Depart from Evil, and Do Good - Psalms 34:14

In Psalms chapter thirty four David wrote, “What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile”, and in chapter thirty-four and verse fourteen of Psalms, David said, “Depart from evil, and do good” where we read,

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

The verse begins, “Depart from evil, and do good;” David began with the words, “Depart from evil” which means “turn aside, avoid, retract from, abolish, depose and remove bad, malignant, disagreeable, displeasing, hurtful and wickedness”, “and do good” or “and perform, produce and make ready pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, valuable, appropriate, becoming and beneficial things”. David instructed his readers and listeners to turn away from wickedness and displeasing behavior and toward agreeable, excelling and valuable ways.

The verse continues, “seek peace, and pursue it .” David added the words, “seek peace” or “require, desire, exact and request completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, quiet and tranquility”, “and pursue it” which means “and follow after, chase, attend closely to and aim ardently toward peace”. David told his readers and listeners to desire safety, quiet and tranquility, and to follow after “peace”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how David wanted his readers and listeners to remove themselves from wicked and hurtful practices and to perform pleasing and excellent works. He also encouraged them to follow after “peace” and to do so diligently. Paul the apostle wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (See 1 John 1:9), and Jesus is known as the “Prince of Peace”. (See Isaiah 9:6) Jehovah God provided His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for the sins of mankind, and thereby, He made “peace” with people who were separated from Him. God loves people, and His desire is to forgive our sins and grant us everlasting life with Him in “peace” forever. Let us follow the words of David and “depart from evil, do good and seek peace diligently” while giving praise, honor and glory to Jehovah God for His provision of tranquility to us.

Next time David says, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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