A Look At Lot: A Righteous Man Vexed in His Spirit – Sunday Thought For The Day

If a person is living in the equivalent of a modern Sodom and Gomorrah and their heart is not plagued by the sin around them; I submit they should have their spiritual thermostat checked because they are in trouble of massive system failure.

The Apostle Peter referenced just such a situation in 2 Peter 2:7-8: “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)’ (KJV)

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary explains that the word “just” in the verse is translated “righteous” and the words “filthy conversation” literally means “behavior in licentiousness.”  With that noted, I think the commentary, Barnes Notes on the Bible, render the best simplistic explanation of exactly what Peter has written.  Barnes says: “The original phrase, which is rendered “filthy,” has reference to licentiousness. The corruption of Sodom was open and shameless; and as Lot was compelled to see much of it, his heart was pained. The word here rendered “vexed,” means that he was wearied or burdened. The crimes of those around him he found it hard to bear with.”

Which brings me to my the point of today’s devotion.  Why would a person want to stay in such an environment unless on some level they were spiritually dead to the sickening depravity around them?  If living in a cesspool of sin doesn’t bother a person in their spirit, I submit they have consciously or unconsciously made peace with the sin around them.  It could also mean they are spiritually blind to the sin around them, liking the trappings of the sinfulness not realizing the environment is asphyxiating them spiritually.

The cautionary tale herein is that we can understand without doing damage to the scripture that Lot’s wife on some level held an affection for Sodom and Gomorrah that caused her to disobey God and defy her husband by taking one last longing look back at the sinful cities. “According to the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, she was a native of Sodom: “now, as they were going from Sodom to Zoar, she…being grieved for the goods and substance left behind, and for the people of Sodom in general, for whom she had too much concern; however, be it on what account it may, she was severely punished for it…” (Gill’s Exposition of the Bible)

God’s will was for Lot and his wife to be saved out of the sin and debauchery of Sodom and Gomorrah, but His command not to look back would not be countermanded by selfish desire, i.e., sin.

Gill also points out that Lot’s wife was behind him and because of this he was out of position to keep an eye on his family.  Husband’s it is important that we are aware of what we allow into our home that will encourage our family to disobey God.  It is important that we not turn your backs to our family, but to be the ever vigilant shepherd watching and listening for any signs of our family making peace with their sinful environment, so much so that we and/or they are willing to disobey God.

To do so opens the door to bad outcomes for our family.

READ

2 Peter 2:7-10 KJV

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

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.