of strife of Zion. Again to understand the fuller produces an awesome effect when the that threatened the New Testament significance of this simile, we need a different wind currents come together church was because they were such little geography lesson. Mount Hermon, and sweep over it. The pristine freshness passionate people of conviction and located in the north, is the highest and power of the dew formed refreshes belief. The greater the enthusiasm mountain in Israel. “Its summit reaches and saturates the surrounding area people have, the greater the danger of to about 9,100 feet and receives more below. No wonder the base of Hermon colliding with one another every now than 60 inches of annual precipitation.” 4 is lush and fruitful, covered with and then. People who apathetically sit Commentators suggest that Mount orchards and gardens of unbelievable in neutral gear are not likely to run into 7 Hermon’s dew is so copious that a fertility even in a land of drought. any kind of warfare within or without person camping nearby might awaken What powerful spiritual imagery is the community of believers. with their tent and bed soaked.5 Mount seen in this commanded blessing of Christ knew a strong, vibrant church Zion was located much farther south. God where the wind of the Spirit brings would not be built upon strife and Remembering, Israel had previously people from all different backgrounds, division. The true Body of Christ would been a divided nation, we see the races, and cultures together in peace only be born in the souls of men and significance of the dew flowing all the and unity! In recent months, I have women who through knowledge and way south to Mount Zion. The rebellious, witnessed such uncommon unity among experience would move into a realm scattered streams of Northern and national, Christian leaders from mainline of understanding and humility that Southern Kingdoms are now coming Evangelical, Protestant, Catholic, could bring a new dimension to the 6 together as a unified river. Pentecostal and Charismatic movements concept of unity. In a world with so as we have prayed, worshiped, much war, domestic violence, and served the kingdom of God corporate maliciousness, and crime, together, seeking awakening people are searching for the unity, The true Body of Christ in our nation. Thank God love and peace that can only be found for harmony in the midst of in relationship with Christ. We need would only be born in diversity. In both biological the visible demonstration of His body, and spiritual families, we can the church, to match the head. Then the souls of men and be very different and yet still the world will know that God sent His experience unity. Son to be the Savior of the world.  women who through Several of my friends have  twin children. They have many  knowledge and similarities but are each unique creations of God.  experience would They do not get hungry or  cry at the same time. Their Kay Horner move into a realm of parents will not refuse to Executive Director

feed one because the other

understanding and is not hungry. Neither will God refuse to fill those humility that could who are hungry and thirsty 1 Beth Moore, Stepping Up a Journey for righteousness simply Through the Psalms of Ascent, (Nashville, because some family members TN: LifeWay Press, 2007), 154–156. bring a new dimension 2 do not want to come to the Ibid. 3 Warren Baker and Spiros Zodhiates, eds. to the concept of unity. Thanksgiving table. However, The Complete Word Study Praise God, He can take what has in a unified place of pristine freshness (Iowa Falls: World and AMG International, been separated by human weakness and plentiful living water, God wants 1994), 2320. or enemy interference and make it the fruit of the Spirit to be rich and 4 Loren Crowe, The Songs of Ascents: Their Place in Israelite History and Religion (Atlan- whole again! He longs to redeem and bountiful among all of us. A cornucopia ta, GA: SBLDS, 1996), 114. restore. How exciting that He invites us of artificial fruit makes pretty decorations, 5 Henry Baker, as cited in Spurgeon, The to be a part of the process. Ironically, but an abundance of love, joy, peace, Treasury of , vol. 3, (McLean, VA: rather than building walls like Nehemiah patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, MacDonald Publishing, n.d.), 173. and the returning exiles did. God calls gentleness, and self-control brings 6 Moore, Stepping Up a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent, 158. us to tear down walls that separate unity and harvest for those who dream 7 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old and divide. big and rejoice together. Testament, Quoted in E-Ssword, Digital In addition, this beautiful Mount If you have struggled with conflict Software Version 10.0.5, Copyrighted by Hermon with its thick forests, watery and adversity in any arena of your life Rick Myers, Franklin, TN 2000–2012.

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