ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 FALAITE NOVEMA 3, 2023

The Key of David

Ko e Kī ‘o e fale ‘o Tēvita

ISAIAH 22:20-22

IN THAT DAY I WILL CALL MY SERVANT ELIAKIM THE SON OF HILKIAH, AND I WILL CLOTHE HIM WITH YOUR ROBE, AND WILL BIND YOUR SASH ON HIM. AND WILL COMMIT YOUR AUTHORITY TO HIS HAND. AND HE SHALL BE A FATHER TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH. AND I WILL PLACE ON HIS SHOULDER THE KEY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. HE SHALL OPEN, AND NONE SHALL SHUT: AND HE SHALL SHUT, AND NONE SHALL OPEN.

‘AISEA 22:20-22

20 Pea ‘e hoko ‘i he taimi ko ia, te u ui mai ‘eku sevāniti ko ‘Īlaiakimi foha ‘o Hilikaia: 21 pea te u ‘ai ki ai ho kofu ‘o‘ou, pea te u no‘o ‘aki ho no‘o, pea te u tuku ho‘o pule ki hono nima: pea te ne hoko ko e tamai ki he nofo Selusalema mo e fale ‘o Siuta. 22 Pea te u hilifaki ki hono uma ‘a e kī ‘o e fale ‘o Tēvita; pea ka to‘o ‘e ia, ‘e ‘ikai tāpuni ‘e ha taha; pea ka tāpuni ‘e ia, ‘e ‘ikai to‘o ‘e ha taha.

To patach is "to open," so an opening device - a key - is a mafteach. Eliakim, the king's chief steward, was promoted to great authority. He dressed the part with robe, sash, and headgear. On his shoulder, perhaps as some official insignia, was the mafteach of David's house. He was given "the key to the city," we might say, but not in a merely symbolic way. He had authority. He was the man in charge. What he shut stayed shut. What he opened stayed open.

Christ is the reality of which Eliakim was the shadow. He tells the church in Philadelphia that he has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens" (Rev. 3:7). And he stands ready to turn the key that locks his kingdom's doors to all who reject him, and to open them to all who trust in his name.

Open to us the gates of righteousness, Lord Jesus, that we may enter through them and give thanks to you (Ps. 118:19).