On My Way Up: A Summer Pilgrimage in the Psalms of Ascent | Psalm 133
“There is a thing that sometimes happens in rowing that is hard to achieve and hard to define. Many crews, even winning crews, never really find it…It’s called “swing.” It only happens when all eight oarsmen are rowing in such perfect unison that no single action by any one is out of synch with those of all the others… Only then will the boat continue to run, unchecked, fluidly and gracefully between the pulls of the oars. Only then will it feel as if the boat is part of each of them, moving as if on its own. Only then does pain give way to exultation. Rowing then becomes a kind of perfect language. Poetry, that’s what a good swing feels like.” - Daniel James Brown
Psalm 133 (NIV) How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity [SWING]! 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.
Psalm 133 isn’t poetry disconnected from real experience. David is making a “real time” observation and then a lifetime declaration. This is a national Psalm – it has a universal application to family systems & organizations but he is specifically writing to Israel and by extension the Church.
1. Unity is like an abundance of anointing oil.
You can smell both unity and disunity [function and dysfunction]; one smell draws you in while the other makes you cover your nose.
2. Unity is like dew flowing from Mount Hermon.
The effects of unity are far-reaching, refreshing and life-giving.
Since God instructs His blessing onto unity, you can expect our enemy to sow discord at every opportunity.
The 3 laws of reaping and sowing:
1) You reap what you sow.
2) You reap more than you sow and
3) You reap later than you sow.
When we sow seeds of unity, we reap unity – a whole presence. When we sow seeds of disunity, we get disunity – a fractured presence.
Unity Seed #1 Humility / Disunity Seed #1 Selfishness
Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV) Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Selfish ambition is a seed of disunity. A seed of unity is a having a high enough evaluation of others that you serve their interests over your own.
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV) 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
The surer we are in who we are in Christ, serving others is never a lowering of our value, it is a living out our identity. Humble service brings about unity!
Unity Seed #2 Forgiveness / Disunity Seed #2 Offense
Luke 17:1-6 (NKJ) 1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
The most effective traps are
· camouflaged (difficult to see/blend in)
· placed in strategic places (your immediate circles)
· set with appealing bait (stuff that we can’t avoid without tremendous self-awareness and self-discipline).
Are you easily offended?” Are you offended right now?
Unity Rule #1: Don’t pick up an offence.
Unity Rule #2: Follow an offence with forgiveness.
Unity Seed #3 Love others deeply / Disunity Seed #3 Write off others regularly
1 Peter 4:7-11 (NIV) 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
John 13:34 (NIV) 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 4:7-12 (NIV) 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Love is an identity marker, a sin absorber and a seed of unity!
Who is responsible for unity? Me. No one can serve humbly for me. No one can forgive for me. No one can love for me. Every encounter we have with one another is opportunity for unity, swing, blessing!
Psalm 133 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity [SWING]! 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.
1. Unity creates a good and pleasing atmosphere.
2. Unity sets apart, carries supernatural power, conveys soul healing and exudes an attractive aroma.
3. Unity extends refreshment great distances.
4. Unity receives God’s blessing.