Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Psalm 133 (NIV)
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.
Here we find a rather interesting image of unity and peace. Thankfully, the first verse extols how good it is that we live in unity. The rest of the Psalm seems more like a laundry nightmare than a hallmark of blessing. To help clarify, I turned to the study notes in my Bible which remind us that this overflowing of oil is a sign of blessing and consecration. When an Old Testament priests began their ministries, they were anointed with a special mixture of oil and spices. This was a physical sign of a spiritual reality that this person was set apart for the Lord’s work. They were consecrated, or set apart, for the work of the Lord. This same consecration happens to each of us in our baptism where we are marked with the cross of Christ, set apart as holy to God. This Monday, remember that you are set apart by God for his purposes!