Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 133
The cxxxiii. PSALM.
David being received of all Israel for their King by common and joynt consent, after much disagreement and war among the tribes, some being for and some against him; He shews the happie condition they were now in upon the change, how amiable and acceptable unitie had rendered them to God, what a flourishing Church and Common-wealth they had and should have by it, and that nothing can be a greater blessing to them, nor shall be to the Church and people of God in all ages, than for them to honour their father and head in heaven, by living in brother-hood here on earth.
A song of degrees of David. Psalm cxxxiii.See the title of the 120 Psalm, the Authors name superadded here.
1BEhold, how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unitie.1 COnsider well the singular merciemercy of God in uniting all the tribes, sons of the same father both by nature and adoption, that were so far asunder, at deadly feud, and open war among themselves to the hazard of the whole, had not God graciously over-ruled them to peace and unitie under one head and to be all of one heart. And as the merciemercy so the good and benefit of this union is worthie your consideration, to move you to cherish and nourish it all you can, for besides that Harmonie of hearts is it self an unestimable Jewel and beautiful ornament in the Church, and among the people of God, a very resemblance of that concord and consort which shall be in heaven, the commodities also that issue thence to the publick, and every mans particular weal is very considerable and impulsive, how thereby all things go well and happily forward in Church and Common-wealth, the worship and service of God that flourisheth, the re-publick that does the like, things are now orderly constituted, magistracie maintained, people protected, justice administred, and whereas before we weakened our selves by civil wars, now we are strong to defend our selves, and offend our enemies round about us. In breef, it renders us acceptable to God, comfortable to our selves and an astonishment to our adversaries; both profit and pleasure, yea, all manner of good that can be named is complicate in, and productive from this one comprehensive merciemercy of concord; we for our parts find the sweet of it, and so shall the Church of God allwayes, especially after such sowr dissentious as we have waded through.
2 If I would compare this brotherly union of us,2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garment. & so of the people of God in all ages, in the pleasurable & delectable part of it to any thing, it must be to a nonsuch, for such it is, & I cannot liken it to any thing that in all points better resembleth it, than that rich sacred odoriferous ointment made by the special appointment of God himself (for so is peace & unitie in his Church) for the consecration of Aaron and his sons to their holy office and service, which being plentifully poured upon the High-priests head, did diffuse it self down to his beard, and so from thence to the holy vestments from top to toe; such, in perfect analogie, is this general amity wrought by God among us, in the sweet savour and blessed effects of it; God by me your King and head, (consecrated as it were to mine office by this your unanimous consent and election, as with an holy unction, as well as by Gods immediate designation) conveighing the benefit and sweetness thereof, through the blessing and mediation of the Priestly office and service, as by Aarons beard, down to you again, and so you made happie in the sweet and comfortable benefits and blessings of both, by means of amitie and unitie with them and among your selves; like as the Church mystical united to her head Christ at Gods right hand in glorie, and at brotherly love and amitie in it self, shall be unspeakably blessed with those Divine influences of grace and spirit, derived from her King and Priest Christ Jesus, by the mediation and ministration of his Evangelists and Gospel-ministers, down to all the members of his bodie, partakers of the sweet fruits and benefits of all his offices, and thereby consecrated a sweet savour, even Kings and Priests to God with the selfsame spirit or holy unction, to their infinite honour and consolation.
3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Sion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.3 And as brotherly love and concord is a pleasant and amiable thing in it self, and sweet and acceptable with God, so also it is exceeding; profitable, and brings with it abundance of blessings, peace, God is wont to bless with plentie, whereas wars and discord are accompanied with curses and scarcitie. Look how the fruitful dew that falls upon, and from mount Hermon that fertil hill down into the fields of Bashan, and so abundantly enricheth them to the owners benefit, or look (which is indeed a properer comparison, for brotherly love is a celestial benefit) how the spiritual dew is dispensed from God in heaven on those holy consecrated mountains, Sion and Moriah, where he vouchsafes his presence unto his people, who resort thither to worship him, and where they meet with soul-enriching graces and consolations, othergets blessings than the dew of Hermon, which makes them abound in faith and godliness to their own eternal as well as temporal felicitie; such like is peace and love among the Israel and people of God, it self is a special blessing from heaven and brings with it all manner of blessings from thence, both temporal and spiritual, if ever we mean to be rich and happie, this is the way, to live and love as sons of one father, and mother, God and the Church, members of one body under one head the Messiah, as all Israel shall be through love and obedience to David and his successours ruling in Sion, as types of Christ.