A Corrupt Nation

Introduction

This past week we witnessed the corruption and fragmentation of society blasted in our faces.

A murder from just over two weeks ago gained increasing press coverage this week. Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23, was murdered on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 22.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released a statement informing the public that DeCarlos Brown Jr., 34, had been arrested for the crime after being discharged from a local hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and charged with first-degree murder.

Although the murder happened over two weeks ago, the tragedy is only now gaining national attention following the release of security camera footage showing the moments immediately before and after the crime. The Trump administration is also weighing in on the circumstances that led to the murder.

The murder of someone who fled a war-torn region by a criminal with a lengthy record comes at a time when the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, as well as debates about law enforcement and criminal justice, are dominating American political discourse. Zarutska’s murder has led to calls for changes in the criminal justice system. 

Trump has called the murderer to federal trial. The family is calling for the murderers life. He was 14 time repeat offender before commiting this murder released by an unelected liberal judge.

Proverbs 28:4 “4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: But such as keep the law contend with them.”

Proverbs 17:15 “15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, Even they both are abomination to the Lord.”

Proverbs 29:27 “27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: And he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.”

Civil authority has the Biblical responsibility to protect their citizens. Romans 13:4 “4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

In the mayhem of Judges and in the mayhem of our culture we see a mirror likeness. Judges 21:25 “25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Society decays when God’s Word is not obeyed.

We must obey God’s Word no matter the cultural norms of our day. His word does not change.

We see the moral decay on several levels in Judges 19 tonight: the Decay of marriage; the decay of manly confrontation of sin; the decay to moral debauchery.

1. The decay of Marriage.

Judges 19:1–4 “1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah. 2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole months. 3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4 And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.”

Explain

Concubine

The woman the decency of the security of a loving husband.

The woman was unfaithful even in this limited role.

The woman was done wrong by not being considered a wife.

The woman ran away for four months.

Ephesians 5:25 “25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

The Levite

The man did not obey Scripture to marry his wife.

Genesis 2:24 “24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Argue

Well, isn’t a wife a helpmeet for her husband?

Genesis 2:18 “18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

It means someone who is the opposite

It also has the idea of assistance.

Illustrate

Charlie Kirk’s wife said he would get up daily and ask her:

“How can I serve you better?”

Genesis 2:18 “18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

Apply

Uphold the sanctity of marriage. Hebrews 13:4 “4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

Marriage defined: one man, one woman, for life.

Men serve your family in love.

Christ gave himself for the church.

Christian husband you are a picture of Christ to your spouse, your children, your church, and community.

2. The decay of Manly duty.

Explain

Confronting a compromised marriage.

A jovial father-in-law

He should have confronted that young man to man-up and take his daughter as a wife and not some sexual slave to do his bidding.

A concubine did not have the privileges of a wife.

Her children were considered second class in the family.

The man would take her to secure more offspring to carry on his family name as in bearing children.

1 Timothy 3:2 “2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”

Confronting a corrupt purpose of women

Men

4    Pornography is the ultimate dehumanizing of sex. It is sex wholly and purposefully void of love. Adrian Rogers Family Survival in an X-rated World (2005)

Adrian Rogers

Confronting a corrupt purpose of sexuality

Illustrate

Apply

Husbands protect your spouse.

1 Peter 3:7 “7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

Husbands don’t treat your spouse as property. Nourish and cherish her. Ephesians 5:29 “29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”

The men in this story are losers

Men enslaved to sexual perversions

Men trying to saving themselves from being abused by offering their daughter and concubine. They should have been tried for murder too. Instead we will find that this great injustice stirs up civil war.

Are you willing to battle for Jesus Christ even if the cost may be your own life.

3. The decay of moral civilization.

Explain

Common Hospitality was lacking

The willingness to lodge with the godless.

The Levite wants to stay amongst his own people.

He travels another 5-8 miles to Gibeah for an afternoon hike of roughly 15 miles.

He arrives far after the day is spent as the sun is setting and no one offers a place to stay. So, he settles on spending the night in the street.

But an old man from Mount Ephraim who is sojourning in Gibeah returns in from the fields and offers to meet the man’s needs.

He tells about his destination. Mount Ephraim was a huge area and would have included Shiloh. THis seems to have been the place where the man was going.

He lists all the things he needs

The old man meets his needs

The unhospitable men of Belial want the man for perversions.

Corrupt men pressured for perversions.

Not the similarity of Gommorah

Genesis 19:7 “7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.”

Judges 19:23 “23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.”

Evil solution

Genesis 19:8 “8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.”

Judges 19:24 “24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.”

Apply

Morality is not relative: Malachi 3:6 “6 For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

Husbands lay down your life for your wife. Ephesians 5:29 “29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”

If you are a grump whining for your way. You are not cherishing your wife.

The man offered his concubine to save his own life. He was a loser.

forgiveness in Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:8–11 “8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Conclusion

Society without a Bible is very dangerous.

718 The Bible is the constitution of Christianity.

Billy Graham

Our constitution was made for a religious people.

Have you let societal creep affect your view of

marriage

manly duty

morality

While mankind is bent on evil, Christ came to save us from our sin. Matthew 1:21 “21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”