“How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.”
Psalm 133:1-2 NIV

All last week, I have been stewing over the thought, “Why does God compare living in unity to anointing?” This Psalm is a great example to share how I read the Bible. Exegesis is the process of analyzing a text for interpretation and explanation, especially scripture. It’s important to understand: who is the author, who is his target audience, and why he is telling them these things. Scripture needs context for understanding. There are tons of theories on how to read the Bible. I started at the beginning and have found that exegesis happens naturally, because I understand what Israel is experiencing in the moment and who the person is that is writing the narrative.

“Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate.”
Leviticus 8:10-12 NIV

King David is writing this Psalm about Moses’ brother, Aaron. This description is Aaron being anointed priest. In the Old Testament, the only people that were anointed were priests, prophets, and kings; there was also an anointing of materials. The people and things were consecrated. Which is they were set apart, or chosen by God for a specific assignment or duty.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV

We should chase down the meaning of scripture for understanding and context. First how it applies to the Old Testament and then what it means in the New Testament. Initially God, chose certain people and things to anoint. In the New Testament, Apostle Paul is explaining to the Church at Ephesus and Corinth that when we believe in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we all receive the Holy Spirit. We all are anointed.

“After David finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.”
1 Samuel 18:1 NIV

Now that we understand anointing, we need to next understand David’s life and how he believes that anointing is like God’s people living in unity. The story of King David starts in 1 Samuel 16. Saul is Israel’s first king. God rejects Saul and David is anointed as Israel’s second king. David’s battle with Goliath brings David close to Saul and he works for him. Jonathan is Saul’s eldest son (and next in line as king). Jonathan and David become best friends. Do you see the conflict here?

“When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang:
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.’
Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. ‘They have credited David with tens of thousands,’ he thought, ‘but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?'”
1 Samuel 18:6-8 NIV

“Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, ‘My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.'”
1 Samuel 19:1-3 NIV

David is gaining in popularity within the kingdom. Saul becomes jealous and insecure and plots to kill David. He includes his son, Jonathan in on the plot. Jonathan chooses to warn David.

“As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”
1 Samuel 20:8 NIV

“Then Jonathan said to David, ‘I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family- not even when the Lord has cut off everyone of David’s enemies from the face of the earth. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.’ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.”
1 Samuel 20:12-17 NIV

David is loyal to God, first. Jonathan is loyal to God, first. Both of these men are acting selflessly.

“While David was at Horesh in the desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.’ The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.”
1 Samuel 23:15-18 NIV

Jonathan is choosing God’s will. That allows him to help David. How many of us can be “Jonathan”? How many of us have a “Jonathan” in our lives?

God’s standard for community is that we help each other overcome challenges and we help each other fulfill destiny.

“How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.”
Psalm 133:1-2 NIV

Living together in unity is community. We are all community; God’s standard for community is for it to be like anointing. We should all be willing to help each other to achieve God’s purpose for our lives. Even when it is at our own expense. This is very anti-worldview, but imagine what life would be like if we all are less self-interest-only-aligned. We would all be aligned to God’s will and through that alignment we become our best selves.

“It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.”
Psalm 133:3 NIV

Mount Hermon was located at the northeast border of ancient Israel. It was a major source of water for the region. The Jewish people relied on the dew and rain to water their crops. Mount Zion is where God’s people reside with him. God’s standard for community is that it has our provisions to be fruitful. Can you imagine what community would be if everyone is fed and fruitful?

“Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.”
1 Samuel 25:28-29 NIV

“Then Saul said to David, ‘May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.'”
1 Samuel 26:25 NIV

God’s standard for community is that everyone is operating in purpose and is fruitful, because we are to each help one another. The things that can hinder us from showing up this way, is that not everyone believes in God and even their belief in God does not assure that they will operate at this standard. However, if you read the rest of 1 Samuel, we find out that what others do isn’t important. God is in control. Even when it looks like He isn’t. What we do is important. And even how we respond to others’ harm is important to God too. David had several chances to kill Saul, but he respected his anointing as king. David does become king, because God’s promise will happen. And David’s enemies are dealt with because we all reap what we sow.

Finally, we have to choose to be the standard because others are watching and our choices affect their future choices. We have to be the standard. This is Abigail speaking to David and his men. David, Abigail, and Nabal story is in 1 Samuel 25.

“For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.”
Psalm 133:3 NIV

God wants us to be in community and for the community to operate according to His standard. This is the place that God blesses.