Psalms 133

Psalms 133:1-3

The Priestly Mediator’s service. A song of the ascents: of David. Zion, then, has her glorious King, and the divine dwelling-place is in her midst. The priestly service is established, but we have not yet caught sight of the High Priest Himself. Now we are to do so: how fatal a defect would it be, if He did not appear. For all the lesser priests without Him are of no value. They hold but a derived office. And on the great day of atonement all other priests must needs retire to make way for Him. Moreover, the King alone, as such, will not suffice to bring in blessing for man. Melchizedek may bless Abraham; but only as priest of the Most High God can do so. The King may indeed build the house of God, as we have seen; but only the Priest can furnish it. Nay, only his work can lay the foundation either. Where in answer to the sweet savor of accepted sacrifice the angel of destruction puts his sword into its sheath again, there David says is to be the house of God (1 Chronicles 22:1). The same thing is suggested in the beginning of the last psalm; where David’s trouble is what is to be remembered to him. In the present one we have, on the other hand, the Priest, but no sacrificial work. It is plain that we have to follow out the suggestions contained in each with the aid of knowledge derived from elsewhere. Israel are now presenting the lovely spectacle of a brotherhood in unity among themselves. It is a spiritual unity, too, that characterizes them; as is evident by the similitude employed, which is not merely such, but a true type. This anointing of Aaron, which was without blood, was the testimony of God’s delight in Christ in the descent of the Holy Ghost upon Him for His official work, -the justification of the divine delight in man as seen in Him. Thus from Him it flows to others, although not in their case without blood. The connection of the Priestly Mediator with the pouring out of the Spirit from on high (Isaiah 32:15) on Israel is plainly what is emphasized in this. The dew of Hermon is a different figure. Like a “great white throne” seen through a large part of the land, and from which the river of death runs down to the salt sea of judgment, Hermon speaks, as we have seen elsewhere, of the ban upon evil (Psalms 42:6, notes). Upon the execution of this depends all the blessing of Israel; and the “dew of Hermon,” apart from the consideration of natural causes, though not without their operation, might easily be believed to be as abundant and refreshing as in fact it is. The spiritual dew of Hermon is now descending on the mountains of Zion; purged as they are from all the evil of the past, and consecrated to God for ever: for there hath Jehovah commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." Hence we see what brotherhood in Israel is, from henceforth. It is in the new life to which men must be born again; that they may enter the kingdom. Israel has become a nation such as never was before, -a people all holy (Isaiah 4:3). The new covenant is now their abiding security.