Reflection: What a beautiful image this psalm creates. For those of us without beards we can still feel the luscious oil cascading down our heads, dripping through our hair, over our ears. The word picture captures the magnificence and blessing of unity.

King David, the Psalmist, tells us that God’s blessing rests on a unified church, a unified family, a unified team. How good and pleasant it is! Unity enables God to use us more than when we are fighting and pushing against each other and contending with each other. Unity grows through a common cause.

Note too that there is nothing static in this psalm. The oil runs down, as does the dew. A united people have momentum and this momentum is needed in every area of life.

Think about the different parts of your life – your inner life; family; friendships; colleagues – what helps nurture unity? Look what we are promised when we live in unity – ‘for there the Lord bestows his blessing.’ As we find ourselves working from home; hardly able to leave the house; loving our families in difficult circumstances, help us to seek your unity.

Prayer: Lord God, I want to know your blessing on all parts of my life. May your Spirit give me insights into my heart and fill me with the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control so that I can always contribute to unity. Amen.