Falaite Sune 30, 2023

No Barbers, Bars, and Bodies נזיר 

KO E TAPUTAPUI ‘O E MO‘UI NASILI

JUDGES 13:3-5

AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THE WOMAN AND SAID TO HER, "BEHOLD, YOU ARE BARREN AND HAVE NOT BORNE CHILDREN, BUT YOU SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON. THEREFORE BE CAREFUL AND DRINK NO WINE OR STRONG DRINK, AND EAT NOTHING UNCLEAN, FOR BEHOLD, YOU SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON. NO RAZOR SHALL COME UPON HIS HEAD, FOR THE CHILD SHALL BE A NAZIRITE TO GOD FROM THE WOMB. AND HE SHALL BEGIN TO SAVE ISRAEL FROM THE HAND OF THE PHILISTINES."

FAKAMAAU 13:3-5

3 Pea hā ‘a e ‘Āngelo ‘a Sihova ki he fefine, ‘o ne me‘a ki ai, Sī ni, ko eni kuo ke pa‘a, ‘o ‘ikai te ke fanau: ka te ke feitama, pea te ke fā‘ele‘i ha tama tangata. 4 Pea ko ia ke ke faka‘ehi‘ehi mu‘a, ‘o ‘oua te ke inu uaine, pe ha kava mālohi, pea ‘oua te ke kai ha me‘a ‘oku tapu; 5 he, vakai, te ke feitama, ‘o ke fā‘ele‘i ha tama tangata, pea ‘e ‘ikai apo ha tele ki hono ‘ulu: he ko e tamasi‘i te ne nofo ko e nāsili kia Sihova mei hono fanau‘i: pea ko ia ia te ne kamata ke fakahaofi ‘a ‘Isileli mei ke kau Filisitia.

The name Nazarite (Nazir) is from nazar ("separate"). They vowed to nazar themselves from haircuts, consumption of vine products, and contact with any corpse (Num. 6:1-21). This vow was usually temporary, though Samson's was lifelong. He was a total Nazarite flunky, however, not only in eating honey from a lion corpse but in getting buzzed by Delilah.

John the Baptist may have been a Nazarite, since he was not to consume "wine or strong drink" (Luke 1:15). Both Samson and John gave their lives in the service of the Lord. Samson "saved Israel" and John rolled out the prophetic carpet for the Messiah. Both were agents in the divine plan that culminated in the one who loves us so intimately that he counts even the hairs of our heads.

"Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come" (Ps. 71:18).

Tu’apulelulu Sune 29, 2023

שׁבלת Shibboleth

Si‘ipoleti

JUDGES 12:5-6

THE GILEADITES CAPTURED THE FORDS OF THE JORDAN AGAINST THE EPHRAIMITES. AND WHEN ANY OF THE FUGITIVES OF EPHRAIM SAID, "LET ME GO OVER," THE MEN OF GILEAD SAID TO HIM, "ARE YOU AN EPHRAIMITE? WHEN HE SAID, "NO," THEY SAID TO HIM, "THEN SAY SHIBBOLETH," AND HE SAID, "SIBBOLETH," FOR HE COULD NOT PRONOUNCE IT RIGHT. THEN THEY SEIZED HIM AND SLAUGHTERED HIM AT THE FORDS OF THE JORDAN.

FAKAMAAU 12:5-6

5 He na‘e hala tutu‘u ‘a Kiliati ki he kakai ‘Ifalemi, ‘o nau ma‘u ‘a e a‘a‘anga ‘o Soatani: pea ka faifai pea lea ange ‘e he kau ‘Ifalemi kuo hola, Ka u a‘a atu mu‘a; pea tali ange ‘e he kau Kiliati, Ko e ‘Ifalemi koe? Pea ka tali ‘e ia, ‘Ikai; pea te nau pehē ki ai, Lea mai ‘o pehē, Si‘ipoleti. 6 Ka te ne pehē Sipoleti: he na‘e ‘ikai te ne lava ke fai hangē ko ia pea te nau toki puke ia, ‘o fakapoongi ‘i he ngaahi a‘a‘anga ‘o Soatani; pea ko e kakai ‘Ifalemi na‘e tō ‘i he taimi ko ia ko e toko fā mano mo e toko ua afe.

Today a shibboleth is in-group speech that's purposefully exclusionary. It builds linguistic or ideological walls that declare, "You're in" or "You're out." The Hebrew word originally meant "ear of corn" or "flow of water" (scholars are divided on this), but the definition is peripheral. What mattered was whether your tongue was able to pronounce it with a Gileadite accent. What renders the bloodbath from Judges so depressing is that it was a war between brother Israelites. Not knowing the "password" meant not seeing another sunrise. Speech and slaughter have a long and ragged history in humanity.

On the night of Jesus' arrest, Peter was recognized by his Galilean accent (Matt. 26:73). This brother would thrice deny his brother, the student his rabbi. Thank God that though the body of Jesus was bruised and battered from head to toe, his tongue remained uninjured, that he might intercede for us with words his Father would hear, understand, and answer.

"O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear" (Ps. 10:17).

Pulelulu Sune 28, 2023

אטד The Bramble King

KO E TU‘I TALATALA’AMOA

JUDGES 9:14-15

"THEN ALL THE TREES SAID TO THE BRAMBLE. YOU COME AND REIGN OVER US.' AND THE BRAMBLE SAID TO THE TREES, IF IN GOOD FAITH YOU ARE ANOINTING ME KING OVER YOU, THEN COME AND TAKE REFUGE IN MY SHADE, BUT IF NOT, LET FIRE COME OUT OF THE BRAMBLE AND DEVOUR THE CEDARS OF LEBANON.'"

FAKAMAAU 9:14-15

14 Pea toki lea ‘a e ‘Akau kotoa pē ki he Talatala‘āmoa, Ha‘u koe, ‘o pule kiate kitautolu. 15 Pea pehē ‘e he Talatala‘āmoa ki he ngaahi ‘Akau, Kapau mo‘oni te mou fakanofo au ke tu‘i kiate kimoutolu, pea mou omi ‘o hūfanga mai ki hoku malu: pea ka ‘ikai, pea ke ‘alu atu ha afi mei he Talatala‘āmoa, ‘o keina ‘a e ngaahi sita ‘o Lepanoni.

Compared to the NT and early rabbinic writings, which are full of mashalim ("parables" or "allegories"), the OT has relatively few. Jotham's fable, in Judges 9, is one of the more memorable. The trees, in the market for a king, offer to anoint the olive tree, fig, and vine, but they all refuse. But not the atad ("bramble," a species of buckthorn); it's all gung-ho for the job. This scrawny bush, riddled with thorns, represents the lowlife, brother-murdering Abimelech, whom the foolish citizens of Shechem had crowned. In the end, as Jotham predicted, this bramble king torched his own people. Afterward, his skull was crushed when a woman weaponized a millstone and brained him with it. Not all fables, it seems, end with "happily ever after.”

The crown of thorns topping the head of the King of kings was meant as a mockery, but how fitting it was, for the Messiah died for lowlifes too. For murderers and thieves and-most menacing of all-the self-righteous. His bramble crown marks true, selfless, divine royalty.

O thorn-crowned King, lover of humanity, reign over us in the power of your absolution.

Tusite Sune 27, 2023

The Harlot's Ephod

KO E ‘EFOTI ‘O E FE’AUAKI 

JUDGES 8:26-27

AND THE WEIGHT OF THE GOLDEN EARRINGS THAT [GIDEON] REQUESTED WAS 1,700 SHEKELS OF GOLD, BESIDES THE CRESCENT ORNAMENTS AND THE PENDANTS AND THE PURPLE GARMENTS WORN BY THE KINGS OF MIDIAN, AND BESIDES THE COLLARS THAT WERE AROUND THE NECKS OF THEIR CAMELS. AND GIDEON MADE AN EPHOD OF IT AND PUT IT IN HIS CITY, IN OPHRAH. AND ALL ISRAEL WHORED AFTER IT THERE, AND IT BECAME A SNARE TO GIDEON AND TO HIS FAMILY.

FAKAMAAU 8:26-27

26 Pea tā ko e mamafa ‘o e ngaahi hau koula kuo ne kole ko e sikeli koula ‘e taha afe mā fitungeau: tukukehe ‘a e fanga ki‘i māhina-kalipa, mo e ngaahi teunga tāupe, mo e ngaahi kofu kulokula na‘e kofu ‘aki ‘a e ongo Tu‘i Mitiani, pea tukukehe ‘a e ngaahi kahoa na‘e ‘i he kia ‘o ‘enau fanga kāmeli. 27 Pea ngaohi ‘aki ia ‘e Kitione ha ‘ēfoti, ‘o ne tuku ‘i hono kolo, ‘i ‘Ōfila; pea na‘e tango ki ai ‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli kātoa: pea na‘e hoko ia ko e tauhele kia Kitione mo hono fāmili.

Gideon started out well but ended poorly. The Spirit of the Lord had clothed him for victory (6:34). Then what did he do? Like a dog that bites the hand that feeds it, he turned on his divine master. Power bloated his head. He who had been clothed in the Spirit, reveling in his own success, then clothed an idol with an ephod made from the spoils of war. An ephod is a special vestment of a priest, worn over his chest (Exod. 28:6-14). This one, probably draped over a pagan image, was a harlot's ephod, for "all Israel whored after it there" in spiritual adultery. 

Gideon, a man of faith (Heb. 11:32), was also a man of selfish ambition - a deliverer direly in need of deliverance himself. Thank God that at the foot of which Christ's cross is a whole wardrobe, filled with the garments of salvation, in which Christ’s one size fits all.

Strip off our filthy garments, merciful Lord, and robe us in your absolving love.

Monite Sune 26, 2023

שׁופר Shofar

KO E ME‘AIFI

JUDGES 7:16

AND [GIDEON] DIVIDED THE 300 MEN INTO THREE THEM AND EMPTY JARS, WITH TORCHES INSIDE THE JARS. COMPANIES AND PUT TRUMPETS INTO THE HANDS OF ALL OF

FAKAMAAU 7:16

Pea na‘a ne vahevahe ‘a e toko tolungeau ko e vāhenga ‘e tolu, pea na‘a ne tuku ke nau to‘o talupite kotoa pē, mo ha nge‘esi sioki, pea mo e ngaahi tūhulu ‘i he loto sioki.

Gideon's itty-bitty army looked like students leaving pottery class on their way to band practice. No AR-15s, no grenades, just clay jars, torches, and a shofar in hand. The shofar, a well-known Hebrew instrument crafted from a hollowed-out ram's horn, was used in Israelite worship and battle. Under cover of night, Gideon's army broke their jars, raised high their torches, and blasted the shofar. The Midianite military, berserk with panic, turned swords on one another. Israel vanquished their foe without even unsheathing their swords.

The Messiah's final victory will happen when "he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call" (Matt. 24:31). "The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God" (1 Thess. 4:16). All this will happen "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52). That blast from the celestial shofar will sound from one end of creation to the other, to announce the defeat of death and the unending triumph of our resurrected Lord.

Ready our ears, O Lord, and prepare our hearts to rejoice at the shofar blast of resurrection.

Tokonaki Sune 24, 2023

Gideon's Nickname

KO E HINGOA FAKATENETENE ‘O KITIONE

JUDGES 6:31-32

BUT JOASH SAID TO ALL WHO STOOD AGAINST HIM. "WILL YOU CONTEND FOR BAAL? OR WILL YOU SAVE HIM? WHOEVER CONTENDS FOR HIM SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH BY MORNING. IF HE IS A GOD, LET HIM CONTEND FOR HIMSELF, BECAUSE HIS ALTAR HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN." THEREFORE ON THAT DAY GIDEON WAS CALLED JERUBBAAL, THAT IS TO SAY, "LET BAAL CONTEND AGAINST HIM," BECAUSE HE BROKE DOWN HIS ALTAR.

FAKAMAAU 6:31-32

31 Pea lea ‘a Soasi kiate kinautolu kotoa pē na‘e tu‘u mai kiate ia, Te mou taukapo‘i ‘a Peali, ‘e kimoutolu? pea te mou fakahaofi ia? Ko ia te ne taukapo‘i ia ke ne mate pē kei pongipongi. Kapau ko e ‘otua ia, tuku ke ne taukapo‘i ia ‘e ia, he kuo ne holoki hono ‘ōlita. 32 Ko ia na‘e fakahingoa ia ‘i he ‘aho ko ē ko Selupeali (ko Taukapo‘i-‘e-Peali) he‘ene pehē, Ke talatalaaki‘i ia ‘e Peali, he kuo ne holoki hono ‘ōlita.

Multiple forms of the little word riv occur in this brief exchange. It often means to contend or quarrel. It also carries a legal connotation, as in "act as a defense attorney." When the townspeople tell Joash his son must be executed for tearing down Baal's shrine, he scoffs, as if to ask, "Are you Baal's attorneys? What kind of lousy god needs to hire a law firm?" Seemingly won over by this argument, the citizens, using a pun, later give this altar wrecker the nickname Jerubbaal, which means "Let Baal contend [against him]." After all, if a deity can't manage to rescue himself, he must be a big, fat failure at being a god.

How different is the true God! "Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him" (Ps. 85:9). His Son is called Jesus, "for he will save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). In him, "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).

Jesus, friend of sinners, our advocate and brother, defend us by your almighty power.

Falaite Sune 23, 2023

The Canaanite Consorts  בעל אשרה 

    HOLOKI MO TUTU E ‘OTUA KENANI   

JUDGES 6:25-26

THAT NIGHT THE LORD SAID TO [GIDEON], "TAKE YOUR FATHER'S BULL, AND THE SECOND BULL SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND PULL DOWN THE ALTAR OF BAAL THAT YOUR FATHER HAS, AND CUT DOWN THE ASHERAH THAT IS BESIDE IT AND BUILD AN ALTAR TO THE LORD YOUR GOD ON THE TOP OF THE STRONGHOLD HERE, WITH STONES LAID IN DUE ORDER. THEN TAKE THE SECOND BULL AND OFFER IT AS A BURNT OFFERING WITH THE WOOD OF THE ASHERAH THAT YOU SHALL CUT DOWN."

FAKAMAAU 6:25-26

25 Pea ‘i he pō ko ia na‘e folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kiate ia, ‘Ave ‘a e pulu mui ‘a ho‘o ‘eiki, pea mo hono ua ‘o e pulu ‘oku fitu ta‘u, pea holoki ‘a e ‘ōlita ‘o Peali, ‘a ia ‘oku ‘a ho‘o tangata‘eiki, pea tā ‘a e ‘āsela ‘oku tu‘u ai; 26 pea te ke fokotu‘u ha ‘ōlita kia Sihova ko ho ‘Otua ‘i he funga ‘o e talitau‘anga ni ‘aki ‘a e me‘a kuo ‘osi teu; pea ke to‘o hono ua ‘o e pulu, ‘o fai‘aki ha feilaulau-mōifua, ‘o tutu ‘aki ‘a e ‘akau ‘o e ‘āsela ‘a ia kuo ke tā.

Baal and Asherah were a popular couple in the Canaanite pantheon. Baal, a junior god, was the sky deity; Asherah was the fertility goddess. Worshipers sacrificed to Baal for good weather and good crops, and to Asherah for fertility and children. A fruitful earth and fruitful wombs-those were elementary needs, especially in the ancient world. The Israelites, sharing those needs, and suffering from a chronic case of the wandering idolatrous eye, often became devotees of Baal and Asherah. That was the case in Gideon's family, who had an altar to Baal and an Asherah pole smack-dab in their backyard.

Syncretism-worshipping the true God alongside faux deities-was, and still is, humanity's premier temptation. Thus "You shall have no other gods" always accuses us, driving us to repentance and faith. In the Father, Son, and Spirit alone do we, with ever wandering hearts, find peace and abiding rest.

Teach us, Father, to fear, love, and trust in you above all things.

Tu’apulelulu Sune 22, 2023

ארבה The Locust

KO E HE‘E

JUDGES 6:4-5

[THE MIDIANITES AND THE AMALEKITES AND THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST] WOULD ENCAMP AGAINST THEM AND DEVOUR THE PRODUCE OF THE LAND, AS FAR AS GAZA, AND LEAVE NO SUSTENANCE IN ISRAEL AND NO SHEEP OR OX OR DONKEY. FOR THEY WOULD COME UP WITH THEIR LIVESTOCK AND THEIR TENTS; THEY WOULD COME LIKE LOCUSTS IN NUMBER-BOTH THEY AND THEIR CAMELS COULD NOT BE COUNTED-SO THAT THEY LAID WASTE THE LAND AS THEY CAME IN

FAKAMAAU 6:4-5

4 pea na‘a nau nofo ‘aki mai, ‘o maumau‘i ‘a e fua ‘o e fonua ‘o a‘u atu ki Kesa, ‘o ‘ikai te nau fakatoe ha me‘akai ‘i ‘Isileli, pe ha sipi, pe ha pulu, pe ha ‘asi. 5 He na‘a nau ha‘u mo kinautolu ‘enau fanga manu, mo honau ngaahi tēniti; na‘e hangē ko ha ta‘emalau ‘o ha fanga he‘e ‘enau tokolahi; na‘e ‘ikai lava ke lau ‘a kinautolu, pe ko ‘enau fanga kāmeli: pea na‘a nau ha‘u ki he fonua ke faka‘auha ia.

The arbeh ("locust") crawls all over the pages of the Bible. We first encounter this insect in Egypt, during the eighth plague (Exod. 10). Later, in the harrowing list of curses with which God will smite Israel should they scorn his covenant, devouring locusts are included (Deut. 28:38). The prophet Joel preaches in the aftermath of a locust infestation (1:4). When the author of Judges was looking for a metaphor to depict how hordes of neighboring peoples had gobbled up the produce of the land, he says they were "like locusts in number." Finally, in Revelation, ghoulish locusts cast woe on earth (9:1-12).

Yet there stands the forerunner of Jesus, chewing on the arbeh. John made locusts his prophetic lunch (Matt. 3:4). The one who prepared the way for the Messiah, even in his food choice, indicated that our Lord would devour the devourer, swallow the curse, and provide us with the food of blessing.

Lord of creation, be our tower of defense against everything that might harm body or soul.

Pulelulu Sune 21, 2023

מקבת Hammer Time

ALA KI HE HAMALA 

JUDGES 4:21

JAEL THE WIFE OF HEBER TOOK A TENT PEG, AND TOOK A HAMMER IN HER HAND. THEN SHE WENT SOFTLY TO [SISERA] AND DROVE THE PEG INTO HIS TEMPLE UNTIL IT WENT DOWN INTO THE GROUND WHILE HE WAS LYING FAST ASLEEP FROM WEARINESS. SO HE DIED. 

FAKAMAAU 4:21

Pea hanga ai ‘a Siaili ko e uaifi ‘o Hepa, ‘o ne to‘o ha fa‘o ‘o e tēniti, ‘o ne ala ki he hāmala, ‘o ne faka‘ete‘ete atu, ‘o ne tuki ‘a e fa‘o ki hono manifinifihanga, pea na‘e ‘asi atu ia ki he kelekele; he na‘e ma‘u pē ‘ene mohe he‘ene ongosia. Ko ia na‘a ne pekia.

When Sisera, the enemy of Israel, was on the run, Jael tricked him into entering her tent to some shut-eye. He never woke up. Having quenched his thirst with milk and covered him with a blanket, Jael waited till he was fast asleep, then this housewife became a warrior. Tent peg and maqqevet ("hammer") in hand, she stole upon this general and staked his head to the ground. "Most blessed of women be Jael," Deborah sings, for she shattered the skull of the foe (5:24-27). In the second century BC, when the Jews rebelled against their Seleucid overlords, the leading family was called the Maccabees or "The Hammers." But Jael beat them to the punch. This maqqevet-wielding woman deserves the title Matriarch of the Maccabees.

Once more, through a woman, God crushed the skull of an enemy. Once more, we have a preview of the ultimate crushing of the ultimate enemy by the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15). Jael's short story sits squarely within the long story of the Gospel of the skull-crushing Messiah. 

"O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle" (Ps. 140:7).

Tusite Sune 20, 2023

דבורה Prophetic Mother Bee

PALOFITA FEFINE - KO E HONE - KO E FA’EE

JUDGES 4:4-5

NOW DEBORAH, A PROPHETESS, THE WIFE OF LAPPIDOTH. WAS JUDGING ISRAEL AT THAT TIME. SHE USED TO SIT UNDER THE PALM OF DEBORAH BETWEEN RAMAH AND BETHEL IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF EPHRAIM, AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL CAME UP TO HER FOR JUDGMENT.

FAKAMAAU 4:4-5

4 Pea ko Tepola ko e fefine palōfita, ko e uaifi ‘o Lapitoti, ko ia ia na‘a ne fai fakamaau ‘i ‘Isileli ‘i he taimi ko ia. 5 Pea na‘a ne nofo ‘i he lolo Paame ‘o Tepola, ‘i he vaha‘a ‘o Lama mo Pēteli ‘i he fonua mo‘unga ‘o ‘Ifalemi; pea na‘e ‘alu hake kiate ia ‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli ke fai honau fakamaau.

The name Deborah means "bee" (d'vorah) in Hebrew (Deut. 1:44). During a time in Israel's history that was soured by fear, the sweet honey of her leadership, wisdom, and courage was direly needed. She was a neviah, a prophetess, one of several in the Bible, including Miriam (Exod. 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), the wife of Isaiah (Isa. 8:3), Anna (Luke 2:36), and a false prophetess in the church of Thyatira (Rev. 2:20). The people of God came to Deborah for mishpat (justice or judgment). She was the mouthpiece of God, as were the other prophets, the ones through whom the Lord revealed his will to his people. When she called Barak to lead Israel into battle, and he waffled and wavered, she bravely marched with the troops alongside him.

In the song she wrote about the battle, she calls herself "a mother in Israel" (5:7). She birthed hope for the nation once more. In her footsteps followed another mother in Israel, one named after the prophetess Miriam (= Mary), who birthed hope incarnate-the Savior who "brings justice to victory" (Matt. 12:20).

Blessed are you, O Lord, for raising up women to be mouthpieces of your wisdom and grace.

 Monite Sune 19, 2023

The Dangerous Hebrew Southpaw  אטר 

KO E HEPELU FITA‘A NA‘E HEMA

JUDGES 3:15-16

THEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL CRIED OUT TO THE LORD, AND THE LORD RAISED UP FOR THEM A DELIVERER, EHUD, THE SON OF GERA, THE BENJAMINITE, A LEFT-HANDED MAN. THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL SENT TRIBUTE BY HIM TO EGLON THE KING OF MOAB. AND EHUD MADE FOR HIMSELF A SWORD WITH TWO EDGES, A CUBIT IN LENGTH, AND HE BOUND IT ON HIS RIGHT THIGH UNDER HIS CLOTHES.

FAKAMAAU 3:15-16

15 Ka ‘i he tautapa ‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli kia Sihova, na‘a ne fokotu‘u honau taukapo, ko ‘Ēhuti ko e foha ‘o Kela, ko ha ha‘a Penisimani, ko e tangata na‘e hema: he na‘e fakamoimoi ‘iate ia ‘e ha‘a ‘Isileli ha‘anau me‘a‘ofa kia ‘Ekeloni ko e Tu‘i Moape. 16 Ka ko ‘Ēhuti kuo ne ngaohi mai ha heletā na‘e fakatoumata, ko e kiupite hono lōloa; pea na‘a ne no‘o ia ‘i hono loto kofu ‘i hono tenga to‘omata‘u.

(Liliu Faka-TONGA)

‘Oku ‘ikai tatau ‘a e Tohitapu mo e ngaahi tohi ‘o e ‘aho ni, ke ne fakamatala’i mai ‘a e fotunga pe ko ha ngaahi fakaikiiki fekau’aki mo e tokotaha ‘oku fai ki ai ‘a e talanoa. Pea ka faifaiaange pe ne fakamatala’i ha tokotaha, pea ‘oku mahu’inga ke tau tokanga ki ai he ‘oku mahu’inga. Ko ‘Ēhuti, “ko e tangata na’e hema.” ‘E lava pe ke ‘uhinga, na’e nima hema pe fakatouanga (Fakamaau 20:16). Ko e me’a na’e malie ‘i he talanoa, he na’e tamate’i ‘e ‘Ēhuti ‘a ‘Ekeloni ‘aki hono nima hema, ‘aki ha heleta na’a ne fufu ‘i hono alangaa; ko ‘ene tupu mei he ha’a Penisimani, ‘a ia ‘oku ‘uinga, “ko e tama nima mata’u.”  ‘Io, ko e ‘Otua pe te ne ‘omi ha taha pehe ni ke ne fakahaofi hono kakai mei he nofo ha’i seini. 

Ko ‘Ēhuti, na’e tuku’au mai mei ha laine ‘o ha kau to’a fakahaofi mo’ui ‘o faka’osi ki he Fakamo’ui tonu.  Ko e tangata, ka ko e ‘Otua, li’ekina, kae langilangi’ia, pea ko hono tamate’i, na’a ne tamate’i ai pe foki mo mate. ‘Oku pehee pe founga ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘a ee, ‘oku hoko ‘a ‘ene me’a valee, ko e poto ia ki he tangata (1 Kolinito 1:25).

"‘Oku ou tuku hoku laumālie ki ho nima: Kuo ke huhu‘i au, Sihova, ‘a e ‘Otua Mo‘onia." (Saame 31:5).

Unlike modern literature, the Bible typically provides us with no physical description of its characters. On those rare occasions when it does, sit up and take notice; it'll be important. Ehud, for instance, is "a left-handed man," literally, "a man bound [itter] in his right hand." This could mean either "left-handed" or, more likely, ambidextrous (cf. Judg. 20:16). Either way, the paradox is amusing, for Ehud, who employs his left hand to kill Eglon with a hidden dagger, hails from the tribe of Benjamin, whose name means "son of the right hand"! Leave it to God to use a most unlikely deliverer to shatter his people's chains.

Ehud is, in fact, from a long line of paradoxical saviors-a line ending with the Savior himself. He is man but also God, rejected yet glorified, whose execution is the death of death itself. Such are the ways of God whose foolishness is wiser than men (1 Cor. 1:25).

 

"Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God" (Ps. 31:5).

Sapate Sune 18, 2023

The Fat Calf King

KO E TU‘I SINO MO‘ONI

JUDGES 3:12, 17

AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AGAIN DID WHAT WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND THE LORD STRENGTHENED EGLON THE KING OF MOAB AGAINST ISRAEL, BECAUSE THEY HAD DONE WHAT WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD .. NOW EGLON WAS A VERY FAT MAN.

FAKAMAAU 3:12, 17

Pea toe fai ‘e ha‘a ‘Isileli ‘a e me‘a na‘e tau kovi ki he finangalo ‘o Sihova: pea na‘e poupou ‘e he ‘Eiki ‘a ‘Ekeloni ko e Tu‘i Moape ke ne mālohi ki ha‘a ‘Isileli, koe‘uhi kuo ne fai ‘a e me‘a na‘e tau kovi ki he finangalo ‘o Sihova…Pea na‘a ne ‘oatu ‘a e me‘a‘ofa kia ‘Ekeloni ko e Tu‘i Moape; pea ko ‘Ekeloni ko e ‘eiki sino ‘aupito.

(Liliu Faka-TONGA)

‘Oku ‘i ai e ngaahi lea pe kananga he ngaahi ‘aho ni ‘oku ‘ikai toe ngaue’aki koe’uhi ‘e mamahi ai ‘a e tokolahi, ka na’e ngaue’aki tau’ataina pe ia ‘i he Fuakava Motu’a ke luma’i’aki ‘a e ngaahi fili ‘o ‘Isileli. Ko e talanoa ‘o ‘Ekeloni, ko e talanoa faka’aluma ko hono taukae’i ‘o e fili. ‘Oku kamata pe ‘i he hingoa ‘o ‘Ekeloni; ko e fo’i lea Hepelu ko e ‘ekele (egel), ‘oku ‘uhinga ko e pulu mui pe pulu toho palau. Pea ‘oku toe ongo tatau mo e fo’i lea ko e ‘akolo (agol), ‘oku ‘uhinga ko e “fuopotopoto” pe ko ‘etau lea Tonga ko e “fo’i mo.” Pea ‘i he’ene pehee, na’e hoko mo’oni pe ‘a e tu’i ni ki hono hingoa, he ko e “ ‘eiki sino ‘aupito” - pe ko hono kape, “sino hangee ha puluu.” Pea ‘i he aofangatuku ‘o e talanoa, ‘oku mo’oni ‘a Palovepi 23:2;  “‘Io, na‘a ke mei ‘ai ha hele ki ho kia, kapau ko e tangata u‘akai koe.”

Na’e kau pe mo Sisu ‘i he lea hangatonu ta’e-toe-ufi he sipinga lea ‘a e kau Hepeluu, he na’e ‘ikai toe afe ‘ene ui ‘a Helota ko e fokisi pea mo e kau Falesi ko e hako ngata fekai. Na’e pehee pe mo Paula ‘ene tala ki he kau Siu ne nau fakafepaki’i ia, “Taumaiā ke nau fai atu ‘o tu‘usi ‘aupito” (Kaletia 5:12). ‘Oku ‘i ai pe ‘a e taimi ‘i he’etau taukave’i ‘a e mo’ui mo e mo’oni, kuopau ke tau ngaue’aki ha ngaahi lea fefeka mo ta’emalu’ia. 

‘I he’emau lea, ‘Eiki tokoni mai, ke mau potopoto’i hange ha ngata, pea mau vale he kovi ‘o hange ha lupe (Matiu 10:16).

Some expressions that we deem politically incorrect or highly offensive today are used without reservation in the Old Testament to mock Israel's enemies. The short story of Eglon is a raw and sarcastic farce intended to poke fun at the foe. The comedy begins with Eglon's name, a form of the Hebrew word egel, meaning young bull, ox, or calf. It also sounds and looks like the word agol, which means "round" or "rotund." This enemy king lived up to his name, for he was indeed "a very fat man" - "fat as a cow," as the insult goes. At the end of the story, he who filled his paunch with too much food will eat the dagger that spells his doom.

As both inspiration and heir to this sharp-tongued, in-your-face Hebrew rhetoric, Jesus will not shy away from calling Herod a fox and the Pharisees a brood of vipers. Paul too will tell his Judaizing opponents that they should castrate themselves (Gal. 5:12)! Sometimes, when life and truth are at stake, only the sharpest and boldest language will do.

Even in our speech, O Lord, makes us wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16).

Tokonaki Sune 17, 2023

מכר God as Merchant

‘OTUA KO E MESAIENITI

JUDGES 3:8

THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST ISRAEL, AND HE SOLD THEM INTO THE HAND OF CUSHAN-RISHATHAIM KING OF MESOPOTAMIA. AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL SERVED CUSHAN-RISHATHAIM EIGHT YEARS.

FAKAMAAU 3:8

Ko ia na‘e langa‘i ai ‘a e houhau ‘o Sihova kia ‘Isileli, ‘o ne fakatau kinautolu ki he nima ‘o Kūsani-Lisataimi ko e Tu‘i Mesopotēmia: pea na‘e nofo ‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli kia Kūsani-Lisataimi ‘o valu ta‘u.

(LILIU FAKA-TONGA)

‘I he taimi na’e pau ai ki he fanga tokoua ‘o Siosifa ‘e ‘ikai te n au tamate’i ia, na’a nau  makar ia ("fakatau") ki ha kau ‘Isime’eli (Senesi 37:28). Kapau ko ha sotia ‘Isileli kuo ne ‘omi ha popula ‘i he ikuna ‘o ha tau, pea na mali, ‘e ‘ikai te ne lava ke ne makar  ia ‘a mui ange (Teutalonome 21:14). Ko e makar ‘oku kau ki ai mo e ngaahi fefakatau’aki faka-komesiale, hangē ko hono fakatau ‘o ha kelekele (Sen 47:20). Naʻe lahi ‘aupito ‘a e taimi naʻe tautea ai ‘e he ‘Otua´ hono kakai´ ‘aki ‘ene makar (fakatau) kinautolu ki he ngaahi tuʻi muli, hangē ko Kūsani-Lisataimi (Fakamaau 3:8), Siapini (4:2), pea mo e kau Filisitia´ (10:7). Ko e taumuʻa´ ke nau fakatomala, pea ke nau manatu ki he kovinanite´ ‘o nau falala kakato kiate Ia, he ko Sihova honau Huhuʻi´.

Ka ‘i hono aofangatuku´, naʻe pau ke ‘i ai ha founga ke fakangataʻaki ‘a hono fakaehaua ‘e he kovi´ ‘a e faʻahinga ‘o e tangata´; ko e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua tonu, naʻe fakatau ‘aki ‘e Siutasi ha konga siliva ‘e 30 (Matiu 26:15).  Ko e ola ‘o e foʻi fakatau ko ia´, ‘oku taʻefa´alaua.  “Ko ho‘omou ‘ilo, na‘e ‘ikai fai‘aki ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ‘auha, ha siliva pe ha koula, homou huhu‘i mei he anga ta‘e‘aonga ne tuku fakaholo mai mei he mātu‘a” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

‘E Tamai faka-hevani, neongo ‘oku kulaʻahoʻaho ‘emau angahala´, fakamaʻa au ke u hinehina hangē ko e sinou´ ‘i he taʻataʻa ‘o e Lami´.

When Joseph's brothers opted not to murder him, they makar ("sold") him to Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:28). If an Israelite soldier brought home a prisoner of war and married her, he could not later makar her (Deut. 21:14). In addition to selling people, makar also covers many commercial transactions, like selling land (Gen. 47:20). Multiple times, to discipline his people for their idolatry, God would makar them to foreign kings, such as Cushan-rishathaim (Judg. 3:8), Jabin (4:2), and the Philistines (10:7). The goal was to bring them to repentance, that they might remember the covenant and trust again in him as their redeeming God.

But ultimately there was only one way to deal, finally and fully, with the evil that bedevils humanity: the Son of God himself was sold out for a measly "thirty pieces of silver" by Judas Iscariot (Matt. 26:15). Yet the result of that sale was priceless redemption for us. We were ransomed not with "silver  or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

Heavenly Father, though our sins are as scarlet, make them white as snow in the blood of the Lamb.