“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
With all the evil in the world, it is hard to focus on God. Every time we turn on the news, we are told new information concerning mass shootings, hate crimes, and wars. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been the Russian Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas War. At one time, we thought wars were rare, yet sadly, they occur at least once a day in some part of the world. This is because anger, hate, and rage are taking the earth by storm (Matthew 24:6).
The evil that is prevalent in the world is due to humanity. From the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they brought sin into the world (Genesis 3). Ever since this time, we have been born into sin, and we all freely choose to sin (Psalm 51:5). As we are told, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
As followers of the Lord, we need to turn away from sin and do good. Even if nobody around us is making the right decisions, we are called to do the right thing. We serve God – not the world or human beings. With this knowledge, we need to seek to please the Lord and serve Him. This means we must intentionally turn away from evil.
Wars, violence, and crimes will persist, yet we can focus on what is within our own control. This includes our own actions and behaviors. We can either add fuel to the fire or try to help in ways we can. It is uncommon for one person to change the world, but if everyone sought the Lord and followed Him, there would be an end to violence on the earth. Instead of hate, there would be love, respect, and peace.
At the current time, we don’t live in this world. This world will not be realized until the New Heaven and New Earth. Because sin is in the world, we will never have a perfect utopia. However, we can look forward to the day when God makes everything new (Revelation 21:5). On this day, sin, hate, violence, anger, and rage will no longer exist.
Instead, there will be perfect peace, love, and unity.
Our passage today comes from the Book of Psalms. Psalm 34:14 says, “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” As this passage tells us, we are to turn from evil and do good. We must seek peace and pursue it. In our present day, we don’t see many people doing this. However, that doesn’t mean we are called to disobey God just because the rest of the world is living in disobedience.
As Christ followers, we need to obey His commands and follow His teachings. This means we must apply Psalm 34:14 to our lives. We are to turn away from evil and do good. What this looks like is that we turn away from doing sinful actions. As believers, we should already be turning away from our sin in repentance.
Similarly, this passage tells us to seek peace and pursue it. The opposite of peace is disorder. This means we are to stop involving ourselves in trivial matters or things that cause unnecessary arguments. Examples include picking fights over petty things, getting into arguments in social media comment sections, or tearing someone down to make ourselves look better. As Christ followers, we are called to seek peace and pursue it, and this applies to all areas of our lives.
Whether we are behind a screen or we are meeting someone in person, we don’t need to be mean, hurtful, or rude. By being mean, hurtful, or disrespectful, we will be giving a distorted view of Jesus. Instead of being a hurtful person to others, we need to show the love of Jesus in our actions at all times. Part of this is by seeking out peace and pursuing it. In our lives and in our interactions with others, we need to strive to maintain a bond of peace and mutual love.
What is holding you back today from following God’s teachings in Psalm 34:14? Go to the Lord today and ask for His help if this tends to be a struggle.
“Dear God, help me to apply Psalm 34:14 in my daily life. In everything, help me to turn away from evil and do good. It is easy to do evil, but it is not right. Evil will only separate me from You. Equip my heart and soul with motivation to follow You faithfully. I will always obey You, God. Please help me to seek peace and pursue it. Thank You, Amen.”
Photo credit: Unsplash/Emma Simpson
Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 20 February 2026.
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