Songs of Ascent - Community (Psalm 133)

Our psalm this week begins with these words. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. (Psalm 133:1)

Psalm 133

Keep looking to Jesus and seeing others through His eyes.

Now this is not a superficial, quaint picture of community, but rather a deeply impactful relational connection between God’s people together and with their God. This communal unity strikes a chord in the hearts of people around them and points them to the Lord. And God’s blessing resides upon His people as they live out unity, love, and commitment to each other.

I saw this firsthand as I sat under a house in a remote village in rural Cambodia. Baptist World Aid Australia has been collaborating with a local Cambodian Christian partner organisation, and our visiting team was sitting in on a meeting with the local village leadership team. A local man who was part of this village leadership team stood to share of his transformation. He shared that he had been an angry man, known for drinking and making people upset. But he had been watching the way this group was making a difference in their village. After a while, he asked if he could join the local leadership team. There he found acceptance, care, and he began to contribute to the life and health of the community. His drinking stopped and he became less angry and more patient with others. Love flowed through the group and into his life and he was changed.

Psalm 133 declares truth in song, as we walk with God and allow His love to transform our relationships with one another, blessings flow. The reality of His presence, forgiveness, compassion, and courage become evident in our community of believers and it draws others to Christ.

Unity is key. A unity not of our strength but our identity of being one in Christ. Keep looking to Jesus and seeing others through His eyes. That is how we maintain and strengthen our community, unity, and God’s blessing.

God bless,

Pastor Stephen