How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in amity! It is like precious oil poured on the head running.. . down on “Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Herman were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even peace forevermore. (Psalm 133)

When I watch the news on TV, it is packed with eruptions and emergencies around the world. It is complex and various in the opinions of the speakers.
World changing events are reported almost hourly and interpreted variously . I can hardly bear to watch and listen.

In this world, thousands of years ago, when the entire Western Hemisphere was not known to exist, the civilizations of that ancient time were brutal and full of strife, driven by absolute monarchs that had life and death authority over their subjects. They were plagued with tribal and nationalist competition, hatred, and revenge. The psalmist who wrote Psalm 133 lived in those times, and yet found that there was a blessing in the life that came from an invisible source: The God of the people of God. It was a blessing of peace, and brought an exclamation of, “How good and pleasant when God ‘s people live in unity” Whether the psalmist had experienced such pleasure, or had acquired a vision of it hardly matters, for in the midst of division and strife it proves that there is the possibility of vision and hope, unity and peace.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times, and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. The son is . . . sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Isaiah wrote of this oil of joy at a very dangerous time for Israel: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning.

The oil of joy still anoints our faith in Christ. It releases the fragrance of salvation into our souls and to our world.

Love in Him,

Prue