1-3. (a) Ko e hā ʻoku lava ai ke tau fakapapauʻi ʻe lava ke tau hoko ko e ngaahi kaumeʻa ʻo e ʻOtuá? (e) Ko e hā te tau lāulea ki ai ʻi he kupu ko ení?

 ʻI HE Tohi Tapú, ʻoku tuʻo tolu hono ui ʻa ʻĒpalahame ko e kaumeʻa ʻo e ʻOtuá. (2 Kal. 20:7; ʻAi. 41:8; Sēm. 2:23) Ko ia tokotaha pē ʻoku fakahaaʻi fakahangatonu ʻi he Tohi Tapú ko e kaumeʻa ʻo e ʻOtuá. ʻOku ʻuhinga iá ko ʻĒpalahame pē ʻa e tangata kuo hoko ko e kaumeʻa ʻo Sihová? ʻIkai. ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻe he Tohi Tapú ʻoku tau malava kotoa ke tau maʻu ʻa e monū ko iá.

² ʻOku fonu ʻi he Folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻa e ngaahi fakamatala fekauʻaki mo e kau tangata mo e kau fefine faitōnunga tokolahi naʻa nau manavahē kia Sihova, tui kiate ia pea hoko ko hono ngaahi kaumeʻa vāofi. (Lau ʻa e Saame 25:14, NW.) Naʻe lave ki ai ʻa Paula ʻoku nau hoko ko e konga ʻo e “fuʻu ʻao ʻo e kau fakamoʻoni tokolahi.” Ko e faʻahinga kehekehe kotoa ko ení naʻa nau kaumeʻa mo e ʻOtuá.​—Hep. 12:1.

³ Tau vakai fakalelei angé ki he kaumeʻa ʻe toko tolu ʻo Sihova ʻoku fakamatalaʻi ʻi he Tohi Tapú: (1) ko Lute, ko ha uitou mateaki kei siʻi mei Mōape, (2) ko Hesekaia, ko ha tuʻi faitōnunga ʻo Siuta, pea  (3) ko Mele, ko e faʻē anga-fakatōkilalo ʻa Sīsuú. Ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako mei he founga taki taha naʻa nau hoko ai ko e kaumeʻa ʻo e ʻOtuá?

4, 5. Ko e hā ʻa e fili mafatukituki naʻe pau ke fai ʻe Luté, pea ko e hā naʻe mātuʻaki faingataʻa ai iá? (Sio ki he ʻuluaki fakatātā ʻi he kupú ni.)

⁴ Ko Nāomi mo hono ongo ʻofefine-ʻi-he-fonó, ʻa Lute mo ʻOpa naʻa nau fononga atu mei Mōape ki ʻIsileli. Lolotonga ʻenau fonongá, naʻe fili ʻa ʻOpa ia ke foki ki hono ʻapí ki Mōape. Ka naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe Nāomi ke foki ia ki ʻIsileli, ki hono fonua tupuʻangá. Ko e hā naʻe fili ʻe Lute ke faí? Naʻe pau ke ne fai ha fili mātuʻaki faingataʻa. Te ne foki ki Mōape ke fakataha ai mo hono fāmilí, pe te ne nofo mo Nāomi, ʻa ʻene faʻē-ʻi-he-fonó pea fononga ki Pētelihema?​—Lute 1:1-8, 14.

⁵ Naʻe nofo ʻa e fāmili ʻo Luté ʻi Mōape. Naʻe malava ke ne foki kiate kinautolu pea te nau tokangaʻi nai ia. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ʻa e kakaí, ko e leá mo e anga fakafonua ʻo Mōapé. Heʻikai lava ke fakapapauʻi ange ʻe Nāomi kia Lute ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ko iá ʻi Pētelihema. Pea naʻe ilifia ʻa Nāomi naʻa ʻikai lava ke ne maʻu ha husepāniti pe ʻapi moʻo Lute. Ko ia, naʻe tala ange ʻe Nāomi kiate ia ke ne foki ki Mōape. Hangē ko ia naʻa tau ʻiloʻí, ko ʻOpa naʻe ‘foki ki hono kakaí, pea ki hono ʻotuá.’ (Lute 1:9-15) Ka naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe Lute heʻikai ke ne foki ki hono kakaí pea mo honau ngaahi ʻotua loí.

6. (a) Ko e hā ʻa e fili fakapotopoto naʻe fai ʻe Luté? (e) Ko e hā naʻe lea ai ʻa Pōasi fekauʻaki mo e kumi hūfanga ʻa Lute ki he lalo kapakau ʻo Sihová?

⁶ ʻOku hā ngali naʻe ako ʻa Lute ʻo fekauʻaki mo Sihova mei hono husepānití pe meia Nāomi. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ai naʻe ʻikai hangē ʻa Sihova ko e ngaahi ʻotua ʻo Mōapé. Naʻá ne ʻofa ʻia Sihova pea ʻiloʻi naʻe tuha ʻa Sihova mo ʻene ʻofá pea pehē ki heʻene lotú. Ko ia, naʻe fai ʻe Lute ʻa e fili fakapotopotó. Naʻá ne tala ange kia Nāomi: “Ko ho kakai ko hoku kakai, pea ko ho ʻOtua ko hoku ʻOtua.” (Lute 1:16) ʻOku maongo ki hotau lotó ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau fakakaukau ai fekauʻaki mo e ʻofa ʻa Lute ʻia Nāomí. Ka ko e meʻa naʻe mahuʻinga angé ko e ʻofa ʻa Lute kia Sihová. Naʻe toe maongo eni kia Pōasi, ʻo ne fakaongoongoleleiʻi ia ki mui ʻi heʻene kumi ‘hūfanga ʻi he lalo kapakau ʻo Sihová.’ (Lau ʻa e Lute 2:12.) Ko e ngaahi lea naʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe Pōasí ʻoku fakamanatu mai nai kia kitautolu ʻa e founga ʻoku kumi ai ha kiʻi ʻuhikiʻi manupuna ki ha maluʻanga ʻi he lalo kapakau ʻo ʻene faʻeé. (Saame 36:7; 91:1-4) ʻI he founga meimei tatau, naʻe ʻoange ʻe Sihova kia Lute ʻa e maluʻanga anga-ʻofa pea fakapaleʻi ia ʻi heʻene tuí. Naʻe ʻikai maʻu ʻe Lute ha ʻuhinga ke fakaʻiseʻisa ai ʻi heʻene filí.

7. Ko e hā te ne tokoniʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku toumoua nai ke fakatapui ʻenau moʻuí kia Sihová?

⁷ ʻOku ako ʻa e kakai tokolahi fekauʻaki mo Sihova ka ʻoku ʻikai ke nau fili ke kumi hūfanga kiate ia. ʻOku nau toumoua ke fakatapui ʻenau moʻuí kiate ia pea papitaiso. Kapau ʻokú ke ongoʻi pehē, fakakaukau fekauʻaki mo e ʻuhinga ʻokú ke toumoua aí. ʻOku tauhi ʻa e tokotaha kotoa ki ha ʻotua pe ki ha meʻa kehe. (Sios. 24:15) Ko e fili fakapotopotó ke hoko ʻo tauhi ki he ʻOtua moʻoní. ʻI he taimi ʻokú ke fakatapui ai koe kia Sihová, ʻoku fakahaaʻi ai ʻokú ke maʻu ʻa e tui te ne hoko ko ho hūfangaʻanga. Pea te ne tokoniʻi koe ke ke hanganaki tauhi kiate ia neongo ha faʻahinga palopalema pē. Ko e meʻa ia naʻe fai ʻe he ʻOtuá kia Luté.

8. Fakamatalaʻi ʻa e puipuituʻa ʻo Hesekaiá.

⁸ Ko e puipuituʻa ʻo Hesekaiá naʻe kehe ʻaupito ia meia Lute. Naʻá ne hoko ko e konga ʻo ha puleʻanga naʻe fakatapui ki he ʻOtuá. Ka naʻe ʻikai ke faitōnunga ai pē ʻa e kotoa ʻo e kau ʻIsilelí. Naʻe fulikivanu ʻa e tamai ʻa Hesekaiá, ʻa Tuʻi ʻĀhasi. Naʻá ne fakahāhā ʻa e taʻefakaʻapaʻapa ki he  temipale ʻo e ʻOtuá pea fakalotoʻi ʻa e kakaí ke nau lotu ki he ngaahi ʻotua kehé. Naʻe aʻu ʻo tutu moʻui ʻe ʻĀhasi ʻa e niʻihi ʻo e fanga tokoua ʻo Hesekaiá ko e feilaulau ki ha ʻotua loi. Naʻe tupu hake ʻa Hesekaia ʻi ha ʻātakai naʻe kovi ʻaupito!​—2 Tuʻi 16:2-4, 10-17; 2 Kal. 28:1-3.

9, 10. (a) Ko e hā naʻe mei faingofua ai kia Hesekaia ke ne loto-koná? (e) Ko e hā ʻoku totonu ai ke ʻoua te tau ʻita ki he ʻOtuá? (f) Ko e hā ʻoku totonu ai ke ʻoua te tau fakakaukau ko hotau puipuituʻá ʻokú ne puleʻi ʻa e faʻahinga tokotaha te tau hoko ki aí?

⁹ Naʻe mei malava ke hoko ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga kovi ʻa ʻĀhasí ke fakatupunga ai hono foha ko Hesekaiá ke loto-kona pe ʻita kia Sihova. ʻI he ʻahó ni, ko e niʻihi kuo pau ke nau kātekina ha ngaahi faingataʻa ʻoku fuʻu siʻisiʻi ange ia ʻi he meʻa naʻe hokosia ʻe Hesekaiá, kuo nau ongoʻi ʻoku nau maʻu ʻa e ʻuhinga lelei ke hoko ai ʻo ‘hanu kia Sihova’ pe loto-kona ki heʻene kautahá. (Pal. 19:3) ʻOku ongoʻi ʻe he niʻihi ko e kovi honau puipuituʻa fakafāmilí ʻoku fakatupunga nai ai kinautolu ke nau fai ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻoku koví pe toe fai ʻa e ngaahi fehālaaki ʻenau mātuʻá. (ʻIsi. 18:2, 3) Ka ʻoku tonu ʻa e ngaahi fakakaukau ko ení?

¹⁰ Ko e moʻui ʻa Hesekaiá ʻoku fakamoʻoniʻi ai ʻa e tali ki he fehuʻi ko iá ʻoku ʻikai! ʻOku ʻikai ʻaupito ha ʻuhinga lelei ke ʻita ai kia Sihova. ʻOku ʻikai ke ne fakatupunga ha ngaahi meʻa kovi ke hoko ki he kakaí. (Siope 34:10) Ko e moʻoni, ʻoku lava ke akoʻi ʻe he ngaahi mātuʻá ʻenau fānaú ke nau failelei pe faikovi. (Pal. 22:6; Kol. 3:21) Ka ʻoku ʻikai ʻuhinga eni iá ke hoko hotau puipuituʻa fakafāmilí ʻo fakapapauʻi ʻa e faʻahinga tokotaha te tau hoko ki aí. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? Koeʻuhí kuo foaki mai ʻe Sihova ʻa e meʻaʻofa ko e tauʻatāina ke filí, ʻa ia ʻoku ʻuhingá ʻe lava ke tau fili ke fai ʻa e meʻa ʻoku leleí pe ko e meʻa ʻoku koví. (Teu. 30:19) Naʻe anga-fēfē hono ngāueʻaki ʻe Hesekaia ʻa e meʻaʻofa mahuʻinga ko iá?

11. Ko e hā naʻá ne ʻai ʻa Hesekaia ko e taha ʻi he ngaahi tuʻi lelei taha ʻo Siutá?

¹¹ Neongo ko ʻene tamaí ko e taha ia ʻi he ngaahi tuʻi kovi taha ʻi Siutá, naʻe hoko ʻa Hesekaia ko e taha ʻi he ngaahi tuʻi lelei tahá. (Lau ʻa e 2 Tuʻi 18:5, 6.) Naʻá ne fili ke ʻoua te ne muimui ʻi he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga kovi ʻene tamaí. ʻI hono kehé, naʻá ne fili ke fanongo lelei ki he kau palōfita ʻa Sihová ʻo hangē ko ʻAisea, Maika mo Hōsea. Naʻá ne tokanga lelei ki heʻenau ngaahi  akonakí mo ʻenau ngaahi fakatonutonú. Naʻe ueʻi ai ia ke ne fakaleleiʻi ʻa e ngaahi palopalema naʻe fakatupunga ʻe heʻene tamaí. Naʻá ne fakamaʻa ʻa e temipalé, kole ki he ʻOtuá ke fakamolemoleʻi ʻa e angahala ʻa e kakaí pea fakaʻauha ʻa e ngaahi ʻaitoli ʻi he fonuá. (2 Kal. 29:1-11, 18-24; 31:1) Ki mui ai, ʻi he taimi naʻe fakamanamanaʻi ai ke ʻohofi ʻa Selusalema ʻe he tuʻi ʻo ʻAsīlia ko Senakalipé, naʻe fakahāhā ʻe Hesekaia ʻa e loto-toʻa mo e tui mālohi. Naʻá ne falala ki he maluʻi ʻa Sihová pea fakaivimālohiʻi ʻene kakaí. (2 Kal. 32:7, 8) ʻI he taimi ʻe taha, naʻe pōlepole ʻa Hesekaia ka ʻi he taimi naʻe fakatonutonuʻi ai ia ʻe Sihová, naʻá ne tali anga-fakatōkilalo. (2 Kal. 32:24-26) ʻOku hā mahino ai, ko Hesekaiá ko ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ia ke tau faʻifaʻitaki ki ai. Naʻe ʻikai ke ne fakaʻatā ʻa hono puipuituʻa fakafāmilí ke uesia ʻene moʻuí. ʻI hono kehé, naʻá ne fakahāhā ko e kaumeʻa ia ʻo Sihova.

12. ʻI he hangē ko Hesekaiá, kuo anga-fēfē hono fakamoʻoniʻi ʻe he tokolahi ko e ngaahi kaumeʻa kinautolu ʻo Sihova?

¹² Ko e māmaní ʻi he ʻahó ni ʻoku anga-fakamamahi mo taʻeʻofa, pea ʻoku tupu hake ai ʻa e fānau tokolahi ʻi ha mātuʻa ʻoku ʻikai ʻofa mo tokanga. (2 Tīm. 3:1-5) Neongo ko e kau Kalisitiane tokolahi ʻi he ʻahó ni ʻoku nau haʻu mei he puipuituʻa faingataʻa, kuo nau fili ke nau kaumeʻa mo Sihova. Hangē ko Hesekaiá, ʻoku fakahaaʻi ai ko honau puipuituʻa fakafāmilí ʻoku ʻikai fiemaʻu ia ke ne fakapapauʻi pe ko e tokotaha fēfē ia ʻi he kahaʻú. Kuo foaki mai ʻe Sihova ʻa e meʻaʻofa ko e tauʻatāina ke filí, pea ʻoku lava ke tau fili ke tauhi mo fakalāngilangiʻi ia ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe fai ʻe Hesekaiá.

13, 14. Ko e hā naʻe ngali fuʻu faingataʻa ai ʻa e fatongia naʻe maʻu ʻe Melé, ka naʻe anga-fēfē ʻene tali ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Kepalelí?

¹³ ʻI he hili ʻa e ngaahi taʻu lahi mei he taimi ʻo Hesekaiá, naʻe kaumeʻa fekoekoeʻi ha kiʻi fefine anga-fakatōkilalo ko Mele mo Sihova pea maʻu mo ha fatongia makehe. Te ne hoko ʻo feitama pea te ne fāʻeleʻi ʻo ʻohake ʻa e ʻAlo ʻo e ʻOtuá! Kuo pau pē naʻe ʻofa mo falala ʻa Sihova kia Mele ʻi heʻene ʻoange kiate ia ʻa e lāngilangi fakaofo peheé. Ka naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e fakafeangai ʻa Mele ʻi he taimi naʻá ne ʻuluaki fanongo ai fekauʻaki mo e fatongia ko iá?

¹⁴ ʻOku tau faʻa talanoa fekauʻaki mo e lāngilangi lahi naʻe maʻu ʻe Melé. Ka ko e hā ha niʻihi ʻo e ngaahi meʻa naʻá ne mei hohaʻa ki aí? Ko e fakatātaá, naʻe tala ange ʻe he ʻāngelo ko Kepalelí te ne feitama ʻo ʻikai fehokotaki fakasino mo ha tangata. Ka naʻe ʻikai ke toe fakamatalaʻi ia ʻe Kepaleli ki he fāmili ʻo Melé mo hono ngaahi kaungāʻapí ʻa e founga te ne hoko ai ʻo feitamá. Ko e hā te nau fakakaukau ki aí? ʻE anga-fēfē haʻane fakatuipauʻi ʻa Siosifa kuo ʻikai ke ne taʻefaitōnunga kiate ia? Tānaki atu ki ai, kuó ne maʻu ʻa e fatongia mafatukituki ʻi hono ʻohake ʻa e ʻAlo ʻo e ʻOtuá ko ha tangata! ʻOku ʻikai ke tau ʻiloʻi ʻa e kotoa ʻo e ngaahi meʻa naʻe  hohaʻa ki ai ʻa Melé, ka ʻoku tau ʻiloʻi ʻa e meʻa naʻá ne fai ʻi he hili ʻa e lea ange ki ai ʻa Kepalelí. Naʻe pehē ʻe Mele: “Vakai! Ko e kaunanga au ʻa Sihova! Fakatauange ke hoko mai kiate au ʻo fakatatau ki hoʻo leá.”​—Luke 1:26-38.

15. Ko e hā ʻoku makehe ai ʻa e tui ʻa Mele?

¹⁵ Ko e tui ʻa Melé ʻoku makehe moʻoni! Naʻá ne mateuteu ke fai ha meʻa pē naʻe kole ange kiate ia, ʻo hangē ha kaunangá. Naʻá ne falala kia Sihova te ne tokangaʻi mo maluʻi ia. Naʻe lava fēfē ke maʻu ʻe Mele ʻa e tui mālohi ko iá? ʻOku ʻikai ke fanauʻi kitautolu mo e tuí. Ka ʻoku lava ke tau maʻu ʻa e tuí kapau te tau fakatupulekina ia pea kole ki he ʻOtuá ke ne tāpuakiʻi ʻetau ngaahi feingá. (Kal. 5:22; ʻEf. 2:8) Naʻe ngāue mālohi ʻa Mele ke fakaivimālohiʻi ʻene tuí. ʻOku anga-fēfē ʻetau ʻiloʻi iá? Tau lāulea angé ki he anga ʻo ʻene fanongó mo e meʻa naʻá ne leaʻakí.

16. Ko e hā ʻokú ne fakahaaʻi naʻe hoko ʻa Mele ko ha tokotaha fanongo leleí?

¹⁶ Anga ʻo e fanongo ʻa Melé. ʻOku pehē ʻe he Tohi Tapú, kuo pau ke tau “vave ki he fanongo, fakatuotuai ki he lea.” (Sēm. 1:19) Ko Melé ko ha tokotaha fanongo lelei. ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻe he Tohi Tapú naʻá ne fanongo tokanga ki he ngaahi meʻa naʻá ne fanongoá, tautefito ki he ngaahi meʻa naʻá ne ako fekauʻaki mo Sihová. Naʻá ne vaheʻi ʻa e taimi ke fakalaulauloto ki he ngaahi meʻa mahuʻinga ko iá. Ko e fakatātā ʻe taha ʻo e meʻá ni, ʻi he taimi naʻe ʻaloʻi ai ʻa Sīsuú naʻe fakahā ʻe he kau tauhi-sipí ha pōpoaki kia Mele mei ha ʻāngelo. Ki mui ai, ʻi he taimi naʻe taʻu 12 ai ʻa Sīsuú, naʻá ne leaʻaki ha ngaahi meʻa naʻe ofo ai ʻa Mele. ʻI he ongo tuʻunga ko iá, naʻe fanongo, manatuʻi mo fakakaukau fakamātoato ʻa Mele fekauʻaki mo e meʻa naʻá ne fanongoá.​—Lau ʻa e Luke 2:16-19, 49, 51.

17. Ko e hā ʻoku lava ke tau ako fekauʻaki mo e anga ʻo e lea ʻa Melé?

¹⁷ Meʻa naʻe leaʻaki ʻe Melé. ʻOku ʻikai ke fuʻu fakamatala lahi ʻa e Tohi Tapú ʻo fekauʻaki mo e meʻa naʻe leaʻaki ʻe Melé. Ko ʻene lea lōloa tahá ʻoku ʻi he Luke 1:46-55. Ko e ngaahi lea ko ení ʻoku fakahaaʻi ai naʻe ʻiloʻi lelei ʻe Mele ʻa e Ngaahi Konga Tohi Tapu Faka-Hepeluú. Anga-fēfē? Ko e ngaahi lea ʻa Melé ʻoku meimei tatau ia mo e ngaahi lea ʻi he lotu ʻa ʻAná, ko e faʻē ʻa Sāmiuelá. (1 Sām. 2:1-10) Ngalingali naʻe tuʻo 20 nai ʻa e toʻo lea ʻa Mele mei he Folofolá ʻi heʻene fakamatalá. ʻOku hā mahino naʻá ne saiʻia ke lea fekauʻaki mo e moʻoni ko ia kuó ne ako mei hono Kaumeʻa lahi tahá, ʻa Sihova.

18. ʻI he ngaahi founga fē ʻe lava ke tau faʻifaʻitaki ai ki he tui ʻa Melé?

¹⁸ ʻI he hangē ko Melé, te tau maʻu nai ʻi ha taimi ha fatongia meia Sihova ʻa ia ʻoku fuʻu faingataʻa kia kitautolu ʻi he anga ʻetau fakakaukaú. Tau faʻifaʻitaki muʻa ki heʻene faʻifaʻitakiʻangá, tali anga-fakatōkilalo ʻa e fatongiá pea falala ʻe tokoniʻi kitautolu ʻe Sihova. ʻE lava ke tau toe faʻifaʻitaki ki he tui ʻa Melé ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau fanongo tokanga ai kia Sihova pea fakalaulauloto ki he meʻa kuo tau ako fekauʻaki mo iá pea pehē ki heʻene ngaahi taumuʻá. ʻE lava leva ai ke tau talaki fiefia ki he niʻihi kehé ʻa e meʻa kuo tau akó.​—Saame 77:11, 12; Luke 8:18; Loma 10:15.

19. ʻI heʻetau faʻifaʻitaki ki he ngaahi faʻifaʻitakiʻanga Fakatohitapu tuʻu-ki-muʻa ʻo e tuí, ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau fakapapauʻi?

¹⁹ ʻOku hā mahino, ko Lute, Hesekaia mo Mele naʻa nau hoko ko e ngaahi kaumeʻa ʻo Sihova, ʻo hangē ko ʻĒpalahamé. Ko e konga kinautolu ʻo e “fuʻu ʻao ʻo e kau fakamoʻoni tokolahi” ʻa ia kuo nau toe maʻu ʻa e monū ʻo e hoko ko e ngaahi kaumeʻa ʻo e ʻOtuá. ʻOfa ke tau hokohoko atu ʻi he faʻifaʻitaki ki he ngaahi faʻifaʻitakiʻanga tuʻu-ki-muʻa ko ia ʻo e tuí. (Hep. 6:11, 12) Kapau te tau fai pehē, te tau fakatuʻotuʻa atu ki he pale ʻo e hoko ko e ngaahi kaumeʻa taʻengata ʻo Sihova!