Iimbekiselo Zencwadi Yobomi BamaKristu Nomsebenzi Wokushumayela
JANUWARI 2-8
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO ISAYA 24-28
“UYehova Uyabakhathalela Abantu Bakhe”
(Isaya 25:4, 5) Kuba uye waba ligwiba kwisisweli, igwiba kolihlwempu ekubandezelekeni anako, indawo yokusabela esiphangweni, umthunzi ebushushwini, xa ukufutha kwabo bangoozwilabo kunjengesiphango eludongeni, njengobushushu kwilizwe elingumqwebedu, ingxolo yabasemzini uyayoyisa, ubushushu bethunzi lelifu. Uncuthu lwengoma lwabo bangoozwilabo luxinzelelekile.
Isandla SikaYehova Siyaphakama
5 Nangona esoyikeka kwiintshaba zakhe, uYehova uligwiba kwabalulamileyo nabathobekileyo abafuna ukumkhonza. Oozwilakhe bonqulo nabezobupolitika basenokuzama konke okusemandleni abo ukwaphula ukholo lwabanquli bokwenyaniso, kodwa abaphumeleli ngenxa yokuba bakholose ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova. Ekugqibeleni, ubathulisa ngokulula abachasi bakhe, esenjenjalo ngokungathi ugquma ingqatsini yelanga lasentlango ngelifu okanye ngokungathi uthintela isiphango ngodonga.— Funda uIsaya 25:4, 5.
(Isaya 25:6) Uya kwenzela zonke izizwana, kule ntaba, isidlo sokutya okuneoli eninzi, isidlo sewayini egcinwe ngeentsipho, sokutya okuneoli eninzi okuzaliswe ngumongo, sewayini egcinwe ngeentsipho, yahluzwa.
Zuza Ngokupheleleyo Kumalungiselelo KaYehova
4Uninzi lweencwadi zethu lubhalelwe amaNgqina kaYehova. Sekunjalo, kukho iincwadi ezibhalelwe ngokukhethekileyo amaqela athile, njengolutsha okanye abazali. Uninzi lwamanqaku neevidiyo ezikwiwebhsayithi yethu, zilungiselelwe ngokukhethekileyo abantu abangengawo amaNgqina kaYehova. Ubukho bezi zixhobo zahlukahlukeneyo bubungqina bokuba uYehova uye wasigcina isithembiso sakhe sokubanika ulwalathiso bonke abantu.—Isa. 25:6.
Isandla SikaYehova Siyaphakama
‘Isidlo Sazo Zonke Izizwana’
6 Njengobawo onothando, uYehova akaneli nje ngokubakhusela kodwa ukwabondla nokubondla abantwana bakhe, ingakumbi ngokomoya. Emva kokubakhulula abantu bakhe ngowe-1919, wabenzela isidlo soloyiso, intabalala yokudla kokomoya: “Ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova wemikhosi uya kwenzela zonke izizwana, kule ntaba, isidlo sokutya okuneoli eninzi, isidlo sewayini egcinwe ngeentsipho, sokutya okuneoli eninzi okuzaliswe ngumongo, sewayini egcinwe ngeentsipho, yahluzwa.”—Isaya 25:6.
7 Esi sidlo senzelwa ‘entabeni’ kaYehova. Iyintoni le ntaba? ‘Yintaba yendlu kaYehova’ eziba ngumsinga ukuya kuyo zonke iintlanga “ekupheleni kwemihla.” ‘Yintaba engcwele’ kaYehova, apho abanquli bakhe abathembekileyo bengonzakalisiyo okanye bonakalise. (Isaya 2:2; 11:9) Kule ndawo iphakanyisiweyo yonqulo, uYehova wenzela abathembekileyo bakhe isidlo esikhulu. Yaye le ndyebo yokomoya ifanekisela indyebo yokwenyama eza kubakho xa uBukumkani bukaThixo busiba kuphela korhulumente woluntu. Iya kwandula ke iphele indlala. “Kuya kubakho ukudla okuziinkozo okuninzi emhlabeni; encotsheni yeentaba kuya kubakho ukuphuphuma.”—INdumiso 72:8, 16.
(Isaya 25:7, 8) Kule ntaba ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuginya ubuso besigubungelo esigubungela zonke izizwana, nomsebenzi olukiweyo ogubungela zonke iintlanga. 8 Uya kuginya ukufa ngonaphakade, yaye iNkosi enguMongami uYehova ngokuqinisekileyo iya kosula iinyembezi ebusweni bonke. Nongcikivo lwabantu bakhe uya kulususa emhlabeni wonke, kuba uYehova uthethile.
Utshaba Lokugqibela, Ukufa, Luya Kutshitshiswa
15 Xa kuphela iminyaka eliwaka uBukumkani bulawula, abantu abathembekileyo baza kube bekhululwe kuzo zonke izinto eziziintshaba ezeza ngenxa yokungathobeli kuka-Adam. IBhayibhile iyibeka kanje le nto: “Kanye njengoko kuAdam bonke besifa, ngokunjalo nakuKristu bonke baya kwenziwa baphile. Kodwa ngamnye kuluhlu lwakhe: UKristu intlahlela, emva koko abo bangabakaKristu [abaza kulawula naye] ebudeni bobukho bakhe. Kwandule ke kufike isiphelo, xa enikela ubukumkani kuThixo wakhe noYise, xa etshitshise wonke urhulumente nalo lonke igunya namandla. Kuba umele alawule njengokumkani ade uThixo azibeke phantsi kweenyawo zakhe zonke iintshaba. Olokugqibela utshaba oluya kutshitshiswa kukufa.” (1 Kor. 15:22-26) Ekugqibeleni, ukufa okweza noAdam kuza kuphela. ‘Isigubungelo’ esibambisa bonke abantu siya kususwa ngonaphakade.—Isa. 25:7, 8.
Isandla SikaYehova Siyaphakama
8 Abo bazondlayo ngoku kwesi sidlo sokomoya banamathemba azukileyo. Phulaphula la mazwi alandelayo kaIsaya. Ethelekisa isono nokufa kunye nento ‘elukiweyo,’ okanye ‘isigubungelo’ esifuthaniselayo, uthi: “Kule ntaba ngokuqinisekileyo [uYehova] uya kuginya ubuso besigubungelo esigubungela zonke izizwana, nomsebenzi olukiweyo ogubungela zonke iintlanga. Okunene uya kuginya ukufa ngonaphakade, yaye iNkosi enguMongami uYehova ngokuqinisekileyo iya kosula iinyembezi ebusweni bonke.”—Isaya 25:7, 8a.
9 Ewe, isono nokufa ziza kuphela! (ISityhilelo 21:3, 4) Ngaphezu koko, ungcikivo lobuxoki abaye abakhonzi bakaYehova balunyamezela kangangamawaka eminyaka nalo luza kuphela. “Nongcikivo lwabantu bakhe uya kulususa emhlabeni wonke, kuba uYehova uthethile.” (Isaya 25:8b) Kuza kwenzeka njani oku? UYehova uza kuwushenxisa umthombo wolo ngcikivo, uSathana nembewu yakhe. (ISityhilelo 20:1-3) Akumangalisi ke ngoko ukuba abantu bakaThixo beza kudanduluka bathi: “Khangela! Lo nguThixo wethu. Besithembele kuye, ibe uya kusisindisa. Lo nguYehova. Besithembele kuye. Masivuye sibe nemihlali ngosindiso lwakhe.”—Isaya 25:9.
Ukwemba Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
(Isaya 26:15) Wongeze uhlanga; Yehova, wongeze uhlanga; uzizukisile. Uyolulele kude yonke imida yelizwe.
Zimiseleni Ukuphucula IParadesi Yokomoya
INDLELA THINA ESINCEDISA NGAYO EKUHOMBISENI IPARADESI YOKOMOYA
18 UYehova usinike inyhweba yokuncedisa ekuhombiseni iparadesi yethu yokomoya. Ihonjiswa njani le paradesi? Ngokukhuthala entsimini nangokwenza abafundi abangakumbi. Qho sinceda umntu ukuba abe ngumkhonzi kaThixo, sifaka isandla ekwandiseni iparadesi yokomoya.—Isa. 26:15; 54:2.
(Isaya 26:20) Hambani, bantu bam, ningene emagumbini enu angaphakathi, nize nivale iingcango zenu emva kwenu. Zifihleni umzuzwana kude kudlule isiqalekiso.
UYehova—Indawo Yethu Yokuhlala
‘INDAWO YETHU YOKUHLALA YOKWENENE’ NJENGOKO ISIPHELO SISONDELA
15 Njengoko eli hlabathi likaSathana lisondela esiphelweni, iintlungu ‘zenimba’ ziza kuya ziqatsela. (Mat. 24:7, 8) Nakanjani kuza kuba nzima ngakumbi kwimbandezelo enkulu. Neziseko zolwakhiwo ziya kuwohloka baze abantu batyhwatyhwe ngenxa yobomi babo. (Hab. 3:16, 17) Ngenxa yokuxakwa, baya kuba ngathi bafuna indawo yokuzifihla “emiqolombeni nasemaweni eentaba.” (ISityhi. 6:15-17) Kodwa akukho mqolomba uya kukwazi ukubakhusela enoba ngowokoqobo okanye yintlangano efana nentaba yezopolitiko neyezorhwebo.
16 Bona ke, abantu bakaYehova baya kuhlala bekhuselekile ‘kwindawo yabo yokuhlala yokwenene,’ uYehova uThixo. Njengomprofeti uHabhakuki, ‘baya kugcoba ngoYehova. Baya kuvuya kuThixo wosindiso lwabo.’ (Hab. 3:18) Ziziphi iindlela uYehova aya kuba ‘yindawo yokuhlala yokwenene’ xa kunzima? Kuza kufuneka silinde de sibone. Kodwa nantsi into esiqiniseke ngayo: NjengamaSirayeli ngexesha leMfuduko, “isihlwele esikhulu” siya kuhlala silungelelene, siluphaphele ulwalathiso oluvela kuThixo. (ISityhi. 7:9; funda iEksodus 13:18.) Olo lwalathiso siya kulufumana ngendlela kaThixo, mhlawumbi kwibandla lamaKristu. Eneneni, amawaka amabandla asehlabathini afana ‘namagumbi angaphakathi’ akhuselekileyo awaxelwa kuIsaya 26:20. (Yifunde.) Ngaba uyazixabisa iintlanganiso zebandla? Ngaba kulula ukuthobela ulwalathiso lukaYehova xa ulufumana ebandleni?—Heb. 13:17.
Ufundo LweBhayibhile
(Isaya 28:1-13) Yeha kuso isithsaba sobuhandiba samanxila akwaEfrayim, nentyatyambo ebunayo yomhombiso wakhe wobuhle esemantloko entlambo echumayo yabo bonganyelwe yiwayini! 2 Khangela! UYehova unothile owomeleleyo nonamandla. Njengesiphango esineendudumo sesichotho, isiphango esitshabalalisayo, njengesiphango esineendudumo samanzi anamandla, akhukulayo, ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuwisa phantsi ngamandla emhlabeni. 3 Izithsaba zobuhandiba zamanxila akwaEfrayim ziya kunyathelwa ngeenyawo. 4 Intyatyambo ebunayo yomhombiso wakhe wobuhle esemantloko entlambo echumayo imele ibe njengekhiwane lasekuqaleni ngaphambi kokuba kube sehlotyeni, ekuthi, xa obonayo elibona, aliginye ngoxa lisesesandleni sakhe. 5 Ngaloo mini uYehova wemikhosi uya kuba sisithsaba somhombiso nesidanga sobuhle kwabo baseleyo ebantwini bakhe. 6 nomoya wobulungisa kohleli ekugwebeni, namandla kwabo bathintela idabi esangweni. 7 Kanjalo naba—ngenxa yewayini balahlekile yaye ngenxa yesiselo esinxilisayo baye babhadula. Umbingeleli nomprofeti—balahlekile ngenxa yesiselo esinxilisayo, badidekile ngenxa yewayini, baye babhadula ngenxa yesiselo esinxilisayo; balahlekile ekuboneni, bayahexa ekwenzeni isigqibo. 8 Kuba zonke iitafile zizele ngumhlanzo onyhukunyhuku—akukho ndawo ingenawo. 9 Ngubani na aya kumyalela elwazini, yaye ngubani na aya kumqondisa oko kuviweyo? Abo balunyulweyo elubisini, abo basusiweyo ebeleni? 10 Kuba “ngumyalelo phezu komyalelo, umyalelo phezu komyalelo, ulutya lokulinganisa phezu kolutya lokulinganisa, ulutya lokulinganisa phezu kolutya lokulinganisa, okuncinane apha, okuncinane phaya.” 11 Kuba uya kuthetha kwesi sizwana ngemilebe yabathintithayo nangolwimi olwahlukileyo. 12 eso athe kuso: “Le yindawo yokuphumla. Phumzani odiniweyo. Kwaye le yindawo yokonwaba,” kodwa sona asivumanga kuva. 13 Yaye kuso ngokuqinisekileyo ilizwi likaYehova liya kuba “ngumyalelo phezu komyalelo, umyalelo phezu komyalelo, ulutya lokulinganisa phezu kolutya lokulinganisa, ulutya lokulinganisa phezu kolutya lokulinganisa, okuncinane apha, okuncinane phaya,” ukuze sihambe size ngokuqinisekileyo sikhubeke ngasemva, okunene saphuke, sirhintyelwe size sibanjiswe.
JANUWARI 9-15
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO ISAYA 29-33
“Ukumkani Uya Kulawula Ngobulungisa”
(Isaya 32:1) Khangela! Ukumkani uya kulawula ngobulungisa; zona iinkosana, ziya kulawula njengeenkosana zokusesikweni.
Zukisani UKristu, UKumkani Ozukileyo!
13 UKristu ukwaphalisa ‘endleleni yobulungisa.’ Ubulungisa obulwelwa ngulo Kumkani ‘bubulungisa bukaThixo’—imilinganiselo kaYehova yokulungileyo nokuphosakeleyo. (Roma 3:21; Dut. 32:4) Eprofeta ngoKumkani uYesu Kristu, uIsaya wathi: “Ukumkani uya kulawula ngobulungisa.” (Isa. 32:1) Xa uYesu elawula uza kuzisa “amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha, . . . apho kumi ubulungisa.” (2 Pet. 3:13) Wonke umntu ohlala kwelo hlabathi litsha kuza kufuneka athobele imilinganiselo kaYehova.—Isa. 11:1-5.
(Isaya 32:2) Kwaye ngamnye uya kuba njengendawo yokuzimela umoya nendawo yokuzifihla esiphangweni, abe njengemisinga yamanzi kwilizwe elingumqwebedu, nanjengomthunzi wengxondorha enkulu kwilizwe elibharhileyo.
UKumkani Neenkosana Zakhe
7 Kwisiprofeto sakhe esiyintloko esichaza ‘ukupheliswa kwale nkqubo yezinto’ ezaliswe ziimbandezelo, uYesu wathi: “Qinisekani ukuba aninkwantyi.” (Mateyu 24:3-8) Kutheni abalandeli bakaYesu bengankwantyiswa ziimeko eziyingozi zehlabathi lanamhlanje? Esinye sezizathu sikukuba “iinkosana”—enoba zingabathanjisiweyo okanye “ezinye izimvu”—ziwukhusela ngokunyanisekileyo umhlambi. (Yohane 10:16) Zibanyamekela ngokungenaloyiko abazalwana noodade bazo, kwanaxa bejamelene neemeko ezihambis’ umzimba njengeemfazwe zezizwe nokutshatyalaliswa kohlanga. Kweli hlabathi lityhafileyo ngokomoya, ziyaqinisekisa ukuba imiphefumlo edandathekileyo iyahlaziywa ziinyaniso ezakhayo zeLizwi likaThixo, iBhayibhile.
8 Ebudeni beminyaka engama-50 edluleyo, ziye zaqondwa ngokucacileyo ezi “nkosana.” “Iinkosana” ezingabezinye izimvu ziqeqeshwa njengodidi olusakhulayo ‘lwezikhulu’ ukuze emva kwembandezelo enkulu, abafanelekayo kuzo banyulelwe ukulawula ‘kwihlabathi elitsha.’ (Hezekile 44:2, 3; 2 Petros 3:13) Ngokunikela kwazo ulwalathiso nohlaziyeko lokomoya njengoko zikhokela emsebenzini woBukumkani, zizingqina ‘zinjengomthunzi wengxondorha enkulu,’ ngaloo ndlela ziwenza umhlambi unqule ngokukhululekileyo.
(Isaya 32:3, 4) Amehlo abo babonayo akayi kuvingcwa, neendlebe zabo bevayo ziya kunikela ingqalelo. 4 Nentliziyo yabo bazizingxami iya kuqwalasela ulwazi, kwanolwimi lwabathintithayo luya kukhawuleza ukuthetha izinto ezicacileyo.
UKumkani Neenkosana Zakhe
Ukunikela Ingqalelo Ngamehlo, Ngeendlebe Nangeentliziyo
10 Isihlwele esikhulu siye sasabela njani kwilungiselelo likaYehova lobuthixo? Isiprofeto sihlabela mgama sisithi: “Amehlo abo babonayo akayi kuvingcwa, neendlebe zabo bevayo ziya kunikela ingqalelo.” (Isaya 32:3) Ekuhambeni kweminyaka, uYehova uye wenza ilungiselelo lokuba kufundiswe kuze kuncedwe abakhonzi bakhe abaxabisekileyo ukuba baqole. ISikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo nezinye iintlanganiso eziqhutywa kumabandla amaNgqina kaYehova emhlabeni wonke; iindibano zesithili nezezizwe ngezizwe; kwanokuqeqeshwa ngokukhethekileyo ‘kweenkosana’ ngendlela yokunyamekela umhlambi ngothando, konke oku kube negalelo ekwakheni ubuzalwana obumanyeneyo bezigidi ngezigidi emhlabeni wonke. Naphi na apho bakhoyo emhlabeni aba balusi, basoloko bekulangazelela ukuva nokwamkela naluphi na utshintsho kwindlela abaliqonda ngayo ilizwi lenyaniso. Benezazela eziqeqeshwe yiBhayibhile, basoloko bekulungele ukuva nokuthobela.—INdumiso 25:10.
11 Sandula esi siprofeto silumkise ngelithi: “Nentliziyo yabo bazizingxami iya kuqwalasela ulwazi, kwanolwimi lwabathintithayo luya kukhawuleza ukuthetha izinto ezicacileyo.” (Isaya 32:4) Makungabikho namnye ongxamayo ukugqiba ngoko kulungileyo nokuphosakeleyo. IBhayibhile ithi: “Uyambona na umntu ongxamayo ngamazwi akhe? Kukho ithemba ngakumbi kumntu osisiyatha kunaye.” (IMizekeliso 29:20; INtshumayeli 5:2) Ngaphambi kowe-1919, kwanabantu bakaYehova babedyojwe ziingcamango zeBhabhiloni. Kodwa ukususela ngaloo nyaka, uYehova ubenze baziqonda ngokucace ngakumbi iinjongo zakhe. Bazifumanise iinyaniso azityhilileyo, zingagqwagqwanga nje ngokungxama, kodwa zicingisiswe kakuhle, yaye ngoku bathetha ngento abayikholelwa ngokuqinisekileyo, bengashwantshwathi nje into abangaqinisekanga ngayo.
Ukwemba Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
(Isaya 30:21) Neendlebe zakho ziya kuva ilizwi emva kwakho lisithi: “Nantsi indlela. Hambani ngayo,” nokuba nisinga ekunene, nokuba nisinga ekhohlo.
Liphulaphule Ilizwi LikaYehova Naphi Na Apho Ukhoyo
2 Namhlanje, uYehova ukhokela abantu bakhe esebenzisa iBhayibhile, umoya wakhe oyingcwele kunye nebandla. (IZe. 9:31; 15:28; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Indlela asikhokela ngayo icace gca, kangangokuba kuba ngathi ‘iindlebe zethu ziva ilizwi emva kwethu lisithi: “Nantsi indlela. Hambani ngayo.” ’ (Isa. 30:21) UYehova usebenzisa uYesu ukuba adlulisele ilizwi lakhe kuthi njengoko ekhokela ibandla esebenzisa ‘ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi.’ (Mat. 24:45) Simele singaluthabathi lula olo khokelo, kuba ukufumana kwethu ubomi obungunaphakade kuxhomekeke ekuluthobeleni.—Heb. 5:9.
(Isaya 33:22) Kuba uYehova nguMgwebi wethu, uYehova nguMmisi-mthetho wethu, uYehova nguKumkani wethu; yena uya kusisindisa.
Niya Kuba ‘BuBukumkani Nababingeleli’
4 Umnqophiso woMthetho waqalisa ukusebenza eNtabeni yaseSinayi ngo-1513 B.C.E. Ngaloo mnqophiso, uhlanga lwamaSirayeli amandulo lwaba luhlanga olukhethiweyo nguThixo. UYehova waba ‘nguMgwebi, uMmisi-mthetho, noKumkani walo.’ (Isa. 33:22) Imbali yamaSirayeli ichaza oko kwenzekayo xa imilinganiselo elungileyo kaThixo ithotyelwa naxa ingathotyelwa. Ekubeni uMthetho wawukwalela ukutshata nabahedeni nokunqula izithixo, wawenzelwe ukukhusela inzala ka-Abraham ekubhangisweni.—Eks 20:4-6; 34:12-16.
Ufundo LweBhayibhile
(Isaya 30:22-33) Kwaye nimele niwenze inqambi umaleko wemifanekiso yenu eqingqiweyo yesilivere nesigqubuthelo esingena gingci somfanekiso wenu otyhidiweyo wegolide. Uya kubachithachitha. Njengomfazi osexesheni, uya kuthi kuwo: “Luthuli nje!”23 Yaye ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuyinika imvula imbewu yakho oyihlwayeleyo emhlabeni, nesonka njengemveliso yomhlaba, otyebileyo noneoli. Imfuyo yakho iya kudla ngaloo mini kwidlelo eliphangaleleyo. 24 Kwaye iinkomo namaesile akhule ngokupheleleyo alima umhlaba aya kutya ukutya kwezilwanyana okunongwe ngomuncwane, okweliweyo ngomhlakulo nefolokhwe. 25 Naphezu kwazo zonke iintaba eziphakamileyo naphezu kweenduli zonke eziphakamileyo kumele kubekho imisinga, imijelo yamanzi, ngemini yokubulala kakhulu ngogonyamelo xa kusiwa iinqaba ezinkulu. 26 Nokukhanya kwenyanga ehlangeneyo kumele kube njengokukhanya kwelanga eliqaqambileyo; yaye kona kanye ukukhanya kwelanga eliqaqambileyo kuya kuphindwa kasixhenxe, njengokukhanya kweemini ezisixhenxe, ngemini yokubopha kukaYehova ukuwa kwabantu bakhe aze aphilise kwanenxeba elikhulu elibangelwe kukubethwa nguye. 27 Khangela! Igama likaYehova liza livela kude, livutha ngomsindo wakhe nangamafu angqingqwa. Yona ke imilebe yakhe, izele sisiqalekiso, nolwimi lwakhe lunjengomlilo oqwengayo. 28 Nomoya wakhe unjengomsinga okhukulayo ofikelela entanyeni, ukuze ahluze iintlanga ngentluzo engento yanto; nomkhala obangela umntu abhadule uya kuba semihlathini yezizwana. 29 Niya kuba nengoma enjalo ngobusuku ubani azingcwalisele umthendeleko, nemihlali yentliziyo enjengeyalowo uhamba enembande ukuya kungena entabeni kaYehova, kwiLiwa lakwaSirayeli. 30 Ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova uya kusivakalisa isidima selizwi lakhe, akubonakalise ukuhla kwengalo yakhe, ngokubhabhama komsindo nedangatye lomlilo oqwengayo nokuphalazeka kwelifu nesiphango namatye esichotho. 31 Kuba ngenxa yelizwi likaYehova iAsiriya iya kungenwa lunkwantyo; uya kuyibetha nangentonga. 32 Kwaye konke ukuphakama kwentonga abetha ngayo oko uYehova aya kukubangela kuhlale phezu kweAsiriya ngokuqinisekileyo kuya kuba ngeentambula neehadi; yaye ngamadabi okuvonyavonya uya kulwa nxamnye nabo. 33 Kuba iTofete yakhe imiswe ngolungelelwano ukususela kumaxesha akutshanje; ilungiselelwe ukumkani ngokwakhe. Uyenze yanzulu imfumba yayo. Kukho umlilo neenkuni ezininzi. Impefumlo kaYehova, njengomsinga wesalfure, iyayitshisa.
JANUWARI 16-22
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO ISAYA 34-37
“UHezekiya Wavuzwa Ngokholo Lwakhe”
(Isaya 36:1) Kwathi ngonyaka weshumi elinesine kaKumkani uHezekiya uSenaribhe ukumkani waseAsiriya wenyuka nxamnye nazo zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaYuda waza wazithimba.
(Isaya 36:4-10) Ngako oko uRabheshake wathi kubo: “Khanincede, nithi kuHezekiya, ‘Utsho ukumkani omkhulu, ukumkani waseAsiriya, ukuthi: “Uthembele ngantoni na? 5 Uthe (kodwa lilizwi lemilebe), ‘Kukho icebo namandla emfazwe.’ Ke kaloku ukholose ngabani na, njengokuba undivukele nje? 6 Khangela! Ukholose ngenkxaso yale ngcongolo ityumkileyo, iYiputa, leyo, ukuba umntu unokuxhathisa ngayo, ngokuqinisekileyo ingangena entendeni yakhe ize iyihlabe. Unjalo uFaro ukumkani waseYiputa kubo bonke abo bakholose ngaye. 7 Ukuba kunokwenzeka uthi kum, ‘Sikholose ngoYehova uThixo wethu,’ asinguye na lowo uHezekiya ashenxise iindawo zakhe eziphakamileyo nezibingelelo zakhe, ngoxa esithi kuYuda neYerusalem, ‘Ufanele uqubude phambi kwesi sibingelelo’?” ’ 8 Ke kaloku, khawuncede, ubheje nenkosi yam ukumkani waseAsiriya, ndokunika amawaka amabini amahashe ukuze sibone enoba unganako na ukubeka abakhweli kuwo. 9 Uya kuthini na, ngoko, ukubujika ubuso berhuluneli enye yabakhonzi benkosi yam abangabona bancinane, ngoxa wena ukholose ngeYiputa ngeenqwelo nabakhweli-mahashe? 10 Ke kaloku andigunyaziswanga nguYehova na ukuba ndize kulonakalisa eli lizwe? UYehova uthe kum, ‘Nyuka nxamnye neli lizwe, uze ulonakalise.’ ”
(Isaya 36:15) Yaye ningamvumeli uHezekiya anibangele nikholose ngoYehova, esithi: “UYehova uya kusihlangula ngokuqinisekileyo. Esi sixeko asiyi kunikelwa esandleni sikakumkani waseAsiriya.”
(Isaya 36:18-20) Ukuze uHezekiya anganilukuhli, esithi, ‘UYehova uya kusihlangula.’ Ngaba ngamnye koothixo beentlanga uye walihlangula ilizwe lakhe esandleni sokumkani waseAsiriya? 19 Baphi na oothixo baseHamati neArpadi? Baphi na oothixo baseSefarvayim? Baye bayihlangula na iSamariya esandleni sam? 20 Ngabaphi na phakathi kwabo bonke oothixo bala mazwe abaye balihlangula ilizwe labo esandleni sam ukuba ade uYehova ayihlangule iYerusalem esandleni sam?” ’ ”
Ukuvuzwa Kokholo Lukakumkani
URabheshake Ubaphethel’ Imbengwane
7 USenaribhe uthumela eYerusalem uRabheshake (eli ligama lasebukhosini, kungekhona igama lakhe lobuqu) kunye nezinye iziphathamandla ezibini ukuba ziboyisele ekubeni basinikezele eso sixeko. (2 Kumkani 18:17) Bona bahlangatyezwa ngaphandle kodonga lwesixeko ngabameli abathathu bakaHezekiya, uEliyakim ongumongameli wendlu kaHezekiya, uShebhena ongunobhala, noYowa unyana ka-Asafu ongumgcini wengxelo.—Isaya 36:2, 3.
8 Injongo kaRabheshake inye nje—kukoyisela iYerusalem ukuba inikezele ngaphandle kokulwa. Ethetha ngesiHebhere, uqala ngokudanduluka athi: “Uthembele ngantoni na? . . . Ukholose ngabani na, njengokuba undivukele nje?” (Isaya 36:4, 5) Ukusuk’ apho uRabheshake uyawagculela la maYuda angenwe luloyiko, ewakhumbuza ukuba akanabani wakuwancedisa. Ngubani oza kuba yintonga yawo esekhosi? Ngaba yiYiputa, efana nje ‘nengcongolo etyumkileyo’? (Isaya 36:6) Iz’ be ke nyani ngelo xesha, iYiputa ebikade iligunya lehlabathi ibifana nje nengcongolo etyumkileyo; iye yoyiswa okwethutyana yiTiyopiya, kangangokuba noFaro waseYiputa, uKumkani uTiraka, akangomYiputa kodwa ngumTiyopiya. Yaye naye sele eza koyiswa yiAsiriya. (2 Kumkani 19:8, 9) Ekubeni iYiputa ingenakuzisindisa yona ngokwayo, ayinakumnceda nganto uYuda.
9 Ngoku uRabheshake uma ngelithi uYehova akazukubalwela abantu Bakhe kuba akakholiswanga ngabo. Uthi uRabheshake: “Ukuba kunokwenzeka uthi kum, ‘Sikholose ngoYehova uThixo wethu,’ asinguye na lowo uHezekiya ashenxise iindawo zakhe eziphakamileyo nezibingelelo zakhe.” (Isaya 36:7) Kambe ke, kunokuba amaYuda amgatye uYehova ngokudiliza kwawo iindawo eziphakamileyo nezibingelelo elizweni, aye eneneni abuyela kuYehova.
10 Wandula uRabheshake awakhumbuze amaYuda ukuba umkhosi wawo awuyonto xa uthelekiswa nowakhe. Uwacel’ umngeni ngekratshi esithi: “Ndokunika amawaka amabini amahashe ukuze sibone enoba unganako na ukubeka abakhweli kuwo.” (Isaya 36:8) Phofu ke, ngaba ngenene benza umahluko na ubukhulu okanye ubuncinane bomkhosi wamahashe kaYuda? Akunjalo, kuba usindiso lukaYuda aluxhomekekanga kubukhulu bamandla omkhosi wakhe. IMizekeliso 21:31 icacisa ngelithi: “Ihashe lilungiselelwa imini yedabi, kodwa usindiso lolukaYehova.” Kwakhona uRabheshake uthi uYehova usikelela ama-Asiriya, kungekhona amaYuda. Atsho esithi, ukuba bekungenjalo ama-Asiriya ngengakwazanga ukugqobhozela angene kummandla kaYuda.—Isaya 36:9, 10.
11 Abameli bakaHezekiya baxhalabele ukuba ezi ntetho zikaRabheshake zingawawexula amadoda amvayo ahleli phezu kodonga lwesixeko. Ngoko la magosa amaYuda ayamcela, esithi: “Khawuncede, uthethe kubakhonzi bakho ngolwimi lwaseSiriya, kuba siphulaphule; ungathethi kuthi ngolwimi lwamaYuda ezindlebeni zabantu abaseludongeni.” (Isaya 36:11) Kodwa uRabheshake akazimiselanga tu ukuthetha ngolwimi lwaseSiriya. Ufuna ukuba amaYuda athandabuze aze oyike ukuze anikezele, ize iYerusalem yoyiswe ngaphandle kokulwa! (Isaya 36:12) Ngenxa yoko lo mAsiriya uyaqhubeka ethetha “ngolwimi lwamaYuda.” Ubalumkisa ngelithi abemi baseYerusalem: “Ningamvumeli uHezekiya anikhohlise, kuba akanako ukunihlangula.” Emva koku, uzama ukubalinga abo baphulaphuleyo ngokubanika umfanekiso-ngqondweni wendlela amaYuda anokuphila ngayo phantsi kolawulo lwama-Asiriya, esithi: “Nikezela uze kum nize nidle ngamnye kumdiliya wakhe nakumkhiwane wakhe nize nisele amanzi ngamnye equleni lakhe, ndide ndifike ndinithabathele kwilizwe elinjengelizwe lenu, ilizwe lokudla okuziinkozo newayini entsha, ilizwe lesonka nezidiliya—Isaya 36:13-17.
12 AmaYuda akazukuba nasivuno kulo nyaka—ukuhlaselwa kwawo ngama-Asiriya kuye kwawaphazamisa akakwazi ukulima. Ithemba lokutya iidiliya ezinencindi nelokusela amanzi abandayo limel’ ukuba linomtsalane kakhulu kumadoda aphulaphuleyo aseludongeni. Kodwa uRabheshake akakagqibi ukuwatheza amandla amaYuda.
13 Kwimigudu yakhe yokuwapheka ewophula, ngoku uRabheshake uzama qhinga limbi. Ulumkisa amaYuda ukuba angamkholelwa uHezekiya ukuba unokuthi: “UYehova uya kusihlangula.” URabheshake ukhumbuza amaYuda ukuba oothixo bamaSamariya abakwazanga ukukhusela izizwe ezilishumi ukuba zingoyiswa ngama-Asiriya. Yaye kuthekani ngoothixo bezinye iintlanga ezoyiswe yiAsiriya? Ezingomb’ isifuba uthi: “Baphi na oothixo baseHamati neArpadi? Baphi na oothixo baseSefarvayim? Baye bayihlangula na iSamariya esandleni sam?”—Isaya 36:18-20.
14 Phofu ke, uRabheshake, ongumnquli woothixo bobuxoki, akaqondi ukuba kukho umahluko omkhulu phakathi kweSamariya ewexukileyo kunye neYerusalem ephantsi kolawulo lukaHezekiya. Oothixo bobuxoki baseSamariya babengenamandla okusindisa ubukhosi bezizwe ezilishumi. (2 Kumkani 17:7, 17, 18) Kwelinye icala, iYerusalem phantsi kolawulo lukaHezekiya ibanikele umva oothixo bobuxoki yaza yabuyela ekukhonzeni uYehova. Noko ke, abameli abathathu bamaYuda abazidubi ngokukuchaza oko kuRabheshake. “Bathi cwaka, abaphendula, kuba umyalelo kakumkani wawusithi: ‘Nize ningamphenduli.’ ” (Isaya 36:21) UEliyakim, uShebhena noYowa babuyela kuHezekiya baze bamchazele ngokusesikweni amazwi kaRabheshake.—Isaya 36:22.
(Isaya 37:1, 2) Wathi akukuva oko uKumkani uHezekiya, ngoko nangoko wazikrazula izambatho zakhe waza wazigqubuthela ngamarhonya waya endlwini kaYehova. 2 Ngokubhekele phaya, wathumela uEliyakim owayongamele indlu, noShebhena unobhala namadoda amakhulu ababingeleli begqubuthele ngamarhonya ukuba baye kuIsaya unyana ka-Amotsi umprofeti.
(Isaya 37:14-20) UHezekiya wayithabatha incwadi esandleni sabathunywa waza wayifunda, emva koko uHezekiya wenyuka waya endlwini kaYehova waza wayitwabulula phambi koYehova. 15 UHezekiya waqalisa ukuthandaza kuYehova, esithi: 16 “Owu Yehova wemikhosi, Thixo kaSirayeli, ohleli phezu kweekherubhi, nguwe wedwa uThixo oyinyaniso kuzo zonke izikumkani zomhlaba. Nguwe owenze amazulu nomhlaba. 17 Thoba indlebe yakho, Yehova, uve. Vula amehlo akho, Yehova, ubone, uweve onke amazwi athunyelwe nguSenaribhe ukuze angcikive uThixo ophilayo. 18 Yinyaniso, Yehova, ukuba ookumkani baseAsiriya bawaphanzisile onke amazwe, nelizwe labo. 19 Noothixo bawo batshiswa ngomlilo, ngenxa yokuba babengengabo oothixo, kodwa babengumsebenzi wezandla zomntu, umthi nelitye, babatshabalalisa ke. 20 Ke kaloku, Yehova Thixo wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe, ukuze zonke izikumkani zomhlaba zazi ukuba wena, Yehova, nguwe wedwa [uThixo].”
Ukuvuzwa Kokholo Lukakumkani
UHezekiya Wenza Isigqibo
15 Ngoku uKumkani uHezekiya umele enze isigqibo. Ngaba uza kuyinikela iYerusalem kuma-Asiriya? ngaba uza kumanyana neYiputa? okanye ngaba uza kuba nenkalipho aze alwe? Ingqondo kaHezekiya ithath’ ibeka. Uya etempileni kaYehova, aze kwangaxeshanye athume uEliyakim noShebhena, namadoda amakhulu ababingeleli, ukuba baye kubuzisa kuYehova ngomprofeti uIsaya. (Isaya 37:1, 2) Aba bameli bakakumkani bafika kuIsaya benxibe amarhonya, baze bathi: “Le mini yimini yokubandezeleka nokhalimelo nokugculela kokusa . . . Mhlawumbi uYehova uThixo wakho uya kuweva amazwi kaRabheshake, lowo ukumkani waseAsiriya inkosi yakhe yamthumela ukuba angcikive uThixo ophilayo, yaye uya kumphendulisa ngamazwi awavileyo uYehova uThixo wakho.” (Isaya 37:3-5) Ewe, ama-Asiriya acel’ umngeni uThixo ophilayo! Ngaba uYehova uza kunikel’ ingqalelo kungcikivo lwawo? Esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova uyawaqinisekisa amaYuda, esithi: “Ningoyiki ngenxa yamazwi eniwavileyo, abawathethileyo abalindi bakakumkani waseAsiriya benditshabhisa. Yabona, ndifaka umoya kuye, ukuba eve ingxelo aze abuyele kwilizwe lakhe; yaye ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kumbangela ukuba awe ngekrele kwilizwe lakhe.”—Isaya 37:6, 7.
16 Ebudeni belo thuba, uRabheshake uyabizwa ukuba aye kuncedisa ukumkani uSenaribhe ekulweni neLibhena. USenaribhe uza kuphinda ayihlasele kamva iYerusalem. (Isaya 37:8) Sekunjalo, ukumka kukaRabheshake akumziseli siqabu uHezekiya. USenaribhe uthumela iileta ezisongelayo ezichaza oko abemi baseYerusalem banokukulindela ukuba bayala ukunikezela, esithi: “Ukuvile oko ookumkani baseAsiriya bakwenzayo kuwo onke amazwe ngokuwatshabalalisa, uya kuhlangulwa na wena? Ngaba oothixo beentlanga ezonakaliswa ngookhokho bam bazihlangula na? . . . Uphi na ukumkani waseHamati nokumkani waseArpadi nokumkani wesixeko saseSefarvayim—waseHena nowaseIva?” (Isaya 37:9-13) Lilonke, lo mAsiriya uthi akukho ngqiqweni ukuxhathisa—kuya kufana nje nokuzinqikela ilitye elineembovane!
17 Eyixhalabele ngokunzulu imiphumo yesigqibo amele asenze, uHezekiya uzandlala phambi kukaYehova etempileni iileta zikaSenaribhe. (Isaya 37:14) Ubongoza uYehova ngomthandazo osuk’ entliziyweni ukuba anikel’ ingqalelo kwizisongelo zeAsiriya, aze awuqukumbele umthandazo wakhe ngamazwi athi: “Ke kaloku, Yehova Thixo wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe, ukuze zonke izikumkani zomhlaba zazi ukuba wena, Yehova, nguwe wedwa uThixo.” (Isaya 37:15-20) Oku kubonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba eyona nto uHezekiya ayixhalabele ngokuyintloko, asikokuhlangulwa kwakhe, kodwa lugculelo oluya kuziswa egameni likaYehova ukuba iAsiriya iyayoyisa iYerusalem.
(Isaya 37:33-38) “ ‘Ngoko ke utsho uYehova wemikhosi ngokuphathelele ukumkani waseAsiriya ukuthi: “Akayi kungena kwesi sixeko, engayi kutola notolo apho, okanye eze enekhaka, okanye asibiyele ngomsele wokungqinga.” ’ 34 ‘Uya kubuya ngendlela eze ngayo, yaye akayi kungena kwesi sixeko,’ utsho uYehova. 35 ‘Ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kusikhusela esi sixeko ukuze ndisisindise ngenxa yam nangenxa kaDavide umkhonzi wam.’ ” 36 Yaye kwaphuma ingelosi kaYehova yaza yaxabela ikhulu elinamashumi asibhozo anesihlanu lamawaka enkampini yama-Asiriya. Ekuvukeni kwabantu ekuseni, khangela, bonke babefile bezizidumbu. 37 Ngenxa yoko uSenaribhe ukumkani waseAsiriya wanduluka wemka, wabuya wahlala eNineve. 38 Wathi esaqubuda endlwini kaNiseroki uthixo wakhe, uAdrameleki noSharezere, oonyana bakhe, bamxabela ngekrele, baza bona basabela kwilizwe laseArarati. UEsar-hadon unyana wakhe walawula esikhundleni sakhe.
Ukuvuzwa Kokholo Lukakumkani
18 UYehova usebenzisa uIsaya ekuphenduleni umthandazo kaHezekiya. Uthi iYerusalem mayinganikezeli kwiAsiriya; mayime nkqi ngenkalipho. Ebhekisa kuSenaribhe, uIsaya usidlulisela ngenkalipho isigidimi sikaYehova esiya kwiAsiriya, esithi: “Intombi enyulu yaseZiyon ikudelile, ikugculele. Intombi yaseYerusalem iye yahlunguzela intloko emva kwakho [ikugculela].” (Isaya 37:21, 22) Ngokungathi kunjalo, wandula uYehova ongezelele athi: ‘Xa ubungubani wena ukuba ungade ungcikive Lowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli? Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho. Unamabhongo amakhulu; uqhayisa kakhulu. Ukholose ngezixhobo zakho zemfazwe waza woyisa amazwe amaninzi. Kodwa nawe uza koyiswa. Ndiza kuwatshitshisa amacebo akho. Ndiza kukoyisa. Ndandule ke ndenze kuwe njengoko wenzile kwabanye. Ndiza kufaka igwegwe empumlweni yakho ndize ndikubuyisele eAsiriya!’—Isaya 37:23-29.
“Nguwo Lo Umqondiso Kuwe”
19 Sisiphi isiqinisekiso anaso uHezekiya sokuba isiprofeto sikaIsaya siza kuzaliseka? UYehova uyaphendula, esithi: “Nguwo lo umqondiso kuwe: Kulo nyaka kuya kudliwa ummilela, ngonyaka wesibini isihlabane; kodwa ngonyaka wesithathu nohlwayela imbewu, nivune, nityale izidiliya nize nidle iziqhamo zazo.” (Isaya 37:30) UYehova uza kuwanika ukutya la maYuda avalelekileyo. Nangona engakwazi ukutyala imbewu ngenxa yokuxinwa ngama-Asiriya, aza kudla ngokubhikica isivuno sanyakenye. Ngonyaka olandelayo, unyaka wesabatha, amele awayeke amasimi abe lifusi, nangona exinezelekile. (Eksodus 23:11) UYehova uthembisa ukuthi ukuba aba bantu bayaliphulaphula ilizwi lakhe, aya kuchuma amasimi abo abe nokudla okuziinkozo okwaneleyo kokubondla. Kwandule ke, ngonyaka olandelayo, bahlwayele imbewu njengesiqhelo baze banandiphe isiqhamo somsebenzi wabo.
20 Ngoku uYehova uthelekisa abantu bakhe nesityalo esingenakuncothulwa lula, esithi: “Abo basindileyo bendlu kaYuda . . . ngokuqinisekileyo baya kumila ingcambu phantsi baze bavelise isiqhamo phezulu.” (Isaya 37:31, 32) Ewe, abo bakholose ngoYehova aboyiki nto. Bona nenzala yabo baya kuhlala beqinile elizwen.
21 Kuthekani ngezisongelo zeAsiriya nxamnye neYerusalem? UYehova uphendula athi: “Akayi kungena kwesi sixeko, engayi kutola notolo apho, okanye eze enekhaka, okanye asibiyele ngomsele wokungqinga. Uya kubuya ngendlela eze ngayo, yaye akayi kungena kwesi sixeko.” (Isaya 37:33, 34) Lilonke, akukho dabi liza kuliwa yiAsiriya neYerusalem. Yaye ngokumangalisayo, ngama-Asiriya, kungekhona amaYuda, aza koyiswa ngaphandle kokulwa.
22 Kanye njengoko ebetshilo, uYehova uthumela isithunywa ukuba sixabele amalungu aphambili omkhosi kaSenaribhe—amadoda ali-185 000. Kubonakala ukuba oku kwenzeka eLibhena, yaye ekuvukeni kwakhe uSenaribhe ubona iinkokeli, neenkosana, kwanamadoda omeleleyo omkhosi wakhe equngquluzile. Efile ziintloni, ubuyela eNineve, kodwa phezu kwako nje ukoyiswa kwakhe, uqhubeka ezinikele ngenkani kuthixo wakhe wobuxoki uNiseroki. Kwiminyaka ethile kamva, ngoxa wayenqula etempileni kaNiseroki, uSenaribhe ugwintwa ngoonyana bakhe ababini. Kwakhona, loo Niseroki ongaphiliyo ungqineka engenamandla okumsindisa.—Isaya 37:35-38.
Ukwemba Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
(Isaya 35:8) Ngokuqinisekileyo kuya kubakho uhola wendlela apho; uya kubizwa ngokuba yiNdlela Yobungcwele. Lowo ungahlambulukanga akayi kudlula kuwo. Kwaye uya kuba ngowalowo uhamba endleleni, akukho zidenge ziya kubhadulela kuwo.
Sukela ‘Ubungcwele Usoyika UThixo’
‘Kuya Kubakho INdlela Yobungcwele’
UYehova waxela kwangaphambili ukuba abantu bakhe ababethinjelwe eBhabhiloni babeza kubuyiselwa kwilizwe labo. Kwisiprofeto sokubuyiselwa kwabo siva esi siqinisekiso: “Ngokuqinisekileyo kuya kubakho uhola wendlela apho; uya kubizwa ngokuba yiNdlela Yobungcwele.” (Isa. 35:8a) La mazwi abonisa ukuba uYehova wayengayi kwanela nje ukuwabuyisela kwilizwe lawo amaYuda kodwa wayeza kuqinisekisa nokukhuseleka kwawo endleleni eya apho.
Sukela ‘Ubungcwele Usoyika UThixo’
“Lowo Ungahlambulukanga Akayi Kudlula Kuwo”
Ngowama-537 B.C.E., amaYuda awayebuya ekuthinjweni kwafuneka athobele imilinganiselo ethile ebalulekileyo. Ethetha ngabo babefanelekela ukuhamba kuhola ‘weNdlela Yobungcwele,’ uIsaya 35:8b uthi: “Lowo ungahlambulukanga akayi kudlula kuwo. Kwaye uya kuba ngowalowo uhamba endleleni, akukho zidenge ziya kubhadulela kuwo.” Ekubeni injongo yokubuyela kwamaYuda eYerusalem yayikukuvuselela unqulo olunyulu, yayingayi kubakho indawo yabo bazingcayo, abangazixabisiyo izinto ezingcwele, okanye abangacocekanga ngokomoya. Ababuyele apho kwakufuneka bahlale benemilinganiselo kaYehova ephakamileyo yokuziphatha. Abanqwenela ukukholisa uThixo namhlanje kufuneka baphile ngemilinganiselo efanayo. Bamele basukele ‘ubungcwele besoyika uThixo.’ (2 Kor. 7:1) Ziziphi ke izenzo ezingahlambulukanga esimele siziphephe?
(Isaya 36:2, 3) Ukumkani waseAsiriya wathumela uRabheshake evela eLakishe ukuba aye eYerusalem, kuKumkani uHezekiya, nomkhosi wamajoni omkhulu, yaye wema ngxi ngakumsele wechibi eliphezulu kuhola wendlela wentsimi yomcoci weempahla. 3 Ngoko uEliyakim unyana kaHilekiya, owayongamele indlu weza kuye, noShebhena unobhala noYowa unyana ka-Asafu owayegcina ingxelo.
(Isaya 36:22) Kodwa uEliyakim unyana kaHilekiya, owayongamele indlu, noShebhena unobhala noYowa unyana ka-Asafu owayegcina ingxelo beza kuHezekiya bezikrazule izambatho zabo, baza bamxelela la mazwi kaRabheshake.
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaIsaya—II
Oko Sikufundayo:
36:2, 3, 22. Nangona uShebhena washenxiswa kwisikhundla sakhe sokuba ligosa, wavunyelwa ukuba aqhubeke engunobhala kakumkani esikhundleni salowo wayeligosa endaweni yakhe. (Isaya 22:15, 19) Ukuba ngesizathu esithile siye sarhoxiswa ekwenzeni umsebenzi othile entlanganweni kaYehova, ngaba asimele siqhubeke sikhonza uThixo enoba usinike yiphi imbopheleleko?
Ufundo LweBhayibhile
(Isaya 36:1-12) Ngonyaka weshumi elinesine kaKumkani uHezekiya uSenaribhe ukumkani waseAsiriya wenyuka nxamnye nazo zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaYuda waza wazithimba. 2 Ekugqibeleni ukumkani waseAsiriya wathumela uRabheshake evela eLakishe ukuba aye eYerusalem, kuKumkani uHezekiya, nomkhosi wamajoni omkhulu, yaye wema ngxi ngakumsele wechibi eliphezulu kuhola wendlela wentsimi yomcoci weempahla. 3 Ngoko uEliyakim unyana kaHilekiya, owayongamele indlu weza kuye, noShebhena unobhala noYowa unyana ka-Asafu owayegcina ingxelo. 4 Ngako oko uRabheshake wathi kubo: “Khanincede, nithi kuHezekiya, ‘Utsho ukumkani omkhulu, ukumkani waseAsiriya, ukuthi: “Uthembele ngantoni na? 5 Uthe (kodwa lilizwi lemilebe), ‘Kukho icebo namandla emfazwe.’ Ke kaloku ukholose ngabani na, njengokuba undivukele nje? 6 Khangela! Ukholose ngenkxaso yale ngcongolo ityumkileyo, iYiputa, leyo, ukuba umntu unokuxhathisa ngayo, ngokuqinisekileyo ingangena entendeni yakhe ize iyihlabe. Unjalo uFaro ukumkani waseYiputa kubo bonke abo bakholose ngaye. 7 Ukuba kunokwenzeka uthi kum, ‘Sikholose ngoYehova uThixo wethu,’ asinguye na lowo uHezekiya ashenxise iindawo zakhe eziphakamileyo nezibingelelo zakhe, ngoxa esithi kuYuda neYerusalem, ‘Ufanele uqubude phambi kwesi sibingelelo’?” ’ 8 Ke kaloku, khawuncede, ubheje nenkosi yam ukumkani waseAsiriya, ndokunika amawaka amabini amahashe ukuze sibone enoba unganako na ukubeka abakhweli kuwo. 9 Uya kuthini na, ngoko, ukubujika ubuso berhuluneli enye yabakhonzi benkosi yam abangabona bancinane, ngoxa wena ukholose ngeYiputa ngeenqwelo nabakhweli-mahashe? 10 Ke kaloku andigunyaziswanga nguYehova na ukuba ndize kulonakalisa eli lizwe? UYehova uthe kum, ‘Nyuka nxamnye neli lizwe, uze ulonakalise.’ ” 11 UEliyakim noShebhena noYowa bathi kuRabheshake: “Khawuncede, uthethe kubakhonzi bakho ngolwimi lwaseSiriya, kuba siphulaphule; ungathethi kuthi ngolwimi lwamaYuda ezindlebeni zabantu abaseludongeni.” 12 Kodwa uRabheshake wathi: “Ngaba inkosi yam indithume ukuba ndiwathethe kwinkosi yakho nakuwe na la mazwi? Ayindithumanga kubantu abahleli eludongeni na, ukuze badle ilindle labo basele nomchamo wabo kunye nani?”
JANUWARI 23-29
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO ISAYA 38-42
‘UYehova Unika Odiniweyo Amandla’
(Isaya 40:25, 26) “Ningandifanisa nabani, ndilingane naye?” utsho Lowo Ungcwele. 26 “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nize nibone. Ngubani na odale ezi zinto? NguLowo uzisa umkhosi wazo kanye ngokwenani, uzibiza nangegama xa zizonke. Ngenxa yamandla amakhulu, kanjalo womelele ngamandla, akukho nanye esalayo.
“Thuthuzelani Abantu Bam”
“Ngubani Na Odale Ezi Zinto??”
23 Kusekho nesinye isizathu sokuba amaYuda asekuthinjweni emele akhuthazeke. Lowo uthembisa ukuwakhulula unguMdali wezinto zonke noMthombo wawo onke amandla amakhulu. Ekugxininiseni ubukhulu bamandla akhe, uYehova utsalel’ ingqalelo kwindalo yakhe, esithi: “ ‘Ningandifanisa nabani, ndilingane naye?’ utsho Lowo Ungcwele. ‘Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nize nibone. Ngubani na odale ezi zinto? NguLowo uzisa umkhosi wazo kanye ngokwenani, uzibiza nangegama xa zizonke. Ngenxa yamandla amakhulu, kanjalo womelele ngamandla, akukho nanye esalayo.’ ”—Isaya 40:25, 26.
24 Lowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli uzithethela ngokwakhe. Ukubonisa ukuba akanakulinganiswa nanto, uYehova utsalel’ ingqalelo kwiinkwenkwezi ezisesibhakabhakeni. Njengokuba umphathi-mkhosi ekwazi ukwalathisa umkhosi wakhe, uYehova naye uyakwazi ukuziyalela iinkwenkwezi. Ukuba ebenokuzihlanganisa, ‘akukho nanye kuzo ebiya kusala.’ Nangona inani leenkwenkwezi lilikhulu, ubiza nganye ngegama, mhlawumbi ngegama layo lobuqu okanye isibizo. Kanye njengoko esenza amajoni athobelayo, nazo zihlala endaweni yazo zithobele imiyalelo, kuba iNkokeli yazo ‘inamandla amakhulu’ kwaye ‘yomelele ngamandla.’ Ngoko ke, amaYuda asekuthinjweni anesizathu sokuba nentembelo. UMdali oyalela iinkwenkwezi, unamandla okubaxhasa abakhonzi bakhe.
25 Ngubani na kuthi onokusicel’ umngeni isimemo sikaThixo esikuIsaya 40:26, esithi: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nize nibone”? Izazi ngeenkwenkwezi zale mihla zifumanise ukuba isibhakabhaka sibonakala siqhiphul’ umbilini ngakumbi ngoku kunangomhla kaIsaya. Izazi ngeenkwenkwezi ezondela isibhakabhaka ngeeteleskopu zazo ezinamandla ziqikelela ukuba ummandla obonakalayo wesibhakabhaka uneminyele yeenkwenkwezi eli-125 lamawaka ezigidi. Kwaye, omnye nje kuyo—umnyele obizwa ngokuba yiMilky Way—kuqikelelwa ukuba uneenkwenkwezi ezimalunga ne-100 lamawaka ezigidi! Oku kufanele kuxhokonxele iintliziyo zethu ukuba zimhlonele uMdali wethu size sikholose ngokupheleleyo ngezithembiso zakhe.
(Isaya 40:27, 28) Utsho ngasiphi na isizathu, wena Yakobi, nawe Sirayeli, ukuthi, ‘Indlela yam ifihlakele kuYehova, nokusesikweni kwam kuyadlula kuThixo wam’? 28 Akwazi na okanye akuvanga na? UYehova, uMdali weziphelo zomhlaba, unguThixo ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo. Akadinwa okanye atyhafe. Akugocagocwa ukuqonda kwakhe.
“Thuthuzelani Abantu Bam”
27 UIsaya uye wawabhala la mazwi kaYehova achaza indlela abavakalelwa ngayo aba bathinjwa baseBhabhiloni, kumakhulukhulu eekhilomitha kude nelizwe labo. Abanye bacinga ukuba “indlela” yabo—ubunzima bobomi babo—ayibonwa okanye ayaziwa nguThixo wabo. Bacinga ukuba uYehova akakukhathalele ukuphathwa kwabo ngokungekho sikweni. Bakhunjuzwa ngoko bafanele bakwazi, ukuba abakwazi ngokusuka kumava obuqu, ubuncinane kwinkcazelo abayifumene kwabangaphambili. UYehova unawo amandla kwanomnqweno wokubakhulula abantu bakhe. UnguThixo ongunaphakade noMdali womhlaba uphela. Usenawo laa mandla wawasebenzisa ekudaleni, yaye kwaneBhabhiloni eyomeleleyo ayinakumelana naye. UThixo ololo hlobo akanakudinwa okanye abaphoxe abantu bakhe. Abanakulindela ukuzazi ngokupheleleyo izenzo zikaYehova, kuba ukuqonda kwakhe—okanye ingqiqo yakhe—kungaphaya kwamandla abo.
(Isaya 40:29-31) Unika odiniweyo amandla; nalowo ungenamandla makhulu umenza aphuphume ukomelela okupheleleyo. 30 Amakhwenkwe aya kudinwa aze atyhafe, nabafana nakanjani na baya kukhubeka, 31 kodwa abo bathembela kuYehova baya kufumana amandla kwakhona. Baya kunyuka ngamaphiko njengeenkozi. Baya kubaleka baze bangatyhafi; baya kuhamba bangadinwa.”
“Thuthuzelani Abantu Bam”
29 Xa ethetha ngokunika odiniweyo amandla, uYehova usenokuba ucinga ngohambo oluyindinisa ekuza kufuneka aba bathinjwa baluthabathe ekubuyeleni kwabo ekhaya. UYehova uyabakhumbuza aba bantu bakhe ukuba usoloko ebanceda abatyhafileyo abafuna ukuxhaswa nguye. Kwanabona bantu badlamkileyo—“amakhwenkwe nabafana”—basenokuphelelwa ngamandla baze bakhubeke ngenxa yokudinwa. Ukanti, uYehova uthembisa ukubanika amandla—amandla angapheliyo okubaleka nawokuhamba—abo bakholose ngaye. Ukubhabha okubonakala kulula kokhozi, intaka enamandla ekwaziyo ukundanda kangangeeyure sihlandlo ngasinye, kusetyenziselwa ukuzekelisa indlela uYehova abanika ngayo amandla abakhonzi bakhe. Ekubeni eza kuxhaswa nguThixo, ngoko la maYuda asekuthinjweni akanasizathu sakuphelelwa lithemba.
30 Ezi ndinyana zokugqibela zikaIsaya isahluko 40 zinamazwi athuthuzelayo kumaKristu okwenyaniso aphila kwimihla yokugqibela yale nkqubo ingendawo yezinto. Ekubeni kukho iingcinezelo neengxaki ezininzi ezidandathekisayo, kuyakhuthaza ukwazi ukuba uThixo uyabubona ubunzima esibunyamezelayo kwanokuphathwa kwethu ngokungekho sikweni. Sinokuqiniseka ukuba uMdali wezinto zonke, Lowo ‘okuqonda kwakhe kungenakubaliswa,’ uza kukuphelisa konke okungekho sikweni ngexesha lakhe nangendlela yakhe. (INdumiso 147:5, 6) Okwangoku, akukho mfuneko yokuba sibulaleke sinyamezela ngamandla ethu. UYehova, onamandla angapheliyo, unako ukubomeleza—abanike “amandla angaphaya koko kuqhelekileyo”—abakhonzi bakhe xa bejamelene nezilingo.—2 Korinte 4:7.
31 Khawucinge ngaloo maYuda asekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. IYerusalem yawo yegugu, ekumgama weekhilomitha, iphanzisiwe, netempile yayo ingamabhodlo. Kuwo, esi siprofeto sikaIsaya sasinesithembiso esithuthuzelayo nesinik’ ithemba—uYehova wayeza kuwabuyisela ezweni lawo! Ngowama-537 B.C.E., uYehova wabakhokelela ekhayeni labo abantu bakhe, ezingqina enguMzalisekisi wezithembiso. Ngoko nathi sinokuba nentembelo epheleleyo kuYehova. Izithembiso zakhe eziphathelele uBukumkani, ezichazwe kakuhle kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya, ziza kuzaliseka. Ziindaba ezimnandi ngokwenene ezo—isigidimi esinik’ ithemba kuluntu luphela!
Ukwemba Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
(Isaya 38:17) Khangela! Uxolo lwam lwalububukrakra, ewe, ubukrakra;Yaye wena uye wanamathela emphefumlweni wam waza wawugcina emhadini wokudilika. Kuba uziphose emva kwakho zonke izono zam.
“UThixo Uluthando”
17 Kwingoma echukumisayo yokubulela eyaqanjwa nguHezekiya emva kokusindiswa kwakhe kwisifo esibulalayo, wathi kuYehova: “Uziphose emva kwakho zonke izono zam.” (Isaya 38:17) Apha uYehova uchazwa njengothabatha izono zomenzi-bubi oguqukileyo aze aziphose emva Kwakhe ukuze angabi sazibona okanye aphinde anikele ingqalelo kuzo. Ngokutsho kwenye incwadi, eyona ngcamango yala mazwi inokuchazwa ngokuthi: “Uye wazisusa [izono zam] kwangathi zange zibekho.” Ngaba akukhuthazi oko?
(Isaya 42:3) Ingcongolo etyumkileyo akayi kuyaphula; umsonto weflekisi olozizayo, akayi kuwucima. Uya kuzisa okusesikweni ngenyaniso.
Thobeka Uze Uthantamise NjengoYesu
13 Amazwi akhe athantamisayo. Ukuba novelwano kukaYesu kwamenza wathetha ngendlela ethantamisayo, ingakumbi kwabo babecinezelekile. Umpostile uMateyu wacaphula amazwi awathethwa nguIsaya ngoYesu. UIsaya wathi: “Ingcongolo etyumkileyo akayi kuyaphula; umsonto weflekisi olozizayo, akayi kuwucima.” (Isaya 42:3; Mateyu 12:20) Itheth’ ukuthini loo nto? UYesu wayengabaxhaphazi abanye abantu. Kunoko, wayethetha ngendlela ebahlaziyayo. Washumayela iindaba ezinik’ ithemba ‘kwabantliziyo zaphukileyo.’ (Isaya 61:1) Wathi abantu ‘ababulalekayo nabasindwa ngumthwalo’ mabeze kuye ukuze ‘bazifumanele ukuhlaziyeka.’ (Mateyu 11:28-30) Wathembisa abafundi bakhe ukuba uThixo uyabathantamisa abakhonzi bakhe, kuquka ‘abancinane,’ okanye abo babebonwa bengabalulekanga lihlabath.—Mateyu 18:12-14; Luka 12:6, 7.
Ufundo LweBhayibhile
(Isaya 40:6-17) Phulaphula! Uthile uthi: “Memeza!” Omnye uthi: “Ndiya kumemeza ndithini na?” “Yonke inyama iyingca eluhlaza, yaye bonke ububele bayo bothando bunjengentyatyambo yasendle. 7 Ingca eluhlaza yomile, intyatyambo ibunile, ngenxa yokuba umoya kaYehova uvuthuze kuyo. Ngokuqinisekileyo abantu bayingca eluhlaza. 8 Ingca eluhlaza yomile, intyatyambo ibunile; kodwa ke lona ilizwi loThixo wethu, liya kuhlala ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” 9 Nyuka uye entabeni ephakamileyo, wena mfazi uzisa iindaba ezilungileyo ngeZiyon. Liphakamise ngamandla ilizwi lakho, wena mfazi uzisa iindaba ezilungileyo ngeYerusalem. Liphakamise. Ungoyiki. Yithi kwizixeko zakwaYuda: “Nanku uThixo wenu.” 10 Khangela! INkosi enguMongami uYehova iya kuza kanye njengowomeleleyo, yaye ingalo yayo iya kulawula. Khangela! Umvuzo wayo unayo, nentlawulo eyihlawulayo iphambi kwayo. 11 Njengomalusi iya kuwalusa umhlambi wayo. Ngengalo yayo iya kuqokelela ndawonye amatakane; iya kuwathwala ngesifuba sayo. Ezo zanyisayo iya kuzikhaphela ngenyameko. 12 Ngubani na olinganise amanzi kumphakathi wesandla sakhe, walinganisa amazulu ngomolulo weminwe waza waquka nothuli lomhlaba emlinganiselweni, okanye olinganise iintaba ngesalathisi sobunzima, neenduli ngezikali? 13 Ngubani na olinganise umoya kaYehova, yaye ngubani na onokuthi njengendoda emcebisayo amazise nantoni na? 14 Wabhungisana nabani na ukuze lowo abe nokumqondisa, okanye ngubani na omfundisa umendo wokusesikweni, okanye omfundisa ukwazi, okanye amazise indlela yokuqonda kokwenene? 15 Khangela! Iintlanga zinjengethontsi e-emeleni; nanjengesuntswana lothuli ezikalini. Khangela! Uphakamisa iziqithi njengothuli nje olucolekileyo. 16 KwaneLebhanon ayikulingene ukugcina umlilo uvutha, nezilwanyana zayo zasendle azikulingene ukuba ngumnikelo otshiswayo. 17 Zonke iintlanga zinjengento engekhoyo phambi kwakhe; zigqalwe njengento engento nengeyonene kuye.
JANUWARI 30–FEBRUARY 5
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO ISAYA 43-46
“UYehova NguThixo Weziprofeto Zokwenyaniso”
(Isaya 44:26-28) Lowo wenza ilizwi lomkhonzi wakhe libe yinyaniso, naLowo uphumeza ngokupheleleyo icebo labathunywa bakhe; Lowo uthi ngeYerusalem, ‘Iya kumiwa,’ nothi ngezixeko zakwaYuda, ‘Ziya kubuya zakhiwe, neendawo zakhe eziphanzileyo ndiya kuzivusa’; 27 Lowo uthi emanzini anzongonzongo, ‘Yibani ngumphunga; nemilambo yakho yonke ndiya kuyomisa’; 28 Lowo uthi kuKoreshi, ‘Ngumalusi wam, yaye konke oko ndiyoliswa kuko uya kukuphumeza ngokupheleleyo’; athi ngeYerusalem, ‘Iya kubuya yakhiwe,’ nangetempile, ‘Siya kubekwa isiseko sakho.’ ”
UThixo Oyinyaniso Ukuxela Kwangaphambili Ukuhlangula Kwakhe
22 Abakhafuli abangaphefumlelwanga abadli ngakuba nabuganga bokuchaza izibakala xa bexela iziganeko zexesha elizayo ngokoyikela ukubhenceka bengamaxoki. Ngokwahlukileyo, yena uYehova, esebenzisa uIsaya, ude achaze nkqu igama lalowo aza kumsebenzisa ukukhulula abantu bakhe ekuthinjweni ukuze bakwazi ukubuyela ekhaya baze bayakhe kwakhona iYerusalem netempile. Igama lakhe nguKoreshi, yaye waziwa njengoKoreshi Omkhulu wasePersi. UYehova unikela kwaneenkcukacha zecebo uKoreshi aza kulisebenzisa ukuze angene eBhabhiloni nakubeni yayikhuseleke ngeyona ndlela. IBhabhiloni iza kube ikhuselwe ziindonga eziphakamileyo nayimijelokazi yamanzi ephumela nejikeleze eso sixeko. UKoreshi uza kuvula ikroba ngokuthi ajike indlela yokuhamba koMlambo umEfrate, ongumthombo waloo mijelokazi yamanzi. Ngokutsho kwababhali-mbali bamandulo uHerodotus noXenophon, uKoreshi wayijika indlela yokuhamba kwamanzi omEfrate, kummandla osemantla kweBhabhiloni, de wawutha ngokwaneleyo umlambo ukuze amajoni akhe akwazi ukungena ngawo. Ngoko umEfrate omkhulu waba ngumphunga, awakwazi ukuyikhusela iBhabhiloni.
23 Kuthekani ngesithembiso sokuba uKoreshi uza kubakhulula abantu bakaThixo aze aqinisekise ukuba iYerusalem netempile ziyakhiwa kwakhona? IBhayibhile ichaza isibhengezo sasemthethweni esenziwa nguKoreshi ngokwakhe, esithi: “Utsho uKoreshi ukumkani wasePersi ukuthi, ‘Zonke izikumkani zomhlaba uYehova uThixo wamazulu uzinike mna, yaye undimisele ukuba ndimakhele indlu eYerusalem, ekwaYuda. Nabani na ophakathi kwenu ebantwini bakhe bonke, wanga uThixo wakhe anganaye. Ngoko makenyuke aye eYerusalem, ekwaYuda, aze abuye akhe indlu kaYehova uThixo kaSirayeli—unguThixo oyinyaniso—eyayiseYerusalem.’ ” (Ezra 1:2, 3) Ilizwi likaYehova elivakaliswe nguIsaya lizaliseka ngokupheleleyo!
(Isaya 45:1, 2) Utsho uYehova kothanjisiweyo wakhe, kuKoreshi, osandla sakhe sokunene ndisibambileyo, ukuze ndoyise iintlanga phambi kwakhe, khon’ ukuze ndikhulule kwanemibhinqo ezinqeni zookumkani; ukuze ndivule phambi kwakhe iingcango ezivulwa ngambini, khon’ ukuze namasango angavalwa, ukuthi: 2 “Ndiya kuhamba phambi kwakho, neendawo ezithe fuku emhlabeni ndiya kuzityeneneza. Iingcango zobhedu ndiya kuziqhekeza, nemivalo yentsimbi ndiya kuyinqumla.
UYehova—“UThixo Olilungisa NoMsindisi”
4 Esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova uthetha noKoreshi ngokungathi uyaphila, nangona ngomhla kaIsaya uKoreshi wayengekazalwa. (Roma 4:17) Ekubeni uYehova emnyula kwangaphambili uKoreshi ukuba aphumeze umsebenzi okhethekileyo, ngoko uKoreshi unokubizwa ‘njengothanjisiweyo’ kaThixo. Ekhokelwa nguThixo, uza kuzoyisa iintlanga, nookumkani babe buthathaka baze batyhwatyhwe phambi kwakhe. Yaye xa uKoreshi ehlasela iBhabhiloni, uYehova uza kwenza ukuba amasango eso sixeko ashiywe evulekile, awenze angabi loncedo njengamasango aqhekeziweyo. Uza kuhamba phambi kukaKoreshi, asuse yonke imiqobo endleleni yakhe. Ekugqibeleni, imikhosi kaKoreshi iza kusoyisa eso sixeko ize ibuthabathe ‘ubuncwane baso obufihliweyo,’ ubutyebi baso obufihlwe koovimba abangaphantsi komhlaba. Oku koko uIsaya akuxela kwangaphambili. Ngaba amazwi akhe aye azaliseka?
5 Ngonyaka wama-539 B.C.E.—malunga nama-200 eminyaka emva kokubhala kukaIsaya esi siprofeto—uKoreshi uyafika ngokwenene kwiindonga zaseBhabhiloni eze kuhlasela eso sixeko. (Yeremiya 51:11, 12) Kodwa amaBhabhiloni akaxhalabanga kwaphela. Avakalelwa kukuba isixeko sawo asinakoyiswa. Iindonga zaso ezingoorhec’ izulu zijikelezwe yimijelo enzulu efumana amanzi kuMlambo umEfrate, ayinxalenye yenkqubo yokhuselo yeso sixeko. Ngaphezu kweminyaka elikhulu, akukho tshaba lukhe lwayiqubula iBhabhiloni! Kangangendlela aziva enqabiseke ngayo umlawuli waseBhabhiloni, uBheleshatsare, wenza itheko kunye nehlokondiba lakhe. (Daniyeli 5:1) Ngobo busuku—ubusuku bukaOktobha 5/6—uKoreshi uye waligqibezela icebo lakhe elisemagqabini lemfazwe.
6 Emantla eBhabhiloni, amagcisa kaKoreshi aye awajika amanzi oMlambo umEfrate ukuze angaqukuqeleli ngasemazantsi kweso sixeko. Kungabanga thuba lide, aye awutha amanzi omlambo angena eBhabhiloni nalawo akwimijelo eyijikelezileyo kangangokuba imikhosi kaKoreshi iye yakwazi ukugudla udonga lomlambo yangena kumbindi wesixeko. (Isaya 44:27; Yeremiya 50:38) Okumangalisayo kukuba, kanye njengokuba uIsaya wayexele kwangaphambili, amasango esixeko avulekile. Yagaleleka imikhosi kaKoreshi eBhabhiloni, yalithimba ibhotwe, yaza yambulala uKumkani uBheleshatsare. (Daniyeli 5:30) Baye boyisa ngobusuku nje obunye. IBhabhiloni iwile, saza sazaliseka ngokupheleleyo isiprofeto.
(Isaya 45:3-6) Ndiya kukunika ubuncwane ebumnyameni nobuncwane obufihliweyo kwiindawo ezifihlakeleyo, ukuze wazi ukuba ndinguYehova, Lowo ukubize ngegama lakho, uTHIXO kaSirayeli. 4 Ngenxa yomkhonzi wam uYakobi noSirayeli lowo unyuliweyo wam, ndakubiza ngegama lakho; ndakunika igama lembeko, nangona wawungandazi. 5 NdinguYehova, akakho omnye. Ngaphandle kwam akukho Thixo. Ndiya kukubhinqisa ngokuqinileyo, nangona ungandazanga, 6 ukuze abantu bazi ukususela ekuphumeni kwelanga nasekutshoneni kwalo ukuba akukho namnye ngaphandle kwam. NdinguYehova, akakho omnye.
UYehova—“UThixo Olilungisa NoMsindisi”
Isizathu Sokuba UYehova Akhethe UKoreshi
8 Emva kokuchaza lowo uza koyisa iBhabhiloni nendlela okuza kwenzeka ngayo oko, uYehova uhlabela mgama echaza esinye isizathu sokwenza kwakhe ukuba uKoreshi oyise. Ethetha ngokuprofetayo noKoreshi, uYehova uthi injongo ikukuze “wazi ukuba ndinguYehova, Lowo ukubize ngegama lakho, uThixo kaSirayeli.” (Isaya 45:3b) Kufanelekile ukuba lo mlawuli wegunya lesine lehlabathi lembali yeBhayibhile azi ukuba uloyiso lwakhe olukhulu lubangelwa ngulowo umkhulu kunaye—uYehova, uMongami Wendalo Iphela. UKoreshi ufanele avume ukuba lowo umbizayo, okanye umthumayo, nguYehova, uThixo kaSirayeli. Ingxelo yeBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba eneneni uKoreshi wavuma ukuba uloyiso lwakhe olukhulu lwaluvela kuYehova.—Ezra 1:2, 3.
9 UYehova uchaza isizathu sesibini sokuba enze uKoreshi oyise iBhabhiloni, esithi: “Ngenxa yomkhonzi wam uYakobi noSirayeli lowo unyuliweyo wam, ndakubiza ngegama lakho; ndakunika igama lembeko, nangona wawungandazi.” (Isaya 45:4) Ukoyisa kukaKoreshi iBhabhiloni kuye kwaba ngundaba-mlonyeni emhlabeni. Kuphawula ukuwa kwegunya lehlabathi nokuvela kwelinye, yaye kube sisiganeko sembali nakwizizukulwana ezilandelayo. Ukanti, iintlanga eziyingqongileyo eziziboneleyo ezi ziganeko zisenokukhwankqiswa kukwazi ukuba konke oku kwenzeke ngenxa nje yamawaka ambalwa “angabalulekanga” abathinjwa baseBhabhiloni—amaYuda, ayinzala kaYakobi. Noko ke, emehlweni kaYehova, olu hlanga lusindileyo lukaSirayeli wamandulo lubaluleke ngokwenene. ‘Lungumkhonzi’ wakhe. Kuzo zonke iintlanga ezisemhlabeni, lulo kuphela ‘alunyulileyo.’ Nangona uKoreshi wayengamazi uYehova ngaphambili, uye wasetyenziswa nguYehova njengomthanjiswa Wakhe ukuba abhukuqe isixeko esingavumanga ukukhulula abathinjwa baso. Asiyonjongo kaThixo ukuba abantu bakhe bakhonze ngonaphakade ezweni lasemzini.
10 Kukho nesesithathu isizathu esibaluleke ngakumbi sokuba uYehova asebenzise uKoreshi ukubhukuqa iBhabhiloni. UYehova uthi: “NdinguYehova, akakho omnye. Ngaphandle kwam akukho Thixo. Ndiya kukubhinqisa ngokuqinileyo, nangona ungandazanga, ukuze abantu bazi ukususela ekuphumeni kwelanga nasekutshoneni kwalo ukuba akukho namnye ngaphandle kwam. NdinguYehova, akakho omnye.” (Isaya 45:5, 6) Ewe, ukuwa kweGunya Lehlabathi laseBhabhiloni kubonisa ubuThixo bukaYehova, kububungqina kuwonke-wonke bokuba nguye kuphela ofanele anqulwe. Ngenxa yokuba abantu bakaThixo bekhululwe, iintlanga ezininzi—ukusuka empuma ukusa entshona—ziza kuvuma ukuba nguYehova kuphela uThixo wokwenyaniso.—Malaki 1:11.
Ukwemba Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
(Isaya 43:10-12) “Ningamangqina am,” utsho uYehova, “ningumkhonzi wam endimnyulileyo, ukuze nazi, nikholwe kum, niqonde ukuba ikwaNdim. Phambi kwam akuzange kuyilwe Thixo, nasemva kwam akubangakho namnye. 11 Mna—ke, ndinguYehova, yaye akukho msindisi ngaphandle kwam.” 12 “Mna ndixelile, ndasindisa, ndavakalisa, kungekho thixo wumbi phakathi kwenu. Ngoko nina ningamangqina am,” utsho uYehova, “yaye mna ndinguThixo.
“Abantu AbaThixo Wabo UnguYehova”
UHLANGA LWAMANGQINA
14 AmaSirayeli ayenqula uThixo wawo onguYehova, ngoxa ezinye iintlanga zazinqula abanye oothixo. Ngexesha lomprofeti uIsaya, uYehova wayisingatha le meko ngokungathi kusenkundleni. Wathi oothixo ababenqulwa zeziny’ iintlanga mabeze namangqina abo aze kubathethelela. Wayibeka kanje le nto: “Iintlanga zonke maziqokelelwe kwindawo enye, namaqela eentlanga ahlanganiselwe ndawonye. Ngubani na [omela izithixo] phakathi kwazo onokukuxela oku? Okanye zinako na ukusivisa kwanezinto zokuqala? Mazivelise amangqina azo, ukuze zibe nokuvakaliswa zingamalungisa, okanye mabeve baze bathi, ‘Yinyaniso!’ ”—Isa. 43:9.
15 Oothixo bezinye iintlanga abazange bakwazi ukuza nobungqina bokuba bakho ngokwenene. Babezizithixo nje ezingakwazi kuthetha nokuzihambela. (Isa. 46:5-7) Kweliny’ icala, uYehova yena wathi kubantu bakhe amaSirayeli: “Ningamangqina am, . . . ningumkhonzi wam endimnyulileyo, ukuze nazi, nikholwe kum, niqonde ukuba ikwaNdim. Phambi kwam akuzange kuyilwe Thixo, nasemva kwam akubangakho namnye. Mna—ke, ndinguYehova, yaye akukho msindisi ngaphandle kwam. . . . Ngoko nina ningamangqina am, yaye mna ndinguThixo.”—Isa. 43:10-12.
16 Njengamangqina asenkundleni, abantu bakaYehova abakhethileyo babemele baphendule ngokuvakalayo nangokucacileyo umbuzo othi, “Ngubani Oyena Thixo Uphakamileyo?,” bangqine ukuba uYehova ngoyena Thixo wokwenene. Wathi ‘bangabantu aziyilele bona, ukuze babalise indumiso yakhe.’ (Isa. 43:21) Babethwele igama lakhe. Ekubeni uYehova wayebahlangule eYiputa, wayelindele ukuba bamthobele ngokuzithandela baze bamzukise phambi kwezinye iintlanga kuba enguMongami. Babefanele benze kanye njengoko umprofeti uMika wayeprofetile ngabantu bakaThixo bale mihla, esithi: “Zonke izizwana ziya kuhamba ngasinye egameni lothixo waso; kodwa thina siya kuhamba egameni likaYehova uThixo wethu ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo, ewe ngonaphakade.”—Mika 4:5.
(Isaya 43:25) Mna—mna ndinguLowo ususa ukunxaxha kwakho ngenxa yam, kwaye izono zakho andiyi kuzikhumbula.
“Ningamangqina Am”!
24 Noko ke, phawula ukuba inceba kaThixo ayizukubangelwa nje kukuzisola kukaSirayeli; kodwa uYehova uza kuyibonakalisela injongo yakhe. Ewe, igama lakhe libandakanyekile. Ukuba ebenokumyekela ekuthinjweni ngokusisigxina uSirayeli, igama lakhe beliya kugculelwa ngababukeli. (INdumiso 79:9; Hezekile 20:8-10) Ngokukwanjalo namhlanje, ukusindiswa kwabantu akubalulekanga njengokungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova nokuthethelelwa kolongamo lwakhe. Sekunjalo, uYehova uyabathanda abo balwamkela ngokupheleleyo uqeqesho lwakhe nabamnqula ngomoya nangenyaniso. Ubonisa uthando lwakhe kubo—enoba ngabathanjisiweyo okanye abezinye izimvu—ngokuthi abushenxise ubugwenxa babo ngedini likaYesu Kristu.—Yohane 3:16; 4:23, 24.
Ufundo LweBhayibhile
(Isaya 46:1-13) UBhele ugobe phantsi, uNebho uyakhokhoba; izithixo zabo ziye zaba zezamarhamncwa nezilwanyana zasekhaya, imithwalo yabo, izinto ezithwalwayo, uxanduva kwizilwanyana ezidiniweyo. 2 Zimele zikhokhobe; zimele xa zizonke zigobe phantsi ngokufanayo; azinakukwazi nje kwaphela ukulusindisa uxanduva, kodwa imiphefumlo yazo imele iye ekuthinjweni. 3 “Khaniphulaphule kum, ndlu kaYakobi, nani nonke nina baseleyo bendlu kaSirayeli, nina nathwalwayo ndim ukususela esiswini, nina nanithwelwe ukususela esibelekweni. 4 Kwanasebudaleni bukabani isekwaNdim; nasekubeni ubani abe yingwevu ndiya kuqhubeka ndithwele. Ngokuqinisekileyo mna ndiya kusebenza, ukuze ndithwale nokuze ndifunqule ndize ndisindise. 5 Niya kundifanisa okanye nindilinganise okanye nindithelekise nabani na ukuze sifane? 6 Kukho abo bakhupha into eninzi yegolide enxilini, baze ngentonga yesikali balinganise isilivere. Baqesha umnyibilikisi, enze uthixo ngayo. Bayaqubuda, ewe, bathoba phantsi. 7 Bamthwala emagxeni, bamfunqule baze bambeke endaweni yakhe ukuze eme ngxi. Kuloo ndawo ami kuyo akasuki. Umntu udanduluka kuye, kodwa akaphenduli; akamsindisi ekubandezelekeni kwakhe. 8 Khumbulani oku, ukuze nibe nokuqina isibindi. Kubekeleni intliziyo, nina banxaxhayo. 9 Khumbulani izinto zakuqala zexesha lakudala, ukuba ndinguLowo Ungokobuthixo yaye akakho omnye uThixo, okanye nabani na onjengam. 10 Lowo uxela ukuphela kwasekuqaleni, kwakudala izinto ebezingekenziwa; Lowo uthi, ‘Icebo lam liya kuma, yaye yonk’ into endiyoliswa yiyo ndiya kuyenza.’ 11 Lowo ubiza intaka edla inyama empumalanga, nomntu wokuphumeza icebo lam kwilizwe elikude. Ndikuthethile oko; yaye ndiya kukuzisa. Ndikuyilile, yaye ndiya kukwenza. 12 Phulaphulani kum, nina bantliziyo ilukhuni, nina bakude nobulungisa. 13 Ndibusondezile ubulungisa bam. Abukho kude, nosindiso lwam aluyi kulibala. Yaye ndiya kunikela usindiso eZiyon, kuSirayeli ubuhle bamo.”