ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 TOKONAKI SEPITEMA 16

The Cup of the LORD

Ko e IPU ‘a e ‘Otua 

PSALM 11:5-6

THE LORD TESTS THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT HIS SOUL HATES THE WICKED AND THE ONE WHO LOVES VIOLENCE. LET HIM RAIN COALS ON THE WICKED: FIRE AND SULFUR AND A SCORCHING WIND SHALL BE THE PORTION OF THEIR CUP.

SAAME 11:5-6

5 ‘Oku sivi ‘e Sihova ‘a e mā‘oni‘oni: Ka ko e angakovi, mo e ‘ofa ki he fakamālohi, ‘Oku fehi‘a ki ai ‘ene mo‘ui. 6 Ke ne faka‘uha mu‘a ki he angakovi ‘a e malala‘i afi. Ko e ‘inasi ‘o ‘enau ipu ko e matangi vela.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘I he ngaahi Saame, ko e koso [ipu] ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku fetapaki ‘i he fakamo’ui pe lili ‘i he faka’auha. ‘I he ngaahi ‘uhinga positivo (lelei), ko e “‘inasi ‘o ‘eku koso ‘a Sihova” (Saame 16:5); ko ‘etau "koso ‘oku fonu mahuohua" (23:5); pea ‘oku tau hiki ‘a e koso ‘o ‘etau fakamo’ui (116:13). Ka ‘i he nekativo (mamahi/kovi) ‘‘oku ‘i ai ha koso [ipu] ‘i he nima ‘o Sihova,...Ko e kau angahala ‘o māmani te nau tatau, ‘o inumia” (75:8) ko e “malala‘i afi Ko e ‘inasi ‘o ‘enau koso [ipu] ko e matangi vela” (11:6). Ko e tilioo ‘o e kau palofitaa, ‘Aisea, Selemaia mo ‘Isikeli, na’a nau fakatokanga kotoa ki he ipu houhau ‘e ‘Otua (‘Aisea 51:17; Selemaia 25:15) pea mo e “ipu fakaka‘anga mo fakalala” (‘Isikeli 23:33).

‘I he ngoue Ketisema ni, ‘i he panaki ‘a hono kalusefai, na’e lotu ‘a Sisu, "‘Alā Tamai, kapau ‘e lava, tuku ke tolona ‘a e ipu ni meiate au: kaekehe ke ‘oua na‘a fai ki hoku loto, ka ki ho‘ou pē" (Matiu 26:39). Na’e fakahoko ‘a e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘i he hanga hake ‘a Kalaisi ‘i he funga kolosi, pea inu ‘a e huhu’a ‘o e houhau taufua, ‘o e malala’i afi, sulifa mo e matangi vela. KUO ‘OSI! Pea ‘i he maha ‘a e ipu, na’a ne toe fakafonu ‘aki ‘a e ta’ata’a mei he’ene mo’ui faka’’Otua, ke lilingi mai ‘a ‘ene fakamo’ui ki hotau lotungutu angahala’ia pakukaa. 

"‘Oku ke teuteu mai ‘i hoku ‘ao ha tēpile, Ka ko hoku ngaahi fili ‘oku sio mei hē:

Kuo ke pani lolo hoku ‘ulu; ‘Oku fonu mahuohua ‘a ‘eku ipu" (SAAME 23:5 KJV).

[ENGLISH]

In the psalms, the Lord's kos ("cup") shimmers with salvation or boils with destruction. Positively, "the LORD is... my kos" (16:5); our "kos overflows" (23:5); and we lift "the kos of salvation" (116:13). But negatively, the Lord holds a kos that the wicked must drain down to the dregs (75:8)-a chal-ice brimming with "fire and sulfur and a scorching wind" (11:6). The prophetic trio-Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel-warn of the Lord's cup of wrath (Isa. 51:17; Jer. 25:15) and "a cup of horror and desolation" (Ezek. 23:33).

In Gethsemane, the crucifixion looming, Jesus prays, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Matt. 26:39). The Lord's will was done when Christ tilted back his head on the cross and drank, down to the dregs, the liquid judgment of fire, sulfur, and scorching wind. It was finished. Then having drained that cup of woe, he refilled it with the blood of his own divine life to pour his salvation on our sin-parched lips.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over" (Ps. 23:5 KJV).