“Righteous Lot”

Articles

Philip C. Strong
08/07/24 - Discipleship

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, 2Pet.2:7 calls Lot “righteous,” though that is not usually how most of us familiar with the story of Abram’s nephew view and would describe him. We likely instead remember his selfish and unwise choice of the “well-watered” lands despite their proximity to the exceedingly wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, cf. Gen.13:10ff. We probably also bear in mind how he “hesitated” to leave his home in Sodom when its destruction was imminent, Gen.19:16. We might even consider in our estimation of Lot his unwillingness to “escape to the mountains” as God’s messengers instructed, but instead insisted on an alternate city, Gen.19:17-21. And we surely would note his drunkenness that allowed his daughters to have incestuous relations with him in a misguided effort to preserve the family, Gen.19:30-38. No, without the inspired testimony of Peter we likely would not assess Lot to be “righteous”… but God did! Of course it is should be noted that we have no prerogative to make such determinations in the first place, Jas.4:11-12. However, we might do well to consider what else the inspired testimony of Peter reveals about Lot’s “righteousness”…

2Pet.2:7 also says that Lot was “oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men.” My question is: If we consider ourselves to be “righteous,” are we “oppressed by the sensual conduct” of the world around us? Kataponeo (kat·ap·on·eh·o), translated here and in Acts 7:24 (where Moses took vengeance for Israelite who had been beaten by an Egyptian), refers to being worn down/out or distressed. It is not that Lot himself is necessarily being physically mistreated, but rather than he is mentally distressed and exhausted by the wicked conduct of those around him. Are we “righteous” enough to be so exhausted by the sins of those around us? Or rather, do make we ourselves “an enemy of God” by wishing to be “a friend” of such people, cf. Jas.4:4? We cannot pretend to in league and fellowship with God and have a heart that desires to be like the world, Matt.12:30.

2Pet.2:8 adds that Lot “felt his righteous soul tormented day after day” with the “lawless deeds” of those around him. Basanizo (bas·an·id·zo) is defined as “to vex with grievous pains (of mind or body).” It is also used to describe those “who at sea are struggling against a headwind,” cf. Mark 6:48. Questions for us today might include, “Are we “righteous” enough to “struggle against the headwinds” of sinful cultural trends and tendencies, or more willing to just “go with the flow” of them? There can be little doubt that society has adopted into the mainstream many practices and lifestyle choices that are diametrically opposed God’s will. As supposed disciples of Christ, are we “righteous” enough to follow Him rather than these cultural trends? Lot was.

Aside from Lot’s oppression and torment, the bottom line is that he was able live “righteously” in a very “unrighteous” and “wicked” world. So as much as might we might like to point out his faults and failures, the divine assessment of him as “righteous” stands. Perhaps sincere self-inspection and introspection regarding how well or poorly we are doing at living “in” but not “like” the world would be in order. Remember the admonition of 2Cor.6:17, “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”