INTRODUCTION

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Unlike the unity of unbelievers and heathen, the Lord rejoices in the unity of His people. If anybody knew the difficulties of division it was David. He spent a great deal of his life running from a king and people who were against him. Even in the beginning of his reign, the people were divided (2 Samuel 2:8-11 [8] But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; [9] And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. [10] Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. [11] And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
See All...). It was not until 7 1/2 years later that the people were united in David (2 Samuel 5:1-5 [1] Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. [2] Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. [3] So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. [4] David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. [5] In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
See All...). When the people dwelt in unity, David rejoiced. He likened it to the source of spiritual life for the nation of Israel, the priesthood (Psalm 133:2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
See All...), and to the source of physical life in the dew of Hermon (Psalm 133:3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Read Genesis 13:5-9 [5] And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. [6] And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. [7] And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. [8] And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. [9] Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
  See All.... This conflict could have ended in a fight, but Abraham says in Genesis 13:8And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
  See All... why that should not happen: "for we be brethren." Hebrews 13:1Let brotherly love continue.
  See All... says, "Let brotherly love continue." Are you doing your part to make things pleasant in your home and at church?
• The anointing of Aaron was a monumental moment in the history of the nation of Israel. Why would David use that as a description of the blessedness of unity?
• The dew of Hermon sustains a great deal of life at its base and throughout the land of Israel. How is that like unto the time when brethren dwell together in unity?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to make the unity sweet in your local church.
• Ask God to teach you what unity is and how it can be obtained.

HYMN

Behold, How Pleasant and How Good

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