ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 FALAITE SEPITEMA 22

PURSUED BY MERCY

TULI MUI MAI ‘ENE MEESI

PSALM 23:6

SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.

SAAME  23:6

Tā ‘e toupili mai ‘a e lelei mo e ‘alo‘ofa ‘I hoku ngaahi ‘aho kotoa; Pea ko ‘eku nofo ‘i he fale ‘o Sihova ‘E fai pē ‘o lauikuonga.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

Ko e Saame 23, ‘i he hiki faka-Hepluu, ‘oku ‘ikai muimui mai ‘a e “lelei mo e ‘alo’ofa” ‘i hotau ngaahi ‘aho kotoa. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke hoa lelei ‘a e liliu ko ia mo e veape, laitafe. ‘Oku ‘uhinga ia ko e tulimui, hange ko e ‘ai mahafu ‘a ‘Epalame  o ‘ene kau tangataa pea nau tuli ki he fili (Senesi 14:14-15), tuli ‘a Felo ki he kakai ‘Isileli ‘o a’u ki he tahi Kulokula (‘Ekisoto 14:23), pe mo Pelake ‘ene tuli kia Sisela (Fakamaau 4:22). Ko e taimi ‘oku ke laitafe ai ki ha taha, ‘oku ‘ikai te ke fakatoupikoi mo taitaimi pe mei mui. ‘Oku ke tuli malohi atu kae’oua ke ke ma’u atu ia, ‘o a’u pe ki ha’o mate ‘i ho’o feinga. ‘Oku ‘ikai lau ha faingata’a. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha feinga ‘e lahi. Ko e laitafe, ko ha veape fefeka mo loto lahi. ‘Oku tafe mei ai ‘a e malohi, pupuha, mo e vilitaki ke a’usia ‘a e kaveinga.

‘Oku ‘ikai muimui mai ‘a e lelei mo e anga’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua kiate kitautolu hange ha ki’i kulii  (tapu mo Ia) ‘o tuku pe ke tau taki mo mu’omu’a. Ka ‘oku na tuli kitautolu hangee ha kuli fekai. ‘Oku tuli mai hange ha hoosi lova faka-langi. ‘Oku ‘ikai tuku ‘i ha taimi ‘ena tuli mai. Ko e lelei mo e anga’ofa ‘a Sisu Kalaisi ‘oku na laitafe kitautolu ke a’u ki he matapa ‘o hevani, ki he to’ukupu mo e fofonga ‘ofa ‘o e Tamai.

Fakafeta’i mo e kololia ke ‘a’au pe ia ‘e Sisu Kalaisi, ho’o kumi mai kimautolu, tulimui mai, mo kikivi ke ma’u kimautolu ‘i ho’o kelesi mo ho’o meesi ke fakafoki ki he Tamai.

[ENGLISH]

In the Hebrew of Psalm 23, "goodness and mercy" do not "follow" us all the days of our lives. That translation is far too bloodless for the verb radaf. It means to chase after, like Abram in armed pursuit of his enemies (Gen. 14:14-15), Pharaoh hounding Israel even into the sea (Exod. 14:23), or Barak breathing down Sisera's neck (Judg. 4:22). When you radaf someone, you don't lollygag behind them at a safe distance. You go hard and

heavy until you reach them-or die trying. Obstacles don't matter. No effort is too great. Radaf is a verb that packs a punch. It's full of energy, sweat, and an unswerving commitment to reach your goal.

The goodness and mercy of God do not follow us like a good little puppy dog, letting us lead the way. They chase us down labyrinthine paths like Francis Thompson's "Hound of Heaven." They gallop after us like a celestial stallion. They stay hot on our heels. The goodness and mercy of Jesus Christ radaf us all the way to heaven's gate and into the arms of our waiting and smiling heavenly Father.

Praise and glory be to you, Jesus Christ, for seeking us, pursuing us, and chasing us by grace and mercy back to our Father.