September 5
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PSALM 34 DO GOOD AND PURSUE PEACE
1 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.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. – Psalm 34:11-22
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Come to the Lord and he will show you how to revere him
He wants you to put a rend on your mouth and not speak out evil
The Lord favors those who are walking in righteousness
He cuts off those who continue to sin and walk in darkness
When the upright runs to the Lord for guidance and help
The Lord hears them, rescues and delivers them.
Do good and always pursue peace; abide always in Christ
Never let the world corrupt you to participate in conflicts
The Lord is near to those who are broken and poor in spirit
He gives favor to those who are oppressed and treated unjustly
The Lord watches over those who fear him; he never abandons them
Though they experience suffering, the righteous will never be without help.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer pursue peace in the midst of a chaotic world?