ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tearing Clothes and Kingdoms

Hae ‘a e vala mo e Pule’anga

1 KINGS 11:11

THE LORD SAID TO SOLOMON, "SINCE THIS HAS BEEN YOUR PRACTICE AND YOU HAVE NOT KEPT MY COVENANT AND MY STATUTES THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU, I WILL SURELY TEAR THE KINGDOM FROM YOU AND WILL GIVE IT TO YOUR SERVANT."

1 TU‘I 11:11

Pea folofola ‘a Sihova kia Solomone, Ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘o pehē, mo e ‘ikai te ke tauhi ‘eku kovinānite mo e ngaahi fekau kuo u tu‘utu‘uni atu, te u mātu‘aki hae ‘a e pule‘anga meiate koe, ‘o ‘atu ki ho‘o tamaio‘eiki.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

Ko e hisitolia ‘o ‘Isileli, ko e “fasi tatau ai pe, kae veesi kehe” - ‘ikai ha me’a fo’ou. Kimu’a ‘i he taimi ‘o Solomone, na’e fai ‘e he palofita ‘a e lea ko eni kia Saula, “Kuo kalala [hae] ‘e Sihova ‘a e pule‘anga ‘o ‘Isileli meiate koe he ‘aho ni, pea kuo ne foaki ki hao kaungā‘api” (1 Sam. 15:28). Pea ko eni kuo fanongo ‘a Solomone ki he veesi hono ua ‘o e fo’i hivaa: koe’uhi ko e hake ‘uta ‘a Saione ‘i he lotu ‘aitoli, kuo “kalala” (hae) ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e Pule’anga meiate ia. ‘Ikai ko ia pe, ka ‘oku malie ‘a hono ngaue’aki ‘a e veape ko eni, kalala, he ‘oku lahi taha hono ngaue’aki, ki he “hae ‘o e vala” ‘i he taimi ‘o e fakamamahi. Ko e tangata poto taha ‘o ‘Isileli, kuo holo ‘o hange ha me’a noa mo e vale. ‘I he hili ‘a e pekia ‘a e tu’i, na’e hopo hake ‘a hono foha ‘afungi, ‘o ne hae ua ‘a e Pule’anga - pea ko e mavaeua na’e ‘ikai toe lava ke fakalelei’i.

Na’e lotu ‘a ‘Aisea, “TAUMAIĀ ke ke hae [kalala] ua ‘a e ngaahi langi, ke ke hā‘ele hifo” (‘Aisea 64:1). Pea na’e hoko eni ‘o fou ‘i hono ‘Alo na’e pani, ‘a ia na’e hifo mei langi ‘i he tatau ‘o e tangata; ke ne hae ua ‘a e tatau ‘o e temipale; ke fokotu’u ha pule’anga ta’engata, ke hau ai ‘a Poto, he ko Ia ‘a e Tu’i ‘o e ngaahi Tu’i.

‘Eiki Sisu, tokoni mai ke hae homau loto, ‘o ‘ikai ko homau valaa, ka mau tafoki kiate koe, ko homau Tu’i fonu ‘alo’ofa.

Much of Israel's history is a "same song, second verse" kind of narrative. Two kings before Solomon was Saul, to whom the prophet said, "The LORD has qara ['torn'] the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours" (1 Sam. 15:28). Now Solomon hears "the second verse" of this song: because he has glutted Zion with idols, God will "qara the kingdom" from him. And there's more. Because this verb, qara, is used predominantly to describe "tearing one's clothes" in grief, the whole sad scene with Solomon is full of melancholy. This wisest of men has shrunk into a gross and ungodly fool. After his death, his arrogant and hot-headed son would rip Israel in two - a breach that never would heal.

Isaiah prays, "Oh that you would rend [qara] the heavens and come down!" (64:1). So he does in his anointed Son, who came down from heaven to become one of us; to tear in two the temple veil; and to establish an unbreakable kingdom over which he, Wisdom, reigns as King of kings.

Lord Jesus, grant that we rend our hearts, not our garments, as we return to you, our merciful King.