The ways of the Lord. Judging and rescuing.

God judges, and, He delivers....

 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

 2 Peter 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

 2 Peter 2:6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;

2 Peter 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

2 Peter 2:8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--

 2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

In having spoken about the fact of false teachers in Peter's day, and in our day, Peter now explains two more truths. One, God has and will judge the wicked, and two, He has and will deliver the righteous. 

These are the ways of the Lord. As you read through Scripture, this is what you see, ( these two truths ) 

First of all then, God does bring judgment on the wicked. He did it with the angels who sinned, this is believed to be a reference to angels who co-habitated with women. ( See Genesis 6 ) These angels were not spared by God when they sinned, but, they were cast into hell, and are there awaiting their final judgment from God.

Secondly, God did not spare the ancient world, or those people who lived during the time of Noah. Again, this is a reference to Genesis 6, where God describes the wickedness of man as being great, and that men were only sinning, in their imaginations and in their hearts. The Lord did deliver Noah, and his family. A total of 8 people including Noah. God used a world wide flood in this judgment. 

Thirdly, God brought judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah. They were extinguished, brought to ruin by God's fiery judgement upon them. And, they have become an example, to all who would choose to live the same kind of lifestyle, i.e the homosexual lifestyle. 

Finally, we are told of how the Lord delivered righteous Lot. He had become worn out and distressed by all that was going on around him. ( he was not a perfect man, no one is, but, he was called righteous by the Lord ) Lot saw each day what people were doing, and he heard the as well. It was vexing to him. 

Peter then concludes with......... 2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

That's the promise we have from God. It's the way of the Lord. He can and will deliver you, or rescue you out of temptation, and He will reserve the unjust person under punishment for the coming day of judgement.
The word deliver, or rescue, means to draw to one's self. This is what the Lord does. He will do it with you. He is your rescuer, your deliverer.

Here's what Paul said about God's delivering His children....it's a promise from Him........1Co 10:13* No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

You can see in red, "God is faithful" He is dependable, trustworthy etc.
I'm sure that Noah and Lot both had their moments of wondering where is the Lord, is He going to come and help me etc. He did.

Peter has much more to say about the false teachers. And, we will look at these things over the next two weeks.

But, may you find great comfort and encouragement from the Scriptures. Our God is a deliverer. 

Pastor Bob Grenier.