Today’s scripture, Psalm 37:37 – Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace – widely considered to be one of the psalms written by King David with the intention to convey wisdom during the latter years of his life, provides the reader with a clear promise – those who are blameless, upright, and seek peace will have a future.
This is a pretty profound statement considering the fact that the author of this psalm is none other than King David, the man after God’s own heart who spent a lifetime fighting battles, and, at times, even running for his life. David experienced many moments that could have very well been his last as he was fleeing from Saul before assuming the throne and then fleeing from Absalom after assuming the throne, and, being the intelligent and keenly intuitive man that he was, I am sure that David was aware that those moments might have been his last too.
You see, David knew a thing or two about being blameless, upright, and a seeker of peace, characteristics that most people would ascribe to him during a good portion of his life. As a boy he spent his time tending his father’s sheep, writing poetry, playing the lyre, and communing with God. He was the brave shepherd who protected his father’s sheep by fighting off a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34) turned young warrior who slew Goliath, the giant Philistine who taunted Israel for forty days (1 Samuel 17:49-50). He was so devoted to God that God even referred to him as a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).
Yet, he also knew about bearing shame, being unrighteous, and sowing discord. After committing adultery with Bathsheba, which resulted in the conception of a child, and ordering the murder of her husband Uriah in order to cover up the adulterous act and the pregnancy, David’s life, as prophesied by Nathan, was full of sadness, turmoil, murder, destruction, betrayal, familial dysfunction, and more.
Nathan told David: “Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me [the Lord] and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own…Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.”
Nathan went on to say, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die” 2 Samuel 12:10-14 NIV. And everything that Nathan prophesied came to pass.
David experienced enough chaos and negativity to learn the value and importance of pursuing peace. He knew that distress, discontentment, guilt, condemnation, and turmoil would, if left unchecked, choke the life out of a person’s existence, robbing them of the abundant life and glorious future that God has for them.
So, what will you choose today – a blameless and upright life in which you seek peace or a condemnation-filled and immoral life that is full of turmoil and distress? Choose well. Be blessed. #sanguinemango
Sanguine Mango 