Pulelulu Me 31, 2023

Growling over God's Word  הגה

NGUNGULU HO’O TOKONI ‘I HE FOLOFOLA ‘A E ‘OTUA

JOSHUA 1:8

"THIS BOOK OF THE LAW [I.E., TORAH] SHALL NOT DEPART FROM YOUR MOUTH, BUT YOU SHALL MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT, SO THAT YOU MAY BE CAREFUL TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT."

SIOSIUA 1:8

‘E ‘ikai mahu‘i mei ho ngutu ‘a e tohi lao ko ia, ka te ke fakalaulauloto ki ai ‘i he ‘aho mo e pō, koe‘uhi ke ke tokanga ke fai ‘o hangē ko e me‘a kotoa kuo tohi ai; he te ke toki monū‘ia ‘i he me‘a ‘oku ke fou ai, pea te ke fai fakapotopoto ai.

The Hebrew verb for meditate is hagah. But don't conjure up the image of a Buddhist monk sitting in the lotus position chanting "Om." Picture a lion growling over his prey (Isa. 31:4). Picture a dove cooing or moaning in distress (Isa. 38:14). The prophet Isaiah uses hagah to describe the sounds of both these animals. This is the voice of meditation. Meditation, in other words, is not all about closing your eyes, saying nothing, and disappearing inside yourself. It is about focusing your eyes on the Bible, saying the words, and disappearing inside Christ. When you meditate, you are a lion crouching over its prey. You are the eater and the Word is your food. Take a bite, chew it, taste it, crunch the verbs, salivate over the nouns. There's no rush. This is not McDonald's. Savor the feast. Growl over the words you swallow. Let them echo from the chambers of your body. Let each one have its say. No word is unimportant. Each has a voice. Let them roll off your tongue. What you are eating is what you are saying. God's Word becomes your word.

O Lord, teach us to delight in your Word, that we may meditate in it day and night.

Tusite Me 30, 2023

The Kiss of Death  נשיקה

KO E FEKITA ‘O E MAVAE

DEUTERONOMY 34:5-7

SO MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD DIED THERE IN THE LAND OF MOAB, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND HE BURIED HIM IN THE VALLEY IN THE LAND OF MOAB OPPOSITE BETH-PEOR; BUT NO ONE KNOWS THE PLACE OF HIS BURIAL TO THIS DAY. MOSES WAS 120 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED. HIS EYE WAS UNDIMMED, AND HIS VIGOR UNABATED.

TEUTALONOME 34:5-7

5Ko ia na‘e pekia ‘i he potu ko ia ‘a Mōsese ko e Sevāniti ‘a Sihova, ‘i he fonua ‘o Moape, ‘i he funga ‘o e folofola tonu ‘a Sihova. 6Pea na‘a Ne tanu ia ‘i he tele‘a, ‘i he fonua ‘o Moape, ‘o hanga ki Pete-Peoli: ka ‘oku ‘ikai ‘ilo ha taha ki hono fa‘itoka ‘o a‘u ki he ‘aho ni. 7Pea kuo teau mā uofulu ta‘u ‘a Mōsese ‘i he‘ene pekia, kuo ‘ikai nenefu hono mata, pe taumatala hono ivi.

According to an old Jewish legend, God took the soul of Moses by a kiss (n'shiqah) on the mouth. This gave rise to the Hebrew expression mitat n'shiqah ("death by a kiss"), referring to a sudden and peaceful death in old age. The rabbis derived this from Moses' death "according to the word of the LORD," or, literally, "according to the peh [mouth] of Yahweh." God's mouth gave Moses the kiss of death. A fanciful interpretation, yes, but one that is quite beautiful and hopeful in its message.

Moses, the beloved servant of God, was kissed from this life while his eyes beheld the promised land. That is a picture for us as well: while our eyes are locked on the resurrection, the everlasting promised land, we die with the kiss of God on our lips-the very same lips that, at the end, will say, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Rev. 21:5).

Until our journey's end, O Christ, keep us in your grace and, at your trumpet's blast, raise us to life eternal.

Monite Me 29, 2023

Jeshurun: Israel's Nickname

SESULUNI, KO E HINGOA FAKATENETENE ‘O ‘ISILELI 

DEUTERONOMY 32:15

"BUT JESHURUN GREW FAT, AND KICKED; YOU GREW FAT, STOUT, AND SLEEK; THEN HE FORSOOK GOD WHO MADE HIM AND SCOFFED AT THE ROCK OF HIS SALVATION."

TEUTALONOME 32:15

Ka ‘i he sino leva ‘a Sesuluni, pea ne ‘aka ; Kuo ke sino, kuo ke nga‘eke, kuo ke putoputa!– Pea ne toki li‘aki ‘a e ‘Otua na‘e ngaohi ia, ‘O ne va‘inga‘aki hono makatu‘u fakamo‘ui‘anga.

Giving the name "Jeshurun" to Israel is like nicknaming an NFL linebacker "Tiny." The name derives from yashar, which means "straight" or "upright." Israel may have been many things, but upright? No, not in their moral resumé. In fact, in this verse, Jeshurun acts not upright but downright bad. Like an overweight and unruly calf, they kick at their owner. Forsake God. Scoff at the Rock of their salvation. In the three other occurrences of the name, Jeshurun has nothing to do with Israel's uprightness and everything to do with the rightness of the true Yashar-God himself (Deut. 33:5, 26; Isa. 44:2).

Doesn't Jeshurun sum up our entire existence as God's gifted people? We are holy (as a gift from the Holy God); we are righteous (as a gift from our righteous Savior); we are beloved (as a gift from our loving Father); we are upright (as a gift from our upright Lord). Our lives are "hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). Who we are, and who we are named, is reflected 100 percent in who he is and what he gives us by grace. We too are Jeshurun because we are Christ's people.

O Lord, who made us and helps us, praise be to you, for all we have is from your hand of mercy.

Sapate Me 28, 2023

Wheat, Kidneys, and Fat  חלב 

UITE, KOFUUA MO E NGAKO

DEUTERONOMY 32:13-14

[GOD] MADE [ISRAEL] RIDE ON THE HIGH PLACES OF THE LAND, AND HE ATE THE PRODUCE OF THE FIELD, AND HE SUCKLED HIM WITH HONEY OUT OF THE ROCK, AND OIL OUT OF THE FLINTY ROCK. CURDS FROM THE HERD, AND MILK FROM THE FLOCK, WITH FAT OF LAMBS, RAMS OF BASHAN AND GOATS, WITH THE VERY FINEST OF THE WHEAT-AND YOU DRANK FOAMING WINE MADE FROM THE BLOOD OF THE GRAPE. 

TEUTALONOME 32:13-14

13 Na‘a ne tuku ke ne fakateka ‘ene sāliote ‘I he ngaahi potu mā‘olunga ‘o e fonua, Pea ne kai ‘a e tupu ‘o e ngoue‘anga; Pea ne tuku ke ne misi honi mei he makatu‘u, Mo e lolo mei he maka hangē ha makahunu; 14 ‘a e pota ‘o e pulu, mo e huhu‘a ‘o e sipi, Mo e ngako ‘o e fanga lami, Mo e sipi tangata faka-Pēsani, mo e fanga kosi, Mo e ‘elito‘i uite; Pea mei he toto ‘o e kālepi na‘a ke inu uaine.

Fat has a bad reputation in western cultures. Not so in Israel. The chelev ("fat") of something is the best and finest part. For instance, "the very finest of the wheat" is literally the "fat of the kidneys of wheat." Pharaoh also tells Joseph that his family "shall eat the “chelev of the land" of Egypt (Gen. 45:18). Even in some modern societies, which, like Israel, regularly suffer through famines, fat is a sign of health and well-being. 

There are a few negative uses of fat in the OT ("fat hearts" = callousness in Ps. 17:10), but most are positive. In the biblical world, having a few extra inches on your waistline was not a reason for dieting but for dancing. So smile and thank God you have food on your table. And rejoice that one fine day we'll dine and enjoy desserts at the fat-laden, wine-rich wedding feast of the Lamb.

All praise to you, O Lord, for daily bread, daily delights, and the delicious food you provide for us.

Tokonaki Me 27, 2023

לענה Nephew Wormwood

KO E AKA ‘OKU ‘AHU MO KONA

DEUTERONOMY 29:18-19

"BEWARE LEST THERE BE AMONG YOU A MAN OR WOMAN OR CLAN OR TRIBE WHOSE HEART IS TURNING AWAY TODAY FROM THE LORD OUR GOD TO GO AND SERVE THE GODS OF THOSE NATIONS. BEWARE LEST THERE BE AMONG YOU A ROOT BEARING POISONOUS AND BITTER FRUIT, ONE WHO, WHEN HE HEARS THE WORDS OF THIS SWORN COVENANT, BLESSES HIMSELF IN HIS HEART, SAYING, 'I SHALL BE SAFE, THOUGH I WALK IN THE STUBBORNNESS OF MY HEART."

TEUTALONOME 29:18-19

18 na‘a ai ha taha ‘iate kimoutolu, ha tangata pe fefine, pe ha fāmili, pe ha matakali, ‘oku tafoki hono loto he ‘aho ni meia Sihova ko hotau ‘Otua, ke ‘alu ‘o tauhi ‘a e ngaahi ‘otua ‘a e ngaahi pule‘anga ko ē: ‘io, na‘a ai ‘iate kimoutolu ha aka ‘oku fakatupu ‘a e ‘ahu mo e kona‘ī‘ī: 19 pea ‘i he ‘iloange ‘oku ne fanongo ki he ngaahi lea ‘o e fuakava ni, pea ne fakamālie‘ia hono loto, ‘o pehē, Te u tu‘umālie pē, he ko e ta‘emangoi au, pea te u fai atu, koe‘uhi ke tafi‘i ‘a e mākona fakataha mo e fie inua.

C. S. Lewis was indebted to the word la'anah for the name of Wormwood, the junior tempter in The Screwtape Letters. And a devilish name it is, for la'anah refers to a plant that produces an intensely bitter oil. The OT uses la'anah metaphorically for idolatry (Deut. 29:18), an adulteress (Prov. 5:4), and divine chastisement (Jer. 9:15). Its Greek name is given to a great blazing star that plummets from heaven: "The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter" (Rev. 8:11).

The psalmist sings, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (119:103). God crafted us in his image for the honey of his Word, not the wormwood of lies. Open your lips to taste how sweet his salvation and mercy are!

Feed us with your grace, Lord Jesus, and see that no root of bitterness springs up among us (Heb. 12:15).

Falaite Me 26, 2023

ברזל Keep the Iron Away

‘Oua naa ke hiki ki ai ha toki ukamea (liliu ‘a Uesi)

DEUTERONOMY 27:5-7

"AND THERE [ON MT. EBAL] YOU SHALL BUILD AN ALTAR TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, AN ALTAR OF STONES. YOU SHALL WIELD NO IRON TOOL ON THEM; YOU SHALL BUILD AN ALTAR TO THE LORD YOUR GOD OF UNCUT STONES. AND YOU SHALL OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS ON IT TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YOU SHALL SACRIFICE PEACE OFFERINGS AND SHALL EAT THERE, AND YOU SHALL REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD."

TEUTALONOME 27:5-7

5 Pea te ke langa ai ha ‘ōlita kia Sihova ko ho ‘Otua, ko ha ‘ōlita langa maka: ‘e ‘ikai te ke apo ha ukamea ki ai. 6 Ko e ngaahi maka tekanoa te ke langa ‘aki ‘a e ‘ōlita ‘o Sihova ko ho ‘Otua: pea te ke feia ai ha ngaahi feilaulau-mōifua kia Sihova ko ho ‘Otua: 7 pea te ke fai mo e ngaahi feilaulau-‘ofa, mo kai ‘i he potu ko ia; pea te ke fakafiefia ‘i he ‘ao ‘o Sihova ko ho ‘Otua.

God doesn't always fully explain his "thou shalt nots." Take, for instance, the prohibition of using barzel ("iron") to hew stones for the altar. At Sinai, he said, "If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it" (Exod. 20:25; cf. 1 Kings 6:7). What did God have against iron? A likely explanation is offered in the Mishnah, an early Jewish collection of oral laws: "Iron was created to shorten man's days, while the altar was created to lengthen man's days; what shortens may not rightly be lifted up against what lengthens" (Middoth 3:4).

The altar was created to lengthen life. Through it the Lord cleansed, forgave, and sustained his people. But even the altar was temporary, awaiting the final sacrifice to be made-the Messiah's offering of himself, by which the Father has given us everlasting days in his kingdom.

Draw us to your altar, gracious Savior, that we may rejoice before you.

Tu’apulelulu Me 25, 2023

The Farmer's Creed   ארמי אבד אבי

KO E TUI ‘A E TANGATA FA’AA

DEUTERONOMY 26:5-6

"A WANDERING ARAMEAN WAS MY FATHER. AND HE WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT AND SOJOURNED THERE, FEW IN NUMBER, AND THERE HE BECAME A NATION, GREAT, MIGHTY, AND POPULOUS. AND THE EGYPTIANS TREATED US HARSHLY AND HUMILIATED US AND LAID ON US HARD LABOR."

TEUTALONOME 26:5-6

5 Pea te ke fokotu‘u atu ho‘o lea ‘i he ‘ao ‘o Sihova ko ho ‘Otua, ‘o pehē, Ko e motu‘a Sīlia tuēnoa ‘a hoku tupu‘anga, pea ne ‘alu hifo ki ‘Isipite, pea ne nofo muli ai ko e momo‘i kakai; pea ne hoko ai ko e pule‘anga lahi, mo kaukaua, mo kakai: 6 pea ngaohikovi‘i kimautolu ‘e he kau ‘Isipite, mo nau fakamamahi‘i, mo nau hilifaki mai ha fatongia faingata‘a.

These sentences are part of a longer confession that Israelites spoke when they presented a basket of produce at the sanctuary. Early rabbis called it the Mikra Bikkurim ("the firstfruits recitation"); we might call it the Farmer's Creed. It wasn't just thanksgiving for crops but joy over redemption. The opening alliterative words are poetic: "Arammi oved avi [A wandering Aramean was my father]." "My father" is Abraham, who came from Aram (Gen. 24:4, 10) and, at God's behest, wandered from his homeland (Gen. 12:1). When Abraham's family grew and eventually were enslaved, the Lord of the covenant redeemed them. He brought them to the land that now flourished with crops. Wandering no longer, they were rooted in holy soil.

God does blush over being the Creator. He loves physicality. His redeeming work and his creating words are two sides of the same coin. After all, our salvation is a flesh-and-blood man, who himself would have confessed not only that God was his heavenly Father but also that "a wandering Aramean was [his] father." Jesus, Son of God and son of Abraham, is our Creator and Redeemer.

Blessed are you, Jesus Christ, who has both made us and remade us as your own.

Pulelulu Me 24, 2023

מחה Blotting out Names

TAMATE‘I ‘A E NGAAHI HINGOA

DEUTERONOMY 25:17-19

"REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID TO YOU ON THE WAY AS YOU CAME OUT OF EGYPT, HOW HE ATTACKED YOU ON THE WAY WHEN YOU WERE FAINT AND WEARY, AND CUT OFF YOUR TAIL, THOSE WHO WERE LAGGING BEHIND YOU, AND HE DID NOT FEAR GOD. THEREFORE WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS GIVEN YOU REST FROM ALL YOUR ENEMIES AROUND YOU, IN THE LAND THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU FOR AN INHERITANCE TO POSSESS, YOU SHALL BLOT OUT THE MEMORY OF AMALEK FROM UNDER HEAVEN; YOU SHALL NOT FORGET."

TEUTALONOME 25:17-19

17 Manatu ki he me‘a na‘e fai kiate koe ‘e ‘Amaleki ‘i he hala, ‘i ho‘omou omi mei ‘Isipite; 18 he‘ene fakafetaulaki kiate koe ‘i he hala, ‘o ne taa‘i ho tukutau, ‘a ho kau vaivai na‘e fakatōtōmui, ‘i he taimi na‘a ke hela mo ongosia; ‘o ‘ikai te ne ‘apasia ki he ‘Otua. 19 Ko ia ka faifai pea fakamālōlō koe ‘e Sihova ko ho ‘Otua mei he fai mo ho ngaahi fili takatakai, ‘i he fonua kuo ne foaki kiate koe ke ke ma‘u mo‘ao tofi‘a, pea te ke tāmate‘i ‘a e manatu ki ‘Amaleki mei he lalo langi: ‘oua na‘a ngalo.

Among Hebrew curses, yimach shmo ranks near the top. Shmo is "his name" and yimach is from machah ("obliterate" or "blot out") - thus "may his name be blotted out." God machah all life in the flood (Gen. 6:7). David asks the Lord to machah his iniquities (Ps. 51:9). Because the Amalekites ambushed the most vulnerable, God commands that the memory of this people be machah from under heaven.

To the church in Sardis, Jesus puts a positive spin on this image: "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels" (Rev. 3:5). Our names in the book of life are written not in pencil but in indelible ink. Jesus will never machah them. 

Blot out our iniquities, Lord Jesus, and joyfully speak our names before your heavenly host.

Tusite Me 23, 2023

תלה Hung on a Tree

TAUTAUA ‘I HE ‘AKAU

DEUTERONOMY 21:22-23

"IF A MAN HAS COMMITTED A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH AND HE IS PUT TO DEATH, AND YOU HANG HIM ON A TREE, HIS BODY SHALL NOT REMAIN ALL NIGHT ON THE TREE, BUT YOU SHALL BURY HIM THE SAME DAY, FOR A HANGED MAN IS CURSED BY GOD. YOU SHALL NOT DEFILE YOUR LAND THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU FOR AN INHERITANCE."

TEUTALONOME 21:22-23

22 Pea ka kuo feia ‘e ha tangata ha angahala ko hono tautea ‘i he lao ko e mate, pea ‘oku tāmate‘i ia, pea ke tautau ‘i ha ‘akau; 23 ‘e ‘ikai ‘ahoia hono ‘anga‘anga ‘i he ‘akau, ka kuo pau ke ke tanu ia ‘i he ‘aho pē ko ia; he ko ia ‘oku tautau ko e koto mala‘ia ki he ‘Otua; koe‘uhiā ke ‘oua te mou ‘uli‘i ho kelekele ‘oku foaki kiate koe ‘e Sihova ko ho ‘Otua.

Stoning was the ordinary way of execution among the Israelites. Sometimes, however, the body of the criminal would be temporarily exposed to public view. They would talah ["hang [him] up") on a tree. Joshua, for instance, talah the body of the king of Ai "on a tree until evening" (Josh. 8:29; cf. 10:26). Death on a tree marked him as one "cursed by God."

When Paul wanted to double down on just how far Christ went to redeem us, he turned to the Torah: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"" (Gal. 3:13). How great is the Great Exchange! The Messiah becomes a curse that we might receive a blessing, and dies that we might live. The Son of God is emptied of everything so that we might overflow with his Father's love and gifts.

Lord of the tree, who underwent the curse for us, fill us with your blessings that we might live in you.

Monite Me 22, 2023

עין תחת עין An Eye for an Eye

KO E MATA KI HE MATA

DEUTERONOMY 19:21

"YOUR EYE SHALL NOT PITY. IT SHALL BE LIFE FOR LIFE, EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH, HAND FOR HAND, FOOT FOR FOOT."

TEUTALONOME 19:21

Pea ‘e ‘ikai te ke mata mamae ki ai; ko e mo‘ui pē ma‘a ha mo‘ui, ko e mata pē ma‘a ha mata, ko e nifo pē ma‘a ha nifo, ko e nima pē ma‘a ha nima, ko e va‘e ma‘a ha va‘e.

Leviticus first informs us of this law: "whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him ayin tachat ayin ['eye for eye']" (24:20; cf.Exod. 21:22-25). This so-called law of retaliation (Latin: lex talionis) should not be read with wooden legalism. Rather, it's a general principle that the punishment should fit the crime. It's not "two arms and two legs for an eye" or "a firstborn child for an eye" but ayin tachat ayin. This principle was well known in ancient times; laws such as this are also found in the famous eighteenth-century BC Babylonian Code of Hammurabi.

Jesus quotes the "eye for eye" law but proceeds to add: "But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39). Jesus, rather than undoing the law, actually doubles down on it, for it is much easier to seek retribution than to demonstrate mercy. We are much more prone to rip our enemy's head off than offer him our cheek in love. And so we are caught. Even the keeping of ayin tachat ayin shows we have an eye only to self-interest. And so we pray: 

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Sapate Me 21, 2023

Forthtelling and Foretelling  נביא 

KO E PALOFITA KE LEA FAKAPATONU MO LEA KIKITE

DEUTERONOMY 18:15

"THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM AMONG YOU, FROM YOUR BROTHERS-IT IS TO HIM YOU SHALL LISTEN."

TEUTALONOME 18:15

‘E fokotu‘u ‘e Sihova ko ho ‘Otua mei ho lotolotonga, mei ho kāinga, hao palōfita hangē ko au; ko ia pē te mou fanongo ki ai;

Some people envision a biblical navi ("prophet") isolated in a cave, meditating, waiting for God to whisper an oracle into his ears that he will carry to Israel so they'll be privy to the future. Granted, some n'vi'im ("prophets") had ecstatic experiences. And, yes, the Word of the Lord would come to them, often in visions. But a navi was primarily a preacher. God's mouth to Israel's ears. At times they would foretell the future, but the main duty of their vocation was forthtelling. They interpreted and preached on the Scriptures, especially the Torah. In Jewish tradition, even the authors of books like Joshua, Judges, and Kings were prophetic historians. Moses was a forthtelling prophet, but near the end of his life, he also foretold the advent of the Prophet of prophets. 

As a true prophet, Jesus did not speak on his own authority, but he said what the Father had told him to say (John 12:49-50). Indeed, many people thought he was just a prophet or an OT prophet come back to life (Matt. 16:14). But as Peter confessed, he was much more: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (v. 16).

Jesus, Son of the living God, give us ears to listen to you, and enliven us with your grace, that we might boldly confess your name.

Tokonaki Me 20, 2023

סוס The Equestrian Christ

KO E KALAISI ‘OKU NE HEKA KI HA HOOSI

DEUTERONOMY 17:16

[THE ISRAELITE KING WHOM GOD CHOOSES] MUST NOT ACQUIRE MANY HORSES FOR HIMSELF OR CAUSE THE PEOPLE TO RETURN TO EGYPT IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE MANY HORSES, SINCE THE LORD HAS SAID TO YOU, "YOU SHALL NEVER RETURN THAT WAY AGAIN."

TEUTALONOME 17:16

Ka ko ‘eni pē, ‘e ‘ikai te ne fakalahi ‘ene fanga hoosi, pea ‘e ‘ikai te ne fakafoki ‘a e kakai ki ‘Isipite koe‘uhi ke tokolahi ‘ene fanga hoosi: he kuo folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kiate kimoutolu, ‘E ‘ikai te mou toe foki ‘i he hala ko ē.

The Bible saddles the sus ("horse") with both positive and negative connections. Positively, Jeremiah promises that the sons of David will sit on his throne, "riding in chariots and on horses" if they "do justice and righteousness" (22:1-4). Negatively, however, Israelite kings "must not acquire many horses" (Deut. 17:16). Solomon shattered this law to smithereens, for he "had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen" (1 Kings 4:26)! The sus also embodied the rush to evil ("like a horse plunging headlong into battle" Jer. 8:6) and lust ("they were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife" 5:8).

Jesus rode a donkey into the city where he was crucified, but he will return on a different animal. A white warhorse will appear from heaven, with the King, the Messiah, astride him (Rev. 19:11). His eyes are aflame. A diadem crown adorns his brow. On his robe and thigh is written, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (v. 16). Celestial armies trail behind him on their own white mounts (v. 14). They ride to destroy, for all time, every for that faces us.

Ride to our rescue, faithful and true Warrior, when enemies encircle and attack us.

Falaite Me 19, 2023

Ear-Piercing, Hebrew Style  רצע 

VILI TELINGA FAKA-HEPELU

DEUTERONOMY 15:16-17

"IF [YOUR HEBREW SERVANT] SAYS TO YOU, 'I WILL NOT GO OUT FROM YOU, BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD, SINCE HE IS WELL-OFF WITH YOU, THEN YOU SHALL TAKE AN AWL, AND PUT IT THROUGH HIS EAR INTO THE DOOR, AND HE SHALL BE YOUR SLAVE FOREVER."

TEUTALONOME 15:16-17

16 Ka ‘oka ‘iloange te ne pehē kiate koe, ‘E ‘ikai te u ‘alu atu meiate koe, koe‘uhi ‘oku ne ‘ofa kiate koe mo ho fale, he ‘oku ne tu‘umālie ‘ene nofo mo koe; 17 pea te ke to‘o ‘a e vili, ‘o vili fakau‘u hono telinga ki he matapā, pea te ne hoko ko ho‘o tamaio‘eiki ‘o ta‘engata. Pea te ke fai pehē foki ki ho‘o kaunanga.

When hard times fell on the Israelites, they would sometimes willingly become temporary servants of their fellow believers. Every seventh year (the Sabbath year), they would be liberated. Sometimes, however, if they grew to love the people for whom they labored, they chose to remain lifelong servants in that household. In such cases, they received an earpiercing, Hebrew style. The verb ratza ("pierce") occurs only once: "His master shall ratza his ear through with an awl" (Exod. 21:6). This earpiercing marked him or her as a willing permanent servant. The ear was especially fitting because, henceforth, the servant would "give ear" to the instructions of his master.

The Messiah says to his Father, you have "given me an open ear" (Ps. 40:6). What the ear-piercing of servants symbolized, Christ made a reality. He had no need of piercing, for the ears of this anointed Servant were always open to the voice of his Father, willingly and everlastingly doing his will to accomplish the salvation and freedom of humanity.

Open our ears, heavenly Father, to hear the voice of the Spirit of your Son speaking through your Word.