November 21
Psalm 133
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
I recently flew over the mountains in New Mexico, as well as being in the midst of them for a few days. But flying over them was an interesting view of what is going on. All around the mountains is desert. Land marked off as if there is farming or ranching going on. Hard to see from that far up. But on the mountains it most often becomes green. Trees and shrubs growing as they get higher up the sides. This is the range in which life flourishes on the desert mountains.
As we read this piece in Psalm 133 we see that image from above. The dew falling on the mountains. It falls on Mount Hermon and brings life. The image is that life is coming from Mount Zion, Jerusalem, in a greater way. Not from rains and dew. But from the Lord bringing his blessings for all, and forever.
And we see it begins with God’s people living in unity. It will result in an even greater unity. Life is restored when God’s people live in unity. It restores life in us and in the church. Seeing that we are together as one.
This was the other thing I was able to see as I spent time in Albuquerque, NM. I was experiencing the unity of the church as I was able to sit with church leaders from a variety of places and cultures. Not just US and Canada as the variety. Navajo, Zuni, Korean, African American, Chinese, Nepali, Hispanic, and a few white people as well. Experiencing that unified sense of being the church beyond our small visions of it. A beginning experience of the greater expression of the church we will see as Christ raises us up and restores us all to be his people forever. We begin to see the largeness of Christ’s church in the various ways people already follow Jesus today.
Song – Shout to the Lord
Prayer
We thank you for the many colours, cultures, and customs that we share in this world. In our differences, unite us by your love. Enable us to act together to uphold life and to make this world a just and peaceful household for all humanity. Today we ask you: O God, hear our prayer and grant us your peace.