Psalm 34 has aa fascinating title and background. David was on the run from Saul; he was so scared that he took refuge in the palace of a Philistine king. In order to not be viewed as a spy, David pretended to be crazy, so he would be viewed as harmless. Finally, the king drove David from his presence, and he was able to escape to a place of safety. David summarizes the lessons learned this way:
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
If you want to experience peace, shalom, that sense that all is well, you need to pursue it. That means at the same time that you run away from evil. There is no peace for those who cannot tame their tongue. It is our mouths that often destroy peace; peace will only rule and reign where grace and truth are.
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