A bearded friend welcomed me to the beard club. There are organizations, special events, and an entire culture around having beards. That was also my introduction to beard oil, and I learned it can be a little messy.
It's funny to me that Psalm 133 uses oil on a beard as an image of unity for God's people. As much as we all want unity, we aren't always sure how to make it. But we will affirm that it is "very good and pleasant" when we have it.
According to the psalm, unity is like oil.
Now, not just any oil you might find me using. It is the precious oil poured over Aaron’s head at his anointing. It runs down his beard, down his clothing, all the way to the collar of his robes. Beautiful and messy, if you ask me.
Aaron’s priestly garments carried two onyx stones on the shoulders, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, “as a reminder.” In other words, Aaron didn’t come before God alone. He carried everybody with him. And that’s where God’s oil poured down.
We might think unity begins when we finally learn to agree with one another. When everybody gets on the same page, votes the same way, worships the same way, or sees the world the same way.
But the oil doesn’t come from the tribes. It comes from God.
Our unity begins when we recognize that the same grace dripping down on me is dripping down on you. Christian unity begins there beneath the same grace. Aaron carried all twelve tribes on his shoulders, not just his favorite ones. And notice the downward direction of the oil again.
Unity isn’t something we squeeze out of each other. It is something God pours over us. To be sure, the oil can get messy. But in that holy mess, God makes us one.
Stay blessed...john
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