Psalm 133 - Seeking Unity

Introduction

Few things in life are both good and pleasant at the same time. Some things are good for us, but they are not exactly pleasant like taking medicine, eating our vegetables, or running that extra mile. Other things are pleasant, but they are not good like indulging in too much dessert, or giving in to sinful habits that leave us guilty afterward. But when something is both good and pleasant, it is worth paying attention to.

That’s where Psalm 133 begins. King David cries out, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!” He wants us to pause, look, and marvel at something rare, beautiful, and God-given: the unity of His people.

And yet, unity feels fragile, doesn’t it? In our homes, unity can be disrupted by a sharp word. In our nation, unity seems more like a memory than a reality. And in our churches, unity can be easily broken by pride, bitterness, or neglect. We don’t have to be convinced that unity is precious we feel its loss deeply when it’s gone.

That’s why Psalm 133 is such a treasure. In just three short verses, David paints for us a picture of what unity looks like, where it comes from, and what it leads to. And more than that, he points us forward to Christ, the One who makes true unity possible. Today, I want us to seek this unity together by looking at its gifts, its grace, its goodness, and its grandeur.

David doesn’t waste words he begins this psalm with an exclamation: “Behold!” It’s as if he’s saying, “Stop what you’re doing and look at this!” He wants us to see something we might otherwise overlook: the gift of unity among God’s people. Before he compares it to oil or dew, before he speaks of eternal blessing, he begins right here with the simple yet profound reality that when God’s people dwell together in harmony, it is both good and pleasant. That’s our starting place this morning to seek unity’s gifts.

Seek Unity’s Gifts (v.1 – good and pleasant)

David begins with a shout of wonder:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

That opening word, “Behold” in Hebrew, hinneh, isn’t filler. It’s an attention-grabber. It’s as if David is saying: “Stop, look, don’t miss this!” In a noisy, divided world, he wants us to pause and fix our eyes on something rare and glorious: the unity of God’s people.

Notice how he describes it: good and pleasant. Those two words don’t always travel together. Some things are good but not pleasant, like medicine that heals but tastes bitter. Some things are pleasant but not good like sin, which tastes sweet in the moment but poisons the soul. But when something is both good and pleasant, we should cherish it as a treasure. Unity in God’s family is objectively good because it reflects God’s own design for His covenant people and it is experientially pleasant, a joy to taste and see when brothers and sisters in Christ live in harmony.

Think about the context. David knew what it was like to live with division. He saw tribal rivalries, family betrayals, and even rebellion against his throne. So when he speaks about brothers dwelling together in unity, he’s not describing a cheap or shallow peace. He’s marveling at something rare, costly, and beautiful. The Israelites who first sang this psalm on their way up to Jerusalem would have felt this deeply. They were different tribes, with different histories, even different accents, but as they gathered in Zion they were reminded of their greater identity: one covenant people, chosen and loved by God.

This theme runs across the whole Bible. Unity was part of God’s good creation, Adam and Eve in harmony with God and one another. But sin fractured that unity: Cain rose up against Abel, Babel scattered the nations, Israel split into north and south.

Division is the fruit of the Fall. And yet, God’s plan has always been to restore unity through His covenant promises. Listen to how the Scriptures echo this: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).

Paul picks this up in Ephesians 4:3, urging us to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” And Christ Himself prayed in John 17:21 that His people would be one, “so that the world may believe” that the Father sent Him.

So what do we learn here theologically? Unity is not a human achievement, it is a divine gift. It reflects the very character of our Triune God, who is one in essence and three in persons, dwelling eternally in perfect harmony. When we experience unity in the body of Christ, we are tasting something of the very life of God. And that means unity is both a doctrinal necessity and a pastoral delight.

But this verse does more than describe, it calls us to delight. To ask: Do we see the unity of God’s people as good and pleasant? Do we view the fellowship of the saints as a burden or as a blessing? Sadly, we sometimes grumble about the church, focus on what divides us, or neglect the gift God has given. But David says: Stop, look, behold! This is a gift worth seeking, cherishing, and protecting.

Application:

So how should we seek unity’s gifts?

• Treasure it. Don’t take Christian fellowship for granted. Every Sunday you gather with believers is a miracle of God’s grace. (Hebrews 10:25)

• Protect it. Guard your words, your heart, and your relationships. Gossip, bitterness, and pride are unity-killers. (Ephesians 4:3)

• Display it. Let the world see that what unites us Christ, crucified and risen, is stronger than what divides us. (John 17:20-21)

Unity is not merely a church-growth strategy or a feel-good idea. It is God’s good and pleasant gift, shining forth His character and His grace.

But if unity is a gift, where does it come from? If it’s not something we can manufacture, how does it descend to us? David answers in the next verse. Unity is not just a gift to be enjoyed it is a grace to be received. And he paints that picture with the sacred oil running down Aaron’s beard.

Seek Unity’s Grace (v.2 – oil of anointing)

David continues his song of unity, and now he reaches for an image that every Israelite pilgrim would have known well:

“It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes.”

This is a vivid picture of the anointing of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel. The “precious oil” wasn’t ordinary olive oil, it was the sacred mixture God prescribed in Exodus 30:22–33. No one else could duplicate it. It was holy, set apart, fragrant, and costly. When Moses poured it on Aaron’s head, it flowed down from his head, onto his beard, and all the way to the hem of his priestly garments. It wasn’t a dab; it was abundant, overflowing consecration.

Notice the repeated phrase: “coming down… coming down.” Unity, like that oil, descends from above. It doesn’t bubble up from the ground of our own efforts. It isn’t the product of clever strategies, well-crafted constitutions, statements of faith or by-laws, or even shared personalities. It comes down from God. That’s the grace of unity, it flows from heaven to earth, from God to His people.

And why Aaron? Because Aaron stood as the mediator between God and Israel. His anointing meant the people had a priest, someone to represent them before the Lord. As the oil covered him, it consecrated not only his ministry but, in a sense, the whole covenant community he represented. So David is saying: the unity of God’s people is like that holy anointing, it comes from God, through His appointed mediator, and it covers all of His people.

Theologically, this is rich. The oil points us to the work of the Holy Spirit. Throughout Scripture, oil often symbolizes the Spirit’s anointing presence (Isa. 61:1; Acts 10:38). And Aaron points us forward to Christ, our great High Priest (Heb. 4:14–16). Just as the oil ran down from Aaron’s head to his body, so the Spirit poured upon Christ flows down to His body, the church (Acts 2:33). Unity is, therefore, a grace of the Spirit, purchased by Christ’s priesthood and poured out upon His people.

Do you see how this humbles us? If unity is grace, we can’t boast about it. We can’t manufacture it. We can only receive it. That’s why Paul says in Ephesians 4:3 that we must be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit”, not create it, but preserve it. Unity is already given in Christ; our task is to cherish and guard it.

Application:

So how do we seek unity’s grace?

• Receive it humbly. Unity is not earned. It flows from Christ, our High Priest. We must recognize it as a divine grace, not a human achievement.

• Protect it carefully. Just as the holy oil was never to be counterfeited or misused (Exod. 30:32–33), so church unity must be treated as sacred. We must not defile it with bitterness, factions, or selfish ambition.

• Live it gratefully. If Christ has poured His Spirit upon His church, then every act of forgiveness, every bond of peace, every shared prayer is evidence of His priestly grace at work.

Our unity doesn’t start with us, it starts with Christ. He is the anointed Head, and we are His consecrated body. That’s why unity is a grace to be received, not a project to be engineered.

But David isn’t finished. He shifts images from oil to dew. Just as oil consecrates, so dew refreshes. Unity is not only a gift to be enjoyed (v.1) and a grace to be received (v.2), it is also a goodness to be savored, like refreshing dew falling on dry ground.

Seek Unity’s Goodness (v.3a – dew descending)

David changes the picture once again:

“It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion.”

If the oil of Aaron points us to consecration, the dew of Hermon points us to refreshment. Mount Hermon rises over 9,000 feet high in the far north of Israel, often capped with snow and heavy with moisture. Its slopes were green, lush, and fertile because of the abundant dew that fell there. Zion, by contrast, was much drier an arid hill in the south. So when David says that unity is like the dew of Hermon falling on Zion, he is painting a picture of unexpected refreshment, life descending from a far-off, heavenly source to a parched and weary place.

Again, the key word is “coming down.” Just as oil descends from the head to the body, so dew descends from heaven to the earth. Unity is not conjured up; it is given down. And when it comes, it is life-giving. Dew in the Old Testament was essential for survival without it, crops withered, land cracked, and famine loomed. With it, the land flourished. That’s how David describes the goodness of unity. It revives. It nourishes. It sustains.

Think about this in covenantal terms. Without unity, God’s people dry up. Division makes us brittle, fragile, fruitless. But with unity, God’s people flourish. They grow strong, vibrant, life-giving to the world. This is why God describes His own grace as dew: “I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily” (Hosea 14:5). It is also why Jesus spoke of the Spirit as “living water” (John 7:37–39). Unity is a fruit of the Spirit, and when the Spirit refreshes the church, God’s people become like watered gardens, bearing fruit for His glory.

Do you see the theological truth here? Unity is not only holy (like oil), it is also nourishing (like dew). It is a foretaste of God’s eschatological renewal. In Christ, the Spirit is poured out richly (Titus 3:5–6), making barren hearts fruitful and dry churches vibrant again.

And that’s why division is so deadly. A divided church is like a field without dew, dry, cracked, lifeless. But a united church is like Zion covered with Hermon’s dew unexpectedly vibrant, startlingly alive, and a testimony to the goodness of God.

Application:

So how do we seek unity’s goodness?

• Be a source of refreshment. Ask: Do my words, attitudes, and actions water the body of Christ or do they dry it up?

• Seek renewal in the Spirit. Unity is not sustained by our strength but by God’s Spirit. Pray for the Spirit to refresh your congregation with love, patience, and peace.

• Value unity as life-giving. Just as dew was necessary for the survival of crops, so unity is necessary for the vitality of the church. A fractured body cannot flourish.

Unity is not only sacred, it is sweet. When brothers and sisters live in harmony, it is like cool dew on a hot morning, like shade in the desert, like water in a dry land. This is the goodness of unity.

But David does not stop at refreshment. He takes us even higher. Unity is not only good in the present it points to the eternal future. As dew brings life to the earth, so God’s unity brings life forevermore. Which leads us to the final point: Seek Unity’s Grandeur.

Seek Unity’s Grandeur (v.3b – eternal blessing)

David concludes with these words:

“For there the LORD commanded the blessing life forever.”

Notice that little word “there.” Where is “there”? It is Zion, the place where God chose to dwell with His people. In the Old Covenant, Zion was the mountain of God’s presence, the city of His temple, the heart of Israel’s worship. But theologically, “there” points us to something greater. It points to the place where God dwells with His people in fullness ultimately, not just a mountain in Jerusalem, but the heavenly Zion, the New Jerusalem, where God will be with His people forever (Heb. 12:22–24; Rev. 21:3).

David says: “The LORD commanded the blessing.” This isn’t wishful thinking. God doesn’t just hope for blessing, He decrees it. His word is effectual. What He commands comes to pass. Just as He spoke creation into being, just as He commanded light to shine out of darkness, so He commands blessing for His people. And what is that blessing? Not riches, not fame, not political triumph, but life forever. Eternal life.

This is the grandeur of unity. It doesn’t end with refreshment in the present; it culminates in everlasting life in the presence of God. This psalm lifts our eyes from the dusty roads of pilgrimage to the eternal Zion, where perfect unity will be enjoyed forever. In this world, unity is fragile. In glory, unity will be unbreakable. In this world, our fellowship is marred by sin. In glory, our fellowship will be perfected in holiness.

Here is where Christ shines most brightly. He is Himself the place where God dwells with man. He is the true Zion, the temple not made with hands. And in Him, the Father has commanded the blessing of eternal life. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). Eternal life is not merely a future hope but a present possession for all who belong to Christ. And when we experience unity as His people here on earth, we are tasting a small foretaste of the eternal communion we will share with Him and with one another in the new creation.

Beloved, this is the grandeur of unity. It is nothing less than a preview of eternity. When we forgive one another, when we sing together, when we share in the Lord’s Supper, when we embrace each other in Christ’s name, we are practicing for heaven. We are rehearsing for the day when God Himself will dwell with His people, and we will dwell in perfect unity forever.

Application:

So how do we seek unity’s grandeur?

• Lift your eyes. Don’t live only for today. Remember that every act of unity now anticipates eternal unity in Christ’s kingdom.

• Live with hope. In a divided, fractured world, take comfort that God has commanded eternal blessing for His people. His decree cannot fail.

• Love one another in light of eternity. If you will dwell forever with your brother or sister in Christ in glory, shouldn’t you strive to dwell with them in unity now?

Christian unity is not just about surviving this life together. It is about anticipating the next life together, life forevermore in the presence of God.

Conclusion

Psalm 133 is only three verses long, but what a mountain it climbs. It begins with a gift to be cherished, unity is both good and pleasant. It reminds us of a grace to be received, unity flows down like oil from the head of Aaron. It celebrates a goodness to be savored, unity refreshes like the dew of Hermon on Zion. And it ends with grandeur to be anticipated, unity culminates in life forevermore.

But here’s the sober truth, brothers and sisters: as long as we live in this fallen world, there will never be perfect unity. The Fall has fractured humanity. Sin still lingers in our hearts. Pride, selfishness, misunderstandings, and wounds will all work against unity in the church. We will have to labor for peace, forgive one another often, and endure one another in love. There will be failures, there will be fractures, there will be disappointments. David’s words remind us that unity is precious because it is rare.

And yet, this psalm also lifts our eyes. Perfect unity is coming. The Lord has commanded His blessing, life forever. What sin has broken, Christ will restore. What division has destroyed, Christ will heal. What Babel scattered, Pentecost has begun to gather, and the New Jerusalem will one day complete.

And so I must ask you: Do you belong to this unity? Do you share in the blessing of life forever? The psalmist says that unity is found there, in the place where God dwells with His people. And for us, that place is not a mountain in Jerusalem, but a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Anointed High Priest. He is the source of the Spirit. He is the fountain of eternal life.

Friend, if you are here today outside of Christ, hear this: there is no unity, no refreshment, no eternal life apart from Him. But the good news of the gospel is that Christ came to reconcile sinners to God and to one another. He died for our divisions. He rose to bring us into one new humanity. And He promises eternal life to all who repent of their sins and trust in Him.

So come to Him. Lay down your pride, your bitterness, your rebellion, and receive the gift of His unity, the grace of His Spirit, the goodness of His fellowship, and the grandeur of His eternal life. For in Christ alone we find the blessing, life forevermore.

Beloved, unity here on earth will always be imperfect, but in Christ we taste its gift, its grace, its goodness, and its grandeur, and one day, in glory, we will dwell together in perfect unity forever.

You can watch the full sermon here:

Psalm 133 - "Seek Unity"