ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 TU‘APULELULU SEPITEMA 28

Hurry up, God!

VAVE MAI KE TOKONIA, ‘E ‘OTUA

PSALM 38:21-22

DO NOT FORSAKE ME, O LORD! O MY GOD, BE NOT FAR FROM ME! MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD, MY SALVATION!

SAAME 38:21-22

21 ‘Oua te ke li‘aki au, ‘e Sihova - ‘Oua te ke hiki ‘o mama‘o meiate au, ‘e hoku ‘Otua.

22 Vave mai ke tokonia, ‘E ‘Ātonai ko hoku fakamo‘ui‘anga.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘I he taimi ‘oku siva ai ‘etau ‘amanaki, ‘oku tau ongo’i ‘oku ‘ikai ha ‘utu ‘e hakea - ‘oku tau nofo tailiili pea tau mamahi lahi pea tau hanga ki ‘olunga mo tuki he matapaa ‘o langi. ‘Oku tau loto ke fai ‘e he ‘Otua ha me’a ‘i he taimi ni pe. ‘I he taimi pehe ni, ‘oku fa’a fale’i mai ‘e he kaungaa fonongaa, “ke tau fa’a tatali”, ke “‘oua te tau hoha’asi ‘a e ‘Otua ki he taimi ‘atautolu.” Pe, ko e talamai ke “Oua te ke tala ki he ‘Otua ‘a e taimi ke ne fai ai ha me’a.” Ka ‘oku fehangahangai e fale’i ko eni mo e ngaahi tautapu ‘oku ha ‘i he Saame. ‘Oku tu’o fitu ‘a e tangi ‘a e fa’u Saame ‘o ngaue’aki ‘a e lea, “KUSA” (22:19; 38:22; 40:13; 70:1, 5; 71:12; 141:1). Ko e veape ko eni, ‘oku ‘uhinga, ke fakato’oto’o, ke fakavave’i ha me’a. Na’e ‘ikai fo’i ‘a e ha’a ‘Isileli, he tangi ki he ‘Otua; “Vave mai! Tali mai! Tokoni mai he taimi ni pe!”

‘Io, ‘oku tau fononga ‘i he TUI mo e ‘Amanaki. ‘Io, ‘oku tau lotu, "Ke fakahoko ho finangalo.” Ka ‘oku tau lotu fakamatoato, ta’e toe ufi mei he loto tonunga. Pea ‘oku tau lea hangatonu ki he ‘Otua ‘o tala kiate Ia hotau lotoo mo tau hoha’asi Ia ke ne taukapo’i kitautolu. KUSA! Manatu’i ‘a e uitou na’a ne fakafiu’i ‘a e fakamaau, kae ‘oleva ke ne taukapo’i ia (Luke 18:1-8)? Pea pehee ‘e Sisu, “te ne fai pe ha sauni ma’amoutolu, pea ‘e VAVE! (v.8). Koe’uhi, ko ‘ene fanau kitautolu, ‘oku tau tau’ataina pea fakaafe’i kitautolu ke tau lotu ange, “‘E Tamai, Vave mai.”

"‘E ‘ELOHIMI Ē, vave ke hamu kita; Sihova ē, vave mai ke tokonia." (Ps. 70:1).

[ENGLISH]

When our hopes are in shreds, our lives are a dumpster fire, or we're racked by stress or grief, we pound our fists on heaven's door. We want God to intervene-and we mean now! In these situations, well-meaning believers might caution us, "Now be patient and don't subject God to your timetable. Or, "Don't tell the Lord when to do something." Against such pious-sounding sentiments, seven times in the psalms, the cry rises from God's people, Chush! (22:19; 38:22; 40:13; 70:1, 5; 71:12; 141:1). The verb means to hasten something, to speed things along. The Israelites had no qualms about crying out to the Lord, "Hurry up! Answer me quickly! Act now!" 

Yes, we live by faith and hope. Yes, we pray, "Thy will be done." But we pray honestly and earnestly and boldly. That means, very often, telling God we want and need him to wake up, get up, and do something now. Chush! Remember the pertinacious widow whom Jesus commended for giving the earthly judge no rest until he heard her case (Luke 18:1-8)? Jesus adds that our heavenly Judge will give justice to us "speedily" (v. 8). As beloved children, we are free and invited to pray, "Dear Father, hurry!"

"Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!" (Ps. 70:1).