UYehova Ungumncedi Wethu
“Uncedo lwam luvela kuYehova, uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba.”—INDUMISO 121:2.
1, 2. (a) Kutheni kunokuthiwa sonke maxa wambi siyalufuna uncedo? (b) UYehova unguMncedi onjani?
NGUBANI kuthi ongazange akhe afune uncedo? Inyaniso ikukuba maxa wambi sonke sifuna uncedo—lokujamelana nengxaki enkulu, ukunyamezela xa sifelwe ngumntu esimthandayo naxa sijamelene nesilingo esinzima. Abantu bacinga ngomhlobo onenkathalo xa befuna uncedo. Ukuthetha nomhlobo onjalo ngengxaki onayo kuyenza inyamezeleke. Kodwa akukho nto ingako umntu anokuyenza ukusinceda. Ngapha koko, abanye abantu abasoloko bekwimeko yokunikela uncedo.
2 Noko ke, kukho uMncedi onamandla nonezinto zokunikela uncedo. Ngaphezu koko, usiqinisekisa ukuba akasoze asishiye. NguLowo umdumisi eqinisekile athi ngaye: “Uncedo lwam luvela kuYehova.” (INdumiso 121:2) Kutheni lo mdumisi wayeqiniseke kangaka ukuba uYehova uya kumnceda? Ukuphendula loo mbuzo, makhe sihlolisise INdumiso 121. Ukwenjenjalo kuya kusenza sibone isizathu sokuba nathi sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova unguMncedi wethu.
Umthombo Woncedo Olungenakusilela
3. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba lo mdumisi wayewaphakamisele kweziphi iintaba amehlo akhe, yaye ngoba?
3 Umdumisi waqalisa ngokubonisa ukuba ekubeni uYehova edale yonke into sinesizathu sokuthembela kuye esithi: “Ndiya kuwaphakamisela ezintabeni amehlo am. Luya kuvela phi na uncedo lwam? Uncedo lwam luvela kuYehova, uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba.” (INdumiso 121:1, 2) Umdumisi akazange awaphakamisele amehlo akhe kuyo nayiphi na intaba. Xa kwakubhalwa la mazwi, itempile kaYehova yayiseYerusalem. Eso sixeko, esasiphezulu ezintabeni zakwaYuda, yayiyindawo yokomfuziselo uYehova awayehlala kuyo. (INdumiso 135:21) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba lo mdumisi wawaphakamisela ezintabeni zaseYerusalem amehlo akhe apho yayakhiwe khona itempile kaYehova, ngentembelo elindele ukufumana uncedo lukaYehova. Kwakutheni ukuze lo mdumisi aqiniseke ukuba uYehova unokumnceda? Ngenxa yokuba Yena ‘nguMenzi wezulu nomhlaba.’ Enyanisweni lo mdumisi wayesithi, ‘Ndiqinisekile ukuba akukho nto inokumthintela uMdali onamandla onke ukuba andincede!’—Isaya 40:26.
4. Lo mdumisi wabonisa njani ukuba uYehova usoloko ezijongile iintswelo zabantu bakhe, yaye kutheni oko kuthuthuzela?
4 Emva koko umdumisi wacacisa ukuba uYehova usoloko ezijongile iintswelo zabakhonzi bakhe: “Akunakwenzeka ukuba avumele unyawo lwakho lutyibilike. Akunakwenzeka ukuba Lowo ukulindileyo ozele. Khangela! Akayi kozela, engayi kulala, lowo ulinde uSirayeli.” (INdumiso 121:3, 4) Akunakwenzeka ukuba uThixo abavumele abo bakholose ngaye ‘batyibilike’ okanye bawe baze bangakwazi ukuvuka. (IMizekeliso 24:16) Ngoba? Kuba uYehova unjengomalusi ophaphileyo owalusa izimvu zakhe. Ngaba akuthuthuzeli oko? Nanini na akanakuzityeshela iintswelo zabantu bakhe. Ubusuku nemini usoloko ebajongile.
5. Kutheni kusithiwa uYehova ‘ungasekunene’?
5 Eqinisekile ukuba uYehova unguMkhuseli onyanisekileyo wabantu bakhe, umdumisi wabhala: “UYehova ukulindile. UYehova ungumthunzi wakho ngasekunene kwakho. Emini akuyi kubethwa lilanga, nayinyanga ebusuku.” (INdumiso 121:5, 6) Umntu ohamba ngeenyawo kuMbindi Mpuma, uwuvuyela gqitha umthunzi kwilanga eliyingqantsini lalapho. UYehova unjengomthunzi kubantu bakhe, ebakhusela kwiimbandezelo ezinjengelanga eligqatsayo. Phawula ukuba kuthiwa uYehova ‘ungasekunene.’ Kwiimfazwe zamandulo, isandla sasekunene sejoni sasingakhuselwa ngokupheleleyo likhaka, ekubeni lalibanjwa ngesandla sasekhohlo. Umhlobo osenyongweni wayesenokukhusela ijoni elithile ngokuma nokulwa ngasekunene kwalo. Njengomhlobo onjalo, uYehova enyanisekile ume kufuphi nabakhonzi bakhe, elungele ukubanceda.
6, 7. (a) Umdumisi usiqinisekisa njani ukuba uYehova akasayi kuyeka ukubanceda abantu bakhe? (b) Sinokuba nayo njani intembelo awayenayo lo mdumisi?
6 Ngaba uYehova uya kuze ayeke ukubanceda abantu bakhe? Leyo yinto ongenakuyicinga nokuyicinga. Lo mdumisi uqukumbela ngokuthi: “UYehova uya kukulinda entlekeleni yonke. Uya kuwulinda umphefumlo wakho. UYehova uya kukulinda ukuphuma kwakho nokungena kwakho ukususela ngoku kuse kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (INdumiso 121:7, 8) Phawula ukuba umbhali uyekile ukuthetha ngexesha elimiyo kodwa uthetha ngexesha elizayo. Ngaphambilana, kwindinyana 5, umdumisi ebethe: “UYehova ukulindile.” Kodwa kwezi ndinyana, umdumisi wabhala: “UYehova uya kukulinda.” Ngoko ke abanquli bokwenyaniso baqinisekiswa ukuba uYehova uya kubanceda nakwixesha elizayo. Enoba baya phi na, enoba bajamelene nayiphi na intlekele, abasoze babe kude kangangokuba angakwazi ukubanceda.—IMizekeliso 12:21.
7 Enyanisweni, umbhali weNdumiso 121 wayeqinisekile ukuba uMdali onamandla onke ubalindile abakhonzi bakhe ngothantamiso njengomalusi onenyameko nomlindi ophaphileyo. Sinesizathu sokuqiniseka njengokuba wayenjalo umdumisi, kuba uYehova akaguquki. (Malaki 3:6) Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba uya kusoloko esikhusela ngokwenyama? Akunjalo, kodwa lo gama nje sikhangele kuye njengoMncedi wethu, uya kusilondoloza kuyo nantoni na enokusenzakalisa ngokomoya. Ngoko ke, kusengqiqweni ukubuza, ‘UYehova usinceda njani?’ Makhe siqwalasele iindlela ezine akwenza ngazo oko. Kweli nqaku, siza kuqwalasela iindlela awabanceda ngazo abakhonzi bakhe ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile. Kwinqaku elilandelayo, siza kuqwalasela indlela abanceda ngayo abantu bakhe namhlanje.
Ukuncedwa Ziingelosi
8. Kutheni kungamangalisi ukuba iingelosi zinomdla kwimpilo-ntle yabakhonzi bakaThixo abasemhlabeni?
8 UYehova unezigidi zezigidi zeengelosi. (Daniyeli 7:9, 10) Aba nyana bomoya bathembekileyo benza ukuthanda kwakhe. (INdumiso 103:20) Bazi kakuhle ukuba uYehova ubathanda gqitha abakhonzi bakhe abangabantu yaye ufuna ukubanceda. Ayimangalisi ke ngoko into yokuba iingelosi zinomdla omkhulu kwimpilo-ntle yabakhonzi bakaThixo basemhlabeni. (Luka 15:10) Ngokuqinisekileyo, zimele ukuba ziyavuya iingelosi xa zithunywa nguYehova ukuba zincede abantu. UYehova wazisebenzisa njani iingelosi ekuncedeni abakhonzi bakhe abangabantu mandulo?
9. Nikela umzekelo wendlela uThixo awazinika amandla ngayo iingelosi ukuba zikhusele abantu bakhe abathembekileyo.
9 Iingelosi zanikwa amandla nguThixo ukuze zikhusele zize zihlangule abantu abathembekileyo. Iingelosi ezimbini zanceda uLote neentombi zakhe ukuze basinde xa kwakutshatyalaliswa iSodom neGomora. (Genesis 19:1, 15-17) Ingelosi enye yabulala amajoni ama-Asiriya ali-185 000 awayeze kuhlasela iYerusalem. (2 Kumkani 19:35) Xa uDaniyeli wayephoswe emhadini weengonyama, uYehova ‘wathumela ingelosi yakhe, yayivala imilomo yeengonyama.’ (Daniyeli 6:21, 22) Ingelosi yakhulula umpostile uPetros entolongweni. (IZenzo 12:6-11) EBhayibhileni kukhankanywa eminye imizekelo yenkuselo yeengelosi, yaye oku kungqina oko kuthethwa kwiNdumiso 34:7: “Ingelosi kaYehova imisa inkampu macala onke kwabo bamoyikayo, ize ibahlangule.”
10. UYehova wayisebenzisa njani ingelosi ukukhuthaza umprofeti uDaniyeli?
10 Ngesinye isihlandlo, uYehova wasebenzisa iingelosi ukukhuthaza nokomeleza abantu abathembekileyo. Umzekelo ochukumisayo ufumaneka kuDaniyeli isahluko 10. Ngelo xesha, uDaniyeli wayeneminyaka esondele kwi-100 ubudala. Lo mprofeti wayedimazekile, mhlawumbi ngenxa yemeko embi eyayikuyo iYerusalem nokubambezeleka komsebenzi wokuphinda kwakhiwe itempile. Waphinda waphazamiseka emva kokubona umbono owoyikisayo. (Daniyeli 10:2, 3, 8) UThixo ngothando wathumela ingelosi ukuba imkhuthaze. Ngaphezu kwesihlandlo esinye, le ngelosi yamkhumbuza uDaniyeli isithi ‘uyanqweneleka’ emehlweni kaThixo. Oku kwaba nawuphi umphumo? Lo mprofeti owayesaluphele wathi kule ngelosi: “Undomelezile.”—Daniyeli 10:11, 19.
11. Nguwuphi omnye umzekelo wendlela ezasetyenziswa ngayo iingelosi ukuze zalathise umsebenzi wokushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo?
11 Kwakhona uYehova wasebenzisa iingelosi ukwalathisa umsebenzi wokushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo. Ingelosi yayalela uFilipu ukuba ashumayele ngoKristu kwithenwa elingumTiyopiya, elathi kamva labhaptizwa. (IZenzo 8:26, 27, 36, 38) Kungekudala emva koko, yayikukuthanda kukaThixo ukuba iindaba ezilungileyo zishunyayelwe kubantu beeNtlanga abangalukanga. Embonweni, ingelosi yabonakala kuKorneli, umntu weeNtlanga owayehlonel’ uThixo, yaza yamyalela ukuba athumele kubizwe umpostile uPetros. Xa abathunywa bakaKorneli bamfumana uPetros, bathi kuye: “UKorneli . . . wanikwa uyalelo lobuthixo yingelosi engcwele ukuba athumele ukuba uze endlwini yakhe nokuze eve izinto oya kuzithetha.” UPetros wawuthobela lo myalelo, yaye abokuqala kwiiNtlanga ezingalukanga baba ngamalungu ebandla lamaKristu. (IZenzo 10:22, 44-48) Khawucinge ngendlela obuza kuvakalelwa ngayo xa ubusazi ukuba uncedwe yingelosi ukuze ufumane umntu onomdla!
Uncedo Lomoya Oyingcwele
12, 13. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze abapostile bakaYesu babe nesizathu sokukholelwa ukuba umoya oyingcwele wawunokubanceda? (b) Umoya oyingcwele wawomeleza njani amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala?
12 Kungekudala ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uYesu wabaqinisekisa abapostile bakhe ukuba babengayi kushiywa bengenaluncedo. UYise wayeya kubanika “umncedi, umoya oyingcwele.” (Yohane 14:26) Abapostile babenesizathu esibambekayo sokukholelwa ukuba umoya oyingcwele unokubanceda. Ngapha koko, iZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo zizele yimizekelo yeendlela uYehova awusebenzisa ngayo umoya oyingcwele, awona mandla makhulu, ukunceda abantu bakhe.
13 Kwizihlandlo ezininzi, umoya oyingcwele wasetyenziswa ukunika abantu amandla ukuze benze ukuthanda kukaYehova. Umoya oyingcwele wanika aBagwebi amandla okuhlangula uSirayeli. (ABagwebi 3:9, 10; 6:34) Loo moya ufanayo womeleza amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala ukuba aqhubeke eshumayela ngenkalipho phezu kwako nje ukuchaswa. (IZenzo 1:8; 4:31) Impumelelo yawo kumsebenzi wokushumayela yanikela ubungqina obunamandla bokusebenza komoya oyingcwele. Yintoni enye eyayinokunceda abantu “abangenamfundo nabaqhelekileyo” ukuba basasaze isigidimi soBukumkani kulo lonke ihlabathi langoko?—IZenzo 4:13; Kolose 1:23.
14. UYehova uwusebenzise njani umoya wakhe oyingcwele ukukhanyisela abantu bakhe?
14 Kwakhona uYehova wasebenzisa umoya wakhe oyingcwele ukukhanyisela abantu bakhe. Ngoncedo lomoya kaThixo, uYosefu wakwazi ukuchaza amaphupha kaFaro awayeziziprofeto. (Genesis 41:16, 38, 39) Ngomoya wakhe, uYehova wenza ukuba iinjongo zakhe zityhilwe kubantu abathobekileyo kodwa zifihlwe kubantu abanekratshi. (Mateyu 11:25) Ngenxa yoko, ngokuphathelele izinto uYehova abalungiselela zona “abo bamthandayo,” umpostile uPawulos wathi: “UThixo uzityhile kuthi ngomoya wakhe.” (1 Korinte 2:7-10) Enyanisweni ubani unokukuqonda ukuthanda kukaThixo kuphela ngoncedo lomoya oyingcwele.
Uncedo Olufumaneka KwiLizwi LikaThixo
15, 16. UYoshuwa waxelelwa ukuba enze ntoni ukuze abe nobulumko?
15 ILizwi likaYehova eliphefumlelweyo ‘liyingenelo ekufundiseni,’ yaye lenza ukuba abakhonzi bakaThixo ‘bawuxhobele ngokupheleleyo wonke umsebenzi olungileyo.’ (2 Timoti 3:16, 17) IBhayibhile iqulethe imizekelo emininzi yeendlela abantu bakaThixo bamandulo abancedwa ngazo ziindinyana zeLizwi lakhe elaliselibhaliwe ngelo xesha.
16 IZibhalo zanceda ukunikela ulwalathiso oluhle kubakhonzi bakaThixo. Xa uYoshuwa wayenikwe imbopheleleko yokukhokela amaSirayeli, waxelelwa: “Le ncwadi yomthetho [eyayibhalwe nguMoses] ayifanele isuke emlonyeni wakho, yaye umele uyifunde ngesandi esiphantsi imini nobusuku, ukuze wenze ngenyameko ngokuvumelana nako konke oko kubhalwe kuyo; kuba ke ngoko uya kuyenza iphumelele indlela yakho wandule ke wenze ngobulumko.” Phawula ukuba uThixo akazange amthembise uYoshuwa ukuba uza kumfaka ubulumko ngendlela ethile engummangaliso. Kunoko, ukuba uYoshuwa wayeza kufunda aze acamngce ‘ngencwadi yomthetho,’ wayeya kwandula ke abe nobulumko.—Yoshuwa 1:8; INdumiso 1:1-3.
17. UDaniyeli noKumkani uYosiya bancedwa njani ngamacandelo athile eZibhalo awayefumaneka ngelo xesha?
17 ILizwi likaThixo elibhaliweyo kwakhona lanceda ukutyhila ukuthanda kwakhe nenjongo yakhe. Ngokomzekelo, uDaniyeli wancedwa yimibhalo kaYeremiya ukuze azi ukuba iYerusalem yayiza kuhlala ingamabhodlo ixesha elide kangakanani. (Yeremiya 25:11; Daniyeli 9:2) Kwakhona, phawula oko kwenzekayo ebudeni bokulawula kukaKumkani uYosiya kwaYuda. Ngelo xesha, olu hlanga lwaluphambukile kuYehova, yaye kubonakala ukuba ookumkani abazange bazenzele umbhalo wobuqu woMthetho baze bawulandele. (Duteronomi 17:18-20) Kodwa ngoxa kwakulungiswa itempile, ‘incwadi yomthetho,’ ekusenokwenzeka ukuba yabhalwa nguMoses, yafunyanwa. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba lo yayingumbhalo wokuqala, owagqitywa ukubhalwa kwiminyaka enoba ngama-800 ngaphambilana. Emva kokuva kufundwa oko kwakubhalwe kuwo, uYosiya waqonda indlela olwalunxaxhe ngayo olu hlanga ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaYehova, yaye ukumkani wathabatha amanyathelo aqatha ukwenza oko kubhaliweyo kuloo ncwadi. (2 Kumkani 22:8; 23:1-7) Ngaba alicacanga elokuba abantu bakaThixo kumaxesha amandulo bancedwa ngamacandelo athile eZibhalo Ezingcwele awayefumaneka ngelo xesha?
Uncedo Oluvela Kwamanye Amakholwa
18. Kutheni sinokuthi nanini na omnye umnquli enceda omnye olo ncedo luvela kuYehova?
18 UYehova udla ngokusinceda esebenzisa amanye amakholwa. Enyanisweni, nanini na omnye umkhonzi wokwenyaniso enceda omnye, olo ncedo luvela kuThixo. Kutheni sinokutsho nje? Kungenxa yezizathu ezibini. Esokuqala, umoya oyingcwele kaThixo unegalelo elithile. Loo moya uvelisa isiqhamo, kuquka uthando nokulunga, kwabo bawuvumelayo ukuba usebenze kubo. (Galati 5:22, 23) Ngenxa yoko, xa abakhonzi bakaThixo beshukunyiselwa ukuba bancedane, leyo yimbonakaliso yokusebenza komoya kaYehova. Okwesibini, senziwe ngokomfanekiso kaThixo. (Genesis 1:26) Oko kuthetha ukuba siyakwazi ukubonakalisa iimpawu zakhe, kuquka ububele nemfesane anayo. Ngoko ke nanini na omnye umkhonzi kaYehova enceda omnye, olo ncedo luvela kuLowo kubonakaliswa intsobi yakhe.
19. Ngokutsho kwengxelo yeBhayibhile, uYehova walunikela njani uncedo ngamanye amakholwa?
19 Ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile, uYehova wayelunikela njani uncedo ngamanye amakholwa? Kwizihlandlo ezininzi, uYehova wayesenza ukuba omnye wabakhonzi bakhe anikele isiluleko komnye, kanye ngendlela uYeremiya awanikela ngayo isiluleko esasindisa uBharuki. (Yeremiya 45:1-5) Ngamaxesha athile, abanquli bokwenyaniso babeshukunyiselwa ukuba bawancede amanye amakholwa ngezinto eziphathekayo, kanye njengokuba amaKristu aseMakedoniya naseAkhaya abonakalisa umdla omkhulu wokunceda abazalwana ababeswele baseYerusalem. Umpostile uPawulos waphawula ukuba isisa esinjalo ngokufanelekileyo sabangela ukuba bona “bambulele uThixo.”—2 Korinte 9:11.
20, 21. Abazalwana baseRoma bamkhuthaza uPawulos xa wayejamelene naziphi iimeko?
20 Ezona ngxelo zichukumisayo zezo zibonisa indlela abakhonzi bakaYehova abenza ngayo umzamo wokomelezana nokukhuthazana. Khawucinge ngomzekelo owawubandakanya umpostile uPawulos. Ngoxa wayesendleleni eya eRoma njengebanjwa, uPawulos wahamba ngendlela enkulu yaseRoma ekuthiwa yiNdlela ka-Apiyo. Inxalenye yokugqibela yolo hambo yayimbi gqitha, kuba yayikhokelela abahambi kummandla osezantsi nongumgxobhozo.a Abazalwana kwibandla laseRoma babesazi ukuba uPawulos uyeza. Yintoni ababenokuyenza? Ngaba babeza kulinda kumakhaya abo atofo-tofo esixekweni de uPawulos afike baze bandule ke baye kumbulisa?
21 Umbhali weBhayibhile uLuka, owahamba noPawulos kolu hambo, usixelela okwenzekayo: “Xa aba bazalwana beva [beseRoma] iindaba ezingathi, beza kusihlangabeza de bafikelela kwiNdawo yeMarike ka-Apiyo naseTavene-Ntathu.” Ngaba unomfanekiso-ngqondweni woku? Lisazi ukuba uPawulos uyeza, igqiza labazalwana landuluka eRoma liye kumhlangabeza. Abanye kulo babelinde kwiMarike ka-Apiyo, indawo eyaziwayo malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-74 ngaphandle kweRoma. Abanye abazalwana babelinde eTavene-Ntathu, indawo yokuphumla malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-58 ngaphandle kwesixeko. Wavakalelwa njani uPawulos? ULuka unikela ingxelo: “Akubabona, uPawulos wambulela uThixo waza womelela.” (IZenzo 28:15) Khawufan’ ucinge—ukubabona nje abo bazalwana abaye bazincama bahamba wonke loo mgama wakhuthazeka waza wathuthuzeleka uPawulos! Yaye ngubani uPawulos awambulelayo ngenxa yolu ncedo nenkxaso? Wabulela lowo luvela kuye, uYehova uThixo.
22. Uthini umxholo wethu wonyaka wama-2005, yaye yintoni eya kuqwalaselwa kwinqaku elilandelayo?
22 Ngokucacileyo, ingxelo ephefumlelweyo yendlela uThixo awayeqhubana ngayo nabantu ibonisa ukuba uncedo lwaluvela kuye. Ungoyena Mncedi mkhulu. Ngokufanelekileyo ke ngoko, umxholo wonyaka wama-2005 wamaNgqina kaYehova ngamazwi eNdumiso 121:2 athi: “Uncedo lwam luvela kuYehova.” Kodwa uYehova usinceda njani namhlanje? Oku kuya kuqwalaselwa kwinqaku elilandelayo.
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
a Imbongi engumRoma, uHorace (65—8 B.C.E.), naye owahamba kule ndlela, wakhankanya indlela enzima ngayo le nxalenye yohambo. UHorace uyichaza indawo yeMarike ka-Apiyo ‘njengexineneyo ngoomatiloshe nangabathengisi botywala abangamagqolo.’ Wayekhalazela “iimbuzane ezilizothe namasele” kuquka amanzi “amabi.”
Ngaba Usakhumbula?
UYehova wanikela uncedo ngaziphi iindlela—
• esebenzisa iingelosi?
• ngomoya wakhe oyingcwele?
• ngeLizwi lakhe eliphefumlelweyo?
• esebenzisa amanye amakholwa?
[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 15]
Umxholo wonyaka wama-2005 uya kuba usithi: “Uncedo lwam luvela kuYehova.”—INdumiso 121:2.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 16]
UPawulos wambulela uThixo ngoncedo awalufumana kubazalwana baseRoma