Whenever a Judge enters the courtroom, it is a custom for the crowd to stand as a sign of honor. When people speak to the Judge, he or she is addressed as, “Your honor.” If ever the courtroom becomes out of control, the gavel comes down and order is to be restored. So why all the honor? Judges are responsible for providing justice; for deciding what is the right thing for the good of the nation, community, and individual. Can anything be more honorable than that!

There have been, unfortunately, countless times in history when the children of God forgot that God is Judge and thus brought him shame in his heavenly court. Though each person is responsible for his or her own actions, the Bible also speaks of corporate guilt. That is, the nation, and more particularly the family, is held responsible.

It is from the father and mother that children are to learn, by word and deed, how to do what is right and honorable. This is such a huge responsibility that one of the Ten Commandments is for “children to honor their mother and father.” It could very well be that this command was given for parents, as well as children. It is also no accident that this commandment is located between the commands of how to love God and how to love one’s neighbor.