15—UYehoshafati

Kwada kwalithuba abizelwa etroneni eminyaka ingamashumi amathathu-nantlanu, uYehoshafati waye nomzekelo kaKumkani Asa olungileyo phambi kwakhe, owathi, phantse kuyo yonke intlekele, “wenza okuthe tye emehlweni kaYehova.” 1 Kumkani 15:11. Ngexesha lolawulo olunempumelelo lweminyaka engamashumi amahlanu-nantlanu, uYehoshafati wahamba ngeendlela zonke zika-Asa uyise, akatyeka kuzo.”AN 190.1

Kuwo wonke amalinge akhe okulawula ngobulumko, uYehoshafati wakwazi ukuboyisela abantu bakhe ukuba beme baqine ekuchaseni izenzo zonqulo lwezithixo. Abantu abaninzi kulawulo lakhe “babesabingelela beqhumisela ezigangeni.” 1 Kumkani 22:43. Ukumkani akazange azitshabalalise kwangoko ezi ndawo zokukhonzela; kodwa kwasekuqaleni wazama ukukhusela uYuda kwizono ezazikho kubukumkani basentla phantsi kolawulo luka-Ahabhi,owayephilangexeshaelinyenayeiminyakaemininzi. UYehoshafati naye buqu wayenyanisekile kuThixo. “Akabaquqela ooBhahali; ke waquqela [uYehova] uThixo kayise, wahamba ngemithetho yakhe; akahamba ngezenzo zakwaIsrayeli.” Ngenxa yokuziphatha kwakhe kakuhle, uYehova waba naye, “wabuzinzisa ubukumkani bakhe esandleni sakhe.” 2 IZikronike 17:3-5.AN 190.2

“Onke amaYuda azisa iminikelo kuYehoshafati; waba nobutyebi nozuko ngokukhulu. Yaphakama intliziyo yakhe ezindleleni zikaYehova.” Ngokuhamba kwexesha nohlaziyo lwenziwe, ukumkani “wazisusa iziganga nooAshera kwaYuda.” Iindima 5, 6. “Amasalela amang’awu, awasalayo ngemihla kayise uAsa, wawatshayela ezweni.” 1 Kumkani 22:46. Kancinane, kancinane, abemi bakwaYuda bakhululeka kwiintlekele ezininzi ezazisiza ukuba zikudodobalise kakhulu ukukhula kwabo kwasemoyeni.AN 191.1

Kubo bonke ubukumkani, abantu babedinga ukufundiswa ngomthetho kaThixo. Ekuwuqondeni lo mthetho, kwakulele inkuseleko yabo; ngokuyekela ubomi babo kwiimfuno zawo, bebeya kunyaniseka kubo bobabini, uThixo nomntu. Esazi oku, uYehoshafati wathabatha amanyathelo ukuqinisekisa kubantu bakhe imfundiso eqinisekileyo yeziBhalo eziNgcwele. Amadoda amakhulu ajongene neendawo ezahlukeneyo zobukumkani bakhe ayalelwa ukuba alungiselele ulungiselelo oluthembekileyo lokufundisa ababingeleli. Ngokunyulwa ngukumkani, aba bafundisi, besebenza phantsi kokujongwa ngamadoda amakhulu, “bayijikeleza imizi yonke yakwaYuda, bebafundisa abantu.” 2 IZikronike 17:7-9. Kwathi ngokuba baninzi kwabazama ukuqonda okufunwa nguThixo nokushiya isono, kwabakho imvuselelo.AN 191.2

Kulo msindleko ulumkileyo weentswelo zasemoyeni zabantu bakhe, uYehoshafati wazuza okukhulu okwamenza waba nempumelelo njengomlawuli. Ekuthobeleni umthetho kaThixo kukho inzuzo enkulu. Ekuvumelaneni neemfuno zezulu, kukho amandla aguqulayo athi azise uxolo nokuthandwa ngabantu. Ukuba iimfundiso zelizwi likaThixo bezinokwenziwa impembelelo elawulayo ebomini bawo onke amadoda nabafazi, ukuba ingqondo nentliziyo bezinokubekwa phantsi kwamandla alo anqandayo, ububi obukhoyo ngoku elizweni nasebomini basekuhlaleni bebungayi kufumana ndawo. Kuwo onke amakhaya bekuya kuphuma impembelelo eya kwenza amadoda nabafazi bomelele ngokwasemoyeni nasemandleni okuziphatha, kuze ngolo hlobo izizwe kunye nabantu babe kumhlaba olungileyo.AN 192.1

Kwaba yiminyaka emininzi uYehoshafati ehleli eluxolweni, engahlutshwa zizizwe ezingqongileyo. “Zonke izikumkani zamazwe ajikeleze amaYuda zangenelwa kukoyika uYehova.” Indima 10. Ukusuka eFilisti wafumana imirhumo nezipho; ukusuka eArabha, imihlambi emikhulu yezimvu neebhokhwe. “UYehoshafati waye eba mkhulu ngokuba mkhulu, wada wenyuka wakha kwaYuda iinqaba, nemizi engoovimba. . . . amadoda okulwa, amagorha anobukroti, . . . Ngabo abo babekhonza kukumkani; bebodwa abamisiweyo ngukumkani emizini enqatyisiweyo kwelakwaYuda lonke.” Iindima 12-19. Esikeleleke kakhulu “[bu]butyebi nozuko,” wenziwa wakwazi ukuba nempembelelo enamandla yenyaniso nobulungisa.2 IZikronike 18:1.AN 192.2

Kwiminyaka eliqela emva kokuhlala etroneni, uYehoshafati, ngoku ekwinqanaba eliphezulu lempumelelo, wakuvuma ukutshata konyana wakhe, uYehoram, uAthaliya, intombi ka-AhabhinoIzebhele. Ngolu manyano, kwadalwa phakathi kobukumkani bakwaYuda nakwaIsrayeli isivumelwano esasingahambelani noThixo nesathi ngexesha lobunzima sazisa intlekele kukumkani nakwabaninzi kubantu bakhe.AN 192.3

Kwesinye isiganeko, uYehoshafati watyelela ukumkani wakwaIsrayeli eSamariya. Imbeko eyodwa yabonakaliswa kwiindwendwe ezivela eYerusalem, kwathi phambi kokuphela kolu tyelelo wacengwa wacengeka ukuba azimanye nokumkani wakwaIsrayeli emfazweni namaSiriya. UAhabhi wayethembe ukuba, ngokuhlanganisa imikhosi yakhe naleyo yakwaYuda, angabuya ayizuze iRamoti, omnye wemizi emidala yokubalekela, owaye, ngokutsho kwakhe, ungowamaIsrayeli.AN 195.1

Nangona uYehoshafati ngomzuzu wobuthakathaka bakhe wakhawuleza ukuhlangana nokumkani wakwaIsrayeli kwimfazwe yakhe neSiriya, imbono yakhe elungileyo yamkhokelela ukuba afune ukufunda intando kaThixo ngeli phulo. “Khawubuzise elanamhla ilizwi likaYehova,” wacebisa uAhabhi. Ukuphendula, uAhabhi wabizela ndawonye amakhulu amane abaprofeti bobuxoki baseSamari, wababuza, “Siye kulwa na neRamoti yaseGiliyadi, ndiye ke, kusini na”Baphendula, “Nyuka, uThixo woyinikela esandleni sokumkani.” Iindima 4, 5.AN 195.2

Enganelisekanga, uYehoshafati wazama ukufunda ngokuqinisekileyo intando kaThixo. “Akusekho mprofeti kaYehova na apha,” wabuza, “sibuzise kuye?” Indima 6. “Kusekho indoda enye, . . . nguMikaya, unyana kaImla . . . esingabuzisa ngayo kuYehova,” waphendula uAhabhi; “ke mna ndiyithiyile; ngokuba ayiprofeti okulungileyo ngam, iprofeta okubi.” 1 Kumkani 22:8. UYehoshafati waqina kwisicelo sakhe sokuba ibizwe indoda kaThixo; yathi yakuvela phambi kwabo yaza yacelwa nguAhabhi ukuba “ingaxeli into engeyiyo inyaniso egamenilikaYehova,” uMikhaya wathi: “Ndibone amaIsrayeli onke elusali ezintabeni, njengempahla emfutshane engenamalusi. Wathi uYehova, Aba abanankosi; mababuyele elowo endlwini yakhe enoxolo.” Iindima 16, 17.AN 195.3

Amazwi omprofeti ayemele ukuba anele ukumbonisa ukumkani ukuba iphulo labo alamkelekanga eZulwini, kodwa akukho noyedwa kubo umlawuli owasiphulaphulayo isilumkiso. UAhabhi wayiphawula indlela yakhe, kwaye wayezimisele ukuyilandela. UYehoshafati wayelinikile ilizwi lakhe lembeko, “Soya nawe ekulweni;” kwathi emva kokuba esenzile isithembiso esinjalo, wamathidala ukuyirhoxisa imikhosi yakhe. 2 IZikronike 18:3. Wenyuka ke ukumkani wakwaIsrayeli noYehoshafati, ukumkani wakwaYuda, baya eRamoti yaseGiliyadi.” 1 Kumkani 22:29.AN 196.1

Ngexesha ledabi elalandelayo, uAhabhi wachanwa ngotolo, kwathi ngokuhlwa wafa. “Ukutshona kwelanga,” “kwavakala kukhwazwa emkhosini,” “Elowo emzini wakhe! Elowo ezweni lakhe!” Indima 36. Ngoko laba liyazaliseka ilizwi lomprofeti.AN 196.2

Ukusuka kweli dabi laba yintlekele enkulu, uYehoshafati wabuyela eYerusalem. Wathi xa efika esixekweni, wahlangatyezwa nguYehu ngokumngxolisa: “Kukuthini na ukuba uncede ongendawo, ubathande abathiyi bakaYehova? Kungoko bugalelekileyo kuwe uburhalarhume obuphuma kuYehova. Noko ke kambe kukho izinto ezintle ezifumanekileyo kuwe; ngokuba ubatshisile ooAshera ezweni, wayisingisela intliziyo yakho ekuquqeleni uThixo.” 2 IZikronike 19:2, 3.AN 196.3

Iminyakayokugqibela kaYehoshafati yachithelwa ekomelezeni ukhuseleko lwesizwe nolwasemoyeni kwaYuda. “Wahamba phakathi kwabantu, wathabathela eBher-shebha wesa ezintabeni zakwaEfrayim, wababuyisela kuYehova, uThixo wooyise.” Indima 4.AN 197.1

Elinye lamanyathelo abalulekileyo elathatyathwayo ngukumkani yaba kukumilisela nokugcina iinkundla zobulungisa. “Wamisa abagwebi ezweni, emizini yonke yakwaYuda enqatyisiweyo, kwimizi ngemizi;” nakumyalelo awabanika wona wanyanzelisa wathi, “Kulumkeleni enikwenzayo; ngokuba akungenxa yomntu ukugweba kwenu, kungenxa kaYehova; unani ke emcimbini wokugweba. Ngoko ke ukoyikwa kukaYehova makube phezu kwenu; yenzani ngobulumko; ngokuba akukho bugqwetha kuYehova uThixo wethu, nakukhetha buso, nakwamkela sicengo.” Iindima 5-7.AN 197.2

Uhlelo lokugweba lwagqityeleliswa ngokusekwa kwenkundla yezibheno eYerusalem, apho uYehoshafati “wamisa inxenye yabaLevi, nababingeleli, neentloko zezindlu zooyise zakwaIsrayeli, ngenxa yogwebo lukaYehova, nangenxa yokubambana kwabantu. Indima 8.AN 197.3

Ukumkani wabayala aba bagwebi ukuba bathembeke. “Niya kwenjenjalo ukumoyika uYehova ngokunyanisekileyo, nangentliziyo epheleleyo,” wabayalela. “Zonke iindawo ekubanjwene ngazo eziza kuni, zivela kubazalwana benu, abahleli emizini yabo, phakathi kwegazi negazi, phakathi komyalelo nomthetho nemimiselo namasiko, nobakhanyisela; ukuze bangabi natyala kuYehova bunganifikeli nina nabazalwana benu uburhalarhume bakhe; nenjenjalo ukuze ningabi natyala.AN 197.4

“Nanko uAmariya umbingeleli omkhulu, ephezu kwenuezintwenizonke zikaYehova;noZebhadiyaunyanakaIshmayeli, inganga yendlu yakwaYuda, ezintweni zonke zokumkani; nabaLevi boba ngababhali phambi kwenu. “Yomelelani nenze; uYehova woba ngolungileyo kuni.” Iindima 9-11.AN 197.5

Ekukhuseleni kwakhe ngononophelo kwamalungelo neenkululeko zabantu bakhe, uYehoshafati wacinezela ukuqatshelwa kokuba onke amalungu osapho loluntu afumane kuThixo wobulungisa, olawula phezu kwako konke. “UThixo umi ebandleni likaThixo, ugweba phakathi koothixo.” Abo ke banyulelwe ukusebenza njengabagwebi phantsi kwaKhe, kufuneka “[balithethe ityala losweleyo nelenkedama; kufuneka [bagwebele] olusizana nolihlwempu,” baze [babahlangule] esandleni sabangendawo.” Indumiso 82:1, 3, 4.AN 198.1

Kuthe ekusondeleni ngasekupheleni kolawulo lukaYehoshafati, ukumkani wakwaYuda wangenelwa ngumkhosi ekwathi phambi kwawo abantu banesizathu sokuba bangcangcazele. “Oonyana bakaMowabhi noonyana baka-Amon, benamaMahun, beza kulwa noYehoshafati.” Iindaba zolu hlaselo zafika kukumkani nomthunywa, oweza nelizwi elothusayo, “Kuza kuwe ingxokolo eninzi, evela phesheya kolwandle kwa-Aram; nantso eHatsetson-tamare, eyiEngedi.” 2 IZikronike 20:1, 2.AN 198.2

UYehoshafati wayeyindoda enesibindi eligorha. Kwakuyiminyaka esomeleza imikhosi yakhe nemizi eqinisiweyo. Wayekulungele kakhulu ukuhlangabezana nalo naluphi utshaba; kanti ke ngeli ixesha lobunzima akalibekanga ithemba lakhe kwingalo yenyama. Kwakungengamikhosi ilulekiweyo nemizi enqatyisiweyo, kodwa kwakungokholo oluphilayo kuThixo kaIsrayeli, awayenokuthemba ukuzuza uloyiso kwezi ntlanga ezazizibabaza ngamandla azo anakho ukumthoba uIsrayeli emehlweni ezizwe.AN 198.3

“Woyika uYehoshafati, wazinikela ngokwakhe ekumquqeleni uYehova, wathi makuzilwe ukudla ngamaYuda onke. Ahlanganisana ke amaYuda, efuna uncedo kuYehova; nasemizini yonke yakwaYuda baphuma bequqela uYehova.”AN 199.1

Wathi emi entendelezweni yetempile phambi kwabantu, uYehoshafati wathulula emphefumlweni wakhe umthandazo, ebongoza ngezithembiso zikaThixo, evuma ukungabi nakuzinceda kukaIsrayeli. “Yehova, Thixo woobawo,” wathandaza, asinguwe na onguThixo emazulwini? Asinguwe na umlawuli ezikumkanini zonke zeentlanga? Akasesandleni sakho na amandla nobugorha, ukuba kungabikho unokumelana nawe? Asinguwe na uThixo wethu, owabagqogqayo abemi beli lizwe phambi kwabantu bakho amaIsrayeli, waza walinika imbewu ka-Abraham okuthandayo, ngonaphakade? Bahlala kulo, bakwakhela kulo indawo engcwele ngenxa yegama lakho, besithi, Ukuba sithe safikelwa bububi, nalikrele, nangumgwebo, nayindyikitya yokufa, nayindlala, sema phambi kwale ndlu, naphambi kwakho (ngokuba likule ndlu igama lakho), sakhala kuwe ekubandezelekeni kwethu, wosiva usindise.AN 199.2

“Yabona ke naba oonyana baka-Amon, nabakaMowabhi, nabasentabeni, yakwaSehire, owawungavumanga ukuba amaIsrayeli abangenele ekuphumeni kwawo ezweni laseYiputa; ngokuba abayeka, akabatshabalalisa; naba ke besibuyekeza ngokuza kusigxotha elifeni lakho, owasinikayo ukuba silidle. Thixo wethu,AN 199.3

akuyikubagweba na? Ngokuba asinamandla okumelana nale ngxokolo ininzi isizelayo; thina asazi ukuba sothini na, kodwa amehlo ethu akuwe.” Iindima 3-12.AN 199.4

Ngesibindi uYehoshafati wakwazi ukuthi kuYehova, “Amehlo ethu akuwe.” Kwakuyiminyaka efundisa abantu ukuba bathembele kuLowo owathi kwizizukulwana ezadlulayo wangenelela ukuba asindise abaKhe abanyuliweyo kwintshabalalo ebhubhisayo; kwaye ngoku, xa ubukumkani busengozini, uYehoshafati wayengemanga yedwa; “Ema ke onke amaYuda phambi koYehova, neentsana zawo, nabafazi bawo, noonyana bawo.” Indima 13. Bemanyene, bazila bathandaza; bemanyene, bamcenga uThixo ukuba azenze iintshaba zabo zibe sesiphithiphithini, ukuze igama likaYehova lizukiswe.AN 200.1

“Musa ukuthi tu, musa ukuzola, Thixo.
Ngokuba nanzo iintshaba zakho zixokozela;
Abakuthiyayo baphakamisa intloko,
Bagqugula igqugula elinobuqhophololo
ngabantu bakho,
Bacebisane ngabagushiweyo nguwe.
Bathi, Yizani sibethe bee shwaka, bangabi luhlanga,
Lingabi sakhunjulwa igama likaIsrayeli.
Ngokuba bacebisana ngantliziyo-nye,
Benza umnqophiso ngawe:
Intente zakwaEdom nezakwaIshmayeli,
AmaGebhali nama-Amon, nama-Amaleki. . . .
Yenza kubo njengoko wenza ngako kumaMidiyan,
NakuSisera, nakuYabhin esihlaneni seKidron. . . .
Mabadane bakhwankqwiswe ngonaphakade,
Babe neentloni, badake;
Bazi ukuba wena, ugama linguYehova, unguwe wedwa
Osenyangweni phezu kwehlabathi lonke.”AN 200.2

Indumiso 83.

Bathi abantu bakuzimanya nokumkani wabo ekuzithobeni kwabo phambi kukaThixo, becela ukuba abancede, uMoya kaYehova wehla phezu kukaYehiyeli “umLevi wakoonyana baka-Asafu,” wathi:AN 201.1

“Bazani iindlebe, nonke maYuda, nani bemi baseYerusalem nawe kumkani Yehoshafati. Utsho uYehova ukuthi kuni, Musani ukoyika, musani ukuqhiphuka umbilini ngenxa yale ngxokolo inje ukuba ninzi; ngokuba imfazwe le asiyeyenu, yekaThixo. Yihlani ngomso niye kulwa nabo; nabo benyuka ngeqhina leTsitsi; nobafumana ekupheleni kwesihlambo, phambi kwentlango yaseYeruweli. Eyanamhla asiyeyenu; zimiseni nime, nilubone usindiso lukaYehova onani, maYuda neYerusalem. Musani ukoyika, musani ukuqhiphuka umbilini. Phumani ngomso nibahlangabeze; uYehova unani.”AN 201.2

“Wathoba uYehoshafati, ebubhekise ubuso emhlabeni; namaYuda onke nabemi baseYerusalem bawa phambi koYehova, bamnqula uYehova. Basuka bema abaLevi, bakoonyana bakaKehati, nabakoonyana bamaKora, ukuba badumise uYehova, uThixo kaIsrayeli, ngezwi elikhulu.”AN 201.3

“Bavuka kwakusasa ngengomso baphuma baya kwintlango yeTekowa.” Bathi xa bebheka phambili edabini, uYehoshafati wathi, “Ndiphulaphuleni, nina maYuda, nani bemi baseYerusalem. Kholwani kuYehova uThixo wenu, nozimaseka; kholwani kubaprofeti bakhe, noba nempumelelo. Uthe akucebisana nabantu, wamisa iimvumi zikaYehova zokudumisa.” 2 IZikronike 20:14-21. Ezi mvumi zahamba phambi komkhosi, ziphakamisa amazwi azo zidumisa uThixo ngesithembiso soloyiso.AN 201.4

Yayiyindlela engaqhelekanga eyokuya kulwa nomkhosi wotshaba—kudunyiswa uYehova ngokuvuma, nokuphakamisa uThixo kaIsrayeli. Le yayiyingoma yabo yokulwa. Babe nobuhle bobungcwele. Ukuba ukudumisa uYehova okungaphezulu bekunokubakho ngoku, ithemba nesibindi kunye nokholo beziya kwanda ngokwanda. Ingaba oku bekungayi kuzomeleza na izandla zamasoldati akhaliphileyo amiyo namhla ukuba akhusele inyaniso?AN 202.1

“UYehova wabafikisela abalaleli oonyana baka-Amon, nabakaMowabhi, nabasentabeni yakwaSehire, ababeze kumaYuda; babulawa. Ngokuba oonyana baka-Amon nabakaMowabhi besuka balwa nabemi bentaba yakwaSehire, ukuba babasingele phantsi, babatshabalalise. Bakubagqiba abemi bakwaSehire, babulalana kwabodwa.AN 202.2

“Afika amaYuda emboniselweni yasentlango, akhangela kuloo ngxokolo, abona bezizidumbu, bequngquluzile emhlabeni, kungekho usindileyo.” Iindima 22-24.AN 202.3

UThixo waba ngamandla kaYuda kule ntlekele, kwaye ungamandla kubantu baKhe nanamhla. Asimele ukuba sithembe izikhulu, okanye amadoda sibeke abantu endaweni kaThixo. Kufuneka sikhumbule ukuba abantu baya kwazi ukona baye bephazama, abe Lowo unamandla onke eyinqaba yokukhuselwa kwethu. Ngawo onke amathuba okuxakeka, kufuneka siqonde ukuba idabi lelaKhe. Izixhobo zaKhe azinamda, nezinto ezibonakala ngokungathi azinako ukwenzeka, ziya kulenza uloyiso lube lukhulu kakhulu.AN 202.4

“Sisindise, Thixo osindisayo,
Usibuthe, usihlangule ezintlangeni,
Ukuze sibulele igama lakho elingcwele,
Sizingce ngendumiso yakho.” AN 202.5

1 IZikronike 16:35.

Ithwele intimbo, imikhosi yakwaYuda yabuya “[i]novuyo; ngokuba uYehova wenza ukuba azivuyelele iintshaba zawo. Angena eYerusalem enemirhubhe, neehadi, namaxilongo, aya endlwini kaYehova.” 2 IZikronike 20:27, 28. Saye sisikhulu isizathu sokuba bavuye. Ekuthobeleni umyalelo, othi, “Zimiseni nime, nilubone usindiso lukaYehova: . . . Musani ukoyika, musani ukuqhiphuka umbilini,” balibeka ithemba labo lonke kuThixo, waza wazibonisa ukuba uyinqaba nomhlanguli wabo. Indima 17. Ngoku bakwazi ukuzivuma ngolwazi iingoma eziphefumlelweyo zikaDavide:AN 203.1

“UThixo ulihlathi, uligwiba kuthi;
Ezimbandezelweni ufumaneke
eluncedo kunene. . . .
Waphula isaphetha, angqumze umkhonto,
Atshise iinqwelo zokulwa ngomlilo.
Yekani, nazi ukuba ndinguThixo mna.
Ndiya kuphakanyiswa ezintlangeni,
Ndiya kuphakanyiswa ehlabathini.
UYehova wemikhosi unathi,
Ingxonde yethu nguThixo kaYakobi.”AN 203.2

Indumiso 46.

Njengoko linjalo igama laKhe, Thixo,
Lunjalo udumiso lwakho,
Kwesa eziphelweni zehlabathi;
Isandla sakho sokunene sizele bubulungisa.
Mayivuye intaba yeZiyon,
Agcobe amagxamesi akwaYuda,
Ngenxa yezigwebo zakho. . . .

“Lo Thixo nguThixo wethu
ngonaphakade kanaphakade,
Yena uya kusikhapha kude kuse ekufeni.”AN 203.3

Indumiso 48:10-14.

Ngokholo lomlawuli wakwaYuda nolwemikhosi yakhe, “ukoyikwa kukaYehova kwazifikela zonke izikumkani zamazwe, zakuva ukuba uYehova ulwile neentshaba zakwaIsrayeli. Bazola ke ubukumkani bukaYehoshafati; uThixo wakhe wamphumza ngeenxa zonke.” 2 IZikronike 20:29, 30.AN 203.4