September 26, 2023: Psalm 133:1 - Behold, How Good and How Pleasant!
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” - Psalm 133:1
King David wrote this beautiful psalm at a rare time when there was unity in Israel. While the psalm is brief in its length, it is rich and full in its spiritual meaning:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing - life forevermore.” (Psalm 133)
In our world today that is filled with chaos and confusion because it is under the control of the one who is the author of chaos and confusion - Satan - we long for peace and unity. However, peace and unity are only possible when we put our faith and trust in the only One who can provide it - Jesus Christ. Sadly, the majority of the world has rejected the truth of God and instead believed the lies of Satan, who deceptively offers a false peace, as the prophet Jeremiah stated:
“‘Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly [superficially], saying “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down,’ says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 6:13-15)
The United Nations even has on its website the words “Peace and Security” and states: (See: https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/peace-and-security#:~:text=%22To%20save%20succeeding%20generations%20from,two%20world%20wars%20by%201945.)
“ ‘To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war’ are among the first very words of the UN Charter (in its Preamble), and those words were the main motivation for creating the United Nations, whose founders had lived through the devastation of two world wars by 1945. Since the UN's creation on 24 October 1945 (the date its Charter came into force), the United Nations has often been called upon to prevent disputes from escalating into war, or to help restore peace following the outbreak of armed conflict, and to promote lasting peace in societies emerging from wars.”
I don’t think it’s any coincidence we keep hearing the words “peace and security” and “peace and safety.” The Bible even warns us of the times we are in when we hear this slogan:
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
The United Nations even posted a “Conference primer: Peace and Security: 2023” in advance of its recent Geneva Peace Talks held on September 21, 2023, which is also the same day that the UN has previously declared as the International Day of Peace. However, true peace can only come when we are united together in our faith in Jesus Christ, sent by God Himself as a sacrifice for our sins to all who believe in Him as the risen Savior, the King of kings and Lord of lords. The United Nations, however, rejects this truth and is seeking a false peace instead.
As Moses’s brother Aaron was anointed as the first high priest with the holy anointing oil as prescribed by God in the book of Exodus (Exodus 29:7, 30:22-25), Jesus was also anointed. However, Jesus was not only anointed once but three separate times with oil:
“And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table…’For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.’” (Matthew 26:6-7, 12)
“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.” (Luke 7:36-38)
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil…But Jesus said, ’Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.’” (John 12:1-3, 7)
Jesus is the Messiah, and “Messiah” means the “anointed one.” Jesus is the Messiah whom Daniel prophesied about long before Jesus came to earth the first time and was crucified, or “cut off,” as Daniel wrote about in the passage of prophecy below:
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off [suffer the death penalty], but not for Himself…” (Daniel 9:25-26)
In Psalm 133, King David wrote about the blessing of the dew from Mount Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion. If you have ever lived in a desert, like I have for many years, you know what a blessing from God that dew is. After having lived in New Mexico for over 30 years of my life and having moved to South Carolina, I experienced as an adult the morning dew. When I lived in the desert, everything was dry and I longed for the rain. What a blessing it is to live in a place now where even when our sprinklers have not run in the morning, there is a dew on the grass and the plants, and they soak it in, letting it nourish them.
God the Father, through the prophets, prophesied that the Messiah would come from Zion:
“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.’” (Isaiah 28:16)
“O Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’ Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” (Isaiah 40:9-11)
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey; a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)
Jesus the Messiah did come, just as God prophesied that He would, and Jesus is our greatest blessing of all, offering salvation from all sins to all who choose to believe in Him as the resurrected Christ. Jesus is like the morning dew that flows from on high:
“…but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (Jesus Christ; John 4:14)
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (Jesus Christ; 7:38)
When Jesus ascended with three of His apostles to a high mountain, perhaps Mount Hermon, Jesus was transfigured before them:
“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” (Matthew 17:1-4)
Moses and Elijah had died long ago before they appeared on the mount. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets. Peter, doing his best to understand what was happening, put Jesus on the same level of authority as them. However, with the arrival of Messiah, salvation would only be found through faith in Jesus Christ, and His first coming fulfilled all the prophecies of His first coming and Jesus will eventually fulfill all prophecies of Him:
“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (Matthew 17:5)
God clearly told Peter, James, and John that He approves of Jesus and for them to hear the words of His Son Jesus. Peter, James, and John had all seen a glimpse into the future, when Jesus would be in His glorified state at a time when they did not fully comprehend what was soon going to happen to Jesus. Jesus would be scourged, mocked, spat upon, crucified, and would give up His life and be placed into a tomb, but would rise again three days later, and walk the earth for forty days before ascending to God the Father, where He is now, at the right hand of God. Their beholding of the glorified Son of God must have filled them with hope, a hope that remain in them until the day they died and were reunited with Him. Years later, Peter and John wrote about what they saw:
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 2:16-21)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31)
Oh, that the unbelieving world would hear and heed the words of Jesus “as a light that shines in a dark place,” that they would follow Him and not the world. This world cannot offer peace, for true peace is only found in Jesus:
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jesus Christ; John 16:33)
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Jesus Christ; John 14:27)
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)
Every single one of us who have put our faith and trust in Him for our salvation, both those who live today and those who have died, will one day dwell together in unity, in a new heaven and a new earth, where we will live without sin and will live in eternal peace and joy, with Him. Behold, how good and how pleasant that will be!
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’” (Revelation 21:1-8)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jesus Christ; John 3:16) ✝️