Thus experience also teaches, that where there are honorable, old families who fare well and have many children, they owe their origin to the fact, to be sure, that some of them were brought up well and were regardful of their parents. On the other hand, it is written of the wicked, Ps. 109:13: Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. Therefore heed well how great a thing in God's sight obedience is, since He so highly esteems it, is so highly pleased with it, and rewards it so richly, and besides enforces punishment so rigorously on those who act contrariwise.Thoughts?
3.10.2009
"Honorable Old Families"
In teaching my children today, we found this section of the Large Catechism on the Fourth Commandment (¶138-9) interesting regarding the subject of this blog:
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Curiously, I happened upon the same Large Catechism passage just this past week. Moreover, my private devotion reading last night included Isaiah 14:21 - "Prepare a place to slaughter his sons for the sins of their forefathers." (cf. "punishing to the third and fourth generation" in the Summary of the Ten Commandments) As for Isaiah, the prophecy corresponds chronologically with 2 Kgs 17:41 - "Even while these people were worshiping the Lord they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did." All this is Law, and its heavy. The flip-side Gospel message is that God shows love down the generations to those who, redeemed in Christ, obey His commands. May he grant us His Holy Spirit so that we may walk in newness of life, welcoming children into our families and raising them to know the forgiveness that is in Christ alone.
Thanks for reminding us of this important part of the Lutheran symbols.
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