Dwelling Together in Biblical Unity

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

 

Psalm chapter 133 is one of the shortest chapters in the entire Bible, coming in at only three verses. Yet within it is found one of the greatest mysteries that we’ll ever hear of. Unity.

 

Unity, what is it? Is it merely agreement? Is it comradery? Is it men simply tolerating one another “in love?” For starters, we must understand that *this* type of unity is not one that the world can know. The unity that David speaks of here is specific and not for everyone. It is amongst brothers. So, one must rightly first ask, are the two parties in consideration brothers?

 

Although we’ve been taught that unity is merely agreeing, this is simply not the case. In a world of open acceptance that can be summed up by saying “Aren’t we really just all exactly the same?” or “Let’s just love one another.”, giving requirements to biblical unity can be challenging. In our era of belief systems and religions that are all intermingled, biblical unity (amongst brothers) becomes quite a challenge.

 

Few want to use the Bible to define who is a brother and even less want to take the bold step of walking according to what It reveals. It is costly for the one that does not believe that ignoring difficult things equals unity. Despite what it feels like and what we have been told, only those who are willing to disagree, endure long and abase themselves before a brother will ever even have a chance to walk in the unity that today’s verse speaks of. Many times I wonder if I will ever be able to even do it myself. And I *really* want it!

 

So, assuming we take the necessary time to confirm “brotherly status”, we must venture out into establishing true unity. A literal dwelling together. Unity here, in Hebrew (yahad), first appears with Abram and Lot in Genesis chapter 13. Wouldn’t you know it, first mention is telling us that these two men could *not* dwell together in unity. They had to separate. I’ve taught on this before and it remains quite powerful. These two men had to separate for an interesting reason – “for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together”.

 

Friend, this is where we find who is our brother. This is where we find who is truly willing to dwell together in unity. Words mean little. Actions must speak and reveal one’s posture of humility. Are *both* parties involved equally unified in laying side “their individual substance?” in order to dwell together in unity?

 

I’ll be fifty years old this year, and I have only had mere glimpses of this mystery, called unity. It is good. It is precious, lovely and delightful, as David says. And…. it is incredibly rare. Many things may masquerade as biblical unity, but close examination rule most out as mere tolerance, comradery or even coercion. Many believe that they already walk in it but have never endeavored to learn how to disagree with a brother, yet remain together, in a unity that supersedes doctrinal agreement.

 

Lastly, unity is not merely agreeing on a matter, whether it be spiritual or natural. It is not simply a communal approach towards how to live. It is not an agreed upon doctrinal coherence. It is much, much more. I would submit that true biblical unity, that David speaks of as so incredibly wonderful, can only be found when a man who is willing to lay aside “his great substance” meets another man willing to do likewise. As the Hebrew word describes, it is a literal union of men laying down all that they are in hopes for attaining a unity that only the Spirit can bring about.

 

It is rare. It is unpopular. It will cost a man everything. And, it is good and pleasant, when brothers dwell together in unity. Selah. - J