Behold How Good: Unity, Anointing, and Blessing

A reflection opens with a rural image of Beulah and a prompt to consider the refreshing dew of God’s blessing in the Christian walk. Mission updates and missionary prayer notes encourage regular intercession for those on the front lines of evangelism, and a call invites individuals to commit to pray for a listed missionary. A pastoral prayer lifts health needs, frail loved ones, recent hospital visits, and the congregation’s faithful prayer chain, asking God for healing, mercy, and relief from pain. The congregation then turns to Psalm 133 to examine unity: David’s three-verse poem celebrates how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity, likening that unity to sacred anointing oil poured on Aaron that ran down beard and garments.

The exposition traces the old covenant background of anointing: Moses’ commands about the holy anointing oil, Aaron’s consecration, and David’s own multiple anointings (private, tribal, and national) that mirrored communal recognition and the Spirit’s coming. The text defines “good” as God’s character and “pleasant” as the human experience of that goodness when believers live together in harmony. Mount Hermon and Zion appear as geographic symbols of life-giving waters and prophetic blessing, connecting Old Testament topography to messianic fulfillment.

The New Testament anchor comes from John 17:20–26, where Jesus prays that all believers might be one as the Father and Son are one. Unity begins with God’s triune oneness and becomes tangible when individuals join to Christ and to one another in spirit. Practical application follows: Scripture demands active peace-making, humility, love as the bond of perfection, and fervent charity that covers sin. The talk warns against the subtle tactics of the adversary, who sows discord by nitpicking and small offenses, and calls for humble correction, confessions, and restoration when relationships fracture.

The closing plea asks for repentance where words or gossip caused harm, for the Holy Spirit’s anointing to pour out like precious oil, and for the congregation to embody unity in daily life while reaching outward with the gospel. The Lord’s blessing, commanded from the mountains, promises life forevermore to a people who dwell together in true unity.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Unity reflects God's own oneness Unity does not originate in human compromise but in the triune nature of God; Christians participate in unity because God already lives united internally. When believers anchor identity to the Father, Son, and Spirit, unity becomes a spiritual reality that shapes attitudes, decisions, and mission. This unity calls for personal holiness and corporate fidelity, not merely organizational agreement. [60:39]
• 2. Anointing flows from communal recognition Anointing in the Old Testament appears alongside communal acts—family, clan, then all Israel—showing that sacred empowerment often follows public recognition and corporate submission. Spiritual gifting and the Spirit’s work land most fruitfully where people acknowledge and uphold one another in covenant faith. Expect consecration to bear communal marks: visibility, accountability, and shared responsibility. [43:56]
• 3. Dwell together through costly love “Dwell” names ongoing life together, not episodic friendliness; it requires patience, humility, and the steady practice of charity that bears and covers faults. Love as a bond demands active choices—seeking peace, condescending where needed, and prioritizing the body’s flourishing over personal preferences. That costly love forms a spiritual climate where God’s goodness becomes palpable. [69:01]
• 4. Guard unity against subtle division Division seldom arrives as open conflict; it begins as nitpicking, gossip, and small grievances that the enemy amplifies into estrangement. Spiritual vigilance requires quick confession, gracious correction, and systems of restoration so minor wounds do not become fatal. Remaining alert to the devil’s devices preserves the body’s witness and enables the blessing commanded from the Lord. [73:17]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [23:44] - Beulah and the fountain image
• [24:12] - Salvation ABC and evangelism
• [25:02] - Missionary notes and stories
• [26:49] - Pastoral prayer for needs
• [31:10] - Reading Psalm 133
• [43:56] - Old Testament: anointing explained
• [54:00] - Mount Hermon and blessing imagery
• [59:32] - John 17: unity in Christ
• [69:01] - Practical duties for unity
• [76:31] - Call to repentance and prayer

1. What three things does the Psalmist compare unity among brothers to?
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between the words "good" and "pleasant" in verse 1? [39:25]
3. What was the specific warning given about the holy anointing oil mentioned in verse 2? [51:04]
4. Where does the dew of Hermon flow to geographically, and what significance does this have? [55:49]

1. The anointing of David happened in three stages: privately, over Judah, and then over all Israel. What does this progression suggest about how God often builds unity and recognition? [43:56]
2. Jesus prayed in John 17 that believers would be one just as the Father and Son are one. How does God's own triune nature serve as the foundation and model for our unity?
3. The sermon mentioned that division often starts with "nitpicking, gossip, and small grievances." Why are these seemingly minor things so effective at destroying unity? [01:13:48]
4. The dew from Mount Hermon provided life to the entire region, from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea. In what ways does unity function like this life-giving dew for a church body?

1. Unity reflects God's own oneness and is a spiritual reality we are called to live out. What is one practical step you can take this week to "condescend" or take a lower position to promote peace with a brother or sister? [01:10:13]
2. "Dwell" means to live, move, and function in close proximity, not just episodic friendliness. Which relationship in your life requires more of this "costly love" to cover faults and bear with differences? What would that look like? [46:19]
3. The enemy often sows discord through subtle means like gossip. Is there a situation where you need to ask forgiveness for words that hurt another member or caused disunity? What would it look like to make that right? [01:16:31]
4. The holy anointing oil was not to be used for any common purpose. How does understanding that our unity is sacred and set apart for God's purpose change the way you value it within the church?
5. The Lord commands the blessing where there is unity. What area of your life—your family, workplace, or a ministry—needs this "life forevermore" blessing that comes from pursuing God-honoring unity?