Q 89: What promise does the Lord hold out to the redeemed in the fifth commandment?

A 89: In exchange for their obedience to the fifth commandment the Lord promises that their days will be long and that it will go well with them according to the promises of the Lord in Jesus Christ. (Deut. 5.16; Gen. 12.1-3; 2 Cor. 1.20; Phil. 4.19)

It is perhaps not hard to see how this promise can be realized. Children who learn respect, love, honor, and the like at home, and are able to transfer these to their neighbors and the world, bring to their lives in society that justice, love, and civility which are hallmarks of the divine economy. The more children who learn to live this way, the greater and more far-reaching will be the benefits they bring to society. And while the full realization of the promises of God is not to be obtained in this life, still, the redeemed of the Lord can provide a foretaste of eternal shalom by their diligence in obeying this and all the commandments of God.

If you are not receiving Crosfigell, our thrice-weekly devotional, sign up at our website today. T. M.’s latest book, Satan Bound: A Theology of Evil, is now available in our bookstore.