The incense of harmony

Jane Denniston June 23, 2021 0 2

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Psalm 133 (NIVUK)

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 for evermore.

This is an evocative Psalm. It is a picture of peace and plenty. The oil is fragrant and abundant. The image of oil running down on the beard of Aaron may seem for us to be an uncomfortable one but in the ancient Middle East it was common for the head to be anointed with oil as a refreshment and perfume. The image here is one of generosity as the oil is liberally poured such that it trickles down into the beard and over the collar of Aaron’s robes. Taking the simile of abundance further, the dew of Hermon slakes the thirsty soil of Mount Zion making it rich and green. These images speak of God’s lavish blessing on us, yet there is a sense in which we are, in turn, blessing God by living in peace and unity. His blessing on us then assumes the nature of a reward, a result, of our living in harmony.

When my children were growing up, sometimes they would ask me, “what would you like for Christmas?” I invariably replied, “I’d like you to get on with one another for a whole day!” As adults they get on very well with one another and I feel blessed by that harmony. We are God’s children, and it delights his heart when we live in harmony. This does not necessarily mean we always need to agree. At the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland several years ago during one extremely contentious debate, contributions were nevertheless considerate and courteous. One Commissioner got to his feet and said, ‘this is how Christians disagree.’ Even in argument we can be in harmony as we treat one another with the respect due to other children of God.

PRAYER:

Loving Father,

may we, as the apostle Paul enjoins us,

so far as it depends on us

live peaceably with one another.

May we defeat evil with love

and meet disagreement with conciliation.

May the fragrance of our harmony

rise before you like incense

and peace grow

like a tree by a river, Amen