ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu‘apulelulu 7 Fepueli 2019

Ko e Taki fou ‘i he Laumālie, pe ko e kakno

Leadership styles – by the Spirit or by the flesh

1 SAMIUELA 13-14 (1 SAMUEL 13-14)

VEESI LAULOTO: 1 SAMIUELA 16:7

Ka ka folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Sāmiuela, ‘Oua na‘a tokanga‘i hono fōtunga, pe ko hono mā‘olunga; he kuo u li‘aki ia: he tala‘ehai ko e fai ki he sio ‘a e tangata; he ‘oku sio ‘a e tangata ki he mata, ka ‘oku sio ‘a e ‘Eiki ki he loto.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord

Ko e taha ‘o e ngaahi nunu’a ‘o e hoko ‘a ‘Isileli ko ha pule’anga fakatu’i, ko hono toe fakamo’ui mai ‘a e vakovi pea mo e fonua kaunga’api ‘o ‘Isileli, ‘a ia ko e Ha’a Filisitia.  Na’e ikuna’i fakakautau ‘e Saula ‘a Filisitia pea na’e fiefia ai ‘a e kakai ‘Isileli ‘i honau Tu’i fo’ou.  ‘Ia 1 Samiuela 13-14, ‘oku ha ai ha faikehekehe ‘i he founga taki ‘a Saula pea mo hono foha ko Sonatane, na’e tataki ‘e Sonatane ‘a e konga ‘o e kau tau ‘a ‘Isileli. Na’e femo’uekina pe ‘a Saula ‘i he’ene ngaahi taumu’a faka’eia pe, ‘o a’u ki he’ene situ’a ‘o ne ta’e toka’i ‘a e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ‘a e ‘Otua fekau’aki mo e taula’eiki, ‘o  a’u ki he’ene fai feilaulau na’e houhau ai e ‘Otua.   Ko e fa’ahinga to’onga eni ‘a Saula mo ‘ene talangata’a na’e iku ai ki hono li’aki  ia ‘e he ‘Otua, pea ne fili ‘a Tevita ke ne fetongi ia, ko ha tangata na’e hoa mo e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua (13:14).

Na’e fu’u fehangahangai ‘aupito ia mo e founga taki ‘a Sonatane, he na’e falala ia ki he mafai ‘a e ‘Otua mo e tataki ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o ne tomu’a fekumi ke ma’u ‘a e finangalo ‘a e ‘Otua pea ne toki fai ha me’a.  Ko e sipinga mo’ui mei he ongo tangata ko ‘eni, ‘oku ne fakamanatu kiate kitautolu ‘a e mahu’inga ketau tui falala ki he ‘Otua pea fakaongoongo kiate Ia ‘i he me’a ‘oku tau fai he ko ‘ene fekau’aki ia ‘a e ‘Otua mo kitautolu ‘i hono tauhi hotau va.

One of the consequences of Israel's new monarchy was a renewed conflict with the Philistines, Israel's enemy neighbor. Saul experienced military victory, which encouraged the people in their ability to fight back against the Philistines. First Samuel 13-14 draw a comparison between the leadership of Saul and Jonathan, Saul's son and commander of half of Israel's army. Saul was consumed by his own selfish goals, to the point that he ignored God's instruction and usurped the role of priest, offering a sacrifice that displeased God. This pattern of disobedience would lead to an abrupt end to Saul's reign, when he would be replaced by David, "a man after [God's] own heart" (13:14, ESV). Jonathan, on the other hand, acknowledged trust in God's power and leadership, seeking confirmation from God before acting. The lives of these two men are a reminder that what you believe about God determines the actions you take in your relationship with Him.