PODCAST
The Pursuit of Peace
August 1st, 2015
Psalm 34:1-22
The story of Chris Gardner, the inspiration for the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, shows the struggle of a dad to overcome homelessness and joblessness in order to give a better life to his son. The pursuit of something worthwhile demands much from us: determination, resilience, and faith. It is not an easy task and it only becomes possible when it reflects the true desire of our hearts.
Psalm 34 says: “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,” “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:12, 14). “Turn from evil” means exerting ourselves by turning away from everything that does not belong in the presence of a holy God. We should live as people who love life and, above all, the Giver of life.
When we do we will begin to experience God’s perfect plan for our lives as a fruit of His love for us. It might be a challenge, when all around us we see evil as a norm of life, but is the only way for us to experience true peace.
Author: Tabita Rothmann Gonzalez
August 1st, 2015 at 9:51 am
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”
How do I explain this verse from today’s reading? Obviously the bones of the righteous are broken daily. I cannot help but relate this to the horrid videos showing the human remains of Planned Parenthood abortions.
August 2nd, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Ray,
Your question raises an important point about how statements made in the Psalms may be misunderstood if taken in isolation from their context or setting. Remember that the verse (Psalm 34:19) first affirms that “The righteous person may have many troubles.” They may also be “brokenhearted” and “crushed in spirit” (v. 18). Yet, none of these things excludes the righteous from experiencing God’s deliverance or salvation. “The fear of the Lord establishes joy and fulfillment in all of life’s experiences. It may mend the broken heart, but it does not prevent the heart from being broken; it may restore the spiritually crushed, but it does not crush the forces that may create oppression. The psalm, if fully grasped, dispels the naiveté of that faith which does not contain within it the strength to stand against the onslaught of evil,” (Peter C. Craigie, Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 19, “Psalms 1-50,” [Waco, TX: Word Books, 1983] p. 282).
I hope that helps.
Duane