The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 178

is lo,·c. Those multitudes of Jews in the temple had one common love, and so one co1.1,JJ1un life. They loved Jerusalem, they loved the God who glorified Jerusalem by his presence. And so the Christian unity is the unity of a common life, whose sign is a common love to the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian will join in sayincr, 0 "Grace be "·ith all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth." lI. SPIRITUAL UNITY IS THE UNITY OF A COMMON INTEREST. And that interest for Jews was the honour of Jehovah, the nation's God; it is for Christians the honour of Jehovah-Jesus, the manifested God. How a common interest blends men together is seen in societies, clubs, conferences, etc. It is the secret of the unity of Churches. llI. SPIRITUAL UNITY IS THE HARMONY OF VARIED FORMS. Different-shaped hills made up the unity of Jerusalem. Different-coloured flowers make up the unity of the garden. Different moods in worshippers make up the nnity of a religious service. Different mental apprehensions of truth make up the unity of the Christian doctriue, Reunion of mere samenesses is not a pleasing thing either to God or man. ·we do not care for things cut to an exact pattern, or pressed into one mould. In variety lies charm ; and variety is not only consistent with unity, it is a condition of unity if the unity is to go deeper than mere appearances. "'l'hat vast society in whose ample bosom the souls of Christian men from generation to generation find shelter and warmth and nourishment, is the reality of which the old Syrian city was a material type. This is the Jerusalem of the Christian Creed, 'I believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.' There may be controversies among. Christians as to the exact extent and direction of its walls, just as there are controversies among antiquarians as to the extent and direction of the walls of its material prototype, but as to its place in the thoughts and affections of the true Christian man there should be no room for controversy. No other association of men can have such claims on the heart of a Christian as the Church of God." "'l'he true remedy for disappointment and sorrow on the score of shortcomings and differences within the sacred city is to be found in such prayers as we offer in our holiest service to the Divine Majesty, be1't;iJching him to insµire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity,aud concord." -R.T. Ver. 4.-21ie mission of the great feasts. "The pre-Mosaic festivals were pure natnre- festivals. In the changes of the seasons, and of the phenomena of heaven, nature al ways displays a gracious adaptation to the needs of man, giving him special opportunities and intervals when he may rest for a considerable while from his ordinary toil, and devote himself unreservedly to higher thougLts." The work of Moses in developing, and adapting to a purpose, these nature-festivals needs to be carefully studied. He gave them precisely historical and religious relations and suggestions. 'l'he "tribes of Israel" is a phrase belongin~ to the old times of Israel's glory. (For the three assemblies, see Exod. xxiii. 17; xxxiv. 23; Deut. xvi. 16.) 'l'hese annual pilgrimages are spoken of as the subject of a Divine testimony or precept to Israel. ~ithout attempting to discuss elaborately the mission of these feasts, there are four thmgs to which attention may be directed. I. THEY WERE DESIGNED TO PRESERVE TIIE NATIONAL UNITY. It should be kept in mind that Israel was not so much a tribe as a set of tribes, and there was always the danger of jeal~usies producing divisions. 'l'he ~ime~ of t~e judges ~eveal how eas_ily the national hfe could be broken up. Somethmg m which the unity of the nation could be publicly recognized was absolutely necessary. This something muRt be in the nature of a command from the central authority; and it must take a regular and systematic form. Compare pilgrimages to Mecca, and even the country fairs and national holidays, which have their distinctly national uses. Show the moral influence of such blendings of people from different parts of the country; and explain that the preservation of the unity of Israel as a nation bore ~lirect rel~tion t_o the testim~ny it made for Jehovah among the nations. Statesmen still make 1t their supreme aim to secure the essential unity of the composite sections that make up the nations they govern. Their mottoes always are, "United we conquer; divided we foll." "Union is strength." A constantly repeated united national act is an important help to preserving national unity. ll. Tll.EY WERE DE~IGNED 'l'O l'BEBERVE THE BELIGIOUB UNITY. Unity is the PB, CXXII, 1-9.] 'rHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 199