stephen R Harrison

Unity, anointing, and blessing go together. Without God’s anointing by His Holy Spirit, there can be no unity. Where people are not united in His Spirit, there is no blessing of God. In Psalm 133, David conveyed in three short verses that the Holy Spirit’s presence in the lives of His people brings unity that is good and pleasant (v. 1), anointing that binds believers together (v. 2), and blessings that refresh (v. 3). David understood disunity. Saul tried to kill him. David was on the run from Saul for approximately a decade and unable to be settled at home. He even knew the disunity of a marriage caused by adultery. He also experienced unity. He united a divided kingdom as king. He also repented of his adultery and was reunited to the Lord. It is good and pleasant when God’s people live together in unity! Living together in unity requires effort on the part of everyone involved. Necessary ingredients for unity are forgiveness, mercy, grace, repentance, compassion, selflessness, and a host of other godly attributes. Unity among God’s people is amazing to witness and experience. So is disunity! God’s people strive for and united by the Spirit of God at whatever cost necessary.

The unity of verse one is illustrated in the following two verses with similes “like precious oil poured on the head of Aaron” and “like the dew of Hermon falling on Mount Zion”. This oil and dew help to convey how unity flows into the lives of others by the Spirit of God. When a high priest was anointed with oil, the oil was poured on their head and it ran down their face, clothing, and body. It ran down the ephod and breastplate worn by the high priest that had the twelve tribes of Israel’s names inscribed on it. This anointing symbolized that the oil of blessing was on the high priest but also extended to the entire community of God. How true it is when God’s leaders are in unity that those they lead are also in unity! As pastors, elders, deacons, and ministry leaders are walking in the anointing and unity of the Lord, so those they lead and serve will as well.

In verse 3, just as the dew that ran down Mount Hermon ensured life-sustaining water was supplied to the underlying communities below, the flow of unity and anointing of the Spirit is essential to the community of God. The church today is blessed when it allows the flow of God’s Spirit to anoint and bring unity among the believers. When the life-giving flow of the Spirit is halted then unity, anointing, and blessing ceases as well. How can everyone in the church get along and accomplish the will of God? Only by the Spirit of God flowing freely in their lives with His anointing and unity. If a church wants to be blessed, which is being full of God’s presence and activity, it must humble itself and become vessels in which His Spirit can be poured and channels in which His Spirit can flow. Pride and numerous other sins can put a stopper in the vessel and a dam in the channel of God’s work in life and church. May we not hinder the work and presence of the Spirit of God in His Church and Kingdom!

Questions:

1. Are your words and actions promoting unity in your marriage, relationships, and church?
2. Are you hindering the flow of the Spirit?
3. What is preventing the blessings of God in your life?

Prayer:
Lord, help me walk in unity. Help me not hinder the work and presence of Your Spirit. I desire to be a vessel and a channel Your Spirit can use to bring blessing. Correct me when I am causing disunity. Help me not hinder your anointing. Help me be a blessing. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.