The Tie That Binds

(Pro 3:3 KJV)  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Here we see “mercy" (kindness NASB) (2617a) [chesed] and “truth” (571) linked together.  Here it seems they go well but it brings to mind a verse from the NT,

(1Co 8:1 KJV)  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

In Corinthians it seems like simple knowledge, which I assume involves truth, is a problem by itself.  In Corinthians knowledge pushes against love.  In Proverbs they are joined at the hip.

Notice the Hebrew word for “kindness” is [chesed].  My favorite translation of this word is “lovingkindness”.  To me it is the Hebrew word that matches the Greek [agape] which is used in the Corinthians verse.  I would say that the point is we need both.  When we go on love it morphs away from agape into something Hollywood and sociologists would approve of and away from the complex demand of God.  If we go with just truth we can become heartless legalists.

So?  Always cling to the truth but as we cling we should be administering it with the love described in I Corinthians 13.  Consider this a pre-Valentine thought.