Iimbekiselo Zencwadi Yobomi BamaKristu Nomsebenzi Wokushumayela
© 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
JULAYI 3-9
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | EZRA 4-6
“Sukuwuphazamisa Umsebenzi”
Uyayibona Le Nto Yabonwa NguZekariya?
13 Umsebenzi wokuphinda kwakhiwe itempile wawuyekisiwe. Kodwa amadoda awayekhokela abantu bakaThixo, uMbingeleli Omkhulu uYeshuwa (uYoshuwa) noMlawuli uZerubhabheli ‘baqala ukwakha indlu kaThixo.’ (Ezra 5:1, 2) Loo nto yayisenokubonakala ingebobulumko kwamanye amaYuda. Ayengenakukwazi ukwakha engabonwa ziintshaba zawo ezazinokwenza nantoni na ukuze ziwuyekise lo msebenzi. UYoshuwa noZerubhabheli babefuna into eyayiza kubenza baqiniseke ukuba uYehova ukunye nabo, ibe bayifumana. Njani?
w86 2/1 29, ibhokisi ¶2-3
Iliso LikaYehova “Liphezu Kwamadoda Amakhulu”
Emva kokubuya kwentsalela engamaYuda ivela eBhabhiloni, ixesha elide lokungasebenzi kangangeminyaka eli-16 laqalisa. Umprofeti uHagayi noZekariya bazimisela ukushukumisa amaYuda kukungafuni kwawo ukusebenza, yaye umsebenzi wokwakha kwakhona itempile kaYehova waqaliswa. Noko ke, lwalamsinya, lo msebenzi wacelwa umngeni ngamagosa asePersi. “Niwiselwe umthetho ngubani na ukuba niyakhe le ndlu?” babuza abachasi.—Ezra 5:1-3.
Impendulo yalo mbuzo yayibalulekile. Ukuba abadala babenokuzivumela bona ngokwabo ukuba boyikiswe, ukubuyiselwa kwetempile kwakuya kunqumama ngesiquphe. Ukuba abadala babe nokuwaphikisa la magosa, lo msebenzi wawunokuvalwa. Ngoko abadala (ngokungathandabuzekiyo bekhokelwa liBamba uZerubhabheli noYeshuwa uMbingeleli Omkhulu) bavakalisa impendulo enobuchule kodwa enomphumo. Bawakhumbuza amagosa ngomyalelo kaKoreshi esekudala awulibala owawunika amaYuda imvume yasebukhosini yokuba aqhubeke nalo msebenzi. Esazi umgaqo wamaPersi wokunganquli umthetho omisiweyo, la magosa ngobulumkoanyula ukuphephha ukuchasa umthetho wasebukhosini. Ngaloo ndlela umsebenzi wavunyelwa ukuqhubeka de uKumkani uDariyo wayinikela kamva eyakhe imvume yasemthethweni!—Ezra 5:11-17; 6:6-12.
Uyayibona Le Nto Yabonwa NguZekariya?
7 Kwenzeka into eyabancedayo noko abantu ababesakha itempile. Yintoni leyo? Ngo-520 B.C.E., uDariyo I waba ngukumkani wasePersi. Ngonyaka wesibini elawula, wafumanisa ukuba kwakungekho semthethweni ukuwayekisa ukwakha amaYuda. Ngoko wawavumela ukuba awugqibezele umsebenzi. (Ezra 6:1-3) Loo nto yothusa wonke umntu, kodwa zange aphelele apho. Wayalela abantu ukuba bayeke ukuwaphazamisa amaYuda baze bawanike yonke into awayeyidinga ukuze agqibe ukwakha itempile. (Ezra 6:7-12) Isand’ ukuphela iminyaka eyi-4 isakhiwa, ngo-515 B.C.E, yagqitywa.—Ezra 6:15.
Uyayibona Le Nto Yabonwa NguZekariya?
16 Enye indlela uYehova asikhokela ngayo kukusebenzisa ‘ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi.’ (Mat. 24:45) Ngamany’ amaxesha sisenokungaziqondi kakuhle izinto elithi masizenze. Ngokomzekelo, lisenokusixelela izinto ekufuneka sizenze ukuze sisinde kwintlekele esingaqondi kwaukuba iya kuze ibekho kwindawo esihlala kuyo. Okanye sisenokucinga ukuba liyabaxa xa lisixelela izinto emasizenze xa kukho isifo esibulalayo. Simele senze ntoni xa sicinga ukuba izinto elisixelela zona azizukusebenza? Simele sicinge ngendlela awancedakala ngayo amaSirayeli ngokumamela uYoshuwa noZerubhabheli. Sinokucinga nangamanye amabali eBhayibhile esiwafundileyo. Ngamanye amaxesha abantu bakaThixo kwakuye kuthiwe mabenze into eyayibonakala ngathi ayinakusebenza, kodwa isindise ubomi babo.—ABagwe. 7:7; 8:10.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Ngaba Unokuyithemba IBhayibhile?
Le ngqekembe yenziwa eTarso, isixeko esikumzantsi-mpuma wendawo namhlanje ekuthiwa yiTheki. Le ngqekembe yaveliswa ebudeni bolawulo lwebamba elingumPersi uMazaeus ngenkulungwane yesine Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Imchaza njengebamba lephondo “Elingaphesheya koMlambo,” oko kukuthi, uMlambo umEfrati.
Kodwa kutheni eli binzana libangel’ umdla? Kungenxa yokuba uya kufumana inkcazelo efanayo eBhayibhileni yakho. UEzra 5:6–6:13 uchaza izinto ezazifana phakathi kokumkani wamaPersi uDariyo nebamba ekuthiwa nguTatenayi. Umcimbi ekwakuxoxwa ngawo yayingowokwakhiwa kwakhona kwetempile yamaYuda eYerusalem. UEzra wayengumkhupheli woMthetho kaThixo, yaye ubunokulindela ukuba oko akubhalayo kube kokucacileyo nokuchanileyo. KuEzra 5:6 nese-6:13 (NW) uya kuphawula ukuba uTatenayi wambiza ngokuba “libamba langaphesheya koMlambo.”
UEzra wakubhala oko malunga nowama-460 B.C.E., iminyaka eli-100 ngaphambi kokuba le ngqekembe yenziwe. Kaloku, abanye abantu basenokuba nemvo yokuba inkcazelo engomlawuli wamandulo yinto nje engenamsebenzi. Kodwa ukuba unokubathemba ababhali beBhayibhile kwanakwizinto nje ezincinane ngolo hlobo, ngaba oko akunakuyikhulisa intembelo yakho kuyo nantoni na abayibhalayo?
JULAYI 10-16
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | EZRA 7-8
“Indlela Yokuziphatha KaEzra Yazukisa UYehova”
Ufundisiso—Lunomvuzo Kwaye Lumnandi
8 Ewe, ukulithanda kwethu iLizwi likaYehova kufanele kusuke entliziyweni, apho iimvakalelo zikhoyo. Sifanele sikuvuyele ukwenza izicatshulwa ezithile esisandul’ ukuzifunda zihlale zinkenteza ezingqondweni zethu. Sifanele siqiqe ngeengcamango ezinzulu zokomoya, sithabatheke zizo, yaye sicamngce ngazo. Oku kufuna ukuba sicamngce yaye sithandaze. Kufuneka silungise iintliziyo zethu njengoEzra ukuze sifunde yaye sifundisise iLizwi likaThixo. Xa kwakubhalwa ngaye kwathiwa: “UEzra wayeyilungisile intliziyo yakhe ukuba ahlole umthetho kaYehova, awenze aze afundise uSirayeli imimiselo nokusesikweni.” (Ezra 7:10) Phawula iinjongo ezintathu zokuba uEzra alungise intliziyo yakhe: yayikukuze afundisise, akusebenzise kuye oko akufundayo, aze afundise. Sifanele siwulandele umzekelo awawumiselayo.
Incwadi YeBhayibhile 13—1 Kronike
5 Akukho bani wayekufanelekele kakuhle ukuhlanganisa le mbali iyinyaniso nechanileyo ngaphandle kukaEzra. “Ngokuba uEzra intliziyo yakhe wayeyibhekise ekuwufuneni umyalelo kaYehova, awenze, afundise ummiselo nesiko kwaSirayeli.” (Ezra 7:10) UYehova wamalathisa ngomoya oyingcwele. Umlawuli wehlabathi ongumPersi wabuqonda ubulumko bukaThixo awayenabo uEzra waza wamnika igunya elingakumbi elingokwasemthethweni kwisithili solawulo sakwaYuda. (Ezra 7:12-26) Ngaloo ndlela enegunya elingokobuthixo nelasebukhosini, uEzra wayenokuyihlanganisa ingxelo yakhe ngokusuka kwawona maxwebhu afanelekileyo awayefumaneka.
it-1-E 1158 ¶4
Ukuthobeka
Kwenza Umntu Akhokelwe Kakuhle. Umntu ozithobayo phambi kukaThixo unokulindela ukukhokelwa nguye. Ngaphandle kwababingeleli, amaNethini, abafazi nabantwana, uEzra wayejongene nomsebenzi omkhulu wokukhokela amadoda angaphezu kwayi-1500 awayesuka eBhabhiloni esiya eYerusalem. Ngaphezu koko, babephethe igolide nesilivere eninzi ababeza kuhombisa ngayo itempile yaseYerusalem. Nangona kwakufuneka bekhuselekile njengoko behamba, uEzra zange acele kukumkani wasePersi ukuba bakhatshwe ngamajoni abo, kuba loo nto yayisenokubonisa ukuba bathembele ngabantu. Wakhe wathi nakukumkani: “UThixo uyabakhusela bonke abo bafuna uncedo lwakhe.” Waxelela abantu ukuba bazilele ukutya ukuze bazithobe phambi kukaYehova. Bacela uThixo abancede ibe wabamamela waze wabanceda nyhani kuba bakwazi ukukhuseleka kwiintshaba njengoko babekuhambo oluyingozi. (Ezr 8:1-14, 21-32) Umprofeti uDaniyeli owayesekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni waba nenyhweba kakhulu kuba waba nombono emva kokuba kuthunyelwe ingelosi kuye. Le nto yenzeka kuba wathobeka kuThixo xa wayefuna ukukhokelwa naxa wayefuna ukuqonda izinto ezithile.—Dan 10:12.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaEzra
7:28–8:20—Kutheni amaYuda amaninzi awayeseBhabhiloni ayengakulungelanga nje ukuya eYerusalem kunye noEzra? Nangona kwakusele kudlule ama-60 eminyaka ukususela oko iqela lokuqala lamaYuda labuyela kwilizwe lawo, zazisembalwa kakhulu iindawo ezinabemi. Ukubuyela eYerusalem kwakuya kuthetha ukuqalisa ubomi obutsha phantsi kweemeko ezinzima neziyingozi. Ubomi baseYerusalem ngelo xesha babungenabo ubunewunewu bezinto eziphathekayo obabunanditshwa ngamaYuda eBhabhiloni. Kanti nohambo oluya apho lwaluyingozi. Abo babeza kubuyela eYerusalem babefanele babe nokholo oluqinileyo kuYehova, babe nenzondelelo ngonqulo oluyinyaniso, yaye babe nenkalipho yokujamelana nolo hambo. KwanoEzra wafumana amandla ngenxa yokomelezwa nguYehova. Emva kokuba uEzra ebakhuthazile abantu, kwasabela iintsapho ezili-1 500—ezimalunga nabantu abangama-6 000. Akuba uEzra ekhuthaze abangakumbi, abaLevi abangama-38 namaNethini angama-220 nawo asabela.
JULAYI 17-23
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | EZRA 9-10
“Imiphumo Ebuhlungu Yokungathobeli”
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaEzra
9:1, 2—Kwakusisisongelo esikhulu kangakanani ukutshata nabantu belo lizwe? Uhlanga olubuyiselweyo lwalumele lulondoloze unqulo lukaYehova de kufike uMesiya. Ukutshata nabanye abemi belo lizwe kwakusisisongelo esikhulu kunqulo lokwenyaniso. Ngenxa yokuba abanye babetshata nabantu ababenqula izithixo, ekuhambeni kwexesha uhlanga luphela lwalusenokulandela izithethe zobuhedeni. Oko kwakunokuphumela ekubeni unqulo olunyulu lubhange ngokupheleleyo emhlabeni. Ngoko wayeza kuza koobani uMesiya? Kungeso sizathu le nto uEzra wothuka akakholwa akubona oko kwakusenzeka!
Yintoni UYehova Ayifunayo Kuthi?
Usisikelela gqitha xa simthobela ngokuzithandela. UMoses uthi: ‘Gcina imiyalelo endikuyalela ngayo namhlanje, ukuze kulunge kuwe.’ (Indinyana 13) Ewe, yonke imiyalelo kaYehova—yonke into ayifunayo kuthi—inceda kwathina. Kakade ke ibinokusenzakalisa njani? IBhayibhile ithi: “UThixo uluthando.” (1 Yohane 4:8) Ekuphela kwemiyalelo asinika yona yileyo iza kusinceda. (Isaya 48:17) Ukuthobela zonke izinto ezifunwa nguYehova kuthi kuya kusisindisa kwiinkxwaleko ezininzi size sifumane iintsikelelo ezingapheliyo xa kulawula uBukumkani bakhe.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaEzra
10:3, 44—Kwakutheni ukuze abantwana bandululwe kunye nabafazi? Ukuba abantwana babesele, abo bafazi bagxothiweyo babesenokubuya ngenxa yabo. Ngaphezu koko, abantwana abancinane bafuna inyameko kanina.
JULAYI 24-30
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NEHEMIYA 1-2
“Ngoko Nangoko Ndathandaza”
Beka UYehova Phambi Kwakho Rhoqo
5 Ngamathuba athile, kusenokufuneka senze nje umthandazo okhawulezileyo sicela uncedo kuThixo. Ngeny’ imini, uKumkani wasePersi uArtashashta waphawula ukuba umngcamli uNehemiya udakumbile. Ukumkani wambuza: “Yintoni na ke oyifunayo?” ‘Kwaoko uNehemiya wathandaza kuThixo wamazulu.’ UNehemiya kwafuneka awenze mfutshane loo mthandazo, nekubonakala ukuba wawenzela entliziyweni. Sekunjalo uThixo wawuphendula, kuba ukumkani wamnceda ukuze azakhe ngokutsha iindonga zaseYerusalem. (Funda uNehemiya 2:1-8.) Ewe, kwanomthandazo omfutshane owenzelwa entliziyweni unokuviwa.
Ukuthetha Ungajonganga Lwandlalo
Xa kufuneka uchaze iinkolelo zakho ungacwangcisanga, yintoni enokukunceda wenze amagqabaza avakalayo? Xelisa uNehemiya, owathandaza entliziyweni ngaphambi kokuba aphendule umbuzo kaKumkani uArtashashta. (Neh. 2:4) Emva koko, yenza ulwandlalo ngokukhawuleza engqondweni yakho. Amanyathelo asisiseko unokuwabeka ngolu hlobo: (1) Khetha ingongoma ibe nye okanye zibe mbini ofanele uziquke kwingcaciso yakho (unokusebenzisa iingongoma ezifumaneka kwincwadi ethi Ukuqiqa NgeZibhalo). (2) Khetha izibhalo oza kuzisebenzisa ukuxhasa ezo ngongoma. (3) Ceba indlela yokuqalisa ingcaciso yakho ngobuchule ukuze loo mntu ubuzayo akulungele ukuphulaphula. Emva koko qalisa ukuthetha.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
w86 2/15 25
Unqulo Oluyinyaniso Luyoyisa
Hayi, kuba imeko yokubhuqeka kweYerusalem yayingumthandazo kaNehemiya ongundoqo “imini nobusuku” kangangexesha elide. (1:4, 6) Xa wafumana ithuba lokuxelela uKumkani uArtashashta ngomnqweno wakhe wokwakha ngokutsha iindonga zeYerusalem, uNehmiya wathandaza kwakhona, ngalo ndlela esenza oko wayesele ekwenza ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Impendulo kaYehova yobabalo yaphumela kuthumo lokwakha ngokutsha iindonga zesixeko.
Esikufundayo Koku: Unehemiya wakhangela kuYehova ngolwalathiso. Xa sijongene nezigqibo ezinzima, ngokunjalo nathi sifanele ‘sizingise emthandazweni’ size senze ngokuvisisana nokhokelo lukaYehova.—Roma 12:12.
JULAYI 31–AGASTI 6
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NEHEMIYA 3-4
“Ngaba Uzibona Ubhetele Ukuba Ungenza Umsebenzi Wezandla?”
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaNehemiya
3:5, 27. Asimele siwujongele phantsi umsebenzi wezandla owenzelwa ukuhambisela phambili izilangazelelo zonqulo lokwenyaniso, njengokuba zenzayo “iingangamsha” zamaTekowa. Kunoko, sinokuxelisa amaTekowa awayephila ubomi obuqhelekileyo awaye azibhokoxa.
Uza Kukusebenzisa Njani UYehova?
11 Kwiminyaka emininzi emva koko, uYehova wasebenzisa iintombi zikaShalum ukuba zincedise xa kwakulungiswa iindonga zaseYerusalem. (Neh. 2:20; 3:12) Utata wezo ntombi wayeyinkosana, kodwa zazikuvuyela ukwenza loo msebenzi unzima noyingozi. (Neh. 4:15-18) Zazingafani tu namadoda adumileyo angamaTekowa ‘awayengazange afake sandla’ kuloo msebenzi. (Neh. 3:5) Khawucinge indlela ezavuya ngayo ezo ntombi xa umsebenzi wagqitywa kwiintsuku nje eziyi-52. (Neh. 6:15) Nanamhlanje bakhona oodade abakuvuyelayo ukuncedisa kumsebenzi wokwakha nokulungisa izakhiwo ezinikelwe kuYehova. Izinto abakwaziyo ukuzenza, indlela abakhuthele ngayo nokunyaniseka kwabo, zonke ezi zinto zenza lo msebenzi wenziwe kakuhle.
Ukuhlakulela Imbono EnjengekaKristu Ngobukhulu
16 Onke amaKristu, aselula nakhulileyo, afanele azabalazele ukuhlakulela imbono enjengekaKristu ngobukhulu. Ebandleni, kukho imisebenzi eyahlukahlukeneyo efanele yenziwe. Ungaze wale xa ucelwa ukuba wenze imisebenzi ebonakala iphantsi. (1 Samuweli 25:41; 2 Kumkani 3:11) Bazali, ngaba niyabakhuthaza abantwana benu nabo bakwishumi elivisayo ukuba bakuvuyele ukwenza nawuphi na umsebenzi abawunikiweyo, enoba kukwiHolo yoBukumkani, kwindibano okanye kwibala lendibano? Ngaba bayakubona usenza imisebenzi ephantsi? Omnye umzalwana, ngoku osebenza kwikomkhulu lamaNgqina kaYehova, uwukhumbula kakuhle umzekelo wabazali bakhe. Wathi: “Indlela ababewugqala ngayo umsebenzi wokucoca iHolo yoBukumkani okanye indawo ekuqhutyelwa kuyo indibano kwandixelela ukuba bayigqala njengebalulekileyo. Babedla ngokwenza imisebenzi ethile ebandleni okanye bancede abazalwana, enoba loo misebenzi ibonakala iphantsi kangakanani na. Esi simo sengqondo siye sandinceda ukuze ndikwazi ukwamkela nawuphi na umsebenzi endiwunikiweyo apha eBheteli.”
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaNehemiya
4:17, 18—Umntu wayenokwakha njani ngesandla esinye? Oku kwakungeyongxaki kwabo babethutha izinto zokwakha. Kuba usakuba ubekwe entloko okanye egxalabeni umthwalo, babe nokuwubamba ngesandla esinye ‘ngoxa esinye sibambe umjukujelwa.’ Ke bona abakhi ekwakufuneka basebenze ngezandla zozibini “babebhinqisiwe, ngamnye ikrele lakhe lisesinqeni sakhe, ngoxa babesakha.” Babekulungele ukufunza edabini nanini na behlaselwa.
AGASTI 7-13
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NEHEMIYA 5-7
“UNehemiya Wayengafuni Ukusetyenzelwa, Naye Wayesebenza”
Abaxhasi Bonqulo Lokwenyaniso—Ngaphambili Nangoku
UNehemiya akazange anikele nje ngexesha lakhe nangobugcisa bokulungelelanisa umsebenzi kuphela. Kwakhona wasebenzisa nezinto zakhe eziphathekayo ukuxhasa unqulo lokwenyaniso. Wasebenzisa imali yakhe ukukhulula abazalwana bakhe abangamaYuda ebukhobokeni. Wabolekisa ngemali ngaphandle kokufuna inzala. Akazange ‘awenzele nzima’ amaYuda ngokufuna ukuhlawulwa njengerhuluneli, nto leyo awayenelungelo layo. Kunoko, ikhaya lakhe lalihlala livulekile ukuze ondle “amadoda alikhulu elinamashumi amahlanu, nabo babengena kuthi bevela ezintlangeni ezisijikelezileyo.” Suku ngalunye wayenika iindwendwe zakhe “inkunzi yenkomo enye, izimvu ezikhethiweyo ezintandathu neentaka.” Ukongezelela, wayebanika “lonke uhlobo lwewayini eninzi” kube kanye ngeentsuku ezilishumi—konke oko ekwenza ngeendleko zakhe.—Nehemiya 5:8, 10, 14-18.
“Mazingawi Izandla Zakho”
16 Bexhaswa nguYehova, uNehemiya nabo babekunye naye bazomeleza izandla zabo ukuze basebenze. Bagqiba ukwakha iindonga zaseYerusalem ngeentsuku nje eziyi-52! (Neh. 2:18; 6:15, 16) UNehemiya akazange aphelele ekujongeni ukuba umsebenzi wenziwa kakuhle. Kodwa naye wafaka isandla ekwakhiweni kweendonga zaseYerusalem. (Neh. 5:16) Nanamhlanje, abadala benza okufanayo noko kwenziwa nguNehemiya, ngokuncedisa xa kusakhiwa iindawo zokunqulela okanye bacoce baze banyamekele iHolo yoBukumkani. Banokomeleza nezandla zabo batyhafileyo nabanexhala, ngokusebenza nabavakalisi entsimini nangokwenza utyelelo lokwalusa.—Funda Isaya 35:3, 4.
Uya Kukukhumbula Njani UYehova?
Ngokungaguquguqukiyo, iBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba kuThixo, ‘ukukhumbula’ kuthetha ukuthabatha amanyathelo afanelekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, emva kokuba umhlaba ugutyungelwe ngamanzi omkhukula kangangeentsuku ezili-150, “uThixo wamkhumbula uNowa . . . , uThixo wahambisa umoya ehlabathini, awutha amanzi.” (Genesis 8:1) Kwiinkulungwane kamva, uSamson, owayekrukrwe amehlo waza wakhonkxwa ngamaFilisti, wathandaza wenjenje: “Yehova, khawundikhumbule, khawundomeleze okwesi sihlandlo sodwa.” UYehova wamkhumbula uSamson ngokumnika amandla angaphezu kwawomntu ukuze aziphindezele kwiintshaba zikaThixo. (ABagwebi 16:28-30) Ke yena uNehemiya, imigudu yakhe yasikelelwa nguYehova, yaye unqulo lokwenyaniso lwabuyiselwa eYerusalem.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
“Hlala Uboyisa Ububi Ngokulungileyo”
15 Kwisihlandlo sesithathu zasebenzisa umngcatshi, uShemaya owayengumSirayeli, ukuze enze uNehemiya ophule uMthetho kaThixo. UShemaya wathi kuNehemiya: “Masenze idinga lokuhlangana endlwini yoThixo oyinyaniso, ngaphakathi etempileni; size sizivale iingcango zetempile; kuba bangenela ukuza kukubulala.” Wayesithi uNehemiya usesichengeni sokubulawa ngoko wayemele azisindise ngokuzifihla etempileni. Noko ke, uNehemiya wayengenguye umbingeleli. Wayeya kuba wenza isono xa ezimela endlwini kaThixo. Ngaba wayeya kwaphula uMthetho kaThixo kuba nje efuna ukusindisa ubomi bakhe? UNehemiya waphendula wathi: “Ngubani na onjengam onokungena etempileni aze aphile? Andiyi kungena!” Yintoni eyanceda uNehemiya akawela kuloo mgibe? Kungenxa yokuba wayesazi ukuba nakuba uShemaya wayengumSirayeli, “wayengathunywanga nguThixo.” Ngapha koko, umprofeti wenyaniso wayengayi kumkhuthaza ukuba aphule uMthetho kaThixo. Nakwesi isihlandlo uNehemiya akazange anikezele kwezo ntshaba zakhe zingendawo. Kungekudala emva koko wathi: “Ekugqibeleni lwagqitywa udonga ngosuku lweshumi elinesihlanu lukaEluli, ngeentsuku ezingamashumi amahlanu anesibini.”—Nehemiya 6:10-15; Numeri 1:51; 18:7.
AGASTI 14-20
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NEHEMIYA 8-9
“Uvuyo Enilunikwa NguYehova Luza Kunomeleza”
Oko Sikufundayo Kumthandazo Ocingisisiweyo
2 Kwinyanga engaphambi kwale sithetha ngayo, amaYuda ayesandul’ ukugqiba ukwakha iindonga zeYerusalem. (Neh. 6:15) Abantu bakaThixo bawugqiba ngeentsuku nje eziyi-52 loo msebenzi, baza ke baqhubeka benikela ingqalelo ekhethekileyo kwiinkalo ababemele baphucule kuzo kulwalamano lwabo noThixo. Ngomhla wokuqala wenyanga uTishri, bahlanganisana kwindawo yembutho ukuze baphulaphule uEzra nabanye abaLevi njengoko babefunda ngokuvakalayo yaye becacisa uMthetho kaThixo. (Umfanekiso 1) Zonke iintsapho, kuquka bonke abo “banengqiqo ngokwaneleyo yokuphulaphula,” bema baza baphulaphula “ukususela ekuthini qheke kwemini kwada kwasemini emaqanda.” Lo ngumzekelo omhle ngokwenene kuthi thina bahlanganisana kwiiHolo zoBukumkani ezitofotofo namhlanje! Ngaba kwizihlandlo ezinjalo ukhe ufumane ingqondo yakho sele ibhadula icinga ngezinto ezingabalulekanga? Ukuba kunjalo, phinda ucinge ngomzekelo wamaSirayeli amandulo angazange anele nje ukuphulaphula kodwa akufaka entliziyweni oko ayekuva de alila ebuhlungu kukusilela kwawo njengohlanga ukuthobela uMthetho kaThixo.—Neh. 8:1-9.
Ngaba Uya ‘Kuqhubeka Uhamba Ngokomoya’?
9 Ukuvuya kuthetha ukuba wonwabe ngokwenene. UYehova ‘nguThixo onoyolo.’ (1 Timoti 1:11; INdumiso 104:31) UNyana uyayoliswa kukwenza ukuthanda kukaYise. (INdumiso 40:8; Hebhere 10:7-9) Yaye “uvuyo lukaYehova ligwiba” lethu.—Nehemiya 8:10.
10 Uvuyo esilunikwe nguThixo lusenza sonwabe xa sisenza ukuthanda kwakhe kwanaxa sisiva ubunzima, iintlungu, okanye sitshutshiswa. Hayi indlela okusonwabisa ngayo ‘ukwazi uThixo’! (IMizekeliso 2:1-5) Ulwalamano lwethu noThixo lusekelwe ekumazini ngendlela echanileyo nokuba nokholo kuye nakwidini lentlawulelo likaYesu. (1 Yohane 2:1, 2) Enye into ebangela ukuba sivuye kukuba yinxalenye yokuphela kobuzalwana bokwenyaniso bazwenibanzi. (Zefaniya 3:9; Hagayi 2:7) Sivuyiswa lithemba esinalo loBukumkani nelungelo elizukileyo lokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo. (Mateyu 6:9, 10; 24:14) Kwakhona sivuyiswa lithemba lobomi obungunaphakade. (Yohane 17:3) Ekubeni sinelo themba limangalisayo, sifanele ‘sizaliswe luvuyo kuphela.’—Duteronomi 16:15.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-1-E 145 ¶2
IsiAramiki
Kwiminyaka emva kokuba amaYuda ebuyile ekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni umbingeleli uEzra wafundela amaYuda awayedibene eYerusalem incwadi yoMthetho ibe abanye abaLevi bawucacisela abantu. UNehemiya 8:8 uthi: “Baqhubeka bebafundela incwadi yoMthetho kaThixo wokwenene, bewucacisa kakuhle yaye bebaxelela ukuba uthetha ukuthini; babanceda abantu batsho bayiqonda le nto ifundwayo.” Kusenokwenzeka ukuba babecacisa izibhalo zesiHebhere ngesiAramiki, ibe mhlawumbi amaHebhere asifunda xa ayeseBhabhiloni eso siAramiki. Kwakhona, ukusicacisa kwakunceda amaYuda kuba nangona ayesiqonda isiHebhere atsho akwazi ukuqonda eyona nto ibalulekileyo kuloo nto babeyifundiswa.
AGASTI 21-27
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NEHEMIYA 10-11
“Bancama Izinto Zabo Ngenxa KaYehova”
IYerusalem Elilandeleyo Igama Layo
13 “Umnqophiso wenene” owawutywinwe ngomhla kaNehemiya wenza abantu bakaThixo bamandulo balungela ukunikezelwa kodonga lwaseYerusalem. Kodwa kwakusekho nto ithile eyayisafuna ingqalelo engxamisekileyo. Ekubeni ngoku yayingqingwe ludonga olukhulu olwalunamasango ali-12, kwakufuneka abantu abangakumbi ababeza kuhlala eYerusalem. Nangona ayekho amaSirayeli awayehlala apho, “umzi ububanzi ngeenxa zombini, umkhulu; abantu bembalwa phakathi kwawo.” (Nehemiya 7:4) Ukuze kuconjululwe le ngxaki, abantu “bawisa amaqashiso, ukuba kungeniswe abe mnye kwabalishumi, ahlale eYerusalem kuwo umzi ongcwele.” Intsabelo entle kweli lungiselelo yabangela ukuba abantu bawasikelele “amadoda onke aqhutywa yintliziyo ukuba ahlale eYerusalem.” (Nehemiya 11:1, 2) Onjani ukuba mhle umzekelo kubanquli bokwenyaniso namhlanje abameko zibavumelayo ukuba bafudukele apho kukho imfuneko enkulu yoncedo lwamaKristu aqolileyo!
w86 2/15 26
Unqulo Oluyinyaniso Luyoyisa
Ukushiya ilifa nokuya eYerusalem kwakunokuphumela kwiindleko ezithile nakukungalungelwa okuthile. Abo babehlala kweso sixeko kusenokuba babekwachanabeke kwingozi ezahlukahlukeneyo. Phantsi kweemeko ezinjalo, bambi bawajonga la matsha-ntliziyo njengafanelwe yindumiso yaye ngokungathandabuzekiyo bathandaza ukuba uYehova awasikelele.
Ukuthembeka Kuyamkholisa UThixo
15 Xa sasizahlulela kuYehova, samthembisa ukuba siya kwenza ukuthanda kwakhe nokuba sekumnyam’ entla. Sasisazi ukuba kuza kuba nzima ukusigcina eso sithembiso ngamanye amaxesha. Sisabela njani xa sicelwa ukuba senze into esingayithandiyo? Ukuba siyazoyisa iimvakalelo zethu size sithobele uYehova, singqina ukuba sinyanisekile kwisithembiso sethu. Kusenokuba buhlungu ukuncama ezinye izinto, kodwa iintsikelelo zikaYehova esiza kuzifumana azinakuthelekiswa nanto. (Malaki 3:10) Kodwa kuthekani ngentombi kaYifeta? Yasabela njani kwisithembiso sikayise?
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaNehemiya
10:34—Kwakutheni ukuze kufuneke abathezi beenkuni? Lalingekho ilungiselelo lokuthezwa kweenkuni kuMthetho kaMoses. Lo mthetho wabakho kuba wawufuneka. Kwakufuneka iinkuni ezininzi ukuze kutshiswe amadini esibingelelweni. Kuyacaca, ukuba lalinganelanga inani lamaNethini awayengamakhoboka asetempileni angengomaSirayeli. Ngenxa yoko, kwenziwa amaqashiso ukuze kuhlale kukho abathezi beenkuni.
AGASTI 28–SEPTEMBA 3
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NEHEMIYA 12-13
“Nyaniseka KuYehova Xa Ukhetha Abahlobo”
it-1-E 95 ¶5
Ama-Amoni
Emva kokuba uTobhiya egxothiwe etempileni umthetho kaThixo okwiDuteronomi 23:3-6 wafundwa ibe wawungawavumeli ama-Amoni namaMowabhi ukuba angene kwibandla lamaSirayeli. (Neh 13:1-3) Lo mthetho wabekwa kwiminyaka eyi-1000 ngaphambili kuba ama-Amoni namaMowabhi zange avume ukuwanceda amaSirayeli xa ayesondela kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Enye into eyayithethwa ngulo mthetho kukuba ama-Amoni namaMowabhi ayengakwazi ukuba ngamalungu apheleleyo ohlanga lwamaSirayeli ibe ayengakwazi nokuwafumana onke amalungelo afunyanwa ngabo. Kodwa ke le nto yayingathethi ukuba ama-Amoni namaMowabhi ayengakwazi ukuba kunye namaSirayeli okanye ahlale nawo aze afumane iintsikelelo awayezifumana ezaziqinisa ukholo lwawo. Le nto siyibona kuTseleke owakwazi ukuba ngomnye wamajoni aphambili kaDavide nangona wayengumAmoni ibe nebali likaRute umMowabhikazi lisibonisa into enye.—Rut 1:4, 16-18.
Niye Nangcwaliswa
5 Funda uNehemiya 13:4-9. Siphila phakathi kwempembelelo embi, ngoko kufuneka umgudu ukuze sihlale singcwele. Cinga nje ngoEliyashibhi noThobhiya. UEliyashibhi wayengumbingeleli omkhulu, ngoxa uThobhiya esenokuba wayengumAmoni negosa nje elingabalulekanga kulawulo lwamaPersi kwelo lakwaYuda. UThobhiya nabahlobo bakhe babesilwa neenzame zikaNehemiya zokuvusa iindonga zeYerusalem. (Neh. 2:10) Ama-Amoni ayengavumelekanga ukubeka umcondo etempileni. (Dut. 23:3) Yenzeka njani ke eyokuba umbingeleli omkhulu wonke, avumele uThobhiya ukuba angene kwiholo yokutyela etempileni?
6 UThobhiya waba ngumhlobo osenyongweni kaEliyashibhi. UThobhiya nonyana wakhe uYehohanan babetshate namaYudakazi, ibe amaYuda amaninzi ayemhlonela uThobhiya. (Neh. 6:17-19) Omnye wabazukulwana bakaEliyashibhi, wayetshate nentombi kaSanebhalati irhuluneli yaseSamariya, owayengomnye wabahlobo abaphambili bakaThobhiya. (Neh. 13:28) Olu lwalamano lusinceda sisibone kakuhle isizathu sokuba uMbingeleli Omkhulu uEliyashibhi ayekelele kwimpembelelo yomntu ongakholwayo nochasayo. Noko ke, uNehemiya wanyaniseka kuYehova ngokuyilahlela ngaphandle yonke impahla kaThobhiya.
Ukuhlangabezana Nocelomngeni Lokunyaniseka
6 Ukuba sinyanisekile kuYehova uThixo, siya kukuphepha ukwakha ubuhlobo nabo bonke abaziintshaba zakhe. Kungoko umfundi uYakobi wabhala oku: “Bakrexezikazindini, anazi na ukuba ubuhlobo kunye nehlabathi bubutshaba kunye noThixo? Nabani na, ke ngoko, ofuna ukuba ngumhlobo wehlabathi uzimisa njengotshaba lukaThixo.” (Yakobi 4:4) Sifuna ukubonakalisa ukunyaniseka awazingqina enako uKumkani uDavide xa wathi: “Andinakubathiya na abakuthiyayo, Yehova, ndikruquke ngabasukela phezulu kuwe? Ndibathiya ngentiyo ephelelisileyo, kum mna baziintshaba.” (INdumiso 139:21, 22) Asifuni ukunxulumana nabantu abona ngabom, kuba akukho nto isidibanisa nabo. Ngaba ukunyaniseka kuThixo bekungayi kusenza sikuphephe ukunxulumana neentshaba zikaYehova ezinjalo, enoba ngokoqobo okanye ngokubukela umabonwakude?
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-2-E 452 ¶9
Umculo
Ukucula etempileni kwakujongwa njengento ebalulekileyo nyhani. Ubungqina bale nto sibubona kwinto yokuba izibhalo ezininzi zazithetha ngeemvumi kwanento yokuba “babengayinikwanga eminye imisebenzi” eyayisenziwa ngabanye abaLevi ukuze bakwazi ukuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kumsebenzi wabo. (1Kr 9:33) Enye into eyayibonisa ukuba baliqela elikhethekileyo labaLevi kukuba xa kuchazwa amaqela abantu awayebuya eBhabhiloni, bona bachazwa bodwa. (Ezr 2:40, 41) Kwaye igunya awayenalo uKumkani wasePersi uArtashashta (uLongimanus) lasetyenziswa ukuze bangabhatali ‘irhafu, umrhumo, okanye irhafu yendlela.’ (Ezr 7:24) Emva koko ukumkani wakhupha umyalelo wokuba “iimvumi zinikwe yonke into eziyidingayo yonke imihla.” Nangona abantu abaninzi becinga ukuba nguArtashashta owakhupha lo myalelo, kubonakala ukuba wakhutshwa nguEzra, esebenzisa igunya awalinikwa nguArtashashta. (Neh 11:23; Ezr 7:18-26) Ngoko kuyacaca ukuba nangona zonke iimvumi zazingabaLevi, iBhayibhile ibhekisela kubo njengeqela elikhethekileyo’leemvumi nabaLevi.’—Neh 7:1; 13:10.