Psalms 133 Study Notes: The Blessing of Unity
David celebrates how good and delightful it is when God's people share life in harmony. He compares such unity to the anointing oil poured over Aaron the high priest and to Hermon's dew falling on Zion, where the LORD has granted lasting life and blessing.
General
According to 133:3, what has the LORD granted in Zion?
Answer: Blessing and life that last forever
In 133:3 David gives a second picture: unity resembles the dew of Mount Hermon, a lofty mountain, settling on Zion's hills (the hill in Jerusalem where God was worshiped). In a dry land, dew brought refreshment and made things grow; elsewhere God promises to be like dew to Israel, making it bloom (Hosea 14:5), and Moses pictures the promised land as a place where the skies drip with dew (Deuteronomy 33:28). The psalm ends with the reason: in Zion the LORD has granted His blessing, life that lasts forever. Another song of ascents likewise prays for the LORD's blessing to come from Zion (Psalm 128:5).
- Psalm 133:3 (BSB)“It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD has bestowed the blessing of life forevermore.”Unity is also like Hermon's dew falling on Zion, where the LORD has granted the blessing of life forever.
- Deuteronomy 33:28 (BSB)“So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with dew.”Moses describes Israel's land as a place where the heavens drip with dew.
- Hosea 14:5 (BSB)“I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.”God promises to be like the dew to Israel, making it blossom and take root.
- Psalm 128:5 (BSB)“May the LORD bless you from Zion, that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life,”Another song of ascents prays for the LORD's blessing to come from Zion.
Theological
What does 133:3 say the LORD has granted in Zion?
Answer: Blessing and life that last forever
The second simile of 133:3 compares unity to Hermon's dew settling on Zion's hills, refreshment that brings fruitfulness, as in God's promise to be like dew to Israel (Hosea 14:5) and Moses' picture of a land where the heavens drip dew (Deuteronomy 33:28). The psalm grounds all this in divine appointment: there in Zion the LORD has granted His blessing, life forevermore. Psalm 128:5 likewise locates the LORD's blessing as issuing from Zion.
- Psalm 133:3 (BSB)“It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD has bestowed the blessing of life forevermore.”Unity is also like Hermon's dew falling on Zion, where the LORD has granted the blessing of life forever.
- Deuteronomy 33:28 (BSB)“So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with dew.”Moses describes Israel's land as a place where the heavens drip with dew.
- Hosea 14:5 (BSB)“I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.”God promises to be like the dew to Israel, making it blossom and take root.
- Psalm 128:5 (BSB)“May the LORD bless you from Zion, that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life,”Another song of ascents prays for the LORD's blessing to come from Zion.
General
The oil flowing over Aaron's beard in 133:2 recalls what event?
Answer: Aaron's anointing to set him apart as priest
In 133:2 David compares unity among God's people to precious oil poured on the head, flowing down the beard, Aaron's beard, and onto the neck of his priestly clothing. Aaron was Israel's first high priest, and when he was set apart for that work, Moses poured the sacred anointing oil on his head (Leviticus 8:12). God had commanded that Aaron and his descendants be anointed and consecrated to serve as priests (Exodus 30:30). The picture connects unity with something holy, set apart for God, and with blessing that flows down and spreads over the whole person. Unity among God's people is not merely pleasant; it is precious and consecrated.
- Psalm 133:2 (BSB)“It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard over the collar of his robes.”Unity is compared to fine oil poured on the head and running down Aaron's beard onto his robes.
- Leviticus 8:12 (BSB)“He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.”Moses poured anointing oil on Aaron's head to consecrate him as high priest.
- Exodus 30:30 (BSB)“Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to serve Me as priests.”God commanded that Aaron and his sons be anointed and consecrated to serve as priests.
Theological
To what event does the image of oil on Aaron's beard in 133:2 allude?
Answer: Aaron's anointing to set him apart as priest
The simile of 133:2 likens fraternal unity to precious oil poured on the head and descending over the beard, Aaron's beard, down to the neckline of his garments. It alludes to Aaron's consecration as high priest, when Moses poured the sacred oil over his head (Leviticus 8:12), in obedience to the command to anoint and consecrate Aaron and his line for priestly service (Exodus 30:30). The image invests unity with sanctity and portrays blessing that descends and spreads, holy, costly, and abundant.
- Psalm 133:2 (BSB)“It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard over the collar of his robes.”Unity is compared to fine oil poured on the head and running down Aaron's beard onto his robes.
- Leviticus 8:12 (BSB)“He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.”Moses poured anointing oil on Aaron's head to consecrate him as high priest.
- Exodus 30:30 (BSB)“Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to serve Me as priests.”God commanded that Aaron and his sons be anointed and consecrated to serve as priests.
General
What does David celebrate in 133:1?
Answer: Brothers living together in unity
Psalm 133 is a very short song of ascents, and its heading says it is of David. It opens with an exclamation of delight: how good and how pleasant it is for brothers, members of God's people who share one family, to share life together in harmony (133:1). The songs of ascents are traditionally linked with worshipers traveling together to Jerusalem, where people from every tribe gathered. The same value runs through the New Testament. Jesus prays that all who believe in Him will be one (John 17:21), Paul urges believers to work hard to keep the unity the Spirit gives (Ephesians 4:3), and the first believers in Jerusalem were united in heart and mind (Acts 4:32).
- Psalm 133:1 (BSB)“A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”The heading attributes this short song of ascents to David, who celebrates brothers living in unity.
- John 17:21 (BSB)“that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”Jesus prays that all His followers may be one, so that the world may believe.
- Ephesians 4:3 (BSB)“and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”Paul urges believers to work hard at keeping the unity the Spirit gives.
- Acts 4:32 (BSB)“The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.”The early believers were one in heart and soul.
Theological
What is the subject of David's exclamation in 133:1?
Answer: Brothers living together in unity
Psalm 133, a brief song of ascents attributed to David, opens with an exclamation over the goodness and pleasantness of brothers dwelling together in unity (133:1). The brothers are fellow members of the covenant people. The theme suits the songs of ascents, traditionally associated with pilgrims from all the tribes converging on Jerusalem. The NT carries the same concern into the church: Christ prays for the oneness of all who believe (John 17:21), Paul exhorts diligence in guarding the oneness the Spirit creates (Ephesians 4:3), and the Jerusalem church was of one heart and soul (Acts 4:32).
- Psalm 133:1 (BSB)“A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”The heading attributes this short song of ascents to David, who celebrates brothers living in unity.
- John 17:21 (BSB)“that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”Jesus prays that all His followers may be one, so that the world may believe.
- Ephesians 4:3 (BSB)“and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”Paul urges believers to work hard at keeping the unity the Spirit gives.
- Acts 4:32 (BSB)“The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.”The early believers were one in heart and soul.