Sodom & Gomorrah: Act II

Problem number one tribe of Benjamin will spend tomorrow up in 2012 the tribes of Israel that meant for the entire tribe of Benjamin thing. What is taking place among you deliver up the men that we may put them to death glad were living in the age of grace for any sinner or sin can be forgiven and remove this wickedness from Israel.

The shock of all shots of what happened in the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities of giving up to go out to battle against the sun of Israel. The passage before us today deals with homosexuality. Homosexuality used to be something that was only practiced outside the walls of the church. But today it's different.

The homosexual lifestyle is condoned and homosexuals are ordained as ministers in many churches and a lesson from Judges 19 through 21. Stephen challenges us to forsake the growing voices of culture and focus on God's word for the answer to what you write in this message is called Sodom and Gomorrah act were going to finish going to thudding the impact rebellion has upon the moral of the nation.

Moral results are literally hounding if you were to read the last three chapters in the book of Judges and one sitting would come away feeling somewhat because in that expression of Scripture God inspired Scripture we see the moral degeneration of a nation and siding. Unfortunately it mirrors our own country. I just put the grocery list together.

There is marital unfaithfulness in these chapters, rape, kidnapping, homosexuality, prostitution, cruelty, or murder aggravated – probably thinking I'm sure that I cave is so edifying the Bible ultimately hits every issue of life, the good the bad and the ugly, and we come to those passages. We reviewed over them.

We hit them head on and allow God to hit us. But secondly, I think we need to just take another look and reassure ourselves that the Old Testament Scriptures are part of that inspired record that God considers profitable show you where he said that, take your Bible and turn to second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16. Paul writes all Scripture is inspired by God, you could render that every Scripture, inspired by God is profitable for proof correction, for training in righteousness, that the person of the man of God may be thoroughly. That is totally equipped unto every good work. What is he talking about is talking about everything that God is given man that include the Old Testament as well as some passages like Judges chapter 19 here maybe for nothing more than teaching a fresh moral standards of any person or nation are not for a vote. They are absolute spirit of our age, though, says that we want to hear all the positive things of the Bible.

We want to hear the positive things in God and those who stand to preach or teach the Bible should always be married and happy and bright. So today quickfix sermons abound, and those that give the three points to help you fix your life. The problem is the people of God are being superficially treated in this special treatment of Scripture. Who are we to decide what Scriptures are to be left alone which Scripture are to be studied. We can confess to you God work in my own heart. I was a little scared of the thought that you take the whole Bible back I can remember coming to this point in my own ministry where I was saying to myself what would be the most practical interesting block to Dottie in this passage of Scripture that you're looking at drove me to confess, Lord, if he said it is all profitable. We will study all I was convinced though that this congregation would snore through the book of numbers linked to the book of Leviticus and faint in the book of Judges and to be a lot of fun oriented doing it the first Chronicles, hoping the rapture comes before we find out many times ladies and gentlemen the Old Testament something reveals the darkness of human hearts exposes the depravity of people in the depths to which anybody can sink when they reject the authority so before I will watch Israel nearly self-destruct. But if we learn our lessons well. We will not experience the same devastation that Israel did our story opens with a man chasing after his wayward white judges chapter 19 verse one came about in those days when there was no king in Israel. There was a certain Levite staying in a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah, but his concubine played the harlot against him and she went away from him to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah and was there a period of four months notice text will indicate later that the man added this woman to his collection like a man would add a piece of real estate to his portfolio. If you set out by the way you read these passages you would come to the conclusion that Israel has lost sight in relation to women. They will be abused. They will be kidnapped and they will berate.

I want to stop one to say any nation that abandons the authority of God.

Emily will treat a woman like an object like a piece of real estate and today in America. In a home where the husband has disallowed the authority of God to penetrate his own heart.

The woman will be out servant mother to the children when God's authority is recognized and he is honored. Women will be honored. They will be given respect. They will be given the right to an opinion they will be given dignity and all the women said beautiful sound and all the men had better say verse three that her husband arose and went after her to speak tenderly to her he's getting it right here.

You could render that to speak to her heart in order to bring her back, taking with him a servant and a pair of donkey so she brought him into her father's house when the girl's father saw he was glad to meet and now we know nothing in here of the resolution of their conflict.

She's been unfaithful to him is run from him back home we could defend her, but we cannot because that in itself is but I believe that this will explain to some degree of callousness later. Well the couple.

The text tells us stays with mom and dad for about four or five days he tries to lead several times and Canon finally pulls himself away and he and his wife at outburst 14 so they passed along in winter when the sun set on the mere giving which belongs to Benjamin and they turned aside there in order to enter a lodge and give you when they enter they sat down in the open where of the city for. No one took them into his house to spend the night. Need to understand the hospitality was considered a sacred duty in the ancient near East visitors who came into the village were taken immediately to the homes of those who saw them first. The fact that these people set out by the well. The open square reveals that this town has some problems and they probably notice the right upfront.

The text tells us ultimately that old farmer come home from the field sees their plight and invites them home to stay with him. Verse 22. While they were making very is while they were eating and enjoying each other's hospitality will hold the men of the city.

Certain worthless valance around the house pounding the door saying bring out the man who came into your house and we may have relations with them, and demand the owner of the house without to them and said no fellows please do not ask so wickedly since this man is coming to my house. Do not commit this act of filing here is my virgin daughter in his concubine.

Please let me bring them out and you may ravish them do to them whatever you wish, but do not commit such an act of folly against this man.

You see, the priority given the women suppose the men but the men would not listen to him. So the man sees his concubine and brought her out. You could render that he literally grabbed her and he pushed her out. She screaming clawing saying when he pushes her out the door.

They raped her and abused her all night into morning, they let her go. The approach of doing as the day begins at dawn. The woman came and fell down at the doorway.

The man's house where her master was, until full daylight when her master arose in the morning.

He evidently had a good night sleep open the doors of the house and went out to go on his way to behold his concubine was lying at the door with the house with her hands threshold and he said to her to let us go.

There was no answer, the text will tell she's dead anyplace from the donkey and the man arose and went to his home.

You know why this is on the 10 most preach passages of the Bible.

It's cruel and human tragic crude passage reveals the violence of sexual perversion went back up there when it says that they pounded on the door that literally means that these men were hurling cells at the door.

The scene mirrors exactly what you may remember in Genesis chapter 19 the story of Sodom the perversion of the moral remember that story warlock was going to be taken by the homosexuals of that city.

The only difference is that there Angels were present to save the day they struck the men with blindness so that they can get a lot door. The angels would come to visit. The angel struck them blind.

But there's another very important difference in that passage. These sexual deviance were outside the city. They were outside the tribes of Israel.

They were outside of those who follow God here is her circumcised sons of Abraham. God followers supposedly what was once outside of Israel is now inside, so also in our nation and yesteryear practicing homosexuals were outside the walls of the church today.

Their lifestyle is condoned, their unions are blessed the rest of the church decries all label bigoted and narrowminded particular passage where God is not stammered at all.

He's made a very clear Romans chapter 1 would you turn there. The book of Romans chapter 1 verse 18 begins the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness first. 21 for even though they knew God, you can insert the word about even though they knew about God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks but they became their speculations and coolest part was dark and professing to be wise, they became fools only give you quickly fix steps to self-destruction as a nation or as a person step number one in this passage we read that they refused to glorify God.

That is, they refuse to give God his rightful place as the authority in their lives.

Second thing they refused to think gospel is he's not around. Nothing came from him. Why should I be thankful for him. That's the second step, third step in that text.

Verse 21. They refuse to acknowledge God. Their speculations ignore him.

He doesn't exist. He's not our authority.

So we have to come up with something other than God. Typically, we become the authority and that's exactly what happened the next four steps are are actually consequences as to what happens they lose the ability for step two.

To discern truth back in the text. Again, they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened and more darkened means no insight without discernment without insight they lose the ability to discern what is wrong and what is right, what should be out and what should be in amazing as I watch the interviews.

Remember from this LA incident these people on the on the television there.

It was amazing to me is reported would ask them you know what was the problem here. What should be done quickly to keep this from happening again all better education, more money, better jobs. No one said you know what we were wrong problem and ability to discern what's right and what's wrong. The nation becomes confused. The solution solutions for sexually transmitted diseases protection in the schools, better sex education problem with contacting or contracting burial disease for needles… Pathetically needles that you read those accounts and you sit there and you see don't you what the problem because we have given our lives to the authority of God. We know what's right and what's wrong.

Those who rejected his authority come up with these crazy solutions do not work. Verse 22 again professing to be wise, they going to recognize the futility of the wisdom for now. They become self-proclaimed experts expert so says this Dr. so-and-so says that he self-proclaimed experts now tell our children cannot what is right and what is Robert Wilder strutting around was God say professing to be wise, they became what's the next word. The Greek word is moron, you figured out out you know Greek transliterated moron doesn't pull punches.

So what are they do next. They create their own system of religion as they leave the Creator out the giver 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man. Deity worship itself.

They go further than make stumps God trees God's rippling Brooks God for birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures know it's worth your mother Earth.

Therefore, we find the first of three times God delivers them up or gives them over my text translated. The first is they become obsessed with sexual immorality.

Verse 24 and God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity that their bodies might be dishonored among them.

Second step down because verse 25 tells us they continually exchange the truth of God for life with the next step.

Verse 26 for this reason God gave them over to degrading passions. That is, they become obsessed with unnatural immorality. It talks about women exchanging the natural function for that which is unnatural.

Verse 27 men exchanging the natural function for that which is unnatural is that it's unnatural. You may God. In fact, the word function is the Greek word schematic from which we get our word scheme. This is God scheme men and women, not men and men women and women was happening in Israel. Ladies and gentlemen, and in this country is spelled out in the book of Romans chapter 1 the prophet Isaiah says this, verse 20 chapter 5 will and to those who call evil good and good evil to substitute darkness for light and light for darkness to substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter water.

Those who justify the wicked for a bribe. Note this and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right. Enough said that the judges, the Levite takes his murdered wife home.

Chapter 19 verse 29 when he entered his house.

He took a knife he lay hold of his concubine and cut her into 12 pieces limb by limb of the Hebrew word cut refers to ritualistic dissection and he sent her throughout the territory of Israel. 12 messengers going to the 12 tribes like and what is happened for 30 and it came about that all God said, nothing like this is ever happened or been seen from the day when the individual came up from the land of Egypt to this day.

Consider take counsel and this worked, shocked the nation away. Only problem is we have two difficulties that come about as a result, the second time I'm rushing through this but problem number one is the tribe of Benjamin will and the immoral offenders look at chapter 20 verse 12 and the tribes of Israel sent men for the entire tribe of Benjamin saying what is this wickedness that is taken place among you now then deliver up the men, the worthless fellas and give you that we may put them to death, which was God's design.

In the Old Testament are we glad were living in the age of grace were any sinner or sin can be forgiven and remove this wickedness from Israel.

The shock of all shocks is what happens next. Verse 14 and the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities of Gibeon to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. Whenever someone is convicted of guilt will not allow the got God's authority to invade your life. Two things will happen.

Number one will shift the blame goes all the way back to the garden at his Lord was her.

He said Lord was missing the words of one man who said I have spent the best years of my life giving people pleasure and all I get is abuse and the existence of a hunted man, who is this poor persecuted humanitarian Al Capone is an amorphous avoid the consequences.

That's how you and I and our society can watch a political figure caught on videotape with drugs and he can yell interest in your will not make your point. But the problem shift the blame avoid the consequences. Now the Benjamite are trying to keep the tribe of Israel from stamping out this infectious evil from the land, but we have another problem. It isn't just Benjamin is the other tribes as well. Here's problem number two in addition to the Benjamite defending them, the nation doesn't respond correctly. They make three foolish valves number one no one will go home until Gibeon is attacked and destroyed never to anyone who doesn't join us will be killed. Number three. We will exterminate the entire tribe of Benjamin, so the war begins. Look at chapter 20 verse 15 from the cities on the day the sons of Benjamin were numbered 26,000 men who draw the sword beside the inhabitants of give you her number 700 choice men out of all the 700 choice men were left-handed. Each one could swing a stone at a hearing on this and the men of Israel. Besides Benjamin were numbered 400,000 men who draw the sword. All these were men of war, and I get the picture.

The trouble is Israel going to lose the first two attacks by because it didn't really go to God and ask his permission. They simply go to God and say those personnel.

Verse 18 of the sons of Israel, arose with the Bethel and inquired of God said, who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin's tragic words and missed this text right here than the Lord said Judah shall go up first to flip over to chapter 1 of the book of Judges chapter 1 verse one Kelly came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord say who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them. And the Lord said Judah shall go up, ladies and gentlemen, do you see the tragic implications. Do you see the consequences of disobedience here. This is the result of every man doing that which is right in his own eyes they began by conquering the Gentile idolaters, and God said send you the first and now are fighting against himself because of the status of time the rest of this chapter catalogs the Civil War with the tribes of Israel, nearly wiping out the tribe of Benjamin a look at chapter 20 verse 48 minute Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with a catalog we found the office on fire all the cities which they found the men of Israel, is sworn in as the say none of us shall give his daughter the Benjamin American Idol were both wipe out the name of the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly and they said while the Lord God of Israel has this come about in Israel so that one tribe should be missing today at Israel in typical fashion, the Israelites are blaming God. They make matters worse, because he said it made is valid. Benjamin will be wiped out and now they're sorry for the about 600 Benjamite mentor left the need wives to bear children to carry out the tribal name to the goat do they go to God for advice to go to God for counsel they can see their own plan is brilliant, tragically brilliant. Step number one chapter 21 verse 10.

The congregation sent 12,000 of the valiant warriors there and commended them say go and strike the inhabitants of Jabez Gilliam with the edge of the sword, with the women in the little ones and this is the thing that you shall do. You shall utterly destroy every man and every woman was laying with a man and then they found among the inhabitants of Jabez Gilliam at 400 young virgins with would not know the man by lying with them and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh which is in the land of Canaan. Step number one kill everyone except the teenage girls killed the girl's father or mother or sisters or brothers like everybody else and that these little girls have nowhere to go, no one to take care of them have no choice but to marry a Benjamite breaking planet play number two was needed because he only came out with 400 girls 9200 more play number two is chapter 21 verse 23 in the sons of Benjamin did so into guidelines according to their number from those who danced, whom they carried away in the wind and return to their inheritance rebuilt the cities and lived in the play number two is there's an annual festival wasn't there at the at Lavonia near Bethel and the girls come and dance the single girl setting. Would you kindly and wait and when they come out that 200 of them and take off is yet a great idea and work and they do it. They split homes. They bring great tragedy into the lives of people. They slaughter innocent and is in Hebrews and was God have to say about all the last verse of the chapter in those days there was no king in Israel who was supposed to be king of God. Okay, so authority civilly or spiritually, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes, we wrap it up if I could summarize our studies in the book of Judges, I want to do with three sentences fair with everyone. When God's word is rejected, the depravity in a person's heart is unbelievable when God's authority is denied, the destruction of a person's life is inevitable when God's word is received. The difference in a person's life is wonderful. You quickly turn over the first printing chapter 6 verse nine. I want to read the passage first Corinthians chapter 6 verse nine or do you not know Paul writes that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. Either fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate for homosexuals, nor thieves, chests, or drunkards, providers, swindlers shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Next phrase and as such were some of you take another look at the church in Corinth was filled with people like you and make capable of doing anything committing any sin washed by the blood of Jesus Christ and now brought into the church family of God forgive me tell you story at a lady coming to my office to lose another city and attends another Bible believing church. She was involved in an immoral affair.

She came to see me to try to find a way around a passage of Scripture first Corinthians chapter 7, to find a loophole to make this thing right. I never met as a fork. We talked for about 30 minutes until she finally realized the gun didn't allow any loopholes in the chapter we begin talking about a relationship with God. I remember sitting there listening with wide open ears to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We came down to the end of the plane that I was presenting to her how Jesus Christ could forgive her daughter make her clean white.

I said but you have to make a choice between Jesus Christ and this relationship.

Remember this middle-aged woman putting her face in her hands as it all hit home after a couple of hours and she began to weep and I prayed.

Finally, she pulled her hands away. She said I choose Jesus Christ we pray) that woman received Christ as our Savior. What happened to person what happens two years the blood of Christ. Slide washed away. You and I are living in the most exciting potential time in the history of mankind, there isn't a greater time to be light salt. I curse the darkness this morning to the study. This text, but listen, God has told us how to handle it.

What to do shy why because we have the answers we can take to people. The message of Christ which liberates again, which places today. Whatever you encounter in our culture. Remember, your mission and shine his light in the darkness with this lesson, we conclude our vintage wisdom series from judges called cycles of sin. Stories of grace. If you'd like to go back and listen to the series again it's posted to our website.

Visit wisdom online.org and you'll find that there at the top of the page you'll see a link that says message library, you'll find all of Stephen's full-length sermons in that library so simply navigate to the book of Judges and you can listen to this entire series again if you'd like this series as a set of CDs we can help you with that as well. It might be that you want this series in your personal library of biblical resources.

Or maybe you want to share it with someone else we can help you today. If you call us at 86 648 Bible we have staff and volunteers on hand to take your call right now once again that's 86 648 Bible. You can also take care of this yourself online@wisdomonline.org.

Just navigate to our store and search for the resource called cycles on our next broadcast the jump to the New Testament. Stephen will be teaching from the second chapter of James sure and join us next time.

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