A WORD FOR TODAY, November 28, 2025
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, November 28, 2025
“See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that came down on the edge of his robes, like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion; for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.” Psalm 133, WEB
Have you ever woken up to a world that was wet, that looked like it rained but it didn’t? Have you ever experienced a morning when the air was so heavy with water that it fell to the ground, not only as dew on the grass but also as puddles on the driveway? It is refreshing, but in a place where the ground is often drought parched, we would rather have a steady rain. With that type of dew, our cars are dripping with water, but the dew doesn’t wash the dust and dirt off, leaving dimple dew marks all over. This is what is described in today’s psalm. People who have traveled in the region throughout the generations report that the dew is so bountiful on the tents that it seemed like it had rained all night. This type of dew can make a dry place feel fresh and life sustaining.
As the dew falls on the land, so too the oil falls on Aaron’s head, flowing down to cover his hair, face, and even his robe. The oil, which was an expensive offering, was abundantly and graciously poured over the priest to anoint him for the ministry of God. The ointment was powerfully fragrant, strong enough to reach the noses of those who were near, so the experience was shared with the community.
In this psalm we see God’s gracious generosity in both the natural and spiritual worlds. The gifts may not seem like much. After all, dew is not rainfall and the bottle of oil was not large, but they both fell in such abundance in the psalm that they reached well beyond the mountain and the priest. As a matter of fact, Mount Hermon is miles away from Zion, but the rich blessings of that dew benefited the whole region.
Most of us are recovering from a day of celebration with family and friends. How was your Thanksgiving? Did you eat turkey and pie until you couldn’t eat any more? Did you hang out in front of the television watching football all day? Did you spend time visiting with those you love? Was it a pleasant experience? Did everyone benefit from the love and togetherness?
I know that some family celebrations can be difficult. I’ve heard stories about brothers and sisters that just can’t get along. Or about in-laws that are demanding and spoiled children that throw tantrums. I know that some families can’t even bring up certain topics of conversation without getting into arguments. Others fight over life situations, disappointments, and plans. Those family gatherings are not always pleasant experiences. Other families can gather in peace and enjoy one another’s company? Does this mean that they will agree about everything? Not necessarily, but they’ve learned how to get along.
How pleasant it is when brothers live in unity! The blessing of unity does not come from within; it comes from without. It comes from another source like the dew comes from Hermon and the oil comes from a bottle. The blessing of unity comes from God. When we live within the love and grace of God, the effects are far reaching. We benefit, but so do those around us. As we head into the holiday season, with many gatherings of friends and family, let’s remember that unity does not necessarily mean that we’ll always get along, but we can learn to live in His grace and mercy enjoying one another’s company so that the world will see how He blesses His people.
A WORD FOR TODAY is posted five days a week – Monday through Friday. The devotional on Wednesday takes a look at the scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. A WORD FOR TODAY is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Word-for-Today-Devotional/339428839418276. Like the page to receive the devotion through Facebook. For information and to access our archives, visit http://www.awordfortoday.org.