November 14, 2004

Grace to Live in Unity (and Comm-Unity)

Scripture Passage: Psalm 133

Supportive Scriptures: Philippians 2:1-5ff; 4:2-3)

Background Information

This sermon is a bit different in style – closer to the manuscript from which I preached it. I have eliminated specific references to the setting in which I preached it. You may need to flesh it out appropriately to your own context.

The Introduction

What if there were a place. . .

. . . where people lived and worshipped together on the basis of what they had in common

instead of how they were unique?

. . . where skin color, language, economic background, cultural upbringing, and gender,

really didn’t matter?

. . . where an example was set that in Christ it is possible to overcome the things that normally divide people and to live in UNITY?

Such a place must not be a dream. It must be found in our homes, in our church, in the communities of which we are a part. That is the heritage of the Kingdom that God has entrusted into our hands.

It is obvious today, that we live in a fractured, broken, divided world. Wherever we turn, people are fighting because they belong to different tribes, different religions, different cultures, different social levels, or have different goals & agendas. God expects something more.

Wherever we turn, be find broken homes, broken relationships, and broken hearts.

Christ died to give us something better.

Even within God’s Kingdom, we are often painfully aware of our differences and of divergent viewpoints. Some think that for the world to be won for God’s Kingdom we must concentrate on Evangelism. Others say we must share the Compassion of Christ with others.

Others would emphasize that evangelism without discipleship will mean that the crop of grain is lost. Still others remind us that in a modern world we must use the latest technology.

One group thinks we should begin with the poor while another believes it wiser to start with the rich, and a third group thinks we have forgotten the middle.

God’s Spirit wants to create something more grand.

In the midst of such diversity and division, the Psalmist David has a relevant word for us.

It was a word to be sung.

It was to be sung in community.

It was to be sung as the community journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem.

It is a “Song of Ascents.”

The Body

How good and pleasant it is
when brothers & sisters live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.
(Psalms 133:1-3, NIV).

People from 12 different, sometime fractious tribes climbed the Mountain together
to the House of God --
– to a feast
– to an infrequent, unusual time of unity when all Israel came together.

Among them were foreigners who had come to love the God of the Hebrews.
They were people of all ages and professions.

And as they ascended the hill of the Lord they sang,
How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

There was a time in Israel when brothers made their homes in the house of their parents.
Often we think of siblings mostly in terms of conflict and jealousy
and so such a house could quickly become divided.
And ANY house divided, cannot stand.
Jesus said so.
But how beautiful it is -- and how good it is -- and how pleasant it is
when brothers and sisters live together in unity. Or in harmony.

And not just live together, but dwell together.
It’s one thing to live (exist) together in a house.
It’s quite something else to dwell together in a home.

It hardly seems natural – this harmony, this unity.
But if Christians can’t do it –
if WE can’t do it, -- then who can?
If not here – then where?’
If not now – then when?

It doesn’t come naturally – dwelling and working in our homes,
or in this congregation in harmony.
It will take work.
It will require sacrificing our own preferences.
It will mean that we cannot cling to our own comfort zones and ways of doing things.
It will demand that we put others first.
It will mean that everyone must honor
the gifts of the other,
the roles of the other,
the needs of the other,
the culture background of the other.

But when we do – How beautiful, How pleasant, How good, How fragrant it is!!

Then David gives us two interesting metaphors for this dwelling in harmony.

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

Oil is seen in Scripture as a symbol of Blessing, and of Joy, and of the Holy Spirit –
of Hospitality and Prosperity and Honor.
But in this passage, it especially and particularly represents anointing to the service of God --
Consecration to God’s Work.
In Biblical times, things were anointed as well as Prophets, and Kings,
and (as here) Priests.

One commentary observes that the rest of the priests were sprinkled with oil --
but in the case of Aaron, the High Priest,
the oil was poured over his head
until it ran down onto his beard
and down onto the collar of his robes --
An abundant anointing and blessing
with a fragrant aroma that was pleasing to others.

God still looks for opportunities to lavishly pour out His Spirit
in anointing and in power upon His servants –
and upon us in this congregation.

But David also has another metaphor in mind.

When brothers and Sssters dwell together in harmony,
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
Mt Zion (Jerusalem) was on the edge of the wilderness.
It had a poor water supply, unproductive soil, and an uncomfortable climate.

Mt Herman was different.
The heaviest dew in Palestine formed nightly on its slopes,
making it an area that was lush and fertile – and the source of the Jordan River.

The dews of Mt Herman did not fall on Jerusalem.
But what if they did?
What if they brought that refreshment – brought renewal and fruitfulness?
How delightful that would be!!
What joy that would generate!!
What changes that would make in an arid wilderness!!
Flowers would flourish, food would grow, grass would replace sand,
refreshment would replace thirst and dryness.

It may be natural for brothers and sisters
and different nations and cultures
and various denominations
and divergent age groups
to squabble and fuss.
But what if they could dwell together, in one house or in one church, in harmony?
Ah, that would be like heavy dew on thirsty ground!

And it is precisely there,
where diversity comes together in harmony –
where people climb together toward the house of God
That God pours out the oil of His Spirit --
The Oil of Anointing for service --
And pours it out lavishly and abundantly.
And it is there,
where He sends His dew on thirsty souls.
And it is there (as David closed his Psalm) that
the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life for evermore.

It is in the unity that the anointing comes
and the ministry happens
and the dew falls
and the earth is refreshed
and the land is fruitful.

What If . . .
We weren’t just sprinkled with God’s Anointing, but bathed in it?
What If . . .
We, in our dryness,
would experience the abundant dew of Herman refreshing us and making us fruitful?
What If . . .
The blessing of God would rest on this congregation and upon our homes
until Jesus Comes?

WHAT AT EXAMPLE THAT WOULD BE TO THE WORLD!

Please, God, Let it be so!

The Conclusion

God’s original plan was for unity.
But the sinfulness of humanity, and the pride of humanity
Caused God to confuse their speech.
Different languages caused division and separation and drove us into different nations.
Even today, language can divide us – can prevent understanding –

But on the day of Pentecost, something different happened.
“Every one heard in their own languages!”
God reversed Babel.
In HIS Kingdom, he seeks to create understanding not confusion –
unity, not division.
He wants to show the world something it could not achieve on its own.
He wants His people to overcome the differences and dwell together
in love, and in compassionate service, and in mutual concern rather than in self interest.
Our speech, even today can cause hurt and division..
Our words can create the unity that creates COMM-unity and becomes an example to the world that in God’s Kingdom
doors are opened, walls come down, chasms are bridged,
In God’s Kingdom, we can define ourselves by what we have in common
instead of how we are unique.

Three-year old Kathryn sat in the front of the congregation with her mother on a Sunday morning. She looked up and noticed that the communion table had been prepared for the Lord’s Supper. She turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, are we going to have community today?” I sure hope so! -- everyday – in our homes and in our congregation.

How good and pleasant it is
when brothers & sisters dwell together in harmony!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there -- (and here may)
the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life for evermore.

Possible Songs:
SL # 682 The Bond of Love
SL # 679 The Servant Song
Make Us One
I am Loved
Bind Us Together
Getting Used to the Family of God
We Are the Body of the Lord (MCB I)
We Will Stand (MCB I)

we may confess that faith with them. “Christ is risen.” “He is risen indeed.” “Hallelujah!”