Ngaba Intsikelelo KaYehova Iya Kukufumana?
“Ziya kukufikela ezi ntsikelelo zonke, zikufumane, xa uthe waliphulaphula ilizwi likaYehova uThixo wakho.”—DUTERONOMI 28:2.
1. Yintoni eyayiza kugqiba enoba amaSirayeli ayefumana iintsikelelo okanye iziqalekiso?
NGASEKUPHELENI kohambo lwawo lwasentlango olwathabatha iminyaka engama-40, amaSirayeli ayemise iintente kufuphi namaThafa akwaMowabhi. ILizwe Lesithembiso laliphambi kwawo. UMoses wabhala incwadi yeDuteronomi, eyayinothotho lweentsikelelo neziqalekiso. Ukuba abantu bakwaSirayeli ‘babeliphulaphula ilizwi likaYehova’ ngokumthobela, iintsikelelo zaziza ‘kubafumana.’ UYehova wayebathanda njengabo ‘babeyinqobo kuye’ yaye wayefuna ukubonakalisa amandla akhe ngenxa yabo. Kodwa ukuba babengaqhubeki bemphulaphula, ngokuqinisekileyo, babeya kufumana iziqalekiso.—Duteronomi 8:10-14; 26:18; 28:2, 15.
2. Iyintoni intsingiselo yesenzi sesiHebhere esikwiDuteronomi 28:2 esiguqulelwe ngokuthi “waliphulaphula” nesithi “zikufumane”?
2 Isenzi sesiHebhere esiguqulelwe ngokuthi “waliphulaphula” kwiDuteronomi 28:2 sibonisa isenzo esiqhubekayo. Abantu bakaYehova abamele bamphulaphule nje ngamathub’ athile, bamele baqhubeke bemphulaphula kuyo yonk’ into. Ziya kwandula ke iintsikelelo zikaThixo zibafumane. Isenzi sesiHebhere esiguqulelwe ngokuthi “zikufumane” siye sasetyenziswa xa kuthethwa ngokuzingela yaye ngokufuthi sithetha “ukufikelela” okanye “ukuzuza.”
3. Sinokufana njani noYoshuwa, yaye kutheni oku kubaluleke kakhulu?
3 UYoshuwa, inkokeli yakwaSirayeli, wakhetha ukuphulaphula uYehova waza ngenxa yoko wazuza iintsikelelo. UYoshuwa wathi: “Zikhetheleni namhlanje ukuba ngubani na eniya kumkhonza . . . Ke mna nendlu yam, siya kukhonza uYehova.” Abantu baphendula bathi: “Makube lee, kuthi, ukushiya uYehova ukuze siye kukhonza abanye oothixo.” (Yoshuwa 24:15, 16) Ngenxa yesimo sengqondo esihle awayenaso uYoshuwa, waba phakathi kwabantu abambalwa besizukulwana awayephila kuso ababa nelungelo lokungena kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Namhlanje, sisemgubasini weLizwe Lesithembiso elilunge ngakumbi—iparadesi esemhlabeni apho bonke abo akholisiweyo ngabo uThixo balindelwe kukufumana iintsikelelo ezizuke nangakumbi kunezo zomhla kaYoshuwa. Ngaba ziya kukufumana ezo ntsikelelo? Ziya kukufumana ukuba uqhubeka uphulaphula uYehova. Ukuze uqine kwisigqibo sakho sokwenjenjalo, phawula imbali ethetha ngohlanga lwamandulo lwamaSirayeli, nemizekelo efundisayo yabantu ngabanye.—Roma 15:4.
Intsikelelo Okanye Isiqalekiso?
4. Ekuphenduleni umthandazo kaSolomon, uThixo wamnika ntoni, yaye sifanele sivakalelwe njani ngentsikelelo enjalo?
4 Ebudeni benkoliso yexesha lolawulo lukaKumkani uSolomon, amaSirayeli afumana intabalala yeentsikelelo kuYehova. Ayenqabisekile yaye ayefumana intabalala yezinto ezintle. (1 Kumkani 4:25) USolomon wayedume ngobutyebi, nangona engazange acele izinto eziphathekayo kuThixo. Kunoko, ngoxa wayeselula yaye engekabi namava, wathandazela intliziyo ethobekileyo—sicelo eso uYehova wasiphendula ngokumnika ubulumko nokuqonda. Oku kwamnceda uSolomon ukuba agwebe abantu ngendlela efanelekileyo, ekwazi ukwahlula okulungileyo kokubi. Nangona uThixo wamnika kwanobutyebi nozuko, esengumfana, uSolomon wabuxabisa ngakumbi ubutyebi bokomoya. (1 Kumkani 3:9-13) Enoba sinezinto eziphathekayo ezininzi okanye akunjalo, hayi indlela esinombulelo ngayo xa sinandipha intsikelelo kaYehova nangokuba zizityebi ngokomoya!
5. Kwenzeka ntoni xa abantu bakwaSirayeli nabakwaYuda bengazange bamphulaphule uYehova?
5 AmaSirayeli akazange abonakalise umbulelo ngentsikelelo kaYehova. Ngenxa yokuba akazange aqhubeke emphulaphula, afumana iziqalekiso ezazixelwe ngenx’ engaphambili. Oku kwaphumela ekubeni oyiswe ziintshaba zawo yaye abemi bakwaSirayeli nabakwaYuda bathinjwa. (Duteronomi 28:36; 2 Kumkani 17:22, 23; 2 Kronike 36:17-20) Ngaba abantu bakaThixo bafunda okuthile koko kubandezeleka yaye ngaba bafunda ukuba iintsikelelo zikaThixo zifumana kuphela abo baqhubeka bephulaphula uYehova? Intsalela yamaYuda eyabuyela kwilizwe layo ngowama-537 B.C.E. yaba nethuba lokubonakalisa enoba yayizuze “intliziyo yobulumko” kusini na nokuba ngoku yayiyibona kusini na imfuneko yokuqhubeka iphulaphula uThixo.—INdumiso 90:12.
6. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova athumele uHagayi noZekariya ukuba badlulisele iziprofeto kubantu bakhe? (b) Nguwuphi umgaqo esiwufumana kwisigidimi sikaThixo awasidlulisela ngoHagayi?
6 AmaYuda awayebuyele kwilizwe lawo akha isibingelelo aza aqalisa ukusebenza kwitempile yaseYerusalem. Kodwa kwathi kwakuqalisa inkcaso ekrakra, atyhafa aza awuyeka umsebenzi wokwakha. (Ezra 3:1-3, 10; 4:1-4, 23, 24) Aqalisa nokubeka izilangazelelo zobuqu kwindawo yokuqala. Ngenxa yoko, uThixo wathumela abaprofeti, uHagayi noZekariya ukuze bavuselele abantu bakhe ukuba babe nenzondelelo yonqulo lokwenyaniso. Esebenzisa uHagayi, uYehova wathi: “Ngaba lixesha lokuba nina nihlale ezindlwini zenu ezifulelwe ngamaplanga, ngoxa le ndlu [yonqulo] ichithakele? . . . Bekani intliziyo yenu ezindleleni zenu. Nihlwayele imbewu eninzi, kodwa ingeniso incinane. Kuyadliwa, kodwa akukho kwaneliseka. . . . Yaye lowo uziqeshisayo uziqeshisa ngengxowa enemingxuma.” (Hagayi 1:4-6) Ukusukela izinto eziphathekayo kunokubeka izilangazelelo zokomoya kwindawo yokuqala akwenzi sifumane intsikelelo kaYehova.—Luka 12:15-21.
7. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova athi kumaYuda: “Bekani intliziyo yenu ezindleleni zenu”?
7 Exakeke yimisebenzi yawo yemihla ngemihla, amaYuda alibala ukuba imvula namaxesha endyebo ayintsikelelo evela kuThixo yaye ayenokuyifumana kuphela ukuba ayeqhubeka ekuthobela uThixo, kwanaxa ayechaswa. (Hagayi 1:9-11) Hayi indlela esifaneleke ngayo ngoko esi sibongozo sithi: “Bekani intliziyo yenu ezindleleni zenu”! (Hagayi 1:7) Ngokungathi kunjalo, uYehova wayesithi kuwo: ‘Khanicinge! Khangelani nibulalekela ilize kumasimi enu ngenxa yemeko embi ekuyo indlu yam yonqulo.’ Ekugqibeleni, amazwi aphefumlelweyo abaprofeti bakaYehova azifikelela iintliziyo zabo babephulaphule, kuba abantu baqalisa ukusebenza etempileni, baza bayigqiba ngowama-515 B.C.E.
8. Wawabongoza wathini uYehova amaYuda ngomhla kaMalaki, yaye ngoba?
8 Kamva, ngemihla yomprofeti uMalaki, amaYuda aphinda aqalisa ukuthingaza ngokomoya, yaye ayenikela nemibingelelo engamkelekanga kuThixo. (Malaki 1:6-8) Ngaloo ndlela, uYehova wawabongoza ukuba azise izishumi zemveliso yawo endlwini yakhe ukuze amvavanye abone ukuba wayengayi kuwavulela amasango ezikhukula emazulwini kusini na aze okunene aqongqothele phezu kwawo intsikelelo kude kungasweleki nto. (Malaki 3:10) Hayi indlela awayeziziyatha ngayo loo maYuda ngokubulaleka esebenzela izinto uThixo awayenokuwanika zona ngokuyintabalala, ukuba nje ayenokuqhubeka emphulaphula!—2 Kronike 31:10.
9. Ngabaphi abantu abathathu ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni esiza kuhlolisisa ingxelo yobomi babo?
9 Ukongezelela ekubaliseni ngembali yohlanga lwamaSirayeli, iBhayibhile inengxelo ethetha ngobomi babantu abaninzi abafumana iintsikelelo okanye iziqalekiso zikaThixo, kuxhomekeka ekuthini bamthobela kusini na uYehova okanye akunjalo. Masibone oko sinokukufunda kwabathathu babo—uBhohazi, uNabhali noHana. Ngokuphathelele oku, ungathanda ukufunda incwadi kaRute neyoku-1 kaSamuweli 1:1–2:21 kunye neyoku-1 Samuweli 25:2-42.
UBhohazi Wamphulaphula UThixo
10. Yintoni ababefana ngayo uBhohazi noNabhali?
10 Nangona uBhohazi noNabhali babengaphili ngexesha elinye, kukho izinto ezithile ababefana ngazo. Ngokomzekelo, omabini la madoda ayehlala kwilizwe lakwaYuda. Ayengabanini-mhlaba ababezizityebi, yaye omabini aba nelungelo elikhethekileyo lokubonakalisa ububele bothando kuthile osweleyo. Kodwa ezi kuphela kwezinto awayefana ngazo la madoda.
11. UBhohazi wabonakalisa njani ukuba wayephulaphula uYehova?
11 UBhohazi wayephila ngexesha labagwebi bakwaSirayeli. Wayebaphatha ngembeko abanye, yaye abavuni bakhe babemhlonela kakhulu. (Rute 2:4) Ethobela uMthetho, uBhohazi wayeqinisekisa ukuba yayingabhikicwa intsimi yakhe, kwakushiyelwa abaxhwalekileyo namahlwempu. (Levitikus 19:9, 10) Yintoni eyenziwa nguBhohazi emva kokuba eve ngemeko kaRute noNahomi nasemva kokubona indlela uRute awayemnyamekela ngenkuthalo ngayo uninazala owayaluphele? Wabonakalisa ulwazelelelo ngendlela ekhethekileyo kuRute waza wayalela abantu bakhe ukuba bamyeke abhikice entsimini yakhe. Ngamazwi nezenzo zothando, uBhohazi wabonakalisa ukuba wayengumntu wokomoya owayephulaphula uYehova. Ngoko ke, wafumana inkoliseko nentsikelelo kaThixo.—Levitikus 19:18; Rute 2:5-16.
12, 13. (a) UBhohazi wayibonakalisa njani intlonelo enzulu ngomthetho kaYehova wokuhlawulela? (b) Ziziphi iintsikelelo zikaThixo ezafunyanwa nguBhohazi?
12 Obona bungqina bubalaseleyo bokuba uBhohazi wayephulaphula uYehova yindlela awasabela ngayo ngokungazingci kumthetho kaThixo wokuhlawulela. UBhohazi wenza konke okusemandleni ukuze aqinisekise ukuba ilifa lesalamane sakhe—umyeni kaNahomi owayengasaphili, uElimeleki—laliza kuhlala lilelentsapho kaElimeleki. ‘Ngomtshato wongeno,’ umhlolokazi wayefanele atshate nesizalwana somyeni wakhe ongasekhoyo ukuze unyana abamzeleyo agcine ilifa. (Duteronomi 25:5-10; Levitikus 25:47-49) URute wazenza wafumaneka ukuze kungene yena kuloo mtshato endaweni kaNahomi, kuba wayengasenakufumana bantwana. Emva kokuba isizalwana esisondele ngakumbi kuElimeleki singavumanga ukunceda uNahomi, uBhohazi wamtshata uRute. Unyana wabo uObhedi wagqalwa njengenzala kaNahomi nendlalifa engokwasemthethweni kaElimeleki.—Rute 2:19, 20; 4:1, 6, 9, 13-16.
13 UBhohazi wafumana intabalala yeentsikelelo ngenxa yokuthobela umthetho kaThixo ngokungazingci. Ngonyana wabo uObhedi, yena noRute basikelelwa ngelungelo lokuba ngookhokho bakaYesu Kristu. (Rute 2:12; 4:13, 21, 22; Mateyu 1:1, 5, 6) Kwizenzo zikaBhohazi zokungazingci, sifunda ukuba iintsikelelo zifunyanwa ngabo babonakalisa uthando kwabanye baze benze ngokuvisisana nemilinganiselo kaThixo.
UNabhali Akazange Aphulaphule
14. Wayeluhlobo luni lomntu uNabhali?
14 Ngokungafaniyo noBhohazi, uNabhali akazange amphulaphule uYehova. Waphula umthetho kaThixo othi: “Uze ulithande idlelane lakho njengawe siqu.” (Levitikus 19:18) UNabhali wayengengomntu ozixabisayo izinto zokomoya; ‘wayengqwabalala noqheliselo lwakhe lulubi.’ Kwanezicaka zakhe zazimgqala ‘njengetshivela.’ Ngokufanelekileyo, igama lakhe elithi Nabhali, lithetha ‘ongenangqiqo,’ okanye ‘isiyatha.’ (1 Samuweli 25:3, 17, 25) Ngoko wayeza kusabela njani uNabhali xa efumana ithuba lokubonakalisa ububele kumntu osweleyo—uDavide, umthanjiswa kaYehova?—1 Samuweli 16:13.
15. UNabhali wamphatha njani uDavide, yaye uAbhigali wahluka njani kumyeni wakhe ngokubhekisele kule nkalo?
15 Xa babekwinkampu ekummandla owawukufuphi nemihlambi kaNabhali, uDavide namadoda akhe, ngaphandle kokufuna intlawulo, bakhusela loo mihlambi kubaphangi. Omnye wabelusi bakaNabhali wathi: “Aba ludonga olusijikelezileyo kokubini ngobusuku nasemini.” Noko ke, xa abathunywa bakaDavide bacela ukutya, uNabhali ‘wabakhalimela kakhulu’ waza wabandulula engabanikanga nto. (1 Samuweli 25:2-16) Ngokukhawuleza, umfazi kaNabhali, uAbhigali, wathumela ukutya kuDavide. Ngenxa yokuba wayevutha ngumsindo, uDavide waphantse wamtshabalalisa uNabhali namadoda akhe. Ngaloo ndlela, inyathelo elathatyathwa nguAbhigali lasindisa ubomi babantu abaninzi laza lathintela noDavide ekubeni netyala legazi. Kodwa uNabhali wayebawa yaye engqwabalala ngokugqithiseleyo. Malunga neentsuku ezilishumi kamva, “uYehova wambetha uNabhali, wafa.”—1 Samuweli 25:18-38.
16. Sinokumxelisa njani uBhohazi size sizigatye iindlela zikaNabhali?
16 Onjani wona umahluko phakathi kukaBhohazi noNabhali! Sifanele sikuchase ukuba ngqwabalala nokuzingca kukaNabhali, size sixelise ububele nokungazingci kukaBhohazi. (Hebhere 13:16) Sinokukwenza oko ngokusebenzisa isiluleko sikampostile uPawulos esithi: “Lo gama ixesha lisasivumela, masenze okulungileyo kubo bonke, ngokukodwa kwabo bahlobene nathi elukholweni.” (Galati 6:10) Namhlanje, ‘ezinye izimvu’ zikaYesu, amaKristu anethemba lokuphila emhlabeni, zinelungelo lokwenza okulungileyo kubathanjiswa bakaYehova, intsalela yabali-144 000, eya kujizekwa ngobomi bokungafi ezulwini. (Yohane 10:16; 1 Korinte 15:50-53; ISityhilelo 14:1, 4) Ezo zenzo zobubele, uYesu uzigqala njengezenziwa kuye ngokoqobo, yaye ukwenza ezi zenzo zilungileyo kubangela ukuba ubani afumane intabalala yeentsikelelo ezivela kuYehova.—Mateyu 25:34-40; 1 Yohane 3:18.
Izilingo Neentsikelelo Ezafunyanwa NguHana
17. Wajamelana naziphi izilingo uHana, yaye sisiphi isimo sengqondo awasibonisayo?
17 Intsikelelo kaYehova yafunyanwa nangumfazi owayehlonel’ uThixo, uHana. Wayehlala kummandla oneentaba wakwaEfrayim nomyeni wakhe owayengumLevi, uElikana. Njengoko kwakuvumelekile eMthethweni, wayenomnye umfazi—uPenina. UHana wayeludlolo, nto leyo yayilungcikivo kumfazi ongumSirayeli, ngoxa uPenina wayenabantwana abaliqela. (1 Samuweli 1:1-3; 1 Kronike 6:16, 33, 34) Noko ke, kunokuba amthuthuzele uHana, uPenina akazange abonakalise uthando yaye uHana wakhathazeka walila waphelelwa nangumdla wokutya. Okubi nangakumbi, oku kwakusenzeka “iminyaka ngeminyaka” ngalo lonke ixesha intsapho isiya endlwini kaYehova eShilo. (1 Samuweli 1:4-8) Hayi indlela awayengenabubele ngayo uPenina, yaye esinjani sona isilingo kuHana! Ukanti, uHana akazange ambek’ ityala uYehova; engazange asale ekhaya xa umyeni wakhe esiya eShilo. Ngoko ke, ekugqibeleni, wayeza kufumana iintsikelelo ezizukileyo.
18. Nguwuphi umzekelo owamiselwa nguHana?
18 UHana wabamisela umzekelo omhle abantu bakaYehova namhlanje, ingakumbi abo baye bakhathazeka ngenxa yamazwi arhabaxa athethwe ngabanye. Kwiimeko ezinjalo, ukuzenza ikheswa akuzisi sicombululo. (IMizekeliso 18:1) UHana akazange avumele izilingo zinciphise umnqweno wakhe wokuba kwindawo ekwakufundiswa kuyo ngeLizwi likaThixo nalapho babehlanganisana khona abantu ukuze banqule. Ngoko ke, wahlala omelele ngokomoya. Ukukhula kwakhe ngokomoya kubonakala kumthandazo wakhe omhle obhalwe kweyoku-1 kaSamuweli 2:1-10.a
19. Sinokulubonakalisa njani uxabiso ngezinto zokomoya?
19 Njengabakhonzi bakaYehova banamhlanje, asinquli emnqubeni. Sekunjalo, sinokubonakalisa uxabiso ngezinto zokomoya, njengoko uHana wenzayo. Ngokomzekelo, sinokubonakalisa uxabiso lwethu olunzulu ngobutyebi bokomoya ngokubakho rhoqo kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu, kwiindibano ezincinane nezinkulu. Masisebenzise ezi zihlandlo ukuze sikhuthazane kunqulo oluyinyaniso lukaYehova, osinike “ilungelo lokunikela inkonzo engcwele ngokungenaloyiko kuye ngokunyaniseka nobulungisa.”—Luka 1:74, 75; Hebhere 10:24, 25.
20, 21. UHana wavuzwa njani ngenxa yokuzinikela kwakhe kuThixo?
20 UYehova waphawula ukuba uHana uyamhlonela waza wamvuza ngokuyintabalala. Ngesinye isihlandlo, kuhambo lwentsapho lokuya eShilo minyaka le, uHana owayenyembezana wathandaza kuThixo ngokunyaniseka waza wenza esi sibhambathiso: “Owu Yehova wemikhosi, ukuba nakanjani na uthe wayikhangela inkxwaleko yekhobokazana lakho waza okunene wandikhumbula, ungalilibali ikhobokazana lakho uze okunene ulinike ikhobokazana lakho inzala eyinkwenkwe, ndiza kuyinikela kuYehova yonke imihla yobomi bayo.” (1 Samuweli 1:9-11) UThixo wasiphulaphula isibongozo sikaHana waza wamsikelela ngonyana awamthiya igama lokuba nguSamuweli. Ekulunyulweni kwakhe, wamthabatha wamsa eShilo ukuze akhonze emnqubeni.—1 Samuweli 1:20, 24-28.
21 UHana wabonakalisa uthando ngoThixo waza wasiphumeza isibhambathiso sakhe ngokuphathelele uSamuweli. Yaye khawucinge ngentabalala yeentsikelelo abazinandiphayo yena noElikana ngenxa yokuba unyana wabo abamthandayo wayekhonza uYehova emnqubeni! Abazali abaninzi abangamaKristu bafumana uvuyo neentsikelelo ezinjalo ngenxa yokuba oonyana neentombi zabo bakhonza njengabalungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo, abangoovulindlela, njengamalungu entsapho yaseBheteli okanye ngezinye iindlela ezizukisa uYehova.
Qhubeka Uphulaphula UYehova!
22, 23. (a) Yintoni esinokuqiniseka ngayo ukuba siqhubeka siphulaphula uYehova? (b) Yintoni eza kuqwalaselwa kwinqaku elilandelayo?
22 Yintoni esinokuqiniseka ngayo ukuba siqhubeka siphulaphula uYehova? Siya kuba zizityebi ngokomoya ukuba sibonakalisa uthando ngomphefumlo uphela kuThixo size siphile ngokuvisisana nozahlulelo lwethu kuye. Kwanokuba ukuqhubeka nelo khondo kuthetha ukuba simele sinyamezele izilingo ezinzima, ngokuqinisekileyo siya kufumana intsikelelo kaYehova—ngeendlela ezizuke ngakumbi kunokuba sicinga.—INdumiso 37:4; Hebhere 6:10.
23 Abantu bakaThixo baya kuthululelwa intabalala yeentsikelelo kwixa elizayo. Ngenxa yokuphulaphula uYehova ngentobelo, “isihlwele esikhulu” siya kulondolozwa ukutyhubela ‘imbandezelo enkulu’ yaye siya kunandipha ubomi kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo. (ISityhilelo 7:9-14; 2 Petros 3:13) Apho uYehova uya kuyanelisa ngokuzeleyo iminqweno elungileyo yabo bonke abantu bakhe. (INdumiso 145:16) Noko ke, njengoko inqaku elilandelayo liza kubonisa, kwanangoku abo baqhubeka bephulaphula ilizwi likaYehova bayasikelelwa ‘ngezipho ezilungileyo nezipho ezigqibeleleyo ezivela phezulu.’—Yakobi 1:17.
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
a Amazwi awathethwa nguHana abufana nalawo athethwa yintombi enyulu uMariya, emva nje kokuba eve ukuba uza kuba ngunina kaMesiya.—Luka 1:46-55.
Ngaba Usakhumbula?
• Inokusifundisa ntoni imbali yakwaSirayeli ngeentsikelelo zikaThixo?
• Babahluke njani uBhohazi noNabhali?
• Sinokumxelisa njani uHana?
• Kutheni sifanele siqhubeke simphulaphula uYehova?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]
UKumkani uSolomon wathandazela intliziyo ethobekileyo, yaye uYehova wamsikelela ngobulumko
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 12]
UBhohazi wayebaphatha ngentlonelo nangobubele abanye
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 15]
UHana wasikelelwa ngokuyintabalala ngenxa yokwayama kwakhe ngoYehova