Bathabatheni Njengomzekelo Abaprofeti—UZefaniya
1. Zazinjani iimeko awayeprofeta phantsi kwazo uZefaniya, kwaye sinokumxelisa njani thina namhlanje?
1 Kwakumalunga neminyaka engamakhulu amathandathu ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaYesu, unqulo lukaBhahali lwalugqugqisile kwaYuda. Kwakusandul’ ukubulawa uKumkani u-Amon ombi, ibe ngoku kwakulawula uKumkani uYosiya oselula. (2 Kron. 33:21–34:1) Ngelo xesha, uYehova wathuma uZefaniya ukuba abhengeze imigwebo yakhe. Nangona uZefaniya esenokuba wayezalwa kubukhosi bakwaYuda, akazange asingxenge isigidimi sikaYehova nxamnye neenkokeli zakwaYuda. (Zef. 1:1; 3:1-4) Ngendlela efanayo, sizama ukuxelisa inkalipho kaZefaniya yaye siyakuphepha ukuvumela ulwalamano lwentsapho luphembelele ukunqula kwethu uYehova ngendlela engafanelekanga. (Mat. 10:34-37) Sasisithini isigidimi esasivakaliswa nguZefaniya, kwaye waba yintoni umphumo?
2. Yintoni esimele siyenze ukuze sifihlwe ngemini yomsindo kaYehova?
2 Funa UYehova: NguYehova kuphela onokubahlangula abantu ngemini yomsindo wakhe. Ngenxa yoko, uZefaniya wabongoza abantu bakwaYuda ukuba bafune uYehova, bafune ubulungisa bakhe, baze bafune nolulamo ngoxa kusekho ixesha. (Zef. 2:2, 3) Kukwanjalo nakweli xesha lethu. NjengoZefaniya, sikhuthaza abanye ukuba bafune uYehova, kodwa nathi kufuneka senze okuthile, sizimisele ukuba singaze ‘sihlehle ekulandeleni uYehova.’ (Zef. 1:6) Kunoko, sifuna uYehova ngokulifunda ngenyameko iLizwi lakhe size sithandazele ukhokelo lwakhe. Sifuna ubulungisa ngokuphila ubomi obucocekileyo. Sifuna ululamo ngokuhlakulela isimo sengqondo sokuthobela nangokulungela ukwamkela ulwalathiso oluvela kwintlangano kaYehova.
3. Kutheni sifanele sikukhuthalele ukushumayela?
3 Imiphumo Emihle: Isigidimi sikaZefaniya somgwebo sabachukumisa abanye kwaYuda kodwa oyena mntu ubalaseleyo nguYosiya oselula, owaqalisa ukufuna uYehova ngoxa wayeseyinkwenkwe. Kamva uYosiya waqalisa iphulo lokuphelisa unqulo zithixo elizweni. (2 Kron. 34:2-5) Namhlanje, nangona enye imbewu yoBukumkani isiwa ecaleni kwendlela, kumhlaba olulwalwa okanye phakathi kwameva, enye iwela kumhlaba omhle ize ivelise isiqhamo. (Mat. 13:18-23) Siqinisekile ukuba uYehova uza kuqhubeka eyisikelela imigudu yethu njengoko sixakekile sisasaza imbewu yoBukumkani.—INdu. 126:6.
4. Kutheni sifanele ‘sihlale simlindele uYehova’?
4 Abanye kwaYuda babecinga ukuba uYehova akasayi kuze enze nto. Noko ke, uYehova waqinisekisa bonke abantu ukuba imini yakhe isondele. (Zef. 1:12, 14) Kuya kusindiswa abo basabela kuye kuphela. (Zef. 3:12, 17) Njengoko ‘sihleli silindele uYehova,’ ngamana singayoliswa kukumkhonza ngokumanyeneyo nabanye abanquli boThixo wethu omkhulu!—Zef. 3:8, 9.