By Dan DeVries
Psalm 34 (NIV):
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
What is it you desire most? There could be all sorts of answers to that question depending on who you ask and when you ask. “Life” and “many good days” is the promise held in this verse. Even if one doesn’t not love life, not many of us would say we don’t desire “good days.” In fact, if I were asked, I might say, “Yes, what do I need to do?”
The psalmist’s paraphrased response is, “What we speak is really important.” We choose every day between having our tongues speak evil or praise. And if we choose to keep evil and lies from crossing our lips, we also need to ask forgiveness for the times we have allowed evil and lies to escape. In asking for forgiveness, whom do I also need to forgive? How relentless am I pursuing forgiveness and the forgiving of others?
Pursuit is an active word that suggests vigor. Pursuing peace found only in God delivers us from all our fears. And if our daily newsfeed is to be believed, we have much to fear. Fear is the most natural response to the unknown, and it blinds us to the freedom that we have to pursue peace and seek God.
As the old hymn assures us, “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.”
According to this psalm, orienting our life in God’s ways—fasting from evil speech and lying lips and turning from evil—promises an abundant and joyful life. It comes to fruition through peace-making—pursuing peace.
Good days. How does one whose very life has been saved by God respond? With enthusiastic joy. Verse one of this psalm answers, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
Prayer: Prince of Peace, thank you for the “grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.” Thank you for the promise of life and many good days. In Jesus’s name, amen.