SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS UNDERLYING UNITY

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS UNDERLYING UNITY

2 Samuel 5: 1 - 10; 2 Samuel 15: 23 - 29; 2 Samuel 23: 1 - 5; Psalm 133: 1 - 3

SMcC The thought of unity is in mind in suggesting these passages, having in mind what we have in the song of degrees as to dwelling together in unity, and the fluid conditions among the brethren that are linked with that position, where, as under the influence of Christ in heaven and His gracious influence distilled from that position (the power of the Spirit here corresponding to that), we have the blessing commanded. The climax of the Songs of degrees, the Songs of the ascent, seems to have in mind our general arrival at this great thought of unity, and I thought we might see certain features in the second book of Samuel that are essential in relation to this unity and that make way for it. First of all in 2 Samuel 5 we might see the place that David (wonderful type of Christ), acquires in the hearts of the saints, and, having acquired it, the great thought of the building which goes forward from the Millo and inward; and then in chapter 15, the importance of the ark at that strategic moment being linked with the city; the greatness of David, not now a type of Christ exactly, as we hope to refer to it in chapter 15, but a type of ourselves as intelligently understanding the proper position to which the ark is attached, and cannot be detached from without serious outcome; and David’s preparedness for God to do whatsoever He pleased in regard of himself. Then in the last chapter we read in Samuel, the thought of the administration as it is referred to in that chapter in regard to rule; the kind of man that we see in David, and the kind of administration that is abstractly before his mind and soul in what he says, all being essential in regard to this matter of unity in our cities and in a general way among the brethren. In the teaching in each of these passages there is contained certain constituent elements that are essential to make way for the great thought of unity that is reached in the climax of the Songs of degrees.

SEE What is the significance in 2 Samuel 5: 2 of their referring to the time when Saul was king?

SMcC Well, the essential elements of the teaching in the glad tidings are linked with this great matter of the change of man; Romans 6 specifically dealing with it. We have to come to it in our souls, that there is only one kind of man that will do for God and that man is set forth in type in David.

DJM Is that suggested in “we are thy bone and thy flesh?” Had they arrived at that?

SMcC It shows, does it not, the way that they arrived at affinity with David. It is a great matter that we should understand our affinity with Christ in this light and relation.

GHW-n Is this thought of change brought in at the beginning of the chapter as linking with the previous chapter - “then came”?

SMcC Yes. The first few chapters bring up certain things in the teaching, and “then came” would allude to a certain result that is reached; there is much more to be reached in the book, but I think that written all over the second book of Samuel, we could take account of what we have in the hymn that we sing:

“How by dying Thou hast freed us
From the man of sin and shame.” (161:4)

And as delivered from the man of sin and shame, to link us with Christ Who only can be the centre of unity according to God.

WHF You remarked elsewhere that David is introduced as feeding. One notices in this passage that you read, that God says he shall feed the people, before the reference to being prince. Is feeding a feature that is delightful to God and helpful in unifying the saints?

SMcC We were seeing in Brisbane how this great feature of administrative service is linked with true leadership according to God. I think we want to see what is entering in in the teaching in the type as having this great thought of unity in mind. The enemy for years has failed to divide the brethren on points of the truth and features of the truth in a universal way, but he is operating insidiously to divide the brethren in the localities. If he cannot succeed universally he will do it in our cities, and in a large city like this, where there are so many brethren, it is important that the tactics of the enemy be discerned and that the saints should not be diverted from what the ministry has in mind, and that is to unite them in one Man, that is Christ.

JP It says, “all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; ... and they anointed David king over Israel,” all the elders of Israel. Would that bear on what you are saying now?

SMcC That is a feature of advantage to take account of in this passage. There was no concern amongst the elders to rival David in the matter of his enthronement. Experience with God will always make room for Christ in the light of what He is as God’s Anointed.

CEJ Why do we have the tribes of Israel coming first, and then the elders of Israel in verse 3?

SMcC I think it is to stress the wealth that there is in the tribal relation; the body of the saints, viewed in this light, come to this point of the supremacy of Christ typified in David.

JGC The tribes acknowledge David as prince, but the elders as King. What is the distinction in that?

SMcC Not much. The thought is what is royal, whether in the prince or the king. We are in the realm of the supremacy of Christ here in the type, and there may be the allusion in the prince to what David acquired on moral lines in the way of greatness, as the first book of Samuel would set out historically. The king may be more the official side, but they are both pointing to the supremacy of Christ.

AWG Is it significant that Jehovah says, “Thou shalt feed my people Israel”?

SMcC Yes. The saints speaking here understand the ministry that has gone before, they understand the prophetic light that has come, that would make much of Christ in the type in David, and they bring it out here. “And Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.” They are coming to what has really been in mind in the ministry.

NBS Is this a subjective answer to 1 Samuel 16 where Samuel anoints David at God’s ordering; but here the elders anoint him?

SMcC It is to show us the importance of this element at this juncture. It is not exactly here the great power of Samuel’s prophetic ministry and influence, as in the first book; it is the saints coming to it in what is suggested in the tribes here and the elders, those who have acquired influence through experience with God amongst the saints, who are making way for this thought of the supremacy of David in the hearts of the people of God.

JHH Would it be right to say that from David’s side he had waited patiently for this?

SMcC Exactly. Surely that reminds us of how the Lord is waiting, as Mr. Darby says, “Thou waitest still” (411:3). He is waiting yet. Think of the word of Christ’s patience. Think of what it means to Him to be waiting.

JD Is this an assembly movement towards David, towards Christ, in love and affection? I was thinking of what you were saying in regard to the moral features that are seen in David.

SMcC I think so. It is the saints uniting in honouring Christ as in the type in David from this viewpoint, as having acquired this place on moral and personal lines.

JD And has he acquired this place by the way of suffering?

SMcC Well, he has. The long waiting time that we have, and all that enters into it, is to remind us of how long Christ may have to wait for this place that is rightly His.

HJM Is there a link between the opening of this chapter and the latter part of 1 Chronicles 12 where it is a military movement? They are of one heart to make David king, and the tribes are all in it there, are they not?

SMcC Chronicles stresses the military side, but Samuel is not stressing so much that side, as the voluntary movement of all the tribes. The body of the people of God in this movement are making way for the elders, that is, what the elders suggest among the people of God moving forward in this great current, this great movement, in which Christ is to be distinguished according to the place that rightly belongs to Him and no one else.

WJH Is that why the time of his reign is mentioned, the thing is established even before the period runs out?

SMcC Yes, it is rather interesting that we should get in verses 4 and 5 the whole scope of the reign referred to, as it says, “David was thirty years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.” How often we see that principle in the ways of God, that what is to be arrived at in fulness is indicated before it is concretely so.

FW Is verse 2 of this chapter a kind of acknowledgment or confession of their failure in not having recognised what was in God’s mind all the way through?

SMcC We all have to come to that in our souls, do you not think, in regard to the setting aside of what Saul represents? He represents the flesh, the man according to the flesh, and how painful and long are the experiences linked with the displacement of that man in order that room might be made for Christ, the Man after God’s heart.

FW And that whatever there had been in the past which was according to God had really been represented in David rather than in Saul?

SMcC Yes, they say, “Even aforetime, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel.” How true that is in the elements of the teaching of the glad tidings, that along with the struggle linked with the displacement of the man according to the flesh in our hearts, there is the conscious vital support of Christ, all the way through, underlying the position.

JP You have just said that what is to be arrived at is indicated before it is concretely so. Divine Persons are working to the end of establishing before the rapture the great truth of Christ and the assembly. Indications have been clearly given as to that, but much has to be passed through in the way of exercise before it is concretely arrived at in the saints.

SMcC Exactly. It is a very real matter as to this place that rightly belongs to David. It lies at the basis of all unity according to God. On the one hand separation from evil is God’s principle of unity, as in the cross; but then Christ is the great centre of the unity, and it is important that we should see what is in mind in all the ministry of the past fifty years, and what now is leading up to the moment of the translation, the place that belongs to Christ. As if heaven is not going to brook the displacement of the place that rightly belongs to Christ in any one of us individually, or in our gatherings.

JP So that, whilst there was that word of Mr.

Darby’s that you have mentioned as to separation from evil being the principle of unity, he also said, that grace is the power for unity in gathering, and that would bring in what you are seeking to bring before us now?

SMcC Separation is the negative side; but we must have the positive side, and Christ is the great centre of the unity that we are referring to.

JD Would you say a word as to their coming to David to Hebron? Later on it speaks of moving with David to Jerusalem.

SMcC It is important to see that when we come to verse 6 it says, “the king and his men went to Jerusalem.” We come to another thought, not now the tribes and the elders, but the king and his men; as if, when we come to this matter of the hearts of the saints set forth in the stronghold of Zion, we have this great thought of the king and his men, especially stressing the side of manhood, representing the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has under His hand in relation to manhood in the testimony to achieve this great end, that is, the securing of the hearts of the saints in the light of the stronghold of Zion, in order that He might dwell there and that the operations of building might commence inward.

WJH Would Peter be one of His men in making known to Cornelius that He is Lord of all, in bringing the Gentile in to this position?

SMcC Yes. The book of the Acts would amplify this thought of “the king and his men” - men like Peter and John, men like Stephen and Paul. We can see how Christ was the centre of all their testimony and so the book of the Acts stresses this great matter of unity among the brethren, that the hearts and souls of the brethren were held together undivided in relation to the supremacy of Christ as set out in their ministry.

ET If it is not diverting you, I would like to ask a question as to chapter 4, as to the application there of how things work out amongst us; how two men sought to ingratiate themselves with David by doing injustices to a righteous man; and unless we are built up in manhood in the features that you are bringing before us in chapter 5, there may be the danger of our subscribing to something that is not right according to God.

SMcC Well, the whole book is filled with important teaching as to the judging in every one of our hearts all elements of partisanship, because nothing stands athwart the arrival at dwelling together in unity like the elements of partisanship among the brethren. It is standing athwart Christ’s place which should be undisputed in all our localities.

JD Would the forty days after the Lord’s resurrection have this in mind? He was speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God, and then the unity that is seen in the upper room? I was thinking of Hebron in that way.

SMcC Yes, the learning time and the testing time. We have to take account of these times, because the seven years and six months over Judah in Hebron is to be noted; but in Jerusalem we have the thought of thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. All these thoughts would bear on the fact that Christ does not come into the full place immediately.

NAO Would you say that “Christ in you” in Colossians is the point of unity?

SMcC Are you alluding to Christ “among the nations”?

NAO Yes; then he goes on, does he not, “being united together in love”?

SMcC Colossians presents Christ as a great uniting centre among the brethren, and David is like that; he is the great converging point in Israel, the great centre upon which the affections of the saints are united. David represents Christ in that light, and that comes into Colossians. If we are going to enjoy the unity in the climax of the songs of the ascent, it is along this line, in relation to the place that Christ is acquiring in the affections of the saints. This will deliver us and save us from all fleshy aspirations to local leadership in our cities. There is nothing will displace it more amongst us, than what we are considering in regard to the place that Christ rightly should have in the affections of the saints.

JHH As this ministry goes forth in power to bring this about, would verse 10 apply, “and David became continually greater”? Is that the way the thing becomes unified in our hearts?

SMcC It makes room for the expansion of the greatness of David, and it is along this line the watercourse is reached, and David dwells in the stronghold and calls it the city of David; and then it says, “David built round about from the Millo and inward. And David became continually greater; and Jehovah the God of hosts was with him.” It is on this line that we reach these positive features of Christ becoming greater and greater before the affections of the saints.

DJM Would headship come in, as in Colossians 1: 18? “He is the head of the body, the assembly.”

SMcC Yes. We want, every one of us, to search our hearts as to what would dispute David coming into this position, because there are elements that are disputing it here, the inhabitants of the land, as it says “they spoke to David, saying, Thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame will drive thee back; as much as to say, David will not come in hither. But David took the stronghold of Zion, which is the city of David.” That is, the stronghold of Zion represents to faith that area in the hearts of the saints according to divine purpose, that belongs only to Christ.

GWB Would you say a little more in regard to the question of local leadership?

SMcC Well, how often that comes up in different localities. The great thing we should be concerned about is as to the place that Christ should have in the affections of the saints.

PB “Whoever smites the Jebusites and gets up to the watercourse”; that is a great feature of leadership, is it not?

SMcC Yes. There is nothing tends to divide the saints more than fleshly aspirations to leadership, or any feelings that may be in our hearts as to undue concern for one, or any one, in regard to leadership. If Christ acquires the place amongst us that He should rightly have, leadership will work out as is evidenced in this book.

FW And is that preceded by David taking the stronghold of Zion? Would you say a word as to what is the immediate bearing of David taking the stronghold of Zion?

SMcC It is a question of the Lord’s personal prowess in the matter. His own personal operations. He sees the essential need of this, and He is moving against the position with a view to His own distinctive place in it.

AWG Is it interesting that divine power is attached to the place that David is given? “David became continually greater; and Jehovah the God of hosts was with him.”

SMcC Exactly, “the God of hosts,” suggesting a great thought, bringing much into our minds in regard to this matter of David’s greatness being advanced.

HSH Would you say that what Amasa did, in spite of the conditions of apostasy in figure, drawing the hearts of Israel as one man, is in keeping with what you have in mind?

SMcC Very good; showing how important it is that influence should be rightly used, in that way, in regard to the place due to Christ as in the type in David.

PB Do “The blind and the lame” represent persons who disregard the rights of Christ, as it says, “they shall not come into the house”? They were hated of David’s soul.

SMcC It is not only that they are there and passive; they are not passive. It says, “the blind and the lame will drive thee back, as much as to say, David will not come in hither.” That is, it is a direct strategic operation of the enemy to keep David out: but there is only one can hold the stronghold of Zion (type of the hearts of the saints) rightly, and that is David - Christ, as we are considering Him in type in David.

MR Is it not significant that, although we are told the king and his men went to Jerusalem, not one of the men is mentioned by name. It is all of David, all the way through.

SMcC That is an important thing to notice in this chapter; it is David’s operations that are stressed, what David is doing, and we want to see what the Lord is doing on this line; He has much under His hand. The men would suggest what there is in a matured way amongst the saints in regard to the importance of the securing of the city in this light as the city of David.

WJB There was a time in the history of Judah that the children of Judah were not equal to the Jebusites. Joshua 15: 63 says, “But as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not dispossess them; and the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.” I was thinking that there comes a time in the history of the saints - it may be, of a locality - when there is an increase of spiritual power, so that Christ comes into His place in the hearts of the saints, perhaps in a way He never has before.

SMcC That is the whole point in the teaching that is in mind and this matter of the watercourse; why should David refer to it here? It is another reference to the fluid side of things among the brethren, where perhaps abstrusely in the type, the Holy Spirit would be suggested. The watercourse would represent what is linked with the presence and power of the Spirit in this particular position, and it is important that that should be reached in view of the full place of David in an undisputed way, as we have it here.

NBS So David not only takes the stronghold, but he dwells there.

SMcC Dwells there; it is an important thing to notice that the complacent thought enters into that. Power, of course, is in the section, the power linked with David and the power that faith would understand in the watercourse. It is all making way, for this thought of David dwelling, not only overcoming by power, but being there restfully; dwelling there in view of the extensive operations in mind. That is, “the Millo and inward” would look on to the world to come and the operations proceeding with that in mind.

JB Are the two thoughts in 2 Corinthians 10, the overthrowing of strongholds, and the meekness and gentleness of the Christ; the Spirit operating?

SMcC Yes, that would all enter into the matter of the securing of the hearts of the saints rightly in regard to this thought of Christ’s supremacy in this particular way. Now as we go on to chapter 15 we come to another side of things. I think that every crisis in the testimony really brings out our thoughts in regard to Christ. You will remember how it was indicated by Simeon what the sword would do in regard to Mary, and how he refers to the thoughts of many hearts being revealed. There is nothing like crises to bring out where our thoughts are, however well covered they may be in different ways through years of participation in matters in the testimony; the crises will bring to light what we really think of Christ, and I think that is what shines here. David is usurped as to his place - the place of Christ has been usurped - and then we get, “And behold, Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had passed completely out of the city. And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favour in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and shew me it, and its habitation. But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, Here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him.” What a picture of self-effacement in a man honoured of God, for few ever were honoured of God as David was! Yet, in the light of the greatness of the ark, he completely goes out, as it were, in his own estimation, ready for whatever the sovereignty of God may will in regard to the determining of his position in the testimony henceforward.

JHH “If I shall find favour in the eyes of Jehovah, he will ... shew me it,” - a fresh living impression of the greatness of Christ now.

SMcC That is it. David has in mind; not just that God will bring him back to the city, and the throne, but he is thinking of the ark and the house; that is, God’s house and God’s throne, which is in His house; that is what was uppermost in his mind.

HJM All that was seen in the life of such a one as Mr. Darby, was it not? What governed his whole life, secretly and publicly, were the rights of Christ and the Person of Christ

“And shall we see Thy face,
And hear Thy heav’nly voice.” (270:1)

He was treasuring all that in the world in which it is to find its full answer.

SMcC When the error of Mr. Newton came fully to light and the speciousness of the teaching in Plymouth, and when the brethren were not inclined to listen to Mr. Darby, it is said that he went home and threw himself on the couch in tears. What a man he was!

What concern he had as to the place that Christ should have in the minds and the affections of the saints, and as to anything that would undermine it.

ET Does the ark represent a complete and unvarying type of Christ? There was never any fluctuation there.

SMcC Yes. The ark is a peculiar type, particularly alluding to Christ’s personal greatness. That is. He is “the same yesterday, and today, and to the ages to come.” There is an element of mystery about the ark, just as there is about the Person of Christ. There is always that which we really cannot, with our finite minds, compass in regard of the ark; and the ark in that way is a peculiar type of Christ and His greatness personally and it is the centre of unity in Israel.

WJH He “gave his strength into captivity, and his glory into the hand of the oppressor,” Psalm 78: 61. You could never explain how that was attached to the ark, could you?

SMcC It is one of the things in regard to the mysterious way in which things are linked with the ark; the way that Dagon goes down before the ark, and other things that transpired in relation to it, all stress in our minds the element of mystery that is linked with it. It is peculiarly the Person of Christ, in manhood of course, that is before us in the type in the ark.

FW He would not attach the testimony to himself, but he would wait upon God’s time to show that he, David, was attached to the testimony?

SMcC It is important that we learn how to make way for God in regard to His own matters and in relation to His own realm. No doubt, much prestige would have attached to David if the ark had remained with him; it would have given him a point of advantage that would have been unique in regard to the recovery of the position; but he would not have it dissociated from the city, from its habitation.

SEE Does the priestly element occupy an important place in this crisis? Does David value the priestly feelings and sensitiveness that are proper to it?

SMcC Zadok and Abiathar are to be noted in the part that they play in regard to the ark, and how subject they are to David in the matter; and Ahimaaz and Jonathan, the two sons, show how young and old are bound up in this matter of the proper place that belongs to the ark.

GHW-n Does affinity to Christ lead up to this unity, “We are thy bone and thy flesh”?

SMcC Well, we can see how that thought of affinity enters into the position there. Here it is David and the priests and the Levites, as it says, “behold, Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God.” It is more that side here, the importance of what is linked with the priestly and levitical position, seeing the importance of the position of the ark, that it is the centre of unity, and must not be, as it were, removed from its position as in the house of God in Jerusalem.

JD Whilst in that day there was public breakdown, yet unity is really preserved by these features?

SMcC That is the whole point, that the ark in Jerusalem is the centre of unity in Israel; in fact, it is where the throne of God is, and everything works out from it.

WJB That means, does it, that we are always to hold the assembly as a whole in mind?

SMcC Exactly and never allow the thought of what is sectional in this setting. We might try to link the ark with a certain sectional position, but we are to see the importance of the ark as the centre of the whole truth. That is what is in mind - not the truth in part, but the whole truth and the whole idea of the unity of the Spirit.

JD David is not occupied with what has come in here; his great concern is in regard to the ark in Jerusalem.

SMcC Yes, and the unity of the Spirit can never be linked with what is sectional. The unity of the Spirit relates to the whole truth, because it is linked with the presence of the Spirit; and the unity of the Spirit always remains inviolate.

VTS Is that why the apostle refers to that first of all when he commences the practical part of the Ephesian epistle, their walking together in lowliness and the unity of the Spirit coming into evidence first of all?

SMcC We are to note where it comes in there, and the way in which it comes in. I think it is important in this relation in our cities, especially where there is more than one meeting, that we should see the importance of the whole truth governing the assembly in our cities as well as the assembly generally; that sectionalism should be avoided at all costs, any tendency towards it speedily judged in our hearts, that we might see the place that the ark has in relation to the whole truth and what it is as the centre of unity among the saints.

JP I was wondering whether, in the last scripture we had, that was the significance of David dwelling in the stronghold and calling it “the city of David.” Does that thought go right through?

SMcC Well, it does. That is, the stronghold is never interfered with. Whatever comes into the position, all the difficulties that come into the second book of Samuel, the usurpation of David’s place, whatever has come into the public body in the way of defection and failure, the stronghold of Zion in principle goes through. It goes through the book right to the end.

AWG Is David restful in leaving the matter in Jehovah’s hands, in that he says, “I will stop in the plains of the desert, until there come word from you to inform me”?

SMcC He is not taking things into his own hands. It is so easy for us to take things into our own hands and to promote certain ends that we may have in our own hearts and in our own minds, and thus be found fighting against God. We want to make way for God, as David does here. It is a question of what God is doing in this crisis. What has God in mind? What is God promoting? What is He going to bring in? All these thoughts should be in our minds.

LGS Would the plains of the desert suggest exercise in relation to the matter, and consequently David would be able to receive spiritual direction as it may come from the priest in Jerusalem?

SMcC The priest is an important element. He represents what is spiritual in our way of speaking, one who makes room for the Spirit. I am sure the brethren will understand what one says in the following remark that, if we are going to avoid officialism, we have to make room for the Spirit. Unless the Spirit is made room for, we shall resort to officialism. We should be dexterous, as Mr. Taylor has said, to avoid officialism. I should think, in a city like this, the brethren should be more and more concerned that they might be preserved from what is merely official, that the Spirit of God might have a right of way in bringing Christ into His proper place in the affections of the saints.

PB So it says in verse 30 that, “David went up by the ascent of the Olives, and wept.” The thought of the Spirit comes in there, and the acceptance of the suffering position which leads to worship at the ascent. Is that all in view in regard of what you are saying?

SMcC It all brings out the calibre of manhood in David, that he is entirely above self-consideration, he is entirely above selfish motives, he is thinking for God and thinking for the truth. The love of the truth is

morally greater than the love of the brethren. Let us not forget that! We must not allow the truth to become subservient in our concern for the love of the brethren.

The time is gone, and we should just finish with a remark as to chapter 23. All this is underlying, and making way for, the conditions that we have indicated in Psalm 133: 1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” This last feature in 2 Samuel shows us the kind of man that David was, and the kind of administration that was in his mind and in his soul as he speaks of “the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel,” 2 Samuel 23: 1. All this is to intensify in our minds where the Spirit of God is, because the brethren dwelling together in unity, in Psalm 133, draws peculiar attention to where the Spirit of God is free and unhampered. The reference to the dew and to “the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, upon Aaron’s beard, that ran down to the hem of his garment; as the dew of Hermon that descendeth on the mountains of Zion,” reminds us of spiritual conditions among the brethren where the Holy Spirit is unhampered, so that conditions are fluid among the brethren in this light.

JD That really follows what you have been bringing before us in regard to the place that Christ has in the affections of the saints. I was thinking of the previous Psalm, David’s concern for the ark and “habitations for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

SMcC So that all these passages bring out the moral greatness of David, and as he says in 2 Samuel 23: 3, “The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, The ruler among men shall be just, Ruling in the fear of God; And he shall be as the light of the morning, like the rising of the sun, A morning without clouds; When from the sunshine, after rain, The green grass springeth from the earth.” This is the kind of administration that underlies what we have in Psalm 133, as to the brethren dwelling together in unity; justness, ruling in the fear of God, like the rising of the sun, the morning without clouds, and the result in the green grass springing up, all suggesting life amongst the saints as the fruit of this kind of administration, laying the basis for the conditions that we have in Psalm 133.