This portion of scripture is the record of one of the songs of King David –as inspired by the Lord. Note that in virtually every psalm, there in a divine revelation, instruction or encouragement for the believers.
This particular one is no exception at all. It’s a clear revelation of what happens when the body of Christ is united. First the psalmist said behold how good. That is, it is simply a good thing for the body of Christ to be united; for brethren to dwell together in unity.
In contrast, it is bad for the body of Christ, when it is not united. Ill things happen. The devil is given a free course to operate and the people are not able to fulfill their glorious destinies in Christ. Same thing happens in organizations; when their members are not united, there is no advancement.
In the next verse, the psalmist used a very beautiful illustration; comparing what happens in any united group to the ointment on the head of Aaron –which ran down through his beard to his skirt (top to bottom). In the times of old, ointment refers to a form of perfume or scent. In other portions of the Bible, it refers to anointing or unction. We can conclude therefore that ointment, as used in this text refers to the unction for advancement that comes upon every group, church or family when they are united together. It refers to the bond that operates from the head of the group through its hierarchy to the last person. When such bond is in place, the things that happen thereafter are how pleasant.
Furthermore, the third verse compares what happens in every united group to the dew of Hermon. Dew as we all know brings with it a cool and fresh atmosphere. This is a symbol of Peace. The body of Christ experiences Peace that passes all understanding, when it is united together.
Just How Important is Mutual Faith?
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man; unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
First, know that mutual faith builds an undefeatable church. It makes the believers too strong for the enemy. The unity of faith produces people who are according to this verse, perfect men –who have grown unto the measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ. Simply put, when believers unite together in any group, they operate above the natural. They are unstoppable.
1 Peter 3:8-9 gives this admonition: “finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” My understanding of this verse is that every united church is a blessed church. Every united family is a prosperous one. Same with every other group you could think of. When you are all of one mind, you are sure to inherit a blessing.
Do you know that Jesus even prayed to the Father that the church should be united? He said “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one…” (John 17:22-23). He craved that the church should be one –which is a requirement for perfection.
Also, Jesus did not only pray for unity among believers, He took deliberate steps to unite them. That’s why He said “and other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” (John 10:16). He was consciously going out to bring everyone into one fold. If Jesus could pray and deliberately unite believers, then mutual faith is non-negligible! It helps the church to be made perfect in one.
Listen to the admonition of Paul; “Now I beseech you brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10). I love the phrase that ye all speak the same thing. That is, everyone being of one language –no one contradicting another. Such groups would simply be unstoppable.
If you read Romans 12:15-21, you will discover that the whole essence of the Church in the first place is to unite the world –producing people who would be of the same mind, condescend to people of low estate, operating in love and doing no evil. Our Gospel cannot be preached correctly unless we are united in faith (Philippians 1:27).
Everything goes well when believers operate in the unity of faith. Churches grow, families thrive, the body of Christ is undefeatable and God’s Name is glorified (1 Corinthians 12:12).
Ecclesiastes 4:9 says “two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.” What accompanies every united group is a good reward for their labour. They make unstoppable progress. In Verse 12 of the same chapter, it says “…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
I admonish us therefore according to Ephesians 4:3 to “Endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!”
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