"THE LORD KNOWETH HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY." Lot was a godly man, justified before God by faith, and justified before man by his good works. But he was a weak man. He chose to dwell in Sodom because it was a wealthy place; he aimed at a fortune but he was vexed and grieved daily, seeing and hearing the unrighteous deeds of his neighbours. His children married into the world and were ruined; he himself, though delivered by a gracious and faithful God, suffered severely. His sons and their wives perished in Sodom; his own wife was made an example of on the plain: he was hurried away, escaping only by the skin of his teeth, empty-handed, to seek refuge in a cave. See the folly of being taken in by appearances: let not the heart follow the eye. See also the certainty of being chastened for sin: just Lot could not escape the faithfulness of divine love towards its wayward children, and the importance of being distinct from the world. The Christian in the world is like Lot in Sodom, and if he chooses his place from the same motives, the Lord deals with him after the same rule.

For Meditation:
O to be brought to Jesus' feet,
Though sorrows fix me there,
Is still a privilege: and sweet
The energies of prayer:
Though sighs and tears its language be,
My Lord is nigh, He smiles on me!