Hinei Mah Tov!

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!  It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!  It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. 

~ Psalm 133

‘Hinei mah tov umah nayim shevet achim gam yachad’...goes the simple Jewish tune written from the first verse of Psalm 133.  We sing this often in our home.  I thought perhaps, if I taught my children a song about ‘living together in unity’ they would be more open to trying it.  After all, what parent doesn’t love the peace, harmony and tranquility that comes with true yachad - or UNITY?  

This wee little tune our Heavenly Father has used to teach me more things than I could ever imagine...not only as it relates to my family, but much more as it relates to HIS. Yachad is a Hebrew word that means ‘to be (or become) one unit, or togetherness’.  If something is not united, then we refer to it as divided.  The concept of yachad sounds wonderful, right?  Well, it’s not so simple in achieving unity in our homes or churches, is it?  That is because it requires death to my rights...death to my 'self' and death to yours as well.  

This togetherness of brothers/sisters (yachad in the Spirit) is lovely and beautiful to our Heavenly Father because it means we are bearing His fruit and accomplishing His purposes in our lives.  Can you hear the echoes of the Creation account in this beautiful Psalm?

"And God saw everything that He had made and behold, it was very good."~ Genesis 1:31

Peering into Galatians 5:19-22, we can see the difference in the wording ‘fruit (Gk. - karpos, singular) of The Spirit’ verses ‘works (Gk. - erga, plural) of the flesh’. The plural form of the word ‘works’ indicates more than one - or something that is divided.  Contrast this with the fruit of His Spirit which is always in perfect harmony and UNITY.  Whereas the works of the flesh can only produce division and ultimate destruction.  Are you with me?

So why is it so good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity?  I believe as we dive a little deeper, you just might be astounded at the implications.  As David penned the psalm under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he was very much aware of what the ‘precious anointing oil’ and the ‘dew of Hermon’ signified.  Thus, he used these expressions.  Think with me for a moment...when Aaron was appointed as high priest (Exodus 30:22), he was anointed with a holy oil that consisted of four aromatic spices - myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia (mixed with olive oil).  He smelled exquisite afterwards!  Everyone knew that he and his sons had received this anointing by the engaging aroma permeating the air as they walked by.  This, my friend, is representative of His Spirit’s work in His own anointed ones (1 John 2:20,27).  

The Spirit’s work of unity is designed to draw others into the Kingdom with its irresistible qualities - something to be greatly admired.  What about the ‘dew of Hermon’?  Mt. Hermon, on the northern tip of Israel, is very high and therefore received much dew.  Dew is the replenishing rain that God sends for the bountiful harvest!  Imagine the abundance of fruit on the top of that mountain!  

Are others drawn to you by your engaging aroma and abundant fruit?  Our spirits (inner man) were never meant to be divided in fleshly works.  But that is what happens when we are not in harmony with our brothers and sisters in the LORD.  The LORD reminds me occasionally that a division of my mind (lack of shalom) ensues when I work at being 'the one' instead of working at 'becoming one' with my Kingdom family.

Only through yachad in The Spirit of the LORD is the blessing of everlasting life found.  Now this is pleasant, isn’t it?