The Nugget:
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
My Comment:
While studying the Bible today at Psalm 85:10, my elderly friend Uncle Frank’s favorite verse–to go by how often he quoted it–I came across Proverbs 16:6. The first thing I noticed is that his verse specifies God’s solution to the problem of evil. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. I think in some quarters today there must be a lack of fear of the Lord. Another thought I had as I read this verse, to solve the crime problem, and get rid of evil wherever it shows itself, turn the full light of the Bible and the Gospel of Christ upon it. Men love darkness because their deeds are evil. This verse also is a clear example of a cause/effect relationship verse: The fear of the Lord is the cause, departing from evil is the effect. Whether in the neighborhoods of the inner city like Detroit, where I taught, or the halls of Congress and the White House itself, this verse holds true. We need to have more people that know the Lord busy applying these truths found in Scripture.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 668 for Proverbs 16:6.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 709 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Proverbs 16:6.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Proverbs 16:6. By mercy. Pr 3:3. 20:28. Ex 30:10. Le 4:20. Ps +**9:10n. +*85:10. 86:15. Da *4:27. Mi *7:18-20. Lk 11:41. Jn 1:17. *15:2. Ac *15:9. 1 P *1:22. and truth. FS174, Ge +18:27. Dt 30:13. Jn 14:6. **17:17. iniquity. Ps 4:4. purged. Ps 65:3. +*119:9. Is **26:9. Jn 15:2. 1 J 3:6-10. by the fear. Pr 1:7. *8:13. 14:16, 27. Ge 20:11. Ex +1:17. 9:30. Dt +6:2. 25:18. Ne 5:*9, 15. Jb 1:1-8. *28:28. Ps 25:12. 36:1. Ec 7:18. Je 44:10. Ml +**3:5. Ac 9:31. 10:35. Ro 3:18. 2 C *7:1. Ep 5:21. depart from evil. Pr 3:7. 13:14, 19. Ps 4:4. +*37:27. Is **26:9, 10. 56:2. 2 C **5:17. Ga **5:22, 23. 1 P *3:11.
prov 16.6 by mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of the
lord men depart from evil.
the lord blesses through his word jer 15.16 and cross rfs on this verse
are blessing.
1. pro 20.28 mercy and truth preserve the king : and his throne is up
holden by mercy.
2. psm 85.10 mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace
have kissed each other.
3. dan 4.27 wherefore O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee
and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing
mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
4. jn 15.2 every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and
every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, it may bear more fruit
5. ac 15.9 and put no difference between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith.
6. 1 pe 1.22 seeing ye purified your souls in obeying the truth through
the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one
another with a pure heart.
7. job 20.28 and unto the man he said, behold, the fear of the lord,
that is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding.
8. pro 8,13 the fear of the lord is to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy and
the evil way, and the froward mouth, do i hate.
9. pro 14.16 a wise man feareth, and departeth from evil, but the fool
rageth and is confident.
10. pro 14.27 the fear of the lord is a fountain of life to depart from the
snares of death.