“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalms 133:1 NIV
Such a small verse with a BIG impact! Interestingly enough, the psalmist goes in to physically describe what UNITY feels like. Togetherness feels like a total body cleansing like rainfall on a hot day. The song directs us to think about a very public act that was not only performed on the high priest, Aaron, but also a very common act of anyone who wanted to be clean, refreshed and even getting ready for a big event.
I’m not at all a oil or lotion guy. I just can’t stand any kind of perfumed substance on my body. I don’t like hand, face or body lotions. I don’t even like sunscreen! I certainly can’t imagine anything oily in my hair. Robin, on the other hand, LOVES lotions, creams and various liquids on her. She loves the way her skin absorbs the oil or lotion and how it makes her ski feel after applying it. I’m the opposite, I only like water or strangely enough rubbing alcohol. I only like things that REMOVE oils on me, not apply more!
In ancient times, water was used for washing, but it was difficult to get it and keep it fresh. Ancients were obsessed with fresh water and only the wealthy either had or built natural springs running through their house or property. But oils, likely essential oils, were portable, easy to make and use. So these oils would be used much like a modern day shower or washing your face in the sink. They were cleansing and healthy for hair and body. Plus, they were fragrant, like we would use a deodorant. As much as I don’t like oily things on my skin I still see the point the psalmist is getting at. Thankfully he writes about dew or light rain falling in the mountains as well – THAT I can get into.
Either way, it’s a great visual of how unity, how togetherness brings all the benefits that oils, cleansing and smelling good brings. Unity cleans our cooperative, collective souls. Unity refreshes our hearts, minds and attitudes. Unity brings a clean, fresh, delightful aroma to us as a group. This picture of the benefits of unity should draw us in to want that! To wash away the nastiness of all that goes on in our culture, stuff that just gets picked up on the freeway or while waiting in the impatience of a grocery, coffee or food line.
To be refreshed by each other’s love and cooperative attitudes is like going to a health spa. And to smell the aroma of unity that replaces our individual and sometimes stinky selfishness. Oh how good it is to dwell together in unity. This is truly a picture of how God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit has always existed! And when we cooperate, come together and act in unity – wow it looks and smells amazing!
PRAYER:
Dad,
This is not only ideal and completely an affirming YES and big head-nod, it is also a lot of work! Unity is work. It is a work in progress. It takes sacrifice, humility and calling each other on bad behaviors that tear down instead of build up. It’s a loving accountability, a pact, a promise to hold up when trust is eroded and tempers flare. We want unity, I think. We want the amazing refreshment of clean and nice smelling, but we have to identify the reasons and the attitudes that prevent us from getting there. Help us!