31 lines
6.9 KiB
HTML
31 lines
6.9 KiB
HTML
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<h2>168. GOD'S JUDGMENT ON SODOM</h2>
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<h3><a id="fem168-si1" onclick="return mV('Gen',18,'22-33');">GENESIS 18:22-33</a></h3>
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<p>The Holy Jehovah, the ministry of angels, the pleading of Abraham, the wrong position of Lot, the lingering wife of Lot, and filthy Sodom, are brought out in the following:—</p>
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<p><b>The Lord answers the prayers of His people on behalf of others.</b> One of the bright points in Abraham's life is his pleading on behalf of Sodom. His prayer is a model one.</p>
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<p>(1) It was the prayer of a man who was <i>right</i> with the Lord. Abraham "stood before the Lord" (<a id="fem168-si2" onclick="return mV('Gen',18,22);">Gen 18:22</a>). To stand before the Lord is to act as in His presence (Lev 24:4), and to be conscious of being right with Himself (<a id="fem168-si3" onclick="return mV('1Ki',17,1);">1Ki 17:1</a>).</p>
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<p>(2) It was the prayer of a man who was in <i>intimate communion with the Lord.</i> "Abraham drew near" (<a id="fem168-si4" onclick="return mV('Gen',18,23);">Gen 18:23</a>). We must draw near to God in the full assurance of faith if we would have His ear (<a id="fem168-si5" onclick="return mV('Hbr',10,22);">Hbr 10:22</a>).</p>
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<p>(3) It was a <i>bold</i> prayer. Abraham begins to question the Lord (see <a id="fem168-si6" onclick="return mV('Gen',18,23,24,25);">Gen 18:23-25</a>). We may come "boldly" to the throne of grace (<a id="fem168-si7" onclick="return mV('Hbr',4,16);">Hbr 4:16</a>), but we may not come rudely.</p>
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<p>(4) It was a <i>humble</i> prayer (<a id="fem168-si8" onclick="return mV('Gen',18,27);">Gen 18:27</a>). Cross out the words in italics—<i>am</i>, <i>but</i>. While he confesses that he is "dust and ashes," he is more than this, for he is an indestructible spirit, therefore to say he is "<i>but</i> dust and ashes" is not true, though to say he is "dust and ashes" is to express his utter abasement of himself.</p>
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<p>(5) The prayer was <i>persevering</i>. Abraham does not stop at one answer, but asks again and again. God's blessings, while they satisfy, create an appetite, and cause us to ask for more.</p>
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<p>(6) The prayer was <i>answered</i>. God gave Abraham all he asked. Abiding in Christ, we have a similar opportunity, for He says, "Whatsoever we ask," &c. (<a id="fem168-si9" onclick="return mV('Jhn',14,13);">Jhn 14:13</a>; <a id="fem168-si10" onclick="return mV('Jhn',15,7);">Jhn 15:7</a>).</p>
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<p>(7) The prayer was <i>limited</i>. Young says, "Ought not six gracious answers to have strengthened the faith of the suppliant rather than exhausted it. Who can tell whether, if he had asked that the cities should be spared even for Lot's sake, the request would not have been answered?" Trapp also remarks upon this—"Abraham bucked with the Lord so long, till he had brought Him down from fifty to ten; and mark that he left begging ere God left bating. Let us find praying hearts, and He will find a pitying heart."</p>
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<p><b>God takes note of what is going on in the world.</b> Sin has a voice which cries to God for vengeance, as when the blood of Abel spilt by Cain called for punishment (<a id="fem168-si11" onclick="return mV('Gen',4,10);">Gen 4:10</a>), and as in the case of Sodom (<a id="fem168-si12" onclick="return mV('Gen',18,20);">Gen 18:20</a>). The sin of Sodom was <i>excessive</i> (<a id="fem168-si13" onclick="return mV('Gen',13,13);">Gen 13:13</a>); <i>grievous</i>, <i>great</i> (<a id="fem168-si14" onclick="return mV('Gen',18,20);">Gen 18:20</a>); <i>bitter</i> (<a id="fem168-si15" onclick="return mV('Deu',32,32);">Deu 32:32</a>); <i>open</i> (<a id="fem168-si16" onclick="return mV('Isa',3,9);">Isa 3:9</a>; <a id="fem168-si17" onclick="return mV('Gen',19,5);">Gen 19:5</a>); <i>hateful</i> (<a id="fem168-si18" onclick="return mV('Jer',23,14);">Jer 23:14</a>); it was spoken of ever afterwards as being most abominable to the Lord, and called for severest measures upon those who were guilty of like iniquity (<a id="fem168-si19" onclick="return mV('Deu',23,17);">Deu 23:17</a>; <a id="fem168-si20" onclick="return mV('1Ki',14,24);">1Ki 14:24</a>; <a id="fem168-si21" onclick="return mV('1Ki',15,12);">1Ki 15:12</a>; <a id="fem168-si22" onclick="return mV('1Ki',22,46);">1Ki 22:46</a>; <a id="fem168-si23" onclick="return mV('Jud',1,7);">Jud 1:7</a>). There are some who seem to act as if God took no note of what they were doing, but He surely does. Not a single thing escapes His notice, for He not only notes the actions of men, but weighs them as well (<a id="fem168-si24" onclick="return mV('1Sa',2,3);">1Sa 2:3</a>). Two children were playing in a room together. A plate of sweet cakes was brought in and laid upon the table. "Oh, I want one of those cakes!" cried the little boy, jumping up as soon as his mother left the room, and going on tip-toe towards the table. "No, no," said his sister, pulling him back, "You must not touch." "Mother won't know it; she did not count them," he cried, shaking her off, and stretching forth his hand. "If she didn't, God counted," answered the sister. Yes, God counts, as Job says, "Doth not He see my ways, and count all my steps?" (<a id="fem168-si25" onclick="return mV('Job',31,4);">Job 31:4</a>).</p>
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<p><b>God punishes sinners for their sins.</b> The Dead Sea today is a silent and solemn witness to this fact, and the overthrow of Sodom is proverbial of God's righteous action against sin (<a id="fem168-si26" onclick="return mV('Deu',29,33);">Deu 29:23</a>; <a id="fem168-si27" onclick="return mV('Isa',13,19);">Isa 13:19</a>; <a id="fem168-si28" onclick="return mV('Jer',49,18);">Jer 49:18</a>; <a id="fem168-si29" onclick="return mV('Jer',50,40);">Jer 50:40</a>; <a id="fem168-si30" onclick="return mV('Amo',4,11);">Amo 4:11</a>; <a id="fem168-si31" onclick="return mV('Luk',17,29);">Luk 17:29</a>; <a id="fem168-si32" onclick="return mV('2Pe',2,263);">2Pe 2:6</a>; <a id="fem168-si33" onclick="return mV('Jud',1,7);">Jud 1:7</a>). The French proverb on punishment is suggestive—"Punishment is the recoil of crime; and the strength of the backward stroke is in proportion to the original blow." "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (<a id="fem168-si34" onclick="return mV('Gal',6,7);">Gal 6:7</a>). If the farmer sows tares he does not expect wheat, neither can a sinner expect anything but punishment if he continues and dies in a course of sin.</p>
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