The Blessedness of Christian Unity
2026-11-11 · 3.975 MHz · 0600 PST
The Bible reading
Psalm 133
Today's Reading (KJV): Psalm 133
1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2It 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; 3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
The study explored Psalm 133, focusing on the joy and importance of unity among believers. The net control explained that sin is the primary cause of division and strife, referencing Genesis 3 and Proverbs 22:10. Unity is restored when sin is dealt with through repentance and the work of Christ, leading to peace and reconciliation among God's people.
Participants discussed the metaphors in the psalm, specifically the precious oil on Aaron's head and the dew of Hermon. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit flowing over the twelve tribes, representing a unified people despite their diversity. The dew of Hermon was explained as the life-giving rain that covers the land, symbolizing the common spirit of unity that gives life to the nation of Israel.
The group also examined practical applications of unity, citing Genesis 13:8 where Abraham offers peace to Lot, and Hebrews 13:1 regarding brotherly love. They emphasized the need for outwardness, humility, and forbearance, distinguishing between sin that must be addressed and personal differences that require patience. The study concluded with a reflection on the various circles of unity, from national to familial, and the call to live peaceably with all men.
Insights
- The high priest's vestments bore the names of the twelve tribes, so the oil flowing over him symbolized unity across all tribes.
- Mount Hermon acted as a weather generator for Israel, making its dew a fitting metaphor for a unifying spirit covering the whole land.
- There is a distinction between sin, which breaks fellowship, and personal annoyances, which require forbearance.
- Unity exists in concentric circles, from national to denominational to local church to family, each requiring sacrifice.
- The book of Philemon illustrates the practical outworking of Christian unity, where a persecutor, a slave owner, and a slave are reconciled.
- The 'outwardness' of looking on the things of others is essential for maintaining peace in the body of Christ.
Transcript
0:00Thank you.
0:30All right, we are in Psalm 133 today.
0:53That's Psalm 133, so you can be looking at that in your Bible.
0:58It's only in three verses.
1:00That covers a very, very important subject today.
1:03So looking forward to that study.
1:06All right, any other check-ins to the West Coast Bible Study, please come down with your call, sir.
1:13KJ7PVT.
1:15Right, I heard Mark.
1:16KJ7PVT.
1:17Good morning, Mark.
1:18How are you doing?
1:19Good morning, Max.
1:22I'm doing well.
1:24I had to disconnect my radio yesterday for thunderstorms, although just now I'm just now getting it plugged in.
1:31I can hear you on the radio, so that's a good thing.
1:37Back to you, Max.
1:39No new prayer requests.
1:40Okay, copy that.
1:44Good copy on Half Moon Bay SDR on you, so appreciate you being there.
1:49And we got you checked in.
1:50Mark, KJ7PVT.
1:52Copy.
1:52No new prayer requests.
1:54All right, Mark.
1:55KJ7PVT.
1:56Any other check-ins, please come now.
1:58WB7VZL.
2:00And good morning, Roger.
2:01WB7VZL.
2:02Good to have you with us today.
2:03How are you doing?
2:04Well, things are stable, which I praise the Lord for that, and nothing dramatically new,
2:17but just was awakened by the blessed Holy Spirit, so to speak, and in time for the Bible study.
2:25So that's a good bit of news, for sure.
2:30All right.
2:30Praise the Lord for that.
2:31Roger, I need you to do some reading for me today.
2:33If you can read Psalm 133, 133 for us when the time comes, can you do that?
2:40Yeah, it's short enough.
2:42Okay, yeah, only three verses.
2:44I think you can handle that without getting too wore out.
2:50Yeah, for sure.
2:51And it's got some giant leaps in it, theologically or at least the imagery.
3:00Anyway, yeah, you bet.
3:04WB7VZL.
3:05Yeah, you know, the biblical authors like to switch metaphors quite rapidly, and so we'll
3:10be looking at those together today.
3:12All right, Roger.
3:14WB7VZL is standing by for you to read around 6 o'clock.
3:17All right.
3:18The Met would like to acknowledge Peter KJ7B.
3:20Good morning, Peter.
3:22Good to see you there on the Utah SDR, and glad to have you with us.
3:27And let's see.
3:28Who else do we have?
3:28Peter says good morning to everyone.
3:30Oh, there's Gene, K7GWR.
3:33Good morning, Gene.
3:34So Peter says good morning to everyone, and we've got Gene, K7GWR.
3:38All right, let me scroll here a little bit and see who else I got.
3:53All right, I'm all caught up on my SDRs.
3:55No more check-ins there.
3:57We've got about a minute to go.
3:58Before we start the Met, any more check-ins?
4:00Please come now.
4:01Okay, I heard Jeff, AK-60K.
4:14Good morning, Jeff.
4:15How are you doing?
4:17Yeah, I'm sending my food in the morning, heading to Chicago.
4:20We're from a check-in this morning.
4:22I'll be right back.
4:23All right, well, we got you checked in.
4:25Thank you for being there.
4:26Appreciate you, Jeff.
4:28And all right, you snuck in under the wire, brother.
4:31Good for you.
4:32Okay, I have a note here from Daryl WB7AOT, and Daryl says,
4:37Hi, Max.
4:38I was just saying that we had a good Bible study on 3977 with the Midwest Bible Study Net this morning.
4:44Well, praise the Lord for that.
4:46And, yep, anybody who wants to listen in to the Midwest Bible Study, that's 4 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
4:53Of course, it's 6 a.m. Central Time for those guys, just like us.
4:59And so they're on 3977, and Daryl WB7AOT is net control.
5:04I know they shift net control around a little bit.
5:06There's a couple other guys that do it as well, but Daryl's the main one there.
5:11All right, Daryl, thank you for that note to me.
5:14All right, any other check-ins this morning?
5:16Please come now.
5:17All right.
5:45It's WB7MAX.
5:46We're going to get started with our Bible study here.
5:49And we are in Psalm 133, Psalm 133.
5:53But before we read that psalm together, we want to open our Bible study in prayer.
5:59And so, Joe, KI6WXP, if you could open in prayer for us.
6:03I sure appreciate that.
6:04Go ahead there, Joe.
6:05Well, sure enough, Max, KI6WXP, let us pray.
6:10Heavenly Father, let us pray for all the veterans and the future veterans.
6:15Let's pray for all the folks that are still on the ground, especially on today.
6:21Today's Veterans Day.
6:22Thank you, Lord, for everything you've done.
6:24And I also want to pray for everybody here on the Bible study.
6:28I'm glad everybody got here and went in peace and everybody's in good shape.
6:32And we're ready for Max to stay on point.
6:35We do pray for that, as he always is.
6:38And I always want to pray, Lord, and thank you for everything you do,
6:42for St. Jude and all those hospitals that help those little kids.
6:50And thank you, Lord, very much.
6:52And we ask these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
6:58Amen.
6:59This is KI6WXP.
7:01Turning it back over to Max.
7:02Pastor Max, take her away.
7:04Joe, KI6WXP, thank you so much for that prayer.
7:07Really appreciate that a lot.
7:09All right, we are in Psalm 133.
7:13And, of course, it's only three verses, but it addresses a very important subject.
7:20And the subject of Psalm 133 is the blessedness of Christian unity between brothers in Christ.
7:29It is, in fact, a remarkable thing when such unity exists.
7:35Strife and division between those who profess to be the people of God is often the norm, sadly.
7:44And, of course, the reason for that strife and division among the people of God is sinful attitudes, sinful speech, and sinful behavior.
7:52Now, in the beginning of the human race, before the fall, there was perfect unity between men, and there was perfect unity between God and men.
8:04But, as we all know, Genesis 3, sin entered the human experience, and strife and disunity was the immediate result.
8:14There was alienation and strife and accusation between Adam and Eve, and there was now strife and alienation and disunity between mankind and God.
8:25Because of the sin that took place in the garden of Eden, sin destroyed the unity between people, and sin destroyed the unity between people and God.
8:37And so it's the nature of sin that it always divides and separates and centers.
8:42So, obviously, if unity between men is to be restored, and if unity with God is to be restored, then sin has to be dealt with.
8:51It must be repented of, and it must be forsaken.
8:55So, if there's ever strife in a marriage, if there's ever strife in a church or in a family, it's because someone is sinning.
9:06Proverbs chapter 22 and verse 10 says,
9:09Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out, yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
9:15As coals are to burning coals and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
9:28So, we see that it's sin that causes conflict.
9:31But the good news is that Jesus Christ came to conquer and defeat sin in our lives.
9:38And when sin is defeated, unity is restored and preserved and deepened, and reconciliation is accomplished.
9:45Therefore, when brethren dwell together in unity, it's because salvation and sanctification have been accomplished,
9:54and because righteous and godly conduct towards one another is being practiced.
10:00In Psalm 85 and verse 10, it says,
10:03Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
10:06So, whenever you have people treating each other right, you have peace, and that's what we want to strive to achieve.
10:12So, you can see why it's a good and pleasant thing when brethren dwell together in unity.
10:18It means there's righteousness in their behavior toward each other.
10:22And when people treat each other righteously, then it is indeed a delightful situation.
10:27So, that's the theme of our psalm.
10:29That's the thrust and focus of what it's all about.
10:32And so, we're going to have Roger WB7VZL read for us.
10:37Roger, if you could read Psalm 133.
10:39Go ahead.
10:41WB7VZL with the NASB.
10:45Psalm 133.
10:47Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.
10:56It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robe.
11:09It is like the dew of Hermon, coming down upon the mountains of Zion.
11:14For there the Lord commanded the blessing, life forever.
11:21Psalm 133.
11:24And this is WB7VZL.
11:28All right, Roger, real good.
11:29Thank you for that reading.
11:30Great job.
11:31Okay, any comments on our psalm?
11:34Please come down with your call phone.
11:35Can I ask my question now?
11:46You bet.
11:47Go ahead and ask your question.
11:49We're all good about questions.
11:51What is the dew of Hermon?
11:54Okay, the dew of Hermon, Mount Hermon is about a 9,000 foot peak in the north of Israel.
12:02Okay, and as a result, you know, it's near the Mediterranean Sea, and clouds would gather around Mount Hermon.
12:11And it was kind of the weather generator, if you will, for the nation of Israel.
12:16And because of that, the rains that came from Mount Hermon covered the land of Israel.
12:23And so, it's a picture, a metaphor, okay?
12:33The same dew and rainfall that covered all of Israel from north to south, and covers the whole land with life-giving water,
12:41symbolizes the common life-giving spirit that falls on all the tribes from north to south,
12:48which unites them into one unified nation.
12:52And so, one rain covers the whole land in all of its parts.
12:56And in the same way, one spirit of unity covers the whole land in all of its parts.
13:03And just as this rain gives life to the land, so this spirit of unity gives life to the nation.
13:10And so, a nation with no unity is a dead nation, just like a nation with no rain is a dead nation.
13:16And so, that's the imagery that's being used here.
13:21The dew of Hermon is just the storm systems that come from that mountain that cover the whole land with the blessing of rain.
13:29Back to you there, Beck.
13:30All right.
13:31Thank you, Pastor Max.
13:32I would have never guessed that.
13:34That was Alpha 5 Yankee.
13:36All right.
13:36Real good, Beck.
13:37Great question.
13:39Okay.
13:39Any other comments on our passage?
13:41Please come now.
13:42WB-7VZL.
14:01Roger.
14:02Please go ahead.
14:02Yeah, just before we've read here, I looked at the index and found two verses for the very opening of this psalm.
14:16The example that they gave was in Genesis 13, verse 8.
14:23And may I read it?
14:27Yes, please do.
14:28Okay.
14:29Then Abram said to Lot, Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.
14:44So, that's kind of a biblical example for this joy of getting things worked out.
14:53It's kind of like, well, yeah, it's kind of like the peace talks attempting to do what seems to be impossible.
15:03Over.
15:04Yeah, copy that.
15:05And you really see Abraham being a peacemaker here, right?
15:09I mean, he was the senior man, and Lot was the nephew, right?
15:13And he was the uncle, and he had all the possessions and the patriarchy and the leadership,
15:18and he was given the covenant and all those things, and yet he's trying to make peace with Lot, his inferior,
15:27and offers him generous terms of peace.
15:31You know, if you want to go here, I'll go there.
15:33If you want to go there, I'll go here.
15:35We're brothers.
15:37There's no reason for us to be fighting with each other.
15:40And, you know, that's absolutely the truth.
15:41It's true in a family, but it's also true in the family of God.
15:45We're brothers and sisters in Christ.
15:48We have a common Father.
15:50We have a common Holy Spirit.
15:53We have a common salvation.
15:55We have a common Bible.
15:57We have a common destiny.
15:59We have a common purpose.
16:02We have all these things in common.
16:03What are we doing fighting with each other?
16:06You know, I mean, sure, there's going to be disagreements.
16:08There's disagreements in every family.
16:10And here's a perfect illustration, Genesis 13, 8.
16:14And it was a disagreement that arose out of just normal affairs of life, okay?
16:20The herds had grown.
16:22The fields were limited.
16:24There's a problem.
16:25Well, we can either be mean and nasty and obnoxious in dealing with those problems,
16:31where we can be gentle, where we can be kind and merciful and patient,
16:35and communicate in a calm and gracious manner to solve those problems.
16:41And that's what you really see here.
16:43You know, the Bible says a soft answer turns away wrath, the grievous words strife.
16:48So one of the first things we can do is just lower our voice when we're having conflict,
16:55and we patiently and calmly appeal for the solution that we think would be best for both parties.
17:05And so what a great example, Roger.
17:07Really appreciate you bringing in Genesis 13, 8,
17:10and how we have an example before us of someone who could have dictated terms,
17:18but someone who instead was giving a gracious opportunity for peace
17:23in the most humble way that he possibly could.
17:28All right, other comments?
17:29Please come out.
17:31KM5S.
17:32Well, KM5S, go ahead.
17:33Yeah, to follow up on the Genesis 13, verse, in Hebrews 13, 1, it says,
17:39Let brotherly love continue.
17:41And verse 2 says,
17:42Be not forgetful to detain certain strangers,
17:46for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
17:50KM5S.
17:51Yeah, Hebrews 13, 1, great passage, and let brotherly love continue.
17:56And, you know, a lot of people are confused about the definition of love.
18:02You know, love is that determination to reach out to its object
18:06and remove obstacles to intimacy and draw that object to itself.
18:12So, here you are, separated from someone.
18:16There's things standing between you.
18:18And so, you clear those things that are standing between you,
18:22and you draw that person to yourself.
18:24And that's based on, I think it's Jeremiah 31, 3.
18:28I have loved thee with an everlasting love.
18:31Therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
18:34You know, when you love someone, you want to draw them closer to you, right?
18:38And God loved us.
18:40He so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son.
18:44What was God doing there?
18:45How was he expressing his love?
18:48Well, there was barriers between us and God, and that's our sin, right?
18:52So, he sent his son out of his love to remove those barriers
18:55so he could draw us to himself and make us into his family,
19:01into his adopted children.
19:03And so, when it says, let brotherly love continue,
19:06the idea there is that let's reach out to our brothers
19:10who are maybe distant from us
19:13because of various barriers that have arisen between us.
19:18Let's get those barriers cleared out.
19:20Let's pull that person back into our sphere of orbit and fellowship,
19:26and let's be close once again.
19:29So, what a great passage there, Will.
19:31Hebrews 13, 1 and 2.
19:34Appreciate you pointing those out.
19:36All right.
19:36Any other comments?
19:37Please come now.
19:38KB 7, ZXN.
19:40Kevin, KB 7, ZXN.
19:41Please go ahead.
19:43Yeah, wonderful comments, and well said.
19:48You know, I think here, too, we see the reflection of David,
19:53and he really understands the unity.
19:58You know, he did bring the 12 tribes of Israel together,
20:03of course, by the divine work of God,
20:07but he also dealt with the conflict and dissension
20:10and the division within Israel and within his own family
20:16as well as there are times of rebellion.
20:19So, understanding God's plan for unity,
20:23I think he clearly did, and as revealed here,
20:28did recognize that God is one that brings ultimate unity and brotherhood,
20:36and we certainly see that in the Lord's churches.
20:40You know, 1 John chapter 3 expresses it wonderfully as well.
20:46But because of the great love that God had for us,
20:50the sacrifice that our Lord gave to us,
20:54that we, you know, as we sit in the church pews,
20:57as we come to salvation,
21:00it's all through the same door.
21:01It's all through Christ alone.
21:04And that level is a playing field spiritually.
21:10We are all brethren who do come through that door of Christ.
21:15And so, whether you're, you know, a bank president or a custodian,
21:21you know, whether you're an astronaut or a housewife,
21:25it doesn't matter.
21:26Whether you're, you know, a former alcoholic or drug addict
21:30or, you know, if you're a super achiever in the business world,
21:37it doesn't matter.
21:38We're all sit there before worship God together.
21:43And it is church, as you pointed out well, Max.
21:47We are all adopted into his family.
21:50And what a blessing we have to have that fellowship together in Christ
21:57that only he can do by his divine work and his divine appointment.
22:03KB7, does that accept?
22:05Yeah, well said, Kevin.
22:07There is so much to tie us together.
22:09And, of course, we're all going to be together for eternity, right?
22:12And so, the idea is that if we're going to be family together for eternity
22:19and love is going to prevail there,
22:21it's because, of course, sin has been entirely removed at that point in our experience.
22:27And so, yeah, we need to confess our sins,
22:32turn away from them that causes hostility and breakdown in relationships.
22:37And we need to accept one another, even with our differences.
22:43As long as we're not sinning against each other,
22:45of course, sin has to be dealt with if there's ever going to be reconciliation.
22:49But some people, you know, just annoy us.
22:53They're not sinning against us.
22:54And, you know, that's the thing I see,
22:56is that people separate fellowship over things that are not sin, right?
23:01Maybe I don't like this person's theological position,
23:04or, you know, maybe their personality rubs me wrong,
23:08or maybe they're a little too loud or whatever, okay?
23:13And we have to distinguish between things that are personal sins against us
23:17and things that are just marks of immaturity.
23:20And, you know, the Bible says that, you know,
23:22we're to forbear with one another in love.
23:26And forbearance just means putting up with things that annoy us
23:29that are not sin against us.
23:31And we need to love people as they are
23:34and not demand that they be exactly like us
23:37in everything that they believe and do,
23:39provided that they're not, you know, lying about us
23:43or attacking us in some sinful way
23:47that, of course, has to be dealt with,
23:49that there's going to be unity restored.
23:51So, Kevin, great comments.
23:53Thank you for that.
23:54All right, any other comments?
23:55Please come out.
23:57KM5S?
23:57Well, KM5S, please go ahead.
23:59Kind of a follow-up on the love and the brotherly love.
24:04In John 15, 12 and 13, it says,
24:08in 12, it says,
24:09This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.
24:12In 13, it says,
24:13Greater love hath no man than this,
24:17than a man laid down his life for his friends.
24:20And that was true a lot of times in World Wars,
24:23where brothers would lay down their life for one another,
24:28not just biological brothers,
24:30but brothers in the war effort and elsewhere.
24:35Can you imply that?
24:36Yeah, you know, you're so right.
24:40There's various circles of unity, right?
24:44So we have the circle of national unity, right?
24:48Where you're an American, I'm an American,
24:50and as Americans, you know, we have this national covenant.
24:55It's called the Constitution.
24:57And it's the thing that binds us all together.
25:00We share a common culture.
25:01We share a common set of values.
25:04We share a common governing document.
25:08And so, therefore, you know, there's a basis for unity there
25:12at a national, political level
25:17in which we will lay down our lives for each other
25:21so that we can continue to enjoy the blessings
25:25of that national unity and covenant, right?
25:27And then we come to the next closer circle of fellowship,
25:32and that's all Christians everywhere who are truly born again.
25:37And maybe they're a different denomination than we are,
25:40but you know what?
25:40They're saved, and we're saved.
25:43And so, therefore, we lay down our lives for them.
25:47And then, you know, you move inward
25:48to the more intimate circle of fellowship,
25:51which is our own local church, right?
25:53Where we have our brothers and sisters in Christ
25:57that we are in church covenant with,
26:00and we lay down our lives for them.
26:03And then, of course, you move inward from that to the family.
26:06You've got a husband and a wife and children.
26:08And that's the most intimate circle
26:10and the deepest level of unity
26:12and where we make the greatest sacrifices for each other.
26:16But, yeah, one of the manifestations of love
26:19is that I am willing to sacrifice my best interests
26:24in order to achieve the best interest of another person.
26:29And so that's what our Lord Jesus did.
26:32He laid down His life for us.
26:34He calls us His friends.
26:37And so that's what we do.
26:40You know, by love we serve one another.
26:43And, you know, there's lots and lots of verses.
26:47Look, not every man on his own things,
26:49but every man also on the things of others.
26:52And so that's how they'll know that we're Christians,
26:55by our love for each other.
26:57That is our willingness to sacrifice
26:59to meet the needs of others,
27:00even at our own expense.
27:03So, Will, thank you for pointing out
27:05the fact that this laying down of our lives
27:10for each other occurs in different ways
27:12at different levels
27:14and different spheres of relationship.
27:18All right, other comments.
27:19Please come down.
27:20Follow up.
27:21Follow up.
27:21Go ahead, Will.
27:22Yeah, that's what we're celebrating today.
27:24KM5S.
27:28And then that's exactly what we're celebrating
27:29on Veterans Day,
27:31is that national unity
27:32and that gratitude
27:34for people laying down their lives for us
27:37and the love that that showed
27:38that they went and did that.
27:40All right, other comments.
27:42Please come down.
27:42Is that XM?
27:43KJ7 PVT.
27:45Mark, KJ7 PVT.
27:47Please go ahead.
27:47I'm, uh, I'm going to add, um,
27:52somewhere, so there was a precious ointment
27:55upon the head
27:56that ran down upon the beard,
27:59even Aaron's beard,
28:00that went down to the surface of the garment.
28:04Um, this fragrance, uh,
28:08anointing was a precious ointment.
28:11Apparently it had some fragrance
28:12like a rose, um,
28:15which is kind of interesting
28:17that it has to be poured down
28:19onto one can have something
28:21that covers them with fragrance.
28:23And this precious ointment
28:24was put on the priest
28:26to indicate that he was a priest of God.
28:29Uh, we see this as a picture
28:31of our Lord Jesus Christ as well.
28:34Not only is he a king,
28:36he's also our high priest.
28:38It said of him, uh,
28:40in Psalms 45, 7,
28:42that he has anointed
28:43with the oil of gladness
28:45upon his fellows.
28:47And, uh, in Ezekiel 39, 29,
28:51we read,
28:51Uh, neither will I hide my faith
28:54any more from them.
28:56I have torn out my spirit
28:58upon the south of Israel,
29:00saith the Lord God.
29:02And so, and also, Ezekiel,
29:05even though, uh, we see this,
29:07uh, in application,
29:09certainly in our churches,
29:10and we see, uh, in application
29:13in Israel during the time
29:16of the priest.
29:18Um, we also, uh,
29:21in Ezekiel look ahead
29:22to a time, um,
29:25that he pours out his spirit
29:27on, uh, Israel.
29:29And, uh, I'm looking at
29:33Jared, uh, Zechariah,
29:39uh, chapter 12,
29:42um, verse 10.
29:47And, uh, if I might,
29:49uh, I'll read, uh,
29:50a couple of verses from that.
29:53Is that okay?
29:54Yeah, please go ahead, Mark.
29:56Yeah, go ahead and read Zechariah.
30:05Okay, uh, this is, uh,
30:06Zechariah 10,
30:08and I'm going to read down
30:09to 14.
30:11We'll be right back.
30:13Now,
30:14this is a, uh,
30:14the heart of David
30:15and the inanimate
30:16of the earth
30:17of Christ's love
30:17and the spirit
30:18of praise and suffocation.
30:20Then they will look on me
30:21and be scared,
30:23and they will mourn
30:24for him
30:25as the one who mourns
30:26for his former son.
30:28And they pretend
30:29and they'll bring
30:30to his father's friend.
30:32And that day
30:33there shall be
30:33a great night
30:34than Jerusalem,
30:36like the mornings
30:37of David
30:37and the plains
30:39of Megiddo.
30:40And the land shall mourn that his family by itself and family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by itself, and the families of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves, and the family of the house of Levi by itself.
30:57And the same thing that she and the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by itself, and all the families of the house of David by itself.
31:09And I think that's in many ways it's expressing that from Israel, which we don't see that happening today, but there's a day coming when God will pour out his spirit up again, and they will understand
31:27is. Yeah, Mark, thank you for pointing out those verses. Yeah, Psalm 45, 7, anointed
31:36with the oil of gladness, Ezekiel 39, 29, and Zechariah 12, verses 10 to 14. Yeah, I
31:43think that was fulfilled in Acts chapter 2, when the Spirit was poured out, and there
31:48was this mourning, what have we done? We crucified our own Messiah, and we can see that there
31:52was a tremendous response there. So, the interesting passages, and thank you for pointing out
31:59this whole issue of oil. You know, our text says in Psalm 133, verse 1, Behold how good
32:07and pleasant it is for their brethren to dwell together in unity. And then we have this interesting
32:12metaphor in verse 2, It's like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the
32:17beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down on the borders of his garment. And, you know,
32:25I want to explain that for a minute. You know, as you're aware, the high priest represented
32:32the twelve tribes of Israel before God, and he had the names of the twelve tribes of Israel
32:37engraved on the garment that he wore. And so, when the high priest was fully dressed in
32:45his vestments, and was prepared to enter the tabernacle, this precious anointing oil was
32:52poured on the top of his head. And it was poured out in such abundance that it ran down his head,
32:59down his beard, flowed down over his shoulders and chest, and flowed down to his garment to
33:06the edge of the hem. That was a lot of oil. And this oil was extremely valuable. It was made
33:12of olive oil, and it had in it myrrh, and sweet cinnamon, and sweet calamus, and cassia.
33:20And all those ingredients are mentioned in Exodus 30, verses 22 to 25. And so it had this really
33:26fragrant, pleasing odor that followed the priest as he performed his duties. This oil was poured
33:35over Aaron's head, and as the oil flowed down over the twelve tribes that were represented
33:43on his shoulders and chest, this oil represented the spirit of unity that flowed over all the
33:49individual tribes, and represented the unity they enjoyed, even in the midst of the diversity
33:55they had. So he has these twelve stones on his chest, representing the twelve tribes. This
34:01single oil flows down over all twelve of these stones, or these twelve tribes. And so the
34:08high priest himself was a type and a symbol of the national unity, because he bore on his
34:15shoulders and his chest the name of the twelve tribes. And so the holy oil, when it poured over
34:20him and flowed over the representations of these twelve tribes that he bore, it symbolized the fragrance
34:27of the unity that existed among these twelve tribes, and the common anointing they all had
34:33as the single chosen people of God. So that's the symbolism, that's what's being said here.
34:41And so the sweet fragrance of this anointing oil represented the sweet fragrance of their
34:48unity, and how good and pleasant that really was. So that's kind of what's going on here.
34:55And Mark, I appreciate you pointing out these other passages that talk about this anointing
35:00oil. And of course, it is a picture of the Holy Spirit, that of course was poured out on
35:05the Lord Jesus Christ at his baptism, and then of course was poured out on the church on the
35:12day of Pentecost. And as you said, Mark, may very well be poured out again in the end times,
35:17when there is perhaps going to be a national revival of some kind. So I appreciate you pointing
35:25out the passage there in Ezekiel 12, verses 10 to 14, that speaks to that issue. And so
35:31this oil of gladness that you spoke of, that gladness is the unity that occurs among all the
35:38people when they share a common Holy Spirit in spite of the diversity of their individual
35:44circumstances and situations. All right, any other comments on our passage? Please come
35:49down.
35:49Okay, just a second. We've got PBT with a follow-up. Mark, go ahead.
35:58Yeah, for anyone who wants to read just that passage in Zechariah, the chapter 12, as you mentioned,
36:08you know, we're looking towards the day, another day, we had the Holy Spirit, of course, fall
36:17on everyone there in Jerusalem. And we see that. And there's just a really interesting thing
36:24coming ahead. Chapter 12 talks about the coming deliverance of Judah. And so actually reading
36:32that whole chapter there, it's not a very big one. It takes up about a quarter of the
36:38page. But it does look ahead to the time where the Lord saves his people, which I'm quite
36:46excited about. We don't see that. It looks like it's in the future. So back to you, Rick.
36:52All right. Mark's encouraging us all to read Zechariah chapter 12 and see what God has to say
37:00there about the future blessing he's going to pour out on his people. Kevin, KB7ZXN, you
37:05had a comment. Please go ahead.
37:06Yes, I had a follow-up. It's a little while back. But, you know, very good comments. I
37:11think to keep in mind here a couple of things that I think would be valuable for us to, you
37:18know, one of the attributes of that oil is it was a consecrating oil set aside for only
37:27that particular use. It was not to be used for any other use other than what is described
37:36there in Exodus that you expounded on. And likewise, the coming together for worship, keep
37:42in mind, this is still one of the Psalms of Ascent. They're ascending up to Jerusalem to
37:51worship. And this psalm in 34, I think, is the last one of the ascending psalms, if you
37:57will. So you picture these 12 tribes, you know, they come together usually during their
38:06everyday lives throughout the year. It'd probably be easier to think about. They all had their
38:10own territories, their own things going on, their own, really, economies within the nation.
38:17And so they're probably easier for them to consider and think about the things that made them
38:25different. But here, for the worship of God, for the concentrating worship of God, the divine
38:35work of God in them is also equated to that same work of that oil, that concentrating oil being
38:43set aside for God. And that's what we are. Israel was set aside as his nation, God. This was a
38:52certainly a recognition and unity that though they are different tribes, they are unified in God and
39:01set aside for him and for his worship, for his pleasure, as we are today as the church set aside
39:10for his purposes. And consequently, that consecration, if you will, that sacred use. So as we come from
39:22different backgrounds, not only tribes, but as you pointed out, personalities and backgrounds and
39:31whether ethnic or socially or economically or geographically, it doesn't matter. We are set
39:41aside and come together in Christ. And I think that's the picture that was given here in that
39:46consecrating oil. KB7 said, yeah, thank you for that, Kevin. Yep. The people of God are unique. They are
39:56special. And they have been set aside by God for his service, for his worship, uh, to constitute his
40:04kingdom and his family and, uh, that body of people that he intends to save. So yeah, praise the Lord for
40:10that. And you're right. This was not a common oil. This was used for one purpose and one purpose only.
40:17And, um, and so it's, uh, it just shows the special nature of this unity that we share among the people of
40:25God. Um, you know, I, I think what's going on here, uh, as you mentioned, Kevin, in, in, in verse one,
40:32this is a Psalm of Ascent. This is, uh, the children of Israel, uh, saying this as they went up to,
40:39um, the, uh, the, uh, Jerusalem for the feast. And I, I think the feast, uh, described here is the
40:49feast of tabernacles, uh, which was held once a year in Jerusalem. Uh, that feast is described in
40:55Deuteronomy 16, 13 to 15, uh, and it lasted seven days. And the city was filled with people from all
41:01the tribes who erected temporary shelters, any place they could and lived in them. That's what
41:06the tabernacles were, or the little tents across the city in every place. Uh, and they rejoiced in
41:13the goodness of God, uh, not only at the conclusion of their harvest, but also, uh, with reference to
41:19the Exodus and how God protected them during those 40 years in the wilderness. Now imagine if you could
41:25standing on some high point, looking across the city where people from all the tribes were camping
41:31together, living shoulder to shoulder in unity and peace and joy during the feast of tabernacles.
41:38How good and how pleasant such a view would be as day after day, the brethren of all the tribes of
41:45Israel dwelt together in peace and unity, uh, in the streets of Jerusalem. And such a sight would be
41:52good and pleasant because all too often in Israel's history, the various tribes, uh, had turned on each
41:58other and engaged in warfare against each other. Uh, there had been conflict and hatred and bloodshed
42:04between the tribes. But now at the time this Psalm was written, there's none of that. Instead,
42:11the tribes are dwelling together in peace and unity as they worship and thank the Lord with one mind
42:16and one mouth for his goodness and giving them another year's harvest. And such a sight was good
42:22and pleasant indeed. And then he compares it of course to the ointment and to the rainfall, uh, both of
42:29which are apt metaphors for not only the sweetness of that unity, uh, but also for the fruitfulness that
42:37it produces. All right. Other comments on our Psalm, please come now with your call sign.
42:41All right. Danette, we'd like to acknowledge Philip K6HSV. Phil, good to have you with us. See you
42:53there on the Utah SDR. Also Michael, uh, N7QXH. Michael, good to have you as well. And we also see
43:01Dave KE7WKI. Thank you guys for showing up there on the Utah SDR. All right. Any other comments? Please
43:09go ahead. Yes. Thank you, uh, everybody. That, uh, the uniqueness for the priesthood, uh, for this special
43:29perfumed oil as the passage in Exodus highlighted and that it was, uh, only for this particular purpose,
43:39the recipe was distinct and unique. Um, I, I couldn't help but think of the passage where Paul
43:49urges, um, come probably going back to the first verse to, can't seem to get away from it, but I love
43:58how Paul puts it to the Romans when he says, if possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all
44:09men. You know, that, that requires a, a level of, of outwardness and to be aware of your setting and your
44:22culture and the desire to communicate with one another is not a self-centered focus. And my,
44:35wouldn't it be, uh, uh, wonderful for all of us to be able to, to, uh, by the spirit of God, I suppose
44:43it takes that to, to fulfill that passage. Over. Roger, I really appreciate your terminology there.
44:52You said it requires a degree of outwardness, uh, and it's not, uh, self-centered. And, you know,
45:01there, uh, you just nailed the essence of what it means to be a Christian and what it means to
45:07be a blessing to others. And of course that occurs specifically in the area of Christian unity.
45:16And that is, is that instead of looking inward at ourselves and our circumstances and our feelings,
45:21we need to look out and say, well, what's that other person's circumstances and what are their
45:25feelings and what are they going through? And how can I wash their feet? How can I serve their needs?
45:31Um, and so, uh, the whole idea is that God looks out. He sees our needs. He reaches out and meets our
45:41needs. And that's what we have to do. We have to have this outward perspective, looking on the things
45:47of others and not just the things of ourselves. And so if we would do that, uh, as you well said, there
45:54would be a huge, um, increase in the peace and unity among the people of God. And while we never
46:02sacrifice truth or righteousness to achieve that peace and unity, what we do sacrifice is our own,
46:11uh, self-centered agendas and, uh, our own desire to, uh, exalt ourselves over others and be the focus
46:20of attention and all of those things that revolve around self-centeredness that do create so much
46:25strife and disunity. So yes, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. And the New
46:31Testament, and we didn't even get to these verses today, it's just saturated with references to
46:38this. Uh, for example, Ephesians chapter four, uh, he says in verses one to three, uh, I therefore
46:45prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you're called
46:50with all loneliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love,
46:57endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. So we have to work
47:01at being at peace with all men. Uh, and as much as lies in us, we need to do it. And the way we do
47:08that is humility and meekness and patience and forbearance. And if we would exercise those
47:16attributes towards others, that would certainly resolve a lot of conflict, um, and a lot of, of,
47:22of breaking of fellowship. All right. We are way out of time. We need to stop here, but, um, I just want
47:30to remind you all that, uh, there are a ton of verses in the New Testament about being kindly
47:37affection one to another with brotherly love in honor, preferring one another. Um, all right,
47:44we need to go to prayer. Uh, are there any final prayer requests before we go to prayer? Please
47:48come down with your call sign.
47:49All right. Hearing nothing, I'm going to go ahead and close in prayer. Our kind and gracious Father,
48:09we thank you so much for this passage and for the, uh, the way it reminds us of, of how we need to be,
48:18uh, at peace with each other, uh, at peace with each other. We need to recognize there's far more
48:22that unites us than divides us. And Father, we know that those divisions are the result of
48:28immaturity. Uh, they're the result sometimes of sin. And Lord, help us to be patient with each other
48:35and help us, Father, to, uh, recognize that, uh, the kingdom of God involves everyone who is truly
48:43born again and that we should have the peace and unity with them, uh, even while discussing the
48:49differences that we have, but in a loving way, uh, and not in a way of, uh, alienation and division.
48:57Father, uh, we just want to thank you today for our veterans who served in our military. Uh, Father,
49:04some of us here served, uh, but all of us appreciate the service of others. And Father,
49:11we pray for our soldiers now as Joe, um, prayed at their, at our opening prayer that you would
49:17protect those who are currently deployed, uh, and that Father, they would be safe and that, uh,
49:23you would give them, uh, the protection of your angels round about them, Father, so that they might
49:29return home safely, uh, to their families. Father, we just ask that you would give our,
49:36our government wisdom in deploying the military and in the way in which they use them so that
49:43they're used for good and righteous purposes. Uh, Father, we just ask that our soldiers might
49:49read the Bibles that Jeff AK-60K sends out, uh, by the millions, uh, so that they could be saved,
49:57Father, as they serve and be sanctified and preserved as they serve through the reading of
50:04the scriptures. Father, be with the chaplains. Uh, Father, I pray that they would, uh, themselves
50:10be saved and that they themselves would be able to lead the soldiers to faith in Jesus. And Father,
50:17we pray that we would fight the good fight of faith as hard in the spiritual realm with the armor of God
50:23as they do in the physical realm with their physical weapons. Thank you, Father, that in the
50:29kingdom of God, the weapons of our warfare are not physical. They're spiritual. Uh, and they're
50:35very powerful to the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan and the advancing of the cause of the
50:40kingdom. Help us then, Father, uh, to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, to endure hardness and to be
50:46faithful on the battlefield, uh, in the service of Christ and the cause of his kingdom.
50:52And now, Father, we want to pray today for Carol, KK7TPO. Uh, her great-granddaughter Alice and her
50:58father John are traveling to Maryland from Alaska today. Lord, we pray for traveling mercies for them.
51:06Father, thank you for preserving, uh, John as he drives on the glare ice. And Lord, we just pray that,
51:12uh, you would help little Alice to, uh, have good influences in her life. Thank you that her
51:17grandparents are believers. And Lord, I pray that she would see the contrast between the wicked and
51:23the righteous and that, Father, she would follow the righteous. Lord, be pleased to save her, preserve
51:29her, protect her. And Father, cause her to grow up to be a woman of God who loves and serves you and
51:36turns away from the evil and follows the good and trust in Christ as her savior. Father, we pray for
51:43Brian, KK7ZIP. His wife, Toni, had an MRI on her foot. Lord, we pray for a proper diagnosis of her foot
51:50pain and for a treatment plan for her. Father, we want to pray for Tim, W7ASY. He asks us to pray for
51:58Rebecca, his mother-in-law, who is suffering with edema in her legs. Father, we pray for the reduction of
52:04the swelling. As she works as a caregiver, she's on her feet all day long, can't put them up. Lord,
52:10just take that edema away in Rebecca's legs, we ask. Father, we pray for, uh, Roger, W7BZL, uh, and his
52:18friend, Terry, who's having, uh, an oblation procedure, uh, apparently on her heart. Lord, I pray for its
52:25success and for the reduction of her anxiety regarding that procedure. Father, we pray for Autumn, that you
52:32would open a door for her to find a place to live where she could get a job and be self-sustaining
52:38and not live off of others. Father, we pray for Steve, uh, W6YSI. Lord, we are grieved to hear about
52:48the passing of Pastor Ben Rory, uh, of the little lighthouse church there in Brownsville. Uh, Lord,
52:55but we know he's in your arms and we're grateful for that. Uh, Lord, we just pray for Gene Sanchez,
53:00uh, a layman filling in for him, preaching in the pulpit at this point. Uh, and Lord,
53:06Gene not only has the burden of preaching every Sunday, uh, something he's really not, um, uh,
53:13called to and, and, uh, equipped for, uh, he's just a layman. And yet, Father, we know that you
53:19can take ordinary people, fill them with your spirit and knowledge of your word, and use them mightily.
53:25And Lord, if you would lay your hand on Gene and give him the spirit and an understanding of your word,
53:30uh, to bless that church, Father, we, that'd be wonderful. We'd be grateful for that.
53:36Lord Gene also is struggling with his own wife, Dory, uh, who has cancer. And so he's got this
53:42double burden, Father, preaching and caring for his, his wife who's struggling with cancer. So,
53:48Lord, be with Gene. Lift him up, Father. Draw him near and give him strength. Lord, we pray for Steve's
53:54wife, Leslie, that if she has a support with a vascular surgeon on her leg pain, December 2nd,
54:00Lord, that she would get a remedy for that. Lord, we continue to pray for Jubal, N7 PTT,
54:08um, and safe travel for his family's return trip from their vacation. I think it's in Mexico,
54:13as I recall. Lord, we pray for Keith, K7 NEB. His son, Grant, and his wife, Rachel, are expecting a
54:19baby boy in May. Lord, we just pray for a, uh, healthy, uh, pregnancy, a safe delivery,
54:26and a healthy baby in due time. Father, we pray for David, K-I-7 P-W-Z. His daughter, Brenda,
54:34is battling breast cancer. She's receiving chemotherapy treatment now. Lord, we just pray
54:40for her healing and also for David and the pain that he's experiencing from the bulging discs in his
54:45back. And I pray that he would have some effective treatment that would relieve that pain. Uh,
54:51Father, we just continue to pray for Rob, uh, KB-7 CO, for his unspoken prayer request. Father,
54:58just pray that as that need is ongoing, that you would be pleased to meet that need. Father,
55:04we pray for Mike, N7 GND. Father, who's out, Al Cunning, uh, didn't hear from Mike this morning,
55:09but Lord, we trust that, uh, your good hand is on him and that, Lord, you're giving him success.
55:15Yes, in that Al Cunning trip. Uh, Father, we just pray for Al, N6 M-O-T, for the health issues that
55:22he and his wife have. Father, whatever those are, be pleased to meet them. Lord, George, K-1-K-O-Y,
55:29lost his wife, Pamela, to cancer in July. Lord, we pray for comfort for George and his family.
55:35And Lord, all the adjustments that have to be made, uh, when there is this huge hole, uh, in his life
55:42and in his heart. Father, just fill that hole with yourself, with your presence. Father, give
55:48him strength and wisdom and carrying on now as a single man. Lord, thank you that he does have some
55:54extended family. Uh, we thank you for the joy of his granddaughter, Caitlin, who's due to deliver
56:00his first great grandchild, November 7th. Father, uh, may the joy of that delivery be a comfort, uh, to
56:06George. And Lord, we pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby. And, uh, for George as he travels to
56:12spend time with his family over Thanksgiving. Lord, may that be a time of real joy and family unity
56:19and encouragement, uh, for George. Um, Father, we just pray for Charles, N7VEN. Father, he lost his son,
56:27Trevor, uh, to cancer on October 11th. Lord, I pray for, um, Charles that you would bring him peace
56:35in his heart, a trust in you. And Father, patience, uh, for the day when he and Trevor will be back
56:42together around your throne of grace. Father, we pray for Jerry, KG6J, his boss, Rochelle. Pray that
56:49you'd heal her from her cancer. Lord, we pray for Jerry that his physical therapy would be, uh, mean
56:56to improve, uh, his balance and remove his back pain. Lord, we continue to pray for Beck,
57:04Alfalfa 5 Yankee, and for the healing of his vision, uh, that he, uh, has, uh, from his head
57:11injury. Lord, pray that, uh, you would just bring a remedy for that either naturally or through
57:17surgery so that he doesn't have this double vision anymore. We pray that you give he and his wife,
57:24Sandy, a strength as they remodel their new home. And Lord, we pray that, uh, that would go well.
57:30And that, Lord, there would be no injuries there and that they would have good success and be able
57:35to move in soon. Pray for Nancy, his neighbor. Heal her from her cancer. And Lord, from the blindness
57:40and darkness of her mind, Father, bring her to salvation. Father, we pray for Jan, that you would
57:46help her to walk well. And for her husband, Ken, that his heart arrhythmia issues would be resolved.
57:52Lord, we pray for Mike, KI7RSB. His wife, Liz, is fighting cancer. We pray for her effective, uh, chemo treatment.
58:00Father, we pray for Will, that you would continue to heal him of his prostate cancer through these
58:05treatments. And we pray that those would be effective in removing that cancer. Continue to
58:11pray for Keisha and for her salvation. Father, we thank you for this new Bible study that Will
58:16started attending. Father, bless the one who leads it and all who participate in it. Father,
58:21may it be a tremendous source of edification for all of them. And Lord, we've already prayed for
58:26Jeff and for the distribution of his Bible. Lord, just want to reinforce that prayer request.
58:33Send each of those Bibles to a soldier who needs them for salvation. We also pray for the
58:38building of new chapels on Camp Pendleton, as is needed to meet the spiritual needs of the
58:42soldiers on that base. And Lord, raise up people to, uh, staff those chapels and to be instruments
58:49of edification and salvation for our troops. Father, we pray for Tom, WW17. Uh, Lord, pray
58:57that you'd provide him soon with that wheelchair that he needs. May the government quit dragging
59:02their feet. And Father, provide that for him. Lord, we pray for my pastor, Pastor Jeff Black.
59:08Uh, and we pray that you would just heal him with his severe ulcerative colitis. Thank you that he's
59:14able to be back in the pulpit now. Uh, but Father, uh, he still has a long way to go. And we pray that
59:19you would facilitate and speed his healing. Father, we pray for, uh, Cody K7TRF, his uncle Doug, and that
59:28you would continue to heal him from his severe head injury. And Lord, we pray that he would be able to,
59:34uh, get back to normal as much as possible, uh, through the rehabilitation treatment that he's
59:40receiving. Father, pray for Scott, KD7YQT, his wife Pam, and his daughter, uh, Kendra, both have
59:47multiple ongoing health problems with lupus and other things. Father, I pray that you give them both
59:54a good day today. We pray that you'd restrain the progress of any disease in their lives.
59:59And Lord, you give them joy and peace, uh, in the situation they're in. Help them to learn
60:04contentment. And Lord, I just ask that, um, there would be, uh, a real looking forward to and an
60:12anticipation of the healing that's going to take place in the resurrection. Father, we pray for Mike,
60:18KK7 in, who has stage four cancer. Lord, we pray that you would heal him. And Lord, we pray for,
60:25um, his, uh, his, uh, chemotherapy to be effective. Father, uh, we pray for Becca,
60:33um, Scott's other daughter, for her protection as she works with troubled youth. Father, we pray for
60:40Ed in 6XOH, uh, his, uh, niece, Ruth, her husband, Thomas, and the health needs of their children,
60:46Macy, Mika, and McCain. Father, give them both wisdom and caring for the children. Pray that you
60:52would continue to provide employment for Thomas and that you would meet the needs of that family.
60:57Father, we pray for Eldon, KF7FIA, that you would heal him of his back pain. And Lord,
61:02we pray for JR, W6LBP, uh, his friend Gary, uh, W6GLBS, stage four cancer. Uh, Lord, he's receiving
61:11immunotherapy and I pray that that immunotherapy would be used by you to eradicate the cancer from
61:17his body. And then our brother, Mike, W7TWO. I haven't heard from Mike in a long time, but Lord,
61:23his sister Barbara needs salvation and Mike needs healing from his polio and his arthritis.
61:30And so, Lord, these are the requests that we have today. I'm sure there are many among our group that
61:34are unspoken. Father, be pleased to meet those needs as well. And also that of our listeners,
61:40Father, those who haven't checked in, Lord, look on them, have mercy on them, meet their needs.
61:46And Father, lift them up, draw them near and give them strength to go on another day in serving you.
61:53And now, Lord, we want to thank you for your goodness, mercy, and grace to each one of us
61:56and for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
62:01All right. This is WB7MX, Net Control for the West Coast Bible Study. I want to thank all the stations
62:06you checked in this morning, as well as those who stood by to give us a clear operating frequency.
62:12We meet here seven days a week at 6 a.m. in order to read the scriptures, understand their meaning,
62:17message, and application, and then pray for grace and mercy to be able to live out what we learned
62:22and for God to meet the needs of those that are in our circle of fellowship.
62:26I'll be returning this frequency now to regular amateur use. This is WB7MX. I'll be clear and standing by.
62:32WB7MX. KB7MX. KB7MX. Kevin, go ahead.
62:38Well, first, Max, thank you for sharing such a wonderful prayer there. And to all the others
62:46that take time as part of our net to share the prayer of many requests that come in. And a beautiful,
62:56beautiful job. I was just reflecting on our study today, which I appreciate everyone's contribution
63:03to, too, because they were all wonderful. And how that is lived out in the little book of Philemon.
63:14You know, here we see Paul living out and promoting the unity that he's talking about. And the wonder
63:25that is expressed in recognition of this unity that God brings together people from different
63:35tribes in the case of the text, but whatever the different backgrounds into him.
63:40But I just love how it's played out from, you know, first begins with grace and forgiveness from
63:49a slave to a slave owner who is robbed and ran away where that unity is promoted. But then to facilitate
64:00that, Paul gives of himself and is willing to pay restitution for any losses and of himself.
64:09So here we see, I think, just a beautiful picture of that lived out in the Lord's churches and,
64:17you know, in expression here where we see a slave, a slave owner and a formal,
64:25a former attacker of the church, now an apostle, all coming together in unity for the glory of God.
64:34I'll give you seven. Does that accept?
64:37You know, Kevin, really well said. Thank you for pointing out that dynamic that took place in the book
64:42of Philemon. And yeah, you've got a persecutor of the church. You've got a slave owner.