A Prayer for Unity: Psalm 133

A Prayer for Unity

Psalm 133

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Colossians 3:14

Unity is a condition of harmony; the quality or state of being made one. In Psalm 133, the psalmist declares, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” This psalm celebrates the joy of unity and harmony. But many times, there is discord in our lives, in our relationships, in our families, in our churches, and in our work places. Yet, “even the absence of unity can teach the blessing of unity” (Longman). Whether we are facing discord or harmony in our lives, this psalm and the pursuit of unity is for us as believers.

Colossians 3:12-17 gives us guidance on how we can pursue unity and peace.

Act in a way that reflects who you are in Christ (Colossians 1:12). Paul says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,”(Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬). He reminds them that they have been chosen by God, He has made them holy, and He loves them as His beloved children. In light of those things, Paul calls them to put on the characteristics that reflect our Savior. We, too, when seeking unity in our marriages, churches, etc, can remind ourselves to whom we belong. We have been bought with a price and therefore we ought to glorify God in our bodies, including how we treat others, talk to others, and interact with them (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. When seeking peace and unity, the ability to feel pity toward one another with a desire to alleviate someone’s suffering (compassion) means we move toward that person and seek to understand their position. Kindness means we will act sympathetically and be helpful, instead of seeking our own best interest. Humility gives us the courage to put others ahead of ourselves and to see someone else as more important than ourselves. Meekness is an attitude of gentleness toward another that restrains from using its power or position to lord over someone. And patience forebears with another. When we think carefully about these characteristics, it is evident to see how acting in these ways will promote peace and unity.

We are to bear with one another and forgive one another (Colossians 3:13). “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬). Bearing with one another means we have patience with another’s errors or weaknesses. This does not negate the Bible’s call for us to admonish one another, however we must deal patiently with others in their areas of weakness, as they ought to do with us. And we are to forgive one another as God has forgiven us. We need to keep at the forefront of our thoughts the story of the servant who owed his master a great debt and yet his master forgave him. However, this servant then went out and demanded a fellow servant pay his debt and was unmerciful to him (Matthew 18:21-35). We are called to reflect our Father’s great mercy and forgiveness toward those we have a complaint against. Bearing with another’s frailties and forgiving one another promotes unity.

Put on love. “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”(Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬). Love one another. God tells us this is the thing that will bind everything together in perfect harmony, perfect unity. 1 Corinthians 13 gives us a thorough description of love, and encompasses some of the things we’ve already seen in this passage. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭8a).

Paul goes on to further encourage them to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts, to be thankful, to let Christ’s word richly dwell within them, to teach and admonish one another, and finally that whatever they do in word or deed, they would do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:15-17).

God wants us to pursue unity and peace (Ephesians 4:3; Hebrews 12:14). As much as it depends on us, we are to be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18). I do not mean that we pursue peace and unity at all costs or in contradiction to the truth. However, my guess is that more often we struggle to follow Paul’s instructions in Colossians 3:12-17 which leads to discord rather than times we must separate ourselves because of the truth. As believers, we have been called by God to diligently preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). He equipped us with gifts by His Spirit in order to build up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:13). Christ prayed that we would be one and be a witness to the world of the validity of our faith (John 17:21,23). How can we promote peace and unity in our churches, families, and relationships? A great place to start is prayer.

Let’s pray through Psalm 133 and Colossians 3:12-17 for unity.

133:1-3 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.

Lord, we pray:

▫️In our ________, we would pursue unity and peace. You have said that it is good and pleasant when brothers dwell together in unity. Bring unity in our __________.

▫️In our interactions with one another, we would remember that we belong to You. You have chosen us. We are loved by You, and You have made us holy. You have given us Your Spirit, and You have bought us with Your own precious blood. Make it our aim to glorify You in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

▫️Each member of our family, church, work place, or __________ would put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). Help us to bear patiently with each other’s weaknesses. Give us soft and understanding hearts toward one another.

▫️Give us the desire and power to forgive one another as You have forgiven us. Bitterness is poison to relationships. Remove bitterness, hurt, anger, evil speaking, and malice and replace it with forgiveness, warmth, kindness, and love.

▫️Our love for one another would reflect biblical love. A love that is patient, kind, not jealous or arrogant, not acting unbecomingly, not seeking its own, not provoked, not taking into account a wrong suffered, not rejoicing in unrighteousness but rejoicing with the truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). A love that never fails and is the perfect bond of unity.

▫️Help us to be thankful for one another and for You and Your many blessings (Colossians 3:15). We thank You now for _________.

▫️May the peace of Christ rule our hearts and His word richly dwell in us uniting us in You (Colossians 3:15-16).

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May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Photo credit to jbl12761

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