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Scrolling through Psalms, I came across Psalm 122. It’s best known for verse 1, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let’s go to the house of the Lord.’”
Yet the imagery is interesting.
Yet the imagery is interesting.
It’s a psalm of David so it’s his point-of-view.
He rejoices as part of a group that’s decided to go to the “house of the Lord.” The decision was made as a group so there’s decisive unity.
He rejoices as part of a group that’s decided to go to the “house of the Lord.” The decision was made as a group so there’s decisive unity.
Vv. 2-4 describe David’s group in Jerusalem, “Our feet were standing within your gates, Jerusalem — Jerusalem, built as a city should be, solidly united, where the tribes, the Lord’s tribes, go up to give thanks to the name of the Lord. (This is an ordinance for Israel.)”
David sings “our feet were standing” in verse 2. That’s unity.
For the 21st century church, that should be unity within a local congregation and within the global Church.
For the 21st century church, that should be unity within a local congregation and within the global Church.
Verse 3 describes Jerusalem as being built as a city should be built. The same way a church must be built. SOLIDLY UNITED.
The word solidly in the Hebrew is “chabar” which is a verb (action word) meaning unite, join, bind together, be coupled, have fellowship with, etc. It also means to be compact.
The word united in the Hebrew is “yachad” which is an adverb (an expression) meaning union, together.
The word united in the Hebrew is “yachad” which is an adverb (an expression) meaning union, together.
These 2 words used together stress the importance of unity among God’s people.
United in the gospel.
United in identity.
United in purpose.
United in the gospel.
United in identity.
United in purpose.
Verse 4 tells us all of Israel’s tribes (all 12 of them) would go to Jerusalem to give thanks to God.
This is unity.
It was an ordinance for Israel. Ordinance = testimony.
This is unity.
It was an ordinance for Israel. Ordinance = testimony.
Here’s my final thought.
Unity is active. It takes effort. It takes sharing life together.
Solid unity is compact. It means to come together but unity requires pressure to be applied over an indeterminate amount of time. And that pressure + time = one-ness as a people.
Unity is active. It takes effort. It takes sharing life together.
Solid unity is compact. It means to come together but unity requires pressure to be applied over an indeterminate amount of time. And that pressure + time = one-ness as a people.
May we, as believers, be united. Not only within our local congregations but as God’s people in God’s Kingdom.
I have more to say about unity in the church, but I won’t keep this thread going. But if you’re interested, look at the concept of unity, language, and purpose in...
Genesis 11:6 (the Tower of Babel)
Acts 2 (the story of Pentecost)
Genesis 11:6 (the Tower of Babel)
Acts 2 (the story of Pentecost)
