In sharing his three
examples of judgment that fell upon those who were following false
teaching, the apostle Peter shared about the fall of Sodom and
Gomorrah. We learned that “just Lot” lived within the city
of Sodom, and saw that he was “vexed” with their manner of
living. In chapter two and verse eight Peter adds a parenthetical
phrase to share more about Lot's daily vexation. We read:
(For that righteous man
dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The
verse begins, “(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in
seeing and hearing,...” Peter called Lot “that righteous
man”. This is an interesting label considering that he chose to
live within Sodom. As Lot left his uncle Abraham as we see in Genesis
chapter thirteen, he “pitched his tent toward Sodom”. Later he
was dwelling within Sodom and was sitting at the gate of that city
which was the place of authority. Yet, Peter calls him “righteous”.
Peter also notes that Lot was dwelling among them and saw their
activities and heard their words as he lived there. In other words
Lot was an eyewitness to their evil behavior.
The
verse goes on to say, “ vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful
deeds;)” Lot's reaction to
this foul behavior was that his righteous soul was “vexed
from day to day”. The Greek
word for “vexed”
Peter employed in verse seven of this chapter was “kataponeo”
which means “to tire down with toil, exhaust with labor, to
afflict, or oppress with evils, make trouble for, or treat roughly”.
The word “vexed”
in this verse is “basanizō” which
means “to test (metals) by the touchstone, which is a black
siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the
color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal”.
This word implies “questioning by applying torture”, to torment,
be harassed or distressed”. In other words the “unlawful
deeds” of those
surrounding Lot tested and tormented him every day. His surroundings
were the “black siliceous stone” that proved his value and
preciousness as he was rubbed against it.
We
might often feel like Lot. Our surroundings are sometimes so filled
with “unlawful deeds”
that we too are both “vexed-kataponeo” and “vexed-basanizo”
with the environment. As we think about the darkness that is about
us, let us keep in mind the “divine power”
and “great and precious promises”
that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ have made available to
us. As our faith is “tested” by the “filthy
conversation” of
people who live within our city, may our “day to
day” vexation find us
aligned in righteousness and not inclined to follow their pernicious
ways.
Next
time we see how God delivers the ungodly, so read ahead, and we shall
join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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