If someone asked you if you were enjoying your life right now, how would you respond? God’s Word provides us with clear instructions on how to get the best out of whatever our circumstances may be.
David had experienced deliverance from God in a precarious situation as he wrote this worship song. The rescue was so vivid that he had to write it down, put it to some music, and invite others to sing along.
11Â Come, children, listen to me;
Psalm 34:11-14
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12Â Who is someone who desires life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
13Â Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.
14Â Turn away from evil and do what is good;
seek peace and pursue it.
In this stanza, he asked those worshiping with him to listen as children would to a parent. He wanted to share what he had learned about God through his experiences. He hoped they would understand the immeasurable blessing that comes with a proper fear and reverence of the LORD (Ps. 34:11). When he saw God show up in such a powerful way, the only appropriate response was a God-honoring, soul-stabilizing, ever-increasing fear of the LORD.
He then asks a question of which he knows the response: “Who is someone who desires life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?” (Ps. 34:12).
Who wants a good life full of good things? Everyone!
Like those eager worshippers, we await the answer to enjoying life to its fullest. His itemized list is not what we would expect. David teaches us that to have a good life, we must watch our speech, turn from evil, and seek peace (Ps. 34:13-14).
Most of us hope that God will give us a satisfying life without making any personal alterations, but it doesn’t work that way. It makes sense, though, doesn’t it? If we allow our speech, decisions, and relationships to operate outside of the instructions of God, we are inviting the disapproval of God and the dysfunction of all our interactions.
We discover what we should prohibit and pursue in each of these three instructions.
- Avoid lying and harmful speech, and use your mouth to encourage others and praise God.
- Turn away from the typical trajectory of this culture bent toward evil and do good things that honor God and help others.
- Don’t allow relational unrest to continue, but seek to make peace where it is possible.
God is good to us because He informs us how to have a satisfying life. What changes do you need to make today in those three areas?
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
