Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!… Without union no Church can be prosperous. This, indeed, is applicable to all societies, whether small or great. A divided family: how unamiable! how helpless! A divided kingdom — a kingdom distracted with rival factions, and where the general welfare is overlooked: how can it stand! Its internal feuds tempt its stronger neighbour to make war upon it, and the aggression succeeds. And with still greater emphasis does this hold good as regards the Church. In this sacred territory no power is recognized except the law of love, and when this disappears the Spirit of God has no choice bug to depart. And when the Spirit is thus grieved, and flies from the scene of discord, who takes His place? Satan, who glories in dissension, and who has no other pleasure than the dark and hateful one of vexing the Church of Christ, and of luring men's souls to perdition. In the Church, if anywhere on earth, peace should reign. If men's minds are agitated by wars and rumours of wars, there should be one place where angry passions are unknown. Let the winds and the rains beat upon the Church: within its hallowed walls harmonious sounds should alone be heard. "In the house of God," it was said nearly thirteen centuries ago, "in the Church of Christ they dwell with united affections, in concord, and in singleness of heart. And therefore came the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. A creature of cheerfulness and simplicity; bitter with no gall; fierce and violent with no savage beak and hooked talons; delighting in the dwellings of men, living together, and rearing their young in an house; flying side by side in their wanderings from their nests; sweetening life with society, and a natural affection; manifesting their peace with gentle kisses; and in all things living according to a law of love. Such simplicity, such love, should be seen in the Church; and from the dove the love of the brethren should take its pattern." (N. McMichael.) Parallel Verses KJV: {A Song of degrees of David.} Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!WEB: See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! |
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