But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. The love God shows extends to a thousand generations — the asymmetry with the third and fourth generation of punishment is deliberate. The mercy vastly outweighs the judgment. Exodus 34:7 expands this: maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. The thousand-generation love of God is the deep note beneath the Decalogue — the commandments are given by a God whose default disposition is love, not punishment. Deuteronomy 7:9 says know that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. The faithfulness to a thousand generations is the backdrop against which every command is heard.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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