Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife. I. OF HER SIN — she looked back. What fault was there in that? you will say. I answer — 1. There was disobedience in it, because it was against the express command of God, given by an angel, "Look not behind thee" (Genesis 19:17). 2. There was unbelief in it; not believing the words of the angel, God's messenger, who had assured her in the name of God that He would destroy Sodom, "Hasten hence, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city" (Genesis 19:13). Now she would look back, to see whether the prediction and warning were true. An unbelieving heart will easily be perverted and enticed into a rebellion against God, and those that cannot trust God will not be true to Him. 3. There was worldliness in it, or an hankering of mind after what she had left in Sodom; and so this looking back was a look of covetousness, a kind of repentance that she had come out of Sodom; for people are wont to look back who are moved with a desire and remembrance of their former dwelling. So Lot's wife looked back because she had left her heart behind her. There were her kindred, and friends, and country, and that pleasant place which was as the garden of God (Genesis 13:10). From thence this woman came, and thither she would fain go again; as if she had said, And must I leave thee, Sodom, and part for ever from thee! Affectation of worldly things draweth us from ready obedience unto God (Philippians 3:8). 4. There was ingratitude for her deliverance from that dreadful and terrible burning which God was bringing upon the place of her abode. It is said, "The Lord was merciful to him" (Genesis 19:16). He could not pretend to it out of any merit, and might have smarted, for his choice showed weakness in not resting on God's word: "I cannot escape to the mountain, let some evil take me, and I die" (ver. 19). Only this God required at his hands, that he and his family should make haste and begone. Now, to disobey God in so small a matter was in her great ingratitude. The sins of none are so grievous to God as of those that have received much mercy from Him: "After such a deliverance as this, should we again break Thy commandments?" (Ezra 9:13, 14). Oh I think what it is to despise the mercy of Christ, who came from heaven to deliver us; and shall it be slighted? II. OF HER JUDGMENT — she was turned into a pillar of salt. 1. It was sudden. Sometimes God is quick and severe upon sinners, surprising them in the very act of their sin; as Lot's wife was presently turned into a pillar of salt. So Zimri and Cosbi unladed their lives and their lusts together (Numbers 25:8); and Herod was smitten in the very act of his pride (Acts 12:23); "The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar" (Daniel 4:33); "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain" (Daniel 5:30). Thus many times judgment overtaketh the wicked in the very instant of their sin; and God will give the sinner no time. Therefore we should not tempt and presume upon His patience. Surely it is!the greatest mercy to have grace to repent; but it is also a mercy to have space to repent. But God's patience must not be wearied. 2. It was strange. For here a woman is turned into a pillar of salt. Strange sins bring on strange punishment. The stupid world is not awakened by ordinary judgments, but looks upon them as some chance or common occurrence; and therefore God is forced to go out of the common road, and diversify His judgments, that by some eminent circumstance in them He may alarm the drowsy world to take notice of His hand. 3. It was shameful; for she is made a public and lasting monument of shame to herself, but of instruction to us.I must show how profitable it is for us to meditate on this instance, even for all those who are called from wrath to a state of rest and glory. 1. That it concerneth such not only to consider the mercies of God, but also now and then the examples of His justice, that "we may serve Him with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Psalm 2:11). We are in a mixed estate, and therefore mixed affections do best. As we are to cherish the spirit or better part with promises and hopes of glory, by which the inner man is renewed day by day, so we are to weaken the pravity of the flesh by the remembrance of God's judgments, not only threatened, but also actually inflicted!; for instances do much enliven things. Now, what was done to them may be done to us — for these judgments are patterns of providence — and if we would blow off the dust from the ancient providences of God, we may easily read our own doom or desert at least. The desert of sin is still the same; and the exactness of Divine justice is still the same; what hath been is a pledge and instance of what may be. 2. That not only modern and present, but ancient and old judgments are of great use to us, especially when like sins abound in the age we live in, or we are in danger of them as to our own practice. If others have smarted for disobeying God, why not we, since God is impartially and immutably just, always consonant and agreeable unto Himself? His power is the same, so is His justice and holiness. 3. This particular judgment is monumental, and so intended for a pattern and spectacle to after ages; and it is also here recommended by the Lord Himself — "Remember Lot's wife." He exciteth us to look upon this pillar, and therefore certainly it will yield many instructions for the heavenly life. (1) This seemeth to be a small sin. What I for a look, for a glance of her eye, to be so suddenly blasted into a pillar of salt! This seemeth to be no great fault; but it teaches us that little faults in appearance many times meet with a great judgment. There may be much crookedness in a small line; and the matter is not so much to be regarded as the majesty and authority of God that commandeth — as in garments the dye is more than the stuff. But that I may at once vindicate God's dispensation, and enforce the caution, I shall prove — (a) That sin is not to be measured by the external action, but by the circumstances. (b) This woman's sin is greater than at first appeareth. For here was — (i.) A preferring her own will before the will of God. God said, Look not back; but she would look back.(ii.) There was a contempt of the justice and wrath of God, as if it were a vain scarecrow: "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?" (1 Corinthians 10:22).(iii.) Here is also a contempt of the rewards of obedience, as in all sin (Hebrews 12:15, 16).(iv.) There was an abuse of the grace offered for her escape and deliverance (Romans 2:4). All these four things are in every deliberate sin, seem it never so small. (c) Because we think we may preserve the smaller sins for breed, and that God is more severe in remembering these than we are faulty in committing them. Therefore think of and seriously consider that small sins are the mother of great sins, and the grandmother of great punishments. As little sticks set the great ones on fire, and a wisp of straw often enkindleth a great block of wood, so we are drawn on by the lesser evils to greater, and by the just judgment of God suffered to fall into them, because we made no conscience of lesser. The lesser commandments are a rail about the greater, and no man grows downright wicked at first, but rises to it by degrees. (2) This was a sin committed by stealth. As she followed her husband, she would steal a glance, and look towards Sodom; for it is said, "His wife looked back from behind him" (Genesis 19:26). God can find us out in our secret sins; and therefore we should make conscience, as not to sin openly, so not by stealth. In short, to be an open and bold sinner in some respects is worse than to be a close and private sinner, because of the dishonour done to God, and the scandal to others, and the impudence of the sinner himself; but in other respects secret sins have their aggravations. (a) Because if opens sins be of greater infamy, yet secret sins are more against knowledge and conviction. (b) This secret sinning puts far more respect upon men than God; and this is palliated atheism. (3) The next lesson which we learn hence is, that no loss of earthly things should make us repent of our obedience to God, but that we should still go on with what we have well begun, with. out looking back. "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).From the whole — 1. Remember that in getting out of Sodom we must make haste. The least delay or stop in the course of our flight may be pernicious to us. 2. That till our resolutions be firmly set for God and heaven, and there be a thorough bent and bias upon our hearts, and the league between us and our secret lusts broken, after we have seemed to make some escape, we shall be looking back again — "For where our treasure is, there our heart will be" (Matthew 6:21). 3. That to look back, after we have seemed to escape, doth involve us in the greatest sin and misery. The apostle tells us (2 Peter 2:20, 211. 4. That if we would not go back, we must not look back. Evil is best stopped at first; the first breakings off from God, and remitting our zeal and watchfulness. He that keeps not a house in constant repair will be in danger of having it fall down upon him. So, if we grow remiss and careless, and keep not a constant watch, temptations will increase upon us. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Remember Lot's wife.WEB: Remember Lot's wife! |
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