“Seeking the Good Life”

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. (Psalms 34:12-16)

Our search for the good life is often learned in times of duress.  This is when we discover that life has no meaning at all without God. 

Apparently, Psalm 34 was written when David, its author fled as a fugitive from Saul, the king of Israel.  According to the title, the psalm was written when David was dismissed from Achish, when he feigned madness before Achish’s servants.  In verse 12 David poses a question: Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?  David assumes this is what all men, especially the young (vs.11), seek.  The thoughts that follow point them to the way.

First, David says:  Keep your tongue from evil.  Sins of the tongue are numerous and difficult to avoid.  James says: For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2)  Moses spoke “unadvisedly with his lips”. (Psalms 106:33)  Job “darkened counsel by words without knowledge”. (Job 38:2)  Peter was rebuked for his ill advised thoughts. (Matthew 16:23)  If one would truly have life, he must master his words.

Second, he exhorts them to depart from evil and do good.  Incredibly, even under unfair circumstances, David yielded to God’s will.   Twice during the sojourning years, David has an opportunity to take Saul’s life.  On the first occasion, David cut off the corner of Saul’s robe when Saul had come unknowingly into the cave where David was hiding.  When Saul discovered that David was in the cave, he said:  "You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. (1 Samuel 24:17)  If one is to have "the good life", he must seek the good of all men, even his enemy.

Third, let him seek peace and pursue it.  He must strive to promote goodwill and harmony among others.  Paul says: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18) Peter also said: Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- (1 Peter 2:13-15) Even though unbelievers are inclined to blaspheme Christians, hopefully, they will be constrained by the peaceable lifestyle of believers to reconsider.

The truly good life is found in doing what is right in spite of the circumstances, and knowing that God is trustworthy.  The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. God cares and that he hears our cry.  In the same context David says: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalms 34:8)

Thus, David invites the young (vs.11) to come and listen to him out of the wisdom of his own experiences.  Over one-thousand years later, Peter places the same thoughts before God’s elect, those who are enduring a fiery trial, those who were without a home in this world. (I Peter 3:8-13)  Guard your heart, govern your life, and enjoy richly the presence of God.

By George Slover

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