Psalm 133
Scripture
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
~Psalm 133:3, NIV
Quote
“So small”
{Mark Twain on seeing Jerusalem for the first time}
My Thoughts
I had imagined Jerusalem to be big, grand and glorious and Zion to be a majestic spellbinding mountain peak but I was sorely disappointed. Jerusalem was not like anything I had expected. Zion is not a majestic mountain. The Mount of Olives is higher and there is nothing majestic about it. Mount Hermon to the North is majestic and is snow capped. It is impressive and can be seen from miles away. The Jordan river flows from an underground spring at the foot of Mount Hermon. If my memory is accurate, the stream is about 40 feet wide and a foot or two deep and the water is crystal clear. Jerusalem is build on a Craig near the edge of a wilderness. Yet, in spite of its unattrativeness, it is the spiritual center of the world and probably the most important city on earth. My first trip to Israel was in 1990 and I returned in 2022 and I saw a remarkable change in the city. It has grown; it seems much larger to me but I do understand what Twain was talking about. It was not so big in 1990.
I think there is a message in Psalm 133: God uses plain and ordinary things and people. Some people believe that Jesus was physically unattractive and they base this on Isaiah 53:2, He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Yet you have never seen a movie with an unattractive Jesus. Is it possible that Jesus was plain and ordinary in appearance? Would you describe the Israelites as “majestic” or “glorious”? What about believer’s today: are we majestic and glorious? Is the world impressed with us? When they look at us, what do they see? Something great or something to despise and frown on? Let me tell you what makes Jerusalem grand and glorious and it is not its size, walls, or buildings; it is the fact that Jesus died there. Jesus took one of the most unattractive cities in the world and transformed it into a glorious place. Did you catch that last part of Psalm 133:3, For there {Jerusalem} the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.
Jesus can take the plain and the ordinary and transform it into something grand and glorious.
There is another lession is Psalm 133. Unity or harmony is good and pleasant. The NLT says it is wonderful. They do say there is a difference between unity and harmony. You can tie two tom cats together by the tail and hang them across the clothes line and you will have unity but no harmony. The word in Psalm 133 is unity and it does have its perks.
- Unity is rare and should be cherished. In the Children of Israel’s history, they enjoyed only brief periods of unity. Their history is plagued by civil wars.
- Unity creates a climate of joy. It is very pleasant to work with those who have the same goals and no hidden agendas.
- Unity creates energy. A group working together will get more done. Strife depletes energy; it is like spinning your wheels in mud, you are burning fuel but making no progress. Strife will hinder and handicap whereas unity enhances and enables.
- Unity pleases the LORD {John 17:21}
- Unity is refreshing like the anointing oil or the dew. Today we would say, “Like a hot shower or a glass of ice tea.”
Extra
Yesterday started fine but turned out rather hextic for me and most of that is on me. I did have too many places to go but it ended well. I set a pic to our Sunday School class from Dot’s Restaurant on Highway 20. Yes, I was gloating and I should not have done it. I told Steve yesterday evening that the devil made me do it. If you remember the Flip Wilson show, he played the part of a woman named Geraldine and her husband’s name was Killer. Geraldine was prone to go on a shopping spree and spend too much money. When Killer confronted her, the always blamed the devil. She would say, “I didn’t want to buy that dress but the devil made me do it. Yeah, he pulled a gun on me and said, ‘you buy that dress.'”
We have to blame someone; may as well be the devil.
Don’t have any firm plans for today: going to play it by ear.
I hope you have a good Thursday, Thanks for reading the blog. I think I have a new subscriber. May be the sweetest woman in the world and she told me yesterday that she loves me. The only problem is that she is married. I was tempted to let you sleep on this but decided it might cause a few problems. She is married to our son. It is my sweet daughter in law Lori who has the gift of discernment and encouragement. She grades high on compassion and understanding. She has always been my favorite daughter-in-law.
Extra/Extra
~Sunrise Service at New Center April 5 at 7:00 am followed by breakfast
Fish Fry April 8, 6:00 pm
Mem’s Breakfast April 11, 8:00 am
~National Day of Prayer May 7, 5:00 am-11:00 am {Grace Point has from 5:00 am to 6:00} We gather at the Associational Office on highway 31.