Psalm 133, one of the songs sung as the Hebrews made their annual pilgrimage on the way to Jerusalem, is a remembrance of the mercies of God within beloved community. Unity is the fruit of the intention to dwell together in community where love, grace, compassion, truth telling, empathy, respect, humility, cooperation, wise authority, accountability and service shape our motivations and actions.
Unity is a lofty aspiration.
This text may evoke a longing within you for unity in a place where it seems absent or impossible. If it is possible, allow that longing, that ache to be there in your prayer. You may not even have words for the longing. Longing might feel like tears emerging or a pit in your belly or something else. Your heart’s deep desires can be a shared place of communing with the heart of God. The longings within may be the very place where the Spirit is interceding for others through you.
Maybe this poem evokes a memory of a time and place where you witnessed the miracle of authentic unity unfold. If this is here for you, you might savor the gifts and consolation of bearing witness to the grace of God at work among a people.
Whatever is here for you as you pause to pray with this Psalm, may there be grace and hope for you this day.
Psalm 133 RSV
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
running down upon the beard,
upon the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life for evermore.
Psalm 133 The Message
How wonderful, how beautiful,
when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
ordains eternal life.
For Reflection and Prayer:
Was there a word, a phrase, image, or feeling that ‘shimmered’ as you listened? Allow it to land in your heart. Stay with it. Savor it.
Reflect on what you heard. What effect does it have on you? What meaning does it hold for you? What does the Holy Spirit seem to be conveying to you?
Talk it over in your prayer. Perhaps you want to draw or color your prayer or journal the conversation.
As the time of prayer comes to a close, share some moments of quiet with Jesus, simply resting safely in his presence.