Mercy & Truth

Well I have been reading all over the Bible lately, I have went from the New Testament to the beginning of the Old Testament and now I find myself in the book of Proverbs.  I read through Genesis and was half-way through Exodus when yesterday I felt such a need to study the book of Proverbs. So I have read the first 20 chapters since yesterday and am amazed at the words of our Lord through the writings of Solomon.  Proverbs tells it like it is---this is the way we should be and if not than this is what will happen!  When addressing the Godly, he uses words like righteous, wise, mercy & truth, understanding and life.  When addressing those that do not follow the law of God he uses words like wicked, evil, fools, lying, and death.  In fact, truth and lies are a huge part of this book, you see the importance that God places on the truth and you also see just how much he hates lying.  In fact, Proverbs 6:16-19 discusses just how much God hates lying---listing the 6 things that the Lord hates, lying is mentioned twice.  Makes me think of Jesus, the ultimate truth and Satan, the father of lies.  So many think that it is truly alright to lie, we call them little white lies, but in God’s eyes, a lie is a lie---there is no little or big lies.  I do not think that none of us can deny the fact that lies will eventually hurt someone, it may not always have an immediate effect, but you can be sure that it will happen.  So why do we do it?  I think most of the time we are trying to save ourselves from some problems and then other times we think we are helping someone out, but all this goes back to being selfish and I also think that is why mercy & truth are listed so many times together.  When there is truth spoken, even when it is hard to do, then mercy will follow.  So of all things why does God hate lying so much?  I think first of all it comes from Satan, he is the author of lies, and God also knows how much it can hurt people.  Lying is the complete opposite of truth and we know that Jesus Christ is the truth---so lying is as far as you can get from Jesus.  Proverbs 16:6 says it best…By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.