Commentary - Psalm 133

Bird's-eye view

Psalm 133 is one of the Songs of Ascents, sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem for the great feasts. It is a short and potent celebration of true biblical unity. The psalm begins by declaring the rare blessing of something that is both good and pleasant: brethren dwelling together in unity. This is not a sentimental ode to getting along, but a profound theological statement about the nature of God's blessing upon His covenant people. David uses two powerful metaphors to describe this unity. First, it is like the anointing oil poured on Aaron's head, which flows down over his whole person, signifying a top-down, consecrated, all-encompassing unity that originates with the head. Second, it is like the dew of Hermon falling on Zion, a picture of a supernatural, life-giving refreshment that comes from God's direct command. The psalm concludes by identifying Zion, the place of unity, as the place where Yahweh commands the blessing of eternal life. This points us directly to Christ, our great High Priest, and the Church, His body, where true, lasting unity is found.

The central thrust is that genuine unity is not a human achievement but a divine gift. It is a commanded blessing from God, as fragrant as the anointing oil and as fruitful as the dew. This unity is therefore something to be guarded and cherished, for it is the place where God has promised to bestow life forevermore. It is a picture of the gospel's effect, bringing together disparate people into one body under one head, Jesus Christ.

Outline

Context In Psalms

As a "Song of Ascents" (or Degrees), Psalm 133 is part of a collection of psalms (120-134) that were likely sung by Hebrew worshippers as they made their pilgrimage "up" to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts. This context is crucial. The unity being celebrated is not a generic feeling of togetherness; it is the specific, covenantal unity of God's people gathered for corporate worship in the place God appointed. The journey itself was a unifying act, bringing together tribes from all over Israel to one central location. This psalm, therefore, is a meditation on the goal of that pilgrimage: to dwell together as one people before Yahweh. It celebrates the visible manifestation of the covenant that bound them all together. In the broader sweep of the Psalter, it stands as a beautiful picture of shalom, the peace and wholeness that God intends for His people, a peace that finds its ultimate expression in the Messiah.

Key Issues

Verse by Verse Commentary

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

The superscription tells us two things: the psalm's purpose and its author. As a Song of Ascents, it was for the pilgrim church, the travelling saints. It was for the people of God on the move, heading toward the central place of worship. And it is "of David," the king who established that central place of worship in Jerusalem. David knew firsthand the bitterness of division and the sweetness of unity in Israel. He fought to bring the nation together under God, and here he celebrates the fruit of that labor.

v. 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!

The psalm opens with "Behold," an exclamation demanding our attention. Look here! See this wonder! David is pointing to something marvelous. And what is it? The rare combination of the good and the pleasant. Many things are good for us that are not pleasant, like chemotherapy or strenuous exercise. Other things are pleasant but not good, like a third piece of cake or lazy indulgence. But when something is both good (morally right, beneficial, virtuous) and pleasant (enjoyable, delightful, sweet), it is a true blessing from God. This is what happens when brothers dwell together in unity. "Brothers" here refers to the covenant family of God. To "dwell together" is more than just occupying the same space; it implies a settled, stable, and harmonious life together. This unity is not the absence of disagreement, but a shared life ordered by a common loyalty to God and His covenant.

v. 2 It is like the good oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes.

The first metaphor for this unity is the anointing oil of the high priest. This was no ordinary oil; it was a specific, holy mixture prescribed by God Himself (Exodus 30:22-33), and it was forbidden for common use. When Aaron was consecrated, this precious oil was poured over his head. The image is one of abundance and totality. It is "good oil," signifying its preciousness and divine approval. It starts at the top, on the head, and flows down, covering everything. It runs down his beard, specifically "Aaron's beard," connecting this unity to the formal, ordained worship of God. It doesn't stop there but flows all the way down to the "edge of his robes." The unity of God's people is like this. It is a top-down reality. It doesn't bubble up from the grassroots; it flows down from the Head, who is Christ. Christ is our anointed High Priest, and the unity we share is the blessing of His anointing, the Holy Spirit, which flows down from Him to every last member of His body, right down to the hem of the garment. It is a holy, consecrated unity, set apart for God's purposes.

v. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there, Yahweh commanded the blessing, life forever.

The second metaphor shifts from the tabernacle to the land itself. Mount Hermon, in the north, is known for its heavy, life-giving dew. Zion, or Jerusalem, is much further south in a drier region. For the dew of Hermon to descend on Zion is a geographical impossibility, which is precisely the point. This is a picture of a supernatural blessing. This is not the natural result of meteorological patterns; it is the direct result of God's intervention. This unity is a miracle of God's grace, as surprising and refreshing as a northern dew appearing in the arid south. It brings life and fruitfulness where there would otherwise be barrenness. And why does this happen? The psalm gives the reason: "For there," meaning in Zion, the place of unified worship, "Yahweh commanded the blessing." The blessing is not requested or earned; it is sovereignly commanded by God. And what is the substance of this commanded blessing? It is nothing less than "life forever." True, covenantal unity is the context in which God pours out eternal life. This is where the blessing of the gospel is located. When God's people are gathered under their Head, Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Spirit, that is the place where the eternal life He secured is experienced and enjoyed.

Application

The central application for us is to understand the nature of the unity we are called to. In Ephesians, Paul tells us to be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). He does not tell us to create this unity, but to maintain it. It has already been given to us in Christ. Our unity is not a project to be engineered, but a gift to be guarded. It is a top-down reality, flowing from our Head, Jesus Christ. We are one because He is one, and we are in Him.

How do we disrupt this unity? The same way we disrupt everything else: through sin. Pride, envy, bitterness, gossip, selfishness, these are the things that tear the fabric of the Spirit's unity. Therefore, the path to maintaining unity is the path of personal holiness, confession, and forgiveness. It is walking in a manner worthy of the calling we have received.

This psalm also teaches us that unity is profoundly attractive. It is both good and pleasant. A church that displays this kind of supernatural, Christ-centered unity is a powerful witness to a fractured and divided world. It is a taste of the life of heaven, where God's people will dwell together in perfect unity and joy forever. This is the blessing God has commanded, and it is our task to live in the middle of it.