Unity flowing from union with Christ
Read Psalms 133 and 134
1) v1: Ps 133 starts with a call to behold (after another ‘behold…’ in Ps 132:6): What is there to behold here?
- Why meditate (and sing) about unity of brothers?
- How were ‘brothers’ described in the preceding song, Ps 132:15-16?
- How can they be poor/needy and nonetheless satisfied? cf 2Cor 8:9; 6:10
- Even when wealth is not equally distributed, what ensures equality among believers? cf 1Pet 2:9; Jam 2:1-6
2) v2: How does unity resemble ‘precious oil on the head running down…’? cf Jn 3:34 [i.e. from Christ, the head of the church, and not only a trickle, but copiously without measure]
- On our own heads: Transformation of the mind, Ro 8:6; 1Cor 1:10; 2:16; 1Pet 3:8; 2Pet 3:1
- ‘…on the beard of Aaron’ (Lev 8:12): Sanctification and softening of man’s mouth? cf Jam 3:10;
- …and ointment to speak the word of God? Eph 6:10
- v3: ‘..like the (mountain) dew that falls down…’: Yet another image that all such life-giving blessing is from above, not of our own making.
True worship
3) In the order of Songs of Ascents, why sing about unity here?
- Is unity only the theme of Ps 133, or also of 134? Or of all Songs of Ascents?
- Why is there such emphasis in Ps 134:1 on ‘…all you servants of the Lord’? cf Ro 12:18; 1Cor 1:10; 2Cor 13:14; Phil 2:17 What is at stake if only some of them do it and others don’t?
- Read 1Tim 2:8 Could Paul have been inspired there by Ps 134:2? Why?
4) If the Songs of Ascents (lit. ‘of steps’) progress in any logical ‘ascending order’, what could that logic be?
- Read Ps 120:1, 7 How do the final two Songs of Ascents answer the quest (or cry of despair) described in the first?
- Is the peace mentioned by Ps 120:7 an ‘ecumenical’ peace, a promotion of tolerance to avoid conflict? Or is this peace the source of controversy? Why? cf Mt 10:35; Jn 16:2-3 Why is the proclamation of Jesus and his peace bound to stir opposition? Jn 15:18-21
- What then do the first and the last two songs say about the ultimate purpose why God calls his people to ascend and meet at his footstool?
- Why is this so dear to God’s heart?
5) If restoration of peace with God and unity among his people is the ultimate goal, how would you explain that after Ps 120, the worshipers did not directly proceed (or ascend) to sing Ps 134?
- If not only to kill time, why were 13 other songs needed in between?
- Among a total of 7+1+7 songs, where might such perfect symmetry point you to look for the answer? cf Ps 127:1
6) Personal & application
- Why does Ps 133:3 so emphasize that God ‘commanded’ his blessing of eternal life ‘there’ (v3)?
- Where is that?
- Where else might you be tempted to seek it?
- What could it mean ‘to come and join all the servants of Christ’ who stand by night in God’s (spiritual) house and (still) ‘bless his name’ (Ps134:1)? How can you help one another to live like that?
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