A Psalm of Community
Reading for Sunday 4.2–Tuesday 4.4
The life of God’s people is always situated within community. Wholeness of life is experienced both in relationship to God, and to one another. Entering Holy Week, Jesus reminds us that His crucifixion and resurrection were to be remembered, expressed, and experienced within His newly created community.
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Psalm 133*
A Song of Community
1 How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live in unity!
2 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.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained His blessing,
life for evermore.
*Translation by Walter Brueggemann
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A Psalm of Community
Psalm 133 picks up many of the previous themes from the Psalms of Ascent. We again see the community under the life-giving blessing of God's presence situated in Zion. The phrase used for unity, the focal blessing of the psalm, is the idea of togetherness. Today we'd understand this idea as rich, thriving community. Anyone who's tasted a gift like this understands how good it is, especially when it's gone.
This profound blessing is depicted with two powerful similies of grace. The first is the anointing of Aaron as priest. This symbolic ritual of consecration set Aaron apart as holy and chosen. The psalmist likens living in community with the moment Aaron feels the oil falling upon his forehead, down his face, and down to his robes. The second equates the cool life-giving dew that seemingly appears from nowhere, blessing the Holy Mountain of Jerusalem. Both similies depict God's provision and God's bestowal of a gift falling from above. Thus the community is both itself a blessing given by Yahweh while also living under the blessings of Yahweh.
The psalm ends with a reminder that at the center of the Israelite community stands Zion, the place of God's presence. It is from here that these life-giving blessings flow. Thus wholeness of life, a life of shalom, is found in closeness to Yahweh and lived out within the community.
It's odd going into Holy Week with a psalm of such optimism and joy. Yet psalm 133 is quite perfect when we think about it. It matches the hopeful shouts of "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday, celebrating Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem to worship on Zion. While it also reminds us that wholeness of life will always be found in God's presence and exist in the community. Jesus tells us this much on Maundy Thursday, a day where we commemorate Jesus' washing of the disciple's feet. This week of reflecting, remembrance, and celebration is best observed amid the rich community created by Jesus.
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Reflect with a friend
In what ways have you experienced community as a blessing? Do you feel like you experience this now? Why do you think that is?
How does the psalm’s vision of a whole life being centered on God’s presence and God’s community challenge your vision of a whole life?
Ultimately God is the giver of life. Take a moment to reflect and share with your friend the places you see God’s gracious hand of provision in your life now. How do these help direct your gaze towards the ultimate fulfillment of life awaiting us in the future?
