ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 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).