390 BC to 370 BC, Psalm 28: Reconstruction of the people of Israel.
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Summary
This generation is from the years 390 BC to 370 BC
According to our count, this generation is the 28th generation associated with Psalm 28. It is in this Psalm 28 that we therefore find an illustration of the facts of this generation.
We are still under the reign of Artaxerxes II, Ezra continues his mission. After the salutary momentum that we have already evoked during the previous generation, an awareness of the people takes place. Difficult decisions are made, salutary then, but which would obviously be controversial today.
Talk
Ezra meditates
We are still under the reign of Artaxerxes II, Ezra continues his mission. After the salutary momentum that we have already evoked during the previous generation, an awareness of the people takes place. Difficult decisions are made, salutary then, but which would obviously be controversial today.
Ezra then meditates within the Temple hoping that God will forgive his people:
- Then Ezra [1] rose and adjured the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel to do according to this matter, and they swore (- review previous verses regarding the repudiation of foreign women –).
- Then Ezra rose from before the House of God, and he went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. [When] he went there, he neither ate bread nor drank water, because he was mourning over the treachery of the community of the exiles.
This prayer finds its echo in the beginning of the psalm:
- Of David. To You, O Lord, I call. My Rock, do not be deaf to me, lest You be silent to me, and I will be likened to those who descend into the Pit.
- Hearken to the voice of my supplications when I cry out to You, when I lift my hands towards Your Holy Sanctuary.
- Do not cause me to be drawn with the wicked or with those who work iniquity, who speak peace with their friends but evil is in their heart.
- This refers to the surrounding peoples who accept covenants with the people of Israel but only in the hope of seeing them depart from God.
- Give them according to their deeds and according to the evil of their endeavors; according to the work of their hands give to them; return their recompense to them.
- For they do not understand the works of the Lord or the deeds of His hands. He shall break them down and not build them up.
Tough decisions
At that time [2], all the former exiles are called to meet in Jerusalem. Ezra then ordered them:
- And Ezra [3] the priest arose and said to them, « You have dealt treacherously, and you have taken in foreign wives to add to Israel’s guilt.
- And now, confess to the Lord, the God of your forefathers, and do His will, and separate from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. »
Ezra will be listened to and all the people of Israel will agree to separate from foreign women and return to the covenant with God, which is illustrated by the end of the psalm:
- Blessed is the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my supplication.
- The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I was helped; my heart rejoiced and I will thank Him with my song.
- The Lord is strength to them and He is the stronghold of the salvations of His anointed.
- Save Your people and bless Your inheritance, and tend them and elevate them forever.
[1] EZRA Chapter 10, verses 5 and 6
[2] See: EZRA Chapter 10, verses 7 and 8
[3] EZRA Chapter 10, verses 10 and 11