Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 4: Click here and read 134 - 142.
The basics:
- The godly and obedient shall live in pleasant quietness and see their children's children to the third and fourth generation; the ungodly shall be blotted out.
- Luther speaks so frankly about the reward and punishment of this command so it will be impressed upon the young, because no one takes this command very seriously.
- Within obedience to parents belongs obedience to all in authority over the household. This would include teachers, when children are not able to be educated at home, government, and those whom parents place in authority over their household.
- In Scripture and in history, men with authority over households were called "father" even when they were not the physical father of a group. They were honored as such by servants and people whom they might rule over. In turn, they should have a paternal heart toward their subordinates.
My thoughts today:
Living in pleasant quietness.
I like that, Luther. "But the godly and obedient have this blessing, that they live long in pleasant quietness, and see their children's children to the third and fourth generation."
A blessed life with the full reward of this commandment is not riches or glory or easiness or fun or power. The blessing is pleasant quietness to live a full life. I can deal with that kind of reward.
In a world that recognizes the loud, hears the boisterous, and answers the squeaky wheel, we are given the reward of a pleasantly quiet life. Pleasant quietness is not synonymous with invisible and unheard. It is a state of contentment with one's life and vocation. It is a gentleness only manageable through the gentleness of Christ within us.
Pleasant quietness is the ability to...
...give an account as to the hope which is within us, while quietly honoring those who have been placed as mothers and fathers over us.
...confess our sins in faith, while quietly learning from our pastors.
...boldly condemn sin in our world, while quietly tending to our neighbors' needs.
...stand against sin in the government, while quietly praying for those who rule over us.
In our honoring of the Fourth Commandment (through His honoring of it for us), we are gifted the reward of pleasant quietness. We are gifted the contentment to fulfill our vocation here on this earth.
It is a pretty sweet reward.
