
890 BC to 870 BC, Psalm 3: Elijah
This generation is that of the years between 890 BC and 870 BC.
- In the [1] thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
- Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus.
- “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
- At that time [2], Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.
- Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen ? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand
- For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
In this sense it is necessary to interpret the stay of Elijah [3] in the widow of Sarepta which can be located at the beginning of the reign of Ahab king of Israel, therefore during the third generation:
- Then [4] the word of the Lord came to him:
- “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
Some time [5] later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.
- She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
- “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.
- Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?”
- Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”
- The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.
- Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”
- Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
(extract of the psalm 3 associated to this generation, verses 1 to 3 )
- A song of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
- O Lord, how many have my adversaries become! Great men rise up against me.
- Great men say concerning my soul, « He has no salvation in God to eternity. »
(extract of the psalm 3 associated to this generation, verses 4 and 5 )
- But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and He Who raises up my head.
- With my voice, I call to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mount to eternity.
(extract of the psalm 3 associated to this generation, verses 4 to 9 )
- I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will support me.
- I will not fear ten thousands of people, who have set themselves against me all around.
- Arise, O Lord, save me, my God, for You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
- It is incumbent upon the Lord to save, and it is incumbent upon Your people to bless You forever.
[1] II Chronicles, Chapter 16, verses 1 to 3
[2] II Chronicles, Chapter 16, verses 7 to 9
[3] See: Melachim I – I Kings – Chapter 17
[4] Melachim I – I Kings – Chapter 17, verses 8 and 9
[5] Melachim I – I Kings – Chapter 17, verses 17 to 24