The psalmist proclaims: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Unlike the unity of unbelievers and the heathen, the Lord rejoices in the righteous unity of His people. King David was someone who knew and experienced the difficulties of division. He spent a great deal of his life running from a king and those who were against him. Even in the beginning of his reign, the people were divided (2 Samuel 2:8-11). It was not until 7 1/2 years later that the people were united in David (2 Samuel 5:1-5). When the people dwelt in unity, David rejoiced. He likened it to the source of spiritual life for the nation of Israel, the priesthood (Psalm 133:2), and to the source of physical life in the dew of Hermon (Psalm 133:3). In other words, the right kind of unity gave life and hope to the nation!
Though peace may seem illusive, God instructs all believers to pursue after it. True inner peace is not something that one can afford to live without. The Bible says, “seek peace, and pursue it.” Peter reiterates this truth by saying, “seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Peter 3:11). Men should seek after peace; and when found, they should allow nothing to prevent them from fully seizing upon it. The Lord said, “therefore love the truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19). Several New Testament verses repeat the importance of peace by admonishing the believer to follow after it (Romans 14:19; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 12:14). God certainly wants us to seek peace (1 Corinthians 7:15) and makes peace attainable. Yet, He demands that we pursue after His peace His way because any other peace is really no peace at all.
Society has become increasingly tumultuous offering vast distractions yet supplying little peace of mind. Unfortunately, most people seeking peace do so through the wrong means. Some seek it through entertainment, some through medication, some through relationships, and others through materialism; but their desire for peace remains an ever elusive quest. God is the only source offering true and lasting peace. In fact, the word of God identifies the Lord five times as the “God of peace” (Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20). Another passage identifies Him as the “Lord of peace” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Additionally, the Lord Jesus is identified as “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Not only do these truths affirm that the Lord has peace to offer, but that He is the One in control of providing peace. Trying to find peace apart from God’s working is comparable to salvation without a Saviour.
