ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

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.