Tracking Generation Types across the Kings of Judah

Recent studies of American History highlight a lot of “interesting” theories. Left wing Historians often are guilty of “Presentism” – which is applying the standards and values of their particular leanings to people who lived 80 – 100 – even 400 years ago to show how hollow, murderous, or stupid they were. Right wing historians have some of the same problems in order to refute Left Wing politics but both make the mistake of studying time and history as a linear progression that wanders across the landscape.

Personally, I see history as a spiral under the control of a sovereign God. As generations are born, live, and die, they move through God designed templates that define Generation types and Generation stages. Each spiral “loop” is a Saeculum – which is a latin term that defines a period of time by a long life from birth to death. Each saeculum has four generation types – Idealist, Reactionary, Hero, Artist. Each of those types is at one of four stages within a given saeculum – youth, young adult, mid-life, elder. It is interesting to me that the arguments for and against intelligent design point at Genesis being the most superbly accurate account of how we got here. (Check out Randall Niles’ videos at http://www.AllaboutGod.com ) As a historian, I see everywhere the hand of a sovereign God on the story of Man, his fall, his redemption, and salvation for those who receive Christ. The problem is that Time and History as taught in public school goes so far as to deny even the heroic legacies (especially the ones built on faith) of our own citizens from Pilgrims and Founding Fathers to kids walking patrol in Baghdad.

It is very possible that I am just another Historian applying another theory of how to study time and events. Yet, my application is based on the superb work of Strauss and Howe; "Generations" so I am not the originator. Yet, it rings with amazing truth as I consider the fact that like creation, History is also DESIGNED. Therefore, I went to the Bible and ancient texts to see if this concept works. I want to say up front that I am a flawed human and I truly hope I am not simply extracting Biblical truth to prove my own point of view. Instead, I hope that what I am doing is gaining context and truth from God’s word to help me learn and teach History as God’s story… Especially to all of us living in each of the four stages of life from each of the four generation types. We must understand the place God designed for all of us in “such a time as this.”

One sobering note: In studying the Kings of Judah and American Spiritual awakenings, one common theme swept people and nations to victory or absolute disaster. That theme is: LIFE. From taxes to sacrifices to concentration camp to abortion, Nations rise and fall on how they see life… Divinely designed and precious or merely a commodity to be expended if deemed useless.

Next Post – Generations of the Kings of Judah