mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 133.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxxxiv" n="cxxxiv" next="Ps.cxxxv" prev="Ps.cxxxiii" progress="68.11%" title="Chapter CXXXIII">
<h2 id="Ps.cxxxiv-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxxxiv-p0.2">PSALM CXXXIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1">This psalm is a brief encomium on unity and
brotherly love, which, if we did not see the miseries of discord
among men, we should think needless; but we cannot say too much, it
were well if we could say enough, to persuade people to live
together in peace. Some conjecture that David penned this psalm
upon occasion of the union between the tribes when they all met
unanimously to make him king. It is a psalm of general use to all
societies, smaller and larger, civil and sacred. Here is, I. The
doctrine laid down of the happiness of brotherly love, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.133.1" parsed="|Ps|133|1|0|0" passage="Ps 133:1">ver. 1</scripRef>. II. The illustration of that
doctrine, in two similitudes, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.133.2-Ps.133.3" parsed="|Ps|133|2|133|3" passage="Ps 133:2,3">ver.
2, 3</scripRef>. III. The proof of it, in a good reason given for
it (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.133.3" parsed="|Ps|133|3|0|0" passage="Ps 133:3">ver. 3</scripRef>); and then we
are left to make the application, which we ought to do in singing
it, provoking ourselves and one another to holy love. The contents
of this psalm in our Bibles, are short, but very proper; it is "the
benefit of the communion of saints."</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.133" parsed="|Ps|133|0|0|0" passage="Ps 133" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.133.1-Ps.133.3" parsed="|Ps|133|1|133|3" passage="Ps 133:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.133.1-Ps.133.3">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1.6">Brotherly Love.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p1.7">
<p id="Ps.cxxxiv-p2">A song of degrees of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p3">1 Behold, how good and how pleasant <i>it is</i>
for brethren to dwell together in unity!   2 <i>It is</i> like
the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard,
<i>even</i> Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his
garments;   3 As the dew of Hermon, <i>and as the dew</i> that
descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p3.1">Lord</span> commanded the blessing, <i>even</i> life
for evermore.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p4">Here see, I. What it is that is
commended—<i>brethren's dwelling together in unity,</i> not only
not quarrelling, and devouring one another, but delighting in each
other with mutual endearments, and promoting each other's welfare
with mutual services. Sometimes it is chosen, as the best expedient
for preserving peace, that brethren should live asunder and at a
distance from each other; that indeed may prevent enmity and strife
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.13.9" parsed="|Gen|13|9|0|0" passage="Ge 13:9">Gen. xiii. 9</scripRef>), but the
goodness and pleasantness are <i>for brethren to dwell together</i>
and so <i>to dwell in unity, to dwell even as one</i> (so some read
it), as having one heart, one soul, one interest. David had many
sons by many wives; probably he penned this psalm for their
instruction, to engage them to love another, and, if they had done
this, much of the mischief that arose in his family would have been
happily prevented. The tribes of Israel had long had separate
interests during the government of the Judges, and it was often of
bad consequence; but now that they were united under one common
head he would have them sensible how much it was likely to be for
their advantage, especially since now the ark was fixed, and with
it the place of their rendezvous for public worship and the centre
of their unity. Now let them live in love.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p5">II. How commendable it is: <i>Behold, how
good and how pleasant it is!</i> It is good in itself, agreeable to
the will of God, the conformity of earth to heaven. It is good for
us, for our honour and comfort. It is pleasant and pleasing to God
and all good men; it brings constant delight to those who do thus
live in unity. <i>Behold, how good!</i> We cannot conceive or
express the goodness and pleasantness of it. Behold it is a rare
thing, and therefore admirable. Behold and wonder that there should
be so much goodness and pleasantness among men, so much of heaven
on this earth! Behold it is an amiable thing, which will attract
our hearts. Behold it is an exemplary thing, which, where it is, is
to be imitated by us with a holy emulation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p6">III. How the pleasantness of it is
illustrated.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p7">1. It is fragrant as the holy anointing
oil, which was strongly perfumed, and diffused its odours, to the
great delight of all the bystanders, when it was poured upon the
head of Aaron, or his successor the high priest, so plentifully
that it ran down the face, even to the collar or binding of the
garment, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.133.2" parsed="|Ps|133|2|0|0" passage="Ps 133:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. (1.)
This ointment was holy. So must our brotherly love be, with a pure
heart, devoted to God. We must love those that are begotten <i>for
his sake that begat,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1John.5.1" parsed="|1John|5|1|0|0" passage="1Jo 5:1">1 John v.
1</scripRef>. (2.) This ointment was a composition made up by a
divine dispensatory; God appointed the ingredients and the
quantities. Thus believers are <i>taught of God to love one
another;</i> it is a grace of his working in us. (3.) It was very
precious, and the like to it was not to be made for any common use.
Thus holy love is, in the sight of God, of great price; and that is
precious indeed which is so in God's sight. (4.) It was grateful
both to Aaron himself and to all about him. So is holy love; it is
like <i>ointment and perfume which rejoice the heart.</i> Christ's
love to mankind was part of that <i>oil of gladness</i> with which
he was <i>anointed above his fellows.</i> (5.) Aaron and his sons
were not admitted to minister unto the Lord till they were anointed
with this ointment, nor are our services acceptable to God without
this holy love; if we have it not we are nothing, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.13.1-1Cor.13.2" parsed="|1Cor|13|1|13|2" passage="1Co 13:1,2">1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p8">2. It is fructifying. It is profitable as
well as pleasing; it is <i>as the dew;</i> it brings abundance of
blessings along with it, as numerous as the drops of dew. It cools
the scorching heat of men's passions, as the evening dews cool the
air and refresh the earth. It contributes very much to our
fruitfulness in every thing that is good; it moistens the heart,
and makes it tender and fit to receive the good seed of the word;
as, on the contrary, <i>malice and bitterness</i> unfit us to
receive it, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.1" parsed="|1Pet|2|1|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:1">1 Pet. ii. 1</scripRef>. It
is <i>as the dew of Hermon,</i> a common hill (for brotherly love
is the beauty and benefit of civil societies), <i>and as the dew
that descended upon the mountains of Zion,</i> a holy hill, for it
contributes greatly to the fruitfulness of sacred societies. Both
Hermon and Zion will wither without this dew. It is said of the dew
that it <i>tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of
men,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.5.7" parsed="|Mic|5|7|0|0" passage="Mic 5:7">Mic. v. 7</scripRef>. Nor
should our love to our brethren stay for theirs to us (that is
publican's love), but should go before it—that is divine love.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiv-p9">IV. The proof of the excellency of
brotherly love. Loving people are blessed people. For, 1. They are
blessed of God, and therefore blessed indeed: <i>There,</i> where
brethren dwell together in unity, <i>the Lord commands the
blessing,</i> a complicated blessing, including all blessings. It
is God's prerogative to command the blessing, man can but beg a
blessing. Blessings according to the promise are commanded
blessings, for he has commanded <i>his covenant for ever.</i>
Blessings that take effect are commanded blessings, for <i>he
speaks and it is done.</i> 2. They are everlastingly blessed. The
blessing which God commands on those that dwell in love is <i>life
for evermore;</i> that is the blessing of blessings. Those that
dwell in love not only dwell in God, but do already dwell in
heaven. As the perfection of love is the blessedness of heaven, so
the sincerity of love is the earnest of that blessedness. Those
that live in love and peace shall have the God of love and peace
with them now, and they shall be with him shortly, with him for
ever, in the world of endless love and peace. How good then is it,
and how pleasant!</p>
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