This article was the result of a meditative study compiled early in 2016. I have heard some of the connections from Psalm 133 to John 17 and Ephesians 4 spoken by others.¹ However, the link to Hebrews 12, Isaiah 2 and Micah 4 is an addition that might provide some worthwhile insights on the importance of the location in which unity occurs.

Unity

One natural starting point for our journey of meditation on unity is Psalm 133.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling down on Mount Zion. For there, the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forever more.

We often link the unity of verse 1 with the second half of verse 3, in what is commonly termed the Lord’s “commanded blessing”. However, there is an important part that is missed in this first view of what connects the two. There is a location in which the unity must occur: “there”!

The first half of v3 gives us the location: “Zion”. But it is not only this passage that tells us this.

Psalm 134:3 “May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth bless you from Zion.”

Psalm 128:5 “May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life;”

This location is important. It is the location the writer to the Hebrews describes in terms we are going to encounter as we conduct a magnificent dance through the scriptures. Let’s see what the early church understood about this location.

Hebrews 12:18 “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire.”
Hebrews 12:22 “but you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.”

This is the location of the throne of grace we are earlier told to approach boldly. This is the location John enters in his vision of the open door in the heavens to the throne room of the Almighty God. It is a location in the invisible realm, of which the natural realm around us is but a shadow.

These early Christians were building upon prophetic pictures of this location given by Isaiah and repeated by Micah – almost word for word (Is 2:2-5, Micah 4:1-5)

“In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all the nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go us to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

Let us keep in mind we are talking about the physical representation of the invisible location of the Lord’s temple, his dwelling place, the place in which his word, and his name dwell. Both his word and his name are exalted above all things (Psalm 138:2). Unity this location carries all the promises of Psalm 133.

Goodness in Unity

Let’s shift back to the beginning of Psalm 133 and talk about the goodness of unity. Unity is as good as the dew of Hermon. Mount Hermon is on the southern tip of a 150km long mountain range running along the boundary between Lebanon and Syria. As part of the Golan Heights, it is partly controlled by Syria and partly by Israel. Because of its location and height, it is snow-capped, and receives far more precipitation than any of the dry arid areas around it. The measure of the goodness is the measure of abundance.

Psalm 133 also points us to the nature of the goodness of unity. Unity is like precious oil. The oil poured on Aaron’s head was the same oil that consecrated the elements within the Tent of Meeting for the dwelling of the Lord. It signifies his sanctification. In Leviticus 8 Moses once poured oil on Aaron and once sprinkled oil and blood from the altar. There was more to the ceremony, requiring Aaron to stay at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for 7 days, and do what the Lord requires. Moses and Aaron went through the process of instituting the sacrificial system – presenting the sin offerings for atonement – commanded by the Lord. They stepped “into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.” Leviticus 9:23-24

Similarly, at the institution of Solomon’s temple, the priests had consecrated themselves, and the result was “the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.” 2 Chron 5:14. When Solomon finished praying for the blessings upon the people, “fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” 2 Chron 7:1. Both Solomon in 2 Chronicles 6, and the Lord in 2 Chronicles 7, declares this will be a temple for his Name, forever. The people responded by kneeling “on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying “He is good; his love endures forever.” 2 Chron 7:3

By linking the goodness of unity to the consecrating oil, we are pointed to the two temple dedications. On both occasions it was a place where the Lord himself turned up in his glory and with fire. On both occasions the response of the people was rejoicing, worship, thanksgiving and declaring that God is good. This goodness of this unity is the goodness of God himself – manifest in glory and with fire.

The Nature of Unity

Jesus had worked for 3 years to build his disciples, and he prayed for their unity in John 17. “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:11. He prayed for their sanctification by the truth, by the word of the Father. Remember, He has exalted His Name and His Word above all things (Ps 138:2).

Jesus prayed not only for those he had already built, but for those who were to come: “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” John 17:21. Just as Psalm 133 points us to a link between unity and glory, Jesus also explicitly links unity to the glory of God: “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.” That unity can be developed. And it has a purpose. These will be explored shortly.

Jesus goes on, once again, to talk about location. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am…” He desires that we enter this location corporately, not just individually. When we are there in that location, it is unity that will open our eyes to see the glory of his unity with his Father, El Olam – the Everlasting God. “…and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

Where was Jesus when he prayed this way? John 18:1 “When Jesus finished these prayers, he crossed the Kidron Valley to an olive grove.” So he was coming from Mount Moriah – the temple mount. He prayed these prayers at the temple, the place of God’s name, the place of God’s dwelling, the place of his glory.

Paul too talks about unity. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Eph 4:3-6

In talking about one body, Paul calls upon the most common picture to us. He calls upon the institution of Marriage in Genesis 2:24 “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” When Paul relates the story, he calls upon our own limited capacity to really understand marriage: “This is a profound mystery!” He goes on to try to capture the essence of the unity – the church is the bride, Christ is the bridegroom. The husband loves his wife. The wife respects her husband. But that which we see with our eyes (two physical bodies) is not what we have become through the covenant relationship of marriage – we are one flesh. This unity, however, has one additional element. It is not a human institution for regulation of procreation, it was a blessing from God recognising that something incomplete required more work from Him to make it complete and good. The additional element is that the institution of marriage has a third active partner – God himself. A marriage in which the participants walk in the ways of God secures his presence and his Name, his blessing.

The critical element in our study of unity here, is that our unity is not just about the human relationships, it is a unity with the presence and the Name of God. This takes work on the part of the participants to walk in the ways of the Lord – to secure the blessing of his presence and participation.

We must never lose sight of this element of marriage. It is a covenant relationship (Proverbs 2:17) initiated by God, both as an institution, and in each individual instance. On the other hand, the element regulated by human government and law, the contractual relationship between a man and a woman can establish only what these two parties may offer to each other. That element, the human and legal element, cannot secure the blessing of God’s presence, his Name and his glory. These can only be secured through the covenant element of the relationship. It is this covenant element that determines the parties who may enter into the marriage covenant. It is the covenant element that determines the future blessing upon the relationship.

Developing Unity

Both Jesus and Paul realised that unity does not arise fully formed without preceding work.

John 17:23 “May they be brought to complete unity.”

Paul told us the pathway for developing unity: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Eph 4:2 To the Colossians, Paul describes our position and our focus, but they in and of themselves are not the objective of his writing to them. He links our position and our focus to something else. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, … and set your minds on things above.” (Col 3:1-2) Now lets skip forwards to the objective of our worship at the mountain top…”therefore [since we are raised with Christ]… therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col 3:12-14)

It is not only in writing to the Christians at Ephesus and Colossae that he wrote about the link between unity and the fruit of the spirit. He encourages the Philippians to move on from their sense of being encouraged by our unity with Christ, from being comforted by his love, from the sweetness of fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to move on to unity of mind, unity of love, unity of spirit and unity of purpose. To do so requires humility. (Phil 2:1-3)

Now Paul is not naïve in looking at the church. Those same virtues that lead us into unity are also the virtues that counter divisions – factions following multiple voices. Those same virtues counter quarrels – individual differences of opinion. (1 Cor 1:10-13, 1 Cor 11:18) So if we enjoy worship at the mountain top, we must still choose to exercise the virtues, exhibit the fruit of the spirit. It is those virtues, that fruit, especially love, that draws us into complete, perfect unity.

Who can Help us Develop Unity?

Paul describes something that helps us; and continues to keep on helping us. Ephesians 4 describes what helps us “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” So if you have stayed with me this far, you will understand that the unity we are talking about arises from a process:

• A people gather collectively
• A people gather in covenant relationship
• A people ascend in worship – experiencing the presence of God together as one body, each united with Christ
• A people filled with the Spirit and demonstrating the fruit of the spirit
• A people who decide to love and forgive, even though circumstances may more naturally drive many apart
• A people who, manifesting love and the fruit of the spirit, attain to unity that commands the blessing of God – which is the very fullness of Christ, and the exhibition of the glory of God

Now that we know what Psalm 133 is talking about, let’s read the first part of the help we need to attain it. It is not a command. It is not something that can be bought. It is a gift – and not a regular gift given by one person to one person.

Ephesians 4:11-13 “It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

This is the gift – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers gathered collectively, in covenant relationship, ascending in worship, exhibiting the fruit of the spirit, manifesting the blessing of God, the fullness of Christ and the very glory of God. This is a gift to the Bride of Christ, it is an example to us that will help us on the journey to developing unity.

We have no model – because there is no model outside the invisible city of God. We can only find it in ascending, as John did in responding to the voice from heaven, “Come up here”. We must watch and follow those sent by God to demonstrate ascended unity.

The purpose of unity

Many have spoken messages on unity. Often, because they are spoken into an environment of disunity, the message of unity becomes the goal. However, we must realise that unity is not a goal in and of itself.

John 17:23 “…to let the world know that you send me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

In the days during which the prophet Samuel was training, the Israelites engaged in a battle with their neighbours. They lost the battle, so they resolved to collect the ark from Shiloh and take it into battle. In doing so, they were treating the ark of God just like one of the idols of the surrounding nations. They lost the ark. Eli’s two sons were lost in the battle. Eli heard the news and died. His daughter-in-law, newly widowed, in her distress, went into labour in her pregnancy. 1 Samuel 4:21 She named the son, “Ichabod” saying “The glory has departed from Israel.” We are often looking for glory in our location. Sometimes we are seeking it for social validation. Sometimes we are seeking it for the victory we believe we need. However, when we approach the glory of God with hearts that still craving the miracles more than His presence, we may well find that the glory has departed from the land.

Even if that is true, there is a location where the glory never departs. There is a place where we are always welcome. Jeremiah 17:12 “A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.” The glory is present at the throne of grace. The glory is present at the mercy seat. The glory is present at the throne of the lamb. The glory is always present at the mountain we are to ascend. Habakkuk was prophesying that one day, the earth would be filled with the knowledge of the glory. One day, a unified people will follow those sent by God into the place of ascended worship.

The Lord Almighty is seeking a dwelling place for his name, for his Glory, for his Word. He will find it in a Bride. And from that dwelling place, he will draw all unto himself to walk in his light. That is the purpose of unity.