TU’APULELULU NOVEMA 30, 2023

Hiding and Healing Leaves

Ko hono lau ‘oku ma‘a e faito‘o

EZEKIEL 47:12

"AND ON THE BANKS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER, THERE WILL GROW ALL KINDS OF TREES FOR FOOD. THEIR LEAVES WILL NOT WITHER, NOR THEIR FRUIT FAIL, BUT THEY WILL BEAR FRESH FRUIT EVERY MONTH, BECAUSE THE WATER FOR THEM FLOWS FROM THE SANCTUARY. THEIR FRUIT WILL BE FOR

FOOD, AND THEIR LEAVES FOR HEALING.

‘ISIKELI 47:12

Pea ‘i he ve‘e vaitafe ‘e tupu ‘i hono kauvai ko ē mo ē ‘a e ‘akau kai kehekehe; ‘e ‘ikai mae hono lau, pea ‘e ‘ikai hala hono fua: ‘e polopolo ‘i he māhina kotoa; he ko hono vai ko ē ‘oku hū ia mei he Potu Tapu; pea ko hono fua ‘oku ma‘a e me‘akai, pea ko hono lau ‘oku ma‘a e faito‘o.

When biblical authors portray the end of all things, they often dip their brush in the colors of Genesis. End-time resembles beginning-time (Endzeit gleicht Urzeit, as the German phrase goes). So when Ezekiel and John (Rev. 22:1-2) describe vivifying waters flowing from God, they borrow the imagery of Eden's river watering the world (Gen. 2:10-14). But they also both mention the alch ("leaf or foliage"). In Eden, Adam and Eve used the aleh of fig trees to hide their naked shame (3:7), but at the end of all things, leaves will serve an entirely opposite purpose: they will be "for healing" (Ezek. 47:12) or "for the healing of the nations" (Rev. 22:2).

The Hebrew verb alah means "go up," so the green "goings up" or "sprouts" on a tree-its leaves-are called aleh. There's a lovely image there: these "goings up," these leaves, will in turn lift us up, heal us, stand us on our feet as we rise into the joy of the resurrection.

All glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for reversing our sickness and death, to fill us with healing and life in your resurrection.

 Tokonaki Tisema 30, 2023

Aaronic unblessing

Ko e Tapuaki Fehalaaki Faka-’Elone

MALACHI 1:11-12

FOR MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. BUT YOU PROFANE IT WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE LORD'S TABLE IS POLLUTED, AND ITS FRUIT, THAT IS. ITS FOOD MAY BE DESPISED.

MALAKAI 1:11-12

11 Tala atu, mei he hopo‘anga la‘ā ‘o a‘u ki hono tō‘anga, ‘oku fotu hoku hingoa ‘i he ngaahi pule‘anga, pea ‘i he potu kotoa pē ‘oku ‘atu ‘a e ‘inisēnisi ki hoku hingoa, mo e feilaulau ma‘a: he fotu hoku hingoa ‘i he ngaahi pule‘anga–ko e folofola ia ‘a Sihova Sāpaoti. 12 Ka ko kimoutolu ‘oku mou to‘o hono tapu ‘i ho‘omou pehē, Ko e tēpile ‘o ‘Ātonai ‘oku va‘inga‘aki, pea ko e me‘a ‘oku hiki mei ai, ‘a hono me‘akai, hono sia‘a!

Malachi's rhetorical attack on corrupt priests is razor-sharp rhetorically and biblically ingenious. He takes the language of the Priestly Blessing (Num. 6:23-27) and turns it upside down through a whole series of clever puns. The priests are to put God's name on the people, but they despise it (1:6). Rather than God lifting up his face upon them (1:9), he will smear dung on their faces (2:3). Rather than a blessing, he will send upon them a curse (2:2). Maiachi tells them to "entreat" (chalah) God's favor, but they have "profaned" (chaial) his altar (1:9, 12). The goal of the Priestly Blessing is for the Lord to be gracious (chanan), but in vain (chinnam) the priests kindle fire on the altar (1:9-10). Malachi's sermon might well be titled "The Aaronic Unblessing."

We are not surprised, therefore, when Maiachi says the Messiah will purify and refine the sons of Levi (3:1-4). And so he did. Christ has purified for himself a royal, "holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through" himself (1 Pet. 2:5), to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called (us) out of darkness into his marvelous light" of mercy (v. 9).

Jesus, our great and merciful High Priest, lift up your countenance on us and give us peace.

 PULELULU NOVEMA 29, 2023

Resurrection and the Richter Scale 

Ko e Toetu’u pea mo e Me’afua Mofuike

EZEKIEL 37:1, 7

THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON ME, AND HE BROUGHT ME OUT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD AND SET ME DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VALLEY; IT AS I PROPHESIED, THERE WAS FULL OF BONES WAS A SOUND, AND BEHOLD, A RATTLING, AND THE BONES CAME TOGETHER, BONE TO ITS BONE.

‘ISIKELI 37:1, 7

1 PEA hoko kiate au ‘a e nima ‘o Sihova, pea na‘e ‘ave au ‘e Sihova ki tu‘a ‘i he laumālie, ‘o ne tuku au ‘i he loto tele‘a; tā na‘e fonu ia ‘i he ngaahi hui.

7 Ko ia, na‘a ku palofisai ‘o hangē ko hoku fekau: pea lolotonga ‘eku palofisai, ‘iloange na‘e ‘u‘ulu; pea tā ko e fu‘u ngaue ‘ena, pea ‘oku fengātolo‘i mai ‘a e ngaahi hui takitaha ke fakataha mo hono kaungā hui.

In Matthew, two earthquakes are recorded. The first coincides with the death of Christ, when "the earth shook, and the rocks were split," tombs opened, and the bodies of saints rose (27:51-54). The second is when Jesus is raised: "And behold, there was a great earthquake" when the angel descended and rolled the stone from the tomb (28:2). This connection between earthquakes and resurrection originates in Ezekiel 37. When he was preaching in the valley of dry bones, "there was a sound, and behold, a ra'ash." Though most translations render this word as "rattling," ra'ash is also the word for "earthquake" (1 Kings 19:11; Isa. 29:6; Amos 1:1).

The Richter scale thus measures preresurrection quivers. The earth, as it were, is trembling like a woman in labor, "groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now" (Rom. 8:22). She is ready to open up her womb to give birth in resurrection to the bodies of the children of God within her. Earthquakes are scary, to be sure, but they also betoken coming hope.

Holy Spirit, teach us to discern your mysterious ways written on the scroll of creation.

 TUSITE NOVEMA 28, 2023

Sprinkling 

Luluku ‘aki ‘a e vai fakama’a

EZEKIEL 36:24-25

I WILL TAKE YOU FROM THE NATIONS AND GATHER YOU FROM ALL THE COUNTRIES AND BRING YOU INTO YOUR OWN LAND. I WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU. AND YOU SHALL BE CLEAN FROM ALL YOUR UNCLEANNESSES AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS I WILL CLEANSE YOU.

‘ISIKELI 36:24-25

24 He te u to‘o kimoutolu mei he ngaahi pule‘anga, pea te u tānaki kimoutolu mei he ngaahi fonua, pea te u ‘omi kimoutolu ki homou kelekele. 25 Pea te u luluku kimoutolu ‘aki ‘a e vai fakama‘a, pea te mou ma‘a: ‘io, te u fakama‘a kimoutolu mei ho‘omou ta‘ema‘a fua pē, pea mei homou ngaahi ‘aitoli kotoa.

Israelites who helped prepare the body of a loved one for burial would become ritually unclean through physical contact with death. Like a contagion, you "caught"  uncleanness. To remove it, God ordained that a special mixture of blood, water, and other ingredients be zaraq ("sprinkled") on the unclean person (Num. 19). Ezekiel is riffing off this ancient practice to describe what will happen in the messianic age. God will repatriate believers "from all the countries where they've been exiled. In those far-off" places, they were defiled by corpse-like idols, so he will "zaraq clean water on them. Central to the Messiah's mission, therefore, is removing the stain of death by means of cleansing water.

The writer of Hebrews picks up on this when he says that, by the blood of Jesus, we enter God's presence "with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (10:22). Not only does Jesus bring us home from exile; he sprinkles his blood of atonement and water of baptism on us, to remove the stain of death and bedew us  with his life.

Blessed are you, holy Father, for bathing and beautifying us with the waters of life.

 MONITE NOVEMA 27, 2023

No Mourning

‘E ‘Ikai Te ke Tengihia

EZEKIEL 24:16-18

"SON OF MAN, BEHOLD, I AM ABOUT TO TAKE THE DELIGHT OF YOUR EYES AWAY FROM YOU AT A STROKE: YET YOU SHALL NOT MOURN OR WEEP, NOR SHALL YOUR TEARS RUN DOWN. SIGH, BUT NOT ALOUD; MAKE NO MOURNING FOR THE DEAD. BIND ON YOUR TURBAN, AND PUT YOUR SHOES ON YOUR FEET: DO NOT COVER YOUR LIPS, NOR EAT THE BREAD OF MEN." SO I SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE MORNING, AND AT EVENING MY WIFE DIED.

‘ISIKELI 24:16-18

16 Hako‘i-tangata, ko au ‘eni ‘oku ou to‘o meiate koe ‘a e mamana‘anga ‘o ho mata ‘aki ha fo‘i tā: ka ‘e ‘ikai te ke tēngihia, pea ‘e ‘ikai te ke tangi, pea ‘e ‘ikai hao lo‘imata ‘e tō. 17 Te ke māpuhoi fakalongo pē; ‘e ‘ikai te ke fai ha tangilāulau koe‘uhi ko e pekia; ‘ai ho tatā, ‘o nono‘o, pea ‘ai sū ki ho va‘e, pea ‘e ‘ikai te ke ‘ufi‘ufi ho kava, pea ‘e ‘ikai te ke kai ‘a e me‘akai ‘oku ‘omi ‘e he kakai. 18 Pea ko e pongipongi ia na‘a ku fai ‘eku lea ki he kakai, pea na‘e pekia hoku uaifi efiafi: pea pongipongi hake na‘a ku fai ‘a e me‘a na‘e tu‘utu‘uni mai.

Being a prophet was not a nine-to-five job, but an entire existence. It defined you. And sometimes it killed you-or, in Ezekiel's case, one you loved. His wife would suddenly die, God said, just as Jerusalem and her temple were about to die. The prophet was to model what his people's reaction to the news must be. Nothing. Business as usual. They are not to safad ("mourn, lament, wail"). We have our grieving rituals; in the ancient world, they had theirs: loud lamentation, cutting hair, going shoeless, and so on. Ezekiel and his people were to say no to safad.

The harsh acceptance of God's decree is one facet of the life of faith. There are times to weep and wail, just there are times to say Amen and move on. Ezekiel exemplifies the latter. He knew, as do we, that whatever pains the past holds, the future is always God's storehouse of hope.

Increase our faith, O Lord, as we pray, "Thy will be done."

 SAPATE NOVEMA 26, 2023

God is No Sadist

‘Oku ‘Ikai Fa’ufa’u kovi ‘a e ‘Otua ki he tangata (tapu mo Ia)

EZEKIEL 18:23

"HAVE I ANY PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED, DECLARES THE LORD GOD, AND NOT RATHER THAT HE SHOULD TURN FROM HIS WAY AND LIVE?"

‘ISIKELI 18:23

He ‘oku ou momo‘i manako ki he pekia ‘a e angahala?–ko ‘Ātonai Sihova ia mei he Ta‘ehāmai–kaekehe ke ne tafoki mei hono ngaahi ‘alunga, ‘o mo‘ui.

Critics of the Bible often use the moth-eaten cliché that the God of the OT is a sadist. He gets off on hurting people. He finds great pleasure in human slaughter. Anyone who's taken the time to read the Scriptures discovers this supposed "sadistic God" is nothing but a strawman. He doesn't exist. What we do find, however, is a God who is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exod. 34:6). He takes absolutely no "chafatz ['pleasure'] in the death of the wicked" (cf. 18:32; 33:11). He wants them to repent and believe! The Lord "does not retain his anger forever, because he"-in this lyrical phrase-"chafatz in chesed," he “delights in steadfast love”, as Micah says (7:8).

The Messiah, in the psalms, says to his Father, "I chafatz ['delight'] to do your will, O my God" (40:8; Heb. 10:7). What is the will of the Father? That all people might be reconciled to him, all iniquity atoned for, all humanity justified, "the LORD was pleased [chafatz] to crush" his Son and raise him back to life (Isa. 53:10 NASB). God's pleasure is always to save, enliven, forgive.

Grants us hearts that delight in you, heavenly Father, even as you delight in us.

 TOKONAKI NOVEMA 25, 2023

Israel's Idolatrous Nymphomania

‘Isileli Tauhi ‘aitoli mo Fe’auaki

EZEKIEL 16:32-33

"ADULTEROUS WIFE, WHO RECEIVES STRANGERS INSTEAD OF HER HUSBAND! MEN GIVE GIFTS TO ALL PROSTITUTES, BUT YOU GAVE YOUR GIFTS TO ALL YOUR LOVERS, BRIBING THEM TO COME TO YOU FROM EVERY SIDE WITH YOUR WHORINGS."

ISIKELI 16:32-33

32 Ko e uaifi faikovi ia ‘oku ne puke atu ki ha ni‘ihi kehe ‘i he funga ‘o hono ‘unoho! 33 Ko e anga ‘o e pa‘umutu kotoa pē ‘oku ‘ange me‘a‘ofa kiate kinautolu; ka ko e fefine koe ‘oku ke foaki ha‘o me‘a‘ofa ki ho kau ‘ofa‘anga; ‘io, na‘a ke totongi kiate kinautolu ‘enau omi kiate koe mei he potu kotoa pē ke fe‘auaki mo koe.

No prophet uses more R-rated, sexually charged language than Ezekiel does to castigate Israel for her idolatry. In one sermon, he says Israel prostituted herself in idolatry in Egypt, going after gods "whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses" (23:20 NIV). Ezekiel 16 is one long attack on Israel for being a nymphomaniac when it comes to idolatry. Over and over, he refers to how God's people zanah ("fornicate,""play the harlot," "whore"). "You spread your legs to every passer-by to multiply your harlotry" (16:25 NASB). Only Israel is a bizarre prostitute: she pays people to sleep with her! She was giving gifts to her lovers, "bribing

them" into her bed. Ezekiel's goal is to show how shameful, idiotic, and defiling is the worship of false gods.

Nothing has changed. Our world, with its panoply of pleasures, powers, and possessions, will ceaselessly attempt to woo us away from Christ. "Flee from idolatry," Paul says (1 Cor. 10:14). Run to Jesus. Cling to him, the only true God, our Savior and the ever-faithful, ever-merciful Bridegroom of the church.

Keep us awake and alert, O Lord Jesus, to flee from falsehood and to hold fast to you.

 FALAITE NOVEMA 24, 2023

Eastern Departure, Eastern Return

Ha’ele Hake mei he Hahake, Ha’ele Mai ‘i he Faka-Hahake

EZEKIEL 11:22-23

THEN THE CHERUBIM LIFTED UP THEIR WINGS. WITH THE WHEELS BESIDE THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS OVER THEM. AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD WENT UP FROM THE MIDST OF THE CITY AND STOOD ON

THE MOUNTAIN THAT IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY

‘ISIKELI 11:22-23

22 Na‘e toki fola ‘e he kau Selupimi honau kapakau, pea na‘e ō ‘a e ngaahi fakasāliote mo kinautolu; pea ko e Sikaina ‘o e ‘Otua ‘o ‘Isileli na‘e taupotu ki ‘olunga ‘iate kinautolu. 23 Pea hā‘ele hake ‘a e Sikaina ‘o Sihova mei he‘ene taka ‘olunga ‘i he loto kolo, ‘o ne tu‘u ‘i he mo‘unga ‘a ia ‘oku ‘i he potu hahake ‘o e kolo.

Israel had befouled the Lord's temple, transmogrifying it into a swamp of idolatry. So God packed his bags and left, trailing east. From the threshold (10:18), to the east gate (10:19), and finally to the "mountain that is on the east side of the city" (11:23), his glory departed, shaking the dust from his feet. With his prophetic eye, however, Ezekiel saw an end-time temple, and "the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east" (43:4). Various "east" words are used by Ezekiel-qedem, qadim, qadmon-all formed  from the root q-d-m. From his temple, the Lord had an eastern departure  and would have an eastern return.

And there he is, at the beginning of Passover week, approaching Jerusalem from "Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives," on the eastern side of the city (Mark 11:1). God's glory left Jerusalem, riding eastward on cherubim. That same glory returns, riding from the east on a donkey. He comes to build and inhabit a new temple of living stones, his church (1 Pet. 2:5).

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to be ever watchful for your return in power and glory.

 TU’APULELULU NOVEMA 23, 2023

Sealed on the Forehead

Tā ha kolosi ‘i he la‘e

EZEKIEL 9:3-4

[GOD] CALLED TO THE MAN CLOTHED IN LINEN, WHO HAD THE WRITING CASE AT HIS WAIST. AND THE LORD SAID TO HIM, "PASS THROUGH THE CITY, THROUGH JERUSALEM, AND PUT A MARK ON THE FOREHEADS OF THE MEN WHO SIGH AND GROAN OVER ALL THE ABOMINATIONS THAT ARE COMMITTED IN IT."

‘ISIKELI 9:3-4

3 Pea na‘a nau omi, ‘o tu‘u ofi ki he ‘ōlita. Pea ko e Sikaina ‘o e ‘Otua ‘o ‘Isileli na‘e ma‘ama‘a hake mei he funga selupimi, ‘a ia kuo ne ‘afio ai, ki he tu‘unga matapā ‘o e fale, ‘o ne ui ki he tangata kofu tupenu hinehina, ‘a ia na‘e ‘i hono kongaloto ha ‘ainga vaitohi faka-tangatatohi. 4 Pea folofola ‘a Sihova kiate ia, Laka atu ‘i he loto kolo, ‘i loto Selusalema, ‘o tā ha kolosi ‘i he la‘e ‘o e kau tangata ‘oku māpuhoi mo to‘e koe‘uhi ko e ngaahi fakalielia ‘oku fai ‘i loto kolo.

The Bible is punctuated with narratives of God sealing people to protect them. The Lord "put a mark [oth] on Cain" to shield him from attack (Gen. 4:15). The lamb's blood on Israelite homes was a "sign [oth]" to protect them from the Destroyer (Exod. 12:13). In Ezekiel's vision, a scribe writes on the foreheads of the faithful "a mark," literally, a tav (also written as taw), the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet. We know from archaeological finds that, in Ezekiel's day, the tau was written in the shape of a cross. While everyone else in Jerusalem was slain, those marked with this cross - shaped letter were saved.

Finally, in Revelation, the servants of God are "sealed .. on their foreheads" (7:3). What is this seal? It is the name of the Lamb "and his Father's name" (14:1). "His name will be on their foreheads" (22:4), the holiest name, Yahweh, which was also written on the headband of the OT high priest. We are sealed in baptism, marked by the cross, claimed as God's priests by his holy name inscribed on us.

With your finger of grace, holy Jesus, trace on our brows the name that is above every name.

 PULELULU NOVEMA 22, 2023

Barking Watchman

Ko e Taulama ‘oku toe Kalou

EZEKIEL 3:17

"SON OF MAN, I HAVE MADE YOU A WATCHMAN FOR THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. WHENEVER YOU HEAR A WORD FROM MY MOUTH, YOU SHALL GIVE THEM WARNING FROM ME."

‘ISIKELI 3:17

Hako‘i-tangata, kuo u tuku koe ko e taulama ki he fale ‘o ‘Isileli: pea te ke ma‘u mei hoku ngutu ‘a e lea, pea te ke valoki kinautolu meiate au.

One whose job is to tzafah ("watch") is a tzofeh ("watchman"). A tzofeh was to keep his eyes peeled and ears pricked. People's lives were in his hands. Ezekiel was "a watchman for the house of Israel," but of a different variety. He warned them of the enemy, to be sure, but it turned out the enemy was already within the walls of the city. Israel's enemy was Israel. Ezekiel was to stand on Zion's walls and, unlike the blind watchmen of Isaiah's day, those "silent dogs" (56:10), Ezekiel was to bark. Whatever word fell from God's mouth into his ear was to exit the prophet's mouth into the ears of Israel. Some would repent and believe; others would not. But both parties would "know that a prophet [had] been among them" (2:5).

The Lord still plants watchmen on Zion's walls - our pastors. Like a good tzofeh, they "keep a close watch on [themselves] and on the teaching, " for by persisting in this, they will save both themselves and their hearers (1 Tim. 4:16) as they preach "Christ Jesus [who] came into the world to save sinners" (1:15).

"But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God

of my salvation. My God will hear me" (Mic. 7:7 NASB).

 TUSITE NOVEMA 21, 2023

Throne-Bearers

Ko e Kau Fataki ‘o e Taloni

EZEKIEL 1:4-6

AS I LOOKED, BEHOLD, A STORMY WIND CAME OUT OF THE NORTH, AND A GREAT CLOUD, WITH BRIGHTNESS AROUND IT, AND FIRE FLASHING FORTH CONTINUALLY, AND IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE, AS IT WERE GLEAMING

METAL. AND FROM THE MIDST OF IT CAME THE LIKENESS OF FOUR LIVING CREATURES. AND THIS WAS THEIR APPEARANCE: THEY HAD A HUMAN LIKENESS, BUT EACH HAD FOUR FACES, AND EACH OF THEM HAD FOUR WINGS.

‘ISIKELI 1:4-6

4 Pea u fakasio, pea tā ko e ‘ahiohio ‘ena ‘oku ha‘u mei he potu tokelau, ko e fu‘u ‘ao, mo e afi ‘oku fetakai‘aki; pea na‘e ‘ai ha maama ki ai takatakai, pea ko e uho‘i afi na‘e hangē ko e hā ‘a e ukamea ‘afu vela ‘i he loto afi. 5 Pea ‘i he loto me‘a na‘e ‘ilonga mai ha Faa‘i Me‘a Mo‘ui. Pea ko ‘enau hā mai na‘e peheni; ko ‘enau fotu mai na‘e ngali ko e tangata. 6 Pea na‘e taki fā honau fofonga, pea na‘e taki fā honau kapakau. Pea ko honau va‘e ko e va‘e tu‘u ‘ete;

Ezekiel opens with a vision of chayyot ("living creatures"), which he later identifies as cherubim (10:15). Chayyot is not a fancy, esoteric word; it's just the plural form of chayah ("animal"). Four, a favorite number of Ezekiel, symbolizes totality, so these four probably represent all other living things. The chayyot are a strange amalgamation of human and animal, with wings; bovine hooves; human hands; and the faces of a man, lion, ox, and eagle. They were the throne-bearers, for over their heads was a crystal expanse on which was a throne, on which sat a man with a rainbow round about him (vv. 26-28).

The chayyor Ezekiel saw, John saw as well, including the throne, rainbow, and man (Rev. 4:1-11). Who is this man who is also God? John tells us. He is the Lion of Judah's tribe, the Root of David, and the Lamb (5:5-6). The chayyot carry the Christ, to whom we pray:

Son of Man, "all the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing

praises to your name" (Ps. 66:4).

MONITE NOVEMA 20, 2023

HOW!

‘OIAUE!

LAMENTATIONS 1:1

HOW LONELY SITS THE CITY THAT WAS FULL OF PEOPLE HOW LIKE A WIDOW HAS SHE BECOME. SHE WHO WAS GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS! SHE WHO WAS A PRINCESS AMONG THE PROVINCES HAS BECOME A SLAVE.

TANGILAULAU 1:1

1 ‘OIAUĒ si‘i nofo li‘aki ‘a e fefine ni, ‘A e kolo na‘e fonu kakai! Si‘ene hoko ko e uitou tofu pē! ‘A ia na‘e fotu ‘i he ngaahi pule‘anga, Si‘i toko taha na‘e fine‘eiki ‘aki ‘e he ngaahi vahefonua, Kuo ne hoko ko e tali fatongia!

The Hebrew name for Lamentations is Eykańn, its opening word (also in 2:1; 4:1-2). But our ears should probably hear this word elongated into Eykaaaah! It's a  gut-wrenching wail stretched on the rack of ruin. Tears become ink in this book, penned with cruciform calligraphy. Translating Eykah as "How just seems too bland. The word needs to burn the mouth as it's spoken, baptizing the tongue with ashes, for it erupts from a heart torched by grief. Alas, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the princess now slave, the wife now widow, the living now coffined city of God. Every ninth of Ab (Tisha B'Au), Jews around the world sing the words of this book to remember Jerusalem's past destructions. The poetry of this ancient song limps on and on.

This book is just as important for what it says as for what it's very existence shows: that God's ears and heart are open to lament. We are given permission-indeed, the blessing-to weep, wail, and moan our way toward healing. Faith necessitates no stiff upper lip. Jesus wept. So do we. While we grieve, our Lord of love will never walk away.

"Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old" (Lam. 5:21).

 SAPATE NOVEMA 19, 2023

A Fresh Covenant

Ko Ha Fuakava Fo’ou

JEREMIAH 31:31

-BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, DECLARES THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH."

SELEMAIA 31:31

Vakai, ‘oku hoko mai ha taimi–ko Sihova ia mei he Ta‘ehāmai–‘a ia te u fai ai mo e fale ‘o ‘Isileli mo e fale ‘o Siuta ha fuakava fo‘ou–

The covenant that the Lord cut with Israel at Sinai was temporary and inadequate. Temporary, because it would stick around only until God made good on his promise to send the Seed by whom all nations would be blessed. Inadequate, because it's sanctuary, priests, and sacrifices could never deliver a tetelestai ("It is finished!") atonement. His people pulverized the old covenant, trampled on it, time and again. So God promised something chadash ("new or fresh"). Like the chadash song of the psalmist, this chadash covenant would be about the "marvelous things" of the Lord, who works salvation (98:1). A covenant penned on the heart. A covenant in which to know God is to know the God who forgives iniquity and forgets sins. In this new or fresh covenant, God would do a "new [chadash] thing," as Isaiah says (43:19), including the promise of "new [chadash] heavens and a new [chadash] earth" (65:17).

Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 in its entirety (8:8-12). In fact, it is the longest quotation of any OT text in the NT-and with good reason. This new covenant is given to us by the perfect priest, perfect sanctuary, perfect sacrifice who makes us a "new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17).

"Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!" (Ps. 98:1).

 TOKONAKI NOVEMA 18, 2023

I Have Plans for You

‘Oku ‘i ai ‘Eku Palani Ma’au

JEREMIAH 29:10-11

"FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD: WHEN SEVENTY YEARS ARE COMPLETED FOR BABYLON, I WILL VISIT YOU, AND I WILL FULFILL TO YOU MY PROMISE AND BRING YOU BACK TO THIS PLACE. FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS FOR WELFARE AND NOT FOR EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE."

SELEMAIA 29:10-11

10 He ko e folofola eni ‘a Sihova, Ka kakato leva ma‘a Pāpilone ‘a e fitungofulu‘i ta‘u, te u ‘a‘ahi kiate kimoutolu, pea te u fakaai ‘eku tala‘ofa kiate kimoutolu, ke fakafoki kimoutolu ki he potu ni. 11 He ‘oku ou ‘ilo pē ‘a e ngaahi fakakaukau ‘oku ou fakakaukau kiate kimoutolu–ko Sihova ia mei he Ta‘ehāmai–ko e ngaahi fakakaukau lelei, ‘o ‘ikai sio kovi, ke ‘ange kiate kimoutolu ha ‘amui mo ha ‘amanaki.

God sometimes pulls out the big guns on hardhearted sinners. For Judah that "big gun" was a seventy-year exile. Away from their homes. Away from their land. It was a season for his people to sit with their sin. To repert, pray, and remember who and whose they were. It was God's tough love toward children strung out on the meth of idolatry. But it wasn't forever. The Lord had a machashavah for them - a word that can mean "thought, intention, plan, or invention." God uses machashavah when he says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8). And the divine thought toward his people was to carry them back home. He had plans for his people's shalom and hope.

As he did for Israel, God has a wonderful plan for our life as well: to crucify and resurrect us with Christ. To fill us with his peace. In Jesus, to fill us with hope for a future of joy with no end.

"You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!" (Ps. 40:5).