Psalm 133
April 7, 2024
Let our prayers come before, O Lord, and let this Psalm of assent encourage us.
Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!
What is this shadowy mysterious unity that is called good and pleasant?
When we think of unity we tend to think of unity as sameness,
Or we the state of agreeing in some way.
So, we scratch our heads at the illustrations in this Psalm.
Here, unity is depicted not as a desired state, but as God’s blessing that flows and permeates life.
And the blessing of Unity is declared to be the experience of life forevermore.
Jesus prayer in John 17, has resemblance this Psalm
he prayed “that we would be one.
So that the world would know that you sent me.”
This oneness is like the unity in the Psalm, mysterious, good and pleasant.
So why do we need to be encouraged to pursue unity?
Why do we prefer entertainment over chasing for unity and love?
Why does unity escape us?
Why do our needs consume us?
Why is unity so difficult in our homes and communities?
We are all standing because we are all needy.
My guess is that most of our felt needs have not been expressed to others.
Give us the courage to express more of these needs to each other.
For if these verses are instructive and true for us,
then unity is something that flows – down from your hand
even amidst our dysfunctional relationships, our hiding, our shame, and our fears.
Help us learn to wisely love each other, and mobilized one another to care for each other.
and reap the flowing blessing of meeting in your presence.
I pray for my brother and sister here at Centennial in each of their felt needs.
Some of them are physical, some of them are emotional. Many of them are relational.
And I pray especially for those related to disunity, discord, and conflict.
I stand with them in this time of need. Please let your blessing of unity flow among us
and evidence that by meeting these needs as you see fit according to your word.
Give us a greater desire to participate now in your unity of life forevermore.
And all God’s people said, Amen.