ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 PULELULU NOVEMA 15, 2023

Gehenna

Ko Hetesi 

JEREMIAH 19:1-2

THUS SAYS THE LORD, "GO, BUY A POTTER'S EARTHENWARE FLASK, AND TAKE SOME OF THE ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE AND SOME OF THE ELDERS OF THE PRIESTS, AND GO OUT TO THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM AT THE ENTRY OF THE POTSHERD GATE, AND PROCLAIM THERE THE WORDS THAT I TELL YOU."

SELEMAIA 19:1-2

1 KO E folofola eni ‘a Sihova, ‘Alu fakatau ha hina ‘a e tufunga ipu ‘umea, pea ‘ave ha ni‘ihi ‘o e mātu‘a ‘o e kakai, mo e ni‘ihi ‘o e mātu‘a ‘o e kau taula‘eiki; 2 pea ke ‘alu ‘atu ki he Tele‘a ‘o e foha ‘o Hīnomi, ‘a e potu ‘oku hanga ki he Matapā-nge‘esi-ipu-maumau, pea ke fanongonongo ai ‘a e ngaahi lea te u ‘atu kiate koe:

Often in the Bible, locations begin to betoken bigger realities. For instance, Armageddon in Revelation 16:16 comes from the Hebrew Har Megiddo ("Mount Megiddo"), the site of ancient Israelite battles. Similarly, Gehenna, translated as "hell" in the NT. gets its name from an actual place: the gey hinnom, "the valley of Hinnom" or "the Valley of the Son of Hinnom." This gorge outside Jerusalem was infamous as a place of idolatry, including child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10). Jeremiah prophesied that it would be the disgraceful burial place of the people of Jerusalem when the Babylonians flattened

the city, transforming it into "the Valley of Slaughter" (19:6).

Just as idolaters chose to sacrifice to false gods in Hinnom's valley, so unbelievers, who reject Christ and worship the gods of this world, choose Gehenna. "Hell's doors are locked on the inside," as C. S. Lewis observed. Be wise, not a fool. Believe in the God of love, truth, and mercy, who chooses you as his beloved child.

"Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death" (Ps. 9:13).