Wednesday, August 30, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading 
Psalm 133

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,

on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.

For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore. (NRSV)

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Reflection
Verse one of this psalm describes in sublimely simple words living in unity: unity is “good and pleasant.” The similes in verses two and three convey how unity feels. Sacred oil poured over Aaron’s head, anointing him for the priesthood (Exodus 30:23–30), ran down his scalp to his beard and collar in soothing rivulets. Unity feels as refreshing as the heavy dew that forms on Mount Hermon (a three-peaked snowcapped mountain standing 9,232 feet above sea level) would feel to someone situated in the arid environs of Mount Zion (which rises to just 2,510 feet). According to theologian John Gill, “David may have composed this psalm after he was unanimously crowned as king of the united tribes of Israel,” a blessing that unified, for a time, a people with diverse traditions.

A children’s book by Barney Saltzberg entitled One of These Is Not Like the Others illustrates obstacles to unity and how unity feels when it is achieved. The book presents a series of two-picture vignettes. In one, the first picture shows an elephant and three Holstein cows standing upright on their hind legs. The elephant’s back is turned toward the cows. Each cow’s spots differ slightly in size, shape, and position. Two cows are eying the elephant warily. Surprisingly, one cow is looking at the reader! The text says, “One of these is not like the others.” In the next picture, the elephant is facing the cows and has grasped a hoof with its trunk, the three cows have joined hooves, and the creatures are smiling and dancing. The text proclaims, “And that’s just fine with us.”

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Prayer
Lord, help us to understand, seek, and savor the blessings of unity as we grow into obeying your commandment to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves. Amen.

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Written by Jeanne Griffin, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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