ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

The Sidonian Widow

Ko e Uitou Saitoni

1 KINGS 17:8-9

THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO [ELIJAH), "ARISE, GO TO ZAREPHATH, WHICH BELONGS TO SIDON, AND DWELL THERE. BEHOLD, I HAVE COMMANDED A WIDOW THERE TO FEED YOU."

1 TU‘I 17:8-9

8 Pea ‘iloange na‘e hoko ‘a e folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kiate ia, ‘o pehē, 9 Tu‘u, ‘o ‘alu ki Salepita, ‘a ia ‘oku kau ki Saitoni, pea ke nofo ai: vakai, kuo u tu‘utu‘uni ai ha fefine uitou ke tauhi koe.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘I he kuonga mu’a ‘o ‘Isileli, ko ha alamana (uitou) kuo fakamavae ‘e he mate mei hono husepaniti, na’e mavae foki mei he malu’i mo e koloa na’a ne ma’u mei hono husepaniti. Na’e tu’u lavea ngofua ‘a e uitou ki he ngaahi fakamamahi, fiekaia mo e ha’aha’a kehekehe ‘i he sosaieti. Ko e ‘uhinga ia na’e tu’utu’uni ai ‘e he ‘Otua, “‘Ilonga ha uitou (alamana), pe fānau tamai mate, ‘e ‘ikai te mou fakamamahi‘i kinautolu” (‘Ekisoto 22:22). Na’e ‘ikai honge uitou ‘a ‘Isileli ‘i he taimi ‘o ‘Ilaisiaa, ka na’e fekau’i ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e palofita ke ‘alu ki Salepita, ki ha uitou Senitaile. Ko e tokotaha eni mo e feitu’u ‘e fakafou mai ai ha ngaue mana, ‘i hono fafanga ‘e he ‘Otua ‘o ‘Isileli ‘a e uitou mo hono famili pea mo ‘Ilaisiaa foki. Kuo situ’a mo’oni ‘a ‘Isileli mei he ‘Otua mo ‘ene folofolaa, na’a ne hanga ai ‘o teke’i ‘a e palofitaa kitu’a mei he loto’aa ‘o ‘Isileli, ke ne fakahaa’i ‘ene meesi ki ha uitou ‘i he mamani ‘o e kau Senitaile. 

‘I he malanga na’e lili ai ‘a e kau Siu ke tuli tamate’i ai ‘a Sisu, na’a ne lave ai ki he talanoa ko eni ‘o e uitou, pea to mei ai ‘a e folofola “‘oku ‘ikai mamalu ha palōfita ‘i hono fonua ‘o‘ona” (Luke 4:24). Taimi lahi, ko kinautolu ‘oku ofi taha ki he Folofolaa, ‘oku nau fakasikaka’i - ta’e tali, ‘ikai tokangaekina ko e pehee, ko ‘enau me’a. Pea hanga leva ‘e he ‘Otua ‘o fao ‘ene ngaue kitu’a atu - ki he kau “Salepita” ‘o mamani - ki he fa’ahinga ‘oku nau ‘ilo’i ‘a e mamahi ‘o e mole ‘a e koloa mo nofo tailiili ‘ikai ha ‘amanaki, pea ‘oku nau tu’u ‘ataa mo loto leva ke fanongo mo tui. 

‘E ‘Otua, fakavaivai’i homau loto, ke mau mahu’inga’ia ‘i ho ‘Alo pea ke mau falala kakato kiate Ia, he ‘oku ‘iate IA ‘a e ngaahi lea ‘o e mo’ui ta’engata. 

In ancient Israel, an almanah ("widow") buried more than her husband; blanketed by that graveyard dirt was her provision and protection. She and her family were especially vulnerable to abuse, hunger, and injustice. For good reason, God ordained that "you shall not mistreat any almanah or fatherless child" (Exod. 22:22). There was no lack of widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, but God sent the prophet to Zarephath, to a Gentile widow, where she, her family, and Elijah were all miraculously fed by the Lord of

Israel. Israel had so grossly despised God and his Word that the Lord pushed the prophet outside her borders, extending his mercy to a widow in the Gentile world.

In a sermon that nearly got him killed, Jesus referenced this incident to illustrate the maxim that "No prophet is acceptable in his hometown" (Luke 4:24). Often those closest to the Word despise it most - take it for granted, ignore it, treat it like an entitlement. So God pushes it outside the borders, to the "Zarephaths" of the world, where those who know the widow-like pain of loss and vulnerability eagerly hear and believe it.

Soften our hearts, O Lord, to treasure and trust in your Son, who has the words of eternal life.