Psalms 133:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we see what is praised: brothers living together in unity. That means more than simply avoiding quarrels and tearing each other apart. It means delighting in one another, showing kindness, and working for each other’s good.

Sometimes the best way to keep peace is for relatives to live apart and at a distance from one another. That can stop conflict and anger (Gen 13:9). But it is better, and far more lovely, for brothers to live together in unity, almost as one. They should have one heart, one soul, and one shared interest.

David had many sons by many wives, and he may have written this psalm to teach them to love one another. If they had done so, much trouble in his family might have been avoided. The tribes of Israel had also long lived with separate interests under the judges, and that often caused harm. Now they were united under one ruler, and David wanted them to see how much this would help them, especially since the ark had now been set in its place as the center of public worship and national unity. So they should live in love.

The psalm says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is!” This unity is good in itself and agrees with God’s will. It is a small picture of earth becoming more like heaven. It is also good for us, because it brings honor and comfort. It is pleasing to God and to all good people, and it gives lasting joy to those who live this way.

“Behold” calls us to notice it closely. We cannot fully measure or describe how good and pleasant it is. It is rare, and that makes it worthy of wonder. We should marvel that there can be so much goodness and sweetness among people, so much of heaven on earth. It is also something beautiful and attractive, and where we see it, we should imitate it with holy desire.

Its sweetness is compared to the holy anointing oil that was poured on Aaron, the first high priest, and ran down from his head to his garments (Psa 133:2). That oil was holy, so our brotherly love must be holy too, coming from a pure heart devoted to God. We should love those who are born of God because of him who gave them birth (1Jo 5:1).

That oil was also a special mixture, made by God’s own direction. In the same way, believers are taught by God to love one another, because this love is his work in us. It was very precious, and nothing like it was to be made for ordinary use. So holy love is precious in God’s sight. What God values is truly valuable.

The oil was also pleasant to Aaron and to everyone around him. Holy love is like that. It is like perfume that gladdens the heart. Christ’s love for mankind was part of that oil of joy with which he was anointed above others. Aaron and his sons could not serve the Lord until they were anointed, and our service is not pleasing to God without this holy love. If we do not have it, we are nothing (1Co 13:1, 1Co 13:2).

Brotherly love is also like dew. It is useful as well as pleasing, because it brings many blessings, as countless as dew drops. It cools the heat of human passions, just as evening dew cools the air and refreshes the earth. It also makes us fruitful in every good thing. It softens the heart and prepares it to receive the good seed of the word. By contrast, bitterness and hatred make us unfit for that (1Pe 2:1).

The dew here is called the dew of Hermon, a common hill, because brotherly love is a beauty and blessing in civil life. It is also like the dew that falls on the mountains of Zion, a holy hill, because it greatly helps sacred communities grow. Hermon and Zion both dry up without this dew. Scripture says that the dew does not wait for man or depend on human effort (Mic 5:7). In the same way, our love for others should not wait for them to love us first. It should go before theirs, and that is godlike love.

This also proves how excellent brotherly love is. Loving people are blessed people. First, they are blessed by God, and that makes them truly blessed. Where brothers live together in unity, the Lord commands the blessing, a full blessing that includes all others. It is God’s right to command blessing, while humans can only ask for it. Blessings that come according to his promise are commanded blessings, because he has established his covenant forever. Blessings that truly happen are commanded by him, because he speaks, and it is done.

Second, they are blessed forever. The blessing God commands on those who live in love is life forever more, the greatest of blessings. Those who live in love do not only live in God, they already have a taste of heaven. Just as perfect love is the joy of heaven, sincere love is a sign that we will share that joy. Those who live in love and peace will have the God of love and peace with them now, and soon they will be with him forever in the world of endless love and peace. How good, then, and how pleasant it is!