WM 311: Rejoinder to Ward, Ross, & Meade on the LXX and Classic Protestant Bibliology

 

JTR

The Vision (10.25.24): The LORD being merciful to him

 

Image Gustave Moreau, Angels of Sodom, c. 1890, Musée National Gustave Moreau, Paris, France

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Genesis 19:1-22.

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 (Genesis 19:16).

Genesis 19 is one of the best-known accounts in Scripture of the just judgment of the LORD, as God sends “brimstone and fire… out of heaven” upon the wicked twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (see 19:24).

It begins with Lot extending hospitality to two angelic messengers. The wicked men of Sodom compassed the house and called unto Lot, “bring them out unto us, that we may know them” (v. 5).

The angels revealed to Lot that the LORD had sent them to destroy this vile city (v. 13). Still, the LORD graciously provided for a remnant, Lot and his household, to escape, “let thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city” (v. 15).

The key verse of Genesis 19 is v. 16. First, there is a mention here of Lot lingering: “And while he lingered….” But the angels, as God’s servants, take Lot and his wife and his daughters by the hand, the inspired author stressing, “the LORD being merciful unto him.” The angels then “brought him forth, and set him without the city.” This is the LORD overcoming whatever hesitation Lot registered by his lingering. The LORD literally took matters into his own hands and removed Lot from that city.

The heading over Genesis 19 for most of us would ordinarily be, “The Just Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.” The fitting title for this chapter, however, might well better be, “The Mercy of the LORD to Lot, a sinful man, and his household.”

There is something of a figure here of salvation, for this is what happens to every sinner who, like Lot, not only pitches his tent toward Sodom (Genesis 13:12), but who dwells in that city (14:12), and even sits in its gate (19:1), but who is chosen by divine grace for salvation.

The LORD send his messengers to call that man to come out and be separate, to leave the City of Destruction and make his way to the Celestial City (to use Bunyan’s terms).

It is “the LORD being merciful to him.” And even when he hesitates or lingers, the LORD takes his hand and brings him forth. We call this irresistible grace. This man find grace in the LORD’s sight and the LORD does magnify his mercy to that undeserving man by saving him.

The ultimate means of his mercy is the Man of Mercy, the LORD Jesus Christ. He picks us up in his nail pierced hands, brings us forth, and sets us outside the city of destruction which we deserve and, instead, directs us to the safety and well-being we don’t deserve.

All praise, glory, and honor be to Him alone, world without end. Amen.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

Vision (10.18.24): Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

 

Image: Rembrandt sketch, Abraham and the Angel, creative commons.

Note: Devotion based on last Sunday's sermon on Genesis 18:16-33.

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25b).

This is one of the most striking scenes in all of Scripture. Abraham audaciously intercedes with the sovereign LORD on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah (really for his nephew Lot, and Lot’s household). John Currid observes, “It is one of the most remarkable examples of intercession in the Bible” (Genesis, Vol. 1, 333). It includes the back-and-forth bartering or bargaining that would have taken place in the ancient bazaars or marketplaces and that continues to this day in many places.

Abraham was a man who had amassed great wealth (see Genesis 12:5; 13:2, 5-6; 14:14). He knew “the art of the deal” and, no doubt, was an excellent negotiator, humanly speaking. But what standing did he have to bargain with God?

This account is not put forward, however, to show us how to deal with God. We do not bargain with Him. He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). This interaction is here to show forth the compassion and mercy of God.

Abraham asks, “Wilt thou also destroy the wicked with the righteous?” (v. 23), and then, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (v. 25). Abraham asks if the LORD will spare the city for fifty righteous, and the LORD graciously agrees (vv. 24, 26). Abraham then asks the same for forty-five, then forty, then thirty, then twenty, and finally ten, and each time the LORD agrees (vv. 26-32).

There is spiritual significance to the number ten. As one observed, “Ten is a round and complete number that symbolizes totality. Ten persons thus constitute the minimum effective social entity” (Currid, Genesis, Vol. 1, 336). There is great mercy and wide compassion in that final statement, “And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (v. 32).

When we look at Genesis 19, we will see, sadly enough, that there will not even be ten righteous in that city. Yet, even then, the LORD will provide for four to flee, Lot and his wife, and their two daughters (his sons-in-law take his warning as mocking, 19:14).

He is indeed a God of compassion and mercy. In the days of Noah, eight souls were preserved. In the days of Sodom, four souls were preserved.

Yet, He is also a God of righteousness whose eyes are too pure to look upon iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). The Judge of all the earth shall indeed do right!

Here is the final good news. For the sake of but one perfectly righteous man, the Lord Jesus Christ, this same God has saved a myriad of men who deserved destruction.

Recall 1 John 2:2, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

Video & Images: 2024 Salisbury Conference: Experiencing the Word of God (October 4-6, 2024)

 

Scenes from Salisbury:

JTR

2024 Keach Conference Audio & Images (September 28, 2024)

Image: Pastors Davidson, Clevenger, Chiciudean, Meadows, Loomis, and Riddle.

The Reformed Baptist Fellowship of Virginia's 2024 Keach Conference was held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Grace Baptist Chapel in Hampton, Virginia. The theme was from Chapter 17 of the 1689 Confession: "Of the Perseverance of the Saints." Speakers: D. Scott Meadows, Calvary Baptist Church, Reformed, Exeter, New Hampshire & Miklos Chiciudean, Soli Deo Gloria Baptist Church, Budapest, Hungary. Messages:

Scenes from the day:

JTR

The Vision (9.27.24): Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

Image; Rembrandt, Abraham Entertaining the Angels, 1656, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Note: Devotion based on Sunday morning sermon on September 29, 2024.

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? (Genesis 18:14a).

In Genesis 18 the LORD repeats the promise to Sarah that she will have a son. Sarah laughed “within herself” as she contemplated the ridiculousness of their circumstances (v. 12). How could she have a child having already “waxed old” (v. 12)?

Laughter had also been the response of Abraham at this same prophecy (cf. 17:15-17). Both are guilty of not believing the promises of God given directly to them.

The LORD then asks a single question that gets to the heart of her unbelief: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” We might call this a one sentence sermon preached by the LORD himself (and those are the best kind of sermons). And it is just one question. As when:

The LORD said to Adam in the garden after the fall, “Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9).

Or when Christ said to the disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

Think of the question here: Is anything too hard for the LORD? This is the same God who made the whole world in the space of six days and all very good. As Christ said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

Nothing indeed is too hard for the LORD. He is all-powerful and all-mighty.

He WILL fulfill his promise to Abraham and Sarah.

He WILL save and sanctify dead sinners and make them come alive in Christ.

He WILL work all things to good to those that love him, the called according to His purpose.

He WILL come again in power and glory and make all things right and new.

He WILL be the one before whom every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.

One might doubt, deny, or laugh at these things, but their fulfillment does not depend on the “faith” of any man, but in the faithfulness of an all-holy, all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful God to do them.

To Him alone be praise, through Christ and by the Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle