Abathunywa boxolo LobuThixo Bavakaliswa Benoyolo
“Abakhululwa bakaYehova babuye beze eZiyon bememelela; benovuyo olungunaphakade phezu kweentloko zabo.”—ISAYA 35:10.
1. Yintoni efunwa ngamehlw’ amnyama lihlabathi?
NAMHLANJE uluntu lufuna umthunywa weendaba ezilungileyo kunanini na ngaphambili. Kukho imfuneko engxamisekileyo yomntu oza kuxela inyaniso ngoThixo nangeenjongo zakhe, ingqina elingenadyudyu eliya kulumkisa abangendawo ngentshabalalo ezayo lize lincede abantliziyo zilungileyo bafumane uxolo lobuthixo.
2, 3. Kwimeko kaSirayeli, uYehova walizalisekisa njani idinga lakhe elibhalwe kuAmosi 3:7?
2 Ngemihla kaSirayeli, uYehova wathembisa ngokuthuma umthunywa onjalo. Ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesithoba ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, umprofeti uAmosi wathi: “Ayikhe yenze into iNkosi uYehova, ingathanga iluhlakaze ucweyo lwayo kubakhonzi bayo abaprofeti.” (Amosi 3:7) Emva kweenkulungwane ethethiwe la mazwi, uYehova wenza izenzo ezininzi zokubonakalisa amandla akhe. Ngokomzekelo, ngowama-607 B.C.E., wabohlwaya kanobom abantu bakhe abanyulileyo ngenxa yokuba babenemvukelo yaye benetyala legazi. Kwakhona wohlwaya iintlanga ezaziwangqongile ezazivuyelela uSirayeli ngenxa yokubandezeleka kwakhe. (Yeremiya, isahluko 46-49) Wandula ke, ngowama-539 B.C.E., uYehova wawisa igunya lehlabathi elalinamandla laseBhabhiloni, ibe ngenxa yoko, ngowama-537 B.C.E., intsalela yamaSirayeli yabuyela kwilizwe layo ukuze yakhe itempile kwakhona.—2 Kronike 36:22, 23.
3 Ezi yayiziziganeko ezibalulekileyo, ibe ngokuvisisana namazwi ka-Amosi, uYehova wazityhila kusengaphambili kubaprofeti ababekhonza njengabathunywa, belumkisa uSirayeli ngoko kwakuza kwenzeka. Phakathi kwenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, wavelisa uIsaya. Phakathi kwenkulungwane yesixhenxe ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, wavelisa uYeremiya. Wandula ke ngasekupheleni kwaloo nkulungwane, wavelisa uHezekile. Aba kunye nabanye abaprofeti ababethembekile banikela ubungqina obucokisekileyo ngeenjongo zikaYehova.
Ukufanisa Abathunywa BakaThixo Namhlanje
4. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uluntu lufuna abathunywa boxolo?
4 Kuthekani namhlanje? Abaninzi ehlabathini baziva benamanwele xa bebona ukuwohloka kwebutho labantu. Abo bathanda ubulungisa baba nentliziyo ebuhlungu xa bebona uhanahaniso nobungendawo obubonwa nanguthathatha kwiNgqobhoko. Njengoko uYehova waxela kwangaphambili ngoHezekile, ‘bayancwina ngenxa yamasikizi onke awenzekayo esazulwini sayo.’ (Hezekile 9:4) Noko ke, abaninzi abazazi iinjongo zikaYehova. Kufuneka baxelelwe.
5. UYesu wabonisa njani ukuba kwakuya kubakho abathunywa ngomhla wethu?
5 Ngaba namhlanje ukho umntu othetha ngokungenadyudyu njengoIsaya, uYeremiya noHezekile? UYesu wabonisa ukuba kukho umntu othile owayeza kwenjenjalo. Xa wayexela kwangaphambili ngeziganeko zomhla wethu, wathi: “Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kushunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo kube bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke kufike ukuphela.” (Mateyu 24:14) Ngubani namhlanje ozalisekisa esi siprofeto, okhonza njengomthunywa, umshumayeli weendaba ezilungileyo? Ukufana okukhoyo phakathi komhla wethu nexesha loSirayeli wamandulo kuyasinceda ukuba siphendule le mibuzo.
6. (a) Chaza amava ‘oSirayeli kaThixo’ ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala. (b) UHezekile 11:17 wazaliseka njani kuSirayeli wamandulo?
6 Ebudeni bexesha lobumnyama leMfazwe Yehlabathi I, abantu bakaYehova bale mihla, intsalela ‘yoSirayeli kaThixo’ othanjisiweyo, bathinjwa ngendlela efana twatse naleyo yamaSirayeli eBhabhiloni. (Galati 6:16) Bathinjwa ngokomoya yiBhabhiloni Enkulu, intlanganisela yehlabathi yonqulo lobuxoki, nethi iNgqobhoko itshotshe phambili kuyo yaye ibe yeyona inetyala. Noko ke, amazwi kaYehova kuHezekile abonisa ukuba babengalahlwanga kwesinomhlwa. Wathi: “Ndiya kunibutha ezizweni, ndinihlanganise emazweni enilusali kuwo, ndininike umhlaba wakwaSirayeli.” (Hezekile 11:17) Ukuze azalisekise elo dinga kuSirayeli wamandulo, uYehova wavelisa uKoreshi umPersi, owabhukuqa iGunya Lehlabathi laseBhabhiloni waza wavulela nentsalela yamaSirayeli indlela ebuyela kwilizwe lawo. Kodwa kuthekani namhlanje?
7. Sisiphi isiganeko sowe-1919 esabonisa ukuba uYesu wayethabatha amanyathelo nxamnye neBhabhiloni Enkulu? Cacisa.
7 Ngaphambilana kule nkulungwane, kwakukho ubungqina obunamandla bokuba uKoreshi Omkhulu wayeqalisile ukusebenza. Wayengubani? Akakho omnye ngaphandle koYesu Kristu, owabekwa etroneni ukususela ngowe-1914 kuBukumkani basezulwini. Lo Kumkani mkhulu wabonakalisa inkoliseko kubazalwana bakhe abathanjisiweyo emhlabeni, ngowe-1919, xa amaKristu athanjisiweyo akhululwa ekuthinjweni kokomoya aza abuyela ‘elizweni’ lawo, kwimeko yawo yokomoya. (Isaya 66:8; ISityhilelo 18:4) Ngaloo ndlela uHezekile 11:17 waba nenzaliseko yale mihla. Kumaxesha amandulo kwafuneka iBhabhiloni iwe ukuze indlela yamaSirayeli ebuyela kwilizwe lawo ivuleke. Kula maxesha ukubuyiselwa koSirayeli kaThixo kwakububungqina bokuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu iwele ezandleni zikaKoreshi Omkhulu. Esi siwo savakaliswa yingelosi yesibini yeSityhilelo isahluko 14, xa yadanduluka isithi: “IBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile, leyo yaseza zonke iintlanga iwayini yomsindo wohenyuzo lwayo!” (ISityhilelo 14:8) Hayi indlela eziyijikele ngayo izinto iBhabhiloni Enkulu, ngakumbi iNgqobhoko! Kwaye enjani intsikelelo ekuyiyo kumaKristu enyaniso!
8. Incwadi kaHezekile iluchaza njani uyolo lwabantu bakaThixo emva kokukhululwa kwabo ngowe-1919?
8 KuHezekile 11:18-20, sifunda inkcazelo yomprofeti ngoyolo lwabantu bakaThixo emva kokubuyiselwa kwabo. Inzaliseko yokuqala yamazwi akhe yayithetha ukuhlanjululwa kukaSirayeli ngemihla kaEzra noNehemiya. Inzaliseko yale mihla ithetha into efanayo. Makhe sibone ukuba kwenzeka njani oku. UYehova uthi: “Bazisuse [elizweni labo] zonke izinto zawo ezinezothe, namasikizi awo onke.” Kanye njengoko kwaprofetwayo, ukususela ngowe-1919, uYehova wacoca abantu bakhe waza wabomeleza ukuze bamkhonze. Baqalisa ukushenxisa kwimekobume yabo yokomoya uqheliselo neemfundiso zeBhabhiloni ezazibenza bangahlambuluki emehlweni akhe.
9. Ziziphi iintsikelelo ezibalulekileyo uYehova awazinika abantu bakhe, ukususela ngowe-1919?
9 Ngokutsho kwendinyana 19, uYehova uyandula ahlabele mgama esithi: “Ndobanika ntliziyo yimbi, ndibeke umoya omtsha ngaphakathi kwenu; ndiyisuse intliziyo yelitye enyameni yabo, ndibanike intliziyo yenyama.” Ngokuvisisana nala mazwi, ngowe-1919, uYehova wabamanyanisa abakhonzi bakhe abathanjisiweyo, ngokungathi kunjalo, wabanika “ntliziyo yimbi,” ukuze bamkhonze “ngaxhatha linye.” (Zefaniya 3:9) Ngaphezu koko, uYehova wabanika abantu bakhe umoya oyingcwele ukuze ubomeleze kumsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina uze uvelise kubo iziqhamo ezihle ezichazwe kumaGalati 5:22, 23. Ibe kunokubanika intliziyo elukhuni, enjengelitye, uYehova wabanika intliziyo ethambileyo, efundisekayo, nethobelayo, intliziyo eyayiza kusabela ekwenzeni ukuthanda kwakhe.
10. Kutheni uYehova eye wabasikelela abantu bakhe ababuyiselweyo ukususela ngowe-1919 ukusa phambili?
10 Kwakutheni ukuze enze oko? UYehova ngokwakhe uyachaza. KuHezekile 11:20 sifunda oku: “Ukuze bahambe ngemimiselo yam, bagcine amasiko am bawenze, babe ngabantu bam, mna ndibe nguThixo wabo.” USirayeli kaThixo wafunda ukuthobela umthetho kaYehova kunokuba alandele iingcamango zakhe. Wafunda ukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo engoyiki mntu. Ngaloo ndlela, wabonakala ahlukile koosinga-maKristu beNgqobhoko. WayengokaYehova. Ngenxa yoko, uYehova wayekulungele ukumsebenzisa njengomthunywa wakhe, “ikhoboka [lakhe] elithembekileyo neliyingqondi.”—Mateyu 24:45-47.
Uyolo Lwabathunywa BakaThixo
11. Incwadi kaIsaya iluchaza njani ulonwabo lwabantu bakaYehova?
11 Ngaba unokuba nomfanekiso-ngqondweni woyolo lwabo xa babeqonda indlela ekwakulilungelo ngayo ukuba kwisikhundla ababekuso? Ngamxhelomnye, baphinda amazwi akuIsaya 61:10 athi: “Ndinemihlali ndanemihlali ngoYehova, umphefumlo wam uya kugcoba ngoThixo wam.” Idinga elikuIsaya 35:10 lazalisekiswa kubo: “Abakhululwa bakaYehova babuye beze eZiyon bememelela; benovuyo olungunaphakade phezu kweentloko zabo; baya kufumana imihlali nemivuyo, sisabe isingqala nosizi.” Olo yayiluyolo ababenalo abathunywa boxolo lobuthixo bakaYehova emva phayaa ngowe-1919 njengoko babeqalisa ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kulo lonke uluntu. Ukususela ngoko ukuza kuthi ga kulo mhla, abakayeki ukwenza lo msebenzi, ibe uyolo lwabo luye lwanda. KwiNtshumayelo yakhe yaseNtabeni, uYesu wathi: “Banoyolo abanoxolo, ekubeni beya kubizwa ngokuba ‘ngoonyana bakaThixo.’ ” (Mateyu 5:9, umbhalo osemazantsi weNW enembekiselo) Ubunyaniso bala mazwi buye babonwa yintsalela ‘yoonyana bakaThixo’ abathanjisiweyo ukususela ngowe-1919 ukuza kuthi ga namhlanje.
12, 13. (a) Ngoobani abathelela uSirayeli kaThixo ekukhonzeni uYehova, yaye bazibhokoxa entwenini? (b) Luluphi uvuyo olukhulu oluye lwananditshwa ngabakhonzi bakaYehova abathanjisiweyo?
12 Njengoko iminyaka yayihamba, inani loSirayeli kaThixo landa de kwaba yiminyaka yee-1930 xa ukuhlanganiswa kwentsalela yabathanjisiweyo kwakusondela esiphelweni. Ngaba ulwando lwenani labashumayeli beendaba ezilungileyo lwanqumama ngelo xesha? Nakanye. Isihlwele esikhulu samaKristu anethemba lokuphila emhlabeni sasisele siqalisile ukuvela, ibe sasithelela abazalwana baso abathanjisiweyo kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Umpostile uYohane wasibona esi sihlwele sikhulu embonweni wakhe, ibe indlela asichaza ngayo ibangel’ umdla: “Bephambi kwetrone kaThixo; yaye banikela inkonzo engcwele kuye imini nobusuku.” (ISityhilelo 7:15) Ewe, isihlwele esikhulu saxakeka sikhonza uThixo. Ngenxa yoko, xa inani labathanjiswa laqalisa ukuncipha emva kowe-1935, umsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina waqhutywa ngehlombe elikhulu ngala maqabane athembekileyo.
13 Ngale ndlela kwazaliseka uIsaya 60:3, 4 othi: “Ziya kuhamba iintlanga zize ekukhanyeni kwakho, ookumkani beze ebumhlotsheni bokuthi chapha kwakho. Phakamisa amehlo akho ngeenxa zonke, ubone; bonke bephela bahlanganisana, baza kuwe; oonyana bakho bavela kude, neentombi zakho zibelekwe ephangweni.” Uyolo olweziswa zezi ziganeko kuSirayeli kaThixo luchazwe kakuhle kuIsaya 60:5, apho sifunda oku: “Uya kwandula ukubona, ukhazimle, inkwantye yande intliziyo yakho; ngokuba iya kuguqulelwa kuwe intabalala yolwandle, ubutyebi beentlanga buya kuza kuwe.”
Intlangano KaYehova Iya Phambili
14. (a) Nguwuphi umbono wezinto zasezulwini owabonwa nguHezekile, ibe nguwuphi umyalelo awawufumanayo? (b) Yintoni eye yaqondwa ngabantu bakaYehova bale mihla, ibe yiyiphi imbopheleleko abaziva benayo?
14 Ngowama-613 B.C.E., uHezekile wabona umbono wentlangano kaYehova yasezulwini, enjengenqwelo yokulwa ihamba. (Hezekile 1:4-28) Emva koko, uYehova wathi kuye: “Nyana womntu, hamba uye kwindlu kaSirayeli, uthethe kubo ngamazwi am.” (Hezekile 3:4) Kulo nyaka we-1997, siyaqonda ukuba intlangano kaYehova yasezulwini isahamba ngendlela engenakuthintelwa ukuya kuzalisekisa iinjongo zikaThixo. Ngenxa yoko, sisaziva sinyanzelekile ukuba sixelele abanye ngezi njongo. Ngomhla wakhe, uHezekile wathetha amazwi awayevela kuYehova ngokungqalileyo. Namhlanje, sithetha amazwi avela kwiLizwi eliphefumlelwe nguYehova, iBhayibhile. Kwaye esinjani sona isigidimi loo ncwadi esiphathele uluntu! Ngoxa abanye bexhalabele ikamva, iBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba izinto zimbi gqitha—kwaye kwangaxeshanye, zibhetele—kunokuba becinga.
15. Kutheni iimeko zimbi ngaphezu kokuba abaninzi becinga namhlanje?
15 Izinto zimbi kuba, njengoko siye safunda kumanqaku angaphambili, kungekudala iNgqobhoko nalo lonke unqulo lobuxoki iya kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo, njengoko kwakunjalo kwiYerusalem ngowama-607 B.C.E. Ngaphezu koko, yonke inkqubo yezobupolitika yomhlaba, efuziselwa kwincwadi yeSityhilelo lirhamncwa elineentloko ezisixhenxe neempondo ezilishumi, sele iza kutshayelwa, njengoko kwakunjalo kuninzi lwabamelwane abangabahedeni beYerusalem. (ISityhilelo 13:1, 2; 19:19-21) Ngomhla kaHezekile uYehova wachaza ngokuphandle ngoloyiko olwaluza kubangelwa kukusondela kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem. Kodwa amazwi akhe aya kuba nentsingiselo engakumbi xa abantu beqonda ukutshatyalaliswa kweli hlabathi okusemnyango. UYehova wathi kuHezekile: “Wena ke, nyana womntu, ncwina; uqhekeke amanqe, uncwine nangobukrakra, emehlweni abo. Kothi, xa bathe kuwe, Uncwinelani na? uthi, Kungenxa yeendaba, ngokuba zisiza; kuya kunyibilika zonke iintliziyo, ziwe zonke izandla, incame yonke imimoya, amadolo onke angabi namandla. Yabona, ziyeza, ziya kubakho; itsho iNkosi uYehova.” (Hezekile 21:6, 7; Mateyu 24:30) Sele kumbovu ukuba kuhle iziganeko ezoyikekayo. Inkxalabo yethu enzulu ngabanye isishukumisela ekubeni sikhuphe isilumkiso, sivakalise ‘iindaba’ zengqumbo ezayo kaYehova.
16. Kwabalulamileyo, kutheni iimeko zibhetele kunokuba abaninzi becinga?
16 Kwangaxeshanye, kwabalulamileyo izinto azimnta’ kaNgqika kunokuba abanye abantu becinga. Njani? Ngokuba uYesu Kristu ufele izono zethu yaye ngoku ulawula njengoKumkani woBukumkani bukaThixo. (1 Timoti 1:15; ISityhilelo 11:15) Iingxaki zoluntu ezibonakala ziyintsinda-badala kungekudala ziya koyiswa ngoBukumkani basezulwini. Ukufa, ukugula, ukonakala, indlala, nolwaphulo-mthetho iya kuba zizinto zezolo, yaye uBukumkani bukaThixo buya kulawula bungenazintshaba kumhlaba oyiparadesi. (ISityhilelo 21:3, 4) Uluntu luya kunandipha uxolo lobuthixo—ulwalamano loxolo noYehova uThixo kwakunye nabanye.—INdumiso 72:7.
17. Luluphi ulwando oluvuyisa iintliziyo zabathunywa boxolo lobuthixo?
17 Kwezinye iindawo zehlabathi, izihlwele ezikhulu ngokothusayo zabalulamileyo ziyasabela kwesi sigidimi soxolo lobuthixo. Ukukhankanya nje imizekelo embalwa, kunyaka ophelileyo iUkraine inikele ingxelo yolwando lwabavakalisi lwe-17 ekhulwini. IMozambiki inikele ingxelo yolwando lwe-17 ekhulwini, iLithuania yanama-29 ekhulwini. IRashiya ibe nolwando lwama-31 ekhulwini, ngoxa iAlbania ibe nolwando lwabavakalisi abangama-52 ekhulwini. Olu lwando lumela amashumi amawaka abantu abantliziyo zinyanisekileyo abafuna ukunandipha uxolo lobuthixo nabaye babumela ubulungisa. Ulwando olukhawuleza kangako luzisa uvuyo kubo bonke ubuzalwana bamaKristu.
18. Enoba abantu bayaphulaphula okanye akunjalo, simele sibe njani isimo sethu sengqondo?
18 Ngaba abantu banomdla kangaka nakwindawo ohlala kuyo? Ukuba kunjalo, sivuyisana nawe. Noko ke, kweminye imimandla, kufuneka kusetyenzwe nzima iiyure ezininzi kakhulu ngaphambi kokuba kufunyanwe umntu omnye nje kuphela onomdla. Ngaba abo basebenza kuloo mimandla bayayekelela okanye batyhafe? Akunjalo. AmaNgqina kaYehova akhumbula amazwi kaThixo kuHezekile xa wayemthuma okokuqala lo mprofeti uselula ukuba aye kushumayela kubantu bakowabo abangamaYuda: “Ke bona, (nokuba bathe beva, nokuba bathe bala, kuba beyindlu eneenkani) baya kwazi ukuba bekukho umprofeti phakathi kwabo.” (Hezekile 2:5) NjengoHezekile, siqhubeka sixelela abantu ngoxolo lobuthixo enoba bayasabela okanye abasabeli. Ukuba bayaphulaphula, sivuya kakhulu. Ukuba bayasichasa, basigculele, de basitshutshise, siyazingisa. Siyamthanda uYehova, ibe iBhayibhile ithi: “Uthando . . . lunyamezela izinto zonke.” (1 Korinte 13:4, 7) Ngenxa yokuba sishumayela ngokunyamezela, abantu bayawazi amaNgqina kaYehova. Bayasazi isigidimi sethu. Xa kufika isiphelo, baya kwazi ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova ayezamile ukubanceda ukuba banandiphe uxolo lobuthixo.
19. Njengabakhonzi boThixo wokwenyaniso, ngawaphi amalungelo amakhulu esiwaxabisayo?
19 Ngaba likho elinye ilungelo elingaphezu kwelokukhonza uYehova? Alikho! Olona yolo lwethu lukhulu lubangelwa lulwalamano lwethu noThixo nalulwazi lokuba senza ukuthanda kwakhe. “Hayi, uyolo lwabantu abakwaziyo ukuduma! Baya kuhamba ekukhanyeni kobuso bakho, Yehova.” (INdumiso 89:15) Ngamana singasoloko siluxabisa uvuyo lokuba ngabathunywa boxolo bakaThixo eluntwini. Ngamana singaphumeza indima yethu ngenkuthalo kulo msebenzi de uYehova athi kwanele.
Ngaba Usakhumbula?
◻ Ngoobani abathunywa boxolo bakaThixo namhlanje?
◻ Sazi njani ukuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu yawa ngowe-1919?
◻ Yiyiphi eyona nto siyixhalabeleyo “isihlwele esikhulu”?
◻ Kutheni ikamva limfiliba ngaphezu kokuba inkoliso yabantu icinga namhlanje?
◻ Kwabantliziyo zilungileyo, kutheni ikamva linokuba bhetele kunokuba becinga?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 21]
Xa bebona ukuwohloka kwebutho labantu, abaninzi baba namanwele
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]
Abathunywa boxolo lobuthixo bangabona bantu banoyolo emhlabeni namhlanje