Iimbekiselo Zencwadi Yobomi BamaKristu Nomsebenzi Wokushumayela
SEPTEMBA 5-11
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 1 KUMKANI 9-10
“Dumisa UYehova Ngenxa Yobulumko Bakhe”
Utyelelo Olwavuzwa Ngokutyebileyo
Akudibana noSolomon, ukumkanikazi waqalisa ukumvavanya ‘ngemibuzo elukhuni.’ (1 Kumkani 10:1) Igama lesiHebhere elisetyenziswe apha lisenokuguqulelwa ngokuthi “amaqhina.” Kodwa oku akuthethi ukuthi ukumkanikazi wayedlala ngaye uSolomon. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, kwiNdumiso 49:4, eli gama linye lesiHebhere lisetyenziselwe ukuchaza imibuzo enzulu ephathelele isono, ukufa nentlawulelo. Ngoko ke, kusenokwenzeka ukuba ukumkanikazi waseShebha wayexubusha imibandela enzulu noSolomon eyavavanya ubunzulu bobulumko bakhe. IBhayibhile ithi “wathetha naye konke okube kusentliziyweni yakhe.” Emva koko uSolomon “wamtyhilela onke amazwi akhe; akubangakho lizwi lifihlakeleyo kukumkani, angabanga nakumtyhilela lona.”—1 Kumkani 10:2b, 3.
Xa Abantu Besiba Nezinwe
Ekhwankqiswe koko wayekuva nawayekubona, ngokuzithoba ukumkanikazi waphendula esithi: “Anoyolo amadoda akho, banoyolo aba bakhonzi bakho bemiyo phambi kwakho amaxesha onke, bebuva ubulumko bakho.” (1 Kumkani 10:4-8) Akazange athi abakhonzi bakaSolomon banoyolo kuba bengqongwe bubunewunewu—nangona kwakunjalo. Kunoko, abakhonzi bakaSolomon babesikelelwe kuba ngamaxesha onke babenokuphulaphula ubulumko bukaSolomon abunikwe nguThixo. Hayi indlela angumzekelo omhle ngayo ukumkanikazi waseShebha kubantu bakaYehova namhlanje, abaphulaphule ubulumko boMdali ngenkqu noboNyana wakhe, uYesu Kristu!
Utyelelo Olwavuzwa Ngokutyebileyo
Ukumkanikazi waseShebha wachukumiseka gqitha bubulumko bukaSolomon nobutyebi bobukumkani bakhe kangangokuba “akwaba sabakho kuqina kwamxhelo kuye.” (1 Kumkani 10:4, 5) Bambi bathi eli binzana lithetha ukuba ukumkanikazi “wabindeka.” Omnye umphengululi uthi wawa isiduli! Enoba kwenzeka ntoni, ukumkanikazi wamangaliswa gqitha koko wakubonayo nawakuvayo. Wathi abakhonzi bakaSolomon ngabona bonwabileyo ngenxa yokuba beve ubulumko balo kumkani, yaye wambulela uYehova ngokumenza uSolomon ukumkani. Emva koko wanika ukumkani izipho ezinexabiso eliphakamileyo, igolide iyodwa ngokwamaxabiso anamhlanje imalunga nama-R247-600-000. Naye uSolomon wampha izipho, wanika ukumkanikazi “konke awakucelayo.”—1 Kumkani 10:6-13.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Ngaba Ubusazi?
Yayingakanani igolide awayenayo uKumkani uSolomon?
IZibhalo zithi uHiram ukumkani waseTire wathumela iitoni ezine zegolide kuSolomon, ukumkanikazi waseShebha wamnika isixa esifanayo, neenqanawa zikaSolomon zeza neetoni ezingaphezu kwe-15 zegolide esuka eOfire. Ingxelo ithi: “Ubunzima begolide eyeza kuSolomon ngonyaka omnye baba ngamakhulu amathandathu anamashumi mathandathu anesithandathu eetalente zegolide,” okanye ngaphezu kweetoni ezingama-25. (1 Kumkani 9:14, 28; 10:10, 14) Ngaba oku kusengqiqweni? Yayininzi kangakanani igolide ngaloo maxesha?
Umbhalo wamandulo, abathi abaphengululi uchanile, uthi uPharaoh Thutmose III waseYiputa (owayephila kwiwaka lesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo) wanikela ngeetoni zegolide ezili-13,5 kwitempile ka-Amun-Ra eKarnak. Ngenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uKumkani uTiglath-pileser III waseAsiriya waphiwa iitoni ezine zegolide eTire, noSargon II wanikela ngesipho esilinganayo segolide koothixo baseBhabhiloni. Kuthiwa uKumkani uPhilip II waseMakedoniya (owayelawula ngowama-359-336 B.C.E.) wayesemba iitoni zegolide ezingaphezu kwama-28 ngonyaka kwimigodi yasePangaeum eThrace.
Xa unyana kaPhilip uAleksandire Omkhulu (owayelawula ngowama-336-323 B.C.E.) wathimba isixeko sasePersi iSusa, kuthiwa wathabatha iitoni ezili-1-180 zegolide kwaneetoni eziphantse zibe ngama-7-000 kuyo yonke iPersi. Ngoko ke, xa ithelekiswa nezi ngxelo, indlela eyichaza ngayo iBhayibhile igolide kaKumkani uSolomon ayibaxwanga.
SEPTEMBA 12-18
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 1 KUMKANI 11-12
“Yiba Nobulumko Xa Ukhetha Umntu Oza Kumtshata”
“Ngubani Na OngakuYehova?”
7 Zininzi izinto esinokuzifunda kuKumkani uSolomon. Xa wayesengumfana, wayemmamela uYehova. UThixo wampha ubulumko obuninzi waza wathi makakhe eyona tempile yakha yantle yaseYerusalem. Kodwa uSolomon wayeka ukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova. (1 Kum. 3:12; 11:1, 2) UMthetho kaThixo wawusithi ukumkani “makangazandiseli bafazi, ukuze ingaphambuki intliziyo yakhe.” (Dut. 17:17) USolomon zange athobele, watshata abafazi abayi-700. Waphinda waba namashweshwe ayi-300. (1 Kum. 11:3) Abanye babengengomaSirayeli, babenqula izithixo. Nalapho wophula umthetho kaThixo ngokutshata abantu bezinye iintlanga.—Dut. 7:3, 4.
Ungayikhusela Njani Intliziyo Yakho?
6 USathana ufuna singayithobeli imigaqo kaYehova kwaye sibe ngabantu abazicingela bodwa njengaye. USathana akanakusinyanzela ukuba sicinge size senze izinto njengaye. Ngoko, uzama ukonakalisa iintliziyo zethu ngezinye iindlela. Ngokomzekelo, usilinga ngabantu abacinga nabenza izinto njengaye. (1 Yoh. 5:19) Unqwenela ukuba sikhethe ukuchitha ixesha kunye nabo, nangona sisazi ukuba loo nto iza ‘konakalisa’ indlela esicinga nesenza ngayo izinto. (1 Kor. 15:33) Elo qhinga lasebenza kuKumkani uSolomon. Watshata abafazi abaninzi ababengamkhonzi uYehova. Ekugqibeleni bayitshintsha kakhulu indlela awayezenza ngayo izinto ibe “bayityekisa intliziyo yakhe” ekukhonzeni uYehova.—1 Kum. 11:3.
“Ngubani Na OngakuYehova?”
9 UYehova akasoze enze ngathi akayiboni into embi. IBhayibhile ithi: “UYehova waba nomsindo kuSolomon, ngenxa yokuba intliziyo yakhe yemka kuYehova . . . , lowo wayebonakele kabini kuye. Kwaye ngokuphathelele le nto wamyalela ukuba angalandeli abanye oothixo; kodwa akazange akugcine oko uYehova wayemyalele kona.” Ngenxa yaloo nto, uThixo wayeka ukumthanda nokumxhasa. Inzala kaSolomon yayeka ukulawula kwaSirayeli yaza yaneengxaki ezininzi kangangeminyaka.—1 Kum. 11:9-13.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Wayenokuhlala Ethandwa NguThixo
URehobhoham waqokelela umkhosi wakhe ukuze alwe nezizwe ezazivukela. Kodwa uYehova wamnqanda esebenzisa umprofeti uShemaya, wathi: “Ningenyuki niye kulwa nabazalwana benu oonyana bakaSirayeli. Buyelani ngamnye endlwini yakhe, kuba le nto yenzeka ngokuphuma kum.”—1 Kum. 12:21-24.
Kwakuza kufuneka ayeke nje angalwi? Inoba yayinzima loo nto kuRehobhoham. Babeza kuthini abantu ngokumkani owaboyikisa ngokubabetha “ngeekatsi,” kodwa ngoku uyeka abantu abamvukelayo? (Thelekisa eyesi-2 yeziKronike 13:7.) Nakuba kunjalo, ukumkani nomkhosi wakhe “balithobela ilizwi likaYehova, baza babuyela ekhaya ngokwelizwi likaYehova.”
Sifunda ntoni thina? Sakuba silumkile xa sithobela uThixo, nokuba loo nto ingasenza sigculelwe ngabantu. UThixo uza kuhlala esithanda aze asisikelele ukuba siyamthobela.—Dut. 28:2.
Ngaba uRehobhoham wasikelelwa ngokuthobela kwakhe? Wayeka ukufuna ukulwa nezizwe ezazimvukela, waza wakha iidolophu kumhlaba wezizwe awayezilawula, kwaYuda nakwaBhenjamin. Wakhusela iidolophu ezininzi “ukusa kumlinganiselo omkhulu.” (2 Kron. 11:5-12) Eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukuba wathobela imithetho kaYehova kangangexesha elide. Njengoko izizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli ezaziphantsi kukaYerobhoham zanqula izithixo, abaninzi kuzo ‘baqinisa uRehobhoham’ ngokuya eYerusalem ukuze baxhase unqulo lwenyaniso. (2 Kron. 11:16, 17) Ukuthobela kukaRehobhoham kwabenza baqina ubukumkani bakhe.
SEPTEMBA 19-25
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 1 KUMKANI 13-14
“Kutheni Umele Waneliseke Uze Uthobeke?”
Qhubeka Unyanisekile Ngentliziyo Emanyeneyo
4 UYerobhoham uthi kwindoda yoThixo oyinyaniso: “Yiza ndihambe nawe siye endlwini sithabathe isixhaso, ndikuphe nesipho.” (1 Kum. 13:7) Uza kuthini ke ngoku lo mprofeti? Ngaba uza kubamkela ububele bokumkani emva kokuvakalisa isigidimi somgwebo kuye? (INdu. 119:113) Okanye ngaba uza kusikhaba isimemo sikakumkani nakuba ebonakala ezisola? Ngokuqinisekileyo uYerobhoham usisityebi kangangokuba angabanika izipho zemali eninzi abahlobo bakhe. Ukuba lo mprofeti kaThixo unayo indawana yokuthanda izinto eziphathekayo, kusenokwenzeka ukuba esi sicelo sikakumkani sibe sisilingo kakhulu kuye. Noko ke, uYehova uye wamyalela oku lo mprofeti: “Uze ungadli sonka okanye usele amanzi, yaye uze ungabuyi ngendlela obuhambe ngayo.” Ngoko engagungqi lo mprofeti uthi: “Nokuba ungandinika isiqingatha sendlu yakho andiyi kuhamba nawe ndidle isonka okanye ndisele amanzi kule ndawo.” Yaye lo mprofeti uyayishiya iBheteli ahambe ngenye indlela. (1 Kum. 13:8-10) Sifunda ntoni ngokunyaniseka kokwenene kwisigqibo salo mprofeti?—Roma 15:4.
Qhubeka Unyanisekile Ngentliziyo Emanyeneyo
15 Yintoni enye esinokuyifunda kwimpazamo eyenziwa ngumprofeti wakwaYuda? IMizekeliso 3:5 ithi: “Kholosa ngoYehova ngayo yonke intliziyo yakho, ungayami ngokwakho ukuqonda.” Kunokuba aqhubeke ethembele kuYehova njengangaphambili, ngesi sihlandlo lo mprofeti uvela kwaYuda wazithemba. Impazamo yakhe yambulalisa yaye walahlekana negama elihle awayezenzele lona noThixo. Amava akhe akubethelela ngamandla ukubaluleka kokukhonza uYehova ngokuthozama nangokunyaniseka.
Qhubeka Unyanisekile Ngentliziyo Emanyeneyo
10 Umprofeti ovela kwaYuda kwakumele ukuba ububonile ubuqhetseba balo mprofeti mdala. Wayemele azibuze oku, ‘Kutheni ngoku uYehova sel’ ethumela ingelosi komnye umntu nemiyalelo emitsha eza kum?’ Lo mprofeti ngewayecele uYehova ukuba alucacise olu lwalathiso, kodwa iZibhalo azibonisi ukuba wenza ngolo hlobo. Kodwa, ‘wajika [nexhego] ukuze adle isonka endlwini yalo asele namanzi.’ UYehova akazange ayithande loo nto. Lo mprofeti ukhohlisiweyo wathi xa sele egoduka ebuyela kwaYuda, wafunyanwa yingonyama yaza yambulala. Eso yaba sisiphelo esibi somsebenzi wakhe wobuprofeti!—1 Kum. 13:19-25.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Ukhangela Iimpawu Ezintle Ebantwini
Okona kubalulekileyo kukuba amazwi akweyoku-1 yooKumkani asifundisa okuthile ngoYehova noko akukhangelayo kuthi. Khumbula ukuba “kwafunyanwa” into elungileyo kuAbhiya. Kuyabonakala ukuba uYehova wakhangela entliziyweni ka-Abhiya de wafumana into elungileyo. Omnye umphengululi uthi uAbhiya wayeyiperile “phakathi kweentlalutye” xa umthelekisa nentsapho yakhe. UYehova wakuxabisa oku kulunga waza wamvuza ngako, emenzela inceba nangona wayephuma kwintsapho engendawo.
SEPTEMBA 26–OKTOBHA 2
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 1 KUMKANI 15-16
“UAsa Wabonisa Isibindi—Ngaba Wena Uyasibonisa?”
“Kukho Umvuzo Emsebenzini Wenu”
Kwiminyaka engama-20 eyalandela ukwahlulwa kubini kobukumkani bakwaSirayeli, uYuda wayengcoliswe kanobom zizithethe zobuhedeni. Ngexesha lokuba ngukumkani kuka-Asa ngowama-977 B.C.E., nenkundla yakomkhulu yayingcoliswe kukunqulwa koothixo benzala bamaKanan. Kodwa ingxelo ephefumlelweyo yolawulo luka-Asa ithi “wenza okufanelekileyo nokulungileyo emehlweni kaYehova uThixo wakhe.” UAsa “washenxisa izibingelelo zasemzini neendawo eziphakamileyo, waziqhekeza iintsika ezingcwele waza wagawula izibonda ezingcwele.” (2 Kron. 14:2, 3) Kanti uAsa wagxotha kubukumkani bakwaYuda “amahenyu asetempileni,” angamadoda awayelala namanye amadoda egameni lonqulo. UAsa akazange aphelele ekutshayeleni le mikhuba. Wakwabongoza abantu ukuba ‘bafune uYehova uThixo wookhokho babo’ baze bathobele ‘umthetho nomyalelo’ kaThixo.—1 Kum. 15:12, 13; 2 Kron. 14:4.
Khonza UYehova Ngentliziyo Epheleleyo!
7 Ngamnye kuthi ufanele ahlole intliziyo yakhe ukuba iphelele na kuThixo. Khawuzibuze, ‘Ngaba ndizimisele ukumenza avuye uYehova, ukuthethelela unqulo lwenene, nokukhusela abantu bakhe kwifuthe elibi elonakalisayo?’ Khawucinge ngendlela ekwafuneka uAsa abe nesibindi ngayo ukuze aphendulise uMahaka ‘owayelinenekazi’ elizweni! Mhlawumbi akakho umntu omaziyo owenza izinto njengoMahaka, kodwa zikhona iimeko ezinokufuna ube njengoAsa. Ngokomzekelo, uza kuthini xa ilungu lentsapho yakho okanye umhlobo wakho esona kwaye engaguquki, aze asuswe kubudlelane? Ngaba uza kucezela kude kuye? Intliziyo yakho ibiya kukuqhubela entwenini?
it-1-E 184-185
UAsa
Nangona uAsa wayekhe angabinabulumko aze angaziqondi ngendlela kaThixo izinto ngamanye amaxesha, eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukuba wayeneempawu ezintle ibe walwa nowexuko. UAsa ujongwa njengomnye wabona kumkani abakha bathembeka kwaYuda. (2Kr 15:17) UAsa walawula iminyaka eyi-41 kwaSirayeli ibe ngelo xesha kwakulawula naba kumkani bayi-8 bakwaSirayeli: UYerobhoham, uNadabhi, uBhahasha, uElaha, uZimri, uOmri, uTibheni (owayelawula enye indawo kwaSirayeli eyayingamfuni uOmri), noAhabhi. (1Ku 15:9, 25, 33; 16:8, 15, 16, 21, 23, 29) Emva kokufa kuka-Asa, unyana wakhe uYehoshafati waba ngukumkani.—1Ku 15:24.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Ngaba Uthixo Ngumntu Wokwenene Kuwe?
Ngokomzekelo, funda isiprofeto esithetha ngesohlwayo esiya kufunyanwa ngumntu ophinda akhe iYeriko. UYoshuwa 6:26 uthi: “Wafunga uYoshuwa ngelo xesha, esithi, Uqalekisiwe phambi koYehova umntu oya kusuka awakhe lomzi, iYeriko le; wowuseka ngowamazibulo akhe azimise iingcango zawo ngowamathumbu akhe.” Kwiminyaka engama-500 kamva sazaliseka, kuba kweyoku-1 yooKumkani 16:34 sifunda oku: “Ngeemini zakhe [uKumkani uAhabhi] wayakha uHiyeli waseBheteli iYeriko; wayiseka ngoAbhiram, amazibulo akhe, wawamisa amasango ayo ngoSegubhi, owamathumbu akhe, ngokwelizwi likaYehova, awalithethayo ngoYoshuwa unyana kaNun.” NguThixo ongumntu wokwenene onokuphefumlela iziprofeto ezinjalo aze aqiniseke ukuba ziyazaliseka.
OKTOBHA 3-9
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 1 KUMKANI 17-18
“Kuza Kude Kube Nini Ningacaci Icala Enikulo?”
Yiba Nokholo Wenze Izigqibo Zobulumko!
6 Xa amaSirayeli afikayo kwilizwe lesithembiso, kwakufuneka akhethe phakathi kwezinto ezimbini: Ukukhonza uYehova okanye abanye oothixo. (Funda uYoshuwa 24:15.) Yayilula loo nto, kodwa yayibalulekile. Yayisenokuba kukufa nokuphila kuwo. Ngexesha laBagwebi, amaSirayeli agqwidiza egqwidizile. Amshiya uYehova aza anqula oothixo bobuxoki. (ABagwe. 2:3, 11-23) Khawucinge nangelinye ixesha kwimbali yabantu bakaThixo apho kwanyanzeleka ukuba bakhethe. Umprofeti uEliya wathi mabakhethe kwezi zinto: Ukukhonza uYehova okanye ukukhonza uthixo wobuxoki uBhahali. (1 Kum. 18:21) UEliya wabakhalimela abantu ngokuthingaza. Mhlawumbi ucinga ukuba kwakulula ukwenza eso sigqibo kuba kusoloko kububulumko yaye kunceda ukukhonza uYehova. Phofu, akakho umntu obhadlileyo onokutsaleleka kuBhahali aze ahlale emkhonza. Nakuba kunjalo, loo maSirayeli ‘ayembaxa.’ Ngobulumko, uEliya wawacenga ukuba akhethe indlela egqwesileyo yokunqula, ukukhonza uYehova.
Walumela Unqulo Olunyulu
15 Baba ngathi bayaqinisa abanquli bakaBhahali, “bawaphakamisa amazwi abo, bezicenta ngezinkempe neencula ngokwesiko labo, kwade kwatsaza igazi kubo.” Kodwa babuya nemband’ esikhova! “Akuzange kubekho lizwi, yaye akuzange kubekho uphendulayo, akuzange kunikelwe ngqalelo.” (1 Kum. 18:28, 29) Xa sitheth’ inyani kwakungekho kwanto ibizwa ngokuba nguBhahali. Yayiliqhinga nje likaSathana lokulukuhla abantu ukuze bamshiye uYehova. Inyani kukuba, ukukhetha inkosi engenguye uYehova kukhokelela kwimpoxo nehlazo.—Funda iNdumiso 25:3; 115:4-8.
Walumela Unqulo Olunyulu
18 Ngaphambi kokuba uEliya athandaze, kusenokwenzeka ukuba loo ndimbane yabantu yayizibuza enoba uYehova wayeza kubaphoxa na njengoBhahali. Noko ke, emva kokuba ethandazile lalingekho ixesha lokucinga loo nto. Ingxelo ihlabela mgama ithi: “Wawa ke umlilo kaYehova, wawudla wawugqiba umnikelo otshiswayo neenkuni namatye nothuli, namanzi awayesemseleni wawakhotha.” (1 Kum. 18:38) Enjani ukuchukumisa indlela awamphendula ngayo. Abantu basabela njani?
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
w08 4/1 19, ibhokisi
Wabukela Waza Walinda
Yathabatha Ixesha Elingakanani Imbalela Yomhla KaEliya?
Umprofeti kaYehova uEliya wachazela uKumkani uAhabhi ukuba imbalela eyathabatha ixesha elide yayiza kuphela kungekudala. Oko kwenzeka “ngonyaka wesithathu”—kubalwa ukususela ngosuku uEliya awaqala ngalo ukuthetha ngembalela. (1 Kumkani 18:1) Emva kokuba uEliya wayethe kuza kuba njalo uYehova wathumela imvula. Abanye basenokugqiba ngelithi imbalela yaphela ebudeni bonyaka wesithathu ngenxa yoko yathabatha iminyaka engaphantsi kwemithathu. Noko ke, uYesu noYakobi basichazela ukuba imbalela yathabatha “iminyaka emithathu neenyanga ezintandathu.” (Luka 4:25; Yakobi 5:17) Ngaba oku kuyaphikisana?
Akunjalo. Ntonje, iinyanga zembalela kuSirayeli wamandulo zazithabatha ixesha elide, zazide zifike kwiinyanga ezintandathu. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo uEliya wachazela uAhabhi ngembalela ngexesha kanye eyayikho ngalo yaye yayingaqhelekanga. Le mbalela yayiqale phantse kwisiqingatha sonyaka ngaphambi kwexesha layo. Xa uEliya wayethetha ngokupheliswa kwembalela “ngonyaka wesithathu” imbalela yayisele ithabathe phantse iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. “Iminyaka emithathu neenyanga ezintandathu” yayigqithile ngexesha bonke abantu ababehlanganisene ukuze babone iNtaba iKarmele.
Phawula okwenzekayo xa uEliya wayetyelele uAhabhi. Abantu babekholelwa ukuba uBhahali “ngumkhweli wamafu,” uthixo owayeza kunisa imvula ukuphelisa imbalela. Ukuba iinyanga zembalela zazinde ngendlela engaqhelekanga, abantu babedla ngokubuza bathi: ‘Uphi uBhahali?’ Uza kuyinisa nini imvula?’ Isigidimi sikaEliya sokuba akusayi kubakho mbethe namvula ngaphandle komyalelo welizwi lakhe kwabashiya bethe khunubembe abanquli bakaBhahali.—1 Kumkani 17:1.
OKTOBHA 10-16
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 1 KUMKANI 19-20
“Thembela NgoYehova Xa Ukhathazekile”
Thembela NgoYehova Xa Ukhathazekile
5 Funda eyoku-1 yooKumkani 19:1-4. UEliya woyika xa uKumkanikazi uIzebhele wayefuna ukumbulala. Ngoko wabalekela eBher-sheba. Wayesoyika kakhulu kangangokuba wade wacela nokufa. Yintoni eyayimenza oyike kangaka? UEliya wayengafezekanga ibe “wayengumntu oneemvakalelo ezinjengezethu.” (Yak. 5:17) Mhlawumbi wayekhathazeke kakhulu, edinwe nokudinwa. Inoba uEliya wayecinga ukuba ukuzama ukunceda abantu ukuba bakhonze uYehova kwakungancedi nganto kuba izinto azizange zitshintshe kwaSirayeli. Kusenokwenzeka nokuba wayecinga nguye yedwa owayesakhonza uYehova. (1 Kum. 18:3, 4, 13; 19:10, 14) Isenokusothusa into yokwazi ukuba lo mprofeti wayeziva ngolu hlobo. Kodwa uYehova wayeyiqonda kakuhle indlela awayeziva ngayo.
Wathuthuzelwa NguThixo Wakhe
13 Ucinga ukuba uYehova wayevakalelwa njani xa esezulwini ebona umprofeti wakhe elele phantsi komthi entlango ecela ukufa? Akuyomfuneko ukuba siqashele. Emva kokuba uEliya ebiwe bubuthongo, uYehova wathumela ingelosi yakhe. Ingelosi yamvusa ngobunono uEliya yaza yathi kuye: “Vuka, udle.” UEliya wavuka, kuba le ngelosi yayimphathele isonka esishushu namanzi. Mhlawumbi akazange ayibulele naloo ngelosi. Ingxelo ithi lo mprofeti watya waza wasela walala kwakhona. Ngaba wayedimazeke gqitha? Ingelosi yaphinda yamvusa okwesibini mhlawumbi xa kusithi qheke ukusa. Yaphinda yathi kuEliya, “Vuka, udle,” yaza yoleka isithi: “Kuba uhambo lude kakhulu kuwe.”—1 Kum. 19:5-7.
Wathuthuzelwa NguThixo Wakhe
21 Kwimeko nganye, le ngxelo isikhumbuza ukuba uYehova wayengafumaneki kuzo zombini ezo zinto zibonisa amandla endalo angummangaliso. UEliya wayesazi ukuba uYehova wayengengothixo oyindalo njengoBhahali, owayenqulwa ngabanquli bakhe besithi “nguMkhweli waMafu,” okanye umnisi wemvula. UYehova nguMthombo wawo onke amandla akwindalo, kodwa mkhulu kakhulu kunayo yonke indalo ayidalileyo. Namazulu awamlingenanga. (1 Kum. 8:27) Zamnceda njani uEliya ezi zinto? Khumbula ukuba wayesoyika. Ekubeni wayexhaswa nguYehova onamandla, uEliya wayengafanele amoyike uAhabhi noIzebhele.—Funda iNdumiso 118:6.
Wathuthuzelwa NguThixo Wakhe
22 Emva kwaloo mlilo, kwathi cwaka waza uEliya weva “ilizwi elizolileyo neliphantsi.” Limkhuthaza ukuba aphinde athethe kwakhona, wenjenjalo, ezityand’ igila isihlandlo sesibini. Mhlawumbi loo nto yamnika esinye isiqabu. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, uEliya wathuthuzelwa ngamazwi aphinda athethwa leli ‘lizwi lizolileyo liphantsi.’ UYehova waxelela uEliya ukuba wayengengomntu ongento yanto. Njani? UThixo wachaza injongo yakhe yokulwa unqulo lukaBhahali kwaSirayeli. Kucacile ukuba umsebenzi kaEliya wawungelolize, kuba injongo kaThixo yayihambela phambili. Ukongezelela koko, uEliya wayeyinxalenye yaloo njongo kuba uYehova waphinda wamthuma emnika nemiyalelo ecacileyo.—1 Kum. 19:12-17.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Umzekelo Wokuzinikela Nokunyaniseka
Uninzi lwabakhonzi bakaThixo namhlanje lubonakalisa umoya wokuzincama ofanayo. Bambi baye bashiya “amasimi” abo, izinto zabo, besiya kushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kwimihlaba ekude okanye beye kukhonza njengamalungu entsapho yaseBheteli. Abanye baye baya kumazwe asemzini beye kusebenza kwizakhiwo zoMbutho. Abaninzi baye bamkela oko kusenokubizwa ngokuba ngumsebenzi ophantsi. Ukanti, akukho namnye kumakhoboka kaYehova owenza umsebenzi ongabalulekanga. UYehova uyabaxabisa bonke abamkhonza ngokuzithandela, ibe uya kuwusikelela umoya wabo wokuzincama.—Marko 10:29, 30.
OKTOBHA 17-23
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 1 KUMKANI 21-22
“Linganisa Indlela UYehova Alisebenzisa Ngayo Igunya”
it-2-E 21
UYehova Wemikhosi
UYoshuwa wabona ingelosi ngaseYeriko ibe xa wayibuza ukuba ikwicala lamaSirayeli okanye leentshaba zawo, yathi, “Hayi, ndiyinkosana yomkhosi kaYehova mna.” (Yos 5:13-15) Umprofeti uMikaya wathi kuKumkani uAhabhi noKumkani uYehoshafati, “Ndibone uYehova ehleli etroneni yakhe, engqongwe nguwo wonke umkhosi wamazulu, ngasekunene nangasekhohlo,” ibe wayebhekisela kwiingelosi zikaYehova. (1Ku 22:19-21) Ukusetyenziswa kwegama elithi “uYehova wemikhosi” kuyavakala, kuba nangona kwimikhosi yeengelosi kukho iikherubhi, iiserafi neengelosi (Isa 6:2, 3; Gen 3:24; ISi 5:11), le mikhosi iphinda yahlulahlulwe ngokwamaqela, yiloo nto uYesu Kristu wakwazi ukuthi angacela kuze “imikhosi eyi-12 yeengelosi”. (Mat 26:53) Xa uHezekiya wayekhalela uncedo kuYehova, wathi xa embiza, “Yehova wemikhosi, Thixo kaSirayeli, ohleli etroneni entla kweekherubhi,” ibe kucacile ukuba wayebhekisela kwityeya yesivumelwano neekherubhi ezaziphezu kwayo, ezazimela itrone kaYehova esemazulwini. (Isa 37:16; thelekisa u-1Sa 4:4; 2Sa 6:2.) Isicaka sikaElisha esasisoyika kuba kurhangqwe isixeko awayehlala kuso uElisha, saqinisekiswa ngumbono ongummangaliso, kuba kuwo sabona iintaba ‘zizaliswe ngamahashe neenqwelo zokulwa zomlilo,’ iingelosi eziyinxalenye yomkhosi omkhulu kaYehova.—2Ku 6:15-17.
“Intloko Yendoda NguKristu”
9 Bathobekile. Kubo bonke abantu abakha bakhona, akakho olumke njengoYehova; kodwa uyabamamela abakhonzi bakhe. (Gen. 18:23, 24, 32) Uye wavumela abantu anegunya kubo ukuba bacebise. (1 Kum. 22:19-22) Akazenzi iimpazamo, kodwa akalindelanga ukuba nathi singazenzi. Unceda abantu abamkhonzayo nabanesono. (INdu. 113:6, 7) NeBhayibhile ithi uYehova “ungumncedi.” (INdu. 27:9; Heb. 13:6) UKumkani uDavide wathi umsebenzi omninzi awenzileyo uwenze kakuhle kuba ebencedwa nguYehova othobekileyo.—2 Sam. 22:36.
it-2-E 245
Ubuxoki
UYehova uThixo uyabayeka ‘balahlekiswe’ abo bathanda ububi, endaweni yokukholelwa iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoYesu Kristu ‘bakholelwe ubuxoki’. (2Te 2:9-12) Lo mgaqo siwubona kwinto eyenzeka kuKumkani uAhabhi wakwaSirayeli kwiminyaka emininzi eyadlulayo. Abaprofeti abathetha ubuxoki baqinisekisa uAhabhi ukuba uza koyisa emfazweni nxamnye neRamoti-giliyadi, ngoxa yena umprofeti kaYehova uMikaya wayethe baza koyiswa. UYehova wavumela ingelosi ukuba ibe ‘ngumoya oqhathayo’ kubaprofeti baka-Ahabhi, njengoko uMikaya wayebonisiwe embonweni. Le nto ithi, le ngelosi yasebenzisa amandla ayo kubo ukuze bangathethi nyani, kodwa bathethe into eyayifunwa ngabo nawayefuna ukuyiva uAhabhi. Nangona wayelumkisiwe, uAhabhi wakhetha ukumamela obu buxoki yaza loo nto yambulalisa.—1Ku 22:1-38; 2Kr 18.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Ubonakala Njani Umntu Oguquke Nyhani?
4 UYehova wade waphelelwa ngumonde. Wathumela uEliya ukuba aye kuxelela uAhabhi noIzebhele into aza kuyenza kubo. Bonke abantu bakowabo babeza kubulawa. Akuva izinto ezazithethwa nguEliya, wakhathazeka kakhulu uAhabhi! Into eyothusayo kukuba, loo ndoda yayingaboni mntu likratshi, ‘yazithoba.’—1 Kum. 21:19-29.
5 Emva kokuba uAhabhi ethethe noEliya, wazithoba. Kodwa izinto awazenzayo emva koko zabonisa ukuba wayengaguqukanga. Zange azame ukuwayekisa ukukhonza uBhahali amaSirayeli, engazange azame nokuwakhuthaza ukuba akhonze uYehova. Zikhona nezinye izinto awazenzayo ezazibonisa ukuba wayengaguqukanga.
6 Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uAhabhi wacela ukumkani olungileyo wakwaYuda, uYehoshafati, ukuba ahambe nabo xa besiya kulwa namaSiriya. UYehoshafati wamcebisa ukuba baqale babuzise kumprofeti kaYehova. Ekuqaleni uAhabhi zange avume. Wathi: “Isekho enye indoda enokusibuzela kuYehova; kodwa ndiyayicaphukela, kuba ayiprofeti zinto zintle ngam, zizinto ezimbi zodwa.” Kodwa baya kuthetha nomprofeti uMikaya. Kwenzeka kanye le nto wayeyithethile uAhabhi, indoda kaThixo yabaxelela into embi eyayiza kwenzeka. Endaweni yokuba aguquke aze acele uxolo kuYehova, uAhabhi owayesenza izinto ezimbi wathi lo mprofeti makavalelwe ejele. (1 Kum. 22:7-9, 23, 27) Wakwazi ukumvalela yena umprofeti kaThixo, kodwa into angazange akwazi ukuyenza kukunqanda isiprofeto ukuba singenzeki. AmaSirayeli aya kulwa namaSiriya, uAhabhi wabulawa.—1 Kum. 22:34-38.
OKTOBHA 24-30
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 2 KUMKANI 1-2
“Umzekelo Omhle Wendlela Yokuqeqesha”
Indlela Yokuqeqesha Abazalwana Bafaneleke
15 Umzekelo kaElisha usibonisa nendlela ekubaluleke ngayo namhlanje ukuba abazalwana babahlonele abadala abanamava. Emva kokuba uEliya noElisha betyelele iqela labaprofeti eYeriko, la madoda mabini aya kuMlambo iYordan. Emva koko, “uEliya wathabatha umnweba wakhe wawusonga waza wabetha amanzi, aza ahlukana.” Bawela iYordan kwindawo eyomileyo, “behamba bethetha.” UElisha wamamela yonke into eyayithethwa nguEliya, waqhubeka efunda kuye. Akazange azixelele ukuba wazi yonk’ into. Emva koko, uEliya wathathwa sisaqhwithi somoya, waza uElisha wabuyela kuMlambo iYordan. Ukufika kwakhe apho, wabetha amanzi omlambo ngesambatho sikaEliya waza wathi: “Uphi na uYehova uThixo kaEliya?” Amanzi aphinda ahlukana.—2 Kumkani 2:8-14.
Indlela Yokuqeqesha Abazalwana Bafaneleke
16 Ngaba uphawule ukuba ummangaliso kaElisha wokuqala ufana twatse nokaEliya wokugqibela? Isifundisa ntoni loo nto? UElisha akazange acinge ukuba, ekubeni inguye ngoku ophetheyo, umele enze izinto ngokwahlukileyo kuEliya. Kunoko, ukuxelisa kwakhe uEliya kwabonisa ukuba wayemhlonela umqeqeshi wakhe, nto leyo eyenza abanye abaprofeti bamthemba. (2 Kumkani 2:15) UElisha waba ngumprofeti iminyaka eyi-60, yaye uYehova wamnika amandla okwenza imimangaliso emininzi kunaleyo yenziwa nguEliya. Bangafunda ntoni abazalwana abaqeqeshwayo kulo mzekelo?
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi Yesibini YooKumkani
2:11—Ngawaphi la ‘mazulu uEliya wenyukela kuwo ngesaqhwithi somoya’? La mazulu asizondawo zikude zendalo okanye ummandla wokomoya ahlala kuwo uThixo neengelosi zakhe. (Duteronomi 4:19; INdumiso 11:4; Mateyu 6:9; 18:10) “Amazulu” aya kuwo uEliya asingomazulu okoqobo. (INdumiso 78:26; Mateyu 6:26) Le nqwelo yanqumla isibhakabhaka, isisa uEliya kwenye indawo, apho wahlala khona ixesha elithile. Emva kweminyaka ethile, uEliya wabhalela uYehoram, ukumkani wakwaYuda.—2 Kronike 21:1, 12-15.
OKTOBHA 31–NOVEMBA 6
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | 2 KUMKANI 3-4
“Thatha Unyana Wakho”
“Ndiyazi Ukuba Uza Kuvuka”
7 Ummangaliso wesibini wokuvuswa komntu oseBhayibhileni, wenziwa ngumprofeti uElisha, owangena ezihlangwini zikaEliya. Inkosikazi engumSirayeli edumileyo yaseShunem yalungiselela uElisha indawo yokuhlala. Esebenzisa lo mprofeti, uThixo wayivuza ngonyana le nkosikazi nomyeni wayo owayaluphele. Emva kweminyaka, lo nyana wasweleka. Usenokuyicingela indlela awayebuhlungu ngayo unina. Umyeni wakhe wamvumela ukuba ahambe iikhilomitha eziyi-30 aye kuElisha kwiNtaba YeKarmele. Lo mprofeti wathumela uGehazi ukuba akhawuleze aye eShunem, ngoxa bona belandela. UGehazi woyiswa kukumvusa loo mntwana. Emva koko uElisha nomama womntwana bafika.—2 Kum. 4:8-31.
“Ndiyazi Ukuba Uza Kuvuka”
8 Wathi akufika eShunem, wangena endlwini waya kumzimba womntwana waza wathandaza. Umntwana waphila, waza uElisha wamsa kumama wakhe owayevuya kakhulu! (Funda eyesi-2 yeziKumkani 4:32-37.) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wakhumbula amazwi awayethethwe nguHana emthandazweni xa wayesisa uSamuweli ukuba aye kukhonza emnqubeni, esithi: “UYehova . . . owehlisela [engcwabeni], kwaYena uyanyusa.” (1 Sam. 2:6) Kucacile ukuba nguThixo owavusa unyana weli bhinqa laseShunem, ebonisa ukuba uyakwazi ukuvusa abantu.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-2-E 697 ¶2
Umprofeti
“Oonyana Babaprofeti.” Njengoko iGesenius’ Hebrew Grammar icacisa (Oxford, 1952, iphepha. 418), igama lesiHebhere elithi ben (unyana ka) okanye benehʹ (oonyana baka) linokuthetha ukuba “lilungu lombutho (okanye lohlanga, okanye iqela elithile).” (Thelekisa uNeh 3:8, apho kuthiwa “omnye wabenzi bamafutha okuthambisa,” ngokoqobo ibe isithi “unyana wabenzi bamafutha okuthambisa.”) Ngoko amazwi athi “oonyana babaprofeti” anokuchaza isikolo sokufundisa abo banobizo lwalo msebenzi okanye umbutho wabaprofeti. Akhona amaqela abaprofeti ekuthethwa ngawo awayeseBheteli, eYeriko, naseGiligali. (2Ku 2:3, 5; 4:38; thelekisa u-1Sa 10:5, 10.) Kukho iqela elalikhokelwa nguSamuweli eRama (1Sa 19:19, 20), ibe kubonakala ukuba noElisha wayenesikhundla esinjalo ngexesha lakhe. (2Ku 4:38; 6:1-3; thelekisa u-1Ku 18:13.) Ingxelo ithi bazakhela indawo yabo yokuhlala ibe basebenzisa isixhobo esibolekiweyo, nto leyo enokubonisa ukuba babenganazinto zininzi. Nangona babehlala kunye futhi besitya kunye amaxesha amaninzi, babenokuthunywa ukuba bayokwenza umsebenzi wobuprofeti.—1Ku 20:35-42; 2Ku 4:1, 2, 39; 6:1-7; 9:1, 2.