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The Power of Brotherly Love
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 10.30am service, Jan 5 2003)
Text: Psalm 133
It is observed that the higher a man climbs up
the ladder of success, the more enemies he makes. So, there is a
Chinese saying, "Talking bad of the king behind his back." Some of
David’s enemies are Shimei, Ahithophel and even Absalom his own son.
But God also raised up loyal followers for King
David. They supported David to make him king. Of 30 captains who
stood with David there were three who heard David say, "Oh, how I’d
like a drink of cool, fresh water from the well of my home town
Bethlehem." Now at that time Bethlehem was occupied by the
Philistines. The three captains taking their lives into their own
hands broke through the ranks of the Philistines and brought back
the cool, refreshing water to their king. But David said, "This is
the blood of the three captains. I cannot drink it." Then he poured
it on the ground as an offering to the Lord.
The goodness and pleasantness of brotherly love
David is talking about, is not that of natural brothers but rather
of the spiritual. If it is also of natural brothers, it will be
doubly pleasant. Nevertheless, David has so admonished his friends
to live by his injunctions as follows, "I will sing of mercy and
judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself
wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk
within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing
before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall
not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not
know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him
will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will
not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that
they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall
serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he
that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy
all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from
the city of the LORD" (Ps 101). As St Augustine puts is succinctly
to his students, "I will not allow anyone of you to talk bad of
others behind their back."
Now the Church is a Gospel centre, but we have
made it a gossip centre. Twisted reports of man or things, are often
repeated. Watch your tongue and watch your lips.
But rather say things that edify. A senior’s
word of commendation on a junior goes a long way to build up the
younger person. By way of illustration, a new lecturer took over the
homiletics class I used to teach. Every student, even the best, was
torn to shreds, after the sermon he preached. Everyone almost became
a nervous wreck. Knowing that a learner needs encouragement than
destructive criticism, my method is, "Please say a kind word on the
sermon." In this way his confidence is built up, and slowly he
improves to be a good speaker. In our association with one another
let us be kindly affectioned one to another.
The power of brotherly love, of mutual love and
respect, is like sweet perfume, like the special ointment that
anoints the high priest, most precious. Every drop of it that flows
from the head to the beard and that flows down the garment is
fragrant. How it pleases not only men but also Almighty God. When
men hear of brotherly love in the leadership of the Church they
praise the Lord and bless His Name. "When the righteous are in
authority, the people rejoice" (Prov 29:2).
The power of brotherly love is likened to the
dew of Mount Hermon that brings life giving moisture to the hills of
Zion, from high to low. Mount Hermon in the north is 9,000 ft and
the Hills of Zion 2,700 ft. This causes the parched grass of Zion,
after a night’s descent of Hermon’s dew to spring up to life. From
brown to green in one night. The power of brotherly love transforms
the dying to exuberant life even in the famous saying, "One shall
chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight" (Deut 32:30).
There were twelve spies sent by Moses into
Canaan to spy out the land. Ten returned with a dismal report,
comparing themselves to grasshoppers in a land of giants. This so
discouraged the children of Israel that they would return to Egypt.
Two were of a different mind, Joshua and Caleb.
Full of faith, they urged, "If the LORD delight in us, then he will
bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with
milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye
the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is
departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not" (Num
14:8-9).
What was the result? The ten spies who brought
an evil report died in the plague before the Lord, but Joshua and
Caleb lived through the 40 years of wilderness journey even to 110
years and beyond 85 years respectively.
God will give you long life because of your
faith and good health and strength, even like Moses who lived to
120. The power of brotherly love, the like-mindedness of brethren
who dwell together in unity, is the love of David for his followers.
This is the same unity of the Apostles serving their Saviour who
exhorted them, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as
I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do
whatsoever I command you" (Jn 15:12-14).
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