Verse 10
For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.
The apostle here quoted Psalms 34:12ff, but with variations from both the Hebrew and Septuagint (LXX) texts; but, as Mason said, "The divergence is probably not due to a confusion of memory, but (as often) designed to bring out an additional significance."[14] Hart considered that Peter's use of the variation "makes it mean eternal life ... Only with this interpretation is the quotation pertinent to his exhortation."[15] However, Kelcy said, "It seems clear that both the psalmist and the apostle use the word to refer to the present life on earth."[16] We shall leave it to those skilled in such matters to determine which is correct; and from the point of view of this writer, it makes no difference, being true both ways! Those who would love eternal life must heed the exhortations here; and likewise those who would have a joyful life on earth must follow the same instructions.
Let him seek peace, and pursue it ... The true peacemaker is not passive but active, and must take the lead, not merely in keeping the peace himself but in the earnest inducement of others to do likewise.
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous. This is a reference to the providence which God exercises over his people. Jesus said, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:20); and that has the same meaning as the clause here.
But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil ... Not only are wicked men denied the solicitous care of God, but their unrighteousness has actually incurred the displeasure of God. The Lord is angry with the wicked every day.
[14] A. J. Mason, op. cit., p. 416.
[15] J. H. A. Hart, op. cit., p. 66.
[16] Raymond C. Kelcy, op. cit., p. 69.
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