After more than a month of “social distancing,” I hope we have all come to a greater appreciation of this psalm. After all, it’s a “song of ascents,” a song intended to be sung by worshippers as they went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the great festivals of the people of God. It was thus as much an anticipation of the joys of being with God’s people as it was a celebration of drawing near to God Himself.

For let’s face it – as individual Christians we can read scripture and pray on our own any time we want to. But we gather to worship on the Lord’s Day in no small part because we enjoy being together. We come together to enjoy the way in which God reveals Himself to His people in the communion of the saints, the fellowship of the church.

David expresses this joy with two images – ointment and dew. In those days, people used olive oil that contained aromatic herbs in order to mark those who had been set apart for kingly or priestly service. It felt good and smelled good, and thus reminds us of the good way we feel when we gather with those we love. And just as this oil ran down Aaron’s beard onto his robes, the love that Christ places in our hearts should radiate out to all our Christian brothers and sisters, no matter where they may be.

In the same way, dew would have had a similar connotation to David – refreshingly cool to the touch in the morning, especially after a hot Middle Eastern night. Such water was truly life-giving, as it was the only moisture that plants would receive during many months of the year.

And isn’t gathering with our church family just as refreshing, just as life-giving? But the good news for us today is that, just as dew covers everything in the morning, our love for one another is everywhere we and our loved ones may be.

So, let’s spread this love however we can today. With our calls and texts and e-mails – and hey, maybe even an old-fashioned letter or two – let’s extend the blessings of God’s grace in Jesus Christ as far as we can. What could be more good and pleasant than that?

Psalm 133 (NASB)

A Song of Ascents, of David .

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing– life forever.