Lingisa Ukholo Lwabo

“Waqhubeka Ekhula EnoJehova”

USAMUWELI wabuka abantu bakubo njengoba babebuthanele emzini waseGiligali bethule tu. Babebizwe yiyo le ndoda ethembekile eyayisikhonze njengomprofethi nanjengomahluleli amashumi amaningi eminyaka. Ngokwekhalenda lanamuhla, kwakungu-May noma u-June futhi inkathi eyomisile yayisiqalile. Amasimu ayesemhlophe, elungele ukuvunwa. USamuweli wayengazifinyelela kanjani izinhliziyo zabo?

Abantu babengaqondi ukuthi isimo sasisibi kangakanani. Babefuna inkosi ezobabusa ngenkani. Babengaqapheli ukuthi leso senzo sasibonisa indelelo enkulu kangakanani ngoNkulunkulu wabo, uJehova, nangomprofethi wakhe. Empeleni, babengafuni uJehova abe iNkosi yabo! USamuweli wayengabashukumisa kanjani ukuba baphenduke?

Waqala ukukhuluma nalesi sixuku: “Sengigugile futhi ngimpunga.” Ukukhula kwakhe kwenza amazwi akhe aba nesisindo. Wabe esethi: “Ngihambile phambi kwenu kusukela ebusheni bami kuze kube yilolu suku.” (1 Samuweli 11:14, 15; 12:2) Nakuba uSamuweli ayesegugile, wayengasikhohliwe isikhathi sakhe sobusha. Wayekhumbula yonke into. Izinqumo azenza ngaleso sikhathi njengoba ayesakhula zaholela ekuphileni kokholo nokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu wakhe, uJehova.

Kwadingeka ukuba aluvuselele kaningi ukholo lwakhe njengoba ayezungezwe abantu ababengenalukholo nabangathembekile. Nanamuhla kuseyinselele ukwakha ukholo ngoba siphila ezweni elingathembekile nelikhohlakele. Ake sibone ukuthi yini esingayifunda esibonelweni sikaSamuweli, siqale ngesikhathi esengumfanyana.

“Wayekhonza Phambi KukaJehova, Engumfana”

USamuweli wakhula ngendlela engavamile. Ngemva nje kokuba elunyuliwe, mhlawumbe eneminyaka emine, waqala inkonzo yasetabernakele elingcwele likaJehova eShilo, indawo eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphezu kwangu-30 ukusuka kubo eRama. Abazali bakhe, u-Elkana noHana, banikela ngomfana wabo kuJehova ukuba enze inkonzo ekhethekile, waba umNaziri ukuphila kwakhe konke.a Ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi bamlahla ngoba bengamthandi?

Lutho neze! Babazi ukuthi indodana yabo yayizonakekelwa eShilo. Akungabazeki ukuthi uMpristi Ophakeme, u-Eli, nguye owayengamele izinto ngoba uSamuweli wayesebenza naye eduze. Kwakukhona nabesifazane abaningi ababekhonza ezicini ezithile etabernakele, ngokusobala ngendlela ehlelekile.—Eksodusi 38:8.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, uHana no-Elkana abazange balikhohlwe izibulo labo elithandekayo, ngoba phela khona kanye ukuzalwa kwalo babekuthandazele. UHana wayecele uNkulunkulu ukuba amuphe indodana, wamthembisa ukunikela ngayo kuYe ukuba yenze inkonzo engcwele ukuphila kwayo konke. Njalo ngonyaka lapho evakashele uSamuweli, uHana wayemphathela ijazi elincane elingenamikhono ayemthungele lona ngenjongo yokuba alisebenzise enkonzweni yasetabernakele. Akubuzwa ukuthi lo mfanyana wayejabula kakhulu lapho evakashelwe unina. Akungabazeki ukuthi isikhuthazo sothando nesiqondiso sabazali bakhe samakha njengoba babemfundisa ukuthi kuyilungelo elingakanani ukukhonza uJehova endaweni evelele kangako.

Kuningi abazali banamuhla abangakufunda kuHana no-Elkana. Abazali bavame ukugxilisa ezinganeni zabo ukuthi kufanele zisebenze zibe nemali, kuyilapho bezishaya indiva izidingo ezingokomoya. Abazali bakaSamuweli babeka izinto ezingokomoya kuqala futhi lokho kwaba negalelo elikhulu endleleni akhula ngayo.—IzAga 22:6.

Singambona ngeso lengqondo lo mfanyana ekhula futhi ehamba amagquma azungeze iShilo. Lapho emi egqumeni ebuka umuzi nezinkalo laphaya phansi, cishe inhliziyo yakhe yayichichima injabulo nokuziqhenya lapho ebuka itabernakele likaJehova. Lelo tabernakele laliyindawo engcwele ngempela.b Lase lineminyaka engaba ngu-400 lakhiwa, uMose engumqondisi wokwakhiwa kwalo futhi laliwukuphela kwesikhungo sokukhulekelwa kukaJehova emhlabeni wonke.

USamuweli omncane wayelithanda itabernakele. Ekulandiseni akubhala kamuva, siyafunda: “USamuweli wayekhonza phambi kukaJehova, engumfana, ebhincé i-efodi lelineni.” (1 Samuweli 2:18) Ijazi lakhe elingenamikhono lalibonisa ukuthi wayesiza abapristi etabernakele. Nakuba ayengeyena owesigaba sabapristi, wayenemisebenzi eyayihlanganisa ukuvula iminyango engena egcekeni letabernakele ekuseni nokunakekela u-Eli owayesekhulile. Yize ayewajabulela la malungelo, kwahamba kwahamba kwaba nezinto ezimhluphayo emoyeni. Kukhona okwakuhamba kabi endlini kaJehova.

Wazigcina Emsulwa Phakathi Kwenkohlakalo

USamuweli wabona ububi nenkohlakalo yoqobo esemncane kakhulu. U-Eli wayenamadodana amabili, uHofini noFinehasi. Ukulandisa kukaSamuweli kuthi: “Amadodana ka-Eli ayengabantu abangelusizo lwalutho; engamqapheli uJehova.” (1 Samuweli 2:12) La maphuzu amabili akuleli vesi ayavumelana. UHofini noFinehasi ‘babengabantu abangelusizo lwalutho’—ngokwezwi nezwi okusho “amadodana angelusizo lwalutho”—ngoba babengamhloniphi nhlobo uJehova. Babengayigqizi qakala imithetho nezimfuneko zakhe ezilungile. Leso simo sabo sengqondo saholela ekutheni benze zonke izinhlobo zezono.

UMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawungagunci mayelana nemisebenzi yabapristi nendlela imihlatshelo okwakufanele yenziwe ngayo etabernakele lakhe. Phela kwakunesizathu salokho. Leyo mihlatshelo yayimelela amalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu okuthethelela izono ukuze abantu bahlanzeke emehlweni akhe, bathole isibusiso nesiqondiso sakhe. Kodwa uHofini noFinehasi bafaka abanye abapristi umoya omubi wokwedelela lapho benza imihlatshelo.c

Mbone ngamehlo engqondo uSamuweli omncane ebuka kwenziwa le nkohlakalo futhi ingalungiswa. Bangaki nje abantu uSamuweli ababona—kuhlanganise nabampofu, abaphansi nabacindezelwe—beya etabernakele elingcwele ngethemba lokuthola induduzo nokusekelwa ngokomoya, kanti ukuphela kwento abazoyithola ukudumazeka, ukulimala nokuhlazeka? Wazizwa kanjani lapho ethola ukuthi uHofini noFinehasi nabo babedelela imithetho kaJehova yokuziphatha ngokobulili njengoba babelala nabanye besifazane ababekhonza etabernakele? (1 Samuweli 2:22) Mhlawumbe wayethemba ukuthi u-Eli uzokwenza okuthile ngalokho.

U-Eli wayesesimweni esingcono kakhulu sokulungisa umonakalo owawuqhubeka. Njengompristi ophakeme, wayenomthwalo wokusingatha noma yini eyayenzeka etabernakele. Njengobaba, wayenesibopho sokukhuza amadodana akhe. Phela isenzo sawo sasilimaza wona kuhlanganise nenqwaba yabantu ababehlala ezweni. Kodwa u-Eli wehluleka ukufeza imithwalo yakhe njengobaba nanjengompristi ophakeme. Wamane wawanika isiyalo esithambile amadodana akhe. (1 Samuweli 2:23-25) Kodwa empeleni ayedinga ukukhuzwa ngokuqinile. Ayenza izono ezifanelwe ukufa!

Izinto zaba zimbi kangangokuthi uJehova wathuma ‘umuntu wakhe,’ umprofethi esingalazi igama lakhe, ukuba aye ku-Eli afike amnikeze umyalezo oqinile wesahlulelo. UJehova watshela u-Eli: “Ulokhu udumisa amadodana akho ngaphezu kwami.” Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wabikezela ukuthi amadodana ka-Eli akhohlakele ayeyokufa ngosuku olulodwa nokuthi umndeni ka-Eli wawuyojeziswa kakhulu, uze ulahlekelwe isikhundla esiyilungelo esigabeni sabapristi. Ingabe lesi sixwayiso esinamandla sawuguqula lo mndeni? Ukulandisa kwembula ukuthi kwafana nokuthela amanzi emhlane wedada.—1 Samuweli 2:27–3:1.

Yamthinta kanjani uSamuweli omncane yonke le nkohlakalo? Kule ndaba engajabulisi, kuyathokozisa ukuthi uSamuweli wakhula kahle futhi wathuthuka. Khumbula ukuthi eyoku-1 Samuweli 2:18 ithi uSamuweli ‘wayekhonza ngokwethembeka phambi kukaJehova, engumfana.’ Ngisho nangesikhathi esemncane, wagxila enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. Evesini 21 kuso lesi sahluko sifunda okuthile okujabulisa inhliziyo nakakhulu: “Umfana uSamuweli waqhubeka ekhula enoJehova.” Njengoba ayekhula, ubuhlobo bakhe noYise wasezulwini baqina. Ubuhlobo obunjalo noJehova buyindlela eqinisekile yokuvikeleka kunoma iyiphi inhlobo yenkohlakahlo.

Kwakungaba lula ngoSamuweli ukuvele acabange ukuthi uma umpristi ophakeme namadodana akhe behlulwa yisono kalula kangako, naye angazenzela akuthandayo. Kodwa inkohlakalo yabanye, kuhlanganise labo abasezikhundleni zokuphatha, ayizona neze izaba zokwenza isono. Namuhla, amaKristu amaningi asemasha alingisa isibonelo sikaSamuweli ‘sokukhula enoJehova’—ngisho noma abantu abathile abazungezile behluleka ukubeka isibonelo esihle.

Ukuziphatha kukaSamuweli kwaba namuphi umphumela? Siyafunda: “Sonke leso sikhathi umfana uSamuweli wayelokhu ekhula futhi ethandeka ngokwengeziwe kuJehova nakubantu.” (1 Samuweli 2:26) Ngakho, wayethandwa kakhulu yilabo ababenombono ofanele. UJehova naye wayemthanda lo mfana ngokuziphatha kwakhe kokwethembeka. Naye uSamuweli kumelwe ukuba wayazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wakhe wayeyobulungisa ububi obabenziwa eShilo, kodwa kungenzeka ukuthi wayezibuza ukuthi uyobulungisa nini.

‘Khuluma, Ngoba Inceku Yakho Ilalele’

Ngobunye ubusuku, wayithola impendulo yalo mbuzo. Kusempondozankomo futhi kuthule cwaka, uSamuweli wezwa izwi limbiza. Wacabanga ukuthi ubizwa u-Eli owayeseguge kakhulu namehlo akhe eseqale ukuqundeka. USamuweli wavuka “wagijima” waya ku-Eli osekhulile. Uyambona yini ngamehlo engqondo lo mfana egijima engagqoke zicathulo eyothola ukuthi u-Eli udingani? Kuthinta inhliziyo ukuphawula ukuthi uSamuweli wayemphatha ngenhlonipho nangomusa u-Eli. Naphezu kwazo zonke izono zakhe, wayesengumpristi kaJehova ophakeme.—1 Samuweli 3:2-5.

USamuweli wavusa u-Eli, wathi: “Ngilapha, ngoba ungibizile.” U-Eli wamtshela ukuthi akambizanga wathi makabuyele ayolala. Kwenzeka okufanayo izikhathi eziningana! Ekugcineni, u-Eli wabona ukuthi kwakwenzekani. Kwase kudlule isikhathi eside uJehova agcina ukuthumela umbono noma umyalezo oyisiprofetho kubantu bakhe, futhi kusobala ukuthi kungani. Kodwa u-Eli wabona ukuthi uJehova usekhuluma nabo futhi—kulokhu esebenzisa lo mfana! U-Eli watshela uSamuweli ukuba ayolala, wamyala ukuba aphendule kanjani ngendlela efanele. USamuweli walalela. Kungakabiphi, waphinde walizwa lelo zwi limbiza: “Samuweli, Samuweli!” Umfana waphendula: ‘Khuluma, ngoba inceku yakho ilalele.’—1 Samuweli 3:1, 5-10.

Okungenani uJehova wayenayo inceku eShilo eyayilalela. USamuweli walalela uJehova ukuphila kwakhe konke. Ingabe nawe uyalalela? Thina asilindi izwi elithile ezinzulwini zobusuku ukuba likhulume nathi. Likhona eZwini likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli. Uma simlalelisisa uNkulunkulu futhi senze akufunayo, ukholo lwethu luyokhula njengoba kwenzeka nakuSamuweli.

Okwenzeka ngalobo busuku eShilo kwaba yingqophamlando ekuphileni kukaSamuweli ngoba waqala ukwazi uJehova ngendlela ekhethekile, waba umprofethi nomkhulumeli wakhe. Ekuqaleni, lo mfana wayesaba ukuhambisa isigijimi sikaJehova ku-Eli ngoba sasiyisimemezelo sokuthi isiprofetho ngomndeni wakhe sase sizogcwaliseka. Kodwa uSamuweli waqunga isibindi—futhi u-Eli wasamukela ngentobeko isahlulelo saphezulu. Ngemva nje kwalokho, konke uJehova ayekushilo kwenzeka. U-Israyeli wahamba wayokulwa namaFilisti futhi uHofini noFinehasi babulawa ngosuku olulodwa. U-Eli yena wafa ngemva nje kokuzwa ukuthi uMphongolo ongcwele kaJehova wawuthunjiwe.—1 Samuweli 3:10-18; 4:1-18.

Nokho, uSamuweli waziwa kabanzi ukuthi ungumprofethi othembekile. Ukulandisa kuthi: “UJehova waba naye” futhi uJehova wazigcwalisa zonke iziprofetho zakhe.—1 Samuweli 3:19.

“USamuweli Wabiza UJehova”

Nokho, ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi ama-Israyeli akuhlonipha ukuhola kukaSamuweli, aba abantu abangokomoya nabathembekile? Cha. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, anquma ukuthi awasafuni ukwahlulelwa umprofethi nje. Afuna ukufana nezinye izizwe, abe nenkosi engumuntu. UJehova waqondisa uSamuweli ukuba enze lokho okufunwa ama-Israyeli. Kodwa kwadingeka awatshele ukuthi ayenze isono esibi kangakanani. Ayehlamuka uJehova, hhayi umuntu nje! Ngakho, wawabizela eGiligali.

Ake siphinde sixoxe ngaleso sikhathi esasishubile, sizwe uSamuweli ekhuluma nama-Israyeli eGiligali. USamuweli owayesekhulile wakhumbuza ama-Israyeli ukuthi kusukela ebusheni bakhe wahlala ethembekile futhi eqotho. USamuweli wabe esenza okuthile. Siyafunda: “USamuweli wabiza uJehova.” Wacela uJehova ukuba alethe ukuduma nemvula.—1 Samuweli 12:17, 18.

Ukuduma? Ngenkathi yonyaka eyomisile? Kwakungenzeka kanjani lokho? Uma mhlawumbe abantu babecabanga ukuthi baphupha emini noma babona ihlaya, lokho kwaba okwesikhashana. Kusenjalo, isibhakabhaka saqoqa amafu amnyama. Kwaba nesivunguvungu, ukolweni emasimini walala phansi. Izulu laduma laqekebula. Lana. Abantu benzenjani? “Abantu bamesaba kakhulu uJehova noSamuweli.” Ekugcineni, kwahlaluka ukuthi babenze isono esikhulu kangakanani.—1 Samuweli 12:18, 19.

Akuyena uSamuweli owafinyelela izinhliziyo zalezo zihlubuki, kodwa nguJehova uNkulunkulu uqobo. Kusukela esemncane kwaze kwaba yilapho esegugile, waba nokholo kuNkulunkulu wakhe. UJehova wamvuza. UJehova usenjalo nanamuhla; akakashintshi. Usabasekela labo abalingisa ukholo lukaSamuweli.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

Naphezu kokwesaba, uSamuweli wasidlulisela ngokwethembeka isigijimi sokwahlulela ku-Eli

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

USamuweli wathandaza ngokholo, futhi uJehova wamphendula ngokuletha ukuduma kwezulu nemvula