ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite ‘Epeleli 4, 2023 

The Illuminating Tree of Life מנורה      

Ko e Fu‘u ‘Akau Maama ‘o e Mo‘ui

EXODUS 25:31

"YOU SHALL MAKE A LAMPSTAND OF PURE GOLD. THE LAMPSTAND SHALL BE MADE OF HAMMERED WORK: ITS BASE, ITS STEM, ITS CUPS, ITS CALYXES, AND ITS FLOWERS SHALL BE OF ONE PIECE WITH IT."

‘EKISOTO 25:31

Pea te ke ngaohi ha tu‘unga-maama ‘aki ‘a e koula haohaoa: ‘e ngaohi tuki pē ‘a e tu‘unga maama; ko hono tu‘unga mo hono sino, ko hono ngaahi matala, ko hono ngaahi lūpū mo hono ngaahi tangitangi, te nau sino taha ai pē.

Though Adam and Eve were barred from the tree of life in God's sacred garden (Gen. 3:24), the Lord provided a substitute tree for their descendants in his tabernacle. His sanctuary was a new Eden in the midst of a fallen world. Flora and fauna, as from a garden, adorned its tent curtains. And in its holy place, there was a menorah ("lampstand"), with branches, as from a tree, coming out either side. The menorah was the replacement tree of life, illuminating God's Eden-like sanctuary with the flaming fruit of light.

The OT menorah, iconic of light and life, became symbolic of both God's Spirit (Rev. 4:5) and his churches (Rev. 1:20). The Spirit "has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6). And as Christ's church, we let that light "shine before others, so that they may see [our] good works and give glory to [our] Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). We reflect the Messiah, "the light of the world" (John 9:5), who turned the tree of the cross into the tree of life.

"Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!" (Ps. 4:6).