How Good and Pleasant

Whatever the occasion this song would have found great use in the pilgrim festivals. After a caravan of people had traveled for days in the dry hot dust of Israel’s roads and perhaps tensions between the different families were high, what better than to remind themselves of the unity that God had provided for them in making them His people?

How does the blessing of unity prepare our hearts for worship?

I. Unity is good and pleasant (1)

Psalm 133:1 ESV

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

The idea of unity is actually supplied by the translators. The lit. Hebrew just has the idea of brothers dwelling together.

Psalm 133:1 NET

1 Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together!

The psalmist begins this song by causing us to think about extended family living in ancient days. This is actually akin to a wisdom saying about the good life. It is delightfully good when brothers are able to dwell together in unity or harmony. This is a good thing- this is the good life- this is wisdom.

What is the psalmist talking about when he brings up the illustration of brothers dwelling or living together?

Genesis 13:1–5 ESV

1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. 2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,

Genesis 13:6 (ESV)

6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together,

Here the expression of dwelling together includes multiple families along with relatives and related tribes all residing as an extended family in an area (not just in the same tent).

Now why would multiple families and relatives and tribes want to dwell together?

Dangerous times- more people were better able to defend the family interests and ensure its future.

More people would be able to share the responsibilities of taking care of the settlement.

This song draws on this idea of relatives living together in a shared area under a common roof, so to speak, to share common interests and meet common needs.

This is where the psalmist starts, but because of the ultimate trajectory of the song (worshiping the Lord at Mount Zion), the family unity is used to point our minds toward a greater spiritual unity that all Israel enjoyed.

The spiritual unity that Israel enjoys is good and pleasant just like family unity. What is pleasant is the spiritual harmony that brings Israel together. It is like the common relationship of a family, but it is also much greater.

A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary I. It Is Fitting and Pleasing for Brothers to Dwell Together (1)

The pilgrims enjoyed a sense of unity as they traveled from their homes together for the main purpose of worshiping one God, the LORD, in the holy city. When the Israelites went to Jerusalem they celebrated their common heritage and spiritual unity in the covenant. And in the sanctuary they would receive God’s blessings on their lives back where they dwelt together. In a sense the unity of the people was both a prerequisite for the blessing and part of the blessing itself.

This kind of unity is good- its desirable and joyous

It is also pleasant- it affords pleasure, it is a lovely thing.

Psalm 135:3 ESV

3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

We, as church age saints, also share in and have a common unity, don’t we? When you run into another believer on the road don’t you instantly share a common bond with that person?

In a much closer sense, don’t we have a common bond as a church? Isn’t it a good and pleasant thing when we dwell together in unity? That is joyous and lovely.

A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary I. It Is Fitting and Pleasing for Brothers to Dwell Together (1)

The unity and harmony that this dwelling together exhibited was conducive to a productive life (“good”) and was an enhancement of it (“pleasant” or “delightful”). When this was true, it was one of the most cherished blessings from God. It still is.

II. Unity is a blessing that flows from God (2-3a)

Psalm 133:2 ESV

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!

The psalmist compares the unity of God’s people to the oil that was used to anoint the priest, Aaron. The reference to priests immediately brings in the idea of the sanctuary and the blessing that come from God in anointing the priests.

This unity that is so enjoyed then comes from God.

This special oil that is described in Exodus 30:22-33.

Exodus 30:22–33 ESV

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, 24 and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. 25 And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’ ”

Leviticus 8:1–13 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. 3 And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” 4 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 5 And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.” 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7 And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. 8 And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses. 10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11 And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. 12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron’s sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.

This precious oil consecrated Aaron to serve the people as priest. It was this oil that set him apart and allowed him to minister in the Tabernacle. It was this oil that made possible the people’s relationship with the Lord. It was precious indeed. It was good and pleasant. In the same way, unity among God’s people, is like this precious oil that ran down over Aaron’s beard and dripped to his collar and then his robes. This was a beautiful picture for the people!

Psalm 133:3 (ESV)

3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!

A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary B. It Is like the Dew from Hermon (3a)

The second simile is the dew of Mount Hermon. This 9,000 foot mountain is in the far north of the land in an area that is known for its moist air, rain, and in the colder season, snow. And the benefit of this much moisture in the air is lush greenery.

The problem with this is that Mt. Hermon is well over a hundred miles north of Jerusalem. So the dew of Hermon never fell on the mountains of Zion.

Probably what the psalmist is saying is not lit. dew from Mt. Hermon, but Hermon like dew. It is a proverbial statement for heavy dew that enriches and brings lush greenery. This is good dew. When it falls it is good and pleasant just like the unity that is enjoyed amongst God’s people. It is a unity that only God can give.

We also enjoy and unique unity as Christians and it is a unity that only God can give.

Galatians 3:28 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 ESV

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

This is a unity that is good and pleasant and only made possible because of Jesus our Savior.

Ephesians 2:13–19 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

How does dwelling on this kind of unity prepare our hearts for worship?

III. Unity is a blessing that comes from God’s grace (3b)

Psalm 133:3 ESV

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.

Note the word “There.” What is the there that the psalmist is referring to? Mt. Zion, which refers to what location? The tabernacle or the temple.

It was in Jerusalem and with the Israelites that God gracious choose to bestow his blessing.

Deuteronomy 7:6–8 ESV

6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

2 Timothy 1:8–9 ESV

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

How does dwelling on this kind of unity prepare our hearts for worship?

Psalm 134:1–3 ESV

1 Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! 2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!

“Who stand by night in the house of the Lord”

Psalm 92:1–2 ESV

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

1 Chronicles 9:33 ESV

33 Now these, the singers, the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night.

1 Chronicles 23:30 ESV

30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening,

V. 3- is the final blessing of the priest for the people as they depart for home.

Numbers 6:24–25 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

Related Media

Related Sermons

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.