U-Ezra Wafundisa Abantu UMthetho KaNkulunkulu

Kwasekuleminyaka engaba ngu-70 ama-Israyeli ebuyele eJerusalema, kodwa amanye ayelokhu ehlala ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo ngaphansi koMbuso wePhesiya. Omunye um-Israyeli owayehlala endaweni lezo kwakuthiwa ngu-Ezra. Wayefundisa abantu uMthetho kaJehova. U-Ezra wayefuna ukuyancedisa abantu eJerusalema ngoba wayezwile ukuthi babengasawulandeli uMthetho. Inkosi yePhesiya okuthiwa ngu-Athakisekisi yathi kuye: ‘UNkulunkulu ukuphe inhlakanipho ukuze ufundise abantu uMthetho wakhe. Thatha loba ngubani ofunayo uhambe laye.’ U-Ezra wahlangana labo bonke ababefuna ukubuyela eJerusalema. Bacela uJehova ukuthi abavikele phakathi lohambo lwabo, basebehamba.

Bafika eJerusalema ngemva kwezinyanga ezine. Izikhulu zathi ku-Ezra: ‘Ama-Israyeli awasamlaleli uJehova njalo asetshade labafazi abakhonza izithombe.’ U-Ezra wenzani? Waguqa phambi kwabantu bonke, wakhuleka wathi: ‘Jehova usenzele izinto ezinengi, kodwa sonile.’ Abantu batshintsha indlela zabo kodwa babelokhu besenza ezinye izinto ezingaqondanga. U-Ezra wakhetha abadala labahluleli ukuthi bancedise abantu. Ngenyanga ezintathu ezalandelayo, labo ababengamkhonzi uJehova baxotshwa.

Ngeminyaka engu-12 eyalandelayo, imiduli yeJerusalema yakhiwa kutsha. U-Ezra wabiza abantu ukuze ababalele uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi u-Ezra evula ibhuku, abantu bonke basukuma. Wadumisa uJehova futhi labo baphakamisa izandla bevumelana laye. U-Ezra wasebala uMthetho wawuchasisa futhi labantu balalelisisa. Bakhala futhi bavuma ukuthi babewonele uJehova. Ngelanga elalandelayo, u-Ezra wababalela okunye okwakusemthethweni. Bezwa ukuthi kwakumele benze uMkhosi weZihonqo. Bahle baqalisa ukulungiselela ukwenza umkhosi lowo.

Wonke amalanga ayisikhombisa omkhosi lowo, bathokoza futhi babonga uJehova ngokuthi wayebanike ukudla okunengi. Umkhosi onje wawucine ukwenziwa uJoshuwa esaphila. Umkhosi usuphelile, abantu babuthana bakhuleka bathi: ‘Jehova wasikhulula ebugqilini, wasipha ukudla enkangala, futhi wasipha lendawo le enhle. Kodwa besilokhu singakulaleli. Wathuma abaphrofethi ukuthi basixwayise kodwa kasilalelanga. Lanxa kunjalo ubusibekezelela futhi usigcinile isithembiso sakho ku-Abrahama. Khathesi sithembisa ukuthi sizakulalela.’ Babhala phansi isithembiso sabo, izikhulu, amaLevi labaphristi bafaka uphawu olutshengisa ukuthi bayavumelana lakho.