And David is drawing his imagery from the consecration of the Levitical priesthood, when Mosess brother Aaron was consecrated as the first high priest. Even Aaron's beard - The word "even" here, introduced by our translators, weakens the force and beauty of the comparison. I speak with humblest fear lest in any word I should speak amiss, for he is God as well as man, but this is certain, that there is a joy of our Lord into which he will give his faithful ones to enter, a joy which he has won by passing through the shame and grief by which he has redeemed mankind. But David says that the unity of brothers and sisters in the Lord is as if the dew of Mount Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. --Alfred Edersheim, Verse 2. (NASB) Ps. takes us back to the creation of the world in Genesis 1 when God said that everything He made was tov., 03. That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard. Psalm 133:2 illustrates the proceeding verse, Ps. 1. I didnt pick this song to pat ourselves on the back. Big Hermon. Moses then put some on the right ear, right thumb and right great toe of Aaron and his sons, the rest of the blood was sprinkled on the Altar. It is possible, though it may seem like a conceit, that the psalmist may have had an idea of unity in this, as if in the anointing of the high priest the whole man was consecrated, or was "united" in the consecration. Nowhere in the whole country is so heavy a dew perceptible as in the districts near to Hermon." Beards tap into spiritual energy - Judaism. Aaron's role as high priest, the mediator between God and man. Just as he says, we should be holy because he is holy, the beard seems to tap into that holiness. Its really short, really beautiful, and really weird. Cymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy) Hypericum calycinum (great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem star) Saxifraga stolonifera (creeping saxifrage, strawberry geranium) The answer is found in Exodus 30:22-33. When brethren united in harmonious love also meet together in one place, as is the case in Israel at the great Feasts, it is as when the holy, precious chrism, breathing forth the blended odour of many spices, upon the head of Aaron trickles down upon his beard, and from thence to the extreme end of his vestment. learn more . Capital L-O-R-D. From Yahweh. What a picture of unity. I actually wrote about it in, It [the goodness of unity] is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.. Also called: Aaron's beard a creeping shrub, Hypericum calycinum, native to SE Europe but widely cultivated, having large yellow flowers: family Hypericaceae 2. What is the meaning of Psalm 133:2 when it says, . . Psalm 133:1-3 Focuses on unity and the joy it brings. Imagine the deluge of water, the wetness carrying life-giving sustenance to a drier, more weary land! It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. In that very waste lay the point of the resemblance for David. . Catholics & Bible do not intend to provide any health related advice. Christian affection knows no limits of parish, nation, sect, or age. In Jerusalem must love and all that is good meet. I first preached Psalm 133 after a little event we had on our campus here called Wild West Day. Im just joking about it being little. In the same way that oil was poured onto Aaron by someone else, unity was poured onto the people by God. Do remember how hot it was this summer, and it never rained? Others suffer from difficulties that make them feel isolated or rejected. (NASB) 1 Cor. Remember, David said it is good and pleasant! Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Unity must be remarked upon. As the dew of Hermon, And as the dew that descended. No, sir, I don't want to see your beard-splitterpull up your pants! Therefore it is called "the oil of gladness", because it rejoiceth our hearts, by giving us spiritual gladness, and peace of conscience. 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; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the . He had danced before the Lord, for example, when the ark was brought up from the house of Obededom to Jerusalem, forgetful of his dignity, exceeding the bounds of decorum, and, as it might seem, without excuse, as a much less hearty demonstration would have served the purpose of a religious solemnity. Christopher Oldstone-Moore: The idea is that that facial hair can be seen as an index to changing ideas over time of what it means to be a man. 1. 133:2 Ointment It is no less grateful and refreshing than that oil which was poured forth upon Aaron's head at the time of his consecration to the priestly office. 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aarons beard; that came down on the edge of his robes; 3 like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more. It is in that line that he also requires that they do not shave their beards. Thats what sinful divisiveness is. This is a chief point of comparison, that as the oil did not remain confined to the place where it first fell, but flowed down the High Priest's hair and bedewed his beard, even so brotherly love descending from the head distils and descends, anointing as it runs, and perfuming all it lights upon. Job 30:18, , the collar of my shirt). What Happens If A Catholic Eats Meat On Friday? Zion doesnt even get dew because its so dry. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). (a) , Sept. "super os", Montanus, Piscator; "super os, vel aperturam", Michaelis; "in capitium", Tigurine version; "upon the collar of his garments", Ainsworth. beard-splitter. (See Psalm 45:7, Note; Isaiah 61:3 .) They are these --, Verse 2-3. The priests in the Bible played a very key role as the go between God and the people. That ran down upon the beard - Descending from the head upon the long, flowing beard. The oil, after all, would drip onto the breastplate which bore a stone for each of the twelve tribes. It becomes thoroughly perceptible, and also outwardly visible, that Israel, far and near, is pervaded by one spirit and bound together in unity of spirit. As the psalm comes to an end, another analogy is shared. The holy anointing oil was a mixture of four spices in oil. He has mixed different spices together and called it the body of Jesus Christ the church Christians! Unity is the theme of this psalm. Remember how nice the weather was last Sunday? This is recognizable by references to Aarons beard and the hills of Zion. The Israelites had travelled to Hazeroth and had made . In Psalm 133, one of the songs of ascents, the Bible says this in verse 1 and 2. Its rich profusion typified the abundance of the Spirit's graces. . Theologians deduce that from the great attachment men in the Bible had with their beards; a beard was God's gift for men to showcase their masculinity. Aaron's beard . On Wednesday nights, our on-campus prayer meeting is studying what love is from 1 Corinthians 13. Sort: Relevancy A - Z. beard the lion in his den. Its going according to plan. Some people think of beards as being trendy while others grow beards as part of culture and religion. When Mephibosheth was summoned to appear before king David, the Bible says that he had not taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beards. In the same way that oil spread from Aarons head to his beard to his clothing, unity was to flow from God to the priest to the people. sarart, the glowing spark, is either the snow-capped summit of the mountain glowing in the morning sun or a burning cold breath of air, for one says in everyday life Arab. 'l-saqa yahriq, the frost burns [vid. The Bible has mentioned beards so many times and with every mention is a context and a command. Remarkably, this final verse also reminds us of Israels special place with God. Any disunity, and the oil will not flow as expected. It is one of the most commonly used expressions in English writings. For instance, what is with the oil running down Aarons beard? Resurrection Accounts Resurrection of Christ, Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . That being the person of Jesus Christ. Even for us as believers going through similar challenges, we must not give up but instead be hopeful knowing that he who vindicates us is near. The sons of Aaron were only sprinkled with this anointing oil; but Aaron was expressly anointed with it, inasmuch as Moses poured it upon his head; hence he is called par excellence "the anointed priest" ( ), whilst the other priests are only "anointed" (, Numbers 3:3) in so far as their garments, like Aaron's, were also sprinkled with the oil (together with the blood of the ram of consecration), Leviticus 8:12, Leviticus 8:30. When brethren bound together in love also meet together in one place, and in fact when brethren out of the north unite with brethren in the south in Jerusalem, the city which is the mother of all, at the great Feasts, it is as when the dew of Mount Hermon, which is covered with deep, almost eternal snow, (Note: A Haraunitish poem in Wetzstein's Lieder-Sammlungen begins: Arab. . 2. In the time of the second Temple, to which the holy oil of anointing was wanting, the installation into the office of high priest took place by his being invested in the pontifical robes. (Or. It is like the dew of Hermon, which flows down upon the hills of Zion. Unity must be noticed. Styles of Men's Beards in Ancient Biblical Times. It is also brought closely into connection with love ( Song of Solomon 1:3 ). - Psalm 93, 05. coming down upon . What Miracles Did Pope John Paul II Perform? noun the older brother of Moses, usually regarded as the first high priest of the Hebrews. Here are both verses together. By unity the Church, as a whole, lives its life of consecration, and effectively ministers in the priesthood assigned it. They could act on faith that God would provide what they needed. Unity is so good its holy! It "ran down", and it" went down": love for the brethren condescends to men of low estate, it is not puffed up, but is lowly and meek. Remember, precious oil is a symbol in the Bible of the anointing, consecrating, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. They weren't alone. It is the bond of his priesthood which joins us together as brethren. The blood was collected. Two drops of the holy oil of anointing, says a Haggada, remained for ever hanging on the beard of Aaron like two pearls, as an emblem of atonement and of peace. The decision of the question depends upon the aim of this and the following figure in Psalm 133:3. Aaron's beard (Hypericum calycinum) is an evergreen shrub worth growing for its beautiful foliage and bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers. They know exactly what David is referencing. And I love this. God expected his children to obey for their own good. Upon the mountains of Zion: For the oil was not sprinkled on the head of Aaron, though that might have been sufficient for the purpose of a mere ceremony. We decided as a church family to go ahead with 3 costly facilities improvement projects during a pandemic when we werent even meeting together at the same time! And oh, how good it is when we embrace that unity, when we practice it, when we foster and treasure it. I know that a lot of churches are struggling with one another over how to do church during this coronavirus pandemic. Mount Zion, on the other hand, was relatively small. That being, life forever more. The Egyptian false beard is one of the most important attributes of pharaohs' attire, if not the most important. The beginning of the psalm gives us the reason for its writing. Rate it: ( 3.00 / 1 vote) Aaron's beard. Whether we dwell north or south, meeting in Zion, and sharing in the blessings of that eternal Priesthood of Christ, we form in reality, and before our Father, but one family -- "the whole family in earth and heaven." This uniting spirit of brotherly love is now symbolised also by the dew of Hermon, which descends in drops upon the mountains of Zion. And, catch this, David is saying that unity is like that. . God did not ask for three measurements of myrrh, but required four different spices. But what was really amazing was how unified we were as a church family in putting it on. It is a great reminder for us that we need each other to provoke one another to love and good deeds (Heb. Christ's grace is so diffusive of itself, that it conveys holiness to us, "running down from the head to the skirts", to all his members. The Oil on Aaron's Beard. 1 How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message. For example, it's never a great idea to be the guy at the front of a protest rally, face-to-face with the cops, and also sporting a huge beard! And that includes among Christians and churches. And we had an overwhelmingly positive vote for those projects with more members voting than I have ever seen in my 22 years here as your pastor. The precious oil is being used as an illustration of brothers dwelling together in unity. Most of us will ask how does that make sense? Unholy and wicked. The third photo below shows the bright yellow flower of Aaron's Beard in June. It has a sweet perfume about it, comparable to that precious ointment with which the first High Priest was anointed at his ordination. Yet its the liquid property David has most in mind here. Strain. "Beard" here refers to female public hair. a blessing will be availableeternal life. 1 (A Song of degrees of David.) 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. Verse 2. Because the high priest, in whom the priestly mediatorial office culminates, is the chief personage in the celebration of the feast, the nature and value of that local reunion is first of all expressed by a metaphor taken from him. David is saying, imagine how green and fertile and rich and refreshed Mount Zion would be if Hermons dew covered it! A lot more than Zion. 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. The holy anointing oil for the high priest was olive oil mixed with four of the best spices (Ex 30:22, 25, 30). Today we dont have to worship God at a specific location, but the blessing still comes from a particular place. Like the oil, the good oil, on the head descending upon the beard, Aarons beard, which, which descendeth upon the collar of his garments, It is like the precious ointment upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard. What about the dew of Hermon? ). Now, that sounds gross to our foreign and modern ears, but try to put yourself in Israelite shoes. But the Targum translates with (ora equals fimbria) - a word which is related to , agnus, like to . We've found 8 phrases and idioms matching beard. Salem Media Group. Thereafter, he gives him various laws, one of which concerns cutting hair. 3. , Exodus 26:4, of the edge of a curtain). A Man With a Beard by subhamshome from Pixabay.Dew Covering a Field of Spring Flowers by Zazu70 from Pixabay. I think thats the point of the first really weird word picture in verse 2. This was available to those who worshipped God acceptably at the hills of Zion and followed those whom He anointed. 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