U-Ezra Ufundisa UMthetho KaNkulunkulu

Kwase kuphele iminyaka engaba ngu-70 kusukela ama-Israyeli amaningi abuyela eJerusalema, kodwa amanye ayesahlala ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zoMbuso wasePheresiya. Omunye wawo kwakungumpristi okuthiwa ngu-Ezra, owafundisa uMthetho kaJehova. U-Ezra wathola ukuthi abantu babengawulandeli uMthetho eJerusalema, ngakho wayefuna ukuyobasiza. INkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita yathi kuye: ‘UNkulunkulu wakwenza wahlakanipha ukuze ufundise uMthetho wakhe. Thatha noma ubani ofuna ukuhamba nawe, nihambe.’ U-Ezra wahlangana nabo bonke labo ababefuna ukubuyela eJerusalema. Bathandaza kuJehova becela ukuba abavikele ohambweni lwabo olude, base beyahamba.

Bafika eJerusalema ngemva kwezinyaka ezine. Izikhulu zathi ku-Ezra: ‘Ama-Israyeli awamlalelanga uJehova futhi ashade nabesifazane abakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga.’ Yini u-Ezra ayenza? U-Ezra waguqa ngamadolo wathandaza phambi kwabo bonke abantu, wathi: ‘Jehova, kuningi osenzele kona, kodwa sonile kuwe.’ Abantu bazisola kodwa abayekanga ukwenza izinto ezingalungile. U-Ezra wakhetha abadala nabahluleli ababezolungisa lokhu. Ezinyangeni ezintathu ezalandela, labo ababengamkhonzi uJehova baxoshwa.

Kwaphela iminyaka engu-12. Phakathi naleso sikhathi kwakhiwa kabusha izindonga zaseJerusalema. Ngakho u-Ezra wahlanganisa abantu esigcawini ukuze abafundele uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Lapho u-Ezra evula incwadi abantu basukuma. Wadumisa uJehova, abantu baphakamisa izandla kanye naye bevuma. U-Ezra wabe esefunda futhi echaza uMthetho, abantu balalelisisa. Bavuma ukuthi baphinde bona kuJehova futhi bakhala kakhulu. Ngosuku olulandelayo, u-Ezra waqhubeka wabafundela okwengeziwe eMthethweni. Bafunda ukuthi kufanele bagubhe uMkhosi Wamadokodo. Base beqala ukulungiselela umkhosi ngaso leso sikhathi.

Phakathi nezinsuku ezingu-7 zomkhosi, abantu bajabula, babonga uJehova ngesivuno esihle. UMkhosi Wamadokodo wawugcine ukugujwa ngezinsuku zikaJoshuwa. Ngemva komkhosi, abantu bahlangana futhi bathandaza: ‘Jehova, wasisindisa ebugqilini, wasondla ehlane, wasinika izwe elihle. Kodwa ngokuphindaphindiwe besilokhu siphula umthetho wakho. Wathumela abaprofethi ukuba basikhuze kodwa asilalelanga. Noma kunjalo waqhubeka usibekezelela. Wasifeza isithembiso owasenza ku-Abrahama. Manje siyathembisa ukuthi sizokulalela.’ Basibhala phansi isithembiso sabo futhi izikhulu, amaLevi nabapristi basibeka uphawu.