Over the last few months, I’ve struggled with the word unity. Although calls for unity are necessary and appropriate, the word itself seemed to feel off — as if it had lost its flavor. I cringed when I saw unity used to encourage collective direction. Because I couldn’t understand why the word seemed so ill-fitting to me, I quietly decided not to say, write, or meditate on it. However, I noticed on social media that other people were openly rejecting unity as a timely rallying cry, and I thought, What in the world is going on? Why are we rejecting unity? Why does it seem to miss the mark?
Words are extremely vital — words wield worlds!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.(John 1:1)
And speaking the right word is significant.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
Light was conceived in God’s mind. And with an utterance, light was birthed into being. Light existed. As a seasoned prayer person, I have become keenly aware of the impact of words and the power we invoke when we use them. I don’t take words for granted. I approach them with care and accuracy.
During my struggle, I agreed to give the keynote address for a Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event. I was asked to include Psalm 133:1, and I winced! I did not want to pontificate on unity. It just didn’t feel right, and I didn’t want to fake it. But when the organizer shared the New Living Translation version of the Scripture, it struck me differently!
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.
Psalm 133:1 (NLT)
Perhaps because I have a musical background, the word harmony spoke to me more distinctly than the word unity. The verses that follow verse 1 of Psalm 133 expound on harmony through the use of similes.
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head . . .
Psalm 133:2 (NLT)
I dug deeper to learn more about this precious oil that was holy and worthy of anointing a priest. The oil was a mixture of four spices — myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia. Together, they created a fragrant oil, an illustration of different people living in accord with each other.
Verse three gives another simile to give further clarity:
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion . . .
Psalm 133:3 (NLT)
The dew from Mount Hermon differs entirely from ordinary dew. This dew, or soft mist, of Mount Hermon is a phenomenon particular to the East and Palestine. During the summer when the heat is hottest and the country is scorched by the sun, the dew comes from the Mediterranean and crawls down the plains, reviving and refreshing every living thing (H. Macmillan, D. D.,The Dew of Hermon, Biblehub.com).
It is to this magnificent phenomenon that the psalmist compares the harmony of those who dwell together as brethren.
I was stirred by these beautiful and expressive images. The refreshing dew is called into place by the sweltering heat. An oil worthy of anointing a priest is a mix of four different spices. Harmony is a semblance of differences mixed together. Harmony is the interdependent relationship between intense heat and refreshing dew. The word harmony feels right, appropriate for our directive.
Honestly, I am still uncertain why the word unity doesn’t quite hit the mark for me and so many others. Perhaps the word has been co-opted and overused to imply uniformity. Connotations and implications of words do change with the times. Perhaps unity has been mistaken for compliance, and perhaps I needed to fully comprehend the breadth and width of the word harmony. Read these words again:
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting.
Psalm 133 (NLT)
May we boldly and courageously reach for consonant harmony. And in instances when we feel like our differences are too vast to blend, when the heat feels too intense, and the refreshing seems like it will never come, may we lean in to appreciate the intricate, complex, and interrelated dynamics of harmony.
Leave a Comment
Kim Gibbens says
Pitch perfect. Thank you for these words of encouragement and challenge. Harmony keeps each note unique, but the combined sound is beautiful. Keep writing. Your words are needed. Your words hold so much wisdom.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Kim!
“pitch perfect.’ I see what you did there! Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement.
Shalom
LCB
CARMEN M. BECKER says
I’ve always loved the word HARMONY. Prayers that I may live a life of harmony in marriage, as a mother, grandmother, friend and human passerby.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Carmen.
Your harmony prayer is powerful. I am going to incorporate it into my life. Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement.
Shalom
LCB
Judyc says
Thank you. I too have struggled with unity, but harmony——-that is something we can all work towards.
Lucretia Berry says
HI Judy.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement.
Shalom
LCB
Heather says
Thank you for this…and for your blessing at the end. May we all reach for harmony!
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Heather.
You’re welcome. Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement.
Shalom
LCB
Victoria Webster Pinner says
I totally agree! Unity means we become one, and so we each lose what makes us unique. However, in harmony, each of our unique selves blend together to make something beautiful as opposed to discord. I, too, choose harmony.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Victoria.
Yes, ‘harmony’ communicates a picture of necessary parts of a whole. Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement.
Shalom
LCB
Cristin says
Harmony it is!! With you 100% a much better way to live. Have a lovely day!
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Cristin!
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
connie ker says
My daughter has a friend named “Harmony” and she is the only young lady I know with this name. I too, like that term in music, as a name, and also in our lives. I can’t believe I read this devotion this morning because my daughter and her friend Harmony are visiting a Yoga camp together for a week. May we learn to live in Harmony!
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Connie!
What a lovely name!
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Elizabeth says
Now, there’s a thought-provoking article. Thank you, Lucretia.
Lucretia Berry says
HI Elizabeth!
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Sharon says
Thank you, Lucretia, I really appreciate your wisdom. This understanding of harmony is something I can hold on to.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Sharon!
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Heidi Roesli says
Thank you for your inspiring words of wisdom!
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Heidi!
You’re welcome. Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Beth Williams2 says
Lucretia,
Unity means being combined as a whole. Harmony is the pleasant combination of people or parts into a pleasing or orderly whole. Almost like a working together for the good of whole. Therein lies the reason we like harmony better. Harmony doesn’t change a person it uses its talents for the betterment of the whole. Praying we can all work together in harmony to create a world full of peace.
Blessings 🙂
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Beth!
Thank you for sharing! Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Lynne Molyneaux says
Love this! Thanks Lucretia!
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Lynne!
You’re welcome. Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Irene says
Lucretia, this is lovely. The blending of different ideas to create harmony! It feels like that would not require any of us to give up our stands on issues. But, if our positions are built on falsehoods, we will still need to set them aside. And that can be painful.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Irene!
Harmony requires the right notes and sounds; otherwise, it’s a cacophony — it’s chaos. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Charlene Jewell says
I love your God given ability to speak your mind. What you have said is so profound. It also relates to relationships in families, since most have dysfunctional elements. Only in Christ is harmony to be achieved, I believe. I love music and so harmony to me is understood best as melodies sang by distinct voices that blend into chords. Thanks to Jesus, I have been able to soar and grow. Even though my home is full of discord, when I listen to his commands and do what he requires, life is full of purpose (being like Christ) and hope.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Charlene!
Thank you for sharing that with God’s divine love as our center, we can reach harmony.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Diana Willis says
This is such a God wink to me today!! Thank you ~
Diana
Lucretia Berry says
HI Diana!
It brings me joy to know that God winked at you through my words.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Sharon Hodges says
That was absolutely a beautifully put devotional! I will always see Psalms 133 in a different light of understanding! Thank you, Sharon
Lucretia Berry says
HI Sharon!
Psalms 133 has expanded me! Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Janet Trenda says
I love this. I’ve never enjoyed singing in unison, but harmony makes my heart sing too. How much more beautiful taking different individuals and blending in love and respect to live in a fuller state of beauty. Thanks!
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Janet!
You wrote, ‘blending in love and respect to live in a fuller state of beauty.’ YES!!! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Jennifer Haynie says
Lucretia,
I loved, loved, loved this post. Thank you for sharing it. I thought some about unity vs. harmony. I’m wondering if it didn’t strike you right because (a) it’s indeed overused, kind of like the media overdoing their cutesy cliches like Benifer. It’s lost its significance. I also truly do wonder if the definition itself (quality of state o not being multiple) is what struck you. It struck me. I do think harmony is so much better here. It does show that differences, especially like you discussed, and dwell together without angst. Thank you again. I always love your posts.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Jennifer,
I wonder if it’s because ‘unity’ is overused without thought to what is required to achieve it. I’m not sure. But I appreciate learning more through Psalm 133.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Marian Frizzell says
This is beautiful and poignant. Thank you so much for sharing.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Marian!
You’re welcome. Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Mary says
Thank you for your wonderful message that intrigued me. Like you, I prefer the definition of harmony over unity. It refreshed my spirit, and gave me hope for our society. God bless you sister in the faith.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Mary!
It brings me joy to know that you were refreshed! I needed refreshing as well.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Deborah Van Norden says
I love this devotion. I love learning new things, and the new things here were so interesting! The Scripture struck me as well, in a good way, of course. I love the idea of different people being in harmony with each other, despite those differences. That can be so difficult. I am friends with the woman who lives across the hall from me in my apartment building. We are vastly different from each other, and we have struggled a lot in our friendship. I have thought several times about Proverbs 27:17, where it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The explanation of this verse is that in Bible times, one blade was used to sharpen another, making both more effective. Harmony can be so difficult to achieve, but struggles are what purify us, and more specifically, struggles within a relationship are one thing that draws us closer together. Truly, we do need each other.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Deborah!
I am happy to meet another lover of learning! May divine love forge a healthy relationship between you and your neighbor.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Amy says
Wonderful!
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Amy!
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Mammy says
we are not God, nor equal to Him, and who are you or we to use our words to say what God has “conceived” in His mind? also, do you or I actually profess or try to teach that Jesus “walks beside” you or I???
we should be falling down flat on our faces in repentance for all mankind! buzz words bigtime for false gods are permeating polluted teaching/teaching. nothing but the Blood of Jesus can make us pure! love you
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Mammy!
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Kristen says
Thank you for these beautiful words. Soaking in them today.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Kristen!
You’re welcome.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Michelle Stiffler says
The right word holds so much power. Glad you found the right one – and glad you shared it
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Michelle!
This has been my experience as well!
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Michael Farnola says
Hi Lucretia,
I agree with everything you state about the word unity and harmony.
In addition to unity, in relationships I have always struggled with the word, compromise. We make sacrifices, sometimes we keep track of what each other is doing like a score card. We feel justified in doing something we want because our partner of friend did something they wanted to do or a place to go. Harmony is such a peaceful place to live in a relationship with friends, partners and God. Living harmoniously flows and feels so much better, as we are in tune with each other’s needs, wants and desires. We do things and act out of love for each other when living in harmony. Living life without a score card, but rather living life with acts of selfless love, peace and harmony.
Thanks again,
Blessings,
Michael
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Michael!
WOW! I had not thought about the word ‘compromise’ as a misnomer for living ‘in tune with each other’s needs, wants and desires.’ Thank you for sharing your thoughts and expanding my understanding.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Michael!
WOW! I had not thought about the word ‘compromise’ as a misnomer for living ‘in tune with each other’s needs, wants and desires.’ Thank you for sharing your thoughts and expanding my understanding.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Eileen Curtis says
So beautifully said, like refreshing dew on a hot afternoon.❤️
Lucretia Berry says
HI Eileen.
Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB
Barbara says
Oh my goodness, yes, harmony is the perfect word! The word “unity” bothers me too. You help me see that it is because it does seem too similar to uniformity. I always appreciate your posts so much because they reveal new things for me to consider. Thank you for your words and explanations.
Lucretia Berry says
Hi Barbara!
Thank you for reading. I am glad that my story is meaningful to you.
I am grateful for your encouragement. May we live harmoniously.
Shalom
LCB