ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 PULELULU SEPITEMA 13

God's Beloved Ones

Ko e Kau ‘Ofeina ‘a e ‘Otua

PSALM 4:2-3

O MEN, HOW LONG SHALL MY HONOR BE TURNED INTO SHAME? HOW LONG WILL YOU LOVE VAIN WORDS AND SEEK AFTER LIES? SELAH BUT KNOW THAT THE LORD HAS SET APART THE GODLY FOR HIMSELF; THE LORD HEARS WHEN I CALL TO HIM.

SAAME 4:2-3

2 Ha‘a matāpule, ko futufutunga ‘a e liliu hoku lāngilangi ko e fakamā! Ko futu ho‘omou ‘ofa ki he muna, Mo kumi ki he kākā! (Sila) 3 Ka mou ‘ilo kuo vahe‘i mo‘ona ‘e Sihova ‘ene ‘ofeina; ‘Oku ongo‘i ‘e Sihova ‘oka u ka tangi kiate ia.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘I he liliu lea fakapapalangi, ‘oku pehee ‘e he veesi ‘o e ‘aho ni, “Kuo vahe‘i mo‘ona ‘e Sihova ‘ene kakai faka-’otua (godly).” Ka ‘i he faka-Hepeluu, ‘oku tonu ange ‘a e liliu ‘oku tau ma’u ‘i he faka-Tongaa. Ko e fo’i lea ‘oku liliu ko e “godly” ko e “kasi” mei he “keseti” (pe heseti) - ko e fo’i lea ‘oku faingata’a ke liliu - ka ‘oku falute ai ‘a e ‘ofa faka-’Otua, pikitai, mo e meesi. Ko e kasitimi [palulali] ko kinautolu ia ‘oku hu’u ki ai ‘a e keseti ‘a e ‘Otua, faka’uha ki ai ‘ene ngaahi ‘ofa. Ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku tonu ange ai ‘a e liliu ‘e Molitoni ‘a e fo’i lea ko eni, ko e “ofeina”. kuo vahe‘i mo‘ona ‘e Sihova ‘ene ‘ofeina. “ ‘Oku mahu‘inga ‘i he ‘ao ‘o Sihova ‘a e pekia ‘a hono kasitimi [‘ofa‘anga] (Saame 116:15). I he ngaahi Saame, ‘oku hiva fakamalo’ia ‘a e kau kasitimi (30:4), ‘oku nau "’ofa kia Sihova” (31:23), ‘oku nau "hū ki he ‘Afiona” (32:6). ‘E ‘ikai li’aki kinautolu ‘e honau ‘Otua (37:28), ‘oku ne tala melino kiate kinautolu (85:8), pea ‘oku ne tauhi honau laumalie (86:2). ‘Oku mo’ui faka-’otua, fai tonunga mo ‘ofa ‘a e kau kasitimi? ‘Io, ka koe’uhi pe ko e tomu’a hu’u kiate kinautolu ‘a e keseti ‘a e Tamai. 

‘I he taimi na’e pekia mo telio ai ‘a e Misaia, ‘e ‘ikai li’aki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a ‘ene Pele pe tuku ‘ene kasi ke mamata ki he ‘auha (Saame 16:10; Ngaue 2:25-32). ‘Ia Kalaisi, ‘a e ‘Ofeina ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku tau kaunga kau ‘i he lau, ko e ‘ofeinga kitautolu ‘a e Tamai. 

"‘Oku fai ho fakamālō, ‘Eiki, ‘e ho‘o ngaahi ngāue kotoa; Pea ko ho‘o kau lotu ‘oku nau fakafeta‘ia ‘a e ‘Afiona” (Saame 145:10).

[ENGLISH]

When we read, "the LORD has set apart the godly," we might assume the Hebrew adjective for "godly" is from the word for "God." That would make sense. But actually, "godly" is chasid, derived from chesed, that almost untranslatable word for divine love, fidelity, mercy. The chasidim (plural) are thus the objects of chesed, those upon whom the Lord showers his love. Rather than "godly." we might translate it "beloved." The Lord sets apart his beloved ones. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his chasidim” (Ps. 116:15). In the psalms, the chasidim "sing praises" (30:4), "love the LORD" (31:23), "offer prayer" (32:6). Their Lord will not forsake them (37:28), speaks peace to them (85:8), preserves their life (86:2). Are the chasidim godiy, faithful, and loving? Yes, but only because they are the recipients of the chesed of the Father.

When the Messiah is crucified and buried, God will not abandon his soul to Sheol, or let his chasid see corruption (Ps. 16:10; Acts 2:25-32). In Christ, the Beloved one, we too are the Beloved of the Father.

"All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your chasidim shall bless you!" (Ps. 145:10).