Izikhombo Ze-Ncwajana YoMhlangano Wokuphila Nenkonzo
JANUARY 2-8
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ISAYA 24-28
“UJehova Uyabanakekela Abantu Bakhe”
(Isaya 25:4, 5) Ngoba ube yisiphephelo kophansi, isiphephelo kompofu ekucindezelekeni anakho, isiphephelo esiphephweni esinemvula, umthunzi ekushiseni, lapho ukufutha kwabangomashiqela kunjengesiphepho esinemvula odongeni. 5 Njengokushisa ezweni elingenamanzi, umsindo wezihambi uyawuthobisa, ukushisa ngomthunzi wefu. Ihubo labangomashiqela liyathuliswa.
Isandla SikaJehova Siyaphakama
5 Nakuba esabeka uma ebukwa yizitha zakhe, uJehova uyisiphephelo kwabamnene nabathobekile abafuna ukumkhonza. Omashiqela bezombangazwe nabenkolo bangase bazame konke ukuze baphule ukholo lwabakhulekeli beqiniso, kodwa bayehluleka ngoba laba bakhulekeli bathembele ngokuphelele kuJehova. Ekugcineni, ubavala umlomo kalula abaphikisi bakhe, njengokungathi umboza ilanga lasehlane elivuthayo ngefu, noma uvimba amandla esiphepho esinemvula ngodonga.—Funda u-Isaya 25:4, 5.
(Isaya 25:6) UJehova wamabutho ngokuqinisekile uyokwenzela zonke izizwe, kule ntaba, idili lezidlo ezinamafutha akahle, idili lewayini eligcinwe enhleseni, lezidlo ezinamafutha akahle, ezigcwele umnkantsha, lewayini eligcinwe enhleseni, elihluziwe.
Zuza Ngokugcwele Emalungiselelweni KaJehova
4 Izincwadi zethu eziningi zibhalelwe oFakazi BakaJehova bebonke. Nokho, kunezinye izincwadi ezibhalelwe amaqembu athile abantu, njengentsha noma abazali. Iningi lezihloko nama-video okusengosini yethu, kulungiselwe ngokukhethekile abantu abangebona oFakazi BakaJehova. Ukwaziswa okuhlukahlukene ngale ndlela kubonisa ukuthi uJehova uye wasigcina isithembiso sakhe sokulungiselela bonke abantu inala yeziqondiso.—Isaya 25:6.
Isandla SikaJehova Siyaphakama
‘Idili Lazo Zonke Izizwe’
6 Njengobaba onothando, uJehova akazivikeli nje kuphela izingane zakhe kodwa futhi uyazondla, ikakhulukazi ngokomoya. Ngemva kokukhulula abantu bakhe ngo-1919, wabenzela idili lokunqoba, insada yokudla okungokomoya: “UJehova wamabutho ngokuqinisekile uyokwenzela zonke izizwe, kule ntaba, idili lezidlo ezinamafutha akahle, idili lewayini elinenhlese, izidlo ezinamafutha akahle ezigcwele umnkantsha, idili lewayini elinenhlese, elihluziwe.”—Isaya 25:6.
7 Leli dili lenzelwa ‘entabeni’ kaJehova. Iyiphi le ntaba? ‘Yintaba yendlu kaJehova’ zonke izizwe ezigobhozela kuyo “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku.” ‘Iyintaba engcwele’ kaJehova, lapho abakhulekeli bakhe abathembekile bengeke balimaze khona futhi bangabangeli ncithakalo. (Isaya 2:2; 11:9) Kule ndawo yokukhulekela ephakeme, uJehova wenzela abathembekileyo bakhe isiphihli sedili. Futhi izinto ezinhle ezingokomoya ezikhishwa ngobuningi kangaka zifanekisela izinto ezinhle ezingokwenyama eziyoba khona lapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu usuwukuphela kukahulumeni wesintu. Ngaleso sikhathi indlala iyobe ingasekho. “Kuyoba khona inala yokusanhlamvu emhlabeni; kuyoba khona ukuchichima esiqongweni sezintaba.”—IHubo 72:8, 16.
(Isaya 25:7, 8) Futhi kule ntaba ngokuqinisekile uyogwinya ubuso besigubuzelo esigubuzele zonke izizwe, nokwelukiweyo okulukwe kwahlanganiswa phezu kwazo zonke izizwe. 8 Empeleni uyokugwinya ukufa kuze kube phakade, iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngokuqinisekile iyosula izinyembezi ebusweni bonke. Isihlamba sabantu bayo iyosisusa kuwo wonke umhlaba, ngoba uJehova ngokwakhe ukukhulumile.
Isitha Sokugcina, Ukufa, Senziwa Ize
15 Ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa koMbuso, isintu esilalelayo siyobe sesikhululiwe kuzo zonke izitha ezibe khona ngenxa yokungalaleli kuka-Adamu. IBhayibheli lithi: “Njengoba nje bonke befa ku-Adamu, kanjalo nakuKristu bonke bayokwenziwa baphile. Kodwa yilowo nalowo esigabeni sakhe siqu: UKristu ulibo, kamuva kube yilabo abangabakaKristu [ababusi abayobusa naye] phakathi nokuba khona kwakhe. Ngokulandelayo, kube ukuphela, lapho enikela umbuso kuNkulunkulu wakhe noYise, lapho esebenzé ize bonke ohulumeni nalo lonke igunya namandla. Ngoba kumelwe abuse njengenkosi kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu esebeke zonke izitha ngaphansi kwezinyawo zakhe. Njengesitha sokugcina, ukufa kuzokwenziwa ize.” (1 Kor. 15:22-26) Yebo, ekugcineni ukufa esikuthole njengefa ku-Adamu kuyoqedwa. ‘Isigubuzelo’ esigubuzele wonke umkhaya wesintu siyobe sesisuswe phakade.—Isaya 25:7, 8.
Isandla SikaJehova Siyaphakama
8 Labo manje abadla kuleli dili elingokomoya elilungiselelwe phezulu banamathemba amahle kakhulu. Lalela amazwi ka-Isaya alandelayo. Eqhathanisa isono nokufa “nokwelukiweyo” noma “isigubuzelo,” uthi: “Kule ntaba ngokuqinisekile [uJehova] uyogwinya ingaphandle lesigubuzelo esigubuzele zonke izizwe, nokulukiweyo okulukwe kwahlanganiswa phezu kwazo zonke izizwe. Empeleni uyokugwinya ukufa kuze kube phakade, iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngokuqinisekile iyosula izinyembezi ebusweni bonke.”—Isaya 25:7, 8a.
9 Yebo, ngeke sisaba khona isono nokufa! (IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, isihlamba esingamanga izinceku zikaJehova eziye zasibekezelela izinkulungwane zeminyaka naso siyosuswa. “Isihlamba sabantu bayo iyosisusa kuwo wonke umhlaba, ngoba uJehova ngokwakhe ukukhulumile.” (Isaya 25:8b) Kuyokwenzeka kanjani lokhu? UJehova uyosusa umthombo waleso sihlamba, uSathane nenzalo yakhe. (IsAmbulo 20:1-3) Akumangalisi ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayoshukunyiselwa ukuba bamemeze bathi: “Bheka! Lo nguNkulunkulu wethu. Sithembele kuye, uyosisindisa. Lo nguJehova. Sithembele kuye. Masijabule sithokoze ngensindiso yakhe.”—Isaya 25:9.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Isaya 26:15) Unezelile esizweni; Jehova, unezelile esizweni; uzikhazimulisile. Uyinwebele kude yonke imingcele yezwe.
Sebenzela Ukuhlobisa Ipharadesi Elingokomoya
INDLELA THINA ESISIZA NGAYO EKUHLOBISENI IPHARADESI ELINGOKOMOYA
18 UJehova usinike ilungelo lokusiza ekuhlobiseni ipharadesi lethu elingokomoya. Kodwa sikwenza kanjani lokho? Ngokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ngentshiseko nangokwenza abafundi abengeziwe. Njalo lapho sisiza umuntu ukuba abe inceku kaNkulunkulu, sisuke sisiza ekwandiseni ipharadesi elingokomoya.—Isaya 26:15; 54:2.
(Isaya 26:20) Hambani bantu bami, ngenani emakamelweni enu angaphakathi, nivale iminyango yenu ngemva kwenu. Zifihleni umzuzwana nje kuze kudlule isijeziso.
UJehova Uyindawo Yethu Yokuhlala
“INDAWO YETHU YOKUHLALA YANGEMPELA” NJENGOBA ISIPHELO SISONDELA
15 Njengoba izwe likaSathane lisondela ekupheleni, ‘imihelo yalo yokucindezeleka’ izoba buhlungu nakakhulu. (Math. 24:7, 8) Izinto zizoba zimbi nakakhulu phakathi nosizi olukhulu. Izingqala-sizinda ziyowa futhi abantu bayoba nengebhe ngenxa yokuphila kwabo. (Hab. 3:16, 17) Bezama ukuzisindisa, ‘bayozifihla emihumeni nasemadwaleni asezintabeni.’ (IsAm. 6:15-17) Kodwa imihume yangempela kanye nezinhlangano zezombusazwe nezezentengiselwano ezifana nezintaba ngeke zikwazi ukubavikela.
16 Nokho, abantu bakaJehova bayoqhubeka bejabulela isivikelo ‘sendawo yabo yokuhlala yangempela,’ uJehova uNkulunkulu. Njengomprofethi uHabakuki, ‘bayokwethaba ngoJehova ngokwakhe.’ ‘Bayojabula ngoNkulunkulu wensindiso yabo.’ (Hab. 3:18) UJehova uyoba ‘yindawo yokuhlala yangempela’ ngaziphi izindlela phakathi naleso sikhathi sosizi? Kuzobonakala ngaleso sikhathi. Kodwa nakhu esingaqiniseka ngakho: Njengama-Israyeli ngesikhathi sokuFuduka, “isixuku esikhulu” siyoqhubeka sihlelekile, siphaphamele isiqondiso saphezulu. (IsAm. 7:9; funda u-Eksodusi 13:18.) Leso siqondiso siyofika ngokwelungiselelo laphezulu, mhlawumbe kusetshenziswa ilungiselelo lebandla. Empeleni, izinkulungwane eziningi zamabandla kuwo wonke umhlaba kubonakala sengathi zihlobene ‘namakamelo angaphakathi’ esivikelo abikezelwa ku-Isaya 26:20. (Funda.) Ingabe uyayazisa imihlangano yebandla? Ingabe usabela ngokushesha esiqondisweni uJehova asikhipha ngelungiselelo lebandla?—Heb. 13:17.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Isaya 28:1-13) Maye kuwo umqhele ovelele wezidakwa zakwa-Efrayimi, nembali ebunayo yomhlobiso wawo wobuhle ephezu kwekhanda lesigodi esivundile salabo abahlulwa yiwayini! 2 Bheka! UJehova unomuntu onamandla futhi oyingqabavu. Njengesiphepho sesichotho esinokuduma, isiphepho esibhubhisayo, njengesiphepho esinokuduma samanzi akhukhulayo, anamandla, ngokuqinisekile uyowisela phansi emhlabeni ngamandla. 3 Imiqhele evelele yezidakwa zakwa-Efrayimi iyonyathelwa phansi ngezinyawo. 4 Imbali ebunayo yomhlobiso wawo omuhle ephezu kwekhanda lesigodi esivundile iyoba njengekhiwane elivuthwe kuqala kungakabi yihlobo, okuthi, lapho olibonayo elibona, aligwinye, lisesentendeni yesandla sakhe. 5 Ngalolo suku uJehova wamabutho uyoba njengomqhele womhlobiso nanjengegoda elihle lezimbali kwabaseleyo kubantu bakhe, 6 nanjengomoya wobulungisa kohlezi ekwahluleleni, nanjengamandla kwabanqanda impi esangweni. 7 Nalaba futhi—badukile ngenxa yewayini futhi baye bazulazula ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo. Umpristi nomprofethi—badukile ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo, baphithene ngenxa yewayini, bazulazulile ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo; badukile ekuboneni kwabo, badiyazelile ngokuqondene nesinqumo. 8 Ngoba wonke amatafula asegcwele ubuhlanzo obungcolile—akukho ndawo engenabo. 9 Umuntu uyofundisa bani ulwazi, ubani ayomenza aqonde lokho okuzwakele? Ingabe yilabo abalunyulwé obisini, abasuswé emabeleni? 10 Ngoba “ngumyalo phezu komyalo, umyalo phezu komyalo, umucu wokulinganisa phezu komucu wokulinganisa, umucu wokulinganisa phezu komucu wokulinganisa, kancane lapha, kancane laphaya.” 11 Ngoba uyokhuluma nalesi sizwe esebenzisa abangingizayo ngezindebe zabo nolimi oluhlukile, 12 labo athé kubo: “Lena yindawo yokuphumula. Nikani okhatheleyo ukuphumula. Lena yindawo yokukhululeka,” kodwa abangathandanga ukuzwa. 13 Ngokuqinisekile kubo izwi likaJehova liyoba “ngumyalo phezu komyalo, umyalo phezu komyalo, umucu wokulinganisa phezu komucu wokulinganisa, umucu wokulinganisa phezu komucu wokulinganisa, kancane lapha, kancane laphaya,” ukuze bahambe futhi nakanjani bakhubeke bagenuke futhi empeleni baphuke babambeke babanjwe.
JANUARY 9-15
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ISAYA 29-33
“Inkosi Iyobusa Ngenjongo Yokulunga”
(Isaya 32:1) Bheka! Inkosi iyobusa ngenjongo yokulunga; ngokuqondene nezikhulu, ziyobusa njengezikhulu ngenjongo yobulungisa.
Dumisani UKristu, INkosi Ekhazimulayo!
13 UKristu uya empini nangenjongo ‘yokulwela ukulunga.’ Ukulunga le Nkosi ekulwelayo “ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu”—izindinganiso zikaJehova zokulungile nokungalungile. (Roma 3:21; Dut. 32:4) Ngokuphathelene neNkosi uJesu Kristu, u-Isaya waprofetha: “Inkosi iyobusa ngenjongo yokulunga.” (Isaya 32:1) Ukubusa kukaJesu kuyogcwalisa isithembiso ‘samazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha okuyohlala kukho ukulunga.’ (2 Pet. 3:13) Zonke izakhamuzi zalelo zwe elisha kuyolindeleka ukuba zizivumelanise nezindinganiso zikaJehova.—Isaya 11:1-5.
(Isaya 32:2) Ngamunye kumelwe abe njengendawo yokucashela umoya nendawo yokucashela isiphepho esinemvula, njengemifudlana yamanzi ezweni elingenamanzi, njengomthunzi wedwala elikhulu ezweni eligwadulekile.
INkosi Nezikhulu Zayo
7 Esiprofethweni sakhe esithakazelisayo esichaza ‘isiphelo sesimiso sezinto,’ uJesu wathi: “Qaphelani ukuba ningesabi.” (Mathewu 24:3-8) Kungani abalandeli bakaJesu bengenakwesatshiswa yizimo zezwe zanamuhla eziyingozi? Esinye sezizathu ukuthi ‘izikhulu’—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zigcotshiwe noma ‘zingezinye izimvu’—ziwuvikela ngokwethembeka umhlambi. (Johane 10:16) Zinakekela abafowabo nodadewabo ngesibindi, ngisho nalapho zibhekene nezenzo zonya ezinjengezimpi zobuhlanga nokuqothulwa kohlanga. Ezweni elimpofu ngokomoya, ziyaqikelela ukuthi imiphefumulo ecindezelekile iqatshulwa amaqiniso akhayo eZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli.
8 Phakathi neminyaka engu-50 edlule, ‘izikhulu’ ziye zabonakala ngokucacile. ‘Izikhulu’ ezingezinye izimvu ziyaqeqeshwa njengesigaba ‘somphathi’ esikhulayo ukuze ngemva kosizi olukhulu, abafanelekayo phakathi kwazo babe bekulungele ukukhonza ezikhundleni zokuphatha ‘emhlabeni omusha.’ (Hezekeli 44:2, 3; 2 Petru 3:13) Ngokunikeza isiqondiso nokuqabuleka okungokomoya njengoba zihola enkonzweni yoMbuso, zizibonakalisa ‘zinjengomthunzi wedwala elikhulu,’ ziletha impumuzo emhlanjini endaweni yawo yokukhulekela.
(Isaya 32:3, 4) Amehlo alabo ababonayo ngeke anamatheliswe avaleke, nezindlebe zalabo abezwayo ziyolalela. 4 Inhliziyo yalabo abanamawala ngokweqile iyocabangela ulwazi, ngisho nolimi lwezingingingi luyoshesha ukukhuluma izinto ezicacile.
INkosi Nezikhulu Zayo
Ukunaka Ngamehlo, Ngezindlebe Nangezinhliziyo
10 Isixuku esikhulu sisabele kanjani elungiselelweni likaJehova elingokwasezulwini? Lesi siprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Amehlo ababonayo ngeke avalwe, nezindlebe zabezwayo ziyolalela.” (Isaya 32:3) Kule minyaka edlule, uJehova wenze ukuba izinceku zakhe eziyigugu zifundiswe futhi zifinyelele ekuvuthweni. ISikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini neminye imihlangano eqhutshwa emabandleni oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni kabanzi; imihlangano yesigodi, yesifunda neyezizwe kanye nokuqeqeshwa okukhethekile ‘kwezikhulu’ ukuba ziphathe umhlambi ngokunakekela kothando, konke kuye kwaba neqhaza ekwakhiweni kobuzalwane bembulunga yonke obuhlanganisa izigidi zabantu abanobunye. Nomaphi lapho bekhona laba belusi emhlabeni, izindlebe zabo zihlala zicijile ukuze bezwe lapho kulungiswa indlela yokuqonda izwi leqiniso eliqhubekela phambili. Ngonembeza abaqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli, bahlale bekulungele ukuzwa nokulalela.—IHubo 25:10.
11 Lesi siprofetho sibe sesixwayisa: “Inhliziyo yalabo abanamawala ngokweqile iyocabangela ulwazi, ngisho nolimi lwezingingingi luyoshesha ukukhuluma izinto ezicacile.” (Isaya 32:4) Makungabi bikho muntu ofinyelela eziphethweni ngamawala ngokuthi yini elungile nengalungile. IBhayibheli lithi: “Ingabe umbonile umuntu onamawala ngamazwi akhe? Kukhona ithemba elikhulu ngomuntu oyisiphukuphuku kunangaye.” (IzAga 29:20; UmShumayeli 5:2) Ngaphambi kuka-1919, ngisho nabantu bakaJehova babengcoliswe imibono yeBabiloni. Kodwa kusukela ngalowo nyaka, uJehova ubenze baziqonda ngokucace ngokwengeziwe izinjongo zakhe. Amaqiniso awembulile bawathole engewona amawala, kodwa ecatshangwe kahle futhi manje bakhuluma ngokuqiniseka ngabakukholelwayo, abangingiziswa ukungaqiniseki.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Isaya 30:21) Futhi izindlebe zakho ziyozwa izwi ngemva kwakho lithi: “Nansi indlela. Hambani ngayo,” uma kwenzeka niya ngakwesokunene noma niya ngakwesobunxele.
Yizwa Izwi LikaJehova Nomaphi Lapho Ukhona
2 Namuhla, uJehova uqondisa abantu bakhe ngeBhayibheli, umoya wakhe ongcwele nangebandla. (IzE. 9:31; 15:28; 2 Thim. 3:16, 17) Isiqondiso esisithola sivela kuye sicace kangangokuthi kunjengokungathi ‘izindlebe zethu zizwa izwi ngemva kwethu lithi: “Nansi indlela. Hambani ngayo.”’ (Isaya 30:21) Empeleni, noJesu udlulisela izwi likaJehova kithi njengoba eqondisa ibandla ‘ngenceku ethembekile neqondayo.’ (Math. 24:45) Akumelwe sisithathe kancane lesi siqondiso ngoba ukuphila kwethu okuphakade kuxhomeke ekulaleleni kwethu.—Heb. 5:9.
(Isaya 33:22) Ngoba uJehova unguMahluleli wethu, uJehova unguMniki-zimiso wethu, uJehova uyiNkosi yethu; yena uyosisindisa.
Niyoba “Umbuso Wabapristi”
4 Isivumelwano soMthetho saqala ukusebenza eNtabeni YaseSinayi ngo-1513 B.C.E. Ngaleso sivumelwano, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli wasendulo sahlukaniswa kwezinye saba isizwe sikaNkulunkulu esikhethiwe. UJehova wabe eseba ‘uMahluleli waso, uMniki-zimiso waso neNkosi yaso.’ (Isaya 33:22) Umlando wakwa-Israyeli usinika umbhalo ogciniwe walokho okwenzekayo lapho izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zigcinwa nalapho zingagcinwa. Njengoba uMthetho wawukwenqabela ukuganiselana nezinye izizwe nokuhlanganyela ekukhulekeleni kwamanga, wawuklanyelwe ukuvikela uhlu lozalo luka-Abrahama ukuba lungonakaliswa.—Eks. 20:4-6; 34:12-16.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Isaya 30:22-33) Niyongcolisa okunamekwe emifanekisweni yenu ebaziweyo yesiliva nesembozo esinamathelayo sesithombe senu esincibilikisiwe segolide. Niyokuhlakaza. Njengowesifazane osesikhathini, niyothi kukho: “Ukungcola nje kuphela!” 23 Ngokuqinisekile uyonika imvula yokunisela imbewu yenu eniyihlwanyele emhlabathini futhi aninike isinkwa njengomkhiqizo womhlabathi, esiyoba ngesinothile nesinamafutha. Ngalolo suku imfuyo yenu iyoklaba edlelweni elivulekile. 24 Izinkomo nezimbongolo ezikhule ngokugcwele ezilima umhlabathi ziyodla ifolishi eliyoliswe ngesimuncwane, eleliwa ngehalavu nangemfoloko. 25 Phezu kwazo zonke izintaba eziphakeme naphezu kwawo wonke amagquma aphakeme kuyoba khona imifudlana, izisele zamanzi, ngosuku lokuhlaba okukhulu lapho imibhoshongo iwa. 26 Ukukhanya kwenyanga edilingene kuyoba njengokukhanya kwelanga elikhazimulayo; nokukhanya kwelanga elikhazimulayo kuyoba okuphindwe kasikhombisa, njengokukhanya kwezinsuku eziyisikhombisa, ngosuku uJehova abopha ngalo ukwaphuka kwabantu bakhe futhi aphulukise ngisho nenxeba elibi lomvimbo obangelwe nguye. 27 Bheka! Igama likaJehova liza livela kude, livutha ngentukuthelo yakhe nangamafu asindwayo. Izindebe zakhe zona, zigcwele ukulahla, nolimi lwakhe lunjengomlilo oshwabadelayo. 28 Umoya wakhe unjengesifufula esikhukhulayo esifinyelela entanyeni, ukuze ushwibe izizwe ziye ngapha nangapha ngesisefo sokungabi nanzuzo; futhi amatomu abangela umuntu ukuba azulazule ayoba semihlathini yezizwe. 29 Niyoba nengoma enjengeyangobusuku umuntu azingcwelisela ngabo umkhosi, nokujabula kwenhliziyo okunjengokomuntu ohamba ephethe umtshingo eyongena entabeni kaJehova, eDwaleni lika-Israyeli. 30 Ngokuqinisekile uJehova uyokwenza ukuba isithunzi sezwi lakhe sizwakale futhi uyokwenza ukuba ukwehla kwengalo yakhe kubonakale, ngokufutheka kwentukuthelo nangelangabi lomlilo oshwabadelayo nesiwulukuhlu semvula nesiphepho esinemvula namatshe esichotho. 31 Ngoba ngenxa yezwi likaJehova i-Asiriya liyofikelwa ngukwesaba okukhulu; yebo uyolishaya ngodondolo. 32 Ukushwibeka ngakunye kwenduku yakhe yokushaya uJehova ayoyibangela ukuba ihlale phezu kwe-Asiriya ngokuqinisekile kuyohambisana namathamborini namahabhu; futhi empeleni uyolwa nalo impela ngezimpi zokuphakamisa izikhali. 33 Ngoba iThofeti lakhe lihlelwe kusukela ezikhathini zamuva; futhi lilungiselwe inkosi ngokwayo. Wenzé ukuba inqwaba yalo ijule. Umlilo nezinkuni kuningi. Ukuphefumula kukaJehova, njengesifufula sesibabule, kuyalivuthela.
JANUARY 16-22
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ISAYA 34-37
“Ukholo LukaHezekiya Lwavuzwa”
(Isaya 36:1) Manje kwathi ngonyaka weshumi nane weNkosi uHezekiya, uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wakhuphuka eyomelana nayo yonke imizi yakwaJuda enezivikelo eziqinile wayithatha.
(Isaya 36:4-10) Ngakho uRabishake wathi kubo: “Sizani nithi kuHezekiya, ‘Yilokhu inkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ekushilo: “Themba lini leli owethembele kulo? 5 Uthé (kodwa kuyizwi lezindebe), ‘Kukhona iseluleko namandla empi.’ Manje ngubani lo othembele kuye, uze udlubulunde kimi? 6 Bheka! Uthembelé ozimeni lwalo mhlanga ofohlokile, iGibhithe, okungathi uma umuntu ezimelela ngalo, nakanjani lumhlabe lungene entendeni yesandla sakhe. Unjalo-ke uFaro inkosi yaseGibhithe kubo bonke abathembela kuye. 7 Uma kungenzeka nithi kimi, ‘Sithembelé kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,’ akuyena yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakeme futhi oma-altare akhe uHezekiya akususile, kuyilapho ethi kuJuda neJerusalema, ‘Yileli i-altare okufanele nikhothame phambi kwalo’?’” 8 Manje-ke, sizani nibheje nenkosi yami inkosi yase-Asiriya, ngininike amahhashi ayizinkulungwane ezimbili ukuze ngibone ukuthi nizokwazi yini ukubeka abagibeli phezu kwawo. 9 Pho-ke ningabubuyisela kanjani emuva ubuso bombusi oyedwa wezinceku ezincane kunazo zonke zenkosi yami, nibe nina nithembele eGibhithe ukuba nithole izinqola zempi nezinkweli zamahhashi? 10 Manje ingabe ngikhuphukelé ukuzolwa naleli zwe ukuba ngilichithe ngingagunyazwanga nguJehova? UJehova ngokwakhe wathi kimi, ‘Khuphuka ulwe naleli zwe, ulichithe.’”
(Isaya 36:15) Futhi ningamvumeli uHezekiya anibangele ukuba nithembele kuJehova, ethi: “Nakanjani uJehova uzosikhulula. Lo muzi ngeke unikelwe esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya.”
(Isaya 36:18-20) Ukuze uHezekiya anganiyengi, ethi, ‘UJehova ngokwakhe uzosikhulula.’ Ingabe onkulunkulu bezizwe bakhululile yini yilowo nalowo izwe lakhe esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya? 19 Baphi onkulunkulu baseHamati nabase-Aripadi? Baphi onkulunkulu baseSefarivayimi? Balikhululile yini iSamariya esandleni sami? 20 Yibaphi phakathi kwabo bonke onkulunkulu bala mazwe abakhulule izwe labo esandleni sami ukuba uJehova angakhulula iJerusalema esandleni sami?”’”
Ukholo LweNkosi Luyavuzwa
URabishake Ubeka Udaba Lwakhe
7 USaneheribi uthuma uRabishake (isiqu sezempi, akulona igama lakhe) kanye nezinye izikhulu ezimbili eJerusalema ukuba zitshele lo muzi ukuba uzinikele kuye. (2 AmaKhosi 18:17) Bahlangatshezwa ngaphandle kodonga lomuzi abameleli bakaHezekiya abathathu, u-Eliyakimi owayengamele indlu kaHezekiya, uShebina unobhala noJowa indodana ka-Asafa umgcini-mibhalo.—Isaya 36:2, 3.
8 Inhloso kaRabishake ilula—iwukwenza iJerusalema lizinikele lingalwanga. Ekhuluma ngesiHeberu, uqale ampongoloze athi: “Liyini leli themba enithembele kulo? . . . Ngubani lona enithembele kuye, ukuba ningadlubulunda kimi?” (Isaya 36:4, 5) URabishake ube esebhuqa la maJuda asethukile, ewakhumbuza ukuthi awavikelekile neze. Azophendukela kubani ukuze athole ukusekelwa? ‘Emhlangeni ofohlokile’ oyiGibithe? (Isaya 36:6) Okwamanje iGibithe liyafana nomhlanga ofohlokile; eqinisweni lo mbuso wezwe wangaphambili usanqotshwe iTopiya okwesikhashana, futhi iNkosi uTirhakah, enguFaro waseGibithe manje, ayiyena umGibithe kodwa ingumTopiya. Futhi akusekude linqotshwe i-Asiriya. (2 AmaKhosi 19:8, 9) Njengoba iGibithe lingenakuzisindisa lona ngokwalo, ngeke limsize ngalutho uJuda.
9 URabishake manje uthi uJehova ngeke abalwele abantu baKhe ngoba ubacasukele. URabishake uthi: “Uma nithi kimi, ‘Sithembele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,’ akuyena yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakeme futhi oma-altare akhe uHezekiya akususile?” (Isaya 36:7) Yebo, ukudiliza izindawo eziphakeme nama-altare akuleli zwe akusho neze ukuthi amaJuda alahle uJehova, kunalokho kubonisa ukuthi empeleni abuyele kuye.
10 URabishake uphinde akhumbuze amaJuda ukuthi awalutho kwezempi. Uphonsa le nselele yokuziphakamisa: “Mangininike amahhashi ayizinkulungwane ezimbili ukuze ngibone ukuthi nizokwazi yini ukubeka abagibeli phezu kwawo.” (Isaya 36:8) Kodwa eqinisweni kunendaba yini ukuthi abakhwele amahhashi abaqeqeshiwe bakwaJuda baningi noma bambalwa? Cha, ngoba insindiso kaJuda ayincikile emandleni ezempi amakhulu. IzAga 21:31 zichaza le ndaba kanje: “Ihhashi yinto elungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa insindiso ingekaJehova.” URabishake ube esegomela ngokuthi isibusiso sikaJehova sikwabase-Asiriya hhayi kumaJuda. Uthi ukube bekungenjalo abase-Asiriya bebengeke bakwazi ukungena kangaka ezweni lakwaJuda.—Isaya 36:9, 10.
11 Abameleli bakaHezekiya bakhathazekile ngomphumela izinkulumo zikaRabishake ezingaba nawo kubantu abamuzwayo abaphezulu odongeni lomuzi. Lezi zikhulu ezingamaJuda ziyacela: “Sicela ukhulume nezinceku zakho ngesiSiriya, ngoba siyasizwa; ungakhulumi nathi ngesiJuda ezindlebeni zabantu abaphezu kodonga.” (Isaya 36:11) Kodwa uRabishake akazimisele ukukhuluma ngesiSiriya. Ufuna ukufaka umoya wokungabaza nokwesaba kumaJuda ukuze azinikele futhi iJerusalema linqotshwe lingazange lilwe! (Isaya 36:12) Ngakho lomAsiriya uphinde akhulume “ngesiJuda.” Uxwayisa izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema: “Ningavumeli uHezekiya anikhohlise, ngoba akakwazi ukunikhulula.” Ngemva kwalokho, uzama ukuyenga labo abalalele ngokuchaza ukuthi ukuphila kwamaJuda kungaba njani uma ebuswa yi-Asiriya: “Yenzani ukuthula nami, niphumele kimi nidle, kube yilowo nalowo emvinini wakhe, kube yilowo nalowo emkhiwaneni wakhe, niphuze, kube yilowo nalowo amanzi omthombo wakhe ngize ngifike nginiyise ezweni elinjengezwe lakini, izwe lamabele newayini, izwe lesinkwa nezivini.”—Isaya 36:13-17.
12 AmaJuda ngeke athole sivuno kulo nyaka—ukuhlasela kwe-Asiriya kuwavimbele ukuba atshale. Ithemba lokudla amagilebhisi amnandi nokuphuza amanzi amtoti kumelwe ukuba liwakhanga kakhulu amadoda alalele esodongeni. Kodwa uRabishake akakaqedi ukuzama ukuwathena amandla amaJuda.
13 Kulezi zinkulumo zakhe eziningi, uRabishake uhosha esinye isikhali samazwi. Uxwayisa amaJuda ukuba angamkholwa uHezekiya uma engase athi: “UJehova uzosikhulula.” URabishake ukhumbuza amaJuda ukuthi onkulunkulu baseSamariya behluleka ukuvikela izizwe eziyishumi ekunqotshweni abase-Asiriya. Futhi kuthiwani ngonkulunkulu bezinye izizwe ezanqotshwa i-Asiriya? Uthi: “Baphi onkulunkulu baseHamati nabase-Aripadi? Baphi onkulunkulu baseSefarivayimi? Balikhululile yini iSamariya esandleni sami na?”—Isaya 36:18-20.
14 Yiqiniso, uRabishake, njengoba engumkhulekeli wonkulunkulu bamanga, akaqondi ukuthi kunomehluko omkhulu phakathi kweSamariya eliyisihlubuki neJerusalema elibuswa uHezekiya. Onkulunkulu bamanga baseSamariya babengenamandla okophula lo mbuso wezizwe eziyishumi. (2 AmaKhosi 17:7, 17, 18) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, iJerusalema elibuswa uHezekiya libashiyile onkulunkulu bamanga, labuyela ekukhonzeni uJehova. Nokho, laba bameleli bamaJuda abathathu abazami ukumchazela lokhu uRabishake. “Baqhubeka bethule abazange bamphendule ngazwi, ngoba umyalo wenkosi wawuthé: ‘Ningamphenduli.’” (Isaya 36:21) U-Eliyakimi, uShebina noJowa babuyela kuHezekiya bamnikeza umbiko walokho okushiwo uRabishake.—Isaya 36:22.
(Isaya 37:1, 2) Kwathi nje lapho iNkosi uHezekiya izwa, masinyane yaklebhula izingubo zayo yembatha indwangu yesaka yangena endlini kaJehova. 2 Ngaphezu kwalokho, yathumela u-Eliyakimi, owayengamele indlu noShebina unobhala namadoda amadala kubapristi bembethe indwangu yesaka yabathumela ku-Isaya indodana ka-Amozi umprofethi.
(Isaya 37:14-20) Khona-ke uHezekiya wathatha izincwadi esandleni sezithunywa wazifunda, okwathi ngemva kwalokho uHezekiya wakhuphukela endlini kaJehova wayendlala phambi kukaJehova. 15 UHezekiya waqala ukuthandaza kuJehova, wathi: 16 “O Jehova wamabutho, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ohlezi phezu kwamakherubi, wena wedwa unguNkulunkulu weqiniso kuyo yonke imibuso yomhlaba. Nguwe owenzé amazulu nomhlaba. 17 O Jehova, thambekisa indlebe yakho, uzwe. Jehova, vula amehlo akho, ubone, uzwe wonke amazwi kaSaneheribi awathumele ukuba aklolodele ngawo uNkulunkulu ophilayo. 18 Kuyiqiniso, Jehova, ukuthi amakhosi ase-Asiriya awabhuqile wonke amazwe, kanye nezwe lawo siqu. 19 Futhi onkulunkulu bawo banikelwe emlilweni, ngoba bebengebona onkulunkulu, kodwa bewumsebenzi wezandla zomuntu, ukhuni netshe, yingakho ababhubhisa. 20 Manje Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe, ukuze yonke imibuso yomhlaba yazi ukuthi wena Jehova, [unguNkulunkulu] wena wedwa.”
Ukholo LweNkosi Luyavuzwa
UHezekiya Wenza Isinqumo
15 INkosi uHezekiya kufanele yenze isinqumo manje. Ingabe iJerusalema lizozinikela kwabase-Asiriya? lizosizana neGibithe? noma lizoshaya phansi ngonyawo lizilwele? UHezekiya ungaphansi kokucindezeleka okukhulu. Uya ethempelini likaJehova, ngesikhathi esifanayo uthuma u-Eliyakimi noShebina kanye namanye amadoda amadala angabapristi ukuba bayobuza kuJehova ngomprofethi u-Isaya. (Isaya 37:1, 2) Egqoke indwangu yesaka, amanxusa enkosi aya ku-Isaya, afike athi: “Lolu suku luwusuku lokucindezeleka nolokusolwa nolokweyiswa ngokuklolodelwa . . . Mhlawumbe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uzowezwa amazwi kaRabishake, lowo inkosi yase-Asiriya inkosi yakhe emthumile ukuba aklolodele uNkulunkulu ophilayo, futhi empeleni amenze ukuba alandise ngala mazwi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho awezwile.” (Isaya 37:3-5) Yebo, abase-Asiriya baphonsela uNkulunkulu ophilayo inselele! Ingabe uJehova uzokuzwa ukukloloda kwabo? Ngo-Isaya, uJehova uqinisekisa amaJuda: “Ungesabi ngenxa yamazwi owezwile izikhonzi zenkosi yase-Asiriya eziwakhulume ngokuchaphayo ngami. Bheka ngifaka umoya kuyo, izokuzwa umbiko ibuyele ezweni layo; futhi ngokuqinisekile ngizoyenza ukuba iwe ngenkemba ezweni layo.”—Isaya 37:6, 7.
16 Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uRabishake uyabizwa ukuba ayosiza iNkosi uSaneheribi ngesikhathi ilwa eLibina. USaneheribi uzobuye alibone iJerusalema. (Isaya 37:8) Nokho, ukuhamba kukaRabishake akukudambisi ukucindezeleka kukaHezekiya. USaneheribi uthumela izincwadi ezinezinsongo ezichaza izinto okumelwe izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema zizilindele uma zenqaba ukuzinikela: “Wena ngokwakho uzizwele lokho amakhosi ase-Asiriya akwenzile kuwo wonke amazwe ngokuwanikela ekubhujisweni, ingabe-ke wena uzokhululwa? Ingabe onkulunkulu bezizwe okhokho bami abazichitha bazikhululile? . . . Iphi inkosi yaseHamati nenkosi yase-Aripadi nenkosi yomuzi waseSefarivayimi—yaseHena neyase-Iva na?” (Isaya 37:9-13) Ngokuyinhloko, lomAsiriya uthi akunangqondo ukudaza inkani—ukudaza inkani kuzoletha izinkathazo ezengeziwe!
17 Ekhathazeke kakhulu ngemiphumela yesinqumo okumelwe asenze, uHezekiya uchaya izincwadi zikaSaneheribi phambi kukaJehova ethempelini. (Isaya 37:14) Ngomthandazo osuka enhliziyweni uncenga uJehova ukuba alalele izinsongo ze-Asiriya, abese ephetha umthandazo wakhe ngala mazwi: “Manje, Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe, ukuze yonke imibuso yomhlaba yazi ukuthi wena, Jehova, unguNkulunkulu wena wedwa.” (Isaya 37:15-20) Kulo mthandazo kusobala ukuthi uHezekiya akakhathaleli ukukhululwa kwakhe siqu, kodwa ngokuyinhloko ukhathazeke ngenxa yesihlamba esizothelwa egameni likaJehova uma i-Asiriya linqoba iJerusalema.
(Isaya 37:33-38) “‘Ngakho-ke yilokhu uJehova akushilo ngenkosi yase-Asiriya: “Ngeke ingene kulo muzi, noma icibishele umcibisholo khona, noma iwuhlasele ngesihlangu, noma iwuvimbezele.”’ 34 “‘Iyophindela emuva ngendlela eze ngayo, futhi ngeke ingene kulo muzi,’ kusho uJehova. 35 ‘Ngokuqinisekile ngizowuvikela lo muzi ukuze ngiwusindise ngenxa yami nangenxa kaDavide inceku yami.’” 36 Ingelosi kaJehova yaphuma yabulala abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisishiyagalombili nanhlanu ekamu lama-Asiriya. Lapho abantu bevuka ekuseni, bheka, bonke babeyizidumbu. 37 Ngakho uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wasuka waphindela emuva wahlala eNineve. 38 Kwathi esakhotheme endlini kaNisiroki unkulunkulu wakhe, u-Adirameleki noSharezeri, amadodana akhe siqu, ambulala ngenkemba, abalekela ezweni lase-Ararati. U-Esari-hadoni indodana yakhe wabusa esikhundleni sakhe.
Ukholo LweNkosi Luyavuzwa
18 Impendulo kaJehova yomthandazo kaHezekiya ifika ngo-Isaya. IJerusalema malingazinikeli e-Asiriya; kumelwe liqine. Njengokungathi ukhuluma noSaneheribi, u-Isaya utshela lomAsiriya isigijimi sikaJehova ngesibindi: “Indodakazi eyintombi yaseZiyoni ikudelelile, ikuhleke usulu. Indodakazi yaseJerusalema inikine ikhanda [sakukuklolodela] ngemva kwakho.” (Isaya 37:21, 22) UJehova ube esenezela: ‘Ungubani wena ukuba ungaklolodela oNgcwele ka-Israyeli? Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho. Uyakuthanda ukuvelela; awuve uqhosha. Uye wathembela emandleni akho ezempi futhi wanqoba amazwe amaningi. Kodwa akusho ukuthi awunakunqotshwa. Ngizowabhuntshisa amacebo akho. Ngizokuhlula. Ngiyobe sengikwenza lokhu okwenze kwabanye. Ngiyofaka ingwegwe ekhaleni lakho ngikuhole ngikubuyisele e-Asiriya!’—Isaya 37:23-29.
“Yilokhu Okuyokuba Yisibonakaliso Kuwe”
19 UHezekiya unasiqiniseko sini sokuthi isiprofetho sika-Isaya sizogcwaliseka? UJehova uyaphendula: “Yilokhu okuyokuba yisibonakaliso kuwe: Kulo nyaka kuzodliwa amakhikhizela amile ezinhlamvwini ezichithekile, ngonyaka wesibili kube ngokusanhlamvu okuzimilelayo; kodwa ngonyaka wesithathu nihlwanyele imbewu, nivune, nitshale izivini nidle izithelo zazo.” (Isaya 37:30) UJehova uzowanikeza ukudla amaJuda avalelekile. Nakuba engakwazi ukutshala ngenxa yokuvinjezelwa i-Asiriya, ayokwazi ukuthola ukudla uma ekhothoza isivuno sonyaka owandulele. Ngonyaka olandelayo, unyaka wesabatha, kumelwe angawalimi amasimu awo, naphezu kwesimo esinzima abhekene naso. (Eksodusi 23:11) UJehova uthembisa ukuthi uma abantu belalela izwi lakhe, kuyomila ukudla okwanele emasimini okuyobagcina bephila. Kuyokuthi ngonyaka olandelayo, abantu batshale imbewu ngendlela evamile futhi bajabulele izithelo zomsebenzi wabo.
20 UJehova manje uqhathanisa abantu bakhe nesitshalo esingasiphuleki kalula: “Abaphunyukayo bendlu kaJuda . . . ngokuqinisekile bayokuba nezimpande ngaphansi futhi baveze izithelo ngaphezulu.” (Isaya 37:31, 32) Yebo labo abathembela kuJehova akudingeki besabe. Bona nenzalo yabo ngeke bathi nyaka ezweni.
21 Kuthiwani ngokusongela kwe-Asiriya iJerusalema? UJehova uyaphendula: ‘Ngeke lingene kulo muzi, futhi ngeke licibishele umcibisholo lapho, noma liwuhlasele ngesihlangu, noma lakhe igoqo lokuwuvimbezela. Liyophindela emuva ngendlela elize ngayo, futhi ngeke lingene kulo muzi.’ (Isaya 37:33, 34) Ngeke ibe khona impi phakathi kwe-Asiriya neJerusalema. Kuyamangalisa ukuthi ngabase-Asiriya abanqotshwa ngaphandle kokulwa, hhayi amaJuda.
22 Ngokuvumelana nakushilo, uJehova uthuma ingelosi ukuba ibulale ikhethelo lamabutho kaSaneheribi—amadoda angu-185 000. Cishe lokhu kwenzeka eLibina, futhi lapho uSaneheribi evuka uthola abaholi bempi yakhe, izinduna namashoshozela empi yakhe befile. Edumele, uphindela eNineve, kodwa naphezu kokuhlulwa kwakhe okukhulu, uqhubeka ngenkani ezinikele kunkulunkulu wakhe wamanga uNisiroki. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, lapho ekhulekela ethempelini likaNisiroki, uSaneheribi ubulawa amadodana akhe amabili. UNisiroki ongaphili uphinde azibonise engenamandla okumsindisa.—Isaya 37:35-38.
Ukuba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Isaya 35:8) Ngokuqinisekile kuyoba khona umgwaqo omkhulu lapho, yebo indlela; iyobizwa ngokuthi iNdlela Yobungcwele. Ongahlanzekile ngeke adlule kuyo. Iyoba eyalowo ohamba kule ndlela, abekho abayiziwula abayozulazula kuyo.
Phishekela “Ubungcwele Ngokwesaba UNkulunkulu”
‘Kuyoba Khona INdlela Yobungcwele’
UJehova wabikezela ukuthi abantu bakhe ababesekudingisweni eBhabhiloni babeyobuyiselwa ezweni labo. Isiprofetho sokubuyiselwa sasinalesi siqinisekiso: “Ngokuqinisekile kuyoba khona umgwaqo omkhulu lapho, yebo indlela; iyobizwa ngokuthi iNdlela Yobungcwele.” (Isaya 35:8a) La mazwi abonisa ukuthi uJehova akagcinanga nje ngokuvulela amaJuda indlela yokubuyela ekhaya, kodwa futhi wawaqinisekisa ukuthi uyowavikela endleleni.
Phishekela “Ubungcwele Ngokwesaba UNkulunkulu”
“Ongahlanzekile Ngeke Adlule Kuyo”
AmaJuda ayebuya ekudingisweni ngo-537 B.C.E., kwadingeka ahlangabezane nemfuneko ebalulekile. Ngokuphathelene nalabo ababekufanelekela ukuhamba ‘eNdleleni Yobungcwele,’ u-Isaya 35:8b uthi: “Ongahlanzekile ngeke adlule kuyo. Iyoba eyalowo ohamba kule ndlela, abekho abayiziwula abayozulazula kuyo.” Njengoba injongo yokubuyela kwamaJuda eJerusalema kwakuwukuba avuselele ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile, yayingeke ibe khona indawo yalabo abanezisusa zobugovu, abadelela izinto ezingcwele noma abangcolile ngokomoya. Ababuya ekudingisweni kwakudingeka balondoloze izindinganiso zikaJehova zokuziphatha eziphakeme. Labo abafisa umusa kaNkulunkulu namuhla kudingeka bahlangabezane nemfuneko efanayo. Kumelwe baphishekele “ubungcwele ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu.” (2 Kor. 7:1) Khona-ke, imiphi imikhuba engcolile okudingeka siyigweme?
(Isaya 36:2, 3) Ekugcineni inkosi yase-Asiriya yathuma uRabishake eJerusalema esuka eLakishi, ukuba aye eNkosini uHezekiya, nebutho lempi elikhulu, futhi wema ngasemseleni wechibi elingenhla emgwaqweni omkhulu wensimu yomhlanzi wezingubo. 3 Khona-ke kwaphumela kuye u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya, owayengamele indlu, noShebina unobhala noJowa indodana ka-Asafa umgcini-mibhalo. (Isaya 36:22) Kodwa u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya, owayengamele indlu, noShebina unobhala noJowa indodana ka-Asafa umgcini-mibhalo bafika kuHezekiya izingubo zabo ziklebhukile, bamtshela amazwi kaRabishake.
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi Ka-Isaya—INgxenye II
Izifundo Esizitholayo:
36:2, 3, 22. Nakuba asuswa esikhundleni sokuba umphathi, uShebina wavunyelwa ukuba aqhubeke ekhonza inkosi njengonobhala womphathi omusha. (Isaya 22:15, 19) Uma ngasizathu simbe sigudluzwa esikhundleni esithile somthwalo wemfanelo enhlanganweni kaJehova, akufanele yini siqhubeke sikhonza uNkulunkulu kunoma isiphi isici asivumela ukuba sikhonze kuso?
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Isaya 36:1-12) Manje kwathi ngonyaka weshumi nane weNkosi uHezekiya, uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wakhuphuka eyomelana nayo yonke imizi yakwaJuda enezivikelo eziqinile wayithatha. 2 Ekugcineni inkosi yase-Asiriya yathuma uRabishake eJerusalema esuka eLakishi, ukuba aye eNkosini uHezekiya, nebutho lempi elikhulu, futhi wema ngasemseleni wechibi elingenhla emgwaqweni omkhulu wensimu yomhlanzi wezingubo. 3 Khona-ke kwaphumela kuye u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya, owayengamele indlu, noShebina unobhala noJowa indodana ka-Asafa umgcini-mibhalo. 4 Ngakho uRabishake wathi kubo: “Sizani nithi kuHezekiya, ‘Yilokhu inkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ekushilo: “Themba lini leli owethembele kulo? 5 Uthé (kodwa kuyizwi lezindebe), ‘Kukhona iseluleko namandla empi.’ Manje ngubani lo othembele kuye, uze udlubulunde kimi? 6 Bheka! Uthembelé ozimeni lwalo mhlanga ofohlokile, iGibhithe, okungathi uma umuntu ezimelela ngalo, nakanjani lumhlabe lungene entendeni yesandla sakhe. Unjalo-ke uFaro inkosi yaseGibhithe kubo bonke abathembela kuye. 7 Uma kungenzeka nithi kimi, ‘Sithembelé kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,’ akuyena yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakeme futhi oma-altare akhe uHezekiya akususile, kuyilapho ethi kuJuda neJerusalema, ‘Yileli i-altare okufanele nikhothame phambi kwalo’?’” 8 Manje-ke, sizani nibheje nenkosi yami inkosi yase-Asiriya, ngininike amahhashi ayizinkulungwane ezimbili ukuze ngibone ukuthi nizokwazi yini ukubeka abagibeli phezu kwawo. 9 Pho-ke ningabubuyisela kanjani emuva ubuso bombusi oyedwa wezinceku ezincane kunazo zonke zenkosi yami, nibe nina nithembele eGibhithe ukuba nithole izinqola zempi nezinkweli zamahhashi? 10 Manje ingabe ngikhuphukelé ukuzolwa naleli zwe ukuba ngilichithe ngingagunyazwanga nguJehova? UJehova ngokwakhe wathi kimi, ‘Khuphuka ulwe naleli zwe, ulichithe.’” 11 Khona-ke u-Eliyakimi noShebina noJowa bathi kuRabishake: “Sicela ukhulume nezinceku zakho ngesiSiriya, ngoba siyasizwa; ungakhulumi nathi ngesiJuda ezindlebeni zabantu abasodongeni.” 12 Kodwa uRabishake wathi: “Ingabe inkosi yami ingithume ukuba ngikhulume la mazwi enkosini yenu nakini? Ayingithumanga yini kula madoda ahlezi odongeni, ukuba adle indle yawo futhi aphuze nomchamo wawo kanye nani?”
JANUARY 23-29
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ISAYA 38-42
“UJehova Unika Okhatheleyo Amandla”
(Isaya 40:25, 26) “Kodwa ningangifanisa nobani ukuze ngilinganiswe naye?” kusho oNgcwele. 26 “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nibone. Ngubani odale lezi zinto? YiLowo okhipha ibutho lazo ngisho nangesibalo, zonke azibize ngisho nangamagama. Ngenxa yobuningi bamandla ashukumisayo, kwazise futhi unamandla amakhulu, ayikho neyodwa kuzo entulekayo.
“Duduzani Abantu Bami”
“Ubani Odale Lezi Zinto?”
23 Kunesinye futhi isizathu sokuba amaJuda athunjiwe ame isibindi. Lowo othembisa ukuwakhulula unguMdali wezinto zonke noMthombo wamandla. Ukuze agcizelele ikhono lakhe elimangalisayo, uJehova ubhekisela ukunakekela emandleni akhe abonakala endalweni: “‘Kodwa ningangifanisa nobani ukuze ngilinganiswe naye?’ kusho oNgcwele. ‘Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nibone. Ngubani odale lezi zinto na? YiLowo okhipha ibutho lazo ngisho nangesibalo, zonke azibize ngisho nangamagama. Ngenxa yobuningi bamandla ashukumisayo, kwazise futhi uyingqabavu, ayikho neyodwa kuzo esilelayo.’”—Isaya 40:25, 26.
24 ONgcwele ka-Israyeli uyazikhulumela. Ukuze abonise ukuthi akalingani namuntu, uJehova ubhekisa ukunakekela ezinkanyezini zasemazulwini. Njengomkhuzi wamabutho okwazi ukulawula kahle amabutho akhe, uJehova uyazilawula izinkanyezi. Ukube ubengaziqoqela ndawonye zonke, bekungeke ‘kube khona neyodwa kuzo esilelayo.’ Nakuba sisikhulu isibalo sezinkanyezi, ngayinye uyibiza ngegama, kungaba igama layo noma kube isiqu esithile esisagama. Njengamasosha alalelayo, zihlala ezindaweni zazo futhi zilondoloze ukuhleleka, ngoba uMholi wazo ‘unamandla amaningi ashukumisayo’ futhi ‘uyingqabavu.’ Ngakho, amaJuda athunjiwe anesizathu sokuba nethemba. UMdali olawula izinkanyezi, unamandla okusekela izinceku zakhe.
25 Ubani kithina ongasenqaba isimemo saphezulu esiku-Isaya 40:26, esithi: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nibone”? Okutholwe izazi zezinkanyezi namuhla kubonisa ukuthi amazulu agcwele izinkanyezi ethusa nakakhulu kunangesikhathi sika-Isaya. Izazi zezinkanyezi ezibuka emazulwini ngezibonakude zazo ezinamandla, zilinganisela ukuthi amazulu anemithala eyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-125. Phela kulinganiselwa ukuthi owodwa nje—i-Milky Way—unezinkanyezi ezingaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu! Lolo lwazi kufanele lusenze simesabe uMdali ezinhliziyweni zethu futhi silethembe ngokuphelele izwi lakhe lesithembiso.
(Isaya 40:27, 28) Ukusho ngasiphi isizathu Jakobe, futhi kungasiphi isizathu ukhuluma Israyeli, uthi, ‘Indlela yami ithukusiwe kuJehova, futhi ubulungisa kimi buyamphunyuka noNkulunkulu wami uqobo’? 28 Awukazi yini noma awukezwa? UJehova, uMdali wemikhawulo yomhlaba, unguNkulunkulu kuze kube nini nanini. Akakhathali noma aphelelwe amandla. Ukuqonda kwakhe akuphenyeki.
“Duduzani Abantu Bami”
27 U-Isaya uloba amazwi kaJehova achaza imizwa yabantu abathunjelwe eBabiloni, eliqhelile impela ezweni lakubo. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabo akayiboni noma akayazi “indlela” yabo—inkambo yabo yokuphila okunzima. Bacabanga ukuthi uJehova akanandaba nempatho ebuhlungu abayitholayo. Bakhunjuzwa izinto okufanele bazazi, uma bengenakuzazi ngezenzakalo abahlangabezana nazo, okungenani-ke bangazazi ngokutshelwa abanye. UJehova uyakwazi futhi uzimisele ukukhulula abantu bakhe. UnguNkulunkulu ongunaphakade noMdali womhlaba wonke. Ngakho usenawo amandla awabonisa lapho edala, futhi angafika naseBabiloni elinamandla. UNkulunkulu onjalo akanakukhathala noma abenzele phansi abantu bakhe. Akufanele balindele ukuziqonda ngokugcwele izenzo zikaJehova, ngoba indlela yakhe yokuqonda ayinakuqondakala.
(Isaya 40:29-31) Unika okhatheleyo amandla; kongenamandla ashukumisayo wenza kuvame amandla aphelele. 30 Abafana bayokhathala futhi baphelelwe amandla, nezinsizwa uqobo ziyokhubeka nakanjani, 31 kodwa labo abathemba uJehova bayothola amandla kabusha. Bayokhuphuka ngamaphiko njengezinkozi. Bayogijima bangaphelelwa amandla; bayohamba bangakhathali.”
“Duduzani Abantu Bami”
29 Lapho ekhuluma ngesidingo sokunikeza okhatheleyo amandla, kungenzeka ukuthi uJehova ucabanga ngohambo olukhathazayo oluyothathwa yizithunjwa lapho ziphindela ekhaya. UJehova ukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi kuyisici sobuntu bakhe ukusiza abakhatheleyo ababheka kuye ukuze basekelwe. Ngisho nabantu abayizingqabavu kunabo bonke—‘abafana nezinsizwa’—bangase bakhathale futhi bawe ngenxa yokukhandleka kakhulu. Nokho, uJehova uthembisa ukubanikeza amandla labo abamethembayo—amandla angapheli ukuze bagijime futhi bahambe. Ukundiza kamnandi kokhozi, inyoni enamandla ekwazi ukuntweza amahora amaningi, kusetshenziselwa ukufanekisa indlela uJehova anikeza ngayo izinceku zakhe amandla. Enalawo mathemba okusekelwa kwaphezulu, amaJuda athunjiwe awanasizathu sokuphelelwa yithemba.
30 La mavesi okugcina ka-Isaya isahluko 40 awaphathele amazwi enduduzo amaKristu eqiniso aphila ezinsukwini zokugcina zalesi simiso esibi. Njengoba kunezingcindezi nezinkinga eziningi kangaka ezisiqeda amandla, kuqinisa idolo ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu uyabubona ubunzima esibukhuthazelelayo nezenzo ezingenabulungisa esihlushwa ngazo. Singaqiniseka ukuthi uMdali wezinto zonke, Lowo ‘okuqonda kwakhe akulandiseki,’ uyozilungisa zonke izenzo ezingenabulungisa ngesikhathi sakhe nangendlela yakhe. (IHubo 147:5, 6) Okwamanje, akudingeki sikhuthazele ngamandla ethu siqu. UJehova, omandla akhe awapheli, anganikeza izinceku zakhe amandla ngezikhathi zovivinyo—ngisho ‘namandla angaphezu kwavamile.’—2 Korinte 4:7.
31 Cabanga ngalawo maJuda ayizithunjwa eBabiloni ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. Kude lé, iJerusalema lawo alithandayo liyincithakalo, ithempeli lalo lingamanxiwa. Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sasiwaphathele isithembiso esiduduzayo sokukhanya nethemba—uJehova wayeyowabuyisela ezweni lawo! Ngo-537 B.C.E., uJehova wahola abantu bakhe wababuyisela ekhaya, efakazela ukuthi unguMfezi wezithembiso. Nathi singathembela ngokuphelele kuJehova. Izithembiso zakhe zoMbuso, ezichazwe kamnandi kangaka esiprofethweni sika-Isaya, ziyogcwaliseka. Yizindaba ezinhle ngempela lezo—isigijimi sokukhanya kuso sonke isintu!
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Isaya 38:17) Bheka! Esikhundleni sokuthula ngathola okwakumunyu, yebo okwakumunyu; Wena ngokwakho uye wanamathela emphefumulweni wami futhi wawugcina ukuba ungangeni egodini lokubola. Ngoba uziphonse ngemva kwakho zonke izono zami.
“UNkulunkulu Uluthando”
17 Engomeni yokubonga ethinta inhliziyo uHezekiya ayiqamba ngemva kokululama esifweni esibulalayo, wathi kuJehova: “[Uziphonsé] ngemva kwakho zonke izono zami.” (Isaya 38:17) UJehova lapha uchazwa ngokuthi uthatha izono zomenzi wobubi ophendukayo aziphonse ngemva kwaKhe lapho engeke aphinde azibone khona noma aziqaphele. Ngokusho kwenye incwadi, nanku umqondo odluliselwayo: “Wenzé [izono zami] kwaba sengathi azikaze zibe khona.” Akusiduduzi yini lokho?
(Isaya 42:3) Akukho mhlanga ofohlokile ayowuphula; futhi intambo yefilakisi esifiphele, ngeke ayicime. Uyokhipha ubulungisa ngeqiniso.
Lingisa Ukuthobeka Nesisa SikaJesu
13 Amazwi akhe esisa. Ububele bukaJesu bamshukumisela ukuba akhulume nabanye ngesisa, ikakhulu abacindezelekile. Umphostoli uMathewu wacaphuna amazwi ka-Isaya akhuluma ngoJesu. U-Isaya wathi: “Akukho mhlanga ofohlokile ayowuphula; futhi intambo yefilakisi esifiphele, ngeke ayicime.” (Isaya 42:3; Mathewu 12:20) Kusho ukuthini lokho? UJesu akazange ahlukumeze abantu noma abaphathe kabi. Kunalokho, wayekhuluma ngendlela ebaqabulayo. Washumayela isigijimi sethemba ‘kwabanhliziyo zaphukileyo.’ (Isaya 61:1) Wabiza abantu ‘ababekhandleka nababesindwa’ ukuba beze kuye ukuze ‘batholele imiphefumulo yabo ukuqabuleka.’ (Mathewu 11:28-30) Waqinisekisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi uNkulunkulu umkhathalela ngesisa umkhulekeli waKhe ngamunye, kuhlanganise ‘nabancane,’ noma labo izwe elalibabheka njengabangabalulekile.—Mathewu 18:12-14; Luka 12:6, 7.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Isaya 40:6-17) Lalela! Othile uthi: “Memeza!” Omunye wathi: “Ngimemeze ngithini?” “Yonke inyama iwutshani obuluhlaza, futhi wonke umusa wayo wothando unjengembali yasendle. 7 Utshani obuluhlaza bomile, imbali ibunile, ngoba umoya kaJehova uvunguze phezu kwako. Ngokuqinisekile abantu bawutshani obuluhlaza. 8 Utshani obuluhlaza bomile, imbali ibunile; kodwa izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu lona, liyokuma kuze kube nini nanini.” 9 Yenyukela ngisho nasentabeni ephakeme, wena wesifazane olethela iZiyoni izindaba ezinhle. Phakamisa izwi lakho ngamandla, wena wesifazane olethela iJerusalema izindaba ezinhle. Liphakamise. Ungesabi. Yisho emizini yakwaJuda ukuthi: “Nangu uNkulunkulu wenu.” 10 Bheka! INkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngokwakhe iyoza njengonamandla, futhi ingalo yayo iyobe ibusa esikhundleni sayo. Bheka! Umvuzo wayo ukuyo, nenkokhelo eyikhokhayo iphambi kwayo. 11 Iyokwelusa umhlambi wayo njengomalusi. Ngengalo yayo iyoqoqela ndawonye amawundlu; iwathwale esifubeni sayo. Izindlezane iyozihola ngokunakekela. 12 Ngubani olinganise amanzi enkothweni yesandla sakhe, walinganisa ububanzi bamazulu ngokwawo ngobubanzi besandla sakhe wafaka esilinganisweni uthuli lomhlaba, noma wakala izintaba ngesikali, namagquma wawakala esikalini? 13 Ngubani olinganise umoya kaJehova, ngubani futhi njengomuntu wakhe omelulekayo ongamenza azi utho? 14 Ngubani abonisané naye ukuze amenze aqonde, futhi ngubani omfundisa indlela yobulungisa, noma omfundisa ulwazi, noma omenza azi indlela yokuqonda kwangempela? 15 Bheka! Izizwe zinjengethonsi lamanzi eliphuma ebhakedeni; futhi ziye zabhekwa njengongwengwezi lothuli esikalini. Bheka! Uphakamisa iziqhingi ngokungathi uthuli olucolekile nje. 16 Ngisho neLebhanoni alanele ukugcina umlilo uvutha, nezilwane zalo zasendle azanele ukwenza umnikelo wokushiswa. 17 Zonke izizwe zinjengento engekho phambi kwakhe; uye wazibheka njengezingelutho nanjengokungekhona okungokoqobo.
JANUARY 30–FEBRUARY 5
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ISAYA 43-46
“UJehova UnguNkulunkulu Weziprofetho Eziyiqiniso”
(Isaya 44:26-28) Lowo owenza izwi lenceku yakhe ligcwaliseke, Lowo oyifeza ngokuphelele injongo yezithunywa zakhe; Lowo othi ngeJerusalema, ‘Lizohlalwa,’ nangemizi yakwaJuda, ‘Izokwakhiwa kabusha, futhi izindawo zalo ezenziwe incithakalo ngizozivusa’; 27 Lowo othi otweni lwamanzi, ‘Hwamuka; ngizoyomisa yonke imifula yakho’; 28 Lowo othi ngoKoresi, ‘Ungumalusi wami, futhi uyokufeza konke engikujabulelayo’; ngisho nangokusho kwami ngeJerusalema ukuthi, ‘Lizokwakhiwa kabusha,’ nangethempeli ukuthi, ‘Siyobekwa isisekelo sakho.’”
UNkulunkulu Weqiniso Ubikezela Ukukhululwa
22 Ababhuli abangaphefumulelwe ngokuvamile abalokothi basho imininingwane eminingi lapho bebikezela, besaba ukuthi ukuhamba kwesikhathi kuzosuke kubaveze ukuthi banamanga. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJehova, ngo-Isaya usho igama lomuntu ayomsebenzisela ukukhulula abantu bakhe ekuthunjweni ukuze baphindele ekhaya futhi bakhe kabusha iJerusalema nethempeli. Igama lakhe uKoresi, futhi waziwa ngokuthi uKoresi Omkhulu WasePheresiya. UJehova unikeza nemininingwane yeqhinga uKoresi ayolisebenzisa ukuze akwazi ukufohla ezivikelweni zeBabiloni ezinkulu neziyinkimbinkimbi. IBabiloni liyobe livikelwe izindonga eziphakeme nemisele yamanzi edabula futhi izungeze lo muzi. UKoresi uyosebenzisa isivikelo esiyinhloko—uMfula i-Ewufrathe—ukuze izinto zimhambele kahle. Ngokwezazi-mlando zasendulo uHerodotus noXenophon, enhla nomfula uma usuka eBabiloni, uKoresi waphambukisa amanzi e-Ewufrathe kwaze kwaba yilapho lo mfula usubohle ngokwanele ukuba amasosha akhe agxambuze awele. Ngokuphathelene nekhono layo lokuvikela iBabiloni, i-Ewufrathe enamandla iyasha.
23 Kuthiwani ngesithembiso sokuthi uKoresi uyokhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu nokuthi uyoqikelela ukuthi iJerusalema nethempeli kwakhiwa kabusha? UKoresi uqobo lwakhe, ngesimemezelo esisemthethweni esilondolozwe eBhayibhelini, uthi: “Yilokhu uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya akushilo, ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wamazulu uyiniké mina yonke imibuso yomhlaba futhi yena ngokwakhe ungithumé ukuba ngimakhele indlu eJerusalema, elikwaJuda. Noma ubani phakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bakubo, kwangathi uNkulunkulu wakhe angaba naye. Ngakho makakhuphukele eJerusalema, elikwaJuda, futhi akhe kabusha indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli—unguNkulunkulu weqiniso—eyayiseJerusalema.’” (Ezra 1:2, 3) Izwi likaJehova ngo-Isaya ligcwaliseka ngayo yonke imininingwane!
(Isaya 45:1, 2) Yilokhu uJehova akushilo kogcotshiweyo wakhe, kuKoresi, osandla sakhe sokunene engisibambile, ukuze nginqobe phambi kwakhe izizwe, ukuze ngikhumule ngisho nezinkalo zamakhosi; ukuze ngivule phambi kwakhe iminyango enezicabha ezimbili, kangangokuthi ngisho namasango ngeke avalwe: 2 “Mina ngokwami ngizohamba phambi kwakho, futhi ngizohlelemba amaduli ezwe. Ngizophula iminyango yethusi ibe yizicucu, nginqume nemigoqo yensimbi.
UJehova—“UNkulunkulu Olungile NoMsindisi”
4 Ngo-Isaya, uJehova ukhuluma noKoresi njengokungathi usekhona, nakuba uKoresi engakazalwa ngosuku luka-Isaya. (Roma 4:17) Njengoba uJehova emisa uKoresi kusengaphambili ukuba afeze umsebenzi othile, kungashiwo ukuthi uKoresi ‘ungogcotshiweyo’ kaNkulunkulu. Eholwa uNkulunkulu, uyozinqoba izizwe, enze amakhosi angabi namandla futhi angakwazi ukumelana naye. Kuyothi lapho uKoresi ehlasela iBabiloni, uJehova aqikelele ukuthi izicabha zomuzi zishiywa zivuliwe, zingabi nalusizo kuhle kwamasango abhodloziwe. Uyohamba phambi kukaKoresi, asuse zonke izithiyo. Ekugcineni, amabutho kaKoresi ayowunqoba umuzi, athathe ‘imicebo yawo efihliwe,’ ingcebo yawo egcinwe ezindaweni ezimnyama zokugcina izimpahla. Yilokhu okubikezelwa u-Isaya. Ingabe amazwi akhe ayagcwaliseka?
5 Ngonyaka ka-539 B.C.E.—ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-200 u-Isaya elobe lesi siprofetho—uKoresi uyafika ngempela ezindongeni zaseBabiloni ezohlasela umuzi. (Jeremiya 51:11, 12) AbaseBabiloni abanandaba kodwa. Banomuzwa wokuthi umuzi wabo awunakunqotshwa. Izindonga zawo ezinde zizinze phezu kwemiselekazi ejulile egcwele amanzi avela eMfuleni i-Ewufrathe, oyingxenye yesimiso sokuzivikela salo muzi. Sekuphele iminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu kungekho sitha esiye salidlisela ogageni iBabiloni! Eqinisweni, umbusi waseBabiloni uBelishasari, uzizwa elondeke kangangokuba uyazitika namalungu esigodlo sakhe. (Daniyeli 5:1) Ngalobo busuku—ubusuku buka-October 5/6—uKoresi uphothula iqhinga lezempi elibonisa ukukhalipha okukhulu.
6 Enhla nomfula eBabiloni, onjiniyela bakaKoresi sebegubhe usebe loMfula i-Ewufrathe, baphambukisa amanzi awo ukuze angabe esehlela eningizimu ngakulo muzi. Kungakabiphi, amanzi omfula aphakathi eBabiloni nalizungezile abohla kangangokuthi amabutho kaKoresi ayakwazi ukugxambuza emfuleni angene phakathi emzini. (Isaya 44:27; Jeremiya 50:38) Kuyamangalisa ukuthi njengoba nje u-Isaya abikezela, amasango angasemfuleni avuliwe. Amabutho kaKoresi atheleka phakathi eBabiloni, athatha isigodlo abese ebulala iNkosi uBelishasari. (Daniyeli 5:30) Ngobusuku obubodwa nje selinqotshiwe. IBabiloni seliwile, isiprofetho sigcwaliseka ngokuphelele.
(Isaya 45:3-6) Ngizokunika ingcebo esebumnyameni nengcebo efihliweyo esezindaweni zokuthukusa, ukuze wazi ukuthi nginguJehova, Lowo okubiza ngegama lakho, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. 4 Ngenxa yenceku yami uJakobe nangenxa ka-Israyeli okhethiweyo wami, mina ngakubiza ngisho nangegama lakho; ngakunika igama lodumo, nakuba wawungangazi. 5 NginguJehova, akekho omunye. Ngaphandle kwami akekho uNkulunkulu. Ngizokubhincisa ngikuqinise, nakuba ungakangazi, 6 ukuze abantu bazi kusukela empumalanga nokusukela entshonalanga ukuthi akekho omunye ngaphandle kwami. NginguJehova, akekho omunye.
UJehova—“UNkulunkulu Olungile NoMsindisi”
Okwenza UJehova Asebenzise UKoresi
8 Ngemva kokusho ukuthi ubani oyonqoba iBabiloni nokuthi uyolinqoba kanjani, uJehova ube esechaza isizathu sokuqala sokwenza uKoresi anqobe. Ekhuluma noKoresi ngokwesiprofetho, uJehova uthi “ukuze wazi ukuthi nginguJehova, Lowo okubiza ngegama lakho, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.” (Isaya 45:3b) Kuyafaneleka ukuba umbusi wombuso wezwe wesine womlando weBhayibheli aqaphele ukuthi ukunqoba kwakhe okukhulu kunakho konke kungenxa yokusekelwa umuntu omkhulu kunaye—uJehova, uMbusi Wendawo Yonke. UKoresi kufanele aqaphele ukuthi ubizwa noma uthunywa uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Umlando weBhayibheli ubonisa ukuthi uKoresi wavuma ngempela ukuthi ukunqoba kwakhe okukhulu kwakuvela kuJehova.—Ezra 1:2, 3.
9 UJehova uchaza isizathu sesibili esimenza enze uKoresi anqobe iBabiloni: “Ngenxa yenceku yami uJakobe nangenxa ka-Israyeli okhethiweyo wami, mina ngakubiza ngisho nangegama lakho; ngakunika igama lodumo, nakuba wawungangazi.” (Isaya 45:4) Ukunqoba kukaKoresi iBabiloni kuzamazamisa umhlaba. Kuwuphawu lokuwa kombuso wezwe nolokudlondlobala komunye, futhi izizukulwane ezilandelayo aziwulibali umphumela wako emlandweni. Nokho, izizwe ezingomakhelwane ezibuka lezi zenzakalo ngesithakazelo cishe ziyomangala uma zizwa ukuthi konke lokhu kwenzeka ngenxa yezithunjwa ‘ezingabalulekile’ eziyizinkulungwane ezimbalwa eziseBabiloni—amaJuda, inzalo kaJakobe. Kodwa kuJehova laba abaseleyo besizwe sakwa-Israyeli wasendulo ababona neze abangabalulekile. ‘Bayinceku’ yakhe. Kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba, yibona ‘abangabakhethiweyo’ bakhe. Nakuba uKoresi ayengamazi uJehova, usetshenziswa uJehova njengogcotshiweyo waKhe ukuze agumbuqele umuzi owawungafuni ukudedela izithunjwa zawo. Akuyona injongo kaNkulunkulu ukuba abantu bakhe abakhethiwe bahlale bedangele unomphela kwelinye izwe.
10 Kunesizathu sesithathu nesibaluleke nakakhulu esenza uJehova asebenzise uKoresi ukuba agumbuqele iBabiloni. UJehova uthi: “NginguJehova, akekho omunye. Ngaphandle kwami akekho uNkulunkulu. Ngizokubhincisa ngikuqinise, nakuba ungakangazi, ukuze abantu bazi kusukela empumalanga kuye entshonalanga ukuthi akekho omunye ngaphandle kwami. NginguJehova, akekho omunye.” (Isaya 45:5, 6) Yebo, ukuwa koMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni kubonisa ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu futhi kuwubufakazi kubo bonke abantu bokuthi uyena kuphela okufanele akhulekelwe. Ngenxa yokukhululwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, abantu bezizwe eziningi—kusukela empumalanga kuya entshonalanga—bayovuma ukuthi uJehova ungukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso.—Malaki 1:11.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Isaya 43:10-12) “Ningofakazi bami,” usho uJehova, “yebo inceku yami engiyikhethile, ukuze nazi futhi nibe nokholo kimi, niqonde ukuthi ngisenguYe. Ngaphambi kwami kwakungekho Nkulunkulu owabunjwa, nangemva kwami kwaqhubeka kungekho noyedwa. 11 Mina—mina nginguJehova, ngaphandle kwami akekho umsindisi.” 12 “Mina ngokwami ngazisile ngisindisile futhi ngenzé ukuba kuzwiwe, ngesikhathi kungekho nkulunkulu ongaziwa phakathi kwenu. Ngakho ningofakazi bami,” kusho uJehova, “Mina nginguNkulunkulu.
“Abantu AbaNkulunkulu Wabo NguJehova”
ISIZWE SOFAKAZI
14 Ama-Israyeli ayekhulekela uNkulunkulu wawo, uJehova, kanti ezinye izizwe zazikhulekela onkulunkulu bazo. Ngesikhathi somprofethi u-Isaya, uJehova wafanisa isimo sezwe nesokuqulwa kwecala enkantolo. Wacela onkulunkulu bezizwe ukuba baveze ofakazi abazoqinisekisa ukuthi bangonkulunkulu ngempela, wathi: “Izizwe zonke maziqoqane ndawonye, amaqembu ezizwe mawabuthane ndawonye. Ngubani [konkulunkulu] phakathi kwazo ongakusho lokhu? Noma [angasenza] yini sizwe ngisho nezinto zokuqala? [Makaveze] ofakazi [bakhe], ukuze kuthiwe [ulungile], noma mazizwe zithi, ‘Kuyiqiniso!’”—Isaya 43:9.
15 Onkulunkulu bezizwe abakwazanga ukuveza ubufakazi bokuba kwabo onkulunkulu. Babeyizithombe nje ezingakwazi nokukhuluma futhi ezazidinga ukuthwalwa abantu. (Isaya 46:5-7) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJehova watshela abantu bakhe u-Israyeli: “Ningofakazi bami, . . . yebo inceku yami engiyikhethile, ukuze nazi futhi nibe nokholo kimi, niqonde ukuthi ngisenguYe. Ngaphambi kwami kwakungekho Nkulunkulu owabunjwa, nangemva kwami kwaqhubeka kungekho noyedwa. Mina—mina nginguJehova, ngaphandle kwami akekho umsindisi. . . . Ngakho ningofakazi bami, . . . mina nginguNkulunkulu.”—Isaya 43:10-12.
16 Esimweni esasingafaniswa nokuqulwa kwecala enkantolo yendawo yonke ngempikiswano yokuthi “Ubani OnguNkulunkulu Ophakeme Kunabo Bonke?,” abantu bakaJehova abakhethiwe kwakumelwe bafakaze ngokucacile nangokuzwakalayo ukuthi uJehova kuphela onguNkulunkulu weqiniso. Wababiza ngokuthi “isizwe engizibumbele sona, ukuba silandise ngodumo lwami.” (Isaya 43:21) Babebizwa ngegama lakhe. Njengoba uJehova ayebakhulule eGibhithe, babenesibopho sokusekela ubukhosi bakhe phambi kwezinye izizwe zomhlaba. Empeleni, ukuma kwabo kwakufanele kufane nalokho kamuva umprofethi uMika akuchaza ngokuphathelene nabantu bakaNkulunkulu banamuhla: “Zonke izizwe, ziyohamba yileso naleso ngegama likankulunkulu waso; kodwa thina, siyohamba ngegama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube nini nanini, yebo kuze kube phakade.”—Mika 4:5.
(Isaya 43:25) Mina—mina nginguYe osula izeqo zenu ngenxa yami, futhi izono zenu ngeke ngizikhumbule.
“Ningofakazi Bami”!
24 Nokho, phawula ukuthi isihe saphezulu esiyoba umphumela siyobe singengenxa yokuzisola kuka-Israyeli nje kuphela; siyoba nangenxa kaJehova ngokwakhe. Yebo, igama lakhe lihilelekile. Ukube ubengashiya u-Israyeli ethunjwe unomphela, izibukeli beziyolihlambalaza igama lakhe. (IHubo 79:9; Hezekeli 20:8-10) Nanamuhla, ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova nokulwelwa kobukhosi bakhe kuza kuqala kunokusindiswa kwabantu. Noma kunjalo, uJehova uyabathanda labo abamukela iseluleko sakhe ngenhliziyo ephelele nabamkhulekela ngomoya nangeqiniso. Ubonisa uthando analo ngalaba—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bagcotshiwe noma abezinye izimvu—ngokusula iziphambeko zabo ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu Kristu.—Johane 3:16; 4:23, 24.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Isaya 46:1-13) UBheli ugobile, uNebo ufolile; izithombe zabo zibe ngezezilo zasendle nezezilwane ezifuywayo, imithwalo yazo, imithwalo ehlukahlukene, iwumthwalo osindayo ezilwaneni ezikhathele. 2 Kumelwe bafole; bobabili ngokufanayo kumelwe bagobe; bamane nje abakwazi ukwenzela umthwalo osindayo indlela yokuphunyuka, kodwa umphefumulo wabo kumelwe uye ekuthunjweni. 3 “O wena ndlu kaJakobe, ngilalele, nani nonke enisele endlini ka-Israyeli, nina eniye nathwalwa yimi kwasesiswini, enathwalwa kwasesibelethweni. 4 Ngisho nasekugugeni komuntu ngingofanayo; nasebumpungeni bakhe mina ngiyoqhubeka ngiphasile. Ngokuqinisekile ngizothatha isinyathelo, ukuba mina ngokwami ngithwale, ngiphase futhi ngenze indlela yokuphunyuka. 5 “Nizongifanisa nobani noma ningilinganise nobani noma ningiqhathanise nobani ukuze sifane? 6 Kukhona labo abasafuna igolide emxhakeni, abakala isiliva ngenduku yesikali. Baqasha osebenza ngensimbi, alenze libe ngunkulunkulu. Bawa ngobuso, yebo, bayakhothama. 7 Bametshatha ehlombe, bayamthwala bambeke endaweni yakhe ukuze ame. Akasuki endaweni ami kuyo. Umuntu uyammemeza, kodwa akaphenduli; akamsindisi umuntu osizini lwakhe. 8 “Kukhumbuleni lokhu, ukuze niqunge isibindi. Kubekeni enhliziyweni, nina zeqamthetho. 9 Khumbulani izinto zokuqala zesikhathi eside esidlule, ukuthi ngingowaPhezulu futhi akekho omunye uNkulunkulu, nanoma ngubani ofana nami; 10 Lowo owazisa isiphetho kwasekuqaleni, nalowo owazisa izinto ezingakenziwa kusukela kudala; Lowo othi, ‘Injongo yami iyokuma, futhi ngizokwenza konke okungijabulisayo’; 11 Lowo obiza inyoni edla inyama empumalanga, nombiza ezweni elikude umuntu ozofeza injongo yami. Ngikukhulumile nokukukhuluma; ngizokuletha futhi. Ngikwakhile, ngizokwenza futhi. 12 “Ngilaleleni, nina eninamandla enhliziyweni, nina enikude nokulunga. 13 Ngikusondezile ukulunga kwami. Akukude, nensindiso yami ngeke yephuze. Ngizonika insindiso eZiyoni, nginike no-Israyeli ubuhle bami.”