An astrophysical peek into Einstein's static universe
  We derive here the metric for Einstein's static universe (ESU) directly from Einstein equation, i.e., by considering both $G_{ik}$ and $T_{ik}$. We find that in order that the fluid pressure and acceleration are {\em uniform} and finite despite the presence of a coordinate singularity, the effective density $\rho_e = \rho + \Lambda/8 \pi =0$, where $\Lambda$ is the cosmological constant. Under weak energy condition, this would imply $\rho = \Lambda =0$ for ESU. This means that if one would need to invoke a source of ``repulsive gravity'' in some model, (i) the model must be non-static, (ii) the repulsive gravity must be due to a ``quintessence'' or a ``dark energy'' fluid with negative pressure and appear on the right hand side (RHS) of the Einstein equation through $T_{ij}$ rather than through a fundamental constant residing on the LHS of the same equation, and (iii) energy density of both normal matter and the ``dark energy fluid'' should be time dependent. In fact, the repulsive gravity would be due to a time independent $\Lambda$, it would be extremely difficult to understand why the associated energy density should be approximately $10^{120}$ times lower than the value predicted by quantum gravity. On the other hand, for a dark energy fluid whose energy density is time dependent, it would be much easier to understand such an extremely low present energy density: the original initial value of the energy density of the fluid could be equal to the quantum gravity value while the present low value is due to decay with time. 
Abhas Mitra