January 24: The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
But they [the men of the City of Sodom who had surrounded Lot’s house and were demanding he turn over the men/angelic visitors to them] said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door. –Genesis 19:9-11
There are so many things that can be said about chapter 19. It is both great and terrible. Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes believers can make is to assume that they are at least more self-justified than those wicked people in Sodom. But salvation belongs to the Lord! Lot’s salvation came not because he hurried to the Promised Land, but verse 16 said he “lingered.” Lot’s salvation came not because he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the Land of Blessing, but verse 20 says that he begged for a littler Sodomite city in the plain, and the story goes on.
Lot was saved because the Lord would settle for nothing less!
Of the many stark pictures of reality in chapter 19 is in verse 11 in the passage above. The Sodomites are struck blind. You’d think if you and everyone around you were suddenly struck with blindness, at least initially your sinful appetite would be turned to nausea. Not them, no, they “wore themselves out groping for the door.”
Isn’t that an accurate picture of our own depravity? And let us not take heart that their grievous personal sin of choice is just a lot worse than ours. Don’t we wear ourselves our groping in gossip, covetousness, unkindness, jealousy, self-seeking ambition, self-righteousness, etc? But thanks be to God that he reaches out his hand and brings us into the house and shuts the door (v. 10) that we may be safe not only from wickedness in the world, but from the wickedness in our hearts.
And that’s the gospel. Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.
This Sunday is our next Community Lunch. To get more information, click here.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
Fairest Lord Jesus
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (on a Bible book) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!