Click here to read PSALM 133 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 133 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Whereas Psalm 119 showed that God would raise the Messiah from the dead to eternal life, Psalm 133 is the fourteenth of 15 “songs of the degrees” (Psalms 120-134) regarding God keeping Hezekiah alive (see the notes on Psalm 120 for more details).
Psalm 133, written by David, shows the Messiah trusting that his anointing and mission would bring eternal life.
Structure
(Messiah’s trust in the Lord)
(Verse 1) Those who trust in the “one man” (Messiah): good and pleasant
(Verse 2) Like the anointing oil for the high priest’s head
(Verse 2) The oil ran down to hem of Aaron’s priestly garments
(Verse 3) Like the dew on Mt. Hermon (in the north)
(Verse 3) The dew came down upon Mt. Zion (in the south)
(Verse 3) The location of God’s blessings in the Messiah: eternal life
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” The Hebrew word translated “unity” can mean “the one” or “the promised one,” referring to the Messiah. It is good and pleasant to dwell in the Messiah and what he has done for us.
Verse 2—“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.” This was according to God’s command to Moses in Exodus 29:7: “Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his [Aaron’s] head, and anoint him.” This foreshadowed the anointing of the true high priest for all time, Jesus Christ (see notes Psalm 110 for details on Jesus Christ as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek).
Verse 3—“As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Mt. Hermon is in the north and Mt. Zion in the south. Jesus Christ was a savior for all of God’s people. He truly brought “life for evermore.” Dew is associated with God’s blessings (Genesis 27:28,39) and His Word (Deuteronomy 32:2). Jesus Christ, God’s living Word, the Word made flesh, brought all spiritual blessings to mankind (Ephesians 1:3).
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader.
The Background, Structure, and Key Scriptures for all 150 Psalms are available from Amazon in a book The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
