Martin Luther on Psalms 133:1

The .133. Psalme. Behold how good, &c.

In this Psalme the Prophet commendeth loue and concord in both the kingdoms, The argument of the Psalme. corporall and spirituall, but specially in the spirituall kingdom, and for the same he giueth thankes vnto God. For this is not onely a singular gift of God when there is vnitie in the Church and quietnes in the common wealth: but it is also the founteyne and headspring of inestimable benefites and blessings. Dauid had learned by experience that there is nothing better thē peace and concord▪ Here peraduenture you wil aske where Dauid learned that these are so excellent and so profitable things. But he which marketh the historie of Dauid, shall easily perceaue that the maisters of whom he learned this knowledge, were Saul, Doeg and other monsters in the Court of Saul his predecessour: also Absolon, Achitophel and such like: that is to say, Dauid by many tentations and by long experience did learne; that nothing is better then loue and concord. But they which haue not felt that Dauid did, doe thinke that nothing is better then dissention & discord, according to the prouerbe: Warre is sweete to those which haue not tryed it. For yong men, which are yet full of ho[illegible: 1 letter]e and youthfull blood, thinke nothing more excellent then the glory of warre and victorie, whereby they may winne prayse and fame. These carnall motions and affections afterwardes are easily quenched when men haue felt the calamities both of them selues and theirs. But before the calamities be knowne and felt, the commodities of peace are not knowne vnto the world, and so warre is sweete and pleasant to those which haue not felt the miseries thereof: as the histories doe witnesse, wherein we may see that often tymes seditious heades haue complayned of peace, saying that in rest and quietnes men be come sluggerds, cowards and dastards. Therefore they desire warre as an encrease of glorie and occasion to set forth their manhood and courage.

This poyson is rooted in our nature through originall sinne, that those thinges which are most excellent and necessary, we loth and shunne: and those things whereby Satan seeketh our destruction, we greedely desire, according to that dutch prouerbe: Men often striue and take great paynes to bring them selues into misery and daunger. Proue. 20.14. It is naught, it is naught, sayth the byer. For the mindes of men doe commonly mislike and loth the most excellent thinges when they haue plenty and are full thereof. Wherefore it is an enestimable gift of God, to haue peace both in the Church and in the common wealth. A great gift of God, to vnderstand and to acknowledge the giftes of God. And this is also a singular gift, to acknowledge that it is a gift. For howe many doe we see amonges the enemies and persecutors of the Gospell, which haue an outward and worldly peace, and yet they enioy not this gift? For in the middest of this quietnes their mindes be vnquiet, and they haue no rest nor inward peace, whiles they being inflamed with an hatred against the Gospell, deuise and continually seeke newe occasions to condemne and vtterly to roote out our religion. Let vs therefore be thankfull vnto God for this gift, and let vs not be like vnto the vnthankefull world, which vnderstandeth not this gift and great blessing of God, but in the very vse thereof forgetteth God. God hasten his kingdom, and giue vs a better life: For I protest that this life is naught: in the which we neither regarde the greate giftes of God, nor yet acknowledge them to be his gifts,

To maintaine this gifte, it is not in the power of the temporall or the spirituall Magistrate: but men being both blind and deffe, will needes doe, Satan ioyning with ye originall sinne & corruption of nature, draweth men to that which they knowe to be euill. not that they like and approue, but that sinne and Satan prouoketh them vnto. It is the Lord alone therfore which is both the giuer and maintayner of peace: whiche preserueth kingdoms and common wealthes, that they fall not to vtter ruine by warres, vprores and tumultes. This gifte the Psalme commaundeth vs to acknowledge, and exhorteth vs to be thankful for the same. For it is the mightie hande of God that there is any peace or concorde amongst vs. And thanks be vnto God, that we haue this knowledge, that peace is the gifte of God, although we be not able of our selues to maintaine and defend the same. For this is a meanes, not onely to stay vs that we despaire not in these outrages and hurly burlyes of the wicked world, but also to driue vs to harty prayer, that God would preserue that peace which he hath giuen vs, and defende vs from the power of Satan and wicked men.

Verse. 1. Beholde how good and how comely a thing it is, brethren to dwell euen togither.

Dauid had bene in many and great daungers, and by experience had learned in the troubles which he suffered through greate and long seditions and other afflictions, not onely what mischiefe there is in discord and the doctrine of error: but also what inestimable good things doe proceede of concorde and sincere doctrine. Wherefore he assureth him self that God preserueth, gouerneth & blesseth these things. For the Psalme treateth of both kinds, that is, of the peace and concorde of the common wealth, and of the Church: like as they also in nature are coupled togither. For the peace of the common wealth is also the peace of the Church, for that in the time of peace the worde of God may be freely published and preached. Brethren he calleth as well those that liue in any societie togither, Brethren. as also the Ministers and Preachers of the word. These liue in vnitie and concorde, when they feede the people with one vniforme & sound doctrine, when the people obey and beleue the worde, and when there is no contention among them. This is a singular gift of God, and not onely a ioyfull, but also a profitable and a comely thing in the Church. So is it also in the common wealth, when the lawes are obeyed and the Magistrate hath a care of the people: and againe, when the subiectes doe loue and reuerence the Magistrates and obey their authoritie. These gifts the Psalme exhorteth vs to acknowledge and to be thankfull for the same.