Sodom and Gomorrah (Don't Look Back)

An epic song about the Bible story of Sodom and Gomorrah. [Intro] [Verse 1] By the Jordan's silver water, where the valley used to bloom Stood the twin cities of Sodom, sealed inside their own doom Their cry of sin rose up to heaven like smoke before the throne So the Lord came down to see it He would not judge on rumor alone [Pre-Chorus] Abraham stood in the desert dust, a friend of God Most High He bowed before the Almighty and he dared to ask Him why "Will You sweep away the righteous with the wicked in one blow? Shall the Judge of all the earth not do what's right? I need to know" [Chorus] Fifty righteous men, would You spare them, Lord, for fifty? Hold back the fire, let mercy be the plea Forty-five, then forty, thirty, twenty bend Your knee Down to ten, just ten good souls, and still the Lord agreed [Verse 2] "Forgive my boldness," Abraham whispered, "let me ask once more" And the Lord, in patience, met him at the bargaining floor Forty-five would save them yes. Then forty still agreed Thirty, twenty, finally ten but ten could not be found indeed [Chorus] Fifty righteous men, would You spare them, Lord, for fifty? Hold back the fire, let mercy be the plea Forty-five, then forty, thirty, twenty bend Your knee Down to ten, just ten good souls not even ten were found, you see [Bridge 1] Pride and plenty filled their bellies while the poor were turned away Idle hands and hardened hearts left mercy locked outside to stay Desire that twisted from its order set the gathered crowd aflame At Lot's own door the mob came pounding hungry men who knew no shame [Bridge 1 continued] Two strangers sent from heaven's courts found violence at the gate Lot stood between the wicked and the angels' coming fate This was the sin that sealed them not love, but love's reverse A people that hoards and harms the stranger writes its own dark verse [Verse 3] Fire and brimstone fell at dawn, the sky itself turned red "Flee now, and don't look backward" was the word the angel said But Lot's wife lingered on the longing for the world she knew She turned to see the life behind and stiffened, salt clean through [Bridge 2] Salt that lost its only purpose, frozen mid her flight A heart still tethered to the darkness cannot walk into the light You cannot be carried forward while you're holding what you flee The past is fire behind you now let going be what makes you free [Bridge 3 Takeaways] This is no mere ancient story buried under desert sand History remembers ashes scattered cross that fallen land Doctrine teaches mercy moves when righteous voices plead And the Lord will spare the many for the few who plant the seed [Bridge 3 continued] Moral standing through the ages charity before disdain Open up your door to strangers, let no pride or greed remain Choose this day which way you're facing, forward or behind For the soul that looks back toward Sodom leaves a piece of itself behind [Final Chorus] Fifty, forty, thirty, ten how far will mercy bend? Far enough to save the righteous, not the world from its own end Remember, remember Lot's wife on the hillside, remember why she fell Walk forward into mercy leave the burning citadel [Outro] Don't look back... don't look back... Don't look back...