MONDAY 15TH JULY 2019 MORNING
1 Samuel 12:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
Samuel’s Farewell Speech
1 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”
4 “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
5 Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.”
“He is witness,” they said.
6 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of Egypt. 7 Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors.
Our theme this week is “We are called to act in Justice and Mercy.”. The Prophet Samuel was faithful in obeying God’s call upon his life. As he lead the Jewish people he was both just and merciful. The people agreed that he had not cheated or oppressed them in any way and he had not taken any bribes.
Let us pray for our leaders in Church and state to administer Justice with mercy. Pray also for yourself that you would practice justice and mercy in all you do.
JUMATATU TAREHE 15 JULAI 2019 ASUBUHI
1 SAMWELI 12:1-7
1 Kisha Samweli akawaambia Israeli wote, Angalieni, nimeisikiliza sauti yenu katika hayo yote mliyoniambia, nami nimemtawaza mfalme juu yenu.
2 Basi sasa, angalieni, mfalme anakwenda mbele yenu; na mimi ni mzee, mwenye mvi; tena, tazameni, wana wangu wapo pamoja nanyi; nami nimekwenda mbele yenu toka ujana wangu hata leo.
3 Nami nipo hapa; basi, mnishuhudie mbele za Bwana, na mbele ya masihi wake,nalitwaa ng`ombe wa nani? au nalitwaa punda wa nani? au ni nani niliye mdhulumu? Ni nani niliyemwonea? Au kwa mkono wa nani nimepokea rushwa inipofushe macho? Nami nitawarudishia ninyi.
4 Nao wakasema, hukutudhulumu, wala hukutuonea, wala hukupokea kitu kwa mkono wa mtu awaye yote.
5 Akawaambia, Bwana ni shahidi juu yenu, na masihi
6 Samweli akawaambia watu, Ni yeye Bwana aliyewaweka Musa na Haruni, ndiye yeye aliyewatoa baba zenu kutoka nchi ya Misri.
7 Basi sasa simameni, ili niwahutubie mbele za Bwana, kwa kutaja matendo yote ya haki ya Bwana, aliyowatendea ninyi na baba zenu.
Wazo kuu la wiki hii ni. “Tunaitwa kutenda haki na huruma”. Tumesoma hapa juu ushuhuda wa Nabii Samweli. Alikuwa mwaminifu katika wito wake. Hakudhulumu au kuonea watu na hakuchukua rushwa. Alitenda haki kwa huruma na wanaisraeli walikubali kwamba jinsi Samweli alivyowaongoza ilikuwa sawa.
Ombea viongozi wa nchi na wa kanisa waongoze kwa haki na huruma. Pia ujiombee mwenyewe ili Mungu akuwezeshe kila wakati kutenda haki kwa huruma.
