Psalm 34:11-15 King James Version (KJV)

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Praising God At All Times

(Part 5)

The Invitation
“11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

The Inquiry
“12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?”

The Instruction
“13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”

1. We Must Keep Our Tongues From Evil

We must learn to bridle our tongues, and be careful what we say, that we never speak amiss, to God’s
dishonour or our neighbours prejudice: Keep thy tongue from evil speaking, lying, and slandering.

James 3:3-8
Psalm 39:1I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a
bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Psalm 35:28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

2. We Must Keep Our Lips From Speaking Guile

We must be upright and sincere in every thing we say, and not double-tongued. Our words must be the
indications of our minds; our lips must be kept from speaking guile either to God or man.

James 1:19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
1 Thessalonians 2:4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not
as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Philippians 1:14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold
to speak the word without fear.
Colossians 4:6Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to
answer every man.

3. We Must Depart from evil

We must leave all our sins, and resolve we will have no more to do with them. We must depart from evil,
from evil works and evil workers; from the sins others commit and which we have formerly allowed
ourselves in.

Psalm 103:12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Romans 6:13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves
unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

4. We Must Do Good
It is not enough not to do hurt in the world, but we must study to be useful, and live to some purpose. We
must not only depart from evil, but we must do good, good for ourselves, especially for our own souls,
employing them well, furnishing them with a good treasure, and fitting them for another world; and, as we
have ability and opportunity, we must do good to others also.

2 Timothy 3:17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Galatians 6:10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are
of the household of faith.
Titus 3:8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have
believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Ephesians 6:7With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
1 Peter 2:12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as
evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Hebrews 10:24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
1 Timothy 6:17-18 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

5. We Must Seek Peace And Pursue It

Since nothing is more contrary to that love which never fails (which is the summary both of law and gospel,
both of grace and glory) than strife and contention, which bring confusion and every evil work, we must seek
peace and pursue it; we must show a peaceable disposition, study the things that make for peace, do nothing
to break the peace and to make mischief.

Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Romans 8:6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Ephesians 4:3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace