ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 TU’APULELULU NOVEMA 16, 2023

The Man Named Branch

Ko e Tangata ‘oku Ui ko Huli

JEREMIAH 23:5-6

"BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, DECLARES THE LORD, WHEN I WILL RAISE UP FOR DAVID A RIGHTEOUS BRANCH, AND HE SHALL REIGN AS KING AND DEAL WISELY, AND SHALL EXECUTE JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE LAND. IN HIS DAYS JUDAH WILL BE SAVED, AND ISRAEL WILL DWELL SECURELY. AND THIS IS THE NAME BY WHICH HE WILL BE CALLED: 'THE LORD IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

SELEMAIA 23:5-6

5 Vakai, ‘oku hoko mai ha taimi–ko Sihova eni mei he Ta‘ehāmai–‘a ia te u fokotu‘u ai kia Tēvita ha Huli mā‘oni‘oni, ‘a ia te ne nofo ko e tu‘i, pea te ne fai fakapotopoto, pea te ne feia ‘a e fakalao mo e totonu ‘i he fonua. 6 ‘I hono taimi ‘o‘ona ‘e tu‘umālie ‘a Siuta, pea ‘e nofo nonga ‘a ‘Isileli: pea ko eni ‘a e huafa ‘e ui‘aki ia ko Sihova Sitikenu (ko Sihova-ko-hotau-mā‘oni‘oni‘anga).

Humanity's problems originated at a tree, when man utterly botched his vocation as the king of God's world. It is apt, therefore, that the second Adam is painted with the colors of a king and tree. He is a righteous tzemach ("branch") who springs from the stump of David's family tree (Isa. 11:1). Unlike the long lineup of fools and scoundrels who besmirched Judah's throne, this one, the Messiah, will "deal wisely, and shall execute justice and  righteousness in the land."

Jeremiah's description of this king as a tzemach became so popular that later prophets used it as a name for the Messiah. Zechariah calls him "the man whose name is the Branch" (6:12; cf. 3:8). Jesus is "the branch of the LORD (Isa. 4:2), but he is also named "the LORD is our righteousness" (Jer. 23:6). King Adam botched his vocation, but King Jesus' "one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men" (Rom. 5:18).

"In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!" (Ps. 31:1).