Psalm 133, Keyword: Dwelling, Psalm 134. Keyword: Devotion

by L.C. Shattock, Leicester, U.K. | Category: The Songs Of Ascents | Aug 1982

Fellowship with God in His house will mean fellowship with one another. The word "behold" brings us to consider something to which the adjectives "good" and "pleasant" are applied. These terms are not the same. "Good" tells us what something is in essence, while "pleasant" tells us what something is in its effect.

Here we face the repetition of the word "how" - "how good" and "how pleasant". The call is to consider the extent of that which is both good and pleasant, namely that brethren dwell together in unity. In Psalm 122 the pilgrim has spoken to us of those who were his brethren and his companions. In this we learned that our brethren should be our companions and our companions should be our brethren. The experience of the Psalmist has now progressed from companionship to dwelling together, not merely dwelling together, but dwelling together in unity. It is this fact that calls us to measure the quality of this in terms of its goodness and the effects of its pleasantness. Unity means to share common aims, interests and pursuits. In New Testament language, "brethren" are all those who are related as children of God - born again by the Holy Spirit's power, having a common life in Christ, sharing a common faith in Him, inspired by a common hope. But if brethren in Christ are to dwell together they must submit to a common Lord and Master (cp. Eph. 4:5). If that dwelling is to be good in character and pleasant in expression then it must be that brethren dwell together in unity according to the principles of divine truth. What is the welding force that will bind brethren together in unity? That which the Lord identified when He said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).

The Lord's desire for all who are His own today, that is, those who are brethren in Christ, is expressed in the prayer of John 17:21: "that they may all be one, even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee".

This unity is described by a figure of speech which shows it to be both fragrant and refreshing, good in essence and pleasant in effect. "It is like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard". This oil was the Holy anointing oil of Exodus 30:22-25, and was composed of olive oil and sweet spices "compounded after the art of the perfumer". Aaron and his sons were anointed with it as were all the vessels of the sanctuary. This would mean that God's house would be filled with its sweet fragrance just as the odour of previous ointment filled the house at Bethany when Mary anointed the feet of the Lord. Brethren dwelling in unity! When this is so in God's house, when love unifies all who dwell therein, then its fragrance fills the house like the holy anointing oil.

Another figure used is that of "dew" from Hermon's heights, refreshing, coming down, Dew promotes life, reviving and revitalizing it. God says:

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.. .they shall revive as the corn, and blossom as the vine (Hosea 14:5).

Does revival tarry? Do we feel the need for it? Where then does it start? It starts with contrite hearts renewing their commitment to the Lord Christ. We hear His voice - "Love Me", "keep My commandments", "by this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another". Shall we not then give "diligence to keep unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3)? If this good and pleasant reality is known then revival must come. "For there the Lord commanded the blessing".

Psalm 134. Keyword: Devotion

The final note in ascending experience is that of "praise". The pinnacle of pilgrimage is reached here as the spirit soars in fellowship with those who worship the Lord within His house.

When the pilgrim first sang this song he did so at the close of the day. Within the house of the Lord the song of praise continued throughout the night watches. Praise continues although the city slumbers. The pilgrims call to those within the Temple, "Bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, and bless ye the LORD". These words need no exposition:

the continuity of praise in God's house was maintained throughout the twenty four hours of the day and night; the song of praise was never silent (see 1 Chron. 9:33).

Similarly today the memory of divine goodness and unfailing mercy lifts up the voice of praise. Indeed the exhortation is to "...offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually ... the fruit of lips which makes confession to His name" (Heb. 13:15).

Our song is also in the night! For the Christian, time is night and day is eternity. We look for sunrise not for sunset; we wait to see the Morning Star arise, and as we watch for the morning we also are called to worship: "Bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LOR13".

Those who within the Temple heard the pilgrim bid them bless the Lord replied also, "The LORD bless thee out of Zion". If we bless the Lord within He will bless us without.

Thus we have followed the ascent of the pilgrim. From "disturbance" to "devotion"; from "distance" to "dwelling" within God's House.

Are we as pilgrims in this age alert to the fact that the night is far spent and the day is at hand? Do we feel the need for pressing onward to the mark of the high calling which is ours in Christ Jesus? Is the prayer hymn our genuine plea, "Lord plant my feet on higher ground"? When pilgrimage is over shall we be able to say with Paul, "I have...fought the fight. ..finished the course"? Are we even now seeking the divine source of strengthening which will enable us to stand when evil days overtake us and the call will be to stand despite the cost?

L.C. Shattock, Leicester, U.K. | Aug 1982
The Songs Of Ascents