David’s song is greatly needed today in a nation torn apart by “racial disunity” and besieged by senseless destruction of lives & property. This song holds the answer to racial & social & economic & cultural harmony – the united worship of Yahweh. As the Jewish pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem to worship, they came as brothers – some free, some masters, some from nearby Judah & some from the far away tribes, some rich & some poor. But they all came to worship Yahweh united by his sweet & rich law. Regardless of their differences, they were united under the benevolent rule of a holy & righteous God. That unity was not just enjoyed by a few, because it spread like the sweetly fragrant oil that ran down Aaron’s head onto his beard & clothes after his anointing as the high priest (2). Such unity was also like the refreshing dew on Mt. Hermon, the highest mountain in Israel, descending even to smaller Mt. Zion (3a). How did such unity happen? What caused it? Did the people contrive it or march for it or legislate it? No! “For there Yahweh has commanded the blessing …” What did it feel like? Life as it should be! “Life forevermore” (3b). How refreshing that must have felt.
God’s people today know such unity whenever they gather together in the name of Jesus Christ with the blessing of the “tri-unified” God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who is the greatest possible model for unity. God’s people are united through the gospel of Jesus Christ that tells of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross that was intended for people of all colors & cultures, nations, tribes, languages, and people groups (Revelation 5:9-10; 7:9-10). In his fleshly body and by his blood, Jesus Christ broke down the divisive hostility between Jews and Gentiles, so that through Christ both Jews & Gentiles – once enemies of God and each other – have now been united as fellow members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:11-19). If God can break down such animosity between his people of old and those who were not yet his people, then surely the same unity can be achieved among brothers & sisters of the human race with different skin colors & cultures. The blood of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit are much more powerful forces than any political action group around and can accomplish so much greater unity than any law or protest march. The reason the gospel of Jesus Christ is so effective in achieving unity among races & classes of peoples is because we are all in the same wretched, miserable, rebellious condition before God, and we all need his grace to be saved from his just wrath that we deserve because of our many sins. Unity among brothers & sisters in Jesus Christ is indeed “good & pleasant,” and it is only achieved through faith in Christ alone. There’s so much more that could be said on this subject, but I close with this: The gospel of Jesus Christ preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and received & believed as the only saving truth is the only hope for America or any nation.
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