ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Pulelulu ‘Epeleli 19, 2023

מלאים A Priestly Handful

Ongo nima ‘oku fonu

LEVITICUS 8:33

SHALL NOT GO OUTSIDE THE ENTRANCE OF THE [MOSES SAID TO AARON AND HIS SON.] "AND YOU TENT OF MEETING FOR SEVEN DAYS, UNTIL THE DAYS OF YOUR ORDINATION ARE COMPLETED, FOR IT WILL TAKE SEVEN DAYS TO ORDAIN YOU."

LEVITIKO 8:33

Pea ‘e ‘ikai te mou hū kitu‘a mei he mata Tēniti Fe‘iloaki‘anga, ‘o ‘aho fitu; kae‘oua ke kakato ‘a e ngaahi ‘aho ‘o homou fakanofo: “He ko ha ‘aho ‘e fitu te ne fai ai homou fakanofo.

When we say, "My hands are full," we mean that we have become busy. When an Israelite said, "My hands are full," he meant that he had become a priest. Though traditionally translated "ordination," millu'im means "filling." It's based on the verb mala ("fill") and derived from the Hebrew idiom "to fill the hand." Moses took bread, oil, and a sacrifice, "and he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons" (8:27). This "filling of their hands" placed them in office.

After his resurrection, Jesus showed his disciples "his hands and his feet" (Luke 24:40). Those scarred hands were the priestly insignia of his office. The Father had given all things into his hands (John 13:3). With those almighty hands he washed dirty feet and received piercing nails. Now he lifts those same hands to bless us, intercede for us, and one day to raise our bodies and place us in the New Jerusalem. There each of us, like the high priest of old, shall wear on our foreheads the holy name of God (Exod. 28:36; Rev. 22:4).

Fill our hands, Holy Spirit, with the blessings of our Father, that we might serve as co-priests with our great High Priest.