Psalm 133: 1,2 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard: That went down to the skirts of his garments
Moms everywhere love this verse and quote it at least internally many times, especially in the midst of chaos and strife! Certainly it is good and pleasant when siblings coexist in peace – and the opposite is equally unpleasant. Nothing like a sibling spat to ruin a family outing!
The first part of the verse makes perfect sense but comparing it to oil dripping down Aaron’s beard is, well, strange. Sounds like a mess, not a beautiful sight to be desired! What does the Psalmist mean by this picture and how can we apply it to our lives?
First, let’s begin with context. David penned these words after the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah reunited and he was recognized as King over all. Given that background, it is clear why David would celebrate and advocate unity. After years of division and strife, of fighting not only external enemies but often one another, God’s people were united. Good and pleasant indeed.
Why, then, the comparison to oil, particularly the oil on Aaron’s beard? We need to know who Aaron was, what the oil was, and why it would be running down his beard.
What David is describing here is the anointing of the high priest, Aaron, a ceremony that involved oil. “You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him,” said God through Moses. This oil was both liquid and fragrant. The oil used to anoint Aaron was holy anointing oil, a mixture of four spices in oil. The spices were myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia. The spices were mixed together in olive oil to make a wonderful fragrance – a holy oil. In the anointing ritual, the oil was poured on Aaron’s head and it would flow downward to his beard and beyond.
While it does sound messy (and something I wouldn’t look forward to cleaning up!), the picture here is rich. The oil is beautifully fragrant, pleasing to those nearby. Individually, the spices themselves were not holy – it was the joining together that resulted in a sacred mixture. Additionally, the presence and the flow of the oil is not something Aaron does to himself – it comes from an upward source, flowing down. God poured out his Spirit on the great and final High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church. Like oil flows from hair to beard to collar, the Spirit flows from Head to body, from Christ to church. The church is filled with different “spices” – we are not the same by His design. The beauty of the fragrance comes when we, with different gifts and ideas and backgrounds and personalities, are mixed together for a common purpose. And oh, how good it is when we embrace that unity, when we practice it, when we foster and treasure it. The lesson of Aaron’s oily beard is a lesson of unity. Not just for siblings related by physical birth but especially those related by the Rebirth, by the blood of Christ.