Psalm 133

Psa 133:1

See Lesson, Psa 133, exhortation.

SUPERSCRIPTION: "A SONG OF ASCENTS. OF DAVID": Or "degrees" (AV).

DAVID: Bringing ark to Zion, uniting north and south; appointing a new high priest, Zadok, alongside Abiathar; a year of Jubilee (1Ch 12:38-40).

HEZEKIAH: After defeat of Northern Kingdom, Hezekiah appeals to the northern tribes to come to Zion. A new high priest: Eliakim (Isa 22:20; 37:2) replaces Urijah. And a most blessed Jubilee (Isa 37:30,31), by which the nation (augmented by returning captives) was able to make remarkable and rapid recovery from Assyrian devastation.

CHRIST: The great high priest, joining together Jew and Gentile in one. The "precious ointment" = the holy anointing oil (Exo 30:23-33), consisting of myrrh (sym sacrifice: Mat 2:11; Joh 19:39), cinnamon (purification), calamus (incense, sym prayers of saints: Psa 141:2; Rev 5:8; 8:4), and cassia (sym humility: Phi 2:5-8).

Psa 133:2

PRECIOUS OIL: The unique anointing oil, poured copiously on the head of the high priest.

DOWN UPON THE COLLAR: Or "skirts", the hem of the High Priest's robe, adorned with bells and pomegranates (Exo 28:33,34).

(NT) Jesus' skirts, touched by woman with issue of blood: Mat 9:20 / Mar 5:27 / Luk 8:44; cp Zec 8:23.

Psa 133:3

HERMON... ZION: = north/south of Israel; sym the union of the 2 nations in one.

DEW: Sym resurrection: Psa 110; Isa 26.

HERMON: Sig "projecting" or "elevated". The name is given to a range of three peaks, nine to ten thousand feet in elevation, which dominates the northern part of Israel, and which is visible over the entire Holy Land. Mount Hermon was called in ancient times "the mount of the old man" or "the mount of snow". Because of its height it is covered with snow most of the year. In late summer this snow begins to melt, the run-off feeding reservoirs and springs to supply water to the thirsty lands of the south. As the snow melts, a portion is left behind, in the ravines and gorges not so exposed to the sun, thus giving the mountain the resemblance of an old man with thin white hair. The obvious symbolism of Hermon is that of the Divine Blessing, stored up in the providence of God until the proper time, when it is most needed.

THE LORD BESTOWS HIS BLESSING: Quoting Lev 25:21: perfect climate and bountiful harvest in 6th year, thus providing for the two fallow years when the Year of Jubilee was observed. Such a time came in 700 BC, and thus also in 994 BC (6 x 49 = 294 years earlier), when David was anointed in Jerusalem (cp 1Ch 12:38-40).