ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 FALAITE SEPITEMA 29

Merciful "Revenge"

“Sauni” ‘aki ‘a e Meesi

PSALM 41:9-10

EVEN MY CLOSE FRIEND IN WHOM I TRUSTED, WHO ATE MY BREAD, HAS LIFTED HIS HEEL AGAINST ME. BUT YOU, O LORD, BE GRACIOUS TO ME, AND RAISE ME UP, THAT I MAY REPAY THEM!

SAAME 41:9-10

9 Ko hoku kaume‘a fafale foki, ‘A ia na‘a ku falala ki ai, Ha taha na‘e kai ‘a e mā ‘a‘aku, Kuo ne hiki hono muiva‘e kiate au. 10 Ka ko koe, ‘Eiki, ke ‘alo‘ofa mai, ‘o fokotu‘u au; Ka u fai ha sauni kiate kinautolu.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘Oku ‘i ai ha me’a’ofa ke tau vakai ki ai ‘i he veesi ‘o e ‘aho ni. “Ko hoku kaume’a fafale,” ko hono ‘uhinga totonu, “ko e tangata salome [melino].” Pea ko e kupu ‘oku pehee, “ka u fai sauni”, ko e veape ko e, salama. ‘E lava pe ke ‘uhinga, “ke fakakakato”, “fakapale’i” pe “sauni.” Ko e ongo fo’i lea ko eni, salama mo e salome, ko e ma’u mei he lea tefito tatau. Na’e ‘omi ‘e Sisu ‘a e veesi ko eni, ‘o ne fakalave kiate Ia he’ene pehee, “ko e tangata ‘oku salome mo ia” ko Siutasi, ‘a ia te ne hiki hono muiva‘e kiate Ia  (Sione 13:18). Ko e iku’anga, ko e pekia ‘a e Misaia. 

‘I he veesi 10, ‘oku lotu ‘a Sisu, “fokotu‘u au; Ka u fai ha salama [sauni] kiate kinautolu.”  Koe’uhi, ko e lea eni ‘a Sisu, te tau liliu fefee’i ‘a e fo’i lea ‘o e veesi? ‘I he taimi na’e fokotu’u ai ‘a Sisu mei fonualoto, na’e fai sauni ‘a Sisu? Kumi huhu’i? ‘IKAI! Na’e anga fe fe ‘ene salama ‘a kinautolu na’e hola meiate Ia? "na‘e ha‘u ‘a Sīsū, ‘o tu‘u ki honau lotolotonga, ‘o ne folofola kiate kinautolu, Si‘oto‘ofa atu!" (John 20:19). Ko e founga ‘eni ‘a hotau ‘Eiki; na’e ‘ikai te ne kumi sauni, na’a ne ‘omi pe ‘ene fakamolemole.

"Kuo lelei, ka u tokoto hifo pea u mohe leva; He ko koe, ‘Eiki, ‘oku ke fe‘unga toko taha mo ‘eku nofo nonga” (Saame 4:8). 

[ENGLISH]

There is a surprise Hebrew gift waiting to be unwrapped in these verses "My close friend" is more literally "a man in shalom [at peace] with me." In the phrase "that I may repay them," the word "repay" is a form of the verb shalam. It can mean make complete, reward, or take revenge. These two Hebrew words, shalam and shalom, are from the same root. Jesus applies these verses to himself, where the "man in shalom with him" is Judas, who  is about to lift up his heel against him (John 13:18). The end result will be the Messiah's death.

In verse 10, Jesus prays, "Raise me up, that I may shalam them!" Since this is Jesus speaking, how do we translate this word? When he was raised up from the dead, did Jesus seek retribution? Revenge? No! How did he shalam all those shalom-friends who ran away from him? "Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you" (John 20:19). This is the way of our Lord: rather than looking for a pound of flesh, he gives us a ton of forgiveness.

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety" (Ps. 4:8).