2 Peter 2:7

2 Peter 2:7 ‘and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men'

‘He rescued' -Mercy and condemnation are often found in the same event. The same will be true at the Second Coming (2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:1). Lot had to be positively dragged out of Sodom, to be rescued (Genesis 19:16). Again, note how few were saved! Lot's wife lost her life, because she was unwilling to make. clean break (2 Peter 19:26). Lot's deliverance reveals some important truths: ‘It may come to any man to have to make the choice between settlement and security, and the new start and the clean break; and there are times when. man can only save his soul by breaking clean away from his job and his environment and his present situation, and beginning all over again.' (Barclay p. 388)

‘righteous Lot' -This description of Lot has caused some to wonder. Especially in light of the fact that Lot appears at times to be selfish (Genesis 13:10); he finds himself involved in drunkenness and incest following this deliverance (Genesis 19:30).

Points to Note:

1. ‘Because the contrast with Abraham is ever present in the reader's mind, so that the most lasting impressions are made of Lot's selfishness, worldliness, vacillation, cowardice, and finally his drunkenness and incest…Peter, however, is fair-minded and gives credit where credit it due. Lot's life, taken as. whole, was righteous..' (Oberst p. 303) 2. In addition, Lot tried to do the right thing (Genesis 19:1), and his soul was vexed by the evil that surrounded him. 3. There are tremendous lessons to be learned from Lot's life: A. Evil influences at times cannot be overcome by. good example. Lot found that he had no influence upon those surrounding him (2 Peter 19:7-8). B. He had no influence upon his son-in-laws (2 Peter 19:14). C. He lost his wife. Her heart was still with her possessions in Sodom. D. In the end, he had little influence upon his daughters. ‘Clark notes sharply that “However strange this may seem, there are many Christians today who are in no position to criticize. They should listen to the rumblings of the volcano beneath them.' (Lucas/Green p. 100)

‘oppressed' -‘to tire down with toil, hence to afflict, oppress' (Vine p. 325); ‘torment, wear out' (Arndt p. 416) ‘shocked by the dissolute habits of lawless society' (NEB); ‘wearied out..'(ABUV) ‘It is customary for Christians today, living in. secularized society, no longer to be shocked by sinful things which they see and hear. They will, for example, without protest sit through. television program presenting material which. generation ago they would never have contemplated watching at. theater or cinema. But when. man's conscience becomes dulled to sin, and apathetic about moral standards, he is no longer willing to look to the Lord for deliverance.' (Green p. 101)

‘sensual conduct' -‘unbridled lust, excess, shamelessness' (Thayer p. 79). ‘absence of restraint, indecency' (Vine p. 310). ‘these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh' (Judges 1:7). It is clear that the sins of these two cities included homosexuality (Genesis 19:5). Let us be impressed that homosexual practices didn't turn the inhabitants into peace-loving and gentle people (Genesis 19:9). Sodom wasn't an utopian community of gentle people who honored the rights of others.

‘unprincipled men' -‘lawless'. ‘men who cared not for rule or decency' (Alford p. 1681). Like the false teachers that Peter was battling, the inhabitants of Sodom were arrogant individuals who also despised rightful authority (2 Peter 2:10).