ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 TUSITE SEPITEMA 26

Lord, Be Big and High

‘OTUA LAHI MO TAUKAKAPA

PSALM 34:3

OH, MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME, AND LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER!

SAAME 34:3

Mou kau mo au ke viki ‘a Sihova, Pea tau hākeaki‘i hono huafa fakataha.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘I he veesi ‘o e ‘aho ni, ko e ongo fo’i lea, “viki” mo e “hakeaki’i” ‘oku liliu mei he fakataataa faka-Hepeluu ki ha ‘uhinga ‘oku faingata’a hono mahino’i. Ko e veape, katale, ‘a ee ‘oku liliu ‘o ma’u ai ‘a e “viki”, ‘oku ‘uhinga “ke ngaohi ke lahi.” Pea neongo ‘a e ngali kehe ki he’etau fanongoo, “mou kau mai ke tau ngaohi ‘a e ‘Otuaa ke lahi,” ka ko hono ‘uhinga totonu ia. . Ko e veape, lume, ‘a ee ‘oku liliu ‘o ma’u ai ‘a e hakeaki’ii, ‘oku ‘uhinga, “ke ngaohi ke ma’olunga.” Pea ‘i hono liliu fo’ou, te tau pehee, “Mou omi ke tau ngaohi ‘a e ‘Otua ke lahi mo ma’olunga.”

‘I he hili ‘a e palofisai ‘a Maika ki he kolo ‘e ‘alo’i mai ai ‘a e Misaia, na’e hoko atu ‘ene fakamatala ki he’ene pehee, ko e hako ko eni ‘o Tevita te ne tauhi ‘a hono kakai, pea te ne "toki hoko ia ‘o katale [lahi], ‘o a‘u ki he gaahi gata’aga ‘o mamani" - Uesi (5:4). Ko e ki’i tamasi’i valevale ko eni, na’e kofukofu fakatamasi’i valevale ‘i he ‘ai’angakai ‘o e manu, ‘e tupu hake pea ‘e tutuki ia ki ha kolosi, pea ‘e toetu’u ‘o ha’ele hake ki he langi, ‘e hoko ko e LAHI. ‘E LAHI ange ia Petelihema. ‘E Lahi ange ia ‘i ‘Isileli. ‘E lahi ange ia ‘i mamani katoa. ‘E lahi mo ma’olunga taha pe ia, pea ‘e ‘ikai ke hao ia ‘i mamani mo langi. "ko e lahi koe, ‘e Sihova ‘Elohimi”, he, “‘Oku mā‘olunga ‘a e ngaahi ngāue ‘a e ‘Eiki” pea “‘Oku angalelei mo ‘alo‘ofa ‘a e ‘Eiki” (2 Sam. 7:22; Saame 111:2; 145:8). Sisu, ke ke Lahi. ‘E Sisu ke ke Ma’olunga!

"Ke fiefia ‘i he ‘Afiona, mo hākailangitau, ‘A ia fua pē ‘oku vivili atu; Ke lavaki lau ‘a e kau ‘ofa ki ho‘o fakamo‘ui na, “‘Ē, ke hākeaki‘i ‘a e ‘Otua!”" (Saame 70:4).

[ENGLISH]

In this verse, the words "magnify" and "exalt," while correct translations, take concrete Hebrew images and flatten them into abstractions. The verb gadal, translated as "magnify," means "to make big or great." While "make the Lord big with me" is a strange sentence to our ears, it communicates the idea. The verb rum, translated as "exalt," means "to make high" or "raise up." Paraphrasing this verse, we might say, "Let's all together make the Lord and his name big and high!"

After prophesying the birthplace of the Messiah, Micah goes on to say that this Son of David shall shepherd his people, and "he shall be great [gadal] to the ends of the earth" (5:4). This tiny baby boy, swaddled in a feed trough, later transfixed to a cross, then raised high in his resurrection and ascension, would be big. Bigger than Bethlehem. Bigger than Israel. Bigger than the world. So big and so high that heaven and earth cannot contain him but are contained by him. "You are great, O LORD God," for "great are the works of the LORD" who is "great in lovingkindness" (2 Sam. 7:22; Ps. 111:2; 145:8 NASB). Jesus, be big! Jesus, be high!

"May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your

salvation say evermore, 'God is great!"" (Ps. 70:4).