_{The Vexation of Lot}

_{II Peter 2:7,8 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;)

1. We want to examine why Lot vexed his righteous soul and the results of that vexation.

   1. We are living in the last of the last days, therefore the topic fits us in particular.

      1. Luke 17:28 records that as it was in the days of Lot, so it shall be in the days of the coming of the son of Man.

      2. Lot was carried into disobedience because of his circumstances, and we are facing the same circumstances.

   2. Peter has just given three examples of the judgment of God coming upon disobedience.

      1. Verse 4 - God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them into chains of darkness.

      2. Verse 5 - God spared not the old world, but destroyed them all with water, sparing only the obedient: Noah, his wife, Noah’s three sons, and their wives.

      3. Verse 6 - God spared not Sodom and Gomorrah (and the cities of the plain) destroying them, and spared, vexed with the filthy lifestyle of the wicked.

   3. Lot didn’t have to live his life the way he did.

      1. In living like he did, he brought upon himself the condemnation of God.

      2. His entire family was condemned, committing many wicked acts.

2. What is the background of Lot?

   1. He was raised in Ur of the Chaldees.

      1. He was acquainted with Abraham, who worshipped God in Ur. (Lot is Abram’s nephew.)

         1. I have been taught that Lot and Abraham were both worshipping idols in Ur, but I do not find a Bible record of that.

         2. I think it is more likely that Abraham (and Lot) were worshipping God in Ur, and then God separated Abraham for a special work in building the nation of Israel.

      2. He was kin to Abraham, therefore could receive some of the blessings of Abraham.

   2. He knew Abraham well.

      1. When Abraham left Ur because God commanded him to leave, Lot and his family went with him.

      2. Genesis 13:5 - And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

      3. It is not wrong to follow a man who is obedient to God.

      4. Following those that are obedient to God will result in receiving the same blessing they receive.

   3. Lot had received many blessings from God.

      1. He had traveled with Abraham and Sarah.

      2. He no doubt had eaten at the table of Abraham and Sarah.

      3. He no doubt had heard devotions in Abraham’s tent.

      4. It is very likely he had received advice from Abraham.

   4. Of all the blessings Lot received, it seems he never learned what it meant to trust God.

      1. Lot had all the outward signs of believing and blessings.

      2. The part that Lot missed was that belief of the heart that applies to daily Christian living.

      3. He had that belief of the heart that brings everlasting life, but he didn’t grow in grace enough to trust God and not trust his sight.

3. Lot makes a bad decision.

   1. Genesis 13:10,11 - And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

      1. Lot made this decision by sight (by lifting up his eyes – Genesis 13:10) and not be faith.

      2. Lot never prayed about the decision, nor is there any indication he ever prayed.

   2. This bad decision affected his entire family for the rest of their lives.

      1. Verse 12 states that the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah was great.

      2. This didn’t stop Lot from moving closer and closer to the city, bringing his family closer and closer to the wickedness they knew was there.

      3. He had at least four grown daughters when he lived at Sodom.

      4. At least two daughters had married and two were unmarried. Genesis 19:14, Lot spoke to his sons in law who married his daughters. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

      5. He didn't speak to his sons, probably because he didn't have any sons.

      6. Genesis 19:8 states that Lot had two unmarried daughters. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man...

      7. All of his daughters were old enough to bear children.

      8. Lot decided to raise his children in the midst of this exceeding wicked city.

      9. Do you suppose he thought his children wouldn't be exposed to its sin?

      10. Do you suppose he thought his children wouldn't fall into the sin they mixed with every day?

      11. Lot and his family moved into the city, but it wasn't long before the city moved into their hearts.

   3. What Lot forgot, or maybe never knew, we MUST remember and continually apply.

      1. Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

      2. Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

      3. These promises of God still apply to us today.

      4. Let us not be like Lot, even though we are living in very wicked days.

4. Leaving the city.

   1. Lot knew the two angels were of God.

      1. Genesis 19:1,2 - And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

      2. His attempt to protect them from the “night dangers” showed he was well aware of the wickedness of that city.

   2. When Lot was told the city would be destroyed, he didn’t mock like his sons in law.

      1. Genesis 19:14 - And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

      2. Lot’s testimony was completely destroyed - nobody would listen to him.

   3. Being forced to leave.

      1. Genesis 19:16 - And while he lingered…

      2. Lot lingered because he had a divided will.

      3. Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

      4. Joshua 24:15 - And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

      5. The only reason he left the city was because the angels took him by the hand and led him away.

      6. Lot was still in love with Sodom, even though he knew God was going to destroy it because of wickedness.

      7. There were two voices calling him, the voice of God and the voice of Satan.

      8. Lot had been yielding to the voice of Satan, so he did the natural thing.

      9. He yielded to the voice he was in the habit of yielding to.

      10. He yielded to the flesh, forgetting the blessings of God.

5. II Peter 2:7 - And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.

   1. The word "just".

      1. This word does not mean “only”.

      2. It is the Greek word "dikaios" which means "just or righteous".

      3. This same Greek word is translated righteous two times in verse 8.

   2. The word "vexed" is the Greek word "kataponeomai" which means "worn down".

   3. Filthy conversation.

      1. Filthy means lascivious; lewd, lustful, sensual, carnal, sensual, fleshly.

      2. Conversation means way of life, not necessarily speech.

   4. This teaches us that Lot wore down his righteous soul by continually being around the filth of this world.

      1. We must understand that we can do exactly the same thing as Lot.

      2. There are many saved people who play around with the wickedness of this world, thinking it won't affect them.

      3. They are completely without understanding as to the nature of sin.

      4. A person never forgets the wickedness they get involved in, and it affects them for the rest of their lives.

      5. Matthew 24:12 - And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

      6. Daniel 7:25 - And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

         1. The word “vexed” means to wear out.

         2. Satan’s plan is to cause us to mentally give up the fight for righteousness.

         3. He will throw so much immorality at us, from so many directions, we will come to believe we can never fight it and win.

6. II Peter 2:8 - (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

   1. It is necessary for saved people to live among lost people.

      1. John 15:19, Jesus said that we were chosen "out of the world".

      2. John 17:15, Jesus didn't pray that we be taken out of the world, but that we might be kept from the evil of the world.

      3. I Corinthians 5:10, Paul instructed this church not to keep company in the church (take the Lord's Supper) with evil people, but they had to keep company with them in the world or else go out of the world.

      4. God's influence on us should be greater than the influence of the world.

   2. Seeing and hearing is how Satan can destroy our lives.

      1. It is appropriate here to speak about the wicked influence of music, dirty jokes, television, etc.

      2. Most "Christians" don't really believe it, but all these things have a detrimental influence on our attitude toward holy things.

      3. Many "Christians" try to "straddle the fence" between worldliness and Christianity.

      4. They are sincere in their belief that they can do both, but Jesus says we cannot serve God and mammon.

   3. Lot wore down his "awareness of holiness" by daily being in contact with and accepting wicked things.

      1. This wearing down came so slowly that he didn't realize it was happening.

      2. This can also happen to us.

      3. Many saved people give testimony to how their great sinfulness came upon them very slowly, so slowly they didn't perceive it themselves.

      4. For a fuller discussion of how Lot slowly crept into wickedness, see the article entitled “Remember Lot's Wife”, and my notes on Genesis 13 and 19.