Q. 66 What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment. The promise is that we will live long as God's people in the earth! God graciously gave Israel this land so that there could be a visible expression that He was their God and they were His people. But the Lord warned them that if they did not continue in His covenant, they would be cut off from the land! In other words, they would not "continue long in the land." But God also promised that they, as a nation, would never be entirely cut off.