The Surpassing Wickedness of Sodom

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 106:24-48

Psalm 106:24–48 ESV

Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the Lord. Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands. Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever. They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips. They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them, but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!

Scripture Memorization: Genesis 50:19-20

Genesis 50:19–20 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-25 (Micah)

Romans 1:18–25 ESV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Sermon:

1

Speaker 1

00:01

Well once again, and as always, good morning church. I'm always glad when they say to me, let us go and Worship in the house of the Lord. Well, this morning, our text for today, Genesis chapter 18, verses 22-33. This will get us to the end. Of Genesis chapter 18, and this will start.

00:24

A very. Interesting. That's probably the best word. A very interesting interlude in the life of Abraham. Since chapter 12, right? So, Genesis, just so we know the general breakdowns Genesis 1 through 11 were what we call pre-history it's creation. It's the fall. It's Adam, it's genealogies. It's Noah. Then it's the Tower of Babel.

00:49

Those are the big sort of chunks in the pre-history section. And then. From these, this giant pre-history covering. Countless in many ways, thousands of years. We zoom into one man and his family to Abraham, and since chapter 12, so 12, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and here 18.

01:11

We've been looking in depth at the life of Abraham. We met him when his name was Abram. God has changed his name. God has made multiple covenants with this man. We've seen Abraham's great victories in faith, where God counts his faith as righteousness. We've seen his failures if he doesn't do what he's supposed to.

01:35

We've seen the promise, and we know, and we are now waiting for the child of Promise. The one that will become a great nation by which the world will be blessed. We're waiting for that child. In the Book of Genesis, just pauses. And for for the next chapter. So starting here and then all of chapter 19.

01:56

We won't really see her hear from Abraham. He'll, he'll play an important. He'll play the main role really in today's text, but besides that. Sodom and Gomorrah. And lots. The nephew that's already caused some problems will show up. And so, when we come to this very interesting interlude, the question we should always ask is?

02:23

Why is it? That that Moses when he wrote? And maybe even more importantly than that, then the Holy spirit is the inspiring Moses to write this. Do we pause here? Why don't we just get straight to the Fulfillment of the promise? What's the purpose in giving us this interlude?

02:50

And I think there's a few one of the important ones that we won't really cover, but I think this is just as you read through Genesis. This is the weight that you're feeling the weight that you're feeling is the weight. The waiting that Abraham is going to have to do.

03:08

We've seen promise, and he waits and a promise. And he waits, and he messes up. And we wait. And then God has said, we looked at this last week in one year. One year from today, you will have a child, and it feels like the waiting's over, but it's still not over.

03:21

We have this long inner loot. I think that's part of it. But I think another part and probably the most important is we begin to see. The difference between? Abraham and his family. Those called by God, those trained in righteousness, those who seek to follow him. In the world.

03:44

Who does everything in their own thought in their own eyes in their own way, ignoring, rebelling against, and often spitting in the face of God and his rules? And so we are introduced to just how bad. This is. Our text for today, Genesis chapter 18, verses 22 through 33.

04:04

I actually want to start by reading what we ended with last week to give us the the sort of ramp up. So, verse 20 of Genesis 18 is where we will start. That, the Lord said, because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is very grave.

04:23

I will go down to see whether I have done all together, according to the outcry that has come to me, and if not, I will know. Chapter verse 22, so the men turned from there and went towards Sodom. But Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then, Abraham Drew near and said, will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

04:47

Suppose there are 50 righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away that place and not spare it for the 50 righteous who are in it? Far, be it from you to do such a thing to put the righteous to death with the wicked so that the righteous fair is the wicked.

05:06

Far, be that from you. Shall not the judge of all the Earth do? What is just? And the Lord said. If I find it Sodom 50 righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. Abraham answered and said, behold, I, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I, who am but dust and Ashes?

05:31

Suppose five of the 50 righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for the lack of? And he said I will not destroy it if I find 45 there. Again, he spoke to him and said, suppose. 40 are found there. He answered for the sake of. I will not do it.

05:58

Then, he said. Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak supposed 30. Are found there. He answered. I will not do it if I find 30 there. He said, Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord supposed 20. Are found there. He answered for the sake of 20, I will not destroy it.

06:23

He said, oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again, but this once. Suppose 10? Are found. He answered for the sake of ten. I will not destroy it. And the Lord went his way. When he had finished speaking to Abraham and Abraham returned. To his place. These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's open our time together with the word of prayer. Oh Lord, O Lord, the righteous judge of all the. The one who hears the prayers of his people who responds according to your goodness, grace, Mercy, Justice, and righteousness. We thank you.

07:12

The UC fit to communicate truth to people such as us. We thank you that you look upon us with love and kindness.

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That you who do not spare his own son, will you not with him graciously? Give us all things we asked this morning for wisdom and discernment. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear. May we be a people who are changed by the understanding and reading and hearing of your word. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen. And amen.

07:46

This story is a rather famous one. A rather comical one. And one in many ways. It's hard for me to just come and tell you this is exactly. What this is about and what this is doing. Cuz I think there's levels here. I think there's there's things that are going on. The first is this does offer the transition from Abraham to the Sodom and Gomorrah story. Abraham becomes the one who sort of. Is the transition we're dwelling on Sodom, and how many people live there? Interestingly, but Abraham is the one doing. So, in many ways, it offers a natural connection. It prevents us from getting really, really bad Whiplash, going from Abraham and Covenant straight over to lot and Sodom and Gomorrah in its destruction.

08:44

And so it offers a transition. I think that's part of it literarily. We could say that.

08:52

I think it also offers a little bit of. Comic relief. Anyone who's ever read? The Hobbits. There's a scene where Bilbo and the dwarves are all going to go to a man named Bayor. He's a bear man who has a large temper, but they need to be safe and protected so that they're going to go to his house. Be Gandalf, the wizard knows. If we all show up at once? You know, all 13 of us, it's going to be bad. Let's not do that. So they, they slowly increase the number of people till all of a sudden, oh, look.

09:33

We're all here, and they've managed to not make this man, Matt. This is like a reverse of this. Abraham seems to know what's going on, but he knows if he just starts out of the gate like God, just just 10. That's all we're looking for. So, so we slowly work our way down. The language in the English. The ESV does a good job translating because English and the Hebrew. The language in the Hebrew feels the same way. No, you've just read the same sentences over and over again. You've just just changed the numbers. And so it's sort of comical.

10:10

The way Abraham is is bargaining and bartering. It feels like with God. I think that's part of it. Most important, the number one point that this story is trying to show us is just how vile. And wicked. And evil. Sodom is. That, that's the. That's the heart you get, just as you read it. Is this city this? The large city on the the Blessed Valley in the choice land. They should have everything going for it.

10:51

And they are so wicked. Did hear one man? Abraham is pleading to God. That's part of it.

11:02

But they're so wicked. That it's comical.

11:11

How Abraham has to try to?

11:15

Cover over the wickedness. So, it is about the surpassing wickedness of salt. But then, for our purposes today, even more than that. I think this story gives us insight into how we ought to. Live and think. And operate. By hearing this story, just trying to understand. Abraham. And so there's three points that I want us to see. About what Abraham understands? We, we pick on Abraham a lot. We pick on him a ton. But here. I think he shows great wisdom, and we would be wise to think through things the way Abraham obviously is thinking through.

12:07

These things. Right, the the setting. For our story, we've had these three men come and visit. One of the men here is identified as the Lord. And so, if you read the paper in the back, this is what we would call a chrystophany. I believe this is Jesus before Jesus was Jesus appearing to Abraham. Along with two Angelic beings. So, this is Jesus and the host of Heaven visiting Abraham, and they've given him a promise and a prophecy in one year. Your wife will be carrying your baby boy. And then we ended. Last week, we looked at this with this little bit of bad news, like, are we really going to tell Abraham what we're going to do?

12:55

But this Stern warning verse 20, this is why we read it. Sodom and Gomorrah, great is their sin, and is very grave. So great here refers to volume, so they have a lot of sin and grave refers to the type. It's very bad. They have a very much lot of very much bad sin.

13:18

And so the two continue on verse 22. This is where we start. The two men turn from there and went towards Sodom, but Abraham. Still stood before the Lord. So the the person who visited identified as the Lord and three and two angels come. The two angels leave. The Lord stays with Abraham, so we're giving access here to a scene between Abraham and the Lord, and what this shows us I truly believe is what Abraham understands. And the first, most important thing that he understands that we must understand. Is who God is?

14:03

All of the good prayers in scripture. That's a bold thing to say, so I'll say it. All of the good prayers in scripture are rooted and grounded in first, knowing who God is. And so, as Abraham comes. Verse 25 becomes key here far, be it from you to do right to such a thing. To put the righteous to death for the wicked, so the Richard fares, we far, be that from you, shall you not? Shall not the judge of the Earth do what is just? So, who is God? First and foremost, Abraham is telling us God is the just judge.

14:46

Of the. And Abraham knows this. So, part of his appeal is appealing to God as the just judge. What we should notice is nowhere in this story. Do we ever think otherwise? Nowhere in this story does God come and say? Does Abraham say you're the just judge? And if you do this, you won't be just. This is an important distinction. Instead, it's because you are just. Will you do? This. One relies on who God is, the other. Assumes on who God is. The way we often do this. So, to help us out here to help the way we do this wrongly.

15:37

Would go like this.

15:41

God you are loving? Therefore. In order for you to stay and be loving. You must. Give me this thing. That I ask for. See that says who God is? But it doesn't rely on who God is. It accuses. God, you are the way this story could have gone differently. God, you are just. Therefore, your Justice must look like you sparing Sodom and Gomorrah. That's not how Abraham approaches this. As God, you are just. And in your Justice. I am asking that if we can just find 50 that you would spare it.

16:35

And so there's something else that Abraham doesn't say in particular that. We also have to see. And that is Abraham, even here, understands God's grace. And mercy. So, it's one thing to be just. And not destroy the city because there are 50 righteous people there. It's another thing to be just. And be willing to overlook the sin of everyone else. For the sake of? These 50.

17:08

So God Abraham is relying on one God's justice, but to his grace and mercy. And the further we get into this story, the more God's justice we see is Vindicated. And we don't even have to think about that, and the more and more and more we have to rely on God's grace and mercy. Because. Sounds like a lot.

17:35

But then Abraham is like, but what about 45? Well now, maybe it's not a Justice thing. Now, we're asking for a little more Mercy. What about 40?

17:45

So, so you want me to be so gracious Abraham? That, for the sake of 40, I won't destroy everyone. And God graciously. It obliges. For the sake of 40, verse 29, I will not do it. And then by tens. Abraham goes down. What about 30? What about 20? What about 10? Verse 32, he answered for the sake of ten. I will not destroy. And so, just so, for a little bit of of context here. We don't know because the Bible never tells us exactly how many people lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. It's only preface with that.

18:33

And I am not a historian archaeologist. I don't know those sorts of things, but if you do a Google search and go down the rabbit hole. The numbers you find rage from on the low estimation, a couple a few thousand. On the high, and I think the high is way too much 1.5 million. I don't think that's right. The most credible sources I could find, say the population, was probably somewhere 45, 000 people, which sounds about right to me. So percentage-wise. 45, 000 people. We're starting with 50.

19:12

It's not a high bar. Fractions of a percent here. And by the time we get to the end. Abraham is saying, what if we just find 10? Can we just try to find 10?

19:28

We'll end up finding.

19:32

I think the best way to understand is we end up finding. It's lot, his wife, and maybe we should say three and a half because his wife shows some problems here. It's lot. I mean. To be completely honest, we'll get to the lot and his daughter's story. None of them act very righteous, but the ones who are spared there's four. Four people is all we end up finding in this city. But by the time you're saying, okay, look God. What if there's just like? What if there's just like 10 people in this city of 45?

20:09

No longer is this an issue of Justice? God's Justice was Vindicated from the beginning. But more and more and more, we must lean into God's grace and mercy. And Abraham understands that. And he's willing to. Plead upon God's grace and mercy. I think that's a good lesson. God is just. God is righteous. God is gracious. And God is merciful. And so we lean into. As Abraham comes, he understands exactly who God is. The God he's talking to. The Lord Yahweh God With Us, he knows.

21:00

And so, Abraham understands this. There's something else we should note that Abraham understands. He understands who he is as well. And this ties very closely to what we just talked about. I said when we, when we prayed to when we understand who God is, we need to understand the difference between sort of. Pleading upon who God is and demanding. And the best way we avoid the problems here is by understanding who we are. Abraham knows. Because of who he is, that he's not God. He's already on sort of Shaky Ground. Much of the language and much of what we read here feels a lot like job at the very end of Job.

21:44

Where job finally does. Speak of things he does not understand, and job then has to cover his mouth and say, you know what God, you're right. I spoke of things that are far too great for me. Abraham rightly knows who he is, and he starts with this humble. Posturing.

22:05

Verse 27 becomes a key here. Behold, I am undertaken to speak to the Lord. I, who embut dust. And Ashes.

22:18

This is the difference between presuming. Upon God's goodness. And rely. On God's goodness. This is the difference between demanding God do something, never a good idea. Entrusting in God, but knowing who we are, I'm Dustin actions. Much like the psalmist, David will say. Who is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man? Who, who, am, who are we? These creatures formed out of dust and Ashes to ever ask The Sovereign King of the universe. Anything, who is Abraham? Even Abraham, one who God has covenanted with God, has walked through the carcass of these animals. God has come time and again to Abraham. He has met with him. He has promised him he has, in fact, in the last chapter, eaten with him.

23:15

And Abraham still gets it. He still knows who he is, and he offers God all due reverence that God is worthy. At a church I used to go to, we used to sing a song. That I liked and hated at the same time. The basic premise of this song. I don't remember all the words, exactly. I just remember the feeling I would get when we would sing. The the premise of the song is. That we will.

23:46

Enter into the throne room of God. Dancing. And here's my issue with that. It's right. Right, another song we sing. I will enter his chorus, who Thanksgiving no hard. I will enter his court with praise, right? We sing, we will enter. Because the blood of Jesus. We need to be careful that we're not presumptuous. When we do so. And I felt too often we would. We would sing this song presumptuously and not with awe and wonder. I think that's the best way to summarize. Abraham, understanding who he is. He sees God, and instead of presumptuously thinking he can make demands or claims, he also knows who he is.

24:34

And so there's a sense of awe and wonder. He knows who he is. Loved by God, known by God. So able to come before God, but do so. With reverence. I think this is important. But there's one more key to this puzzle. And this becomes the key to understand. I think the text and its role and the path in understanding how this is working and what we're building up to. All of our prayers. I think we should start like this. We should know who God is and know who we are.

25:12

But Abraham. Also, I think understands who Sodom is. They're Wicked. At the end of the day, Abraham knows I am pleading. For Wicked people. And just the very scene shows us. He knows this. The fact that he would start at 50. Is a clue that he knows just how bad this city is. He's already dealt with their King with the whole Melchizedek story and Melchizedek comes, and Abraham offers him Abram at the time, but he offers him an offering a tithe. And the King of Sodom is like, hey. Let's make a deal. Abraham and Abraham's response do we remember it was, like, no kick rocks? I will have nothing to do with you. I don't want anyone ever being able to ever say that you blessed me at all. You are too wicked, too vile, too evil. There will be no association between Abraham and Sodom.

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Abraham knows how Wicked they are, and yet.

26:25

He still prays.

26:29

In terms of this text. This just shows us just how worthy of everything this city is going to get. Before we even see their sin, which we will see before we even get into how vile and wicked they are, which we will see before their own actions and words, condemn them which they will. Hear from the get-go. We see just how vile and wicked and evil Sodom is. Verse 20 of chapter 18, they outcry against them, is loud. It's also the Lord, saying their sin is great, and their sin is grave. And here, Abraham has to plead and beg. What if you just find ten?

27:13

Just.

27:18

Some of you math people can write this figure this out. 10 is what percent of 45. It's not a lot.

27:30

Abraham knows just how vile and wicked and evil this city is. And yet, he. Will intercede for them.

27:43

There's a few lessons we could have here. Here's the one that I'd like to encourage you with today.

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When we pray.

28:00

We should do so with boldness.

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Because no one. Is so far gone. That the grace and mercy of God. Cannot save them.

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To make this very personal.

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We all. Without exception. Have people. That are dear to us. Who are living in wanton, open Rebellion to God, and his commands, all of us.

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And sometimes, when we pray for these people. We begin to think. Can I even? Should I even? What's the point in even praying for that? And to say it may be comically, but in a way that I hope stirs your heart. If Abraham can pray for Sodom and Gomorrah, you can pray for those people.

29:12

Our hearts should be moved because we should know who God is. He is. Gracious and kind, rich in Mercy, abounding in steadfast love. He is able to save to the uttermost all who call upon the name of Jesus. For he who did not spare his own son. Will he not with us graciously give us all things? The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our lord. One may scarcely die for a righteous man. Though, maybe for a good man, one might think they might die. But God showed his love for us in this that, while we were still sinners Christ, died for us, know who God is.

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And I think it also helps know who we are. When I find myself praying for those people who are lost and wandering? My prayer often goes like this.

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God, I know you can save them. Because you saved me.

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And if I, the chief of all Sinners can see and Savor and taste of your goodness and Grace, we ask. I ask that you would show that to them.

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With open eyes. Knowing who they are. We can pray like this.

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This isn't the point of the story. The point of the story is how bad Sodom is and moving in the way of that. I get that.

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But as as we see and hear this, may we be struck by the same things. Abraham was struck by. God's justice. His goodness, his Mercy. And his grace. Let's pray.