Depart from evil
Proverbs 16:6–7 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
God is a God of mercy and truth, and because of that, our sin has been purged by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus even purges our guilty conscience. We have to live in mercy and truth so we can be continually cleansed and purged from all iniquity. We never have to live in iniquity again. We don’t have to practice sin. We have been made new creations by the new birth. We are literally a new man.
When we learn to reverence, fear, honor, and respect the Lord, we can then truly depart from evil. I like the word “depart.” That is saying we turn around and walk away from it. Iniquity and evil are no longer a part of our life. What are the keys to walk in His mercy, and His truth, and fear Him, and honor Him, and reverence Him? It seems like in Proverbs most of the verses are stand-alone, and these two I have put together can stand alone as well, but as I read them together, they seem to flow together.
When my ways please the Lord, I walk in mercy and truth, and I have a holy fear of Him; I reverence Him. Then another benefit comes. What is that benefit? Even your enemies will be at peace with you. I like The Message; it says your enemies will shake your hand. If you have ever had enemies before, this is an amazing promise from God. I know this is talking about natural enemies, but most natural enemies are inspired by the devil. I know this: the devil is defeated. He is under my feet, and when I walk in mercy and truth and I fear and reverence the Lord, then I know my ways are pleasing to Him, and it keeps the devil where he belongs, under my feet. We may never be at peace with the devil, meaning he is never going to agree to leave you alone, but seemingly, by doing these verses, those the devil inspires will not be able to stir things up anymore; they will have to be at peace with you.
Our part is to walk in mercy and truth, fear the Lord, and walk in ways that please the Lord. God’s part is to make those who are your enemies to be at peace with you. What an awesome and amazing God we serve.