Faʻifaʻitaki ki Heʻenau Tuí

Naʻá Ne Kātaki Neongo ʻa e Loto-Mamahí

NAʻE lava ke ongoʻi ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa e mamahi ʻi Sailó. Naʻe meimei hā ngali lōmakiʻi ʻa e koló ʻe he loʻimatá. Ko e ngaahi fale ʻe fiha naʻe ongona mei ai ʻa e tangi ʻa e kakai fefiné mo e fānaú, ko e ongo ʻo e tengihia naʻe fai ʻi he ongoongo fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi tamai, ngaahi husepāniti, ngaahi foha, mo e fanga tokoua heʻikai ke nau toe foki mai ki ʻapí? ʻOku tau ʻiloʻi pē naʻe mole mei ʻIsileli ʻa e kau sōtia nai ʻe toko 30,000 ʻi hano ikunaʻi fakalilifu kinautolu ʻi he nima ʻo e kau Filisitiá ʻikai fuoloa mei he mole ʻo e toko 4,000 ʻi ha toe tau ʻe taha.—1 Samiuela 4:1, 2, 10.

Ko e konga pē ia ʻo ha ngaahi meʻa fakamamahi hokohoko. Ko e Taulaʻeiki Lahi ko ʻĪlaí naʻe ʻi ai hono ongo foha fulikivanu, ko Hofinai mo Fineasi, ʻa ia naʻá na laka atu mei Sailo mo e ʻaʻake toputapu ʻo e kovinānité. Naʻe faʻa tuku ia ʻi he potu toputapu ʻo e tāpanekalé—ko ha temipale hangē ha tēnití—ko e puha mahuʻinga ko ení ko ha fakatātā ia ʻo e ʻi ai ʻa e ʻOtuá. Naʻe ʻave leva ʻe he kakaí ʻa e ʻAʻaké ki he taú, ʻi he fakakaukau fakavalevale ʻe ngāue ia ʻo hangē ko ha meʻa ʻomi monuú pea ʻe ʻoange ai kia kinautolu ʻa e ikuná. Ka naʻe puke ʻe he kau Filisitiá ʻa e ʻAʻaké, pea tāmateʻi ʻa Hofinai mo Fineasi.—1 Samiuela 4:3-11.

Ko e tāpanekale ʻi Sailó naʻe lāngilangiʻia ia ʻi he ʻi ai ʻa e ʻAʻaké ʻi he laui senituli. ʻI he taimi ko ení naʻe mole ia. ʻI he fanongo ki he ongoongo ko ení, naʻe tō foʻohake ai ʻa e taʻu 98 ko ʻĪlaí mei hono seá ʻo ne mate. Ko hono ʻofefine-ʻi-he-fonó, ʻi heʻene uitou he ʻaho pē ko iá, naʻá ne mate ʻi heʻene fāʻeleʻi ʻene tamá. Ki muʻa ke ne maté, naʻá ne pehē: “Kuo mole ʻa e langilangi mei Isileli; he kuo ʻave.” Ko e moʻoni heʻikai ʻaupito ke toe ʻi he tuʻunga tatau ʻa Sailo.—1 Samiuela 4:12-22.

Naʻe fekuki fēfē ʻa Sāmiuela mo e loto-mamahi lahi ko ení? ʻE malava ʻo tuʻu ʻa ʻene tuí ʻi he pole ko hono tokoniʻi ha kakai ʻa ia naʻe mole meia kinautolu ʻa e maluʻi mo e hōifua ʻa Sihová? Ko kitautolu kotoa he ʻaho ní, ʻoku tau fehangahangai nai ʻi he ngaahi taimi mo e faingataʻa mo e loto-mamahi ʻa ia ʻoku poleʻi ai ʻa ʻetau tuí, ko ia tau sio angé ki he meʻa ʻe lava ke tau ako meia Sāmiuelá.

Naʻá Ne “Feia e Maʻoniʻoni”

ʻOku hiki ʻa e lēkooti Tohi Tapú meia Sāmiuela ʻi he tuʻunga ko ení ʻo kamata fakahanga e tokangá ki he ʻAʻake toputapú, ʻi hono fakahaaʻi mai ʻa e founga naʻe faingataʻaʻia ai ʻa e kau Filisitiá ʻi heʻenau ʻave iá pea fakamālohiʻi ai kinautolu ke nau fakafoki. ʻI heʻetau toe foki kia Sāmiuelá, kuo mahili atu mei ai ʻa e taʻu nai ʻe 20. (1 Samiuela 7:2) Ko e hā e meʻa naʻá ne faí lolotonga ʻa e ngaahi taʻu ko iá? ʻOku ʻikai fiemaʻu ia ke tau mateʻi.

ʻOku tau ako ʻi he ki muʻa ke kamata ʻa e vahaʻa taimi ko ení, “naʻe hoko ʻa e lea ʻa Samiuela ki Isileli katoa.” (1 Samiuela 3:21 [4:1, PM]) ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻi he lēkōtí ʻi he hili ʻa e vahaʻa taimi ko iá, naʻe tōʻongaʻaki ai ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa e ʻaʻahi ki he ngaahi kolo ʻe tolu ʻi ʻIsileli, ʻo ne ngāue takai holo ai ʻi he taʻu taki taha, ʻi hono fakaleleiʻi ʻa e ngaahi fekīhiakí mo fai ha tali papau ki he ngaahi fehuʻí. Naʻá ne foki leva ki hono kolo tupuʻangá ko Lama. (1 Samiuela 7:15-17) ʻOku hā mahino, naʻe hanganaki femoʻuekina maʻu pē ʻa Sāmiuela, pea ʻi he lolotonga ʻa e mālōlō taʻu ʻe 20 ko iá, naʻe lahi ʻene meʻa naʻe faí.

Ko e ʻulungaanga taʻetaau mo e kākā ʻa e ongo foha ʻo ʻĪlaí naʻe hōloa ai ʻa e tui ʻa e kakaí. ʻOku hā ngali naʻe tafoki ʻa e tokolahi ki he tauhi ʻaitolí ko e tupu mei ai. Neongo ia, hili ʻa e taʻu ʻe uofulu ʻo e ngāue mālohí naʻe fakahoko ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa e pōpoaki ko ení ki he kakaí: “Ka ko hoʻomou foki kia Sihova ʻaki ʻa e kotoa ʻo homou loto, peʻi huʻihuʻi ʻa e ngaahi ʻotua kehe meiate kimoutolu, mo e kau Asiteloti, pea ʻai ke hangatonu homou loto kia Sihova, ʻo tauhi kiate ia toko taha: pea te ne hamusi kimoutolu mei he nima ʻo e kau Filisitia.”—1 Samiuela 7:3.

Ko e “nima ʻo e kau Filisitia” naʻe mamafa ki he kakaí. ʻI he ola lelei hono ikunaʻi ʻe he kau Filisitiá ʻa e kau tau ʻIsilelí naʻa nau ongoʻi tauʻatāina ke fakafeʻātungiaʻi ʻa e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻo taʻetautea kinautolu. Ka naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe Sāmiuela ki he kakaí ʻe liliu ʻa e ngaahi meʻá kapau pē te nau foki kia Sihova. Naʻa nau loto-lelei ki ai? ʻI he fiefia ʻa Sāmiuelá, naʻa nau liʻaki ʻenau ngaahi ʻaitolí pea kamata ke “tauhi kia Sihova toko taha pe.” Naʻe uiaki ʻe Sāmiuela ha fakataha ʻi Misipā, ko ha kolo ʻi he fonua moʻungaʻia he tokelau ʻo Selusalemá. Naʻe fakatahataha ki ai ʻa e kakaí, ʻo nau ʻaukai, mo fakatomala ʻi heʻenau ngaahi angahala ʻo e tauhi ʻaitolí.—1 Samiuela 7:4-6.

Kae kehe, naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe he kau Filisitiá ʻa e fuʻu fakatahataha ko ení pea naʻa nau sio ai ki ha faingamālie. Naʻa nau fekau atu ʻenau kau taú ki Misipā ke laiki ʻa e kau lotu ko ia ʻa Sihová. Naʻe fanongo ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí ki he ongoongo ʻo e fakatuʻutāmaki naʻe tuʻunuku maí. ʻI he ilifiá, naʻa nau kole kia Sāmiuela ke ne lotu maʻanautolu. Naʻá ne fai pehē, ʻo ne fai foki mo ha feilaulau. Lolotonga ʻa e kātoanga toputapu ko iá, naʻe haʻu ai ʻa e kau tau Filisitiá ki Misipā. Naʻe tali leva ʻe Sihova ʻa e lotu ʻa Sāmiuelá. Ko hono moʻoní, naʻe tuku mai ʻe Sihova ha fuʻu ʻuʻulu ʻi he houhau. Naʻá ne ‘tuku atu ki he kau Filisitiá ʻi he ʻaho ko iá ha mana leʻo lahi.’—1 Samiuela 7:7-10.

Sai, ʻoku totonu ke tau sioloto atu ko e kau Filisitia ko iá naʻa nau hangē ko ha fānau iiki naʻa nau moulu ʻi he ilifia ʻo toi ʻi mui ʻi heʻenau ngaahi faʻeé ʻi heʻenau fanongo ki he fepākaki ʻa e ngaahi maná? ʻIkai, ko e kau sōtia mālohi eni, naʻa nau mahimango ʻi he taú. Ko e mana leva ko ení, ʻoku pau pē naʻe ʻikai hangē ia ko ha meʻa naʻa nau ʻosi ʻilo ki ai. Ko e ongo “leʻo lahi” taʻehanotatau nai ko ení? Naʻe haʻu ia mei ha langi pulū tafitonga, pe naʻe ongo mai fakatupu puputuʻu mei he ngaahi veʻe moʻungá? Ko e hā pē hono tuʻungá, naʻá ne ʻai ke ilifia kotoa ʻa e kau Filisitia ko iá. ʻI he puputuʻu fakaʻaufuli, naʻa nau maliu vave mei he hoko ko e houtamakí ki he faʻahinga ke fai ki ai ʻa e tāketí. Naʻe matua mai ʻa e kau tangata ʻIsilelí mei Misipā, ʻo ikunaʻi kinautolu, pea tuli mui ʻia kinautolu ʻi he laui maile, ʻo ʻalu hifo ki he tonga-hihifo ʻo Selusalemá.—1 Samiuela 7:11

Ko e taú naʻe hoko ai ha liliu mahuʻinga. Naʻe hanganaki holomui ʻa e kau Filisitiá lolotonga ʻa e toenga ʻo e ngaahi ʻaho ʻo Sāmiuela ʻi hono tuʻunga ko ha fakamāú. Naʻe foki ʻa e kolo ki he kolo ʻo puleʻi ʻe he kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá.—1 Samiuela 7:13, 14.

ʻI he ngaahi senituli lahi ki mui ai, naʻe fakahokohoko ai ʻe he ʻapositolo ko Paulá ʻa Sāmiuela ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau fakamaau mo e kau palōfita faitōnunga ʻa ia naʻa nau “feia e maʻoniʻoni.” (Hepelu 11:32, 33) Naʻe tokoni moʻoni ʻa Sāmiuela ke fakahoko ʻa e meʻa naʻe lelei mo totonu ʻi he vakai mai ʻa e ʻOtuá. Naʻá ne ola lelei ai pē koeʻuhí naʻá ne tatali kātaki kia Sihova, ʻo hanganaki faitōnunga ʻi heʻene ngāué neongo ʻa e ngaahi loto-mamahí. Naʻá ne toe fakahāhā ha laumālie houngaʻia. Hili ʻa e ikuna ʻi Misipaá, naʻe fokotuʻu ai ʻe Sāmiuela ha fuʻu maka ke fakamanatu ʻaki ʻa e founga naʻe tokoniʻi ai ʻe Sihova ʻa hono kakaí.—1 Samiuela 7:12.

ʻOkú ke loto ke ke “feia e maʻoniʻoni”? Kapau ko ia, ʻoku lelei ke ke ako mei he kātaki ʻa Sāmiuelá mo hono laumālie anga-fakatōkilalo mo e houngaʻiá. Ko hai ia ʻia kitautolu ʻoku ʻikai te ne fiemaʻu ʻa e ngaahi ʻulungaanga ko iá? Naʻe lelei kia Sāmiuela ke ne maʻu mo fakahāhā ʻa e ngaahi anga ko iá ʻi he taimi naʻá ne ʻi he tuʻunga kei siʻi aí, he naʻá ne fehangahangai mo e loto-mamahi lahi ange ʻi hono ngaahi taʻu ki muí.

“Oku Ikai Alu a Ho Ogo Foha i Ho Gaahi Hala”

Ko e taimi hono hoko ʻoku tau sio ai kia Sāmiuelá, kuó ne hoko ʻo “motua.” Naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ongo foha lalahi ʻo Sāmiuela he taimi ko ení, ko Sioeli mo ʻApaia, pea naʻá ne tuku kia kinaua ʻa e fatongia ko e tokoni kiate ia ʻi he ngāue fakaefakamāú. Neongo ia, ko e meʻa fakamamahí naʻe tōnoa ʻene falalá. Neongo naʻe faitotonu mo māʻoniʻoni ʻa Sāmiuela, ko hono ongo fohá naʻá na ngāueʻaki hona tuʻungá ki he ngaahi taumuʻa siokita, ʻo na mioʻi ʻa e fakamaau totonú pea tali ʻa e totongi fufū.—1 Samiuela 8:1-3.

ʻI he ʻaho ʻe taha, naʻe fakaofiofi mai ai ʻa e kau mātuʻa ʻo ʻIsilelí ki he palōfita taʻumotuʻá ke lāunga. “Oku ikai alu a ho ogo foha i ho gaahi hala,” ko ʻenau leá ia. (1 Samiuela 8:4, 5, PM) Naʻe lāuʻilo ʻa Sāmiuela ki he palopalemá? ʻOku ʻikai tala mai ia ʻi he fakamatalá. Kae kehe, ʻi he ʻikai hangē ko ʻĪlaí, naʻe ʻikai moʻoni ko ha tamai ʻa Sāmiuela naʻe tuha ke valokiʻi. Naʻe valokiʻi mo tauteaʻi ʻe Sihova ʻa ʻĪlai ʻi he taʻemalava ke ne fakatonutonu ʻa e tuʻunga fulikivanu ʻa hono ongo fohá, ʻi heʻene fakalāngilangiʻi ʻa hono ongo fohá ʻo laka ia ʻi he ʻOtuá. (1 Samiuela 2:27-29) Naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito maʻu ʻe Sihova ha tōnounou pehē ʻia Sāmiuela.

ʻOku ʻikai fakahaaʻi ʻi he fakamatalá ʻa e mā fakamamahi, loto-moʻua, pe loto-mamahi ʻa Sāmiuela ʻi heʻene ʻiloʻi pē ʻa e tōʻonga fulikivanu ʻa hono ongo fohá. Kae kehe, ko e ngaahi mātuʻa tokolahi, ʻoku lava ke nau sioloto atu foki ki heʻene ngaahi ongoʻí. ʻI he taimi fakapoʻulituʻu ʻo e ʻaho ní, ʻoku hulu fau ai ʻa e angatuʻu ki he tuʻunga mafai fakaemātuʻá mo e akonakí. (2 Timote 3:1-5) Ko e ngaahi mātuʻa ʻoku nau fekuki mo e faʻahinga mamahi ko iá te nau maʻu nai ha kiʻi fakafiemālie mo e tataki ʻi he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Sāmiuelá. Naʻe ʻikai te ne fakaʻatā ʻa e ngaahi founga taʻefaitōnunga ʻa hono ongo fohá ke ne teitei liliu ʻa hono ʻalungá tonu. Manatuʻi, naʻa mo e hili ʻa e ʻikai lava ke aʻu ʻa e ngaahi leá mo e akonakí ki he ngaahi loto kuo fefeká, ʻoku kei hoko pē ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga fakaemātuʻá ko ha faiako mālohi. Pea ʻoku maʻu maʻu pē ʻe he ngaahi mātuʻá ʻa e faingamālie ke ʻai ʻenau Tamaí tonu ʻa e ʻOtua ko Sihová ke ne laukau—ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe fai ʻe Sāmiuelá.

‘Ke Ke Fokotuʻu Hamau Tuʻi’

Naʻe ʻikai lava ke sioloto atu ʻa e ongo foha ʻo Sāmiuelá ki he nunuʻa ʻe aʻu ki ai ʻa ʻena mānumanú mo e siokitá. Ko e kau mātuʻa ʻo ʻIsilelí naʻa nau hoko atu ʻo pehē kia Sāmiuela: ‘Ke ke fokotuʻu hamau tuʻi ke fakamāu kimautolu, ʻo hange ko e ngaahi kakai kotoa pe.’ Ko e kounaʻi ko iá naʻe ongoʻi ai ʻo hangē kuo talitekeʻi ʻa Sāmiuelá? He ko ē, kuó ne fakamāuʻi ʻa e kakai ko iá ʻo fakafofongaʻi ʻa Sihova ʻi he laui hongofuluʻi taʻu. ʻI he taimi ko ení, naʻa nau fiemaʻu ʻo ʻikai ko ha palōfita pē hangē ko Sāmiuelá, ka ko ha tuʻi ke hoko ko honau fakamaau. Ko e ngaahi puleʻanga takatakaí naʻe ʻi ai honau ngaahi tuʻi, pea naʻe fiemaʻu foki ʻe he kau ʻIsilelí ha tuʻi! Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e tali ʻa Sāmiuelá? ʻOku tau lau ‘naʻe ha kovi ʻa e meʻá’ kiate ia.—1 Samiuela 8:5, 6.

Fakatokangaʻi ange ʻa e anga ʻo e tali ʻa Sihová ʻi he taimi naʻe ʻohake ai kiate ia ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa e meʻá ʻi he lotu: “Fakaongo ki he lea ʻa e kakai ʻi he meʻa kotoa kuo nau leaʻaki kiate koe: he ʻoku ʻikai ko koe kuo nau liʻaki, ka kuo nau liʻaki au mei he nofo ko honau tuʻi.” He fakafiemālie ē kia Sāmiuela, neongo ia ko ha lea tuku hifo lahi ē kuo fai ʻe he kakai ko iá ki he ʻOtua Māfimafi-Aoniú! Naʻe tala ʻe Sihova ki heʻene palōfitá ke ne fakatokanga ki he kau ʻIsilelí ʻa e nunuʻa lahi te nau fua ʻi hono ʻai ha tuʻi fakaetangatá. ʻI he fai ki ai ʻa Sāmiuelá, naʻa nau vilitaki: ‘ʻIkai; ka kuo pau ke ai hamau tuʻi.’ ʻI he talangofua ai pē ki hono ʻOtuá, naʻe hoko atu ʻa Sāmiuela ʻo pani ʻa e tuʻi naʻe fili ʻe Sihová.—1 Samiuela 8:7-19.

Kae kehe, naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e talangofua ʻa Sāmiuelá? ʻI ha founga fai fakafatongia ʻiteʻita? Naʻá ne fakaʻatā ʻa e loto-mamahí ke ne fakakonahi hono lotó, ʻo tuku ʻa e loto-koná ke faiaka? Naʻe mei tali ʻi ha tuʻunga pehē ha kau tangata tokolahi, ka naʻe ʻikai pehē ʻa Sāmiuela. Naʻá ne pani ʻa Saula pea fakahaaʻi ko e tangatá ʻa e fili ʻa Sihová tonu. Naʻá ne ʻuma kia Saula, ko ha fakaʻilonga ia ʻo e talitali lelei mo e fakamoʻulaloa ki he tuʻi foʻoú. Pea naʻá ne pehē ki he kakaí: “ʻOku mou vakai koā ʻa ia kuo fili ki ai ʻe Sihova, ʻa e ʻikai hano tatau ʻi he kakai kotoa?”—1 Samiuela 10:1, 24.

Naʻe tokangataha ʻa Sāmiuela, ʻo ʻikai ki he ngaahi fehālākí, ka ki he lelei ʻi he tangata naʻe fili ʻe Sihová. Ka kiate ia, naʻá ne tokangataha ki hono lēkooti tonu ʻo e anga-tonu ki he ʻOtuá kae ʻikai ki he leleiʻia ʻa e kakai taʻefaitōnungá. (1 Samiuela 12:1-4) Naʻá ne toe ngāue faitōnunga ʻi hono vāhenga-ngāué tonu, ʻo faleʻi ʻa e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi fakatuʻutāmaki fakalaumālie naʻa nau fehangahangai mo iá pea fakalotolahiʻi kinautolu ke nau faitōnunga ai pē kia Sihova. Ko ʻene faleʻí naʻe aʻu ki honau lotó, pea naʻe kōlenga ʻa e kakaí kia Sāmiuela ke ne lotu maʻanautolu. Naʻá ne ʻoange kia kinautolu ʻa e tali fakaʻofoʻofa ko ení: “Mole ke mamaʻo haʻaku hia kia Sihova, ʻi heʻeku tuku ʻeku hufia kimoutolu: ka te u faleʻi kimoutolu ʻi he hala ʻoku lelei mo totonu.”—1 Samiuela 12:21-24.

Kuo faifai ange peá ke ongoʻi loto-mamahi ʻi hono fili ha taha kehe ki ha tuʻunga pe monū pau? Ko e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Sāmiuelá ko ha fakamanatu mālohi ia kuo pau ke ʻoua naʻa tau tuku ʻa e meheká pe loto-koná ke faiaka ʻi hotau lotó. ʻOku lahi ʻa e ngāue fakafiemālie mo fakafiefia ʻa e ʻOtuá ki heʻene kau sevāniti faitōnungá taki taha.

“Ko Futu Hoʻo Fakamamahi Koeʻuhi ko Saula?”

Naʻe tonu ʻa Sāmiuela ʻi heʻene sio ki he lelei ʻia Saulá; ko ha tangata naʻe kehe ange. ʻI he lahi mo fakaueʻiloto ʻi he vakai atu ki aí, naʻá ne loto-toʻa mo lavameʻa ka naʻá ne muʻaki anga-fakanānā mo fakaʻakiʻakimui. (1 Samiuela 10:22, 23, 27) ʻI he tānaki atu ki he ngaahi meʻaʻofa ko iá, naʻá ne maʻu ha meʻaʻofa mahuʻinga—ko e tauʻatāina ke fili, ko e malava ke fili ʻa ʻene ʻalunga moʻuí pea fai ʻene ngaahi fili pē ʻaʻana. (Teutalonome 30:19) Naʻá ne ngāueleleiʻaki ʻa e meʻaʻofa ko iá?

Ko e meʻa fakamamahí, ʻi he taimi ʻoku maʻu ai ʻe ha tokotaha ʻa e mafai foʻoú, ʻoku faʻa hoko ko e anga-fakanānaá ʻa e muʻaki ʻulungaanga ʻoku molé. ʻIkai fuoloa, naʻe kamata ke maliu ʻa Saula ʻo hīkisia. Naʻá ne fili ke talangataʻa ki he ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ʻa Sihova naʻe fakahoko ange ʻe Sāmiuela kiate iá. ʻI he taimi ʻe taha, naʻe hoko ai ʻa Saula ʻo ʻikai faʻa tatali peá ne fai ha feilaulau ʻa ia ko Sāmiuela pē taha naʻe totonu ke ne faí. Naʻe pau ke fai kiate ia ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa e fakatonutonu fefeka pea tomuʻa tala heʻikai nofo maʻu ʻa e tuʻunga-tuʻí ʻi he fāmili ʻo Saulá. ʻI he ʻikai ako mei he akonakí, naʻe hoko atu ʻa Saula ʻo fai ʻa e ngaahi ngāue talangataʻa naʻe kovi ange.—1 Samiuela 13:8, 9, 13, 14.

Fakafou ʻia Sāmiuela, naʻe tala ʻe Sihova kia Saula ke ne faitau mo e kau ʻAmalekí. Ko e ngaahi fakahinohino ʻa Sihová naʻe kau ai ha tuʻutuʻuni ke tāmateʻi ʻa honau tuʻi fulikivanu ko ʻĒkakí. Kae kehe, naʻe fakahaofi ʻe Saula ʻa ʻĒkaki pea pehē ki he koloa vete lelei taha ʻa ia naʻe fiemaʻu ke fakaʻauhá. ʻI he haʻu ʻa Sāmiuela ke fakatonutonu iá, naʻe fakahaaʻi ai ʻe Saula ʻa e liliu lahi. ʻI he ʻikai tali anga-fakanānā ʻa e fakatonutonú, naʻá ne fakaʻuhiʻuhinga, kumi kalofanga, fakatonuhiaʻi ʻene ngaahi meʻa naʻe faí, fakaʻehiʻehi ke ʻoua ʻe talanoa ki he ʻīsiú, pea feinga ke tukuakiʻi ʻa e kakaí. ʻI he feinga ʻa Saula ke fakasiʻisiʻi ʻa e akonakí ʻaki ʻene taukaveʻi ko e niʻihi ʻo e koloa veté naʻe fakataumuʻa ke faiʻaki ha feilaulau kia Sihova, naʻe leaʻaki ai ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa e lea ʻiloa ko ení: “Ko eni, ʻoku lelei ʻa e talangofua ʻi he fai feilaulau.” ʻI he loto-toʻa, naʻe valokiʻi ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa e tangatá pea fakahaaʻi ange kiate ia ʻa e fili ʻa Sihová. ʻE hae ʻa e puleʻangá meia Saula ʻo foaki ki ha tokotaha kehe—ko ha tangata lelei ange.—1 Samiuela 15:1-33.

Naʻe loto-mamahi lahi ʻa Sāmiuela ʻi he ngaahi tōnounou ʻa Saulá. Naʻá ne tangi ʻi he poó kotoa kia Sihova ʻo fekauʻaki mo e meʻa ko iá. Naʻe aʻu ʻo ne tengihia ʻa e tangatá. Naʻe sio ʻa Sāmiuela ki he fuʻu malava lahi naʻe ʻia Saulá, ko e fuʻu lelei lahi, pea kuo veuki ʻene ngaahi ʻamanakí he taimi ko ení. Ko e tangata naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ki muʻá kuo liliu—kuo mole meiate ia ʻa hono ngaahi ʻulungaanga leleí pea kuó ne tafoki ʻo fakafepaki kia Sihova. Naʻe fakafisi ʻa Sāmiuela ke faifai ange pea toe sio kia Saula. Kae kehe, naʻe fai ʻi ha taimi ʻe Sihova ʻa e kiʻi valoki ko ení kia Sāmiuela: “Ko futu hoʻo fakamamahi koeʻuhi ko Saula, ka kuo u liʻaki ia mei heʻene Tuʻi Isileli? Fakafonu lolo hoʻo nifoʻi manu, pea ʻalu, ʻo fai ʻeku fekau kia Sese ko e tangata Petelihema: he kuo u tokonaki haku tuʻi mei hono ngaahi foha.”—1 Samiuela 15:34, 35; 16:1.

Ko e taumuʻa ʻa Sihová ʻoku ʻikai fakatuʻunga ia ʻi he mateaki veiveiua ʻa e faʻahinga taʻehaohaoa ʻo e tangatá. Kapau ʻoku tafoki ha tangata ʻe taha ʻo taʻefaitōnunga, ʻe kumi ʻe Sihova ha tokotaha kehe ke ne fakahoko ʻa Hono finangaló. Ko ia naʻe tukuange ʻe he taʻumotuʻa ko Sāmiuelá ʻa ʻene mamahi ʻia Saulá. ʻI he fakahinohino ʻa Sihová, naʻe ʻalu ʻa Sāmiuela ki he ʻapi ʻo Sesé ʻi Pētelihema, ʻa ia naʻá ne fetaulaki ai mo ha ngaahi foha matātangata. Neongo ia, mei he foha ʻuluakí, naʻe fakamanatu ai ʻe Sihova kia Sāmiuela: ‘“Oua naʻa tokangaʻi hono fotunga, pe ko hono maʻolunga; . . . he talaʻehai ko e fai ki he sio ʻa e tangata; he ʻoku sio ʻa e tangata ki he mata, ka ʻoku sio ʻa e ʻEiki ki he loto.” (1 Samiuela 16:7) Naʻe faifai pē ʻo fetaulaki ʻa Sāmiuela mo e foha siʻisiʻi tahá, pea ko e fili eni ʻa Sihová—ko Tēvita!

ʻI hono ngaahi taʻu fakaʻosí, naʻe hoko ai ʻa Sāmiuela ʻo toe sio maʻalaʻala ange ai pē ki he totonu ʻo e fili ʻa Sihova ke fetongi ʻa Saula ʻaki ʻa Tēvitá. Naʻe hōloa ʻa Saula ki he tuʻunga meheka anga-fakapō pea tafoki ʻo angatuʻu ki he moʻoní. Kae kehe, naʻe fakahaaʻi ʻe Tēvita ʻa e ʻulungaanga fakaʻofoʻofa—ko e loto-toʻa, anga-tonu, tui, mo e mateaki. ʻI he ofi ke ngata ʻa e moʻui ʻa Sāmiuelá, naʻe tupu ʻo toe mālohi ange ai pē ʻa ʻene tuí. Naʻá ne sio ʻoku ʻikai fuʻu lahi ha loto-mamahi kia Sihova ke ne fakamoʻui, ke fakaleleiʻi, pe naʻa mo hono liliu ki ha tāpuaki. Fakaʻosí, naʻe mate ʻa Sāmiuela, ʻo ne tuku mai ha lēkooti ʻo ha moʻui ʻoku taau ke fakatokangaʻi ʻa ia naʻe meimei aʻu ki ha senituli. Naʻe tengihia kotoa ʻe ʻIsileli ʻa e mole ʻa e tangata faitōnunga ko iá—pea ʻoku ʻikai ha ofo ai! ʻI he aʻu mai ki he ʻaho ní, ko e kau sevāniti kotoa ʻa Sihová ʻoku lelei ke nau ʻeke, ‘Te u faʻifaʻitaki ki he tui ʻa Sāmiuelá?’

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 26]

Naʻe lava fēfē ke tokoniʻi ʻe Sāmiuela ʻa hono kakaí ke nau fekuki mo e mole fakalilifú mo e loto-mamahí?

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 27]

Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e fekuki ʻa Sāmiuela mo e loto-mamahi ʻi hono maʻu ha ongo foha naʻá na hoko ʻo kovi?