The Benefits and Pleasantness of Being in Harmony
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The Blessings of Harmony
When I was a young believer, I started volunteering as a worship leader at the church. At first, I partnered with two other people to lead the Children’s Church, as it was called back then. Later, I led praise and worship for various Bible studies and Sunday morning services.
As a worship leader and musician, I know the difference between harmony and disharmony. When I hear someone singing off-key or instruments out of tune, it makes me cringe. Try as I may, I have a hard time ignoring disharmony, also known as dissonance.
Disharmony distracts me and makes it hard for me to concentrate and focus on worshipping the Lord. When instruments and voices blend harmoniously, the music carries me along in an uplifting flow of worship.
Harmony in worship, or serving the Lord in any capacity, results from everyone focusing on one primary focus—the Lord. As voices and souls blend in union with one another, each person is blessed. This unified agreement with others is the essence of harmony among people.
Harmony in relationships is like a harmonious, free-flowing time of worship. It is good and pleasant for everyone. This blesses the Lord and those in harmony who receive the Lord’s blessings.
Scripture
A song by David for going up to worship.
See how good and pleasant it is
when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!
It is like fine, scented oil on the head,
running down the beard—down Aaron’s beard—running over the collar of his robes.
It is like dew on Mount Hermon, dew which comes down on Zion’s mountains.
That is where the Lord promised the blessing of eternal life.
(Psalm 133:1-3 GW) [Context– Psalm 133]
A song for going up to worship.
Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
all who stand in the house of the Lord night after night.
Lift your hands toward the holy place, and praise the Lord.
May the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
(Psalm 134:1-3 GW) [Context– Psalm 134]
Reflections and Insights
We are given two pictures in Psalm 133 that illustrate the relational harmony of God’s people worshipping the Lord.
When Moses anointed his brother Aaron as the first High Priest of Israel, he did so with pure, scented olive oil. He poured it on top of Aaron's head and the oil dripped down onto his beard and robe.
This anointing with oil represented God's Spirit poured out on Aaron, signifying God's blessing and presence upon Aaron as a High Priest.
The second picture is the dew on Mount Hermon, the highest peak of Israel. This represented a sense of God's presence and blessing. So, David linked the dew of Mt Hermon melting and flowing down towards Jerusalem as a picture of God's blessing coming down on His people.
King David called Jerusalem the City of Zion—the dwelling place of God. The Temple, located in Jerusalem, was where God told Israel He would make His presence known.
Focusing on the Lord as our common point of worship helps us take our eyes off ourselves and each other. This brings a sense of the Lord's presence in our midst, making our fellowship good and pleasant.
In Psalm 134, we have the final pilgrimage song, the last of the fifteen Songs of Ascent.
This psalm gives us a picture of worship also, as did Psalm 133. Some scholars believe it may be the response of the pilgrims leaving Jerusalem after a feast, as they head back to their homes.
This song of praise acknowledges those who serve as worship leaders—singers, priests, and the Levites. It’s a reminder of the whole community gathered to worship the Lord. This is the essence and purpose of worship—humbling ourselves before God as one body of believers.
Reflection—
How have you experienced the goodness and pleasantness of worship and fellowship? See how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony! When believers gather in harmonious worship, God’s blessing will be present.
Prayer Focus—
When you find disharmony in your life or within your soul, call out to the Lord for His peace. Seek out other believers who can pray with you and with whom you can gather in prayer, fellowship, and prayer.
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