ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Heavy and Light Yokes

'Ioke Mamafa mo e ‘Ioke Ma’ama’a

1 KINGS 12:3-4

JEROBOAM AND ALL THE ASSEMBLY OF ISRAEL CAME AND SAID TO REHOBOAM, "YOUR FATHER [SOLOMON] MADE OUR YOKE HEAVY. NOW THEREFORE LIGHTEN THE HARD SERVICE OF YOUR FATHER AND HIS

HEAVY YOKE ON US, AND WE WILL SERVE YOU."

1 TU‘I 12:3-4

3 pea ōmai ‘a Selopoame mo e fakataha kotoa ‘o ‘Isileli, ‘o nau alea mo Lehopoame, ‘o pehē, 4 Na‘e fakafaingata‘a ‘e ho‘o ‘eiki homau ‘ioke, kae ‘ofa ke fakama‘ama‘a ‘e he ‘afiona ‘a e fatongia ‘a ho‘o ‘eiki, mo e ‘ioke mamafa na‘a ne ‘ai kiate kimautolu, pea te mau tauhi kiate koe.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

Ko e mo’ui tu’umalie ‘a Solomone na’e ‘ikai ma’u mola. Na’e pehee foki mo e ngaahi polokalama langa na’a ne fakahoko. Na’e ‘ikai tupukoso ka na’e hilifaki kotoa ‘i he tu’a ‘o e kakai. Ko ia ai, na’e tala ‘e ‘Isileli ki hono fohaa ke fakama’ama’a ‘enau olo (‘ioke). Ko e olo, ko e konga papa ne hili ‘o kolosi he kia ‘o e pulu toho palauu pea ko e fakataataa eni ‘i he Tohitapu ki he mo’ui popula ‘a e tangata. Na’e haveki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘ioke faka-popula ‘o ‘Isileli ‘i he nofo ‘Isipite (Levitiko 26:13). Na’e fakataataa’i ‘e Selemaia ‘a e teu fakapopula’i ‘o Siuta ‘i Papilone, ‘aki ‘ene ‘ai ha ‘ioke ‘i hono kia ‘o’ona (Selemaia (27:1-28:17). Na’e fakamatala ‘a e kau lapai ‘o ono’aho fekau’aki mo hono “hilifaki mai ‘a e ‘ioke ‘o e Pule’anga ‘o hevani” ‘i hono tauhi ‘a e ngaahi lao ‘a Mosese. 

Ko e Misaiaa, ko e tokotaha maumau-’ioke mo e fakama’ama’a-’ioke. Talamai ‘e ‘Aisea, te ne “laiki [‘a e kavenga ‘a ‘sileli] ke lailai (‘Aisea 9:4). Pea kiate kinautolu ‘oku mafasia ‘i he ha’amonga ‘o e mo’ui, ‘oku ne talamai, ke “‘Ai ‘eku ‘ioke kiate kimoutolu, pea mou ako ‘iate au: he ‘oku ou fa‘a kātaki mo anga fākatu‘a, pea te mou ‘ilo ha mālōlō ‘i homou laumālie” (Matiu 11:28-30). Ko ‘ete ‘ai ‘a e ‘ioke ‘a Sisu, ko ‘ete tauhi ia kiate Ia ‘i he tau’ataina; ‘i he tau’ataina ke malolo; pea malolo ke ma’u ai ‘a e nonga ‘i he malumalu ‘o e Tu’i mohu meesi.

‘Ai kiate kimautolu, ‘Eiki Sisu, ‘a ho’o kavenga ‘oku ma’ama’a mo fakatau’ataina, ke mau tauhi kiate koe ‘aki ‘a e loto nekeneka.

Solomon's lavish lifestyle didn't pay for itself, nor did his massive building projects build themselves. Your average Joe did. So Israel demanded that his son lighten their heavy ol ("yoke"). An ol, a wooden crosspiece on the neck of oxen for pulling or plowing, is a common biblical metaphor for human bondage or hard labor. God broke Israel's yoke of slavery in Egypt (Lev. 26:13). Jeremiah acted out Judah's coming thralldom to Babylon by wearing a yoke (27:1-28:17). Early rabbis spoke of taking on "the yoke of the kingdom of heaven" by living according to the laws of the Torah.

The Messiah is a yoke-breaker and yoke-lightener. Isaiah says he will break "the yoke of [Israel's] burden" (9:4). To those who labor and are heavy laden, he says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30). To wear the yoke of Jesus is to serve in freedom; in freedom to rest; and in rest to find peace under this gracious King.

Place on us, Lord Jesus, your light yoke of freedom that we may joyfully serve you.