LOVE: THE KEY FOR UNLOCKING THE SECRET CODE IN PSALM 133

BEING A LECTURE DELIVERED BY

DR. ONYECHI IKPEAZU OON, SAN, FCArb,

THE DISTRICT GRAND MASTER OF NIGERIA

AND THE GRAND SUPERINTENDENT IN AND OVER NIGERIA,

AT THE NIGERIA MASTERS LODGE ON MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER, 2023.

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LOVE: THE KEY FOR UNLOCKING THE SECRET CODE IN PSALM 133

BEING A LECTURE DELIVERED BY

DR. ONYECHI IKPEAZU OON, SAN, FCArb, THE DISTRICT GRAND

MASTER OF NIGERIA AND THE GRAND SUPERINTENDENT IN
AND OVER NIGERIA, AT THE NIGERIA MASTERS LODGE.

Brethren all, Psalm 133 which is credited to king David, features prominently
in freemasonry; perhaps for the reason of its allusion to the word “Brethren”,
which is a word often used to address a gathering of freemasons. The entire
Psalm, in addition to its allusion to that word, is copiously laded with life
lessons which when grasped, can be of utmost benefit to the brethren within our
union as well as to the world we exist in. It is of course axiomatic that masonry
is erected on the principles of “Brotherly love, Relief and Truth”. It is equally
self-evident that at the root of that tripod is the first of the three (3) virtues: love,
which indeed drives the other two (2) virtues, if not the serenity and meaning
of life itself. It is thus requisite that we first appreciate the expression “Love”
in the quest towards unlocking the secret of Psalm 133.
One of the ways to appreciate and attain that desired love, as was taught in
Islam by the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, is to love one another. In a
Hadith, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah honour him and grant him peace -
said: “You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe
until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something which if you do,
you will love one another? Give greetings (peace) among yourselves”.
On the need to appreciate the importance and effectiveness of love, I have
looked at three (3) verses of the Quran –
(i) On the importance of affection and mercy between people, the Quran
30:21 sates thus:
“ And of His sign is that He created for you from yourself mates that
you may find tranquility in them, and He placed between you affection
and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thoughts”.
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This expresses and emphasizes, the underlining human need for
companionship. As social beings and for the sake of co-existence, we most
ardently need love and affection.
(ii) Emphasizing the concept of brotherhood in Quran 49:10, it was expressed
thus:
“The believers are but brothers so make settlement between your
brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
(iii) This is an injunction that we must love one another as part of a universal
concept of interdependence and an injunction that comes with a reward, for as
stated in Quran 3:92:
“Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of
Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend indeed Allah is
knowing”.
By this, it is the expression of that love that the injunction to love is made
manifest. The obligation is shared and in it, the society or community prospers.
In an article captioned “What is Love?: A Skeptic Path to Enlightenment”,
hosted by Scott Snibbe, the author defines love from the Buddhist perspective
thus:
“True Love – or maitri, metta, this purer form of love comes with no
strings attached. Love, in His simple Buddhist definition – is un- selfishly
wishing others to be happy; to be delighted to be in their presence; to
offer our affection and smiles and hugs; help freely without wanting
anything in return.”
To illustrate this, the author proceeded thus:
“Someone once asked LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE the difference between
love and attachment. Rinpoche said- “Love is wanting someone to be
happy. Attachment is wanting it to be me that makes them happy”.
The pure form of entertainment and expression of love is the desire for another
to be happy, no matter the source of that happiness. It is a selfless love. It is
love that is unbiased. In it, freedom is attained, while freedom is also shared to
the recipient.

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In the Hebrew Torah, it is believed that the law mandated an “eye for an eye”,
and thus left no room for compassion. That, however, is a glaring
misconception, for in Leviticus 19:17 to 18, the Patriarch Moses expressed
thus:
17. Do not nurse hatred in your heart.
18. Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone but love your
neighbors as yourself. I am the Lord.
Indeed, the Christian brothers believe that the concept of, “Love your neighbor
as yourself” or “turn the other check”, are concepts introduced by Yeshua
Hamashia. That is not true. When Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus the Christ) in
Mathew 23:39 rendered that expression, He was merely quoting the Torah and
wrapped up that expression as the meaning of the teachings in all Judaism, both
of the laws and the admonitions of the prophets. What He introduced in the
Christian concept of love clearly goes beyond love of self as one’s neighbors,
for indeed, there are persons who do not truly love themselves. A person who
does not love himself is incapable of loving his neighbor and in that sense, the
extent of love is restricted in its expression and in that context, is perhaps
defeated. The concept of love for Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus the Christ) is
expressed by Him in John 13:34 and in John 15:12 and 13 where in the later,
He said:
12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you.
13. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends.
Explaining the concept further, John the apostle, in his 1st Book, Chapter 4:
Verses 7 and 8 explained the implication and necessity of love thus:
“7. Dear friends, let us continue to love one another for love comes from
God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8. But anyone who does not love does not know God for God is love.
Thus whether in Islam, Buddhism, Hebrew Torah or in the Christian V.S.L.,
what is demanded of us by the Supreme Being is love, expressed
unconditionally, expecting no reward. Thus when we are asked at our
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interviews preparatory to being made a Mason if we believe in God, the
question might as well be: “Do you believe in unconditional love?” It is on this
that the occupant of the seat of wisdom at the ceremony of initiation, can freely
profess how glad he was to find your faith so well founded and, relying on such
sure support, instruct the candidate to rise and advance, for where the name of
God is mentioned, no difficulty or danger may ensue. Indeed, where brotherly
love is professed, formed and perfected, we trust, no difficulty or danger can
ensue.
On this score, king David, the son of Jesse, the grandson of Obed and the great
grandson of Boaz, - a prince and ruler in Israel, expressed the joy of harmonious
relationship when in Psalm 133 in verse 1, he sang thus:
1. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell
together in unity.
The word “unity” has as one of its synonyms the word “harmony”. Indeed,
some interpretations of verse 1 of Psalm 133 utilize the term “Harmony” in
place of “Unity”.
King David, the father of our beloved King Solomon was an ardent musician
who no doubt understood the importance of harmony or unity. Psalm 133 is a
Psalm of Ascents as indeed Psalms 120-134. The Psalms were sung by Jewish
Pilgrims as they traveled up to Jerusalem for their great annual feasts. It was
said to have been composed by David at the time the tribes of Israel being
brothers and descendants of Jacob, first met after the separation that followed
the demise of king Saul and approached David and enthroned him as a King, to
rule over the United Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. David appreciated the joy
in the brethren coming together and put same in musical terms.
Harmony is defined as a combination of simultaneous musical notes in a chord.
It is also defined as an interweaving of different accounts into a single narrative.
The word harmony has as its synonyms words like: “accord”, “accordance”,
“agreement”, “conformance”, “conformity”, “congruence”, “congruency”,
“congruity”, “consonance”. As Brethren, nothing could be more pleasing, if
with respect to our masonic precepts and in relationship with one another, we
can positively say that we are in one accord and act in accordance with the
agreement embedded in our obligations to profess and abide by the tenets of
brotherly love. To ensure that our expressions of that brotherly love is in
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conformity, in congruity, consonance with that part of our obligation which
admonishes us with respect to a brother, to act with him on the square, and to
render unto him every kind office which justice or mercy may require, and by
doing unto him in like circumstances as we expect him to do unto us. This is
described as the golden rule and is expressed to represent the meaning of all the
teachings of goodness and mercy from inception of the law. It is then that we
can thus truly say that we love our brother unconditionally, by accepting his
shortcomings and not finding glory in his downfall. Then we can, without
equivocation or mental reservation of any kind, truly say that out of many we
are one, and in that oneness, the masonic bond becomes unbroken.
King David proceeded in verse 2 of Psalm 133, by allegories and symbols, to
illustrate the necessary effect of dwelling in harmony thus:
2. For Harmony is as precious as the fragrance anointing oil that was
poured over Aaron’s head that ran down his beard and unto the
border of his robe.
Aaron was the brother of the patriarch Moses, who though chosen by the Most
High to lead His people, suffered a great detriment and lacked the fluency of
speech that was requisite in every effective ruler. Aaron stood by his brother
Moses, even when the glory of the first exhibition of power against the Pharaoh,
the greatest ruler of the then known world, went to Moses. It was indeed the
staff of Aaron and not that of Moses that turned to a snake and swallowed those
of the Pharaoh’s magicians. In harmony they led, defeating all oppositions. The
point of disharmony crept in when in the absence of Moses in quest of the Code,
Aaron succumbed to external influence and presided over the abandonment of
the faith to which both of them were aligned in brotherhood. Devastation and
death of 3,000 became the result of this disharmony. Yet when harmony
resumed, the staff of Aaron produced almond signifying life, fruitfulness and
his acceptance as a priest. The anointing with sweet fragrance, signifying the
brotherly enchanting flavor of anointing, was consummated when the brethren
dwelt in harmony.
Recounting the blessing that follows such harmony, King David proceeded in
verse 3 thus:

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 “3. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from mount Harmon that falls
on the mountains of Zion. And the Lord has pronounced His blessing
even life forevermore”
Mount Hermon is the tallest mountain in Palestine which is to be found at the
Northeast of the sea of Galilee. Dew is known to settle on it. Being on a higher
pedestal, the natural harmony on the region sees the movement of the dew on
mount Hermon to the lower Mount Zion and makes the vegetation on Zion very
rich and fruitful. It is on this Mount Zion that deliverance is proclaimed. It is
on this mount Zion that holiness rests. It is on this Mount Zion that the children
of the Most High, shall possess their possessions, being in harmony, and the
kingship and priestly blessing, being in one accord.
There can actually be unity in diversity. Harmony or unity does not mean the
absence of divergence of views or opinions. Nor does it compel the absence of
controversy. However, in all instances of seeming conflict, we are obligated to
act in accordance with the sanctity inherent in our badge of honour which
compels us not to enter the lodge wearing it, if there is a brother with whom we
are at variance or against whom we entertain animosity. We are advised to
invite such brother to withdraw in order to amicably settle our differences, and
if such differences be such as not to be easily adjusted, for one or both brothers
to withdraw than for the harmony of the lodge to be distorted. Note that this is
not a permanent withdrawal, but ideally should only exist for the evening, after
which great efforts of resolution should be embarked upon with resolution fully
achieved. After all, the entire world is the Temple of the Most High. What this
harmony means is better expressed in one of its synonyms, “congruous”, which
is defined as “conforming to the circumstances or requirements of a situation”.
Indeed, as brothers we have but one permanent aim in contemplation, which is
to please each other and unite in the grand design of being happy and
communicating happiness. After all, is the association not formed and perfected
with so much unanimity and concord? It is no doubt the brotherly love,
expressed in compassion (forgiving even when you know that the offence may
be repeated), that distinguishes us from the un-initiated. In that congruity, we
are mutually obligated to measure our actions by the rule of rectitude, square
our conduct and guide our inclinations, and even our thoughts within the
compass of propriety.

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It is not proper to be influenced by injustice, bigotry, inequalities, tribalism,
class consciousness or other forms of conduct, for if we as Masons genuinely
believe that we meet upon the level, and part upon the square, such inordinate
considerations cannot find a place within the compass of our existence. The
compass, being an emblem to keep us within due bounds, in our relationships.
The last verse of Psalm 133 mentions blessing. It is the type of blessing which
is commanded and appreciated only where there is harmony among the
Brethren. Not in terms of spiritual blessing, although not excluded, but firmly
founded on our disposition and resolve to be a blessing unto each other.
Assisting each other, positively admonishing each other, counseling each other
and rendering to each other every kind office which justice or mercy may
require. This happens when we think less of ourselves and more of a brother,
and the united endeavor of Masonic harmony. It is when we effectively practise
these sterling virtues within us, that we can effectively practise these virtues
outside the lodge. When good men are made better within the lodge, then our
families and the society at large will reap the blessing. The benefit is that true
love will “live for evermore” or “be everlasting”, being transmitted pure and
unsullied from generation to generation, both within and outside the lodge.
To unlock the secret code in Psalm 133, we need to consider the first and the
last sentences together, and read them harmoniously thus:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity…for there [in harmony] the Lord commanded the blessing even
life forevermore”.
In genuine harmony among brethren in their relationship with each other, can
be found life and everlasting blessing which, if attained, can be transmitted pure
and unsullied from generation to generation.
Behold brethren, I so charge you for indeed, how good and pleasant it is for us
to dwell together in unity.

RWBro. (Dr) Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, OON, FCIArb

District Grand Master
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