ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 A Still, Small Voice

Ko ha kihi’i Le’o Vanavanaiki

1 KINGS 19:11-12

BEHOLD, THE LORD PASSED BY, AND A GREAT AND STRONG WIND TORE THE MOUNTAINS AND BROKE IN PIECES THE ROCKS BEFORE THE LORD, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND. AND AFTER THE WIND AN EARTHQUAKE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE. AND AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE A FIRE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE. AND AFTER THE FIRE THE SOUND OF A LOW WHISPER.

1 TU‘I 19:11-12

11 Pea ne folofola mai, Hū ki tu‘a, ‘o tu‘u ‘i he mo‘unga ‘i he ‘ao ‘o Sihova. Pea ‘iloange na‘e hā‘ele ange ‘a Sihova, pea ko e matangi lahi mo mālohi na‘a ne have‘i ‘a e mo‘unga, mo fahi ‘a e ngaahi makatu‘u, ‘i he ‘ao ‘o Sihova; ka na‘e ‘ikai ‘i he matangi ‘a Sihova: pea hili ‘a e matangi na‘e mofuike; ka na‘e ‘ikai ‘i he mofuike ‘a Sihova: 12 pea hili ‘a e mofuike ko e afi; ka na‘e ‘ikai ‘i he afi ‘a Sihova: pea hili ‘a e afi ko e le‘o na‘e ngananganaiki mai.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

Kapau te tau fili ha teunga ma’ae ‘Otua Mafimafi, mahalo te tau fili ha teunga ngingila mo fakalangilangi ke hoa mo e ‘Otua Lahi. Pea ‘i he konga tohi ‘o e ‘aho ni, na’e ‘omi ha ngaahi teunga (ha’ele mai ‘a Sihova) ‘o faka’ali’ali mai kia ‘Ilaisiaa - ko ha matangi lahi mo malohi, mofuike, pea mo e afi - ka na’e ‘ikai pe. Na’e ‘ikai fe’unga ‘a e teunga ko eni. Pea na’e toki hoko mai ha kolo tamaha’a taka: le’o (kolo) na’e angavaivai (tamaha’a) pea kihi (taka). ‘Oku liliu ‘i he paaki fakapapalangi ko e “ko ha ki’i le’o vanavanaiki.” Pea neongo pe ko e ha ha liliu lea ‘e ngaue’aki, ko e ki’i le’o ko eni, na’e si’isi’i fau ki he tu’unga ope atu ‘o e ‘Otua.

Ko e me’a mahu’inga ia ke tau tokanga’i. Na’e tatali ‘a ‘Ilaisiaa ki he ‘Otua ke ne fai ha ngaue lahi mo fakaofo. Na’e ne nofo tailiili mo ngali tuenoa. Toki fanafana mai ‘a e le’o ‘o e ‘Otua, “Ko au eni pea ‘oku ‘i ai ‘eku kakai ‘oku nau tokolahi, ko e toko fituafe, hange pe ko koe.” ‘Io, na’a mo e ngaahi ‘aho ni, ‘oku kei toi mai pe ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he ngaahi me’a iiki mo vaivai; ko e vanavanaiki ‘o ‘Ene Folofola, mo e papitaiso mo e tepile ‘o ‘ene ‘ohomohe. ‘Oku fakapuli mai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he “ki’i le’o vanavanaiki” ‘o Kalaisi ne kalusefai pea toetu’u.

‘Eiki Sisu, foaki mai ha mata ke u sio ki ho’o ngaahi ngaue, mo ha telinga ke u fanongo ki ho’o Folofola, ‘a e ngaahi potu ta’e’amanekina.

If we were to pick out the Almighty's clothes, we'd probably select something flashy and grandiose, worthy of a deity. Several outfits are promenaded before Elijah-a great wind, earthquake, fire-but none of these fit. All three were oversized. Then came the qol d'mamah daqqah: a voice (qol) that was still (d'mamah) and thin (daqqah) -the KJV's "still, small voice." However we translate it, this voice seems too miniscule for God's magnificent frame.

And that's the point. Elijah is pining for God to do something big and showy. He's panicky, thinking he alone is left. In a barely audible whisper, God says, "I've got this. In fact, I have seven thousand more followers, just like you." Still today, the Lord hides in the little, the lowly, the quiet of his Word, his baptism, his meal. The great God still conceals himself in the "still, small voice" of Christ crucified and risen for you.

Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see your works, and ears to hear your Word, where we least expect it.