Psalms 34:14

_DEPART FROM EVIL, AND DO GOOD; SEEK PEACE, AND PURSUE IT._ Depart ... do. This verse refers to deeds. SEEK PEACE, AND PURSUE IT - i:e., inoffensiveness toward thy neighbour, and harmony with him. Not only "seek" it, but if it seem to flee from thee, still press eagerly after it, not giving up the pursuit, through impatience or resentment, because of the continued malice of adversaries. So Israel as to Sihon (Deuteronomy 2:26). Compare Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:18; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Zechariah 8:19. Du

14._Turn away from evil, and do good. _Here the Psalmist commands the children of God to abstain from all evil, and to devote themselves to the work of doing good to their neighbors. This verse is generally quoted as if David here treated of the two parts of repentance. The first step in the work of repentance is, that the sinner forsake the vices to which he is addicted, and renounce his former manner of life; and the second, that he frame his behavior according to righteousness. But in this place we are more especially taught how we ought to deal with our neighbors. As it often happens, that the man who is not only liberal, but also prodigal towards some, or, at least, helps many by acts of kindness, wrongs others by defrauding and injuring them, David, with much propriety, begins by saying, that those who desire to have their life approved before God, ought to abstain from doing evil....

11-22 Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all bliss is perfect? Alas! few have this good in their thoughts. That religion promises best which creates watchfulness over the heart and over the tongue. It is not enough not to do hurt, we must study to be useful, and to live to some purpose; we must seek peace and pursue it; be willing to deny ourselves a great deal for peace' sake. It is the constant practice of real believers, when in distress, to cry unto God, and it is their constant comfort that he hears them. Th...

DEPART FROM EVIL - From all evil; from vice and crime in every form. AND DO GOOD - Do good to all people, and in all the relations of life. SEEK PEACE - Strive to live in peace with all the world. Compare the notes at Romans 12:18. AND PURSUE IT - Follow after it. Make it an object of desire, and put forth constant efforts to live in peace with all human beings. There can be no doubt that this is appropriate advice to one who wishes to lengthen out his days. We have only to remember how many are cut down by indulging in a quarrelsome, litigious, and contentious spirit - by seeking revenge - by quarrels, duels, wars, and strife - to see the wisdom of this counsel....

EXPOSITION THIS is the third of the alphabetical psalms, and appears to have a special connection with the second of them, Psalms 25:1. Like that psalm, it omits the _vav_, and has a second _pe _at the end, which, moreover, is furnished by the same word (_podeh_). According to the title, it is a psalm of David, and written on the particular occasion of his dismissal by Achish (Ahimelech), when he had foolishly feigned himself mad in consequence of what he had heard the servants of Achish say (1 Samuel 21:10-9). As there is nothing in the psalm specially suggestive of this occasion, the statement in the title must, it would seem, embody an ancient tradition. It is a composition of a mixed character, being in part didactic ...

DEPART FROM EVIL,.... This denotes that evil is near to men; it keeps close to them, and should be declined and shunned: and it regards all sorts of evil; evil men, and their evil company; evil things, evil words and works, and all appearance of evil; and the fear of the Lord shows itself in an hatred of it, and a departure from it, Proverbs 8:13; AND DO GOOD; not only acts of beneficence to all in necessitous circumstances, but every good work; whatever the word of God directs, or suggests should be done; and which should be done from right principles of faith and love, and to right ends, the glory of God, and the good of his interest; and Christ should be looked and applied unto for grace and strength to perform; all which are evidences of the true fear of God; SEEK PEACE, AND PURSUE IT; in the world, and with all men, as much as possibly can be; in

Psalms 34:1. _I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth._ «Others may do what they please, and murmur, and complain, and be filled with dread and apprehension of the future; but I will bless the Lord at all times. I can always see something for which I ought to bless him. I can always see some good which will come out of blessing him. Therefore will I bless him at all times. And this.» says the Psalmist, «I will not only do in my heart, but I will do it with my tongue His praise shall continually be in my mouth,» that others may hear it, that others may begin to praise him, too, for murmuring is contagious, and so, thank God is praise; and one man may learn from another take the catchword and the keyword out of another man's mouth, and then begin to praise God with him. «His praise shall continually be in my mouth.» What a blessed mouthful! If so

Psalms 34 The Perfect Praise of His Redeemed People _ 1. His praise for salvation (Psalms 34:1)_ 2. The instructions of the righteous (Psalms 34:11) 3. His redemption remembered (Psalms 34:17) This is another alphabetical Psalm, only one letter is omitted. It is primarily the praise of David after his escape from Gath, as the inscription tells us. Prophetically it is the praise of His redeemed and delivered people, delivered from all their fears (Psalms 34:4) and saved out of all their troubles ...

XXXIV. YAHWEH'S CARE FOR HIS OWN. An acrostic Ps., the letter Waw being omitted as in Psalms 25. Yahweh's care of the poor who fear Him. Psalms 34:5. Read with LXX, look to him, be radiant, your faces. Psalms 34:7. The angel, _i.e._ the angel who represented Yahweh (_cf._ Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 63:9). The acrostic is complete with Psalms 34:21; Psalms 34:22 is an addition for liturgical use (_cf._...

The first line recurs in Psalms 37:27. Comp. the character of Job, the ideal righteous man (Job 1:1; Job 1:8; Job 2:3); and Job 28:28; Proverbs 16:17. _pursue it_ Do not be discouraged if it should need prolonged effort to overtake it. Cp. the _pursuit_of righteousness (Proverbs 21:21; Isaiah 51:1); and see...