How Very Good And Pleasant It Is ...
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity! ...
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
life forevermore.
-- Psalm 133:1, 3
Theme: God's blessing on the loving family
Outline
1 -- How good and pleasant is family unity.
2 -- First simile: it is costly, like the "precious oil" anointing the priest, symbol of joy, celebration. (See Psalm 45:7.)
3a -- Second simile: it is like dew on the mountains, gentle, refreshing, renewing life.
3b -- Zion -- where God commands his blessing: life forevermore!
Note
• Liturgy
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
For Reflection
• Kindred can mean one's family and relatives, as well as one's fellow believers in covenant with God.
• Each happy home, and each loving congregation is a far-reaching blessing to the whole community.
• Where can unity (concord, mutual love) be found? (See John 17:21; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 2:2.)
• How valuable is this unity? (See John 13:34-35.)
• How costly is it? (See Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 1:19-20; Galatians 5:24-26.)
Prayer
O God, who art our dwelling-place in all generations: Look with favor upon the homes of our land; enfold husbands and wives, parents and children, in the bonds of thy pure love; and so bless our homes, that they may be a shelter for the defenceless, a bulwark for the tempted, a resting-place for the weary, and a foretaste of our eternal home in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-- from Service Book and Hymnal, 1958, p. 273
when kindred live together in unity! ...
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
life forevermore.
-- Psalm 133:1, 3
Theme: God's blessing on the loving family
Outline
1 -- How good and pleasant is family unity.
2 -- First simile: it is costly, like the "precious oil" anointing the priest, symbol of joy, celebration. (See Psalm 45:7.)
3a -- Second simile: it is like dew on the mountains, gentle, refreshing, renewing life.
3b -- Zion -- where God commands his blessing: life forevermore!
Note
• Liturgy
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
For Reflection
• Kindred can mean one's family and relatives, as well as one's fellow believers in covenant with God.
• Each happy home, and each loving congregation is a far-reaching blessing to the whole community.
• Where can unity (concord, mutual love) be found? (See John 17:21; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 2:2.)
• How valuable is this unity? (See John 13:34-35.)
• How costly is it? (See Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 1:19-20; Galatians 5:24-26.)
Prayer
O God, who art our dwelling-place in all generations: Look with favor upon the homes of our land; enfold husbands and wives, parents and children, in the bonds of thy pure love; and so bless our homes, that they may be a shelter for the defenceless, a bulwark for the tempted, a resting-place for the weary, and a foretaste of our eternal home in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-- from Service Book and Hymnal, 1958, p. 273
