ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 TOKONAKI SEPITEMA 9

Gnashing of Teeth

Fengai‘itaki ‘o e Nifo

JOB 16:9-10

HE HAS TORN ME IN HIS WRATH AND HATED ME: HE HAS GNASHED HIS TEETH AT ME: MY ADVERSARY SHARPENS HIS EYES AGAINST ME. MEN HAVE GAPED AT ME WITH THEIR MOUTH: THEY HAVE STRUCK ME INSOLENTLY ON THE CHEEK; THEY MASS THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST ME.

JOB 16:9-10

9 Ko ‘ene houhau ‘oku hae au, ‘o fai takai: ‘Oku ne ina, ‘o fakangatata hono nifo kiate au. ‘Oku fakamāsila ‘e hoku fili ‘a e hila mai hono mata. 10 ‘Oku nau fakaava mio‘i honau ngutu kiate au; ‘Oku nau taa‘i pau‘u hoku kou‘ahe: ‘Oku nau kautaha ke ngaohi au.

9 ‘Oku ne haehae au ‘i hono houhau, ‘a ia ‘oku fehi’a kiate au: ‘oku ne fegai’itaki hono nifo kiate au; ‘oku matalili ‘a hoku fili kiate au. 10 Kuo nau fakamaga ho nau gutu kiate au; kuo taa‘i manuki au ‘i hoku kou’ahe; kuo nau fakataha ‘akinautolu kiate au. (Uesi)

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

Ko e “fengai’itaki ‘o e nifo” ‘oku lahi e ma’u hala ki ai. ‘Oku ha tu’o nima ‘i he Fuakava Motu’a, ‘a e salake [“fakangatata/fengai’itaki ‘o e nifo”] ‘o ha taha.  ‘Oku ha tu’o tolu ‘i he Ngaahi Saame: Ko e kau ta’elotu mo e kau faikovi ‘oku nau ‘ūtaki kaunifo kia Tevita (Saame 35:16: 37:12) pea ko e kau angahala te nau ‘ūtaki kaunifo ki he kau lotu, pea te nau ‘auha ai pe (112:10). ‘Oku talamai ‘e Tangilaulau, ko e fili ‘o ‘Isileli, “‘Oku nau faka‘ise‘isa, pea ‘oku nau ‘ūtaki kaunifo" (2:16). Pea ko Siope eni, ‘oku ne vakai ki he ‘Otua, ‘oku ne “fakangatata hono nifo kiate au”. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko e ha kotoa ‘o e salake, [“fakangatata ‘o e nifo hono nifo/ ‘ūtaki kaunifo”] ko e faka’ilonga ‘o e mamahi, ka ‘oku kau ai mo e ‘ita. 

Ko e folofola ‘a Sisu kau ki he fa’ahinga ‘oku laku ki he fakapo’uli mo e fonise afi, ‘a e potu ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e "tangi mo e fengai‘itaki ‘o e nifo”, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ‘enau mamahi pe, ka ko ‘enau ‘ita mo ‘enau lili mo e angatu’u ki he ‘Otua (Matiu 8:12: 13:42). Na’e tatau pe eni mo kinautolu na’a nau fakapo’uli mo loto lili kia Sitiveni, “na‘e hangē kuo kilisi ‘o fahiua honau loto, ‘o nau ‘ūtaki kaunifo kiate ia” (Ngaue 7:54). Ke fakahaofi kitautolu mei he fa’ahinga loto tamate pehe ni, ka ke tau ma’u ha loto tui ta’e toe ue’ia, pea ke ‘oua na’a tau ‘utaki kaunifo ka ke fonu hotau ngutu he fakafeta’i kiate Ia ‘oku ne fakahaofi kiatutolu mei he kovi kotoa pe.

 

Fofonga mai kiate kimautolu, ‘e ‘Otua, ‘aki ho’o meesi mo ho’o hoifua, pea ke fakahaofi kimautolu mei homau ngaahi fili.

[ENGLISH]

"Gnashing of teeth" does not mean what most people think it means. Five times in the OT, someone charaq ("gnashes") their teeth. Three are in the psalms: mockers and evil men gnash their teeth at David (Pss. 35:16: 37:12) and the wicked, angry at believers, gnash their teeth and melt away (112:10). Lamentations says Israel's enemies hiss and "gnash their teeth" (2:16). And Job, picturing God as his enemy, says he "gnashed his teeth against me." Every occurrence of charaq is not about pain but anger.

When Jesus speaks of people thrown into outer darkness or the fiery furnace, where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth," the teeth-gnashing is all about their fury, hatred, and rage at God and his people, not necessarily their physical sufferings (e.g.. Matt. 8:12: 13:42). Similarly, those who were enraged at Stephen "gnashed their teeth at him" (Acts 7:54 NIV). May God preserve us from such destructive hate, grant us unwavering faith, and fill our mouths not with gnashing teeth but with songs of praise to the one who delivers us from evil.

 

Smile on us, O Lord, with your mercy and favor that we may be saved from all our foes.