Sapate ‘Okatopa 1, 2017

Ko e mālōlō mo‘oní ‘oku ‘iate Koe

Until we find our true rest in Thee

Fehuʻi #10

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a ‘oku ‘eke ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he lao hono fā mo e nima ‘o e Fekau ‘e Hongofulú .

(What does God require in the fourth and fifth commandments?)

‘I he lao hono fāá , ke hoko ‘a e Sāpaté  ko e ‘aho ‘o e hū ki he ‘Otuá , ke fai ‘i he ngaahi fakataha‘anga lotú  pea fai fakafo‘ituitui foki, ke mālōlō mei he ngaahi ngāue anga mahení, ke fai ‘a e ngaue fakasevāniti ki he ‘Otuá mo e kakai kehé , ‘o nofo ‘amanaki ai ki he Sāpate ‘oku lau ‘itānití . ‘I he lao hono nimá , ke tau ‘ofa mo faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘etau tamaí mo ‘etau fa‘ēé,  fakavaivai‘i kitautolu ki he‘enau ngaahi akonaki faka-‘Otuá mo ‘enau ngaahi

(Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.)

Levitiko 19:3

Te mou ‘apasia takitaha ki he‘ene fa‘ē mo ‘ene tamai, pea te mou tauhi hoku ngaahi Sāpate: ko Sihova au ko homou ‘Otua.

Leviticus 19:3

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Komeniteli (tohi vete) ‘a Timote Kela

Kapau te tau lau kotoa tohitapu, Fuakava Motu’a mo e Fuakava Fo‘ou, te tau vakai ai ki he fekau ki hono tauhi ‘o e ‘aho Sapate, ‘oku ha ai ha konga ‘e ua.

‘Uluakí, ko ha fatongia mahu‘inga ke tauhi.  ‘I he‘etau mo‘ui faka‘ahó, ‘oku  fekau‘i kitautolu ke tau tauhi ke palanisi ‘a ‘etau ngaué  mo e taimi ke tau mālōlō aí, pea ‘oku ta‘ofi kitautolu ke ‘oua ‘e tō tu‘a ‘a ‘etau ngāué.

‘Oku toe fekau’i pe foki kitautolu ke tauhi mo tokanga’i lelei hotau ngaahi sinó mo hotau laumalié.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ko hotau sinó  pe ke tāfataha ki ai ‘etau tokanga.  ‘Oku fiema’u ke fakafo’ou hotau laumalié  ‘o fou ‘i he ngaahi feohi‘angá, lotu liló, lau Folofolá  mo e ma‘u‘anga kelesi kehekehe ‘i he uiké  kotoa.

Commentary – Timothy Keller

If we read the Bible, Old and New Testaments, we come to see that the command to remember the Sabbath day has two aspects to it.

First, it’s a crucial practice. In our lives we’re commanded to have a rhythm of work and rest, and we are forbidden to overwork.

We’re also commanded to nurture our bodies and our souls. We are not supposed to nurture only our bodies. We’re to rejuvenate our souls through fellowship and through prayer and devotion and worship every week.

Tokonaki Sepitema 30, 2017

He ko e ‘Otua Lahi mo naunauʻia Ia

Our great and awesome God

Fehuʻi #10

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a ‘oku ‘eke ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he lao hono fā mo e nima ‘o e Fekau ‘e Hongofulú .

(What does God require in the fourth and fifth commandments?)

‘I he lao hono fāá , ke hoko ‘a e Sāpaté  ko e ‘aho ‘o e hū ki he ‘Otuá , ke fai ‘i he ngaahi fakataha‘anga lotú  pea fai fakafo‘ituitui foki, ke mālōlō mei he ngaahi ngāue anga mahení, ke fai ‘a e ngaue fakasevāniti ki he ‘Otuá mo e kakai kehé , ‘o nofo ‘amanaki ai ki he Sāpate ‘oku lau ‘itānití . ‘I he lao hono nimá , ke tau ‘ofa mo faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘etau tamaí mo ‘etau fa‘ēé,  fakavaivai‘i kitautolu ki he‘enau ngaahi akonaki faka-‘Otuá mo ‘enau ngaahi fakahinohino.

(Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.)

Levitiko 19:3

Te mou ‘apasia takitaha ki he‘ene fa‘ē mo ‘ene tamai, pea te mou tauhi hoku ngaahi Sāpate: ko Sihova au ko homou ‘Otua.

Leviticus 19:3

‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Kalavini – hoko atu…

Commentary – John Calvin – cont…

Kapau ‘oku tau fakahaaʻi ‘etau ‘apasiaʹ kiate Ia koeʻuhiʹ ko ‘etau tukulolo ki hono finangaloʹ, pea mahino leva ko ‘etau tauhi kiate Iaaʹ ‘oku fai ‘aki ia ‘a e fakamaau totonuʹ, maʻaʹ pea mo e maʻoniʻoniʹ. ‘Oku ‘ikai haʻatau toe kalo ki ha tafaʻaki ‘i haʻatau tau kole ivi meiate Ia pea tau toe pehē ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau maʻu ha meʻa ke tali ‘aki. ‘Oku ‘ikai totonu ke fakaʻatā kitautolu ke tau fua tautau ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otuaʹ ‘aki hotau ivi fakaetangataʹ; he neongo ha tuʻunga te tau aʻusia, ‘e kei tatau ai pe ‘a e ‘Otuaʹ ia ‘i hono naunauʹ mo hono tuʻunga taukakapaʹ; ko e kaungāmeʻa ‘o e maʻoniʻoniʹ, pea ko e fili ‘o e taʻemaʻoniʻoniʹ, pea neongo pe ko e hā ha meʻa te ne ‘eke meiate kitautolu (‘a e meʻa pe ko ē ‘oku totonuʹ) ‘oku kounga kitautolu kitautolu ‘e he natula kuo ne fokotuʻu ‘i hotau lotoʹ, ke tau talangofua ki ai.

For if we manifest becoming reverence only when we preferred his will to our own, it follows, that the only legitimate service to him is the practice of justice, purity, and holiness. Nor can we plead as an excuse, that we want the power, and, like debtors, whose means are exhausted, are unable to pay. We cannot be permitted to measure the glory of God by our ability; whatever we may be, he ever remains like himself, the friend of righteousness, the enemy of unrighteousness, and whatever his demands from us may be, as he can only require what is right, we unnecessarily under a natural obligation to obey.

Falaite Sepitema 29, 2017

Ko e moʻui ‘oku tō taʻu ai ‘a e maʻoniʻoniʹ

A life spent cultivating righteousness

Fehuʻi #10

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a ‘oku ‘eke ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he lao hono fā mo e nima ‘o e Fekau ‘e Hongofulú .

(What does God require in the fourth and fifth commandments?)

‘I he lao hono fāá , ke hoko ‘a e Sāpaté  ko e ‘aho ‘o e hū ki he ‘Otuá , ke fai ‘i he ngaahi fakataha‘anga lotú  pea fai fakafo‘ituitui foki, ke mālōlō mei he ngaahi ngāue anga mahení, ke fai ‘a e ngaue fakasevāniti ki he ‘Otuá mo e kakai kehé , ‘o nofo ‘amanaki ai ki he Sāpate ‘oku lau ‘itānití . ‘I he lao hono nimá , ke tau ‘ofa mo faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘etau tamaí mo ‘etau fa‘ēé,  fakavaivai‘i kitautolu ki he‘enau ngaahi akonaki faka-‘Otuá mo ‘enau ngaahi fakahinohino.

(Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.)

Levitiko 19:3

Te mou ‘apasia takitaha ki he‘ene fa‘ē mo ‘ene tamai, pea te mou tauhi hoku ngaahi Sāpate: ko Sihova au ko homou ‘Otua.

Leviticus 19:3

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Kalavini

Commentary – John Calvin

‘Oku ‘ikai faingofua ‘etau mahinoʻi ‘a e tokāteline ‘o e laoʹ - hangē ko eniʹ: ‘a e pau ke tau fakalangilangiʻi ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o e Fakatupuʹ, ko Ia ‘a e Tamai mo e pule, pea ‘i heʻene pehēeʹ, ke ‘atu ki ai ‘a e fakaʻapaʻapa, ‘ofa, mo e langilangiʹ; ‘io, ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau puleʻi pe kitautolu, ke tau faʻiteliha ki he ngaahi filioʻi hotau lotoʹ - ka kuopau ke tau talangofua kakato mo fakaongoongo kakato ki hono finangaloʹ.

‘Ikai ko ia pe, ka ‘oku tau ako mei he laoʹ, ko e fakamaau totonuʹ mo e angatonuʹ ko e meʻa lelei; ko e taʻefakalaoʹ ‘oku fakatupu houhau kiate Ia; pea ko ia ai, ‘e ‘ikai ke tau fakafetau ki hotau ‘Otua Fakatupuʹ mei ha loto angatuʻu – ka kuopau ke tau muimui mo tanumaki ‘a e moʻui maʻoniʻoniʹ ‘i he toenga ‘o ‘etau fononga pilikimi ‘i mamaniʹ.

It is not easy to understand the doctrine of the law –viz. that God, as our Creator, is entitled to be regarded by us as a father and master, and should, accordingly, receive from us fear, love, reverence, and glory; nay, that we are not our own, to follow what ever course passion dictates, but are bound to obey him implicitly, and to acquiesce entirely in his good pleasure. Again, the law teaches, that justice and rectitude are a delight, injustice an abomination to him, and, therefore, as we would not with him pious ingratitude revolt from our maker, our whole life must be spent in the cultivation of righteousness.

Tu‘apulelulu Sepitema 28, 2017

Ko e vivili ‘oku toki maʻu pe hono taliʹ ‘i he ‘Otuaʹ

A desire that can only be fulfilled by God

Fehuʻi #9

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he ‘uluaki, ua, mo e tolu ‘o e ngaahi Laó.

(What does God require in the first, second, and third Commandments?)

‘Uluakí , ke tau ‘ilo mo falala ki he ‘Otuá , ko Ia tokotaha pe ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘ui. Uá, ke tau faka‘ehi‘ehi ki he tauhi ‘aitolí mo ‘etau lotu ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he founga ‘oku hala. Tolú, ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá  mo ‘apasia ki ai pea ke tau fakahikihiki‘i ‘a ‘ene Folofolá mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaué .

(First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his word and works.)

Teutalonome 6:13-14

13 Ko Sihova ko ho ‘Otuá te ke ‘apasia ki ai, pea ko ia ia te ke tauhi ki ai, pea ko hono huafa te ke fuakava ai. 14 ‘E ‘ikai te ke muimui ki ha ngaahi ‘otua kehe, hani ‘otua ‘o e ngaahi kakai ‘oku nofo takatakai kiate kimoutolu;

Deuteronomy 6:13-14

13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Lini – hoko atu…

Commentary – John Lin – cont…

Ko e ha e ‘uhinga ‘oku fakamamafa‘i ai ‘e he ngaahi fekau ko ení  ke tau lotu ki he ‘Otua mo‘uí tokotaha pe, ‘i hono tu‘unga pe ‘o‘oná ‘o ‘ikai fakatatau ki he‘etau faka‘amú ? Ko e hā e ‘uhinga ‘oku mateaki‘i ai ‘e he fekau hono tolú  ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i mo fakalangilangi‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá mo hono ‘ulungaangá? Koe‘uhí, he na‘e ngaohi kitautolu mo ha uho ‘oku vivili pea ‘e toki fiemālie pe ia ‘i he ‘Otuá - ko e vivili ki he ‘Otuá. Kapau ‘oku tau feinga ma‘u pe ke liliu ‘a e tu‘unga totonu ‘o e ‘Otuá, pe fetongi ia ‘aki ha me‘a kehe, ‘e ‘ikai pe te tau ma‘u ha nonga. ‘E ‘ikai te tau a‘usia ‘a e fiemālie mo e lato mo‘oní, ‘a e tu‘unga langilangi‘ia totonú, pe fiefia ‘oku tolongá. ‘E ‘ikai pe te tau a‘usia ‘a e kakato ‘o e mo‘ui. Ka ‘okapau ‘oku tu‘utu‘u lotoloto (uho‘aki) ‘a e ‘Otuá ‘i he‘etau mo‘ui‘etau mo‘uí, ‘o ‘ikai ko ha toe ‘otua kehe pe ko ha ‘otua pe kuo te fokotu‘u, ka ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘uí, pea ko ‘etau toki a‘usia kakato ia ‘a e nonga ‘oku mo‘oní.

Ko e ‘uhinga eni na‘e pehē ai ‘o ‘Akositaine, “Na‘a ke ngaohi kimautolu ma‘au, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ma‘u ‘e homau lotó  ha mālōlō, kae ‘oua ke mau mālōlō ‘iate koe.”

So why do these commandments insist on us worshiping God alone and worshiping God as he is and not as as we want him to be? Why is the third commandment so insistent on honoring and respecting his name and his character? It is because God created us with a desire that only he can fulfill – a desire for him. If we are always trying to change who God is or replace him with something else, we’ll never be at peace. We’ll never experience true comfort, true significance, or true joy. We’ll never be whole. But if God is at the center of our lives, not another god or a revised version of God, but the true and living God, we’ll truly be at peace.

This is precisely why Augustine wrote, “You’ve made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Lotu

‘E ‘Otua tofu-pe-taha, ko ho huafá  ‘oku fungani pea ma‘olunga ‘i he hingoa kotoa pe, ‘oku mau omi kiate koe ‘i he ‘apasia mo e manavahē. Pukepuke kimautolu ke mau tauhi ma‘u ki ho‘o ngaahi fekaú. Faka‘ilo kiate kimautolu ‘a e ngaahi ‘otua loi ‘i homau ngaahi lotó.

Pea tuku ke mau hū ma‘u pe kiate koe ‘i laumālie mo mo‘oni. ‘Emeni.

Prayer

One and only God, your name is above all names, and we come before you in reverence and fear. Keep us true to your commandments. Reveal to us any false gods in our lives. Let us worship you alone in spirit and truth. Amen.

 Pulelulu Sepitema 27, 2017

Ke tau lotu ki he ‘Otua ‘o e Tohitapú, tokotaha pe!

Worship God and God alone

Fehuʻi #9

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he ‘uluaki, ua, mo e tolu ‘o e ngaahi Laó.

(What does God require in the first, second, and third Commandments?)

‘Uluakí , ke tau ‘ilo mo falala ki he ‘Otuá , ko Ia tokotaha pe ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘ui. Uá, ke tau faka‘ehi‘ehi ki he tauhi ‘aitolí mo ‘etau lotu ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he founga ‘oku hala. Tolú, ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá  mo ‘apasia ki ai pea ke tau fakahikihiki‘i ‘a ‘ene Folofolá mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaué .

(First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his word and works.)

Teutalonome 6:13-14

13 Ko Sihova ko ho ‘Otuá te ke ‘apasia ki ai, pea ko ia ia te ke tauhi ki ai, pea ko hono huafa te ke fuakava ai. 14 ‘E ‘ikai te ke muimui ki ha ngaahi ‘otua kehe, hani ‘otua ‘o e ngaahi kakai ‘oku nofo takatakai kiate kimoutolu;

Deuteronomy 6:13-14

13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Lini – hoko atu…

Commentary – John Lin – cont…

Ka ‘i he vakai mei he tafa‘aki ‘e tahá, kapau ko ho‘o hū (tauhi) ki he ‘Otuá  koe‘uhí ‘oku ke tui koe ‘oku totonu ke ‘omi ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e fiemālié, mo e tu‘unga ma‘olungá, ngaue leleí pea pehē ki he tokotaha ko ia ‘oku ke nofo ‘amanaki ki aí, ‘oku toe maumau‘i pe ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otuá. Kuo ke ‘atu fakamālohi‘i pe ‘e koe ki he ‘Otuá ho‘o ma‘u hala (fakakaukau) kau ki he ‘Otuá. Kuo ke ngaohi pe ‘e koe ‘a e ‘otua ‘i ho ‘imisí, pea ko e lotu ‘aitolí ia. Ko e ongo fekau ‘uluakí, ke tau lotu ki he ‘Otuá tokotaha pe; ke tau lotu ki he ‘Otuá, ko Ia pe ‘a e ‘Otua mo‘oní; pea ke ‘oua ‘aupito na‘a tau lotu ki ha ‘otua fa‘u pe ‘e kitautolu pe ko ha ‘aitoli.

The flipside is that if you worship God because you believe that he should provide you with comfort by providing the prestige, the job, or the relationship that you desire and are looking for, you are also violating the commandments. You’ve imposed your conception of who God is on God. You’ve created a custom designer god, and idol. These first two commandments are that we worship God alone, that we worship God as a true God, and that we not worship a designer god or an idol.

Tusite Sepitema 26, 2017

Tokanga na‘a ke fetongi e ‘Otuá ‘aki ho‘o feingá

May your life goals Not replace your living God

Fehuʻi #9

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he Fekau ‘uluakí, uá, mo e tolú.

(What does God require in the first, second, and third Commandments?)

‘Uluakí , ke tau ‘ilo mo falala ki he ‘Otuá , ko Ia tokotaha pe ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘ui. Uá, ke tau faka‘ehi‘ehi ki he tauhi ‘aitolí mo ‘etau lotu ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he founga ‘oku hala. Tolú, ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá  mo ‘apasia ki ai pea ke tau fakahikihiki‘i ‘a ‘ene Folofolá mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaué .

(First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his word and works.)

Teutalonome 6:13-14

13 Ko Sihova ko ho ‘Otuá te ke ‘apasia ki ai, pea ko ia ia te ke tauhi ki ai, pea ko hono huafa te ke fuakava ai. 14 ‘E ‘ikai te ke muimui ki ha ngaahi ‘otua kehe, hani ‘otua ‘o e ngaahi kakai ‘oku nofo takatakai kiate kimoutolu;

Deuteronomy 6:13-14

13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Lini – hoko atu…

Commentary – John Lin – cont…

Ta u toe vakai lelei ange ki he ongo fekau ‘uluakí. Tau pehē, ‘oku ke fakapapau‘i koe ‘i ho lotó  ke fokotu‘u ha‘o taumu‘a lelei ma‘a ho‘o mo‘uí - hangē ko ha tu‘unga fakalangilangi, ngaue ma‘olunga mo lelei, ma‘u hao kaungāme‘a na‘a ke misi ki ai – kotoa e ngaahi me‘a ko ení ‘oku ke ma‘u ai e lato ki ho‘o mo‘uí pea nonga ai ho lotó. Pea ‘i he mo‘ui faka‘ahó, ko ho‘o taumu‘á pe, ke kumi e ngaahi me‘a ke ke fiemālie ai ‘o laka hake ia ‘i he ‘Otuá. Pea ko e maumau‘i ia ‘o e ‘uluaki laó.  Kuo ke liliu ho‘o taumu‘á (kaveinga) ke hoko ia ko ho ‘Otua. Ko e langilangí, kumi filifili e ngaue leleí pe ko ha tokotaha ke mo feohi, kuo hoko ia ko e taumu‘a ho‘o lotú.

Let’s consider the first two commandments a bit more. Say, for instance, you believe in your heart that attaining some goal in your life – prestige, a certain kind of job, a relationship with a person of your dreams – will provide you with ultimate comfort and will answer your heart’s desire for significance. In a daily functional way, you look to that goal to provide you with deeper comfort than God. That’s breaking the first commandment. You’ve turned your goal into God. Prestige, a certain job, or a person has become the object of your worship.

Monite Sepitema 25, 2017

Ke Tāpuhā Ho Huafá

Hallowed be Thy Name

Fehuʻi #9

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he ‘uluaki, ua, mo e tolu ‘o e ngaahi Laó.

(What does God require in the first, second, and third Commandments?)

‘Uluakí , ke tau ‘ilo mo falala ki he ‘Otuá , ko Ia tokotaha pe ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘ui. Uá, ke tau faka‘ehi‘ehi ki he tauhi ‘aitolí mo ‘etau lotu ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he founga ‘oku hala. Tolú, ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá  mo ‘apasia ki ai pea ke tau fakahikihiki‘i ‘a ‘ene Folofolá mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaué .

(First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his word and works.)

Teutalonome 6:13-14

13 Ko Sihova ko ho ‘Otuá te ke ‘apasia ki ai, pea ko ia ia te ke tauhi ki ai, pea ko hono huafa te ke fuakava ai. 14 ‘E ‘ikai te ke muimui ki ha ngaahi ‘otua kehe, hani ‘otua ‘o e ngaahi kakai ‘oku nofo takatakai kiate kimoutolu;

Deuteronomy 6:13-14

13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Lini – hoko atu…

Commentary – John Lin – cont…

Ko e Lao hono tolú ‘oku kainga ofi pe ia mo e ongo lao kimu‘á . ‘E ‘ikai te tau ngaue hala‘aki mo takuanoa ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá. Ko e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá ‘oku ne fakamatala‘i mai ‘a hono ‘ulungaangá, ‘a e uho ‘a hono tu‘unga ‘Otuá. Ko e ‘uhinga ia na‘a ne talaange ai kia Mosese ko “Ko Au” ‘a hono huafá. ‘I hono toe fakalea ‘e tahá, ‘oku folofola mai ‘a e ‘Otuá, “Ko hoku hingoá (huafa) ko mo‘ui ‘iate au pe pea mo lau‘itāniti.” Ko e takuanoa ‘o e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá ‘oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga pe ia ki ha lisi ‘o ha ngaahi fo‘i lea ‘oku tapu ke tau ngaue‘aki. Ka ‘oku ‘uhinga ia, ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau lave ai ki he ‘Otuá, ‘i ha lea pea ngaue, ‘oku tau tukupā ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i kakato mo fakalangilangi‘i ‘a e ‘Otuá ‘i hono tu‘unga ‘Otuá.

The third commandment is actually similar to the first two. We are not to misuse or mistreat the name of God. We know God’s name describes his character, the essence of his being, which is why he told Moses that he his name is “I AM.” In other words, God is saying, “My name is that I am self existent and eternal.” Do not misuse the name of God doesn’t merely mean that there are certain words we can or cannot say. It means that when we speak of God, whether through words or lifestyle, we are to fully honor and respect who he is.

Sapate Sepitema 24, 2017

Ko Ia Tokotaha pe te u lotu ki ai

He is the exclusive object of our worship

Fehuʻi #9

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he ‘uluaki, ua, mo e tolu ‘o e ngaahi Laó.

(What does God require in the first, second, and third Commandments?)

‘Uluakí , ke tau ‘ilo mo falala ki he ‘Otuá , ko Ia tokotaha pe ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘ui. Uá, ke tau faka‘ehi‘ehi ki he tauhi ‘aitolí mo ‘etau lotu ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he founga ‘oku hala. Tolú, ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá  mo ‘apasia ki ai pea ke tau fakahikihiki‘i ‘a ‘ene Folofolá mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaué .

(First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his word and works.)

Teutalonome 6:13-14

13 Ko Sihova ko ho ‘Otuá te ke ‘apasia ki ai, pea ko ia ia te ke tauhi ki ai, pea ko hono huafa te ke fuakava ai. 14 ‘E ‘ikai te ke muimui ki ha ngaahi ‘otua kehe, hani ‘otua ‘o e ngaahi kakai ‘oku nofo takatakai kiate kimoutolu;

Deuteronomy 6:13-14

13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Lini

Commentary – John Lin

Ko e ngaahi fekau ‘e tolu kimuʻaʹ, ‘oku nau fakahinohino mai ‘a e founga ke tau moʻui ‘o sipingaʻaki mo fakatatau ki he maama ‘o e ‘Otua moʻui mo moʻoni tofu-pē-tahaʹ.

Ko e fekau ‘uluakiʹ, ‘oku ne talamai ke ‘oua ‘aupito te tau toe ‘ai ha ‘otua kehe, ka ko e ‘Otua moʻuiʹ tokotaha pe! Ko ia tokotaha pe ‘oku huʻu ki ai ‘etau lotuʹ, ko e taumuʻa tumutumu pe ia ‘o ‘etau ‘ofaʹ mo ‘etau holiʹ. Ko e fekau hono uaʹ ‘oku kainga pe ia mo e ‘uluakiʹ, ‘oku ne talamai ke ‘oua te tau lotu ki he ‘Otuaʹ ‘o faiʻaki pe ‘etau fakakaukau fakaetangataʹ fekauʻaki mo e ‘Otuaʹ, ‘a ia ‘oku ui ia ‘e he Tohitapuʹ ko e tauhi ‘aitoli. Kuopau ke tau hū mo lotu ki he ‘Otuaʹ ‘o fakatatau ki he tuʻunga ‘o e ‘Otuaʹ ‘iate ia pe, ‘o ‘ikai ko e meʻa ‘oku tau loto ke hoko ki ai ‘a e ‘Otuaʹ. ‘Oua ‘e lotu ki ha ‘otua hala, pea ‘oua naʻa fehālaaki hoʻo lotu ki he ‘Otuaʹ.

The first three Commandments show how we are to live in reference to and in light of the only true and living God.

The first commandment tells us that we are to have no other gods but God. He is to be the exclusive object of our worship, the ultimate object of our love and desire. The second commandment is similar and tells us that we are not to worship God according to our own conception of God, what the Bible calls idolatry. We must worship God according to who he is and not according to what we want him to be. In other words, do not worship false gods, and do not worship God falsely.

Tokonaki Sepitema 23, 2017

‘Ikai toe kumi ha ‘otua kehe, ka ko e tahaʻi Sihovaʹ pe

Not to invent a god but to Obey the One True LORD

Fehuʻi #9

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he ‘uluaki, ua, mo e tolu ‘o e ngaahi Laó.

(What does God require in the first, second, and third Commandments?)

‘Uluakí , ke tau ‘ilo mo falala ki he ‘Otuá , ko Ia tokotaha pe ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘ui. Uá, ke tau faka‘ehi‘ehi ki he tauhi ‘aitolí mo ‘etau lotu ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he founga ‘oku hala. Tolú, ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá  mo ‘apasia ki ai pea ke tau fakahikihiki‘i ‘a ‘ene Folofolá mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaué .

(First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his word and works.)

Teutalonome 6:13-14

13 Ko Sihova ko ho ‘Otuá te ke ‘apasia ki ai, pea ko ia ia te ke tauhi ki ai, pea ko hono huafa te ke fuakava ai. 14 ‘E ‘ikai te ke muimui ki ha ngaahi ‘otua kehe, hani ‘otua ‘o e ngaahi kakai ‘oku nofo takatakai kiate kimoutolu;

Deuteronomy 6:13-14

13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.

Komeniteli ‘a Salesi Hatone Sipeisione – hoko atu..

Commentary - Charles Haddon Spurgeon – cont…

‘Oku fakamaama ‘e he Laumālie Maʻoniʻoniʹ ‘a e ‘atamaiʹ pea tataki kitautolu ke tau ‘ilo ko Sihova ‘a e ‘Otuaʹ, pea ka tuku Ia, ‘oku ‘ikai ha toe taha. ‘Oku ne akoʻi ‘a e tangataʹ ke nau ‘ilo ko e ‘Otua ‘o Langi mo mamaniʹ ko e ‘Otua ia ‘o e Tohitapuʹ; ko e ‘Otua ‘oku maʻumaʻuluta hono ngaahi ‘ulungaangaʹ, ko ‘ene meesiʹ ‘oku ō fakataha mo ‘ene faitotonuʹ, ko ‘ene ‘ofaʹ ‘oku fononga fakataha mo ‘ene maʻoniʻoniʹ, ko ‘ene kelesiʹ ‘oku nonoʻo ki heʻene moʻoniʹ pea ko hono iviʹ ‘oku nofo ‘i heʻene angavaivaiʹ.

‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha ‘Otua ‘oku fakakuikui ki he angahalaʹ pea mole ke mamaʻo haʻa ne hoifua ki ai ‘o hangē ko e ngaahi ‘otua ‘o e kau hīteniʹ. Ka ko e ‘Otua ‘oku ‘ikai te ne kātakiʻi ke mamata ki he faikoviʹ pea ‘e ‘ikai ‘aupito te ne fakahaofi ‘a e halaiaʹ. Ko e fetēkeaki lahi eni ‘oku hoko ‘i he vā ‘o e filōsefaʹ mo e kalisitianeʹ. ‘Oku pehē ‘e he tangata filōsefaʹ, “Kapau ko e ‘otua ia, kuopau leva ke ne fakakakato mai ‘a e ngaahi makatuʻunga ko eni ‘oku ou fokotuʻu atuʹ.” Ka ‘oku tali mai ‘e he kalisitianeʹ, “Ko ‘etau ngaueʹ ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau toe fokotuʻu (ngaohi) ‘otua, ka ke tau tulituli ke tau talangofua ki he ‘Otua pe taha kuo fakaeʻa mai ‘i he Folofola moʻoniʹ.

The Holy Spirit, however, when he illuminates their minds, leads us to see that Jehovah is God, and beside him there is none else. He teaches his people to know that the God of heaven and earth is the God of the Bible, a God whose attributes are completely balanced, mercy attended by justice, love accompanied by holiness, grace of rain in truth, and power linked with tenderness. He is not a God who winks at sin, much less is pleased with it, as the gods of the heathen are supposed to be, but a God who cannot look upon iniquity, and will by no means spare the guilty. This is the great quarrel of the present day between the philosopher and the Christian. The philosopher says, “Yes, a god if you will, but he must be of such a character as I now dogmatically set before you”; but the Christian replies, “Our business is not to invent a god, but to obey the one Lord who is revealed in the Scriptures of truth.”

Falaite Sepitema 22, 2017

Ko e Lao ‘uluaki, ua mo e tolu

The first three Commandments

Fehuʻi #9

Ko e hā ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni ‘e he ‘Otuá  ‘i he ‘uluaki, ua, mo e tolu ‘o e ngaahi Laó.

(What does God require in the first, second, and third Commandments?)

‘Uluakí , ke tau ‘ilo mo falala ki he ‘Otuá , ko Ia tokotaha pe ko e ‘Otua mo‘oni mo mo‘ui. Uá, ke tau faka‘ehi‘ehi ki he tauhi ‘aitolí mo ‘etau lotu ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he founga ‘oku hala. Tolú, ke tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e huafa ‘o e ‘Otuá  mo ‘apasia ki ai pea ke tau fakahikihiki‘i ‘a ‘ene Folofolá mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaué .

(First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his word and works.)

Teutalonome 6:13-14

13 Ko Sihova ko ho ‘Otuá te ke ‘apasia ki ai, pea ko ia ia te ke tauhi ki ai, pea ko hono huafa te ke fuakava ai. 14 ‘E ‘ikai te ke muimui ki ha ngaahi ‘otua kehe, hani ‘otua ‘o e ngaahi kakai ‘oku nofo takatakai kiate kimoutolu;

Deuteronomy 6:13-14

13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.

Komeniteli ‘a Salesi Hatone Sipeisione

Commentary - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

‘Oku tataki ‘e he ‘Otuaʹ ‘a e tangataʹ ke ne ‘ilo ko e ‘Otua ‘oku fakaeʻa ‘i he Folofolaʹ pea hā sino ‘i he ‘Eiki ko Sisu Kalaisiʹ, ko e ‘Otua ia naʻa ne fakatupu ‘a e langiʹ mo mamaniʹ. ‘Oku fatu pe ‘e he tangataʹ ‘a e ‘otua ke hoa mo ‘ene manakoʹ; ‘oku ne ngaohi ‘a e ‘otua ‘o fakatatau ki heʻene fakakaukauʹ mo hono ‘ātakaiʹ; ko e ‘otua ‘oku hoa mo hono lotoʹ pea ‘e ‘ikai ke fuʻu mamafa ‘ene tokanga ki heʻene ngaahi fehālaakiʹ pea fakamaauʻi fefeka ‘a e kau maumau laoʹ. ‘Oku ne fakaʻikaiʻi ‘a e ‘Otua moʻuiʹ ‘i hono tuʻunga ‘Otuaʹ, kae tō ‘ene fakamamafaʹ ki he ngaahi ‘otua kehe ‘oku ne fakahōhōʻiaʻi hono lotoʹ. Pea ‘oku ne pehē leva ki he ‘otua ko eni ‘o ‘ene fakakaukauʹ, “Ko eni ho ‘otuaʹ, ‘e haʻa ‘Isileli.”

God leads men to see that the God revealed in Scripture, and manifested in the person of the Lord Jesus, is the God who made heaven and earth. Man fashions for himself a god after his own liking; he makes to himself if not out of wood or stone, yet out of what he calls his own consciousness, or his cultured thought, a deity to his taste, who will not be too severe with his iniquities or deal out strict justice to the impenitent. He rejects God as he is, and elaborates other gods, such as he thinks the Divine One ought to be, and he says concerning these works of his own imagination, “These be thy gods, O Israel!”

Tu‘apulelulu Sepitema 21, 2017

Ko e founga mo e kapasa fononga

a pattern and a way of living

Fehuʻi #8

Ko e hā ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otuá  ‘oku hiki ‘i he Fekau ‘e Hongofulú?

(What is the law of God stated in the Ten Commandments?)

‘Oua na‘a ai hao ‘Otua kehe, ‘o ua ‘aki au. ‘Oua te ke ngaohi ma‘au ha tamapua, pe ha momo‘i fakatātā ‘o ha me‘a ‘o e langi ‘i ‘olunga na, pe ‘o māmani ‘i lalo ni, pe ‘o e tahi ‘i lolofonua. ‘Oua te ke hū ki ai, pea ‘oua te ke tauhi ki ai. ‘Oua te ke takuanoa ‘a e huafa ‘o Sihova ko ho ‘Otua. Manatu ‘a e ‘aho Sāpate ke tauhi ia ke tapu. Faka‘apa‘apa ki ho‘o tamai mo ho‘o fa‘ē. ‘Oua na‘a ke fakapō. ‘Oua na‘a ke tono ‘unoho. ‘Oua na‘a ke kaiha‘a. ‘Oua na‘a ke tu‘u ko e fakamo‘oni loi. ‘Oua te ke manumanu.

(You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below – you shall not bow down to them or worship them. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. You shall not covet.)

‘Ekisoto 20:3

‘Oua na‘a ai hao ‘Otua kehe, ‘o ua ‘aki Au.

Exodus 20:3

You shall have no other gods before Me.

Lotu

‘Otua Tapuhā, na‘á  ke fakahaa‘i ho‘o ‘ofa ki ho‘o kakaí  ‘aki ho‘o foaki kiate kinautolu ho‘o laó. Tokoni mai ke mau fakamālō ma‘u pe ‘emau ma‘u ho‘o laó . Na‘e ‘ikai te ke tukuange kimautolu ke mau nofo mūnoa mo ta‘e‘ilo ki he founga ‘o ‘emau fou atu ‘i he ‘alunga ‘o e ma‘oni‘oní . Tokoni‘i kimautolu ke mau fakalangilangi‘i ‘a ho‘o ‘afió ‘aki ‘emau talangofua ki ho‘o Fekau ‘e Hongofulú . ‘Emeni.

Prayer

Holy God, you showed your love to your people by giving them your commands. May we always give thanks for your law. You have not left us ignorant of how to walk in the way of righteousness. Help us to glorify you by obeying your Ten Commandments. Amen.