ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 The Gift of Wisdom

Ko e Me’a’ofa ‘o e Poto

1 KINGS 4:29-30

GOD GAVE SOLOMON WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING BEYOND MEASURE, AND BREADTH OF MIND LIKE THE SAND ON THE SEASHORE, SO THAT SOLOMON'S WISDOM SURPASSED THE WISDOM OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST AND ALL THE WISDOM OF EGYPT.

1 Tu'i 4:29-30

29 Pea na‘e foaki ‘e he ‘Otua kia Solomone ‘a e poto, mo e faiva lahi ‘aupito, mo e ‘atamai kuo fano, ‘o hangē ko e ‘one‘one ‘oku ‘i he matātahi. 30 Pea na‘e hulu ‘a e poto ‘a Solomone ‘i ha‘a Hahake kātoa, pea ‘i he poto kotoa pē ‘o ‘Isipite.

29 Bea na’e foaki ‘e he ‘Otua kia Solomone ‘a e boto lahi ‘aubito mo e loto fa’a fakakaukau, mo e loto fu’u lahi, ‘o hage ko e ‘one’one ‘a ia ‘oku ‘i he matātahi. 30 Bea na’e lahi hake ‘a e boto ‘a Solomone ‘i he boto ‘a e kakai kotoa be ‘o e fonua fakahahake, mo e boto kotoa be ‘o ‘Ijibite (Uesi)

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

Ko e fo‘i lea mahu’inga taha ‘i he ngaahi veesi ko eni, ‘oku faingofua ke tau sio fakalaka ai. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko e poto mo e ‘ilo me’a, ka ko e ki’i fo’i veape, “na’e foaki.” Ko e siokomai (poto) ‘a Solomone ‘i he kolope, na’e ‘ikai ma’u ia ‘i ha’ane fekumi faka’auliliki pe ko ha’ane tufi ‘a e ngaahi ako ‘a e kau Lapai (neongo ‘oku mahu’inga loua ‘a e akoo mo e faiakoo). Ko ‘ene siokomai, na’e ‘omi mola pe ia ko ha me’a’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ‘a’ana ‘a e poto kotoa pe. Ko e Siokomai ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha mataotao fakaako pe, pe ko e ‘ilo me’a kehekehe, pe ko e potopoto’i ‘i he ‘atakai; ‘oku kau kotoa ki ai ‘a e ngaahi me’a ko eni, pea toe ope atu. Ko e Poto faka-Tohitapu ‘oku alaisia mo kolonga: ko e nima poto ke ngaue lelei; ko e ‘atamai poto ‘oku ‘ofa ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua mo hono mamani; ko e ngutu poto ke ne ‘a’au ‘a e ngaahi koloa ‘a e ‘Otua; ko e leva soimea (loto fie fanongo) poto ke tali angi ki he le’o ‘o e ‘Otua. Ko e Siokomai ko e me’a’ofa ke fa’ifa’itaki ki ai - ‘i he lea, fakakaukau, loto ki ai pea mo e ngaue - ko e ‘imisi ia ‘o e ‘Otua poto na’e ngaohi kitautolu ki ai.

‘I he’ene kei tamasi’i, “...na‘e lalaka atu ‘a Sīsū ‘i he poto, mo e lahi ‘o hono sino, pea mo hono ‘ofeina ‘e he ‘Otua mo e tangata" (Luke 2:52). ‘Io, “kuo hoko ai ia mei he ‘Otua kiate kitautolu, ko e boto” (Uesi) 1 Kolinito 1:30 - ko e hoko ‘o kakano mai ia ‘a e siokomai, ko e me’a’ofa ‘a e Tamai kiate kitautolu.

" ‘E Jihova, hono ‘ikai lahi ‘a ho’o gaahi gaue! kuo ke gaohi kotoa be ia ‘i he boto: ‘oku fonu ‘a mamani ‘i ho’o koloa." (Ps. 104:24) Uesi

Hono ‘ikai ko e fu‘ufu‘unga me‘a ho‘o ngaahi ngāue, ‘e Sihova! Pea ko e poto kuo ke ngaohi ‘aki hono kotoa: ‘Oku fonu ‘a māmani ‘i ho‘o koloa (Molitoni)

The most important word in these verses is easy to skate past. It's not "wisdom" or "understanding" but the little verb "gave." Solomon's world-renowned chokmah ("wisdom") did not come from burning his study candle at both ends or from soaking up the teachings of his rabbis (though study and teachers are both vital). His chokmah came gift-wrapped from the all-wise God. Chokmah is not merely IQ, bookish knowledge, or street smarts; it's all these and much more. Biblical wisdom is holistic: wise hands to engage in good; a wise mind in love with God's Word and world; a wise

mouth to echo divine wisdom; a wise lev shomea ("listening heart") that heeds the divine voice. Chokmah is the gift to mirror-in speech, thought, will, and action-the wise God in whose image we are fashioned.

As a boy, Jesus "increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). Indeed, he became "to us wisdom from God" (1 Cor. 1:30), the very incarnation of chokmah, for he is the Father's gift to us.

"O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures" (Ps. 104:24).