Monite ‘Okatopa 30, 2023
The Choir of Fire
Ko e Kau Hiva ‘o e Afi faka-Langi
ISAIAH 6:1-3
IN THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED I SAW THE LORD SITTING UPON A THRONE, HIGH AND LIFTED UP; AND THE TRAIN OF HIS ROBE FILLED THE TEMPLE. ABOVE HIM STOOD THE SERAPHIM. EACH HAD SIX WINGS: WITH TWO
HE COVERED HIS FACE, AND WITH TWO HE COVERED HIS FEET, AND WITH TWO HE FLEW. AND ONE CALLED TO ANOTHER AND SAID: "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD OF HOSTS: THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY!"
‘AISEA 6:1-3
1 ‘I HE ta‘u na‘e pekia ai ‘a Kingi ‘Ūsaia, ne u māta‘i ‘a ‘Ātonai, ‘oku ne ‘afio ‘i ha taloni ‘oku fotu mo mahiki hake, pea ko hono kofu fakapatohotoho na‘e faliki ‘aki ‘a e Temipale. 2 Ko ha‘a Selāfimi ē ‘oku taka ‘olunga ‘i ai: ‘oku taki ono honau kapakau; ko e ua na‘a nau fufū ‘aki honau mata, mo e ua na‘a nau fufū ‘aki honau va‘e, pea ko e ua na‘e fai‘aki ‘enau fepunakaki. 3 Pea na‘e fetāliaki ‘a ē mo ē ‘o pehē, ‘A e Tāpuhā! ‘a e Tāpuhā! ‘a e Tāpuhā! ‘a Sihova Sāpaoti! Ko hono lāngilangi ē ‘a e fonu ‘a māmani kātoa.
Seraphim are mentioned only here in the Bible. They derive their name from saraf ("to burn"), like the burning or "fiery serpents" in the wilderness (Num. 21:6). These six-winged, burning angels form a choir of fire. With eyes blindfolded by wings and feet covered, their mouths chant the Trisagion, the triple-holy to the Lord of hosts. Perhaps Isaiah named them seraphim because one of them touched his lips with a live coal (v. 6). Or perhaps they resembled flying flames. Either way, these celestial beings sing the Lord's praise, do his bidding, and serve sinners with a purifying touch.
Isaiah was privileged to see with the naked eye the active sphere all around us, hidden from view. Angels watch over us. Angels sing God's praises. And we, with them, worship the Christ, the Lord upon the throne, to whose glory Isaiah bore witness (John 12:41).
"O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells" (Ps. 26:8).
No comments:
Post a Comment