54—USamson

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuBagwebi 13-16.]

Phakathi koqeqesho oluthe tshitshilili, abakhonzi bakaThixo abathembekileyo baqhubeka nokumcengela uIsrayeli ukuba ahlangulwe. Nangona kungazange kubekho mpendulo ibonakalayo, nangona nyaka nonyaka igunya lomcinezeli laqhubeka lihleli nzima phezu kwelizwe, ukubonelela kukaThixo kwakubalungiselela uncedo. Kwaseminyakeni yokuqala yengcinezelo yamaFilisti, kwazalwa umntwana uThixo awalungiselela ukuba aqobe amandla ezi ntshaba zinamandla ngaye.ANa 560.1

Emdeni welizwe leenduli, elivelele isithabazi saseFilisti, kwakukho idolophana yaseZora. Apha kwakuhlala usapho lukaManowa, wohlanga lwakwaDan, olunye lweentsapho ezimbalwa ezathi phakathi kokuqephuka okwenzeka jikelele, lwasala lona lunyanisekile kuYehova. Kumfazi ongenamntwana kaManowa, “isithunywa sikaYehova” sabonakala sinesigidimi sokuba uza kuba nonyana, aza kuthi ngaye uThixo ahlangule uIsrayeli. Ngenxa yoko, iSithunywa samnika umyalelo ekhangelene nemikhwa yakhe, kunye nokuphatha umntwana wakhe; “Ke ngoko khawuzigcine, uze ungaseli wayini nasiselo sinxilisayo; ungadli nanye into eyinqambi.” Loo mqathango mnye kwakufuneka, kwasekuqaleni, ubekiwe emntwaneni, kongezwe nokuthi, zize zingachetywa iinwele zakhe; kuba wayeza kubekelwa bucala kuThixo njengomNazarete kwasekuzalweni kwakhe.ANa 560.2

Umfazi wakhangela indoda yakhe, wathi, emva kokuba eyichazile iNgelosi, wasiphinda isigidimi sayo. Emva koko, ngokoyika, hleze benze impazamo kumsebenzi obalulekileyo abawunikiweyo, indoda yathandaza, “Camagu, Nkosi yam, umntu kaThixo owamthumayo makakhe abuye eze kuthi, asifundise ukuba simthini na umntwana oya kuzalwa.”ANa 560.3

Yathi yakuvela kwakhona iNgelosi, umbuzo kaManowa wexhala wathi, “Loba yintoni na isiko lale nkwenkwe, nokwenza kwayo?” Umyalelo wangaphambili uye waphindwa—“Konke endikuthethileyo kumfazi makazigcine kuko. Maze angadli nto iphuma emdiliyeni, angaseli wayini nasiselo sinxilisayo, angadli nanye into eyinqambi. Konke endimwisele umthetho ngako makakugcine.”ANa 561.1

UThixo wayenomsebenzi obalulekileyo ekufuneka wenziwe ngumntwana othenjisiweyo kaManowa, ngoko ke injongo yayikukumzuzela ezi mpawu zifunekayo kulo msebenzi okwenza ukuba imikhwa yabo bobabini, umama nomntwana, ilulekwe ngobunono. “Angaseli wayini nasiselo sinxilisayo,” watsho umyalelo weNgelosi kumfazi kaManowa, “angadli nanye into eyinqambi. Konke endimwisele umthetho ngako makakugcine.” Umntwana uya kuzuza okuhle okanye okubi kwimikhwa kanina. Kuya kufuneka yena alawulwe ngumthetho-siseko, abe nobungcathu nokuzithiba, ukuba ufuna intlala-kahle yomntwana wakhe. Abacebisi abangalumkileyo baya kumkhuthaza unina ngokubaluleka kokwanelisa yonke iminqweno nentshiseko, kodwa imfundiso enjalo ibubuxoki kwaye ikhohlakele. Umama, ngokomyalelo kaThixo ngokwaKhe, ubekwe phantsi kokunyanzeleka okunendili ukuba azilawule.ANa 561.2

Ootata nabo kwanje ngoomama bayabandakanyeka kulo mthwalo. Bobabini abazali kufuneka badlulisele ezabo iimpawu, ingqondo nomzimba, abakuthandayo kunye nelithe, ebantwaneni babo. Isiphumo sokungabi nabungcathu kwabazali, abantwana baye baswele amandla omzimba nengqondo nokuziphatha. Abasela utywala nabasebenzisa icuba, bangakwenza, kwaye bayakwenza, ukuba bagqithisele ukubawa kwabo okunganeliswayo, kwanezifo ezithiyekileyo, njengelifa kwinzala yabo. Kuthi kuba abantwana besiba namandla acuthekileyo okumelana nezilingo kunokuba banjalo abazali, kukholise ngokuba isizukulwana ngasinye siye sisiba kumgangatho ongasezantsi ngakumbi nangakumbi. Kakhulukazi, abazali banobutyala, kungekuphela ngeenkanuko ezingalawulekiyo, nelithe eligwenxa labantwana babo, kodwa nezikhwasilima zamawaka azalwa engeva, engaboni, enezifo, okanye enengqondo engasebenzi kakuhle.ANa 561.3

Umbuzo womntu wonke ongutata nomama umele ukuba ngulo, “Simthini na umntwana oya kuzalwa?” Igalelo leempembelelo ngexesha kusakhulelwe umntwana lithatyathwa lula ngabaninzi; kodwa umyalelo owawuphuma ezulwini usiza kwabo bazali bamaHebhere, waza waphindwa kabini ngeyona ndlela icacileyo nenendili, ubonisa indlela okhangelwe ngayo lo mba nguMdali wethu.ANa 561.4

Kwaye kunganelanga ukuba lo mntwana wesithembiso eza kufumana ilifa elilungileyo kubazali bakhe. Oku kufuneka kulandelwe ngengqeqesho nokwakhiwa ngobunono kwemikhwa elungileyo. UThixo wayalela ukuba, umgwebi wexesha elizayo nomhlanguli kaIsrayeli aqeqeshwe ngqongqo kuzilo eselusana. Wayezakuba ngumNazarete kwasekuzalweni, ngoko ke kufuneka efakwe phantsi kokunqandwa okungunaphakade ekusebenziseni iwayini okanye isiselo esinxilisayo. Izifundo zozilo, zokuzithiba, nokuzilawula, kufuneka zifundwe ngabantwana kwasebusaneni babo.ANa 562.1

Isalelo seNgelosi sasihlanganise “yonke into eyinqambi.” Umahluko phakathi kwezinto ezityiwayo njengokuhlambuluka nobunqambi, wawungeyonto nje yenkonzo nomyalelo onomkhethe, kodwa kwakuxhomekeke kumthetho-siseko wococeko. Iiziphumo [ezihle] zokugcinwa kwalo mahluko zingalandwa, kakhulukazi, kwimpilo entle nemangalisayo eyathi yabenza banomahluko abantu bamaYuda amawaka eminyaka. Imithetho-siseko yozilo kufuneka yenziwe ibe ngaphaya kokungasetyenziswa kweziselo ezinxilisayo. Ukusetyenziswa kokutya okuvusa imizwa nokungacolekiyo kakuhle esiswini, kukholisa ukuba nomonakalo empilweni, kuthi kwiimeko ezininzi kuhlwayele imbewu yokunxila. Uzilo lwenene lusifundisa ukuba sahlukane ngokupheleleyo nayo nayiphi into eyonakalisayo, nokuba sisebenzise ngobulumko oko kusa empilweni. Bambalwa abayiqonda njengoko befanele into yokuba imikhwa yabo yokutya inento yokwenza nempilo yabo, nesimilo sabo, nokuba lulutho kwabo emhlabeni, kunye nesiphelo sabo sikanaphakade. Ukuthanda ukutya kufuneka kuhlale kulawulwa kukuziphatha kunye namandla engqondo. Umzimba kufuneka ube ngumkhonzi engqondweni, ingabi yingqondo [engumkhonzi] emzimbeni.ANa 562.2

Isithembiso sezulu kuManowa saya sazaliseka ngexesha elililo ekuzalweni konyana, owaya wanikwa igama elinguSamson. Ekukhuleni kwayo inkwenkwe, kwaya kwacaca ukuba inokomelela kwasemzimbeni okungaphezu kokuqonda. Oku, phofu, ekwazini kakuhle kukaSamson nabazali bakhe, kwakungaxhomekekanga ekwakhiweni kakuhle kwemisipha yakhe, kodwa kwimeko yakhe yokuba ngumNazarete, okwakungumqondiso wako ukungachetywa kweenwele zakhe. Ukuba uSamson wayeyithobele imiyalelo yezulu ngokuthembeka, njengoko benzayo abazali bakhe, ngewaba nesiphelo esihle nesonwabe kakhulu. Noko ke, ukuzihlanganisa nabakhonzi bezithixo, kwamonakalisa. Njengoko idolophu, yaseTsora yayikufuphi nelizwe lamaFilisti, uSamson wazixuba nabo njengabahlobo. Ngenxa yoko, kwasebutsheni bakhe kwabakho ukuqhelana, eyathi impembelelo yako, yabenza mnyama bonke ubomi bakhe. Inkazana eselula eyayihlala kwidolophu yaseFilisti, iTimnati, yaluthimba uthando lukaSamson, waza wazimisela ukuyenza umfazi wakhe. Kubazali bakhe ababemoyika uThixo, ababezama ukumnqanda kwinjongo yakhe, impendulo ekuphela kwayo awabanika yona yayisithi, “Ndikholiwe yiyo.” Ekugqibeleni abazali bakhe bayekela kwiminqweno yakhe, wenziwa umtshato.ANa 562.3

Wathi xa kanye engena ekubeni abe yindoda, ixesha ekwakufuneka asebenze umsebenzi wezulu—ixesha, ngaphezu kwawo onke amanye, awayemele ukuba wanyaniseka kuThixo—uSamson wazihlanganisa neentshaba zikaIsrayeli. Akazange abuze ukuba akangemzukisi kakuhle na uThixo ngokuzihlanganisa noko akukhethayo, okanye, mhlawumbi, abe uzibeka kwimeko angenako kuyo ukuzalisekisa injongo ekwakufuneka eyenzile ngobomi bakhe. Kubo bonke abafuna kuqala ukumzukisa, uThixo uthembise ubulumko; kodwa asikho isithembiso kwabo bafuna ukuzikholisa.ANa 563.1

Bangaphi abalandela ikhondo elinye nelikaSamson! Mingaphi imitshato ekungenwa kuyo phakathi kwabakhonza uThixo nabangamkhonziyo, kuba belawulwa kukuthanda ekukhetheni indoda okanye umfazi! Aba bantu abaceli ngcebiso kuThixo, bengenawo nombono wozuko lwaKhe. UbuKristu bumele ukuba nempembelelo elawulayo kubudlelwane bomtshato, kodwa amaxesha amaninzi iinjongo ezikhokelela kolu manyano azihambelani nemithetho-siseko yobuKristu. USathana usoloko ezama ukuqinisa igunya lakhe phezu kwabantu bakaThixo ngokuboyisela ukuba bangene kwisivumelwano nabantu bakhe [yena Sathana]; aze athi ukuze akwazi ukukufezekisa oku, azame ukuvusa imizwa engahlambulukanga entliziyweni. Yena uYehova, elizwini laKhe, wakuyalela ngokucacileyo ukuba, abantu baKhe bangazimanyi nabo bangenalo uthando lwaKhe oluhlelingaphakathi kwabo. “Unakuvumelana kuni na ke uKristu noBheliyali? Unasahlulelwano sini na okholwayo nongakholwayo? Inakudibana kuni na ke itempile kaThixo nezithixo?” 2 Korinte 6:15, 16.ANa 563.2

Kumsitho womtshato wakhe, uSamson waziswa kulwalamano lokuqhelana nabo babemthiyile uThixo kaIsrayeli. Nabani na ongena ngokuzithandela kulwalamano olunjalo uya kubona kufanelekile ukuba avumelane, kangangoko, nemikhwa nezithethe zamaqabane akhe. Ixesha elichithwe ngolo hlobo lingaphezu kwelilahliweyo. Kuyacingwa kuthethwe amazwi akhahlela phantsi iintsika zomthetho-siseko, zide zithezwe amandla iinqaba zomphefumlo.ANa 563.3

Umfazi, awathi ukuze amfumane, uSamson wagqitha umthetho kaThixo, wazibonakalisa ukungathembeki kumyeni wakhe kungekapheli kwaitheko elo lomtshato. Wathi ecatshukiswa bubunginingini obo bakhe, uSamson wakha wamshiya okwangoko waya ekhayeni lakhe eTsora ehamba yedwa. Wathi, emva koko, yakuthamba intliziyo yakhe, wabuyela kumtshakazi wakhe, wafika sele engumfazi wandoda yimbi. Impindezelo yakhe, eyatshabalalisa onke amasimi kunye nezidiliya zamaFilisti, kwawacaphukisa aza ambulala [umfazi], nangona izothuso zawo zamkhaphelela ekukhohliseni ekwathi ngako yaqala inkathazo. USamson wayesele ebubonisile ubungqina bamandla akhe ngokubulala, ingonyama entsha eyedwa, nokubulala amashumi amathathu amadoda aseAskelon. Ngoku, etyhalwe wanomsindo ngokubulawa ngendlela ekrwada komfazi wakhe, wawahlasela amaFilisti “wawaxabela kakhulu ihleza nethanga.” Emva koko, elangazelela ukuzishiya iintshaba zakhe, wabuyela “emqhokrweni wengxondorha yase-Etam,” ekwisizwe sakwaYuda.ANa 563.4

Ukuza kufika kule ndawo, wasukelwa ngumkhosi owomeleleyo, baza abemi bakwaYuda, ngokothuka okukhulu, ngendlela ephantsi, bavuma ukumnikezela kwiintshaba zakhe. Ngokunjalo, amawaka amathathu abantu bakwaYuda baya kuye. Nangamaxesha angekho mahle, njengelo, babengenako ukumbamba bengaqinisekisanga kuqala ukuba akayi kuwenzakalisa amadoda akubo. USamson wavuma ukubotshwa asiwe kumaFilisti; kodwa kuqala wanyanzelisa amadoda akwaYuda ukuba athembise ukuba awasayi kumhlasela wona ngokwawo, kuba, ngokumhlasela aya kuba amnyanzela ukuba awatshabalalise. Wawavumela ukuba ambophe ngeentambo ezimbini ezintsha, waza wakhokelelwa kwinkampu yeentshaba zakhe kukho uvuyo olukhulu. Kwenzeka ukuba kuthi imikhwazo yabo isahlokoma ezindulini, “wamfikela ngamandla uMoya kaYehova.” Waziqhawula iintambo ezintsha ezomeleleyo kwangathi buboya obutshiswa ngumlilo. Emva koko, wathabatha isixhobo esikufutshane esandleni sakhe, esathi, nangona sasingumhlathi nje we-esile, senza umsebenzi ongaphezulu kowekrele okanye umkhonto, wawabetha amaFilisti ada asaba esoyika, ashiya amawaka amathathu abantu efile esithabazini.ANa 564.1

Ukuba amaIsrayeli ayekulungele ukuzimanya noSamson, akulandela ukoyisa, ngeli xesha ange akhululeka kwigunya labacinezeli bawo. Ngelishwa, aye ephelelwe ngumoya ekwangenelwe bubugwala. Babetyeshele umsebenzi uThixo awayebayalele ukuba bawenze, owokulihlutha ilizwe kubahedeni, baza bazihlanganisa nabo kwizenzo zabo ezihlazisayo, benyamezela inkohlakalo yabo, lonke ixesha ingenziwa kubo, bada babonakalisa nokuswela kwabo [abahedeni] ubulungisa. Bathi xa ingabo ababekwe ngaphantsi kwegunya lomcinezeli, ngokumbuna, baziyekela ekuhlazisweni ababeya kusinda kuko ukuba nje babemthobele uThixo. Naxa uYehova senyuse umhlanguli kubo, babeya kuthi, bengaqali, bamshiye bazimanye neentshaba zabo.ANa 564.2

Emva koloyiso lwakhe, amaIsrayeli amenza umgwebi uSamson, waza wamphathauIsrayeli amashumi amabinieminyaka.Noko kunjalo, inyathelo elinye elingalunganga, lilungiselela indlela elinye [inyathelo]. USamson wona ngokugqitha umyalelo kaThixo ngokuthabatha umfazi kumaFilisti, abuye aphinde ahlale phakathi kwawo—sele ezintshaba ezinobungozi ngoku—ngokuziyekela kwiinkanuko ezingekho sikweni. Ngokuthembela kumandla akhe amakhulu, awafaka uloyiko kumaFilisti, wahamba ngesibindi wasinga eGaza, etyelela ihenyukazi laloo ndawo. Abemi besixeko baya bazi ukuba ukho, baza balangazelela ukuziphindezela. Utshaba lwabo lwaluvaleleke lukhuselekile phakathi kweendonga zesona sixeko sinqatyiswe kakhulu kunazo zonke izixeko zabo; baziva beqinisekile ngexhoba labo, baza balinda nje ukuba kude kube kusasa ukuze balugqibezele uloyiso lwabo. Ezinzulwini zobusuku, wavuswa uSamson. Ilizwi lesazela elimbeka ityala, lamzalisa ngentlungu, akukhumbula ukuba waphule isibhambathiso njengomNazarete. Nangona sikho isono sakhe, inceba kaThixo yayingamshiyanga. Amandla akhe amangalisayo aphinda amhlangula. Waya kwisango lesixeko, walincothula kwindawo elikuyo walithwala, izibonda nemiqobo, walisa kwincopho yenduli esendleleni esinga eHebron.ANa 565.1

Nangeli xesha, oku kusinda cebetshu akuzange kuyithintele indlela yakhe embi. Akazange wazuza nto ngokuphumelela kumaFilisti, kodwa waqhubeka eleqana neziyolo zasenyameni ezazimtsalela entshabalalweni. “Wathanda inkazana esihlanjeni saseSoreki,” indawo engekude apho yena wayezalelwe khona. Igama layo lalinguDelila, “umrhwebeshi.” Intili yaseSoreki yayisaziwa ngezidiliya zayo; nazo ke zaba nomtsalane kumNazarete othingazayo, owayesele engene ekuziyekeleni ekusebenziseni iwayini, ngaloo ndlela eqhawula elinye iqhina elalimqamangele kubunyulu nakuThixo. AmaFilisti ahlala eziqaphele zonke iihambo zotshaba lwawo, waza wathi akuzihlisa ngolu qhagamshelwano lutsha, azimisela ukuba, ngoDelila, aya kuwufeza umsebenzi wokumtshabalalisa.ANa 565.2

Iqela labathunywa elaliquka indoda eyinkokeli kummandla ngamnye waseFilisti, lathunyelwa kwintili yaseSoreki. Abazange bazame ukumbamba lo gama asesemandleni akhe amakhulu, kodwa yayiyinjongo yabo ukufunda, ukuba banako, imfihlelo yamandla akhe. Aya anyoba uDelila ukuba ayifune aze ayityhile.ANa 565.3

Wathi xa umngcatshikazi emzamazama uSamson ngemibuzo yakhe, naye wamkhohlisa ngokuthi, ubuthakathaka babanye abantu bungamfikela ukuba kungakhe kuzanywe izinto ezithile. Wathi akuwuvavanya umcimbi [uDelila], kwavela ukumqhatha [kukaSamson]. Emva koko wamsola ngokumxokisa kwakhe, esithi, “Ungathini na ukuthi uyandithanda, ukanti intliziyo yakho ayinam? Undikhohlisile ezi zihlandlo zithathu, akwandixelela ukuba asenini na la mandla akho angaka.” Amaxesha amathathu uSamson enobungqina obucacileyo bokuba lowo ayotywa nguye unesivumelwano namaFilisti ukuba bamtshabalalise; kodwa yathi yakusilela injongo yakhe [umfazi], wawenza ngokungathi ubuyindlalo wonke lo mcimbi, waza naye [uSamson], ngokungaqondi, walugxotha uloyiko.ANa 565.4

Imihla ngemihla, uDelila wayemcenga, wada “wakhathazeka umphefumlo wakhe, wasingisa ekufeni;” noko kunjalo amandla obuqhophololo amgcina [uSamson] esecaleni kwakhe [uDelila]. Wathi oyisakele ekugqibeleni, uSamson wayiveza imfihlelo: “Isitshetshe sokucheba asizanga sisondele entlokweni yam; ngokuba ndingumahlulwa kaThixo kwasesizalweni sikama. Ukuba ndithe ndachetywa, osuka kum amandla am, ndithi fehle, ndibe njengabantu bonke.” Kwakhawuleziswa umthunywa ukuba aye kubaphathi bamaFilisti, ewakhuthaza ukuba afike kuye [uDelila] ngokukhawuleza. Ngexesha umlwi elele, imfumba yeenwele zakhe yasuswa entlokweni yakhe. Emva koko, njengoko wayenzile kumaxesha amathathu angaphambili, wambiza, “AmaFilisti aphezu kwakho, Samson!” Wathi khwaphululu ngokukhawuleza ecinga ukuba uza kusebenzisa amandla akhe njengakuqala, awatshabalalise; kodwa iingalo zakhe ezingenamandla zala ukwenza oko akuyalelayo, wazi ukuba “uYehova umkile kuye.” Akuba echetyiwe, uDelila waqala ukumchukusha emvisa ubuhlungu, ngaloo ndlela evavanya amandla akhe; kuba ayengekhe amaFilisti aze kuye ade aqiniseke ukuba amandla akhe emkile. Ambamba, athi akuba ewakrolonqe omabini amehlo akhe, amthabatha amsa eGaza. Apha, wabotshelelwa ngamatyathanga entolongweni yabo, wavalelwa ukuba asebenze nzima.ANa 566.1

Inguqulelo enjalo kulowo ongumlawuli nentshatsheli kaIsrayeli! Ngoku eswele amandla, eyimfama, ebanjiwe, ehliselwe kowona msebenzi uphantsi! Kancinane kancinane, wayaphula imiqathango yobizo lwakhe olungcwele. UThixo wayemnyamezele ixesha elide; kodwa ngoku wayezinikele kangaka kwigunya lesono ngokokude athengise ngemfihlelo yakhe, waza uYehova wemka kuye. Kwakungekho nto intle kwiinwele zakhe ezinde ngokukokwazo, kodwa zazingumqondiso wokunyaniseka kwakhe kuThixo; wathi umfuziselo wakunikelwa ekuziyekeleni kwinkanuko, iintsikelelo ezazingumqondiso wazo, zaba ziyalahleka.ANa 566.2

Ekubulalekeni nasekuthobekeni, into yokudlala kwamaFilisti, uSamson wafunda okuninzi ngobuthakathaka bakhe kunokuba wakha wabazi ngaphambili; zaza iintshutshiso zakhe zamkhokelela ekuguqukeni. Zathi xa zikhula iinwele zakhe, abuya kancinane amandla akhe; kodwa zona iintshaba zakhe ezazisambona njengebanjwa elisaqanyangelweyo, nelingenakho ukuzinceda, azizange zibe naxhala lanto.ANa 566.3

AmaFilisti alunikela uloyiso lwawo koothixo bawo;athi, enovuyo, amdelela uThixo kaIsrayeli. Kwenziwa isidlo ukuzukisa uDagon, uthixo oyintlanzi, “umkhuseli wolwandle.” Ukusukela edolophini kuye elizweni, kuso sonke isithabazi sasePalestina, abantu neenkosi zabo bahlangana. Izihlwele zabakhonzi zazalisa itempile enkulu zagcwalisa iindawo eziphezulu eluphahleni. Yayingumbono wokubhiyoza nokuvuya. Kwakukho ingxolo yenkonzo yokubingelela, ilandelwa ngumculo nokuzila. Emva koko, njengexhoba lokugqibela elibonisa amandla kaDagon, uSamson wangeniswa. Imikhwazo yemivuyo yayibulisa ukuvela kwakhe. Abantu nabalawuli behlekisa ngemeko embi akuyo bedumisa uthixo wabo oboyisele “umtshabalalisi welizwe lethu.” Emva kwexesha, sekungathi udiniwe, uSamson wacela imvume ukuba akhe aphumle ngokwayama kwiintsika ezimbini ezisembindini ezazixhase uphahla lwetempile. Emva koko wenza umthandazo ozolileyo, “Nkosi yam, Yehova, khawundikhumbule, khawundomeleze okwesi sihlandlo sodwa, Thixo, ndiphindezele kumaFilisti impindezelo nokuba inye.” Ngala mazwi waziwola iintsika ngengalo zakhe ezinamandla; wakhala, “Mandife namaFilisti!” wathoba, lwawa uphahla, lutshabalalisa ngesiwo esinye sonke eso sihlwele sikhulu. “Bathi abafi, awababulala ekufeni kwakhe, baba baninzi kunabafi awababulala esaphilile.”ANa 567.1

Isithixo nabanquli baso, umbingeleli nommi, umlwi nohloniphekileyo, bonke bangcwatya ngaphantsi kweendonga zetempile kaDagon. Phakathi kwabo, kwakukho isithomo esikhulu salowo uThixo wayemkhethile ukuba abe ngumhlanguli wabantu bakhe. Iindaba zokoyiswa okoyikekayo zasiwa kulo lonke izwe lakwaIsrayeli, baza abazalwana bakaSamson beza besuka kwiinduli zabo, bathi, ngaphandle kwesithintelo, bengachaswanga, bawuhlangula umzimba wegorha eliwileyo. “Bamnyusa, bamngcwabela phakathi kweTsora ne-Eshtawoli, engcwabeni likaManowa uyise.”ANa 567.2

Isithembiso sikaThixo sokuba, ngoSamson uya “kuqala ukuwasindisa amaIsrayeli esandleni samaFilisti,” sazaliseka; kodwa, hayi ukubamnyama nokuba mbi kwengxelo yobo bomi obabumele ukuba buyindumiso kuThixo nozuko kwisizwe! Ukuba uSamson wayenyanisekile kubizo lwakhe olungcwele, injongo kaThixo ngeyafezwa ngozuko nokudunyiswa kwakhe [uSamson]. Noko kunjalo, waziyekela kwisilingo, wafumaneka enganyanisekanga koko akuphathisiweyo, waza umsebenzi athunywe wona wazaliseka ekoyisweni, ekuthinjweni, nasekufeni.ANa 567.3

Ngokwasemzimbeni, uSamson yeyona ndoda yakha yanamandla phezu komhlaba; kodwa, ekuzilawuleni, ekuzihlonipheni, nasekuqineni, wayengomnye wabona bantu babuthakathaka. Abaninzi baphazamisa iimvakalelo ezomeleleyo nesimilo esomeleleyo, kodwa yona inyaniso yeyokuba, lowo ulawulwa ziimvakalelo zakhe uyindoda ebuthakathaka. Ubukhulu benene bendoda bulinganiswa ngamandla emvakalelo akwazi ukuzilawula, ingezizo ezo ziyilawulayo.ANa 568.1

Ukwazelelela okunenkathalo kukaThixo, kube kuphezu kukaSamson, ukuze akulungele ukuwufeza umsebenzi awayebizelwe ukuba awenze. Kwasekuqalekeni nje kobomi, wangqongwa ziimeko ezimvumelayo ukuba abe namandla asemzimbeni, ingqondo ephaphamileyo, nobunyulu bokuziphatha. Kwathi phantsi kwempembelelo yabahlobo abakhohlakeleyo, wayeka ukubambelela kuThixo, nto leyo ekuphela kwenkuseleko yomntu, waza wakhukhuliswa ngumsinga wobubi, wemka. Abo bathe besendleleni yomsebenzi bangena ekulingweni bangaqiniseka ukuba uThixo uya kubagcina; kodwa ukuba abantu bathi ngokuthanda kwabo bazibeke phantsi kwegunya lesilingo, baya kuwa, kungekudala.ANa 568.2

Bona kanye aba uThixo aneenjongo zokubasebenzisa njengezixhobo zomsebenzi okhethekileyo, uSathana usebenzisa awona mandla aphezulu ukubalahlekisa. Usihlasela kwezona ndawo zibuthakathaka, esebenza ngeziphako zesimilo ukuzuza ulawulo lomntu ephelele; kwaye uyazi ukuba, xa ezi ziphako zithe zathandwa, uya kuphumelela. Akukho sidingo ke ukuba kubekho ubani owoyiswayo. Umntu akashiywanga yedwa ukuba oyise amandla obubi ngeyakhe imizamo engenamandla. Uncedo lukho lukufuphi kwaye luya kunikwa wonke umphefumlo olulangazelela ngokwenene. Iingelosi zikaThixo, ezihla zinyuka kwileli eyabonwa nguYakobi embonweni, ziya kunceda wonke umphefumlo ovumayo, ukuba ukhwele ufikelele nakwelona liphezulu izulu.ANa 568.3