“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
The psalmist continues: "Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." The verb "depart" suggests active withdrawal and separation. The pairing of ''do good'' with departing from evil suggests that avoiding harm is insufficient. The reference to ''seek peace'' invokes the comprehensive sense of peace as right relationship and wholeness. The verb ''pursue'' suggests active pursuit and the relentless following of peace. The verse establishes that flourishing involves not merely avoiding evil but pursuing good.
Church Fathers on Psalms 34:14
A psalm of David, when he changed his countenance before Abimelech, and he sent him away, and he departed. 1. Because there was there a sacrifice after the order of Aaron, and afterwards He of His Own Body and Blood appointed a sacrifice after the order of Melchizedek; He changed then His Countenance in the Priesthood, and sent away the kingdom of the Jews, and came to the Gentiles. What then is, “He affected”? He was full of affection. For what is so full of affection as…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!