Hinei Mah Tov!
‘Hinei mah tov umah nayim shevet achim gam yachad’...goes the simple Jewish tune written from the first verse of Psalm 133. We sing this often in our home. I thought perhaps, if I taught my children a song about ‘living together in unity’ they would be more open to trying it. After all, what parent doesn’t love the peace, harmony and tranquility that comes with true yachad – or UNITY?
This wee little tune our Heavenly Father has used to teach me more things than I could ever imagine…not only as it relates to my family, but much more as it relates to HIS. Yachad is a Hebrew word that means ‘to be (or become) one unit, or togetherness’. If something is not united, then we refer to it as divided. The concept of yachad sounds wonderful, right? Well, it’s not so simple in achieving unity in our homes or churches, is it? That is because it requires death to my rights…death to my ‘self’ and death to yours as well.
This togetherness of brothers/sisters (yachad in the Spirit) is lovely and beautiful to our Heavenly Father because it means we are bearing His fruit and accomplishing His purposes in our lives. Can you hear the echoes of the Creation account in this beautiful Psalm?
“And God saw everything that He had made and behold, it was very good.”~ Genesis 1:31
Peering into Galatians 5:19-22, we can see the difference in the wording ‘fruit (Gk. – karpos, singular) of The Spirit’ verses ‘works (Gk. – erga, plural) of the flesh’. The plural form of the word ‘works’ indicates more than one – or something that is divided. Contrast this with the fruit of His Spirit which is always in perfect harmony and UNITY. Whereas the works of the flesh can only produce division and ultimate destruction. Are you with me?
So why is it so good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity? I believe as we dive a little deeper, you just might be astounded at the implications. As David penned the psalm under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he was very much aware of what the ‘precious anointing oil’ and the ‘dew of Hermon’ signified. Thus, he used these expressions. Think with me for a moment…when Aaron was appointed as high priest (Exodus 30:22), he was anointed with a holy oil that consisted of four aromatic spices – myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia (mixed with olive oil). He smelled exquisite afterwards! Everyone knew that he and his sons had received this anointing by the engaging aroma permeating the air as they walked by. This, my friend, is representative of His Spirit’s work in His own anointed ones (1 John 2:20,27).
The Spirit’s work of unity is designed to draw others into the Kingdom with its irresistible qualities – something to be greatly admired. What about the ‘dew of Hermon’? Mt. Hermon, on the northern tip of Israel, is very high and therefore received much dew. Dew is the replenishing rain that God sends for the bountiful harvest! Imagine the abundance of fruit on the top of that mountain!
Are others drawn to you by your engaging aroma and abundant fruit? Our spirits (inner man) were never meant to be divided in fleshly works. But that is what happens when we are not in harmony with our brothers and sisters in the LORD. The LORD reminds me occasionally that a division of my mind (lack of shalom) ensues when I work at being ‘the one’ instead of working at ‘becoming one’ with my Kingdom family.
Only through yachad in The Spirit of the LORD is the blessing of everlasting life found. Now this is pleasant, isn’t it?
July 21, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
Thank you for visiting my blog and your sweet comments. Thanks also for visiting my daughter’s.
It’s nice to meet you.
Julie
July 21, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
Carmen….
That was wonderful…I wish with all of my heart that the “Church” could come together in unity…
I always learn something here…:)
It’s always such a wonderful visit!!!
peace! shalom!
hugs,
lori
July 21, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
thank you Lori…you’re always so encouraging!
Shalom Sista!
July 21, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Just wanted to say thank you for the note and for visiting my blog. I enjoyed stopping by yours.
July 22, 2008 @ 2:48 am
Carmen, what an interesting and wonderful post! I hope that I draw others with the pleasing aroma of Christ! I’m working on that!!
Shalom! 🙂
July 23, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Thanks so much for sending me an e-mail. I’ll be interested in visiting your sight more and getting acquainted with you.
Susan
July 23, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
July 23, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
What an awesome post. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings!
Cheryl
July 23, 2008 @ 6:36 pm
Wow, beautiful sentiments. I sang in a Jewish temple for many years during the High Holy Days and know that tune well. I love how you combine OT and NT, Hebrew and English. Thanks for your comment at the cafe, as well. Blessings to you today.
July 24, 2008 @ 3:05 am
I need to teach my children that song. We need some yachad up in here!! All day long they fuss about silly stuff. This was great. Did you say I needed to smell good to have yachad or I needed some yachad to smell good. Hmmm…. I’m going to have to read that again. LOL.
July 26, 2008 @ 12:57 am
Great post. Oh yes, love the unity in the house. 🙂 But within the family of Christ it is the most wonderful.
July 27, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
Funny. I preached on that passage (Galatians 5.16-26) just this morning…
“Whereas the works of the flesh can only produce division and ultimate destruction.”
This is Paul’s argument throughout Galatians. The more you try to keep the law, the more you break it. Keeping the law (in Galatians) is “walking in the flesh. (Shocked?)
Solution? If you MUST have a commandment (a law!): love your neighbor (5.14). Otherwise, just walk in the spirit, says Paul. God will work the fruit of the spirit. After all, we have Jesus. “What more do we need?” Paul would say.
Yachad, indeed.
August 5, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
one day, our fellowship sing a song about this verses:
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
~ Psalm 133″
The song is really stuck in my mind and so romantic. What a fellowship!
i like it to be here sister.
have a blessed day!