Good and Pleasant ... Like Mountain Dew

Psalm 133

• “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”

I’ve always had a thing for that unnaturally green, intolerably sweet, and nerve-janglingly caffeinated beverage called Mountain Dew. Someday I may give in to wiser counsel (or diabetes!), but until then, the cool, fizzy trickle of carbonated goodness down the throat has a pleasant feel that extends to all parts of the body. Turns out, God has his own version of Mountain Dew and it’s … church unity?

In Psalm 133, David doesn’t beat around the bush regarding the theme of his latest song: unity between the people of God is a good thing! And he elaborates, saying that this type of unity is as good as precious oil poured on your head that runs into your beard and drips on your clothes. Now, I’ve cooked enough bacon in my time to know that oil and clothes are not a good mix. What’s so special about this oil getting all over the place?

Turns out, these precious oils were a good thing. They were used to designate the office of the priesthood, anoint kings, or bestow honor on the recipient. They had a pleasant aroma (good deodorant was hard to come by in those days) and an appealing appearance (the “wet look” was in; fluffy and fuzzy was out). And the dripping-down imagery was symbolic of the trickle-down effect of the ministry of the priests to all the people.

David illustrates the beauty of unity further by comparing it to “mountain dew.” Mount Hermon is far to the north of Jerusalem (Mount Zion). It rises above the upper Jordan River Valley and had its share of heavy rainfall and snow. The rains and melting snow, or “dew,” flowed down into the valley and fed the Jordan River, reaching as far as the oasis of Jericho.

In arid country, where the rain is scarce and the rivers dry up, the land and the people depend on water that comes from a distant source. It is the scarcity of water in these dry lands, which makes this “mountain dew” more precious than the modern variety from Pepsi (although if they had tried the Baja Blast flavor, this Psalm may have turned out differently …). Like the oil that flows down the beard of Aaron, so the dew of Mount Hermon reaches far beyond its point of origin and gives life to faraway places.

Unity has a goodness and a pleasantness that extends beyond its source.

Paul urges his New Testament churches to see the beauty of this unity in numerous passages:

• 2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
• Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
• Philippians 1:27 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”

I love the unity we enjoy at Westminster: striving together for the gospel, led by the Spirit, and standing firm for the God of love and peace. And with oily beard and “mountain dew” raised high, let us anxiously await our ultimate unity in heaven, that place where “the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”