Just Lot Delivered 2 Peter 2:7

As the apostle Peter continued with his examples of those in history who were judged for following false doctrine, he cited the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. One of the people who lived in Sodom was a man named “Lot” who was the nephew of Abraham. In chapter two and verse seven we get an insight into the way Lot felt about his surroundings. We read:

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

The verse begins, “And delivered just Lot,...” The idea behind the word “delivered” is “to draw one's self” or to “rescue”, and the meaning of the word “just” is “righteous, observing divine laws, and rendering to each his due”. This is interesting because we learn from the book of Genesis in chapters thirteen through nineteen that “Lot”, which means “veil or covering”, pitched his tent toward Sodom, lived in Sodom, and then became one who sat at the gate which means became an authority in Sodom. Yet, Peter calls him “just Lot”. Though Sodom was wicked exceedingly, Lot kept righteousness as the principle within his life, and God rescued him from this evil city.

The verse continues, “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:” Peter employs the word “vexed” which is the Greek word “kataponeo” and means “to tire down with toil, exhaust with labor, to afflict or oppress with evils, make trouble for, or treat roughly”. He then tells of the “filthy conversation” which means the wicked behavior of those within Sodom. They exhibited “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, or insolence”in their wickedness. In other words, as Lot lived within the atrocious behavior of the people of Sodom, his soul was vexed by their evil ways.

As we think through this passage of scripture, perhaps we will be able to relate to the way Lot felt as he lived in Sodom. When we consider the evil deeds of those within our own society, we may wonder if there are very many who make righteousness the principle by which they live. One of the huge benefits to reading the Word of God is that we can use our imaginations to put ourselves within the confines of the characters about which we read. Perhaps the trouble and vexation we feel about those around us will be the stimulus for being greater prayer warriors and witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ before He comes. May the Lord bless us with His divine nature to do so.

Next time we will learn how the behavior of those in Sodom and Gomorrah affected Lot each day, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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