9 NOVEMBER
Secured by his mark
‘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
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Genesis 19:1–14
As the cry of Sodom’s sin, so the cry of Lot’s prayers had been heard of the Lord. Judgement must take place, but a mark is set upon him. The angels were sent to deliver him. They found that though Lot dwelt in Sodom, he was not of it. To him they were welcome guests—but the inhabitants would have offered them violence. This filled up the measure of their iniquities. An observation or two from the verses before my text, I must not omit:
(i) the angel’s question, Hast thou here any besides? Ah, some of the Lord’s people who see the destruction of Sodom approaching will feel this. Was it proper for you to speak, what complaints should I hear from different parts—I have a rebellious child, or a parent growing old in sin—or a wife or a husband. Well, complain to the Lord—pray for them yet more earnestly.
(ii) Lot’s endeavours to save his sons-in-law; but they would not be warned, and their wives, though the children of pious Lot, were equally hardened. Let those who have light, take care how they marry with the profane and wicked, lest they become like them.
FOR MEDITATION: The evening hymn on Sunday 11 June 1775, ‘which I composed with a view to the present troubles in America, and gave a brief sketch of the past and present state of the nation, with a view to engage the people to attendance on our Tuesday morning meetings, by apprising them of the importance of the crisis.’ [The 5am weekly Tuesday morning prayer meetings drew over a hundred people.]
The gathering clouds, with aspect dark,
The humble souls who mourn and pray,
A rising storm presage;
The LORD approves and knows;
Oh! to be hid within the ark,
His mark secures them in the day
And sheltered from its rage!
When vengeance strikes his foes.
SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 41 [1/4], GENESIS 19:16
Milo 