ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 SAPATE SEPITEMA 17

A Hope-Trust

Ko e ‘Amanaki ‘oku Falala

PSALM 13:5-6

BUT I HAVE TRUSTED IN YOUR STEADFAST LOVE; MY HEART SHALL REJOICE IN YOUR SALVATION. I WILL SING TO THE LORD, BECAUSE HE HAS DEALT BOUNTIFULLY WITH ME.

SAAME 13:5-6

5 Ka ko au Kuo u falala ki ho‘o meesi; ‘E fiefia hoku loto ‘i ho‘o fakamo‘ui. 6 Ka u hiva mu‘a kia Sihova; He kuo ne ‘ofa‘i kita.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘I he lea faka-Hepeluu, ko e falalaa mo e ‘amanaki ko e ongo mahanga ia ‘i he’ena tu’u faka-teolosia. ‘I he liliu faka-Kalisi ‘o e Fuakava Motu’a, ko e veape Hepelu ko e pataki (ke falala) ‘oku liliu ia ko e veape faka-Kalisi ko  e elipiseni (ke ‘amanaki). ‘I he taimi ‘oku tau pataki ai, ‘oku tau tuku ‘etau falala-’amanaki ki he tokotaha pe ko ha me’a. Ka ‘oku ‘i ai pe taimi ‘oku fa’a hala ‘etau falala-’amanaki. ‘Oku fonu ‘a e Fuakava Motu’a he ngaahi fakatokanga ke ‘oua na’a tu’u ‘etau falalaa ‘i he ngaahi me’a kehekehe, mei he hou’eikii (Saame 146:3) ki he koloa (Saame 49:6) ‘o a’u ki he ma’oni’oni fakaetangata (‘Isikeli 33:13). ‘Oku malie, ko e fetu’utaki fakaetangata pe ‘oku ha lelei ai ‘a e pataki, ko e falala ‘a e husepaniti ki hono uaifi fai fitaa (Palovepi 31:11). Ko e tu’u ‘ete ‘amanaki mo ‘ete falalaa ‘i he ‘Otuaa, ko e ma’u’anga ia ‘o e nongaa mo e pau’iaa, “Ka ko au Kuo u falala ki ho‘o meesi; ‘E fiefia hoku loto ‘i ho‘o fakamo‘ui” (Saame 13:5).

‘I he Saame 22, ‘oku kalanga ‘a e Misaiaa, ‘i he ‘ene faingata’aiaa, "‘E HOKU ‘Otua, ‘e hoku ‘Otua, ko e hā kuo ke li‘aki ai au?" (v. 1), ka na’e toe kalanga ‘i he tui, "‘I he‘eku ‘i he huhu ‘o ‘eku fa‘ē na‘a ke ngaohi au ke u pataki [falala] (v. 9). Mei he funga kolosi, mahalo na’a ne lotu ‘aki ‘a e veesi ni, ‘i he’ene vakai hifo ki he’ene fa’ee, ‘a Mele. Na’a ne ma’u ‘a e  ‘amanaki. Na’a ne ma’u ‘a e loto falala. Na’a ne pataki ki he’ene Tamai, te ne toe fokotu’u ia - mo kitautolu kotoa pe, kuo tau tui falala kiate Iaa - mei fonualoto.

"‘E Sihova Mohu-hōsitē, Monū‘ia ā ka ko e tangata ‘oku falala kiate koe!" (Saame 84:12).

[ENGLISH]

In Hebrew, trust and hope are theological twin brothers. In fact, the Greek translation of the OT ordinarily rendered the Hebrew verb batach ("to trust") as the Greek verb elpizein ("to hope"). When we batach, we place a "hope-trust" in someone or something. Of course, that hope-trust is often misguided. The OT is rife with warnings against trusting in everything from princes (Ps. 146:3) to riches (Ps. 49:6) to one's own righteousness (Ezek. 33:13). Strikingly, the only human relationship where batach is wholly commended is when the husband of a noble wife trusts in her (Prov. 31:11). To place one's hope and trust in the Lord is to find peace and security based completely on his "steadfast love [chesed]" (Ps. 13:5).

In Psalm 22, the Messiah cries out in excruciating pain, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (v. 1), yet he also cries out in faith, "You made me trust [batach] you at my mother's breasts" (v. 9). Perhaps even on the cross, Jesus cast his eyes toward his mother, Mary, as he prayed these words. He had hope. He had trust. He batach in his Father who would raise him-and all of us in him-from the grave.

"O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!" (Ps. 84:12).