ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sapate Sune 4, 2023 

A Healthy, Holistic Fear  ירא 

Ka mou ‘apasia ki homou ‘Otua

JOSHUA 4:22-24

"YOU SHALL LET YOUR CHILDREN KNOW, 'ISRAEL PASSED OVER THIS JORDAN ON DRY GROUND. FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD DRIED UP THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN FOR YOU UNTIL YOU PASSED OVER, AS THE LORD YOUR GOD DID TO THE RED SEA, WHICH HE DRIED UP FOR US UNTIL WE PASSED OVER, SO THAT ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW  THAT THE HAND OF THE LORD IS MIGHTY, THAT YOU MAY FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD FOREVER."

SIOSIUA 4:22-24

22 Pea te mou fakahinohino ho‘omou fānau, ‘o pehē, Na‘e a‘a mātu‘u pē ‘a ‘Isileli ‘i he Soatani ko ē. 23 He na‘e fakamātu‘u ‘e Sihova ko homou ‘Otua ‘a e vai ‘o Soatani ‘i homou ‘ao, kae‘oua ke ‘osi ho‘omou laka mai, ‘o hangē ko ia na‘e fai ‘e Sihova ko homou ‘Otua ki he Tahi Kulokula, ‘a ia na‘a ne fakamātu‘u ‘i homau ‘ao, kae‘oua ke ‘osi ‘emau a‘a atu. 24 Koe‘uhiā ke ‘ilo ‘e he ngaahi kakai fua pē ‘o māmani, ko e nima ‘o Sihova ko e nima mālohi ia; ka mou ‘apasia ki homou ‘Otua, ‘o lauikuonga.

(Liliu Faka-Tonga)

‘Oku ‘ikai ke tatau ‘a e manavahē kotoa pe. Pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke kovi ‘a e manavahē kotoa pe. ‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e manavahē ko e kamata’anga ia ‘o e poto´: ko e yare ki he ‘Otua. Ko e manavahē ‘oku ‘apasia ‘Otua. ‘Oku ne fāʻūtaha hotau vā mo e ‘Otua ‘o mahulu hake ‘i he tui, ‘amanaki, ‘ofa mo e hu ki he ‘Otua, he ‘oku ne aoao kotoa ‘a e ngaahi to’onga ko eni. Ko e manavahee (‘apasia) ki he ‘Otua, ko ‘ete ‘ilo’i “ko e nima ‘o Sihova ko e nima mālohi ia” ke ne fai hotau fakamo’ui (Siosiua 4:24). ‘I he vahe 22:25 ‘o Siosiua, ko e “hu ki he ‘Otua”, ko e “manavahe (‘apasia) ki he ‘Otua.” Pea ‘i he tohi Saame 115:11, ’oku tokoto fakataha ‘a e “manavahe/’apasia” mo e “falala” ‘Otua.

Pea ‘i he hiva fakalangilangi ‘a Mele (Luke 1:50), ‘oku ne fakaongo mai ‘a e ta’anga ‘a e Saame 103:17; he ‘ene pehe, “Pea ko ‘ene meesi ‘oku laui to‘utangata, Kiate kinautolu ‘oku manavahē kiate ia.” ‘Io, ‘oku tau ma’u ‘a e meesi ‘i he tama ‘i hono manava - ko e Fakamo’ui ‘oku tau “manavahe” (‘apasia) ki ai, ‘ofa ki ai mo falala kakato ki ai ‘o mahulu hake ‘i ha toe me’a. 

“Huluhulu au ‘i ho hala, ‘Eiki; Ka u ha‘ele ‘i ho‘o mo‘oni. Ko hoku loto ē ke ke fā‘ūtaha Ke ‘apasia ki ho huafa” (Saame 86:11).

Not all fears are created equal. And not all fears are bad. One is the very beginning and essence of wisdom itself: to yare the Lord. This fear is holistic. In some ways, it sums up our life with God better than faith, hope, love, and worship because it encompasses all of these. To fear God is to know that "the hand of the LORD is mighty" to save (Josh. 4:24). Later in Joshua, to "worship the LORD" is literally to "fear the LORD" (22:25). And in Psalm 115:11, "fear" and "trust" parallel each other.

Echoing words from Psalm 103:17, Mary sings in the Magnificat that God's "mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation" (Luke 1:50). That mercy is found in the child she carried in her womb-the Savior whom we fear, love, and trust above all things.

"Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name" (Ps. 86:11).