“The Lord knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished….’ (2 Peter 2:9)
Pretty clear message to us….The Lord knows how to deliver those out of temptation that are following Him. A few verses before the scripture above the Apostle Peter is describing the situation of the Old Testament figure, Lot, and his life in wicked Sodom. Lot lived right in the middle of the wickedness of Sodom. He and his family weren’t perfect, but the Apostle Peter described Lot as “just” in verse 7.
Our culture and the world are growing darker and wicked by the day. I don’t think we are too far removed from exactly what Lot faced in Sodom. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those who after should live ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6). God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness and particular the sin of sodomy. Sodom and Gomorrah were meant as a warning to all of us today. What is different in our culture than of Lot’s day?
Lot and his two daughters (his wife perished) were delivered from Sodom right before its destruction (Genesis 19:15-26). Lot was “just” meaning that his faith was in God, even though his actions at times were not commendable. Peter says, “and delivered Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation (lifestyle) 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; The Lord knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished” (2 Peter 2:7-9).
Lot didn’t become contaminated with the sin around him even though he saw and heard all of the wickedness. “Vexed” pertains to “torment or torture,” meaning he was not only vexed with the sin of Sodom, but vexed himself as well. In this word, we find a certain sense of personal culpability. The situation in which Lot now finds himself was ultimately due to his own selfish choice.
Sometimes we have a choice about our surroundings and sometimes we don’t, but we don’t have to participate in the sins of those around us. Many times we feel vexed by what is going on in our culture, but I’m glad that the Lord knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptations! There is a Judgment Day coming soon on those who choose to practice sin in unrighteousness, but until that Day, we must endure by studying the Word of God, staying in Prayer and not forsaking the assembling of the Saints (other Believers) together. In all of this, God is able and will deliver us, either by moving us or by moving them! We too can live a pure and holy life before God. If we follow and obey the Lord, He will deliver us!
