Exodus clarifies the oil was a symbol of God’s choosing Aaron to lead the Israelites in their worship of Him.
A consecration. God did not want them to hold back. They poured the oil extravagantly until it was running down his face and his garments to the floor. Aaron was to being dedicated wholly to God. (Exodus 30:22-33) The third stanza references another of God’s blessings. Again, from the Reformation Study Bible: “Hermon
is a majestic mountain on the northern boundaries of Israel, known for a heavy precipitation of refreshing dew. The downward flow of the liquid signifies that God gives the blessing of unity—through the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Sproul, 2015) The morning dew so graciously given by God serves a purpose. It protects the vegetation and provides a
little water before the heat of the day. It is a refreshing start to what might otherwise be a dry, hot day. The dew is a gift from God, just like the blessing of unity. The world cannot experience the blessed joy that is found in Christian unity. At best, they can only enjoy a temporary and tenuous peace. More often we see examples of violence and anger in those who plot against God and His Word. How refreshing it is to see a body of believers come together in unity and praise unto God! Here is some of the history of Psalm 133, as we sing it. Current Presbytery and Synod meetings close with
the singing of this psalm. Dr. Rob Patrick told me that as long as he could remember Synod had closed with that same psalm, except for one year when the Synod was sharply divided over a doctrinal issue that needed a biblical stand. That year the leaders of the Synod decided they could not in honesty sing Psalm 133, since the week had been so divided over the issue of whether women were to be ordained to the ministry. The delegates were not just singing words. They were carefully considering the meaning behind the words they sang. Rev. Earl Linderman, retired ARP Minister, has copies of the minutes of Synod from 1900. The minutes indi-
cate those sessions also closed with the singing of Psalm 133. Rev. Ben Glaser, pastor of Bethany ARP Church, is fairly certain it went back to the 1800s. That would make sense considering that Rev. Linderman found it in the 1900 minutes and did not see a notation that it was a new idea at that time. This has been a tradition for more than 120 years! The Bible Songs collection was not published in 1900. With the documentation indicating Synod’s closing
with Psalm 133 in 1900, shows that this tradition predated Bible Songs! The earliest copy of Bible Songs in my collection has a publication date of 1930. (ARP Board of Publication, 1930). Where did this tradition come from? Did it perhaps come over with the Scottish settlers in the 1700s? In fact, it most likely did. The 1650 Scottish Psalter has lyrics that match those sung today, except for the repetition of the last phrase (Eremitical Press, 2007). It is likely our Scottish ancestors have been singing Psalm 133, word for word, as we know it, for centuries before it became the song of unity for the ARP Church. The tune used in The Scottish Psalter, however, would have been different from the Bible Songs rendition.
Most of the psalms in The Scottish Psalter are in common meter so the congregation could use only a few tunes to sing the psalms. Therefore, it would not be uncommon to encounter different tunes when visiting different churches. The Bible Songs 1930 edition does not indicate a source for the tune, but the same tune is used in the 1930, 1954, and 1982 editions. The Bible Songs 1982 edition indicates the tune is ORTONVILLE composed by Dr. T. Hastings (General Synod ARP Church, 1982).
Hymnary.org lists Dr. Thomas Hastings as a prolific American hymn tune composer, composing other popular tunes such as TOPLADY (Rock of Ages) and ZION (The Glory of the Church, Bible Songs 179, Psalm 87). Dr. Hastings was born in Connecticut in 1784. ORTONVILLE was composed 1837, the Scottish Presbyterians of the 17th and 18th centuries would not have sung that tune. (John Julian,
Hymnary.org) It is likely that the repeat of the last line was added to accommodate the tune choice. The preface to Bible Songs 1930 reminds us that “These ‘immortal songs of the Holy Spirit’ have for three mil- lenniums held an important place in the worship of God.” (Standing Committee on Publication ARP Church, 1954) That is an amazing thought. Not only have Synod and Presbytery meetings closed with these words for 120 years, but our Presbyterian ancestors had been singing the words for 370 years. But even better still, we are singing the same Psalms sung by the Israelites and the early Christians. It is important to understand the words we are singing and to sing them intentionally, in praise to God. God’s Word really does stand forever!?
Betsy Logeman is the Director of Music at Boyce Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in King’s Mountain, NC. She is also a member of Synod’s Worship Committee.
Photo credit to Lorri Crawford, First ARP Church in Lancaster, SC.
September/October 2020
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