ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

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.