"Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."
Psalm 34:14
Part 3
Yesterday:
“Depart,” “do,” and “seek…”
“DEPART!” “Depart from evil.” (b)
This is one of the repeated messages in the Bible. Let’s be quick learners here. We deal with our sin and need to put distance between us and it. Then we just need to be wise and stay away from it.
Today:
“DO!” “And do good.”
“Doing good,” is following what is right. Right, is the goal of a righteous man or woman. To think right, act right, and live right, is intentional living, and it is for the Lord.
Jesus taught us,
“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35).
We are to be looking for chances to do right by our fellow humans,
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
Our righteous actions mimic our God, who is good!
“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God” (3 John 1:11).
“SEEK!” “Seek peace, and pursue it.”
What does it mean to “seek” in this verse? The Hebrew word that David chose can mean, “to seek to find, to seek to secure, to seek the face, to desire, demand, to require, exact, to ask, [and] request”[1] (BDB). That about sums it up, go after it! And David’s word for “pursue” means “to follow after, aim to secure [it],” (BDB).
“Seeking peace” is obviously an essential quest in God’s sight. He said to go after peace, and so we do!
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
We do our best, handle our side of each situation, and make every effort to be at peace with all.
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Believers, let’s “Depart! From evil.” “Do! Good,” and “Seek! Peace.”
Quote:
When the Messiah comes to rule in His Kingdom. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:17-18).
[1] Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.