Uprightness: The Way of, is to Depart from Evil
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Topical Encyclopedia
Uprightness, in the biblical context, refers to a state of moral integrity and righteousness that aligns with God's standards. It is a quality that is highly esteemed in Scripture, often associated with wisdom, fear of the Lord, and a life that is pleasing to God. The way of uprightness is characterized by a conscious and deliberate departure from evil, as it seeks to honor God through righteous living.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of uprightness is deeply rooted in the wisdom literature of the Bible. Proverbs 16:17 states, "The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life." This verse highlights the proactive nature of uprightness, emphasizing that it is not merely about avoiding sin but actively choosing a path that distances oneself from evil influences.

Fear of the Lord

A key aspect of uprightness is the fear of the Lord, which is often described as the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 8:13 declares, "To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech." The fear of the Lord instills a deep reverence for God and a corresponding disdain for anything that contradicts His holiness. This reverence compels the upright to reject evil in all its forms.

Righteous Living

Uprightness is manifested through righteous living, which involves adherence to God's commandments and a commitment to ethical conduct. Psalm 37:27 instructs, "Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever." This call to action underscores the dynamic nature of uprightness, which is not passive but involves a continuous effort to pursue goodness and shun wickedness.

Protection and Blessing

The Bible frequently associates uprightness with divine protection and blessing. Proverbs 2:7-8 affirms, "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity, to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints." Here, uprightness is linked with God's provision of wisdom and His protective care, suggesting that those who walk in uprightness are under His special favor.

Contrast with Wickedness

The Scriptures often contrast the way of the upright with the path of the wicked. Proverbs 4:14-15 warns, "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by." This stark contrast serves as a reminder that uprightness requires a conscious decision to reject the allure of sin and to choose the path of righteousness.

Role of the Heart

Uprightness is not merely an external adherence to rules but is deeply connected to the condition of the heart. Psalm 119:11 expresses this internal aspect: "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You." The internalization of God's Word is crucial for maintaining uprightness, as it transforms the heart and mind, enabling believers to resist evil and live in accordance with God's will.

Conclusion

The way of uprightness, as depicted in the Bible, is a journey marked by a deliberate departure from evil and a steadfast commitment to righteousness. It is a path that honors God, reflects His character, and leads to His blessings and protection. Through the fear of the Lord, righteous living, and a heart aligned with God's Word, believers are empowered to walk in uprightness, shining as lights in a world often overshadowed by darkness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Proverbs 16:17
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way preserves his soul.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

In the Sunless Crypt
... we of the Way were warned to depart, I have ... gone as far as Caesarea on my way to
Antioch ... But feeling somehow that her deflection from uprightness covered her ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xviii in the sunless.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. vi. 19, "Lay not up for ...
... lost counsel and wandered out of the way of a ... thoughts, for that gold may come in,
uprightness [2102] goeth ... For they would have kept, "Depart from evil," but ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon x on the words.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... froward things, who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk ... evil." This is the highway
only, to depart from evil ... Can then men change their way, and go cross to ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Ephesians vi. 14
... Exact uprightness discovers itself by the way of standing, so that they who ... For we
also are going to depart, and many are the difficulties that intervene. ...
/.../homily xxiii ephesians vi 14.htm

The Testament of Gad Concerning Hatred.
... the truth, he envieth him that ordereth his way aright, he ... souls, and love one another
with uprightness of heart ... at the last your children shall depart from them ...
/.../the testaments of the twelve patriarchs/ix the testament of gad concerning.htm

How we Should at all Times Praise God.
... my Lord all my uprightness lies in Thy boundless compassion ... still more, that, if
I had now to depart hence, and ... is given by words and singing, any way profitable ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xxv how we should.htm

The Good Man Useful in Life and Happy in Death.
... Paul, "had a desire to depart, and be with Christ." He ... They rest in their beds, walking
in their uprightness.". ... will be made manifest;" hitherto, "his way is in ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxv the good man.htm

An Anonymous Sermon, Commonly Called Clement's Second Letter to ...
... you out and will say to you: 'Depart from me ... to obtain these things we fall from
the right way. ... cannot save their children by their uprightness, what assurance ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/an anonymous sermon commonly called 2.htm

Letter Xciii. (AD 408. )
... they would be with more difficulty persuaded to embrace the way of salvation ... has
been rather that you should be admonished to depart from evil, than that ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xciii a d 408.htm

"Nunc Dimittis"
... shovel time and days out of the way, and make ... WORDS TO ENCOURAGE US TO THE LIKE
READINESS TO DEPART. ... their beds, each one walking in his uprightness." Here is ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/nunc dimittis.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about integrity? | GotQuestions.org

What is righteousness? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to believe in God? | GotQuestions.org

Uprightness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Uprightness

Uprightness with Poverty, is Better than Folly

Uprightness with Poverty, is Better than Sin With Riches

Uprightness: A Characteristic of Saints

Uprightness: God Created Man In

Uprightness: God Has Pleasure In

Uprightness: God is Perfect In

Uprightness: Man Has Deviated From

Uprightness: Pray for Those Who Walk In

Uprightness: Reprove Those Who Deviate From

Uprightness: Saints should Resolve to Walk In

Uprightness: should be in Heart

Uprightness: should be in Judging

Uprightness: should be in Ruling

Uprightness: should be in Speech

Uprightness: should be in Walk

Uprightness: The Being Kept from Presumptuous Sins is Necessary To

Uprightness: The Truly Wise Walk In

Uprightness: The Way of, is to Depart from Evil

Uprightness: The Wicked: do not Act With

Uprightness: The Wicked: Have Not, in Heart

Uprightness: The Wicked: Leave not the Path of

Uprightness: They Who Walk in a Blessing to Others

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Abominated by the Wicked

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Countenanced by God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Defended by God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Delighted in by God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Direct Their Way

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Fear God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Find Strengths in God's Way

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Guided by Integrity

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Hated by the Wicked

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Kept by Righteousness

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Love Christ

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Obtain Good from God's Work

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Obtain Light in Darkness

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Persecuted by the Wicked

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Praise is Comely For

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Prospered by God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Recompensed by God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Scorned by the Wicked

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Their Prayer Delighted in by God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Upheld in It by God

Uprightness: They Who Walk in Walk Surely

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Be Blessed

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Be Delivered by Righteousness

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Be Delivered by Their Wisdom

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Be Saved

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Dwell in the Land

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Dwell on High and be Provided For

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Dwell With God

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Enter Into Peace

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Have Dominion Over the Wicked

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Have Inheritance for Ever

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Have Nothing Good Withheld

Uprightness: They Who Walk In, Shall: Possess Good Things

Related Terms

Integrity (46 Occurrences)

Judgeth (37 Occurrences)

Honest (34 Occurrences)

Uprightly (32 Occurrences)

Joyously (8 Occurrences)

Jesher (1 Occurrence)

Willingly (27 Occurrences)

Triest (7 Occurrences)

Walketh (62 Occurrences)

Walks (51 Occurrences)

Intent (37 Occurrences)

Shewn (46 Occurrences)

Uprights (20 Occurrences)

Trying (68 Occurrences)

Noble (61 Occurrences)

Try (84 Occurrences)

Delight (213 Occurrences)

Learn (76 Occurrences)

Path (91 Occurrences)

Ordinances (119 Occurrences)

Judgments (146 Occurrences)

Walked (178 Occurrences)

Upheld (15 Occurrences)

Unjustly (11 Occurrences)

Unmoved (9 Occurrences)

Understandest (10 Occurrences)

Loving-kindness (150 Occurrences)

Govern (21 Occurrences)

Wrongfully (15 Occurrences)

Withholdeth (7 Occurrences)

Girdle (44 Occurrences)

Forceful (3 Occurrences)

Forgiving (11 Occurrences)

Fortitude (5 Occurrences)

Forsaking (29 Occurrences)

Fastening (5 Occurrences)

Forcible (3 Occurrences)

Temper (14 Occurrences)

Truth (380 Occurrences)

Right (4703 Occurrences)

Reproof (29 Occurrences)

Reprove (35 Occurrences)

Righteousness (442 Occurrences)

Equity (19 Occurrences)

Dealeth (22 Occurrences)

Despises (16 Occurrences)

Despising (25 Occurrences)

Dispossessing (9 Occurrences)

Despiseth (23 Occurrences)

Maintained (19 Occurrences)

Pathway (4 Occurrences)

Protect (32 Occurrences)

Piety (21 Occurrences)

Palate (15 Occurrences)

Painful (18 Occurrences)

Purely (4 Occurrences)

Ponder (10 Occurrences)

Perverted (26 Occurrences)

Beds (22 Occurrences)

Beholders (7 Occurrences)

Beholdeth (25 Occurrences)

Corrupt (59 Occurrences)

Argue (21 Occurrences)

Administer (10 Occurrences)

Scattering (18 Occurrences)

Stumbleth (11 Occurrences)

Strengthening (23 Occurrences)

Scepter (28 Occurrences)

Sincerely (8 Occurrences)

Sustained (20 Occurrences)

Strive (64 Occurrences)

Preserve (61 Occurrences)

Honor (240 Occurrences)

Dispossess (44 Occurrences)

Simplicity (12 Occurrences)

Accomplish (44 Occurrences)

Feareth (36 Occurrences)

Confirm (39 Occurrences)

Uprightness: The Truly Wise Walk In
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