In our times of conflict and economic distress, psalm 3 is like water on parched ground. Psalm 117, with two verses, is the only shorter psalm. We are nearing the end of our series on the psalms of ascent, and today we come to a psalm that speaks about living together in christian unity. Psalm 3 is a short psalm and one that, at first glance, does not have much content. God is interested in unity and wants us to be united in love so that his spirit can dwell in the church and in us and families as wellin a place where there is disunity, the spirit of god is far. A pilgrim song of david3how wonderful, how beautiful,when brothers and sisters get along. How sad is it to see religion wearing a coat of divers colours. God is interested in unity and wants us to be united in love so that his spirit can dwell in the church and in us and families as wellin a place where there is disunity,the spirit of god is far. An easyenglish translation with notes about 1200 word vocabulary on psalm 3.
The bible in contemporary language 2002 by eugene peterson. Its like the dew on mount hermon flowing down the slopes of zion. Psalm 3 three times a year, devoted hebrew families would leave their homes on a pilgrimage to worship god in jerusalem. How good and pleasant it is when gods people live together in unity. He knew by experience the bitterness occasioned by divisions in families, and was well. Yes, thats where god commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.
What follows is important and deserves our attention. Apr 12, 2015 psalm 3 was a song of greeting, of anticipation, and of celebration of that holy time. In some ways there isnt much more to it than that, but a little background might help us think about this a bit more deeply. Psalm 3, is exactly what the church of christ jesus is lacking todaythe ministers of god lacks this, the members of church congregation lacks this. Unity should be the main concern of every child god especially in churches at home. A word list at the end explains all the words that have a star by them. Psalm 3 is the fourteenth of fifteen psalms that run from psalm 120 to psalm 4. Psalm 3 is traditionally ascribed to king david, in the eleventh century bce. Hermon, a 9200foot peak at the extreme northern portion of palestine, provided the major water supply for the jordan river by its melting snow.
The jewish people sang psalm 3 to express their joy in coming together for worship at the temple, where god promised to meet them. Its like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard,flowi. One of the keys to unity in a church is to view your church as. Joy, providence, security, help, communityevery aspect of life were discussed in these psalmswhich have become a picture of the christian life itself. How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together as one. The symbol of the children of god is peace and unity. Psalm 3 commentary by nancy koester working preacher. What these songs of ascents were is still debated among scholars.
People who are divided and estranged from one another need gods call to live together in unity. The notes explain some of the words with a star by them. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on aarons beard, down on the collar of his robe. Psalm 3 niv bible how good and pleasant it is when god. This is the fifth psalm of trouble, but there is very little trouble in it compared to the previous four. However, scholars say that the psalms were a literary genre unknown at the time of david. We see no reason for depriving david of the authorship of this sparkling sonnet.
The basis of christian unity brothers the basis of christian unity is our common relationship to the heavenly father. This most delightful little psalm summons our attention to the exceeding excellence of this grace of unity, and by so doing it invites us to consider what are its elements and conditions. The hebrew simply means, how pleasant a thing it is for those who are brethren to dwell. Psalm 3, is exactly what the church of christ jesus is lacking today the ministers of god lacks this, the members of church congregation lacks this. A pilgrim song of david how wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along. Psalm 3 msg a pilgrim song of david how wonderful, bible. Living together in unity psalm 3 how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Jun 04, 2007 psalm 3 is a psalm about true unity, the unity of the spirit, a unity that gives strength and on which god pours his blessing. Find top church sermons, illustrations, and powerpoints for preaching on psalm 3. The topic of the psalm is the joy felt in the reuniting of the nation in its restoration from the scattering and depression of the captivity. If there be but one god, as god is one, so let them that serve him be one. A psalm of christian unity sermon by dave mcfadden, psalms.
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down. A and ascents behold brothers david dwell for good how in is it live of pleasant song to together unity when. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running. Psalm 3 1 behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. On the climb, they would sing songs known as the songs of ascent. For there the l ord l has commanded the blessing, life. In some ways there isnt much more to it than that, but a little background might help us. This psalm is a brief encomium on unity and brotherly love, which, if we did not see the miseries of discord among men, we should think needless.
David guzik commentary on psalm 3, which speaks of the goodness of unity among the people of god, suggesting how that unity can be maintained. Its like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, flowing down aarons beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. Psalm 3 is the 3rd psalm of the book of psalms, generally known in english by its first verse, in the king james version, behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Psalm 3 begins with an exhortation to behold that is, to take notice. A psalm of christian unity sermon by dave mcfadden. God will always visit us when we are at peace and unity with one another. Strictly there is no hebrew equivalent for the words rendered in unity. Originally published by navpress in english as the message. At three verses, this is one of the shortest psalms in the psalter.
How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along. Sep 18, 2017 psalm 3, background and a small message from brother vijayan george. The psalm imparts blessing and life to gods people. Apr 19, 2009 the jewish people sang psalm 3 to express their joy in coming together for worship at the temple, where god promised to meet them. Psalm 3 the message bible the blessings of brotherly unity. It may be seen, for it is the characteristic of real saints,therefore fail not to inspect it.
Commentary, psalm 3, nancy koester, preaching this week, 2009. Psalm 3 is a song of ascentsa song for going up to a high place. He wraps up by pointing out the blessing of unitylife. A declaration of the blessing of true unity horizontal relationships v. The religious world today seems to be more concerned than ever with the unity of the church. David declares how good unity is among gods people, then gives two pictures to communicate it. A word list at the end explains all the words that have a star. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. Read all of psalm 3 exposition explanatory notes and quaint sayings hints to the village preacher title. Most of your bibles will have as a title, a psalm or song of ascents or degrees. Valdir fernandes, 12 is an eloquent description of the beauty of the fraternal love, and for this reason, much more appropriate to illustrate a society whose existence depends on those noble principles. Psalm 3 was a song of greeting, of anticipation, and of celebration of that holy time.
It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even aarons beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. Psalm 3 niv bible how good and pleasant it is when. Hymns for psalm 3 from, an authoritative index of hymns and hymnals. Psalm 3, background and a small message from brother vijayan george. For there the lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore. We just celebrated the 240 th anniversary of the united states. Commentary on psalms 3 by matthew henry blue letter bible. In the greek septuagint version of the bible, and in its latin translation in the vulgate, this psalm is psalm 2 in a slightly different numbering system. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.
In the christian tradition, psalm 3 is often used as a text for the observance of the lords supper, which calls the whole people of god to a family table where all are welcome. It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even aarons beard, coming down. Calvary free presbyterian church 9 mullaghboy hill road magherafelt co londonderry northern ireland bt45 5hq. Psalm 3 kjv behold, how good and how pleasant it is. Click here for more messages from the psalms of ascent series. In these psalms the pilgrims have finally arrived, and now we focus on the certainty of gods promise in psalm 2, the unity of gods people in psalm 3 and the beauty of gods blessing in psalm 4. Last week we looked at god coming to dwell with us. It may be significant that those three are among the 15 songs of ascents, but i have not been able to determine the significance.
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