Today, we resume our investigation into God’s preparation of the Israelites to participate in the promise God made to bless all nations through Abraham and his offspring. Through His miraculous power, God worked through Moses to free them from slavery, deliver them by parting the sea, and bring them to Mount Sinai, where He made a covenant with them.
The covenant, to which the Israelites agreed, stated that God would choose them as a special nation, favored above all others, and that they would live under His authority as a holy nation of priests. Moses, whom God had used mightily to lead them to this point, would be, under God’s direction, the leader of the nation under the covenant arrangement.
What’s next? What did God do after using Moses to make the covenant with Israel? He began to tell them His rules, expectations of how they are to treat Him, and their covenant brothers and sisters. These rules for covenant living we have come to know as the Ten Commandments.
Many Bible students and scholars have pointed out that the Commandments focus on two relationships: the vertical relationship to God and the horizontal relationship to others. Thus, it is quite easy to divide them into two sections. Last week, we looked at commandments one through four, about our treatment of God in Exodus 20:3-11. https://www.cosdavis.com/preparing-for-the-promise-part-two/ will refresh your memory of my comments about those commandments.
Now, let’s consider the second section of the Commandments about how we are to treat others. Caution, do not think these are not important because they are the second division of commandments. They should be seen as a corollary to, a natural extension of the way we are instructed to treat God. We cannot love and worship God as we should without respecting the person and property of others. A sincere commitment to God leads us to do right by others.
Let’s begin by examining the fifth commandment to gain insight into what God required of the covenant people. My goal here is to focus on what I believe to be a major concern of the statement, not an exhaustive exposition of the implications of that commandment. You can find more in-depth information in Bible commentaries or dictionaries.
The fifth commandment is: “Honor your father and mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” Exodus 20:12. I see several important implications for us in this commandment.
First, it emphasizes a second level of authority in our lives, that of parents over their children. The first and greatest authority is God, and the second is parents. Children under the care of their parents are to obey the wise counsel and direction of their parents. Adult children, while not under the obligation to obey, are always under the command to honor. This commandment has many serious implications for parents and the future well-being of the children under their care.
Second, this commandment comes with a promise. I realize this commandment is an ideal, just as all the commandments are, but those parents and children who seek to honor it are blessed by obeying it. While some good parents deal with the heartbreak caused by a rebellious child, I believe most parents and children who take it seriously will experience the blessings of respectful, functional relationships throughout their lives.
The third thing I will say about this commandment is that it is critical to one’s functioning under authorities beyond the home. The attitude for dealing with authority is set in the home. How are children who are not required to obey their parents going to deal with school authorities, law enforcement, and employers who have rules and laws that must be obeyed? Life does not go well for the child who is allowed to grow up without the discipline necessary to keep him living by the rules.
Finally, what is implied, but not said explicitly, in this commandment is that parents have a tremendous responsibility to make the “honor” thing happen. To do this, parents must accept and wisely use their authority with their child. Children will not, without guidance and proper discipline, automatically learn to honor their parents. Parents must love their children well enough to create healthy expectations and rules and use good discipline to help them become self-disciplined.
Here’s a statement from my book, Parenting With A Purpose:
“Discipline is a process of helping your child understand how he should act in such a way that he will gradually accept your expectations and incorporate them into his life.”
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My experiences from growing up under the authority of good parents, having read and studied numerous authorities on parenting and family, working with my wife to raise two children who have matured to responsible adulthood, and have counseled with many children and parents, have convinced me that your home sets the foundation for the well-being of your children, thier children, and the betterment of the world into which you have brought them. “Honor your father and mother” is a big deal; God wouldn’t have put it in the commandments if it wasn’t.
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