Biblical Essays
"THE DEW OF HERMON"
It seems the expression “the dew of Hermon” has proved “a geographical puzzle” to some. But to a child of God, one who has the mind of Christ, it should not be a puzzle but rather a striking and beautiful figure. Hermon is the loftiest peak in the land of Palestine, and from its snowy cap, when all the surrounding country is parched, the refreshing dew descends on the mountains of Zion; and this is one of the figures used by the Holy Spirit to illustrate the beauty and pleasantness of brethren dwelling together in unity. “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 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. As the dew of Hermon that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Ps. 133).
Here we have two lovely illustrations of unity among brethren. It is like ointment descending from the head of the high priest to the skirts of his garment; and it is like the dew refreshingly descending from Hermon’s snowy top.
How truly delightful. And yet they are but figures used to set forth the divine idea of unity among brethren. But how is the unity to be promoted? By living sufficiently near our great priestly Head to catch the fragrant ointment as it descends from Him – to be living so near the Man that the refreshing dew of His grace may drop on our souls, rendering us fragrant and fruitful to His praise.
This is the way to dwell in unity with our brethren. It is one thing to talk about unity, and another thing altogether to dwell in it. We may profess to hold the glorious truths of “the unity of the body,” and “the unity of the Spirit” and all the while be full of selfish strife, party spirit, and sectarian feeling, all of which are entirely destructive of practical unity. If brethren are to dwell together in unity, they must be receiving the ointment from the Head, the refreshing showers from the true Hermon. They must live in the presence of Christ, so that all their points and angles may be moulded off; all selfishness judged and subdued, all peculiar notions set aside, all their cues and crotchets flung to the winds. Thus there will be largeness of heart, breadth of mind, and depth of sympathy. Thus we shall learn to bear and forbear. Then, it will not be loving those who agree with us and feel with us regarding some pet theory or other. It will be loving and embracing “all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.”
The blessed Head loves all His members, and if we are drinking into His spirit, if we are learning of Him, we shall love others likewise. No doubt, those who keep His commandments enjoy His special love – the love of complacency; and so we cannot but specially love those in whom we trace His blessed Spirit. But this is a totally different thing from loving people because they adopt our line of truth, or our peculiar views. It is Christ; not self; and this is what we want if we are to “dwell together in unity.”
Look at that charming picture presented in Philippians 2. First of all we see there the divine Head Himself, and from Him the ointment descending to the skirts of His garments. Where did Paul get the grace that prepared him to be poured out as a drink-offering on the sacrifice of his brethren? What was it that made Timothy care for other people? What led Epaphroditus to put his life in his hand to supply his brethren’s lack? What is the one grand answer to all these questions? Simply this: these beloved servants of Christ lived so much in their Master’s presence, and drank so deeply into His Spirit, and dwelt so near the Man in the glory, that the fragrant ointment and the refreshing dew fell abundantly on their souls, making them channels of blessing to others.
This is the grand secret of getting on together. If brethren are to dwell together in unity, they must have the “ointment” and the “dew” dropping continually on them. They must live close to Christ and be occupied with Him, so that they may show forth His virtues and reflect His blessed image.
What joy to be able in any little measure to refresh the heart of God. He delights to see His children walking in love. It is He who says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Surely this will stir our hearts to seek to promote this lovely unity in every possible way. It should lead us to sink self and all its belongings, to surrender everything that might in any measure tend to alienate our hearts from Christ, or from one another. The Holy Spirit exhorts us to “endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Let us remember this. It is the unity of the Spirit, not the unity of the body that we are to keep in the uniting bond of peace. This will cost us something. The word “endeavouring” shows that it cannot be done without sacrifice. But the One who so graciously exhorts us to the service will always supply the needed grace. The ointment and the dew will flow down from Him in refreshing power, knitting our hearts together in holy love, enabling us to deny ourselves and surrender everything that might tend to hinder that true unity we are imperatively called on to maintain.
