Ngesikhathi uNebhukhadinezari ethumba izikhulu zakoJuda, wabeka indoda okuthiwa ngu-Ashiphenazi ukuthi ikhangele izikhulu lezo. Watshela u-Ashiphenazi ukuthi adinge amajaha aqinileyo njalo ahlakaniphileyo. Wayefuna ukuthi amajaha lawo afundiswe imisebenzi yesikhosini okweminyaka emithathu. Amajaha la kwakumele afunde ukubala, ukubhala lokukhuluma ulimi lwaseBhabhiloni. Kwakumele adle ukudla okufanana lokwakudliwa yinkosi. Emajaheni la kwakulangu-4 okwakuthiwa nguDanyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli lo-Azariya. U-Ashiphenazi wabanika amabizo amatsha aweBhabhiloni, kwakuthiwa nguBhelitheshazari, uShadreki, uMeshaki lo-Abhediniko. Imfundo leyo yayizakwenza bayekele ukukhonza uJehova yini?

 Amajaha la ayezimisele ukulalela uJehova. Ayekwazi ukuthi kwakungamelanga adle ukudla kwenkosi ngoba okunye kwakho kwakungavunyelwa nguMthetho kaJehova. Yikho athi ku-Ashiphenazi: ‘Sicela lingasiniki ukudla kwenkosi.’ U-Ashiphenazi wathi kubo: ‘Nxa lingayekela ukudla, inkosi ibisilibona licakile izangibulala.’

UDanyeli wabuya lecebo. Watshela lowo owayebakhangele wathi: ‘Sicela usinike imibhida lamanzi okwamalanga alitshumi, ubususiqathanisa lamajaha adla ukudla kwenkosi.’ Umuntu lowo wavuma.

Ngemva kwamalanga alitshumi, uDanyeli labangane bakhe babekhanya bengcono kulamanye amajaha. UJehova wathaba ngoba uDanyeli labangane bakhe bamlalela. Wanika uDanyeli inhlakanipho yokuzwisisa imibono lamaphupho.

U-Ashiphenazi wahambisa wonke amajaha kuNebhukhadinezari ngemva kokuwafundisa. Inkosi yakhuluma lawo yasibona ukuthi uDanyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli lo-Azariya babehlakaniphe ukwedlula wonke amajaha. Yikho wabakhetha ukuthi bamsebenzele. Inkosi yayihlala ibacela ukuthi bayincedise ezindabeni eziqakathekileyo. UJehova wabenza bahlakanipha kulawo wonke amadoda ahlakaniphileyo ayecebisa inkosi lalawo ayesenza amasalamusi.

UDanyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli lo-Azariya kabazange bakhohlwe ukuthi bayizikhonzi zikaJehova lanxa babekhatshana langakibo. Wena uzahlala umlalela yini uJehova lanxa abazali bakho bengekho eduze?