The Destruction of Sodom

With the gay agenda now arguing over the Bible's stand on homosexuality in relationship to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, I discovered an interesting explanation in Ezekiel 16.  Genesis 19 gives clear indication of illicit sexual behavior, even to the point of mentioning Lot had two sons-in-law, yet his daughters were still virgins.  I do not believe YHWH would ever judge the righteous over the evil acts of a few.  I even wrote Jerry Falwell a letter to that effect when he said 9/11 happened because of the gays.  Jerry didn't respond.  Evil will bring a nation down, no doubt.  If the chosen people went into Babylonian captivity for their sin, don't think for a moment, we'll be spared.

There was more to the story than homosexuality, however; included in Ezekiel, and it seems glaringly familiar.  I'll not offer a great many comments, but will include the verses and the original Hebrew words, from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.  Ezekiel 16:49-50

iniquity:

!w[ `avon (aw-vone');  Noun Masculine, Strong #: 5771

1. perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
   1. iniquity
   2. guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
   3. consequence of or punishment for iniquity 

pride:

wag Ga'own (gaw-ohn');  Noun Masculine, Strong #: 1347

1. exaltation, majesty, pride
1. majesty, exaltation, excellence
   1. of nations
   2. of God
   3. of the Jordan
2. pride, arrogance (bad sense) 

fulness of bread:  

h[bX Sib`ah (sib-aw');  Noun Feminine, Strong #: 7653

1. satisfaction, satiety, one's fill 

~xl Lechem (lekh'-em);  Noun Masculine, Strong #: 3899

1. bread, food, grain
1. bread
   1. bread
   2. bread-corn
2. food (in general)

abundance of idleness:  

hwlX Shalvah (shal-vaw');  Noun Feminine, Strong #: 7962

1. quietness, ease, prosperity 

tqX Shaqat (shaw-kat');  Verb, Strong #: 8252

1. to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed
1. (Qal)
   1. to be quiet, be undisturbed 1a
2. to be at peace (of land)
   1. to be quiet, be inactive
3. (Hiphil)
   1. to show quietness 1b
4. quietness, display of quietness (subst)
1. to quiet, be quiet
2. to cause quietness, pacify, allay                                                                                                                                                                                                                                haughty

   hhbg Gabahh (gaw-bah');  Verb, Strong #: 1361

   
   
   1. to be high, be exalted
      1. (Qal)
         1. to be high, lofty, tall
         2. to be exalted
         3. to be lofty 1a
      2. to be lofty (of Jehovah's ways - good sense) 1a
      3. to be haughty, be arrogant (bad sense)
      4. (Hiphil) to make high, exalt 
    

abomination: 

hb[wt Tow`ebah (to-ay-baw');  Noun Feminine, Strong #: 8441

1. a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable
   1. in ritual sense (of unclean food, idols, mixed marriages)
   2. in ethical sense (of wickedness etc) 

Iniquity is sin, as defined by disobedience to Torah.  G-d changes not, so sin is still defined the same.  Iniquity in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word, anomia, meaning lawlessness.  Pride is something America is actually proud to have!  Haughty bears a negative connotation, but there's no indication that our Creator is pleased with pride.  Fullness of bread . . . plenty to eat.  Abundance of idleness:  we have to be the biggest collective mass of too much free time, to ever exist in the history of the world.  It's not just kings and emperors in this country who sit with nothing to do and expect to be entertained!  Entertainment is widespread nationally for every economic status.  As for not strengthening the hand, that's a reference to honest hard work, and we provide the poor and needy with entertainment, further dependence, and sorcery. As to the word, abomination, Strong's indicates the meaning covers a lot more than illicit sexual behavior.  Eating the flesh of swine is called an abomination.  Mixed marriage in Scripture is not addressing different skin tone, but rather spiritual differences between the Truth of Torah and the customs of the nations.