Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Departing from wrong and doing right means making a decisive break with sin and then actively chasing after peace instead of only waiting for it to come. This turning includes bridling the tongue from harmful speech, deceit and guile, and it is spoken to those who reverence God and desire a long and good life. It stands joined to the assurance that the Lord watches over the righteous, listens to their cry, delivers them from trouble and affliction, and stays near the brokenhearted and contrite. Such right living belongs to true godliness and brings harmony with God's physical, mental and moral laws, promoting health, length of life, serenity and happiness as a healing power to body and mind. Living it out calls for patient love even when wronged, putting away a harsh and condemning spirit, redeeming past failures through humble service, and softening one's influence to soothe opposition without yielding any principle of truth.
Words and Context
The command is to turn away from evil, do what is good, and actively seek peace and keep pursuing it rather than merely waiting for it. These actions are the conditions for the rich promises that follow, and by ceasing to do evil and learning to do well character is built. In trials this means keeping love in the heart even when wronged, avoiding complaining, and enduring patiently. It calls for a real break with sin and a reformed character, not merely claiming repentance or pardon while clinging to old ways, and these duties belong to true religion and the fear of the Lord which bring well-being.
Turning from evil includes keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking guile and deceit. This control of speech is part of the conduct expected of those preparing for Christ's coming.
The instruction is given in the fear of the Lord to those who desire life and love many days that they may see good. Leaving evil behind and practicing good and actively chasing peace is the condition for that desire to be fulfilled.
The verse stands together with what follows it, that the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. He hears them and delivers them out of all their troubles and afflictions. He is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saves the contrite in spirit.
Health and Blessing
Doing right and being at peace with God belong to true religion and the fear of the Lord, and they bring well-being and happiness. That religion brings a person into harmony with the physical, mental, and moral laws of God. It teaches self-control, serenity, and temperance. It directly tends to promote health, to lengthen life, and to heighten enjoyment of all its blessings. It opens a never-failing fountain of happiness, while the forbidden path of transgression leads to misery and destruction.
Leaving evil behind and practicing good and actively chasing peace is the condition for desiring life and loving many days in order to see good. Such right-doing does not harm health but agrees with the laws of health. The consciousness of it is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds. It brings a mind quiet and satisfied in God, which is the pathway to health, with God's special blessing resting on the receiver as health and strength. Turning from evil and doing good connects with a life of disciplined, constructive activity. Regular labor encourages industry and self-reliance, develops body, mind, and character, and helps shield young people from the evil practices of idleness, and joined with diligence and purity it brings people into harmony with the Creator.
Living Out Peace
Departing from evil and doing good requires a genuine break with sin and a reformed character, not merely claiming repentance or pardon while clinging to old ways. Character is built by ceasing to do evil and learning to do well, as the condition for the promises that the Lord watches over the righteous, hears their cries, and delivers them from trouble. In trials this means turning from evil to good and actively seeking peace by keeping love in the heart even when wronged, refusing to complain, and enduring patiently.
One who has been greatly wronged must put away a harsh, condemnatory, defiant spirit and cherish love in the heart even for the erring, walking humbly and trustingly. Jesus does not dwell where that harsh spirit abides, and the command is grace and soothing consolation to the tempted, broken and contrite, submissive soul in sorrows and trials permitted to prove character and reveal defects. Affliction therefore is not to be taken as God's anger, for He brings trials so that people may be drawn near to Him and He delivers the righteous out of all their afflictions. He does not desire them to be under a cloud but to have open lips showing forth His praise, showing His tender regard for those with subdued, contrite, humble hearts who need to walk in the light.
Ceasing from evil and doing good means living humble and penitent and redeeming past errors by going forth to labor in meekness and humility. God pities human weakness, forgives transgressions, and accepts and approves those who do this, fitting them to act a part in His cause and do missionary work. Seeking peace means pursuing a way of life that brings peace to the soul and shows Christ's character through careful actions, which the Holy Spirit's searching power enables church members to do. Gossip, discord, jealousy, evil suspicions, and covetousness work against peace and grieve the Spirit.
Seeking peace belongs to doing good and can be pursued without giving up any principle of truth, calling for softening one's influence and soothing rather than stirring up opposition, following Jesus' example. This turning from evil, doing good, and actively seeking and pursuing peace includes keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from deceit, and it is part of the conduct expected of those who desire a good life and are preparing for Christ's coming.
Departing from wrong and doing right means making a decisive break with sin and then actively chasing after peace instead of only waiting for it to come. This turning includes bridling the tongue from harmful speech, deceit and guile, and it is spoken to those who reverence God and desire a long and good life. It stands joined to the assurance that the Lord watches over the righteous, listens to their cry, delivers them from trouble and affliction, and stays near the brokenhearted and contrite. Such right living belongs to true godliness and brings harmony with God's physical, mental and moral laws, promoting health, length of life, serenity and happiness as a healing power to body and mind. Living it out calls for patient love even when wronged, putting away a harsh and condemning spirit, redeeming past failures through humble service, and softening one's influence to soothe opposition without yielding any principle of truth.
Words and Context
The command is to turn away from evil, do what is good, and actively seek peace and keep pursuing it rather than merely waiting for it. These actions are the conditions for the rich promises that follow, and by ceasing to do evil and learning to do well character is built. In trials this means keeping love in the heart even when wronged, avoiding complaining, and enduring patiently. It calls for a real break with sin and a reformed character, not merely claiming repentance or pardon while clinging to old ways, and these duties belong to true religion and the fear of the Lord which bring well-being.
Turning from evil includes keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking guile and deceit. This control of speech is part of the conduct expected of those preparing for Christ's coming.
The instruction is given in the fear of the Lord to those who desire life and love many days that they may see good. Leaving evil behind and practicing good and actively chasing peace is the condition for that desire to be fulfilled.
The verse stands together with what follows it, that the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. He hears them and delivers them out of all their troubles and afflictions. He is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saves the contrite in spirit.
Health and Blessing
Doing right and being at peace with God belong to true religion and the fear of the Lord, and they bring well-being and happiness. That religion brings a person into harmony with the physical, mental, and moral laws of God. It teaches self-control, serenity, and temperance. It directly tends to promote health, to lengthen life, and to heighten enjoyment of all its blessings. It opens a never-failing fountain of happiness, while the forbidden path of transgression leads to misery and destruction.
Leaving evil behind and practicing good and actively chasing peace is the condition for desiring life and loving many days in order to see good. Such right-doing does not harm health but agrees with the laws of health. The consciousness of it is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds. It brings a mind quiet and satisfied in God, which is the pathway to health, with God's special blessing resting on the receiver as health and strength. Turning from evil and doing good connects with a life of disciplined, constructive activity. Regular labor encourages industry and self-reliance, develops body, mind, and character, and helps shield young people from the evil practices of idleness, and joined with diligence and purity it brings people into harmony with the Creator.
Living Out Peace
Departing from evil and doing good requires a genuine break with sin and a reformed character, not merely claiming repentance or pardon while clinging to old ways. Character is built by ceasing to do evil and learning to do well, as the condition for the promises that the Lord watches over the righteous, hears their cries, and delivers them from trouble. In trials this means turning from evil to good and actively seeking peace by keeping love in the heart even when wronged, refusing to complain, and enduring patiently.
One who has been greatly wronged must put away a harsh, condemnatory, defiant spirit and cherish love in the heart even for the erring, walking humbly and trustingly. Jesus does not dwell where that harsh spirit abides, and the command is grace and soothing consolation to the tempted, broken and contrite, submissive soul in sorrows and trials permitted to prove character and reveal defects. Affliction therefore is not to be taken as God's anger, for He brings trials so that people may be drawn near to Him and He delivers the righteous out of all their afflictions. He does not desire them to be under a cloud but to have open lips showing forth His praise, showing His tender regard for those with subdued, contrite, humble hearts who need to walk in the light.
Ceasing from evil and doing good means living humble and penitent and redeeming past errors by going forth to labor in meekness and humility. God pities human weakness, forgives transgressions, and accepts and approves those who do this, fitting them to act a part in His cause and do missionary work. Seeking peace means pursuing a way of life that brings peace to the soul and shows Christ's character through careful actions, which the Holy Spirit's searching power enables church members to do. Gossip, discord, jealousy, evil suspicions, and covetousness work against peace and grieve the Spirit.
Seeking peace belongs to doing good and can be pursued without giving up any principle of truth, calling for softening one's influence and soothing rather than stirring up opposition, following Jesus' example. This turning from evil, doing good, and actively seeking and pursuing peace includes keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from deceit, and it is part of the conduct expected of those who desire a good life and are preparing for Christ's coming.