Scripture: Psalm 133
Focus: How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! ~Psalm 133:1
Commentary: This brief psalm focuses on the unity of God’s people, kindred souls, centered in God’s blessing. The fullness of communal harmony is possible only because the Source of our unity flows from the highest heavens, the Lord God Almighty. When we are centered on God and not on ourselves, we are able to live into God’s vision for humanity. We work toward unity in receiving and offering God’s love, but not uniformity in our response to God’s love.
We can be different in so many different ways while allowing God’s love to unite our hearts. This LOVE binds us together in ways that are invisible to observation, only visible by our ability to love others unconditionally and abundantly. The Psalmist uses 2 images not readily understood by today’s world to talk about the abundance of God’s love and communal unity that results. The first image is of anointing and not just a finger dab! There is so much oil used that it runs down onto the beard of the anointed one, Aaron, whose beard ran down to the hem of his robe and that is an extravagant, and messy, amount of oil! The second image is of the morning dew that runs down from Mt. Hermon all the way to Zion, and they are hundreds of miles apart!
Reflection: How do you stay centered on God? What are the signs of God’s love in your life? How do you understand unity? Do you agree that we can be united in heart while not demanding uniformity? If not, how do you understand unity in community?
Invitation to Embodied Prayer: As we end our week “walking with psalms,” or “embodied” (prayer with the body) you are invited to engage in a “palms up, palms down” prayer. “Palms down” symbolizes release or letting go while “palms up” indicates receiving. Start your walk, whether you are walking in your neighborhood or if you are walking in your mind. 1st hold your palms down as you engage in “releasing” your thoughts to the point of surrendering to God. Pause in your walk and turn your psalms up as an embodied way of welcoming God’s presence and the gifts you receive from God. This could be a word or a thought or a feeling or a general sense of peace. Know that whatever you receive, it is what you need.
As I explored Psalm 133, I could hear a simple little song playing in my memory because it evokes, for me, a sense of unity in the Body of Christ. It reminds me that even though we are separated, we are always bound together in our love of God … If music is a spiritual pathway for you listen to Bind Us Together, performed during the wilderness of pandemic by Bedok Lutheran Church. Even though the people, young and old, are separated by Zoom frames, I can feel their love and care for one another.
Breath Prayer for the Day:
Breathing in … God of Unity
Breathing out … Bind us together with Love
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