59—Ukumkani Wokuqala KaIsrayeli

[Esi sahluko sisekwe ku-1 Samuweli 8-12.]

Ulawulo lukaIsrayeli lwaluphethwe egameni nangegunya likaThixo. Umsebenzi kaMoses wamadoda amakhulu angamashumi asixhenxe, abalawuli nabagwebi, wawungowokumisela nje imithetho eyayinikwe nguThixo; ayengenalo igunya lokuqulunqa imithetho yesizwe. Le yayiyimeko, neyaqhubeka iyiyo, yobukho bukaIsrayeli njengesizwe. Ukusuka kwisizukulwana ukuya kwesinye, amadoda aphefumlelwe nguThixo ayethunywa ukuba afundise abantu, akhokele ekunyanzelisweni kwemithetho.ANa 603.1

UYehova wabona kwangaphambili ukuba uIsrayeli uya kumlangazelela ukumkani, kodwa akazange avume ukuyiguqula imithetho-siseko ekwakusekwe phezu kwayo isizwe. Ukumkani wayeya kuba ngummeli wOsenyangweni. Kwakufuneka aziwe uThixo njengeNtloko yesizwe, nokuba umthetho waKhe kwakufuneka unyanzelisiwenjengomthethoophezulu welizwe.[*Bona ISIHLOMELO, Inqaku 8.ANa 603.2

Ukuqala kokuma kwamaIsrayeli eKanan, ayivuma imithetho-siseko yolawulo lukaThixo, saza isizwe sanempumelelo phantsi kokulawula kukaYoshuwa. Ukwanda kwesizwe nokudlelana nezinye izizwe kwazisa inguquko. Abantu bamkela amasiko abamelwane abangabahedeni, ngoko basiyeka kakhulu esabo isimilo esikhethekileyo nesingcwele. Kancinane, kancinane, balahlekwa kukumhlonela uThixo, bayeka ukuyixabisa imbeko yokuba ngabantu baKhe abanyuliweyo. Betsalwa bubunewunewu nokubonakaliswa kookumkani babahedeni, bakruquka kukwahluka kwabo. Umona nomnqweno wakhula phakathi kwezizwe [zakwaIsrayeli]. Ukulwa kwangaphakathi kwabenza betha amandla; basoloko bejongene nokungenelwa ziintshaba zabo zabahedeni, baza abantu bafikelela ekukholelweni ukuba, ukuze bakwazi ukuma phakathi kwezinye izizwe, kufuneka ukuba izizwe [zakwaIsrayeli] zimanyane phantsi kolawulo olunye oluliqilima. Bathi ngokuya bekushiya ukuwuthobela umthetho kaThixo, balangazelela ukukhululeka kuMbuso wezulu; kwaza ukufuna ukumkani kwakho kulo lonke elakwaIsrayeli.ANa 603.3

Kususela kwimihla kaYoshuwa, ulawulo aluzange lwenziwa ngobulumkoobungakonangempumelelonjengelixalwaluphantsi kolawulo lukaSamuweli. Enikwe lizulu isikhundla esintlantlu-ntathu — umgwebi, umprofeti nombingeleli, wasebenza nzima engadinwa enolangazelelo olungasekeleze nzuzo lokuhlala kakuhle kwabantu bakhe, saza isizwe sanenkqubela phantsi kolawulo lwakhe olunobulumko. Ucwangco lwalubuyiselwe, nokuhlonela uThixo kukhuthaziwe, nomoya wokunganeliseki wawuphelisiwe okwexesha. Kwathi kodwa ngokuhamba kweminyaka, umprofeti wanyanzeleka ukuba abelane nabanye ngemisebenzi yolawulo, waza wanyula oonyana bakhe ababini ukuba basebenze njengabancedisi bakhe. Lo gama uSamuweli eqhubeka nemisebenzi yesikhundla sakhe eRama, amadodana ayemi eBhershebha ukuba enze ubulungisa phakathi kwabantu kufuphi nemida yelizwe.ANa 604.1

Kwakungokuvuma kwesizwe ngokupheleleyo ukuze uSamuweli anyulele oonyana bakhe emsebenzini, kodwa abazange bazibonakalise befanelekile ukuba bangakhethwa nguyise. UYehova, ngoMoses, wayenike imiyalelo eyodwa kubantu bakhe yokuba, abalawuli kuIsrayeli kumele ukuba bagwebe ngobulungisa, babaphathe ngobulungisa abahlolokazi nabaziinkedama, bangamkeli zicengo. Noko ke, oonyana bakaSamuweli “banabela inzuzo embi, bamkela izicengo, basijika isigwebo.” Oonyana bakamprofeti abazange bayithobele imithetho awayezama ukuyibethelela ezingqondweni zabo. Abazange bawuthabathe umzekelo wobomi obunyulu, obungasekelezanga nzuzo kuyise wabo. Isilumkiso esanikwa uEli asizange sibe nempembelelo kwingqondo kaSamuweli yokuba kufuneka senziwe. Ngandlela ithile, wayenokuyekelela koonyana bakhe, saza isiphumo sabonakala esimilweni sabo nasebomini babo.ANa 604.2

Intswelo-bulungisa kwaba bagwebi kwabangela ukunganeliseki okukhulu, kwaza kwakho isizathu sokukhuthaza ukuba kubekho utshintsho olwalukade lulangazelelwa ngasese. “Aza ahlanganisana amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli, eza kuSamuweli eRama, athi kuye, Uyabona, waluphele wena, oonyana bakho abahambi ngendlela yakho; simisele ngoko ukumkani wokusilawula, njengeentlanga ezi zonke.” Amatyala empatho embi phakathi kwabantu ayengaziswa kuSamuweli. Ukuba indlela ekhohlakeleyo yoonyana bakhe yayazisiwe kuye, ngewayebasusile ngaphandle kokulibazisa; kodwa asiyiyo into eyayilangazelelwa ngabantu ababesenza isibongozo. USamuweli wabona ukuba, eyona nto yayibaqhuba yayikukunganeliseki nekratshi, nokuba into ababeyifuna yayisisiphumo senjongo eseyixoxwe yagqitywa. Akukho sikhalazo sakha senziwa ngakuSamuweli. Bonke babekuvuma ukunyanisekanobulumkobolawulolwakhe;kodwa Ingwevu yomprofeti esele ikhulile yasikhangela isicelo sabo njengesimsolayo nomzamo ojonge ukumbekela ecaleni ngokuphandle. Sekunjalo, akazange ayiveze imvakalelo yakhe; akangcikiva, kodwa umcimbi wawubhekisa kuYehova ngomthandazo wafuna icebo kuYe kuphela.ANa 604.3

Wathi uYehova kuSamuweli: “Liphulaphule izwi labantu entweni yonke abayithethayo kuwe; ngokuba ingenguwe abamgibileyo, bagibe mna, ukuze ndingabi ngukumkani kubo. Ngokwezenzo zonke abazenzileyo, kuselokwemini endabanyusayo eYiputa kwada kwaba namhla, bandishiya, bakhonza thixo bambi, benjenjalo namhla nakuwe.” Umprofeti wangxoliswa ngokubabuhlungu ngenxa yokuziphatha kwabantu ngakuye njengomntu. Babengabonisanga kungahloniphi yena, kodwa igunya likaThixo, owanyula abalawuli babantu baKhe. Abo badelela bale umkhonzi othembekileyo kaThixo, babonisa ukudelela, kungakuphela umntu lo, kodwa iNkosi emthumileyo. Ngamazwi kaThixo, ukuthethisa namacebiso aKhe, awenziwa ukuba angabi nto; ligunya laKhe elaliwayo.ANa 605.1

Imihla yempumelelo enkulu kaIsrayeli yayiyileyo babemamkela uYehova njengokumkani wabo, ngexesha imithetho nolawulo awalumisayo lwaluthatyathwa ngokuba lungaphezulu kolo lwazo zonke ezinye izizwe. UMoses wayemvakalisele uIsrayeli ngokubhekisele kwimithetho kaYehova: “Oku bubulumko benu, nengqondo yenu, emehlweni abantu abaya kuyiva yonke le mimiselo; bathi, Olu hlanga lukhulu ngabantu abalumkileyo, abanengqondo.” Duteronomi 4:6. Ngoko ke, ngokumka emthethweni kaThixo, amaHebhere asilela ukuba abe ngabantu bakaThixo njengoko uThixo wayefuna ukuwenza bona, baza bonke ububi basisiphumo sesono sabo nobuyatha ababebutyhola kulawulo lukaThixo. Isono sawamfamekisa ngokupheleleyo.ANa 605.2

UYehova, ngabaprofeti baKhe, wakuxela kwangaphambili ukuba uIsrayeli uya kulawulwa ngukumkani; kodwa yayingathi loo nto olo hlobo lolawulo lwalulunge kakhulu okanye kwintando yaKhe. Wabavumela abantu ukuba balandele ukukhetha kwabo, kuba bala ukukhokelwa licebiso laKhe. UHoseya uxela ukuba uThixo wabanika ukumkani esemsindweni. Hoseya 13:11. Xa abantu bekhetha ukuhamba ngendlela yabo, bangafuni cebo elivela kuThixo, okanye ngokuhamba ngokuchaseneyo nentando etyhiliweyo kaThixo,uye abanike ngokweminqweno yabo, ukuze kuthi, ngamava amabi aye alandele, bakhokeleleke ekubuqondeni ubuyatha babo baguquke esonweni sabo. Ikratshi nobulumko bomntu kuhlala kungumkhokeli oyingozi. Oko kulangazelelwa yintliziyo ngokuchasene nentando kaThixo, ekugqibeleni kuya kufunyanwa kusisiqalekiso endaweni yentsikelelo.ANa 605.3

UThixo wayelangazelela ukuba abantu baKhe bakhangele kuYe kuphela njengoMniki-mthetho neThende lamandla abo. Ngokuziva bexhomekeke kuThixo, bebeya kuthi rhoqo besondela ngakumbi nangakumbi kuYe. Bebeya kuphakanyiswa bazukiswe, balungele isiphelo esiphakamileyo ababizele kuso njengabantu baKhe abanyuliweyo. Ukuba ke ngoko kubekwe umntu etroneni, oko kuya kuthanda ukuzijika iingqondo zabantu zisuke kuThixo. Babeya kuthembela kakhulu emandleni omntu, kube kancinane kumandla ezulu, zize iimposiso zokumkani wabo zibakhokelele esonweni kusahlule isizwe noThixo.ANa 606.1

USamuweli wayalelwa ukuba asenze isicelo sabantu, kodwa abalumkise ngokungavumi kukaYehova, nokubazisa ukuba siya kuba yintoni isiphumo sendlela yabo. “Wabaxelela ke uSamuweli abo bantu babebiza ukumkani kuye onke amazwi kaYehova.” Ngokunyaniseka, wayibeka phambi kwabo imithwalo eyayiza kubekwa phezu kwabo, wababonisa umahluko phakathi kwesimo esinjalo sengcinezelo neso sikhoyo, esibonakalayo ukuba yimeko ekhululekileyo nenempumelelo. Ukumkani wabo wayeza kulinganisa ukuyokozela nobuncwane bezinye iikumkani, obabuzakuthi ukubuxhasa, kufuneke ukuba kubekho ubizo olunzima lwemali kunye nempahla ebantwini babo. Amadodana anesiqu esihle uya kuwasebenzisa kuye. Aya kuba ngabaqhubi beenqwelo nabakhweli bamahashe nababaleka phambi kwakhe. Kuya kufuneka babe kwizintlu zomkhosi wakhe, kufuneke balime amasimi akhe, bavune, benze izixhobo zokulwa zokusetyenziswa nguye. Iintombi zikaIsrayeli ziya kuba ngabenzi bezinto ezimnandi nababhaki bezonka kwakumkani. Ukuxhasa isizwe sobukumkani, uya kuthabatha eyona mihlaba mihle, ebinikwe abantu nguYehova ngokwaKhe. Ezona zicaka zabo zixabisekileyo, neenkomo zabo, uya kuzithabatha “enze umsebenzi wakhe.” Ngaphandle koko, ukumkani wayeza kufuna isishumi sayo yonke ingeniso yabo, inzuzo yokusebenza nzima kwabo, okanye iziqhamo zomhlaba. Nina nibe ngabakhonzi bakhe,” waphela njalo umprofeti. “Niya kukhala ngaloo mini ngokumkani wenu enazinyulelayo, anganiphenduli uYehova ngaloo mini.” Nokuba zingumthwalo onjani izinyanzelo zawo ezifumanekayo, ngako nje ukuba ubukumkani bumiselwe, babengenako ukubususa ngokuzithandela kwabo.ANa 606.2

Abantu baya babuyisa impendulo, “Hayi, inene, masibe nokumkani; nathi sibe njengeentlanga ezi zonke, asilawule ukumkani wethu, aphume phambi kwethu, alwe iimfazwe zethu.” “Njengeentlanga ezi zonke.” AmaIsrayeli awazange aqonde ukuba, ukuba kule meko yokungafani nezinye izizwe, ngendlela eyodwa, kwakulilungelo nentsikelelo. UThixo wayewahlule amaIsrayeli kwabanye abantu, ukuze awenze abantu baKhe abaligugu elinqobo. Ngelishwa, athi ngokungayikhathaleli le mbeko iphakamileyo, ngenzondelelo afuna ukulinganisa umzekelo wabahedeni! Nanamhla, ukunqwenela ukuvumelana nezenzo kunye namasiko ehlabathi kusekhona phakathi kwabantu abathi bangabakaThixo. Njengokuba besimka kuYehova, basuka banqwenele kakhulu iinzuzo neembeko zehlabathi. AmaKristu athe rhoqo efuna ukulinganisa izenzo zabo banqula uthixo weli hlabathi. Abaninzi babeka ukuba, ngokuzimanya nabantu behlabathi nokuvumelana namasiko abo, banokuba nempembelelo ethe chatha neqinileyo phezu kwabo bangahloneli Thixo. Noko kunjalo, bonke abalandela eli khondo, ngaloo ndlela bayazahlula kwiThende lamandla abo. Ngokuba nobuhlobo nehlabathi, baba zintshaba zikaThixo. Ngokufuna ukubaluleka emhlabeni, bancama uzuko olungathethekiyo ababizele kulo uThixo, ukuba babonise iindumiso kuYe owababizayo ukuba baphume ebumnyameni beze ekukhanyeni kwaKhe okumangalisayo. 1 Petros 2:9.ANa 607.1

Ngosizi olukhulu, uSamuweli wawaphulaphula amazwi abantu; kodwa uYehova wathi kuSamuweli, “Liphulaphule izwi labo, ubenzele ukumkani.” Umprofeti wayewenzile umsebenzi wakhe. Wasinika ngokuthembeka isiyalo, saza saliwa. Ngentliziyo enzima, wabandulula abantu, waza naye wahamba esiya kulungiselela inguquko enkulu ekulawuleni.ANa 607.2

Ubomi bukaSamuweli bobunyulu nokuzinikela okungenako ukuzibamba, baba kukukhalima kwaphakade kubabingeleli abakhonzela iziqu zabo nakumadoda amakhulu nakwibandla likaIsrayeli eliziphakamisileyo neliphila ngokwenyama. Nangona wayengazange enze bunewunewu nanto zakuzibonakalisa, ukusebenza kwakhe nzima kwaba nophawu lweZulu. Wazukiswa nguMhlanguli wehlabathi, awayelawula isizwe samaHebhere phantsi kwenkokelo yaKhe. Abantu bona baya badinwa bubungcwele nokuzinikela kwakhe; balidela igunya lakhe elithobileyo, abamfuna ukuba abe yindoda enokubalawula njengokumkani.ANa 607.3

Kwisimilo sikaSamuweli sibona kubonakala imfano kaKristu. YayibubunyulubobomiboMsindisiobavusaingqumbokaSathana. Obo bomi babukukukhanya kwehlabathi, okwatyhila inkohlakalo ezintliziyweni zabantu. Yayibubungcwele bukaKristu obaxhokonxa ezona mvakalelo zoyikekayo zabathi bahlonela uThixo benentliziyo ezaliswe bubuxoki. UKristu akazange eze enobutyebi nembeko yehlabathi, kodwa imisebenzi awayenzayo yamveza ukuba unamandla amakhulu kunayo nayiphi na inkosi engumntu. AmaYuda ayekhangele kuMesiya owayeza kwaphula idyokhwe yengcinezelo, ukanti babenezono ezaziyiqamangele ezintanyeni zabo. Ukuba uYesu wayezambathisile izono zabo, wabancoma ngobungcwele babo, babeya kumamkela njengokumkani wabo; kodwa babengayi kukunyamezela ukuthethisa kwaKhe ububi babo ngaphandle koloyiko. Ubuhle besimilo apho ububele, ubunyulu, nobungcwele bunkqenkqeza phambili, esingenanto siyithiyileyo ngaphandle kwesono, babudela. Kusoloko kunjalo kuzo zonke izizukulwana zasemhlabeni. Ukukhanya okuphuma ezulwini kuzisa ugwebo kubo bonke abahamba kuko. Bathi bakukhalinyelwa ngumzekelo wabo basithiyileyo isono, abahanahanisi basuka babe ngabathunywa bakaSathana ukuba babaphathe kakubi, babatshutshise abanyanisekileyo. “Nabo bonke ke abathanda ukuhlala ngokuhlonela uThixo kuKristu Yesu baya kutshutshiswa.” 2 Timoti 3:12.ANa 608.1

Nangona ukulawulwa ngokumkani kukaIsrayeli kwakuxelwe kwangaphambili esiprofetweni, uThixo wayeligcine kuYe ilungelo lokubanyulela ukumkani. AmaHebhere, ukuza kuthi ga kweli xesha, ayelithobela igunya likaThixo, ada akuyekela kuYe ngokupheleleyo ukunyula. Iqashiso lawa kuSawule, unyana kaKishe, wesizwe sakwaBhenjamin.ANa 608.2

Iimpawu zikakumkani wexesha elizayo zaziluhlobo lokwanelisa ibhongo lentliziyo elenze ukuba kubekho ulangazelelo lukakumkani. “ Ebekungekho mfo phakathi koonyana bakaIsrayeli umhle kunaye.” 1 Samuweli 9:2. Ebekekile, enesidima ngenkangeleko, eze ngobuso ebomini, emhle emde, wakhangeleka njengowayezalelwe ukulawula. Noko kunjalo, enalo mtsalane wangaphandle, uSawule wayengenazo ezo mpawu zezulu ezenza ubulumko benene. Akazange athi ebutsheni bakhe akufunde ukulawula ubutyhuthutyhuthu bakhe, imvakalelo ezidyuduzayo; akazange wawava amandla ahlaziyayo obabalo lwezulu.ANa 608.3

USawule wayengunyana wenkosi enamandla nesisityebi, kodwa ngokobulula baloo maxesha, wayesebenza imisebenzi ethobekileyo yomfuyi. Ezinye zezilwanyana zikayise zabhadulela ezintabeni, uSawule wahamba nesicaka ukuya kuzifuna. Iintsuku ezintathu befuna bengafumani nto, kwathi, xa bekufuphi eRama, [*Bona ISIHLOMELO, Inqaku 9.] elikhaya likaSamuweli, isicaka sacebisa ukubababuzekumprofetingale mpahla ilahlekileyo. “Nanku kufumaneke esandleni sam isahlulo sesine seshekele yesilivere;” watsho, “ndosinika umntu kaThixo, asibonise indlela yethu.” Oku kwakuhambelana nesiko laloo maxesha. Ebesithi umntu xa esiza kokwinqanaba eliphezulu okanye isikhundla, amenzele isipho esincinane, esibonakalisa intlonipho.ANa 608.4

Bathi xa besondela ngasesixekweni, bahlangana neentwazana eziselula ezaziya kukha amanzi, babuza kuzo ngemboni. Ukuphendula, baxelelwa ukuba inkonzo yayiza kuqala, nokuba umprofeti sele efikile, nokuthi kwakuza kubakho umnikelo “esigangeni,” ukuze emva koko kubekho isidlo sombingelelo. Ukufika kobizo lukaThixo kuye okokuqala, iinkonzo zengcwele zazidelekile. “Abantu bawudela umnikelo kaYehova.” 1 Samuweli 2:17. Noko ke, unqulo lukaThixo ngoku lwalusenziwa kulo lonke ilizwe, baye abantu bebonakalisa umdla ezinkonzweni ezingcwele. Njengoko kwakungekho lulungiselelo emnqubeni, imibingelelo okwethuba yayisenziwa kwenye indawo; zaye izixeko zababingeleli nabaLevi, apho abantu babesiya khona ukuba bafundiswe, zakhethwa ngale njongo. Ezona ndawo ziphakamileyo kwezi zixeko, zazikholisa ukukhethelwa ukuba zibe ziindawo zokubingelela, nto leyo eyenza ukuba zibizwe ngokuthi “iziganga.”ANa 609.1

Esangweni lesixeko, uSawule wahlangana nomprofeti ngokwakhe. UThixo wayemtyhilele uSamuweli ukuba, ngelo xesha, indoda enyulelwe ukuba ibe ngukumkani kaIsrayeli iya kuzimisa phambi kwakhe. Bathi bakuma, bejongene ubuso ngobuso, uYehova wathi kuSamuweli, “Nantso loo ndoda ndibe ndithethe kuwe ngayo. Yiyo eya kuphatha ubukhosi phezu kwabantu bam.”ANa 609.2

Kwisicelo sikaSawule, “Khawundixelele, iphi na apha indlu yemboni?” uSamuweli waphendula, “Ndim imboni.” Wathi emqinisekisa ukuba izilwanyana ezilahlekileyo zifunyenwe, waya emkhuthaza ukuba ahlale ebekho esidlweni, kwangelo xesha emkrobisa nje ngesiphelo esikhulu ajongene naso: “Kokukabani na konke okunqwenelekayo kwaIsrayeli? Asikokwakho na, nokwendlu yonke kayihlo?” Lo uphulaphuleyo yathabatheka kakhulu intliziyo yakhe ngamazwi omprofeti. Wabona kuphela ukuba kukho into ebalulekileyo ngawo, kuba ukufunwa kukakumkani kwakungumcimbi otsala umdla kwisizwe sonke. Noko kunjalo, Ngentlonipho yokuzithoba, uSawule waphendula, wathi, “AndingumBhenjamin yini na, wesizwe esincinanana kwaIsrayeli? Nomzalwane wakowethu awuphantsi na emizalwaneni yonke yesizwe sakwaBhenjamin? Yinina ukuba uthethe ilizwi elinje kum?”ANa 609.3

USamuweli wamkhokelela umhambi kwindawo yomhlangano, apho amadoda aphambili omziayehlangenekhona.Phakathi kwawo, ngokomyalelo womprofeti, indawo yembeko yanikwa uSawule, kwathi esidlweni, okona kuhle [ukutya] kwabekwa phambi kwakhe. Zathi zakuphela iinkonzo, uSamuweli waluthabatha undwendwe lwakhe walusa ekhayeni lakhe, waza wancokola kunye nalo phezu kwendlu, ebeka imithetho-siseko emikhulu okusekwe phezu kwayo ulawulo lukaIsrayeli, ngaloo ndlela ezama ukulilungiselela, kangangoko, isikhundla salo esiphezulu.ANa 610.1

Ukuhamba kwakhe uSawule, ngentsasa elandelayo, umprofeti wahamba kunye naye. Wathi akuba edlule esixekweni, wayalela umkhonzi ukuba ahambe phambili. Wamcela uSawule ukuba eme ukuze amkele isigidimi esithunyelwe kuye sivela kuThixo. “USamuweli wathabatha igutyana le-oli, wamgalela entloko, wamanga, wathi, Inene uYehova ukuthambisile ukuba ube yinganga yelifa lakhe.” Ukubonisa ukuba oku kwakusenziwa ngegunya lezulu, waxela kwangaphambili izigigaba eziza kwenzeka kuhambo olusinga ekhaya, wamqinisekisa uSawule ukuba uya kwenziwa nguMoya kaThixo ukuba afaneleke kwisikhundla esimlindeleyo. “UMoya kaThixo wokufikela,” watsho umprofeti, “ube mntu wumbi. Kothi, xa ithe yafika kuwe loo miqondiso, uzenzele njengoko siya kufumana ngako isandla sakho; ngokuba uThixo unawe.”ANa 610.2

Wathi uSawule xa esendleleni yakhe, konke kwenzeka njengoko umprofeti wayethethile. Kufuphi nomda wakwaBhenjamin, waxelelwa ukuba izilwanyana ebezilahlekile zifunyenwe. Kwintili yaseTabhere wahlangaba namadoda amathathu awayesiya kunqula uThixo eBheteli. Enye yawo yayiphethe amaxhwane amathathu okubingelela, enye imibhako emithathu yezonka, eyesithathu iphethe intsuba yewayini, izinto ezo ezaziphathelwe isidlo sombingelelo. Ambulisa uSawule ngombuliso wesiqhelo, amnika izonka zazibini kwezo zithathu. EGibheha, isixeko sakhe, ibutho labaprofeti elalibuya “[kwi]siganga,” lalivuma iindumiso kuThixo kubethwa umrhubhe, uhadi, nezinto ezikhenkcezayo. Wathi akufika kuwo uSawule, uMoya kaYehova wamfikela naye, waza wahlangana kunye nawo engomeni yokudumisa, waprofeta kunye nawo. Wathetha ngobuciko nobulumko obukhulu, wangena ngenzondelelo enkonzweni, kangangokuba abo babemazi badanduluka kukumangaliswa, “Uhliwe yintoni na unyana kaKishe? Ukubaprofeti noSawule na?”ANa 610.3

Wathi uSawule akuzimanya nabaprofeti ekunquleni kwabo, kwenziwa inguqulelo enkulu ngaphakathi kwakhe nguMoya Oyingcwele. Ukukhanya okunyulu kwezulu nobungcwele kwabengezela ngaphakathi phezu kobumnyamanentliziyoyemvelo. Wazibona enjengoko wayenjalophambikukaThixo. Wabubona ubuhlebobungcwele. Waya wabizwa ngoku ukuba aqale imfazwe nesono kunye noSathana, wenziwa ukuba ave ukuba, kweli dabi, amandla akhe kufuneka avele kuThixo ngokupheleleyo. Icebo losindiso, elalibonakala limfiliba lingaqinisekanga ngaphambili, latyhileka kwingqiqo yakhe. UYehova wamnika isibindi nobulumko besikhundla sakhe esiphezulu. Wamtyhilela iThende lamandla nobabalo, wayikhanyisela ingqiqo yakhe ngamabango ezulu kunye nomthwalo wakhe.ANa 611.1

Ukuthanjiswa kukaSawule abe ngukumkani akuzange kwaziswe esizweni. Ukukhetha kukaYehova kwakufuneka ukuba kubonakalaliswe esidlangalaleni ngeqashiso. Ukufeza le njongo, uSamuweli wabizela abantu eMizpha. Kwenziwa umthandazo wenkokelo yezulu; kwalandela inkonzo ezukileyo yokwenza amaqashiso. Isizwe, usapho nendlu zalathwa ngempumelelo, waza uSawule, unyana kaKishe, wanyulwa njengalowo uchongiweyo. USawule yena wayengekho emhlanganweni. Enomthwalo kukucinga uxanduva olukhulu olwaluza kuba phezu kwakhe, waziba ecaleni, akabikho. Wabuyiselwa ebandleni, elamkhangela ngebhongo nokwaneliseka kuba enokumila kokumkani nesithomo sembeko, “wamde kubantu bonke, ethabathela emagxeni anyuse.” Naxa uSamuweli wayemnikela entlanganweni, wadanduluka, wathi, “Niyambona na lo unyuliweyo nguYehova; ukuba akukho unjengaye ebantwini bonke?” Ukuphendula, kwaphuma kwisihlwele esikhulu umkhwazo omde nomkhulu wovuyo, “Makadle ubomi ukumkani!”ANa 611.2

USamuweli waya walandlala phambi kwabantu “isiko lobukumkani,” exela imithetho-siseko olwalusekwe phezu kwayo ulawulo lobukumkani, nekuya kuthi iphathwe ngayo. Ukumkani wayengazokuba ngukumkani ozimele geqe, kodwa wayeza kuba namandla akhe phantsi kwentando yOsenyangweni. Le ntetho yabhalwa encwadini, apho kwakucwangciswe amalungelo awodwa enkosi, amabango namalungelo athile abantu. Nangona isizwe sasidelayo isilumkiso sikaSamuweli, umprofeti othembekileyo, xa wayenyanzeleka ukuba ayekele kwinto abayifunayo, wazama, kangangoko anako, ukuwalusa amalungelo abo.ANa 611.3

Lo gama abantu jikelele babekulungele ukumamkela uSawule njengokumkani wabo, laye likho iqela elikhulu elalichasile. Into yokuba ukumkani anyulwe kwaBhenjamin, olona hlanga luncinane kwaIsrayeli, noko kwenziwa kuyekwe uYuda noEfrayi, abona bakhulu nabanawona mandla makhulu, yaba yimpoxo ababengenakho ukuyinyamezela. Bala ukuvuma ukubabayakumthobela okanyeukumphathelaizipho eziqhelekileyo zesithethe. Abo kanye babephambili ekufuneni ukumkani, yaba ngabo kanye abalayo ukwamkela ngombulelo indoda enyulwe nguThixo. Amalungu eqela ngalinye ayenomntu wawo amthandayo, awayenqwenela ukumbona ebekwe esihlalweni, baye abaninzi kwiinkokeli bezifunela bona ukuphakanyiswa. Ukubawa nomona zizinto ezazitshisa ezintliziyweni zabaninzi. Imizamo yekratshi nokuthanda udumo yaba nesiphumo sokudaniswa nokunganeli.ANa 611.4

Xa izinto zilolu hlobo, uSawule wabona kungafanelekanga ukuba ayamkele imbeko yobukhosi. Emshiya uSamuweli ukuba aphathe njengokwangaphambili, wabuyela eGibheha. Waphelekwa ngokuhloniphekileyo liqela, elathi, ngokubona ukukhetha kwezulu ekunyulweni kwakhe, lazimisela ukuligcina ngenkani ilungelo lakhe lokuba setroneni. Ekhayeni lakhe, kwimihlaba ephakamileyo yakwaBhenjamin, wasebenza ngokuzola imisebenzi yomfuyi, ekushiya ukumiselwa kwegunya lakhe kuThixo ngokupheleleyo.ANa 612.1

Kungekudala emva kokunyulwa kukaSawule, ama-Amon, phantsi kokumkani wawo uNahashe, awungenela ummandla wezizwe ezikwimpuma yeYordan, asoyikisa isixeko iYabheshe-giliyadi. Abemi bazama ukwenza uxolo ngokuzinikela ukuba babe ngabarhafi kuma-Amon. Akazange akuvume oku ukumkani okhohlakeleyo, kodwa wathi, angakwenza kuphela xa enokukhupha iliso lasekunene lomntu ngamnye wabo, ukuze oko kube bubungqina obubophelelayo begunya lakhe.ANa 612.2

Abantu besixeko esingqingiweyo bacela ukuba bakhe bamelwe iintsuku ezisixhenxe. Avuma ama-Amon, ecinga ngokunyusa udumo loloyiso lwawo olulindelekileyo. Kwabalekiswa kwangoko abathunywa eYabheshe, ukuba bafune uncedo kwizizwe ezikwintshona yeYordan. Zasiwa iindaba eGibheha, nto leyo eyadala ukoyika kuyo yonke indawo. Wathi uSawule, evela kulandela iinkomo emadlelweni, weva isikhalo esikrakra esaya samxelela ngentlekele enkulu. Wathi, “Banantoni na abantu, belila nje?” Lathi lakubaliswa ibali elilusizi, onke amandla wakhe awayelele avuka. “UMoya kaYehova wamfikela ngamandla uSawule. . . . Wathabatha iinkomo zambini wazityatya, wathumela emideni yonke yakwaIsrayeli ngesandla sabathunywa esithi, Ongathanga aphume alandele uSawule, alandele uSamuweli, ziya kwenjiwa nje iinkomo zakhe.”ANa 612.3

Amakhulu amathathu anamashumi amathathu amawaka abantu babuthana kwintili yeBhezeke, phantsi komlawuli uSawule. Kwakhawuleziswa ukuthunyelwa kwabathunywa ukuba baye kwisixeko esingqingiweyo benesiqinisekiso sokuba bangalulindela uncedo ngengomso, le mini kanye kwakufuneka benikezele kuma-Amon. Ngohambo lwasebusuku olwakhawulezayo, uSawule nomkhosi wakhe bayiwela iYordan bafika phambi kweYabheshe “ngelixa lakusasa.” NjengoGidiyon, wawahlula umkhosi wangamaqela amathathu, wayingenela inkampu yama-Amon, ngelo xesha lasekuseni, xa kanye, ngokungalindeli ngozi, ayekhuseleke kancinane kakhulu. Kukothuka okukhulu okwalandelayo, atshatyalaliswa ngembubhiso enkulu. “Kwathi aseleyo aphangalaliswa; akwasala kuwo nokuba abe mabini ndaweni-nye.”ANa 613.1

Ukukhawuleza nokukhalipha kukaSawule, kwanokukhokela umkhosi okwabonakala ekulawuleni ngempumelelo umkhosi omkhulu kangako, zimpawu abantu bakwaIsrayeli ababezifuna kukumkani, ukuze babenakho ukumelana nezinye izizwe. Ngoku, bamkhahlela njengokumkani wabo, benika uzuko noloyiso kwisenzeleli esingumntu, belibala ukuba ngaphandle kwentsikelelo eyodwa kaThixo yonke imizamo yabo ngeyaba lilize. Ekuthabathekeni kwabo, abanye baphakamisa ukuba babulawe bonke abo bathi ekuqaleni bala ukulamkela igunya likaSawule. Ukumkani wangenelela, esithi, “Makungabulawa mntu namhla; ngokuba namhla uYehova wenze usindiso kwaIsrayeli.” Apha uSawule wanika ebungqina benguquko eyenzeke esimilweni sakhe. Endaweni yokuluthabathela kuye uzuko, walunika uzuko uThixo. Endaweni yokulangazelela impindezelo, wabonakalisa umoya wovelwano nokuxolela. Obu bubungqina obungenakuphazanywa bokuba ubabalo lukaThixo luyahlala entliziyweni.ANa 613.2

USamuweli ngeli xesha waphakamisa ukuba umhlangano wesizwe ubizelwe eGiligali, ukuze apho esidlangalaleni ubukumkani buqiniselwe kuSawule. Kwenzeka oko; “wabingelela apho imibingelelo yoxolo phambi koYehova. Bavuya Kunene apho ooSawule namadoda onke akwaIsrayeli.”ANa 613.3

IGiligali yaba yindawo yokuqala kwiZwe leDinga apho uIsrayeli wamisa khona iintente. Kulapho uYoshuwa, ngomyalelo wezulu, wamisa khona intsika yamatye alishumi elinambini ukuba ibe sisikhumbuzo sokuwela iYordan ngommangaliso. Apha ulwaluko lwahlaziywa. Apha benza iPasika yokuqala emva kwesono eKadeshe nokuhlala kwabo entlango. Apha yayeka ukubakho imana. Apha uMphathi womkhosi kaYehova wazityhila njengomphathi oyintloko wemikhosi kaIsrayeli. Ukusuka kulendawobahambabayakoyisa iYeriko, nokulwaneAyi. Apha, uAkan wafumana isohlwayo sesono sakhe, kwaba lapha apho kwenziwa khona isivumelwano namaGibheyon awohlwaya ukutyeshela kukaIsrayeli ukucela icebiso kuThixo. Kweli thafa, ekuhlangene kulo izinto ezininzi ezithathekisayo, kwakumi uSamuweli noSawule; kwathi kwakuphela imikhwazo yokwamkelwa kukakumkani, ixhego lomprofeti lenza amazwi alo okuyeka ukuba ngumlawuli wesizwe.ANa 613.4

“Yabonani,” watsho, “ndiliphulaphule izwi lenu ngako konke enakuthethayo kum, ndanimisela ukumkani. Kaloku nanko ukumkani ehamba phambi kwenu. Ke mna ndaluphele, ndiyingwevu: . . . Mna ndihambe phambi kwenu kwasebuncinaneni bam unanamhla. Nanku ndikho; ngqinani ngam phambi koYehova naphambi komthanjiswa wakhe: ndathabatha nkomo kabani na? Ndathabatha esile likanani na? ndacudisa banina? Ndavikiva bani na? ndathabatha esandleni sikabani na ucamagusho lokumfamekisa amehlo am? Ndonibuyisela.”ANa 614.1

Ngazwi-nye, abantu baphendula, “Akusicudisanga, akusivikivanga, akuthabathanga nto sandleni samntu.”ANa 614.2

USamuweli wayengafuni nje ukuthethelela indlela yakhe. Ngaphambili wayebeke imithetho-siseko yokulawula ukumkani kunye nabantu, kwaye wayefuna ukongeza emazwini akhe isisindo sowakhe umzekelo. Kususela kwasebuntwaneni, wayehlangene nomsebenzi kaThixo, kwaye kubo bonke ubomi bakhe, kwakumi injongo enye phambi kwakhe, uzuko lukaThixo nokona kumlungeleyo uIsrayeli.ANa 614.3

Phambi kokuba kubekho naliphi ithemba lempumelelo kuIsrayeli, kufuneka bakhokelelwe ekuguqukeni phambi kukaThixo. Njengesiphumo sesono, balahlekwa lukholo lwabo kuThixo nokuwabona amandla aKhe nobulumko bokulawula isizwe, balahlekwa kukumthemba ukuba anganakho ukuwumela umsebenzi waKhe. Phambi kokuba bafumane uxolo lwenene, kufuneka bakhokelwe ukuba babone bavume isono kanye abanetyala ngaso. Babeyivakalisile injongo yokufuna kwabo ukumkani, besithi, “asilawule ukumkani wethu, aphume phambi kwethu, alwe iimfazwe zethu.” USamuweli wayibalisa imbali kaIsrayeli, kususela mhla uThixo wabakhupha eYiputa. UYehova, uKumkani wookumkani, wayehamba phambi kwabo esilwa iimfazwe zabo. Amaxesha amaninzi izono zabo zazibathengisa kwigunya leentshaba zabo, kodwa kuthi bengekabuyi kwiindlela zabo ezimbi, inceba kaThixo ibanyusele umhlanguli. UYehova wathumelauGidiyonnoBaraki, “noYifeta, noSamuweli, wanihlangula esandleni seentshaba zenu ngeenxa zonke nahlala nonwabile.” Kanti ke bathi bakuba bezelwa yingozi, bathi, “Masilawulwe ngukumkani,” ngeli xesha, watsho umprofeti, “uYehova uThixo wenu engukumkani wenu.”ANa 614.4

“Nangoku,” waqhubeka uSamuweli, “yimani, niyibone le nto inkulu, ayenzayo uYehova phambi kwenu. Akuvunwa ingqolowa yini na namhla? Ndiya kunqula uYehova ahlise iindudumo nemvula; nazi, nibone ukuba ububi benu bukhulu enibenzileyo phambi koYehova ngokubiza ukumkani. USamuweli wanqula uYehova; waza uYehova wahlisa iindudumo nemvula ngaloo mini.” Ngexesha lokuvunwa kwengqolowa, ngoMeyi noJuni, yayingani imvula eMpuma. Isibhakabhaka sasingabi namafu, umoya uzole, uphole. Kwavuthuza isaqhwithi esikhulu ngeli xesha, zonke iintliziyo zabantu zazaliswa luloyiko. Ngokuzithoba abantu basivuma isono sabo, isono kanye ababenetyala laso: “Bathandazele abakhonzi bakho kuYehova uThixo wakho, ukuze singafi; ngokuba ezonweni zethu songeze ububi bokubiza ubukumkani.”ANa 615.1

USamuweli akazange abashiye abantu bekwimo yokuphelelwa lithemba, kuba oku kwakuya kuthintela onke amalinge obomi obungcono. USathana wayeya kubakhokela ukuba bambone uThixo njengoqathanongaxoleliyo, baze ngenxa yoko babe sisisulu sezilingo ezininzi kakhulu. UThixo mkhulu ngenceba, exolela, ehleli elangazelela ukubonisa uthando kubantu baKhe xa belithobela izwi laKhe. “Musani ukoyika. Nina nibenzile bonke obo bubi; noko ke musani ukutyeka ekumlandeleni uYehova; mkhonzeni uYehova ngentliziyo yenu yonke. Ize ningatyeki; ngokuba ningaba nilandela izinto ezililize, ezingenakunyusa, ezingenakuhlangula, ngokuba zililize. Kuba uYehova akayi kubashiya abantu bakhe.”ANa 615.2

USamuweli akazange athethe nto ngokudelelwa okwenziwa kuye; akazange athethise ngokusweleka kombulelo uIsrayeli awambuyisela ngako kubomi bakhe bonke bokuzinikela; kodwa wabaqinisekisa ngenkathalelo yakhe engapheliyo ngakubo: “Makube lee kum ukuthi ndone kuYehova nokuyeka ukunithandazela; ndoniyalela indlela elungileyo ethe tye. Kodwa moyikeni uYehova, nimkhonze ngenyaniso, ngentliziyo yenu yonke; ngokuba kuboneni okukona. Ke ukuba niphikele ukwenza, nithe nenza okubi, nocinywa, nina kwanokumkani wenu.”ANa 615.3