Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Behold, how good and how pleasant – Unity among brethren is, according to this psalm, a good and pleasant thing. On the other hand, disunity is bad and hateful. The former is from heaven; the latter, from hell. For brethren to dwell together in unity - The key word in this verse is the word “unity”. People may dwell together but not in unity. Family members may dwell together under one roof and yet not united. The psalmist cares little for external unity, if the spirit of oneness does not animate the corporate whole. He says the only good and pleasant thing that can happen among brethren is only when they are dwelling together in unity. Christians can worship together in the same building but not in unity. We see it in the church in Corinth. The Christians were dwelling together. They were together in worship. But they were not dwelling together in unity. How did they dwell together? Paul said of them: “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12). The whole church at Corinth was divided into different factions; they were divided. While the Corinthians had not separated into various denominations, they had formed several parties within the church. There were four existing parties: A Pauline party, named after the one who started the church; a party of Apollos, who were probably carried away by their admiration of his eloquence; a party of Peter, called here by his Hebrew name of Cephas, who were perhaps thinking he was the chief among the apostles; and a fourth party who followed only Christ. The experience in Corinth is similar to that which is happening in the world today. The Christendom (the collective body of those who claim to follow Christ throughout the world), is divided into thousands of sects and all claiming to follow Christ while calling themselves by different names. They meet together and share pulpits but they are not united. Each sect holds on to its doctrines and all claim to be Christians. Paul has this question for them: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). Paul will not allow himself to be flattered even by those who made his name their party cry: “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” (1 Corinthians 3:5). Why should a party be formed which should be named after Paul, or after Luther, or after Wesley, etc? Paul said he was but a minister of God, used by the God of all grace. How will the psalmist view the current state of Christendom? Will he say it is good and pleasant? You know the answer. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Only on this basis can there be unity: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). That ye all speak the same thing – It refers to the teachings and preaching. Do denominations preach the same doctrine? To “speak the same thing” stands opposed to speaking different and conflicting things. Paul says there is only one faith, referring to the system of faith, the entire body of doctrines (Ephesians 4:5). He says if anyone preaches a different doctrine is cursed (Galatians 1:6-9). God desires unity. Christ prayed for it (John 17:21). Unity in truth is good and pleasant.