NAʻE tuʻumaʻu ʻa Tēvita neongo naʻe lele fakavave ʻa e kau sōtiá ʻo fakalaka hake ʻiate ia. Naʻe ulo honau matá ʻi he manavahē pea nau lele mei he laine taú. Ko e hā naʻá ne fakailifiaʻi kinautolú? Naʻe fuoloa ʻa e toutou fanongo ʻa Tēvita ʻi heʻenau leaʻaki maʻu pē ha foʻi lea. Ko e hingoa ʻo e tangatá. Pea ko ia ena ʻokú ne tuʻu mai ʻi he teleʻá, ko ia ʻa e tangata lahi taha kuo sio ai ʻa Tēvitá.

Kolaiate! Naʻe lava ke mahinoʻi ʻe Tēvita ʻa e ʻuhinga naʻe ilifia ai ʻa e kau sōtiá—naʻe hā ngali kehe hono māʻolungá, hangē ha fuʻu moʻungá. Naʻe mamafa ange ia ʻi hano fakatahaʻi ʻo ha ongo tangata ʻo ʻikai kau ai hono fuʻu pā maluʻí. Ka naʻe mamafa hono fuʻu teunga taú, pea mālohi lahi mo pāteʻi tau. Naʻe kaila atu ʻa Kolaiate mo poleʻi ha taha ke na tau. Sioloto atu ki hono fuʻu leʻó ʻi heʻene ongo atu ʻi he ngaahi tafa moʻungá ʻi heʻene manukiʻi ʻa e kau tau ʻIsilelí mo honau tuʻi ko Saulá. Naʻá ne poleʻi ha taha ke laka mai ki muʻa ke na tau toko ua pē!—1 Sāmiuela 17:4-10.

Naʻe manavahē ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí. Naʻe manavahē mo tuʻi Saula. Naʻe ʻilo ʻe Tēvita kuo hoko eni ʻi ha māhina! Ko e kau tau Filisitiá mo ʻIsilelí naʻa nau fehangahangai ʻi he taimi naʻe toutou manuki ai ʻa Kolaiate ʻi he ʻaho ki he ʻaho. Naʻe loto-mamahi ʻa Tēvita. He fakamā ē ke fakakaukau atu ki he tuʻi ʻo ʻIsilelí mo ʻene kau sōtiá, kau ai ʻa e tokoua lalahi ʻe tolu ʻo Tēvitá, naʻa nau manavahē! ʻI he vakai ʻa Tēvitá, ko e pangani ko eni ko Kolaiaté naʻá ne fai ʻa e meʻa naʻe fakamā ange ia ʻi he kau tau ʻa ʻIsilelí; naʻá ne manukiʻi ʻa e ʻOtua ʻo ʻIsilelí, ʻa Sihova! Ka ko e hā e meʻa ʻe lava ke fai ʻe he kiʻi talavou ko Tēvitá? Pea ʻi he ʻahó ni ko e hā ʻoku lava ke tau ako mei he tui ʻa Tēvitá?—1 Sāmiuela 17:11-14.

Tau toe kiʻi foki angé ki ha ngaahi māhina ki muʻa ai. Kuo efiafi pea ʻoku tokangaʻi ʻe Tēvita ʻa e fanga sipi ʻene tamaí ʻi ha feituʻu ofi ki he ʻotu moʻunga ʻo Pētelihemá. Ko ha kiʻi talavou, hangehangē nai ʻokú ne ʻi hono taʻu hongofulu tupú ʻoku pahapaha, matātangata mo ʻatamaiʻia. ʻI ha mōmeniti ʻoku lōngonoa, ʻokú ne tā haʻape. Ko e fakaʻofoʻofa ʻo e fakatupu ʻa e ʻOtuá naʻe maongo kiate ia pea ko ʻene taukei hivá naʻe toe fakautuutu ange ʻi hano ʻahiʻahiʻi ʻi ha ngaahi houa. Ka ʻi he efiafi ko iá, naʻe fiemaʻu mai ʻa Tēvita. Naʻe loto ʻene tamaí ke sio ki ai he taimi pē ko iá.—1 Sāmiuela 16:12.

Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ai ʻene tamaí, ʻa Sese ʻoku talanoa mo ha tangata matuʻotuʻa ʻaupito. Ko e palōfita faitōnunga ia ko Sāmiuelá. Naʻe fekauʻi ia ʻe Sihova ke ne pani ha taha ʻi he ngaahi foha ʻo Sesé ke hoko ko e tuʻi ʻIsileli hono hokó! Naʻe ʻosi sio ʻa Sāmiuela ʻi he ngaahi tokoua lalahi ʻe toko fitu ʻo Tēvitá, ka naʻe fakamahino ʻe Sihova ʻoku ʻikai ke Ne fili ha taha ʻiate kinautolu. ʻI he aʻu mai ʻa Tēvitá, naʻe tala ange ʻe Sihova kia Sāmiuela: “Pani ia; he ko ia ia.” ʻI muʻa ʻi he ngaahi tokoua ʻo Tēvitá, naʻe fakaava ai ʻe Sāmiuela ha siā naʻe ʻi ai ha lolo makehe pea lilingi ia ʻi he ʻulu ʻo Tēvitá. Naʻe makehe ʻa e moʻui ʻa Tēvitá ʻi he hili hono pani iá. ʻOku pehē ʻe he Tohi Tapú: “Naʻe ʻohofia ʻa Tevita ʻe he Laumalie ʻo e ʻEiki mei he ʻaho ko ia.”—1 Sāmiuela 16:1, 5-11, 13.

Naʻe kamata ke fakatupulekina ʻe Tēvita ha sio tuʻunga ki he tuʻunga-tuʻí? ʻIkai, naʻá ne fiemālie pē ke tatali ki he tataki ʻa e laumālie ʻo Sihová ki he taimi te ne toki fua ai ʻa e ngaahi fatongia lahi ko ení. Ka ʻi he taimi ko ení, naʻá ne hokohoko atu pē ʻene ngāue anga-fakatōkilalo ko e tauhi-sipí. Ko e ngāue ia naʻá ne fai fakataha mo e līʻoa kakato mo e loto-toʻa. Ko e tākanga sipi ʻene tamaí naʻe ʻohofi tuʻo ua, ko e taha ko ha laione pea ko e taha ko ha pea. Naʻe ʻikai ke feinga pē ʻa Tēvita ke hola mei he  ongo manu kaivaó ni ki ha feituʻu malu ange. Ka ʻi hono kehé, naʻá ne feinga ke ʻohofi koeʻuhi ke maluʻi ʻa e fanga sipi ʻene tamaí. Naʻá ne tāmateʻi ʻa e ongo manu fekaí ʻaki hono ongo nimá!—1 Sāmiuela 17:34-36; ʻAisea 31:4.

Naʻe aʻu ki ha taimi, naʻe toe fiemaʻu mai ʻa Tēvita. Naʻe aʻu ʻa e ongoongo ʻo Tēvitá kia Tuʻi Saula. Neongo ʻene ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha toʻa mālohi, naʻe mole meia Saula ʻa e hōifua ʻa Sihová ʻi heʻene talitekeʻi ʻa e ngaahi fakahinohino ʻa e ʻOtuá. Naʻe toʻo ʻe Sihova hono laumālié meia Saula pea naʻe faʻa maʻu ʻe he tuʻí ha ngaahi tōʻonga kovi—ko e ʻiteʻita, huʻuhuʻu mo e fakamālohi. Lolotonga ʻa e ngaahi taimi kovi ko eni ʻo Saulá, ko e meʻa pē ʻe taha naʻe lava ke ne fakafiemālieʻi iá ko ha hiva. Naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe he niʻihi ʻi he kau tangata ʻa Saulá ʻa e ongoongo fekauʻaki mo Tēvitá ko ha tokotaha faihiva mo ha tokotaha faitau. Ko ia naʻe ui mai ʻa Tēvita pea naʻe vave ʻene hoko ko e tokotaha tā haʻape ʻi he lotoʻā ʻo Saulá mo e tokotaha faitau.—1 Sāmiuela 15:26-29; 16:14-23.

Ko e faʻahinga kei siʻi angé ʻoku lava ke nau ako lahi ange mei he tui ʻa Tēvitá ʻi he ngaahi tuʻunga ko ení. Fakatokangaʻi naʻá ne ngāueʻaki hono taimi faingamālié ke tuli ki he ngaahi meʻa ʻoku malava ke ne hoko ʻo vāofi ange ai mo Sihová. Tānaki atu ki aí, naʻá ne anga-kātaki ʻi hono fakatupulekina ha ngaahi pōtoʻi naʻe ʻaonga mo teuʻi ia ki ha ngāue. Hiliō ʻi he meʻa kotoa, naʻá ne tali ʻa e tataki ʻa e laumālie ʻo Sihová. He lēsoni mahuʻinga ē kiate kitautolu kotoa ke ako!—Koheleti 12:2 [12:1, PM].

Lolotonga ʻene tauhi kia Saulá, naʻe faʻa foki ʻa Tēvita ke tokangaʻi e fanga sipí, pea ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi naʻá ne faʻa ʻi ai ʻi ha taimi lōloa. Lolotonga ia ʻo ha vahaʻa taimi naʻe fekauʻi ai ʻe Sese ʻa Tēvita ke vakai hono foha lalahi ʻe toko tolú, naʻa nau kau ʻi he kau tau ʻa Saulá. Naʻe talangofua ʻa Tēvita pea teuteu ha meʻakai maʻa hono fanga tokouá, pea fononga atu ki he Teleʻa ʻo ʻElá. ʻI heʻene aʻu atú, naʻá ne ilifia ʻi he sio ki he ongo faʻahí ʻokú na fakatou hangē ko ia naʻe lave ki ai ʻa e konga ki muʻa ʻo e kupu ko ení. ʻOkú na fakatou tuʻu fehangahangai ʻi he teleʻá.—1 Sāmiuela 17:1-3, 15-19.

Naʻe ʻikai fakafiemālie ʻa e tuʻungá kia Tēvita. ʻE lava fēfē ʻa e kau tau ʻa e ʻOtua moʻuí, ʻa Sihova ke nau hao mei he fakamanamana mei ha tangata—ko ha pangani? Naʻe vakai ʻa Tēvita kia Kolaiate ʻokú ne manuki fakahangatonu kia Sihova. Naʻá ne kamata ke talanoa vēkeveke ki he kau sōtiá ki hono ikunaʻi ʻo Kolaiaté. Fuoloa siʻi mei ai, ko e tokoua lahi taha ʻo Tēvitá ʻa ʻEliapi naʻá ne fanongo ki he lea ʻa Tēvitá. Naʻá ne tafuluʻi hono kiʻi tehiná ʻo tala ange ko ʻene ʻi aí ke sio ʻi he mate ʻi he taú. Ka naʻe tali ange ʻe Tēvita kiate ia: “Ko e ha tu kuo u fai? ʻikai ko haʻaku lea pe?” Pea naʻá ne toki fakalongo pē ki hono ikunaʻi ʻo Kolaiaté, kae ʻoleva ke toki ʻai ange ʻe ha taha kia Saula. Naʻe fekauʻi ʻe he tuʻí ke ʻomi ʻa Tēvita.—1 Sāmiuela 17:23-31.

Naʻe leaʻaki ʻe Tēvita ʻa e ngaahi lea fakalototoʻa ko ení ki he tuʻí ʻo fekauʻaki mo Kolaiate: “Oua naa ilifia ae loto o ha tagata koeuhi koia.” Ko Saula mo ʻene kau tangatá naʻa nau loto-siʻi koeʻuhi ko Kolaiate. Mahalo nai naʻa nau fakakaukau fakaetangata ʻi hono fakahoa kinautolu ki he fuʻu tangata lahi pehē pea nau fakakaukau atu pe ʻe anga-fēfē ʻenau aʻu ki hono kongalotó pe fatafatá. Naʻa nau fakaʻuta atu ʻe vave pē hono ikunaʻi kinautolu ʻe he saianití. Ka naʻe ʻikai ke fakakaukau pehē ʻa Tēvita ia. Hangē ko ia te  tau sio ki aí, naʻá ne sio ki he palopalemá ʻi ha tafaʻaki ʻoku kehe ange. Ko ia naʻá ne tuku atu ʻa ia tonu ke tau mo Kolaiate.—1 Sāmiuela 17:32, PM.

Naʻe tali ʻe Saula: “ʻE ʻikai te ke lava ke ʻalu ki he Filisitia ni ke tau mo ia: he ko e talavou koe, ka ko e tangata tau ia talu ʻene talavou.” Ko ha kiʻi tamasiʻi pē ʻa Tēvita? ʻIkai, ka ʻokú ne fuʻu kei siʻi ke kau ʻi he taú, pea naʻá ne hā kei siʻi ange. Ka naʻe ʻosi ʻiloa ʻa Tēvita ko ha tokotaha tau loto-toʻa mo ʻi hono taʻu hongofulu tupu lahí ʻi he taimi ko iá.—1 Sāmiuela 16:18; 17:33.

Naʻe fakapapauʻi ange ʻe Tēvita kia Saula ʻi hono toe fakamatala ange ʻa e meʻa naʻe hoko ki he laioné mo e peá. Naʻá ne pōlepole? ʻIkai. Naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe Tēvita ʻa e ʻuhinga naʻá ne mālohi ai ʻi he faitau ko iá. Naʻá ne pehē: “Ko Sihova naʻa ne hamusi au mei he pesipesi ʻo e laione mo e pesipesi ʻo e pea, ko ia ia te ne hamusi au mei he nima ʻo e Filisitia ko eni.” Fakaʻosí, naʻe tali ʻe Saula: “ʻAlu, pea ke ʻiate koe ʻa e ʻEiki.”—1 Sāmiuela 17:37.

ʻOkú ke saiʻia ke maʻu ʻa e tui hangē ko Tēvitá? Fakatokangaʻi ʻa e tui ʻa Tēvitá naʻe ʻikai ko ha foʻi fakakaukau pē pe fakaʻānaua. Naʻá ne maʻu ʻa e tui ki hono ʻOtuá koeʻuhi ko ʻene ʻiló mo e ʻene hokosiá. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ʻa Sihova ko ha Tokotaha-Maluʻi mo e Tokotaha-Tauhi ʻene ngaahi talaʻofá. Kapau ʻoku tau loto ke maʻu ha tui pehē, ʻoku fiemaʻu ke hokohoko atu ʻetau ako ki he ʻOtuá ʻo e Tohi Tapú. ʻI heʻetau moʻuiʻaki ʻa e meʻa ʻoku tau akó, te tau maʻu ha ngaahi ola ʻoku lelei ʻa ia te ne fakaivimālohiʻi ʻetau tuí.—Hepelū 11:1.

ʻI he ʻuluaki taimí, naʻe feinga ʻa Saula ke fakatui ʻia Tēvita ʻa hono teunga taú. Naʻe tatau mo e teunga tau ʻo Kolaiaté, naʻe ngaohi mei he kopa pea hangē naʻe kau ai mo ha teunga naʻe tui tuʻa naʻe mamafa ʻaupito. Kae kehe, ʻi hono tui ʻe Tēvita ʻa e teungá naʻá ne toki fakatokangaʻi ʻoku ʻikai ke ne lavaʻi e fuʻu teungá. Naʻe ʻikai ke anga ʻi hono tui ʻa e teunga taú he naʻe ʻikai akoʻi ia ke hoko ko ha sōtia, tautefito ki he teunga tau naʻe tui ʻe Saulá, ʻa ia ko e tangata lōloa taha ia ʻi he puleʻanga ʻIsilelí! (1 Sāmiuela 9:2) Naʻá ne vete kotoa ia pea tui pē ʻa e kiʻi teunga naʻá ne faʻa tuí—ko ha tauhi-sipi ʻokú ne tokangaʻi ʻa e tākangá.—1 Sāmiuela 17:38-40.

Naʻe toʻo atu ʻe Tēvita ʻene ngaahi meʻa tauhi-sipí, ko ha kiʻi kato tangai ʻoku āfei mo ha makatā. Naʻe hā ngali fakaoli ʻa e kiʻi makataá, ka ko e meʻatau ia naʻe mālohi fakaʻulia. Ko ha kiʻi konga leta pe konga tupenu ʻoku ngaofe ia pea ʻoku haʻi ki ai ʻa e afo ʻi he ongo tafaʻaki taki taha, ko e fōtunga ia ʻo e meʻatau ʻa ha tokotaha tauhi-sipi. ʻOkú ne ʻai ha foʻi maka ʻi he makataá pea takaiʻi ia ʻi ʻolunga ʻi hono ʻulú pea tukuange ʻa e tafaʻaki ʻe taha ʻi he ongo afó ʻa ia ʻe ʻalu mālohi atu leva ʻa e foʻi maká mo hangatonu. Ko ia naʻe ʻaonga ʻaupito ʻa e meʻatau ko ení ʻa ia naʻe faʻa ngāueʻaki ʻe he kau taú pea ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻoku nau faʻa ngāueʻaki ha ngaahi makatā lahi.

Naʻe mateuteu pea fakavave atu ʻa Tēvita ke fetaulaki mo hono filí. ʻOku lava ke tau fakaʻuta atu ki he lotu fakamātoato ʻa Tēvitá ʻi heʻene punou hifo ʻi he vaitafe mōmoá ʻo tānaki ha kiʻi foʻi maka molemole ʻe nima. Naʻá ne ʻalu atu ki he malaʻe taú—ʻo ʻikai luelue kae lele!

ʻI he taimi naʻe sio ai ʻa Kolaiate ki he faʻahi ʻe tahá, ko e hā naʻá ne fakakaukau ki aí? “Naʻa ne manuki kiate ia,” ʻoku tau lau “he ko e talavou pe, pea pahapaha, kaeʻumaʻa naʻe fakaʻofoʻofa hono mata.” Naʻe kaila atu ʻa Kolaiate: “Ko e kuli au, ʻoku ke haʻu ai kiate au mo e ʻu tokotoko na?” Naʻá ne sio ki he meʻa naʻe toʻotoʻo ʻe Tēvitá kae ʻikai tokanga ki he makataá. Naʻá ne talatukiʻi ʻa Tēvita fakafou ʻi he hingoa ʻo e ngaahi ʻotua Filisitiá pea tukupā ke fafanga ʻaki ʻa e fanga manupuná hono ʻangaʻangá mo e fanga manu ʻo e fonuá.—1 Sāmiuela 17:41-44.

Talu mei he ʻaho ko iá, ko e tali ʻa Tēvitá ko ha fakahāhā moʻoni ia ʻo e tuí. Fakakaukau atu ki he kiʻi talavou ʻoku ui kia Kolaiate: “ʻOku ke haʻu koe kiate au mo e heleta, mo e ongo tao: ka ko au ʻoku ou ʻalu kiate koe ʻi he huafa ʻo Sihova Sapaoti, ko e ʻOtua ʻo e ngaahi matatau ʻo Isileli, ʻa ia kuo ke luki ki ai.” Naʻe ʻilo ʻe Tēvita naʻe ʻikai fuʻu mahuʻinga ʻa e mālohi fakaetangatá mo e meʻataú. Naʻe taʻefakaʻapaʻapa ʻa Kolaiate kia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá, pea ʻe fai ʻe Sihova ha tali. ʻI he hangē ko ia naʻe leaʻaki ʻe Tēvitá, “ʻoku ʻa Sihova ʻa e tau.”—1 Sāmiuela 17:45-47.

Naʻe ʻikai tokanga ʻa Tēvita ki he māʻolunga ʻo Kolaiaté pe ko ʻene meʻataú. Neongo ia, naʻe ʻikai ʻai ʻe Tēvita ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ko iá ke ne loto-siʻi. Naʻe ʻikai ke ne fai ʻa e fehālaaki naʻe fai ʻe  Saula mo ʻene kau taú. Naʻe ʻikai fakahoa ʻe Tēvita ʻa ia tonu kia Kolaiate. ʻI hono kehé, naʻá ne fakahoa ʻa Kolaiate kia Sihova. ʻI heʻene tuʻú naʻe feʻunga hono māʻolungá mo e fute nai ʻe hiva mo e konga (mita ʻe 2.9), ka ko e hā hono lōloa ʻi hono fakahoa atu ia ki he Hau ʻo e ʻunivēsí? Ko e moʻoni, ko ha faʻahinga tangata pē naʻá ne hangē ko ha ʻinisēkité—ʻi he tuʻunga ko ení, ʻa ia ʻoku teu ke fakaʻauhamālie ia ʻe Sihova!

Naʻe lele atu ʻa Tēvita ki hono filí pea ala ki ha foʻi maka ʻi heʻene kató. Naʻá ne fakahū ia ki he makataá pea viloʻi takai ia ʻi ʻolunga ʻi hono funga ʻulú kae ʻoleva ke mafao lelei. Naʻe fakaofi mai ʻa Kolaiate kia Tēvita pea ofi ʻo tuʻu mei mui ʻi heʻene tokotaha toʻo paá. Naʻe fuʻu lōloa ʻa Kolaiate pea koeʻuhi ko ʻene tokotaha toʻo paá naʻe ʻikai ke māʻolunga feʻunga ke hiki hake ʻa e paá ke paleʻi ʻa e foʻi ʻulu ʻo e fuʻu saianití. Pea ko e feituʻu ia naʻe tāketi ki ai ʻa Tēvitá.—1 Sāmiuela 17:41.

Naʻe tukuange atu ʻe Tēvita ʻene foʻi maká. Fakaʻuta atu ki he fuʻu lōngonoá ki muʻa ke tau ʻene tāketí. ʻOku ʻikai ha toe veiveiua hono fakapapauʻi ʻe Sihova ke ʻoua ʻe toe ua ʻa e foʻi maka ʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe Tēvitá. Naʻe tau ʻa e foʻi maká ʻo ngoto ʻi he foʻi laʻe ʻo Kolaiaté. Naʻe tō ki lalo ʻa e fuʻu saianití! Naʻe hola vale ʻene kiʻi tama toʻo paá. Naʻe lue atu ʻa Tēvita ʻo toʻo ʻa e hele ʻa e fuʻu saianiti ko Kolaiaté ʻo tuʻusiʻaki hono ʻulú.—1 Sāmiuela 17:48-51.

Naʻe loto-toʻa leva ʻa Saula mo ʻene kau sōtiá. Naʻa nau kalanga mo lele atu ki he kau Filisitiá. Naʻe hoko ʻa e meʻa naʻe ʻosi tala ʻe Tēvita kia Kolaiaté: ʻoku ʻa “Sihova . . . te ne tuku kimoutolu ki homau nima.”—1 Sāmiuela 17:47, 52, 53.

ʻI he ʻahó ni ʻoku ʻikai kau ʻa e kau sevāniti ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi ha faitau pehē. Kuo mahili atu e taimi ko iá. (Mātiu 26:52) Neongo ia, ʻoku fiemaʻu ke tau faʻifaʻitaki ki he tui ʻa Tēvitá. Hangē ko Tēvitá, ʻoku fiemaʻu ke tau sio ʻoku moʻoni ʻa Sihova—ko e ʻOtua pē ia ʻe taha ke tau tauhi mo manavahē ki aí. ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi, ʻoku tau ongoʻi loto-siʻi koeʻuhi ko ʻetau palopalemá, ka ko ʻetau palopalemá ʻoku valevalea ia ʻi hono fakahoa atu ki he fuʻu mālohi taʻehanotatau ʻo Sihová. Kapau te tau fili ʻa Sihova ke hoko ko hotau ʻOtua pea tui ki ai hangē ko ia ko Tēvitá, heʻikai ke toe ʻi ai ha pole, palopalema te ne ʻai ke tau loto-siʻi. ʻOku ʻikai ke toe ʻi ai ha meʻa ʻe mahulu atu ʻi he mālohi ʻo Sihova ke ikuná!