Hermon is the very loftiest peak in all the land, and from its snowy cap, when all the surrounding country is parched, the refreshing dew descends upon the mountains of Zion. This is one of the figures used by the Holy Spirit to illustrate the beauty and pleasantness of brethren dwelling together in unity. Here we have two lovely illustrations of unity among brethren. It is like precious oil descending from the head of the high priest to the skirts of his garments; and it is like the dew descending, in refreshing power, from Hermon’s snowy top. How truly delightful! And yet they are but figures used to set forth the divine idea of unity among brethren. But how is the unity to be promoted? By living sufficiently near to our great priestly Head to catch the fragrant oil as it descends from Him—to be living so near the Man in the glory that the refreshing dew of His grace may drop upon our souls.

It is one thing to talk about unity, and another thing to dwell in it. We may profess to hold “the unity of the body,” and “the unity of the Spirit,” and all the while be really full of selfish strife, party spirit, and sectarian feeling, all of which are entirely destructive of practical unity. If brethren are to dwell together in unity, they must be receiving the precious oil from the Head, the refreshing showers from the true Hermon. They must live in the very presence of Christ, so that all their selfishness is judged and subdued, all their own peculiar notions set aside. It will be then that we bear and forbear. It will not then be our loving only those who think with us and feel with us as to some pet theory. It will be loving and embracing “all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Eph. 6:24).