ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sapate Sune 11, 2023

Pray for the Peace  of Jerusalem  ירושלם 

HUFIA ‘A E MELINO MA’A SELUSALEMA

JOSHUA 10:1-2

AS SOON AS ADONI-ZEDEK, KING OF JERUSALEM, HEARD HOW JOSHUA HAD CAPTURED AI AND HAD DEVOTED IT TO DESTRUCTION, DOING TO AI AND ITS KING AS HE HAD DONE TO JERICHO AND ITS KING, AND HOW THE INHABITANTS OF GIBEON HAD MADE PEACE WITH ISRAEL AND WERE AMONG THEM, HE FEARED GREATLY.

SIOSIUA 10:1-2

1 PEA ‘i he fanongo ‘e ‘Ātonai-Sēteki ko e Tu‘i Selusalema kuo kapa ‘e Siosiua ‘a ‘Ai, ‘o faka‘auha ia; ‘o hangē ko ‘ene fai ki Sielikō mo hono tu‘i, kuo pehē ‘ene fai ki ‘Ai mo hono tu‘i ‘o‘ona; pea mo e alea melino ‘a e kakai Kipioni mo ha‘a ‘Isileli, 2 pea ‘oku nau nonofo; na‘a nau manavahē ‘aupito, he ko e kolo lahi ‘a Kipioni, ‘o hangē ha taha ‘o e ngaahi kolo hau, pea na‘e lahi ia ‘i ‘Ai, pea ko e kau to‘a hono kakai fuli pē.

(LILIU FAKA-TONGA)

Ko e fo’i lea ko e Yerushalayim (ma’u mei ai ‘a e Selusalema) ‘oku fatu ia mei he ongo fo’i lea ‘e ua: "Jeru” - mei he yara (fokotu’u pe makatu’unga), pea mo e "salem" (salema) mei he shalom ("melino” pe “kakato"). Me’a pango, ko hono fuofua ngaue’aki ‘o e fo’i lea ni ‘i he Tohitapu (Siosiua 10:1) ‘oku fekau’aki mo ha tau - pea ‘oku ‘ikai fa’a a’u e kaveinga ‘o e fo’i leaa ki hono ‘uhinga totonu - ko e “makatu’unga ‘o e melino.”  Mei he kamata’anga pe ‘o taimi, na’e kau ‘a e lea ni ki ha ngaahi tau fakalotofonua, angatu’u mo e fakafepaki mo e fefusiaki ‘i he mafai. Ka neongo ha me’a ke fe fe, ka ko e Kolo tupu’anga ‘o Kingi Tevita pea mo e Kolo ‘o Sihova. Pea neongo ‘a hono uesia ‘i he ta’u lahi ‘i he faingata’a mo mate, ka ko Yerushalayim, ko e kolo tu’u mo’unga ia, na’e fili ‘e he ‘Otua ke hu’u ki ai Hono finangalo. 

Na’e toka afio’i ‘e Sisu kuopau ke pekia ‘i Selusalema. Na’e ‘ikai ha toe kolo ke fakahoko ai ‘a e ngaue kafakafa ko eni. Pea ‘i he “makatu’unga ‘o e melino” ko eni, na’a Ne hoko ai Ia ko hotau MELINO (‘Efeso 2:14), ke ne fakataha’i ‘a e Siu mo e Senitaile ‘i hono sino ‘o’ona. ‘Iate IA, ‘oku tau ma’u ha MELINO ‘oku ope atu ‘i he’etau fakakaukau. Pea ‘oku tau tatali, ‘i he tui mo e ‘amanaki, ‘a e taimi ‘e “fakatupu fo‘ou ‘a Selusalema ko e koto tome‘e, pea ko hono kakai ko e koto fiefia” (‘Aisea 65:18).

“Ke fakamālō‘ia mei Saione ‘a Sihova, ‘A ia ‘oku ne ‘afio ‘i Selusalema. Halelu‘ia!

(Saame 135:21).

Yerushalayim ("Jerusalem") is formed from two words: "Jeru-" is from yara ("found" or "establish"), and "-salem" is from shalom ("peace" or "wholeness"). It is sadly fitting, though, that the Bible's first use of this name (Josh. 10:1) is in the context of war, for this "foundation of peace" rarely lived up to its name. From time immemorial, it's been rocked by civil war, insurrection, coup, and siege. Yet it was the city of David and hometown of Yahweh. Though stained by millennia of tragedy and death, Yerushalayim was the mountainous city where, of all other dwelling places on earth, God chose to hang his hat.

Jesus knew he must die in Jerusalem. No other zip code would do. In this "foundation of peace," he himself would become our peace (Eph. 2:14). bridging the gap between Jews and Gentiles in his own body. In him we have shalom beyond understanding. And we await, in faith and hope, when the Lord will "create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness" (Isa. 65:18).

"Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!" (Ps. 135:21).