But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.
Parallel Translations
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But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.
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And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
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But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
Cross-references (29)
Passages linked to Genesis 19:16 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Romans 9:15-16 For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
- Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
- Exodus 34:6 Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,
- Numbers 14:18 ‘Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.’
- Deuteronomy 4:31 For Yahweh your God is a merciful God. He will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.
- 1 Chronicles 16:34 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 34:12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
- Psalms 86:5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
- Psalms 86:15 But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
- Psalms 103:8-10 Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
- Psalms 103:13 Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
- Psalms 106:1 Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power known.
- Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 111:4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.
- Psalms 118:1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 119:60 I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments.
- Psalms 136:1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. He bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
- Lamentations 3:22 It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail.
- Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
- Luke 6:35-36 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.
- Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
- John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.
- 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
- Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
- 2 Peter 2:9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
- Joshua 6:22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman and all that she has out from there, as you swore to her.”
- Romans 9:18 So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold…
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand. The angels first urged him by words; now seizing him by the hand, and indeed with apparent violence, they compel him to depart. His tardiness is truly wonderful, since, though he was certainly persuaded that the angels did not threaten in vain, he could yet be moved, by no force of words, until he is dragged by their hands out of the city. Christ says,
‘Though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak,’ (Matthew 26:41)
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here a worse fault is pointed out; because the flesh, by its sluggishness, so represses the alacrity of the spirit, that with slow halting, it can scarcely creep along. And, indeed, as every man’s own experience bears him witness of this evil, the faithful ought to endeavor, with the greater earnestness, to prepare themselves to follow God; and to beware lest as with deaf ears, they disregard his threats. And truly, they will never so studiously and forcibly press forward as not still to be retarded more than enough, in the discharge of their duty. For what Moses says is worthy of attention, that the Lord was merciful to his servant, when, having laid hold of his hand by the angels, He hurried him out of the city. For so it is often necessary for us to be forcibly drawn away from scenes which we do not willingly leave. If riches, or honors, or any other things of that kind, prove an obstacle to any one, to render him less free and disengaged for the service of God, when it happens that he is abridged of his fortune, or reduced to a lower rank, let him know that the Lord has laid hold of his hand; because words and exhortations had not sufficiently profited him. We ought not, therefore, to deem it hard, that those diseases, which instruction did not suffice effectually to correct, should be healed by more violent remedies. Moses even seems to point to something greater; namely, that the mercy of God strove with the sluggishness of Lot; for, if left to himself, he would, by lingering, have brought down upon his own head the destruction which was already near. Yet the Lord not only pardons him, but, being resolved to save him, seizes him by the hand, and draws him away, although making resistance.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The mercy of God striveth to overcome man’s slowness…
The mercy of God striveth to overcome man’s slowness in following God’s calling.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid…
Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
Ver. 16. And while he lingered.] Or distracted himself with much business, {a} which David did not. {Psa 119:60}
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The Lord being merciful unto him.] What is he then to us, in "delivering us from the wrath to come?" {1Th 1:10} Why save we not ourselves from this untoward generation? {Act 2:40} Why see we not his mercy to us in our losses and crosses; his hand laying hold on us, when he takes away that which may hinder us from heaven?
{a} εταραχθησαν. - Septuag.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain He lingered, either through lothness to part with all…
He lingered, either through lothness to part with all his estate, or to lose his sons-in-law; or through astonishment and distraction of mind, which made him both listless and impotent.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And while he lingered,.... Delayed going out of his…
And while he lingered,.... Delayed going out of his house, either loath to leave his goods and substance behind him; or waiting to see whether his sons-in-law would come to him; or, as others, praying that God would spare the city: though rather the sense is, that he was so amazed, and filled with horror and trembling at the thought of what judgments were coming on the city, that he was like one stupid, that had no power to stir nor move, which seems best to agree with the sense of the word used (u):
the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; one of them took hold of his hand with one of his hands, and on his wife's with the other, and the second took hold of one of his daughters with one hand, and of the other with his other hand, and so led them out:
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the Lord being merciful unto him; and so saved them from the ruin and destruction of the city, in which had they stayed a little longer they would have been involved. It was not owing to their merits, but to the mercy of God that they were spared:
and they brought him forth, and set him without the city; not him only, but his wife and two daughters also, and having so done, left them and returned to the city; for so the last clause may be rendered, "and left him without the city" (w), to shift for themselves; or rather well knowing that there would be one that would immediately appear and take them under his care and protection, as the event shows.
(u) a "admiratus est". (w) "et reliquerunt", Drusius, Schmidt.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Tho' Lot did not make a jest of the…
Tho' Lot did not make a jest of the warning as his sons-in-law, yet he lingered, he did not make so much haste as the case required. And it might have been fatal to him, if the angels had not laid hold on his hand, and brought him forth. Herein the Lord was merciful to him, otherwise he might justly have left him to perish, since he was loath to depart. If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering had been our ruin.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 16. While he lingered] Probably in affectionate though…
Verse 16. While he lingered] Probably in affectionate though useless entreaties to prevail on the remaining parts of his family to escape from the destruction that was now descending; laid hold upon his hand - pulled them away by mere force, the Lord being merciful; else they had been left to perish in their lingering, as the others were in their gainsaying.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Gen 19:16. While he lingered — He did not…
Gen 19:16. While he lingered — He did not make so much haste as the case required, and this would have been fatal to him, if the angels had not laid hold on his hand, and brought him forth. Herein the Lord was merciful to him; and if God had not been merciful to us, our lingering had been our ruin.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain He lingered, intreating the Lord to save the city;…
He lingered, intreating the Lord to save the city; and loath, perhaps to lose all his property, for the sake of which he had chosen that abode. --- Spared him, and his wife and two daughters, for his sake. These four were all that were even tolerably just: for we find them all soon giving signs of their weakness, and of the danger to which even the best are exposed by evil communications. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 16. While he lingered — Still he clings to…
16. While he lingered — Still he clings to his home and possessions, and must needs be forced away.
Brought him forth — Thus the mercy of Jehovah, working by the hands of these two angels, reaches forth and grasps Lot and his wife and daughters from the impending ruin.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 16. But he lingered] It was difficult for Lot…
16. But he lingered] It was difficult for Lot to realize the immediate and overwhelming nature of the doom announced by his visitants. His feelings for home and its associations made him hesitate. The versions misunderstood the Heb.; LXX καὶ ἐταράχθησαν, Lat. dissimulante illo.
the Lord being merciful unto him] An interesting clause, shewing that the men were agents of Jehovah’s tenderness, as well as of His severity, cf. Psa_34:22 : does it not also imply that, in the original version of the narrative, Jehovah is here one of “the men”?
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (16) And while he lingered.—Heb., and he lingered. Lot…
(16) And while he lingered.—Heb., and he lingered. Lot still clung to his wealth, and could not make up his mind to leave it, and so at length the angels took him by the hand and compelled him to quit the doomed city.
The Lord being merciful unto him.—Heb., in Jehovah’s pity for him. (Comp. Isa_63:9.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain He lingered
Gen_19:16
He lingered
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Perilous procrastination
I.
I MUST BEGIN BY SPEAKING TO THE PERSON WHO IS LINGERING HIMSELF. I should like to ask you, my beloved friend, if this matter about which you are still hesitating is not of vital importance to you? Do you think you ought to put off all preparation for the future that awaits you? If I knew that some one was about to defraud you of your estate, and that unless you were diligent about it you would lose all your property, I think I should say to you, Bestir yourself. If I knew that some deadly disease had begun to prey upon your constitution, and that if neglected it would soon gain an ascendancy with which twere hard to grapple, I think I should say, Go to the physician. Do not delay; for bodily health is a boon to be prized. I can scarcely recall the details of a little incident in Russian history which might illustrate the emergency: but the fact, as far as my memory serves, was this. The Czar had died suddenly, and in the dead of the night one of the counsellors of the empire came to the Princess Elizabeth and said to her, You must come at once and take possession of the crown. She hesitated, for there were difficulties in the way, and she did not desire the position; but he said, Now, sit down, Princess, for a minute. Then he drew her two pictures. One was the picture of herself and the Count thrown into prison, racked with tortures, and presently both brought out to die beneath the axe. That, he said, you can have if you like. The other picture was of herself with the imperial crown of all the Russias on her brow, and all the princes bowing before her, and all the nation doing her homage. That, said he, is the other side of the question. But, to-night, your Majesty must choose which it shall be. With the two pictures vividly depicted before her minds eye she did not hesitate long, but cast in her choice for the crown. If you decide for Christ, and trust in Him, you shall enter into the bliss of those who for ever and for ever, without admixture of grief, enjoy felicity before the throne of God. To my mind, there ought to be no halting as to the choice.
II. LET ME REMIND THE LINGERER THAT WHILE HE LINGERS HE ENDANGERS THE SOULS OF OTHER PEOPLE. When Lot lingered--he was defeating his own purpose, and doing the worst imaginable thing, if he wanted to convince his sons-in-law that he spake the truth; for while he lingered, they would say, The old fool does not believe it himself, for if he did believe it, he would pack up and haste away; nay, he would take his daughters by the hand and lead them out of the city at once. But, hark ye, man, with what face dost thou reprove others whilst thou art not decided thyself? Where is thy consistency? Let me venture to make one other observation here. I should not wonder if the death of Lots wife might not partly be attributed to Lot himself. If you think that this is a severe reflection, I would remind you that she must have seen her husband hesitate. Oh, undecided father! I should dread to have thee think, in years to come, The loss of my childrens souls was due to my procrastination. Alas, it may be so--it may be so!
III. THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD IS PLEASED AT TIMES TO ROUSE THE LINGERERS. Let us pray for them, that they may by some means be hastened. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Lingerers hastened
I. First, I have to speak TO GODS MESSENGERS. I hope they are very numerous in this church. Every believer should be an ambassador from heaven.
1. I speak solemnly to you who have wept over Jerusalem, and who are proving your true love to souls by your exertions for them, and I remind you, in the first place, that it is a glorious work to seek to save men, and that for its sake you should be willing to put up with the greatest possible inconveniences. The angels never hesitated when they were bidden to go to Sodom. They descended without demur and went about their work without delay.
2. Note again--I still speak to those who are messengers of God to mens souls--when you go to lost souls, you must, as these angels did, tell them plainly their condition and their danger. Up, said they, for God will destroy this place. If you really long to save mens souls, you must tell them a great deal of disagreeable truth.
3. When we have affectionately and plainly told the sinner that the wages of his sin will be death, and that woe will come upon him because of his unbelief, we must go farther, and must, in the name of our Lord Jesus, exhort the guilty one to escape from the deserved destruction. Observe, that these angels, though they understood that God had elected Lot to be saved, did not omit a single exhortation or leave the work to itself, as though it were to be done by predestination apart from instrumentality. How impressive is each admonition! What force and eagerness of love gleams in each entreaty!
4. Learn, still further, from the case before us, where words suffice not, as they frequently will not, you must adopt other modes of pressure. The angel took them by the hand. I have much faith under God in close dealings with men; personal entreaties, by the power of the Holy Spirit, do wonders.
5. I thought, as I read my text, that it gave us a striking example of doing all we can. Lot and his wife, and the two daughters--well, that was four--the angels had only four hands, so that they did all that they could--there was a hand for each. You notice the text expressly says, they took hold of the hand of Lot, and the hand of his wife, and the hand of his two daughters. There were no more persons, and no more helping hands, so that there was just enough instrumentality, but there was not a hand to spare. I wish there were in this church no idle hands, but that each believer had both hands occupied in leading souls to Jesus Christ.
6. Observe, also, that as those angels set us an example in using all their power, so they also encourage us to perseverance, for they ceased not to exhort till they had brought Lot out of danger. We must never pause in our efforts for any man till he is either saved or the funeral bell has tolled for him.
7. I will say no more to these messengers of God except this, that we ought to remember that we are the messengers of Gods mercy to the sons of men. The text tells us, The Lord being merciful unto him. The angels had not come to Lot themselves; they were the embodiment and outward embodiment and outward display of Gods mercy. Christians in the world should view themselves as manifestations of Gods mercy to sinners, instruments of grace, servants of the Holy Spirit. Now, mercy is a nimble attribute. Justice lingers; it is shod with lead, but the feet of mercy are winged. Mercy delights to perform its office. So should it be with us a delight to do good to men.
II. To You, O LINGERERS, I NOW SPEAK, hoping to be the means, by Gods grace, of driving you out of this lingering.
1. I shall begin--O you that are baiting between two opinions--by asking you, Wherefore do you linger? Lot, I think, loitered because he had much property in and around the city. As to Lots daughters, I know not why they lingered, but, peradventure, there were some very dear to them in the city. Do you reply that you do not believe in the danger? Then am I indeed sorry for you, for the danger is none the less sure. Do you linger because you doubt the way of escape? Or, perhaps, you think you do not need it. It is possible that the reason why you linger is, that you indulge some favourite sin. Yet, perhaps, I have not touched the right reason for your lingering. You, perhaps, are subject to an idleness of spirit, a natural inaction and lethargy. I think in most cases this is the root of the matter. You are not bestirred about soul affairs, you are too idle to come to decision. But you must come to it or die. I fear me, that in some cases, though I know not of many in this place, I fear me that this whole matter is despised. If religion be a lie, do not pretend to believe it; say so, and be honest, and take the consequences; but, if it be true, act upon it.
2. Well, I have put the question, Wherefore do you linger? but now I want to say two or three words to you, and they shall be to this effect--Wherewith shall we hasten you? These few considerations, hurriedly offered, I hope will not be forgotten.
(1) Time is short. Young people do not believe this, but you, who have reached thirty or forty, know it.
(2) Moreover, life is uncertain. Some of you know this by painful experience. You have recently lost friends. Hate, and in strong health, they have been smitten down. Others of you have been accustomed to attend the dying-bed, or you often see the hearse go by the windows; or you are sick, and you carry death in your bowels. Wherefore do you linger?
(3) If this will not quicken you, let me tell you, that if you were now to believe in Christ you would be no loser. Present salvation would be present happiness.
(4) Beside that, you are now, at this moment, in danger.
(5) There is one terrible reflection which I cannot help mentioning, namely, that with some of you it ought to be an alarming fact, that the means of grace are losing all effect. You used to feel them much more than you do now. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Lot: a beacon
I. WHAT LOT WAS HIMSELF.
1. Lot was a true believer--a converted person--a real child of God--a justified soul--a righteous man. Is any one of my readers a traveller in the narrow way which leads unto life? So also was Lot.
(1) One evidence is, that he lived in a wicked place, seeing and hearing evil all around him (2Pe_2:8), and yet was not wicked himself. Now to be a Daniel in Babylon--an Obadiah in Ahabs house--an Abijah in Jeroboams family--a saint in Neros court, and a righteous man in Sodom, a man must have the grace of God. Without grace it would be impossible.
(2) Another evidence is, that he vexed his soul with the unlawful deeds he beheld around him (2Pe_2:8). He was wounded, grieved, pained, and hurt at the sight of sin.
2. Before we pass on, let us remember that a true Christian may have many a blemish, many a defect, many an infirmity, and yet be a true Christian nevertheless. We do not despise gold because it is mixed with much dross. We must not undervalue grace because it is accompanied by much corruption.
II. WHAT THE TEXT TELLS US ABOUT LOTS BEHAVIOUR. He lingered. Now, there are many Christian men and Christian women in this day very like Lot. There are many real children of God who appear to know far more than they live up to, and see far more than they practise, and yet continue in this state for many years. Wonderful that they go as far as they do, and yet go no further I They hold the Head, even Christ, and love the truth. They like sound preaching, and assent to every article of Gospel doctrine, when they hear it. But still there is an indescribable something which is not satisfactory about them. They believe in heaven, and yet seem faintly to long for it; and in hell, and yet seem little to fear it. They love the Lord Jesus; but the work they do for Him is small. They hate the devil; but they often appear to tempt him to come to them. They know the time is short; but they live as if it were long. They know they have a battle to fight; yet a man might think they were at peace. They know they have a race to run; yet they often look like people sitting still. They know the Judge is at the door, and there is wrath to come; and yet they appear half asleep. Astonishing they should be what they are, and yet be nothing more! And what shall we say of these people? They often puzzle godly friends and relations. They often cause great anxiety. They often give rise to great doubts and searchings of heart. But they may be classed under one sweeping description--they are all brethren and sisters of Lot. They linger.
III. THE REASONS THAT MAY ACCOUNT FOR LOTS LINGERING.
1. He made a wrong choice in early life.
2. He mixed with sinners when there was no occasion for his doing so.
IV. WHAT KIND OF FRUIT LOTS LINGERING SPIRIT BORE AT LAST.
1. He did no good among the inhabitants of Sodom.
2. He helped none of his family, relatives, or connections towards heaven.
3. He left no evidences behind him when he died. (Bishop Ryle.)
Lessons
1. Saints by infirmity may delay their own salvation, when hastened by the messengers of God. Flesh may hinder and delay.
2. Providence orders His angels to take hold of hands to deliver, when they cannot persuade hearts. Works shall do what words did not.
3. Gods angels leave not the conduct of His saints until they set them without danger.
4. Gods free grace and mercy to His servants is the only cause of all their deliverance by angels (Gen_19:16). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Folly of procrastination
The Spanish proverb says, That which the fool does in the end, the wise man does in the beginning. The wise with a good grace what the fool with an ill; the one to much profit, what the other to little or none. A word worth laying to heart; for, indeed, that purchase of the sybilline books by the Roman king, what significant symbol it is of that which at one time or another, or, it may be, at many times, is finding place in almost every mans life; the same thing to be done in the end, the same price to be paid at the last, with only the difference that much of the advantage, as well as grace, of an earlier compliance, has passed away. (Archbishop Trench.)
Impious lives contagious
The impious lives of the wicked are as contagious as the most fearful plague that infects the air. When the doves of Christ lie among such pots, their yellow feathers are sullied. You may observe that in the oven the fine bread frequently hangs upon the coarse, but the coarse very seldom adheres to the fine. If you mix an equal portion of sour vinegar and sweet wine together, you will find that the vinegar will sooner sour the wine than the wine sweeten the vinegar. That is a sound body that continues healthful in a pest-house. It is a far greater wonder to see a saint maintain his purity among sinners than it is to behold a sinner becoming pure among saints. Christians are not always like fish which retain their freshness in a salt sea; or like the rose which preserves its sweetness among the most noisome weeds; or like the fire which burns the hottest when the season is coldest. The Lords people, by keeping evil company, are like persons who are much exposed to the sun--insensibly tanned. (J. Secker.)
Golden moments
In the life of every individual there are moments of such transcendent interest that they may be called golden. Several years ago the writer heard an aged minister state that, while Dr. Dwight was president of Yale College, two young men who listened to those masterly discourses which have since been published, were deeply impressed with a sense of their sinfulness and peril. One proposed to the other that they should call on the Doctor, and talk with him. They started arm-in-arm. When they reached the doctors house, one refused to enter. The other went in. He who remained out of doors returned to his room, but from that time ceased to manifest any interest. He who entered, said the speaker, became a Christian and a minister, and is now addressing you. He improved the golden moments, while his bosom-friend permitted them to roll by unheeded, little imagining they exerted upon his destiny an influence undying. In the great revival of 1831, a gentleman of my acquaintance, who had been a sea-captain, and could use more profane language in an hour than any other man I ever knew, became impressed with a sense of his sinfulness. He felt that the time had come when he must decide whether the prayers of his wife should be answered, or not. He was doing an extensive mercantile business, but he sent a note to his partner, stating that he should be detained at home, and should not be at the store, and did not wish to be disturbed. He shut himself in his room, determined not to leave it till he had settled the all-important question to his own satisfaction. Golden moments were passing through his hour-glass, while in one room his wife was pouring out her earnest supplications, and in another he thought on his ways and turned his feet to the testimonies of God, and made haste to keep His commandments. When he left that chamber the question was settled aright, and settled for ever. His face shone like that of Moses. He had been in communion with the Most High. In that same year a lawyer was convicted of his sinfulness, and was anxious to be a Christian. On a certain evening he attended a cottage prayer-meeting, and took a seat by the side of the writer. He had been in the meeting but a few moments, when he became exceedingly agitated, and very soon took his hat and left the house. Towards the close of the meeting he returned. He soon arose and said: I wish to be a Christian. I am determined to be one. After I entered this room, a transaction which occurred several years ago came to my mind, in which I wronged a man. My conscience, stirred by the Spirit of God, would not let me rest till the matter was settled. I have been and arranged the matter to the entire satisfaction of both parties, and I am now at peace with God and man. How golden were the moments he spent in being reconciled to the man whom he had injured! During those few moments his destiny was sealed. Had he not improved them aright, he would not have known the pleasure of having a conscience void of offence, nor the comforting assurance of Gods favour. In that same year a young man who had been halting between two opinions for a length of time attended a religious meeting in Albany, and heard one of the impassioned discourses of Dr. Kirk. He left the church in company with an earnest Christian friend. They walked along in silence till they reached a street corner, where they were to separate. On parting the friend asked, What is your decision? The answer was, I will serve the Lord. That young man became a Christian, and at length a minister of the gospel, Never did he regret the decision he made on that street corner while the golden moments were rolling along. Were not the moments golden which were spent by Queen Esther while pondering the question whether to go in unto the king at the risk of her life? Who can estimate the influence and the importance of that decision! Had she not employed those moments aright, her life and the lives of her nation would have been sacrificed. (American Sunday School Times.)
Benefits of discipline
But, O what followeth in the next words: As he prolonged the time, they caught him by the hand and brought him out. So, so, it is a thousand times needful that we should be drawn violently, when we will not come willingly. And then see here a secret, and lay it to your heart. Your riches, your honours, your friends, pleasures, wife, children, and such like, are taken from you in part or in all. You marvel at it, and think, peradventure, you are quite out of the Lords favour, for else this great change in your estate would not be. But fear not--rather remember what you read here: Lot prolonged to do what he should, as his case was, and the Lord caught him by the hand and brought him out. Haply as your case hath been, you have prolonged to do what the Lord willed you, and these things that you have lost were some let unto you to hold you back; the Lord, careful that you should not perish, has in this your change, done no other to you than He did to Lot when He caught him by the hand. Verily He hath even so caught you to bring you by this means, from what and whence He would have you come, because whilst you enjoyed these, you forgot yourself, prolonged and trifled the time, and danger grew on; that it must be otherwise with you, or else the Lords judgment light upon you, amongst others whom His justice would punish, and that God would not, and therefore hath rid you thus away--even thus I say, draw you more forcibly by the want of these benefits, because as long as you enjoyed them, words would not work with you. Be not afraid, then, of adversity, but be schooled by it, to get you out of Sodom, and to obey the Lords will and bidding: for to this end hath He caught you by the hand, effectually, though not bodily, if you be His. And when once you are out, you shall find Him slack His force again most certainly, and comfort you as shall be good, with riches, honours, friends, pleasures, wife, children, and every needful blessing. Then shall you find it true, what the prophet Daniel assureth you, No good thing verily shall be withheld from them that live a godly life. (Bp. Babington.)
The Lord being merciful unto him
Lots escape from Sodom
I. It is natural to speak, first, of THE NEED LOT HAD TO ESCAPE; OR, OF THE JUDGMENT BY WHICH THE CITY WAS OVERTAKEN. It is Gods way to be long-suffering. Judgment is a work He does not love. His will is that none should perish. But the cup of Sodom was now overflowing; nor was there any longer hope of its repentance. It was fully time that Gods abhorrence of iniquity should be made to appear. Mercy to surrounding tribes and succeeding generations in danger of falling into like depths demanded this. When nations, cities, families, or individuals become hopeless in their impiety and corruption, when remedial agencies no longer promise good, what, then, shall a just, righteous, and good ruler do? Is it not a startling warning of the just judgment sure to overtake all sin unpardoned, because unconfessed and unforsaken?
II. But we must pass to consider, next, WHY IT WAS THAT OF ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THAT WICKED CITY, LOT SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO ESCAPE. The Lord being merciful to him. Thou hast magnified Thy mercy, which Thou hast showed unto me in saving my life. Poor as was the quality of Lots religion, he had some measure of that which is real. He did not lose all faith in the true God.
III. Thus we are brought to speak of some things which appear with respect to THE MANNER OF LOTS ESCAPE.
1. With very great difficulty. To the very last Gods messengers must use urgency and compulsion! So He must, and does, with many an irresolute believer. Often He graciously applies the rod.
2. But Lots escape was not only with great difficulty, it was also with much bitter sorrow and painful loss.
IV. The narrative thus briefly considered abounds in LESSONS of the greatest practical importance.
1. The long-suffering of God may be worn out. Judgment is then sure.
2. None whom mercy can rescue will be suffered to perish. Lot, the most imperfect of believers, was saved.
3. To subordinate religious fidelity to worldly advantage or pleasure is always a costly and often a fatal mistake.
4. In rescuing others, one may sometimes have to use a sort of loving violence; pulling them out of the fire.
5. It is possible to be almost saved, but lost. (H. M. Grout, D. D.)
The deliverance of the righteous in the time of judgment
I. GOD MAKES KNOWN TO THEM THE WAY OF DELIVERANCE.
1. Gods way of deliverance is often against our will.
(1) We forget what should be our chief care.
(2) We are paralysed by fear.
2. Gods way of deliverance does not destroy the necessity for our own exertion.
3. Gods way of deliverance is only effective through His mercy.
II. GOD IS READY TO DELIVER OTHERS FOR THEIR SAKES.
1. Hence the righteous can offer salvation to the last.
2. Our efforts may be unavailing.
III. IN THE MIDST OF ABOUNDING CORRUPTION ONLY THE FEW ESCAPE.
1. The tremendous power of evil.
2. Gods great judgments upon mankind.
IV. THE RIGHTEOUS CAN ONLY BE SAVED OUT OF THE SCENES OF INIQUITY, NOT IN THEM. (T. H. Leale.)
Lots escape from Sodom
I. THE FORBEARANCE OF GOD. This is seen--
1. In the patience of God with the Sodomites, in sparing them so long.
2. In the willingness to save these wicked cities for even ten righteous persons.
3. In the question (Gen_19:12).
4. In the loving compulsion by which Lot and his family were urged to escape.
5. In the condescension manifested in granting Lots request.
6. Such forbearance is very noticeable in view of the terrible doom with which it was connected.
II. THE PERVERSITY OF MAN. This is seen--
1. In the continued hardness of the Sodomites.
2. In the mocking unbelief of Lots sons-in-law.
3. In the hesitancy of both Lot and his family to leave the doomed city.
4. In Lots lack of faith in Gods power to keep him in the mountain as well as in Zoar.
III. THE CONDITION OF SALVATION. The answers to the following questions will reveal it:
1. Why were not Lots sons-in-law saved from the doom of
Sodom?
2. Why was not Lots wife caught in the destruction of Sodom?
3. How did Lot and his daughters ultimately escape the fate of the Sodomites?
Lessons:
1. Lot, in the choice of Sodom for a residence, furnishes an example of the folly of worldly wisdom.
2. Lots sons-in-law furnish an example of the inevitable doom that awaits all who scorn the warnings of Gods messengers.
3. Lots wife is an example of the inevitable fate of those who outwardly, but reluctantly, conform to the requirements of the gospel, but whose heart is in the world.
4. The destruction of Sodom is an illustration of the doom that awaits this world and every impenitent soul.
5. The urgency to flee to the Divine refuge is graphically portrayed in the impassioned words of the angels (Gen_19:17). (D. C. Hughes, M. A.)
Three stages in Lots life
I. LOT GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF SODOM. People generally go in the direction of that which is wrong before they thoroughly go into it.
II. LOT DWELLING IN SODOM.
III. The omnipotent mercy of God Almighty, DELIVERING HIM OUT OF SODOM. (M. Rainsford, B. A.)
Lots flight from Sodom
I. WE ARE HERE TAUGHT THE REALITY AND MAGNITUDE OF THE DANGER TO WHICH THE SINNER IS EXPOSED. The reality of the sinners danger is proved by the express statements of the Word of God, and by the struggles of conscience, as the Almightys vicegerent, even in the unregenerated heart.
II. THE MEANS EMPLOYED BY GOD TO AWAKEN THE SINNER TO A TRUE SENSE OF THE REALITY AND MAGNITUDE OF HIS DANGER. Holy Spirit is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last in the work of arousing from their death-like lethargy the prison-bound thralls or slaves of Satan. At one time He comes upon the sinner as an armed man, and attacks directly the stronghold of infidelity in the heart, and throws down every barrier by which it was guarded. At another time--and this is the more usual mode of His operation--the Sanctifier executes His office of bringing transgressors out of darkness into His marvellous light through the instrumentality of the dispensations of Gods providence, and of the faithful preaching of the Word by his called, tried, and appointed messengers.
III. THE STATE OF THE SINNERS MIND WHEN HE HAS BEEN AWAKENED, IN THE MANNER ALREADY POINTED OUT, TO A RIGHT SENSE OF HIS LOST AND DESPERATE CONDITION (see 2Co_7:11).
IV. THE ENLIGHTENING AND QUICKENING SPIRIT HAYING BEGUN THE GOOD WORK, IS PLEDGED TO CARRY IT ON AND COMPLETE IT. (R. Jeffrey.)
I. THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE DELIVERANCE.
Lots deliverance
II. THE MANNER OF THE DELIVERANCE.
III. THE SEQUEL TO THE DELIVERANCE. (R. S. Candlish, D. D.)
The folly of lingering
When a man hath to go over a river, though he ride once and again into the water and come out, saying, I fear it is too deep for me, yet, considering that there is no other way for him, he resolves to venture, for, saith he, the longer I stay the higher the waters will rise, and there is no other way for me--I must go through at the last, why not at the first? And so he ventures through. Thus it is with you. You say, Oh, but my heart is not humbled; oh, but I am a great sinner; and should I venture upon Jesus Christ? Will this heart be more humbled by keeping from Jesus Christ, and wilt thou be less a sinner by keeping from Him? No, certainly, for the longer you stay from Christ, the harder it will be to venture on Him at the last. (W. Bridge.)
The danger of delay
Serious things to-morrow, said a distinguished individual against whose life a plot was laid. One of the confederates, relenting, had sent a notice of the plot by a messenger who had particular instructions to deliver it personally, and to state that the letter must be read immediately, as it was on a very serious matter. The messenger, however, found the person against whose life the plot was laid in the midst of a convivial feast. The letter and message were both faithfully delivered; but the man of mirth and wine laid it aside, saying, Serious things so-morrow! The morrow he never saw, for that night the assassin plunged the deadly weapon into his heart. So many put away from them the serious warnings of the gospel, and perish in their sins.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 But he lingered
But he lingered
"But Lot hesitated" or "But Lot did not start to leave"
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So the men grabbed
"So the two men grabbed" or "So the angels grabbed"
was merciful to him
"had compassion on Lot." Yahweh is described as being "merciful" because he was sparing the lives of Lot and his family instead of destroying them when he destroyed the people of Sodom for the wrong they had done.
When they had brought them out
"When the two men had brought Lot's family out"
Run for your lives!
This is a way of telling them to run so that they do not die. AT: "Run away and save your lives!" (See: Idiom)
Do not look back
The phrase "at the city" is understood. AT: "Do not look back at the city" or "Do not look back at Sodom" (See: Ellipsis)
on the plain
This means the plain of the Jordan River. This refers to the general region of the Jordan River.
so you are not swept away
It is understood that they would swept away with the people of the city. This can be stated in active form. AT: "or else God will destroy you along with the people of the city" (See: Ellipsis and Active or Passive)
not swept away
God destroying the people of the city is spoken of as if a person were sweeping away dust. (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
Yahweh
mercy
sweep
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.