Genesis 19:4 Commentary and Bible Study

We are now given an insight into just how great was the wickedness of the city, so that we know that God did not destroy it without due cause. Any nation or city which reaches the same state can be certain that judgment is very near. These people in Sodom ought to have trembled at the load of guilt which their conscience told them was upon them, but instead they continue to carry out their sin right up to the time that judgment came.Before Lot and his visitors had retired to bed, the men of the city (but not the women) came and surrounded Lot’s house. They had seen the visitors arrive and had noted that Lot had taken into his house. Now they come as a mob intending to satisfy their homosexual lust with violence also. If this was how they behaved towards strangers, then it is certain that they had practised the same vile deeds on each other, but having exhausted their lust in one direction, they now look for something new. They surrounded Lot’s house because they are not going to let these visitors escape. It was not just the youth of the city but the old as well. This is said in order to aggravate their guilt, and Moses tells us that all the people from every quarter came out. Instead of showing hospitality to strangers this vile city only regarded them as a potential new source of material for their perversions. How had Lot stayed in such a place? How had he considered it a proper place to bring up his children? A kind of stupor had settled on him which made him unable to review his circumstances however awful they became. But it seems likely that their wickedness reached a new level on this night, which even shocked and amazed Lot. Their intention was obvious to Lot for he knew the danger which he tried to deliver his guests from, but even he must have been surprised at what took place. The timing of God is perfect. The city's destruction is going to come when the collective sin of the city reaches its peak, and their intentions were vile.