Chapter 17
Isimo Esihlukile Ngasekulaleleni
1. Kungani uJehova avumela abaseBabiloni babhubhise iJerusalema?
EMINYAKENI eminingi ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngabaseBabiloni, uJehova waxwayisa amaJuda ngalokho okwakuzokuza, nokuthi kwakungani. Ayelandela ukuthambekela kwezinhliziyo zawo ezinenkani kunokulalela uNkulunkulu.—Jeremiya 25:8, 9; 7:24-28.
2. (a) Ngokunengqondo, iziphi izinzuzo ezixhomeke ekulaleleni uNkulunkulu? (b) AmaIsrayeli angena kanjani ebuhlotsheni besivumelwano noJehova?
2 UJehova akaphoqeleli muntu ukuba amkhonze, kodwa, ngokunengqondo, uyakudinga ukulalelwa yibo bonke abafuna ukuvunyelwa nguye nezibusiso zokuphila ezihambisana nakho. Ngemva kokukhulula amaIsrayeli eGibithe, uJehova wawatshela: “Uma nilalela nokulalela izwi lami, nigcine isivumelwano sami, niyakuba-yigugu kimi kunazo zonke izizwe, ngokuba umhlaba wonke ungowami, nibe-ngumbuso wabapristi kimi, nesizwe esingcwele.” (Eksodusi 19:5, 6) Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu esephawule izimfuneko zakhe kuwo futhi eselalele ukufundwa ‘kwencwadi yesivumelwano,’ wona ngokuzithandela kwawo amukela umthwalo wemfanelo owawuhambisana nobuhlobo obunjalo noNkulunkulu.—Eksodusi 24:7.
3. (a) Kungaziphi izindlela kamuva amaIsrayeli abonisa ngazo umoya wokuhlubuka kuJehova? (b) Kungani lezozenzakalo zilotshwe eBhayibhelini?
3 Nokho, kwaba isikhashana nje kwase kuqala kubonakala umoya wokuhlubuka. Abantwana bakwaIsrayeli abazange balulahle ngokusobala ukholo lwabo kuJehova; kodwa, ngokwephula imithetho yakhe, abaningi bazama ukuhlanganisa imikhuba yaseGibithe nokukhulekela uJehova. (Eksodusi 32:1-8) Kamuva abanye baba nezinsolo ngamadoda uJehova ayewasebenzisa njengabameleli bakhe ababonakalayo. (Numeri 12:1-10; 16:1-3, 31-35) Njengesizwe, uIsrayeli wabonisa ukuntula ukholo lokwenza ngokwezwi likaNkulunkulu, ebangelwa ukwesaba abantu. (Numeri 13:2, 31-33; 14:1-4; Heberu 3:17-19) Uma amaphutha enziwa ngokungahlosiwe, ngokuzithoba abaphendukayo babengakuthola ukuthethelelwa. Kodwa esikhathini esingangamakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye eminyaka isizwe kwakuba nemfuneko yaphezulu esingayinaki ngamabomu, bese kuba ngenye, futhi ngokuvamile eziningi zazo. Izinto esazenza nemiphumela kulotshwe eBhayibhelini njengezibonelo zokusixwayisa.—2 IziKronike 36:15-17; 1 Korinte 10:6-11.
4. (a) Ayengobani amaRekabi? (b) Iziphi izibopho uJehonadaba ayezibeke phezu kwawo?
4 Ngezinsuku zikaJeremiya, ngemva kokunikezwa kwezixwayiso eziphindaphindiwe ngokuqondene nemiphumela emibi yenkambo yawo, uJehova wabeka phambi kwamaJuda isibonelo—amaRekabi. Ayengewona amaIsrayeli, ayeyinzalo kaJehonadaba owabonisa ukuthi wayevumelana ngokugcwele nokushisekela kukaJehu uJehova. LoJehonadaba (noma, uJonadaba) njengenhloko eyinzalamizi yesizwe samaRekabi wayewayale ukuba angaliphuzi iwayini kuze kube phakade, futhi angahlali ezindlini futhi angalimi kodwa ahlale ematendeni agogobale. Ngaleyondlela ayeyophila ukuphila okulula nokuvamile, akhululeke ekuzitikeni nasemikhubeni yokuphila kwasedolobheni, ekhulekela uJehova namaIsrayeli ayehlala phakathi kwawo.
5. Kukanjani amaRekabi ayeyisibonelo sokulalela?
5 Njengoba amaJuda ayenqaba ukulalela uJehova, uMbusi weNdawo Yonke, kwakungalindeleka yini ukuba amaRekabi alalele uyisemkhulu ongumuntu? Akwenza, futhi ngendlela eyisibonelo. Nakuba amaRekabi abalekela eJerusalema lapho amabutho aseBabiloni naseSiriya ehlasela elakwaJuda, aqhubeka ehlala ematendeni. Kodwa ukuzibopha kwawo ukuba angalithinti iwayini kwakuqine kangakanani, ngisho nakuba abantu ayehlala phakathi kwabo babevunyelwe ukuliphuza? UJehova wenza ukuba uJeremiya angenise amaRekabi kwelinye lamakamelo ethempeli, awanikeze izindebe zewayini awacele aphuze. Enqaba. Ngani? Ngokusobala akwazisa ukuzinikela kukayisemkhulu kuJehova, akubona ukukhathalela kwakhe kothando ngenhlala-kahle yawo, ngakho-ke awulalela umyalo wakhe. UJehova samjabulisa lesibonelo esihle sokulalela esabonisa ukuntuleka kokulalela uJehova okwakuboniswa ngamaJuda.—Jeremiya 35:1-11.
6. (a) Obani namuhla abanjengamaRekabi? (b) Obani abaye bazibonakalisa befana namaIsrayeli angalaleli?
6 Namuhla kunabantu abafana namaRekabi. Laba ‘bangezinye izimvu’ zeNkosi. Ukuthi bayoliphuza yini iwayini akukhona okusemqoka namuhla. (Qhathanisa eyoku-1 Thimothewu 5:23.) Lokhu kuyindaba yomuntu siqu uma nje engaphuzi kakhulu noma mhlawumbe abe yisidakwa. (IzAga 23:20; 1 Korinte 6:9, 10) Kodwa ukulalela kokunamathela kuNkulunkulu kubalulekile. Ngokuphambene neLobukholwa, elafanekiselwa uIsrayeli ohlubukayo, isigaba samaRekabi sanamuhla sibonisa ngezenzo zaso ukuthi siyakwazi ukubaluleka kokulalela kokunamathela kuNkulunkulu. Lokho kuyobazuzisa kanjani?
7. (a) Isiphi isithembiso esikhuthazayo uJehova asenza kumaRekabi? (b) Iliphi ithemba lokho okulinikeza isigaba sanamuhla samaRekabi?
7 Ngokuzinikela kwawo, uJehova wanikeza amaRekabi isithembiso esinokubaluleka okunamandla okungokwesiprofetho osukwini lwethu, ethi: “Ngenxa yokuba niwulalele umyalo kaJonadaba uyihlo, nagcina yonke imiyalo yakhe, nenza ngakho konke aniyala ngakho, ngalokho usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, uthi: UJonadaba indodana kaRekabi akayikunqunyelwa-muntu wokuma phambi kwami kuze kube-phakade.” (Jeremiya 35:18, 19) Babephakathi kwabasinda ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. Futhi isigaba esafanekiselwa yibo siyosinda ekubhujisweni okuzayo kweLobukholwa nalo lonke izwe eliphila ngendlela yalo yokunganaki, elenqaba ukuvuma ubukhosi bukaJehova.
OKUNGENZA UKUBA UKULALELA KUNGABI LULA
8. Kungani abantu abaningi bethola ukulalela kunzima?
8 Abantu abaningi bakuthola kunzima ukufunda ukulalela. Baye bakhula ezweni lapho wonke umuntu ‘enza akuthandayo.’ Bangase bakuthande abakufunda ngokuphila ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa uma ukuzazisa kuvimbanisa ukucabanga kwabo, bangase bangazamukeli ezinye zezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu noma basole indlela ezivezwa ngayo. (IzAga 8:13; 16:18) UNahamani, isikhulu sebutho laseSiriya ngezinsuku zikamprofethi uElisha, wayenaleyonkinga.
9. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uNahamani ayobona uElisha? (b) Yini ayeyilindele, kodwa yini ngempela eyenzeka?
9 UNahamani wayenochoko. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi umIsrayeli omncane owayethunjiwe wabonakalisa ukholo lwakhe ngesibindi lokuthi uNahamani wayengaphulukiswa uma eya kumprofethi kaJehova uElisha, uNahamani waya kwaIsrayeli. Wanikela endlini kaElisha namahhashi nezinqola zempi. UNahamani wayengumuntu ovelele futhi walindela ukuba uElisha eze amhlangabeze bese kuba nemicikilisho ethile, ebiza igama likaJehova futhi aphunge ngesandla sakhe endaweni enochoko ize iphiliswe. Kunalokho, uElisha wamane wathumela isithunywa ukuba simtshele aye eMfuleni iJordani ageze khona izikhathi eziyisikhombisa.—2 AmaKhosi 5:1-12.
10. (a) UNahamani wasabela kanjani? (b) Yini ekugcineni eyamshukumisela ukuba alalele? (c) Waba yini umphumela?
10 UNahamani ngenxa yokuzazisa wacasuka. Wahamba ethukuthele. Kodwa ngemva kokuba izinceku zakhe sezimbonisile, wazithoba ngokholo. “Wayesehla, wazicwilisa kasikhombisa eJordani njengezwi lomuntu kaNkulunkulu; inyama yakhe yabuya yaba-njengenyama yomntwana omncane, wahlambuluka.” UNahamani waqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, futhi wabona ukuthi, naphezu kokusabela kwakhe kokuqala, iziyalezo ezanikezwa uElisha ngempela zazivela kuNkulunkulu.—2 AmaKhosi 5:13-15.
11. (a) Kungaziphi izindlela “ezinye izimvu” ezafanekiselwa ngazo uNahamani? (b) Iziphi izifundo ezibalulekile sonke okumelwe sizifunde?
11 Ingabe mhlawumbe zikhona izici ezinjengezikaNahamani ozibonayo kuwena? Njengoba kunjalo ngabanye abangewona amaIsrayeli ababenokholo, uNahamani usetshenzisiwe emiBhalweni ukuze afanekisele “ezinye izimvu” ezizibandakanya ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Bonke laba, abazalelwe esonweni, babekade begula ngokomoya. Bonke kwadingeka bafune usizo lwesigaba senceku kaJehova egcotshiwe bese benza ngokulalela kulokho “inceku” eye yabafundisa khona eZwini likaNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:45) Abanye kunesikhathi lapho bengazange basazise sonke iseluleko esingokomBhalo abasinikezwayo—njengesidingo sokuba khona njalo emihlanganweni yebandla, ukubaluleka kokuzehlukanisa nezwe noma kokubhapathizwa kobuKristu emanzini. Kungenzeka baye baba madolonzima ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa emanzini ngenxa yokuba izinhliziyo zabo ziphikisana nesidingo ‘sokuzidela’ ukuze babe abalandeli bakaKristu. Kwezinye izimo baye bagxeka indlela iseluleko abasinikezwa ngayo ngabanomthwalo wemfanelo ebandleni. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi bonke abayoba “ezinye izimvu” zeNkosi badinga ukufunda ukubaluleka kokuthobeka nokulalela kothando.—Jakobe 4:6; Mathewu 16:24.
IMIYALO ESIZUZISAYO
12, 13. (a) Kungani ukulalela imiyalo kaJehova kusizuzisa? (b) Lokhu kungafanekiswa kanjani?
12 Njengoba sifinyelela ekwazini uJehova nezindlela zakhe, sifinyelela ekuqondeni ukuthi ayiqiniso kangakanani amazwi awakhuluma ezincekwini zakhe esikhathini esidlule: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okufundisile okukusizayo, okuholile ngendlela omelwe ukuhamba ngayo. Sengathi nga ulalele imiyalo yami!” (Isaya 48:17, 18) Isifiso sikaJehova esiqotho siwukuba abantu bakhe bagweme inhlekelele futhi bajabulele ukuphila ngokulalela imiyalo yakhe. Uyazi ukuthi sakhiwe kanjani nokuthi yini eyosilethela injabulo yeqiniso. Usixwayisa ngokuziphatha okungase kusonakalise noma kulimaze ubuhlobo bethu nabanye.
13 Labo abaye bagcina isixwayiso sakhe ngokuhlobonga nokuphinga baye bavikeleka enhlekeleleni engokomzwelo, izifo nokuzala okungemthetho okubangelwa yilokhu. (1 Korinte 6:18; Heberu 13:4) Ngokusebenzisa iseluleko esinjengaleso esikweyesi-2 Korinte 7:1, baye bazigcina bekhululekile ekuluthweni ugwayi neminye imilaliso, okulimaza impilo yomuntu futhi okungaphumela ekubeni asheshe afe. Umyalo wakhe ‘wokuyeka igazi’ uye wasiza izinceku zakhe ukuba ziqinise ukuthembela kwazo kuye njengaLowo wonke amathemba abo okuphila kwesikhathi esizayo axhomeke kuye, futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo kuye kwabavikela ezifweni ezesabekayo ezingase zisakazwe ukumpontshelwa kwegazi.—IzEnzo 15:28, 29.
14. Sizuza kanjani ngokufuna uMbuso kuqala kunokuba sizihilele ngokungadingekile nezwe?
14 Uma nje sisesezweni, siyothintana nalo ngezinga elithile. Kodwa uJehova usixwayisa ukuba singathembeli kulo, singabi yingxenye yalo. Uyazi ukuthi ikusasa lezwe liyini. Yeka ukuthi kungaba ubuwula kanjani ngomuntu ukusebenzisa ukuphila kwakhe akha lokho uNkulunkulu azokubhidliza! Okubi nangaphezulu, labo abenza kanjalo bayothola ukuthi bayothola umvuzo ofanayo nezwe abaye banikela ukuphila kwabo kulo. Ngakho-ke, yeka ukuthi sinenzuzo kanjani iseluleko esanikezwa iNdodana kaNkulunkulu: Funani uMbuso kaNkulunkulu! Bekani wona kuqala ekuphileni kwenu!—1 Johane 2:17; Mathewu 6:33.
15. (a) Ukuze sibe phakathi kwalabo abayozuza lokho uAdamu akulahla, yini okumelwe sifunde ukuyenza? (b) UJehova uyokhuluma kanjani nathi phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane?
15 Ngokuqaphela ngokugcwele esikudingayo, uJehova ulungiselela abantu bakhe ukuphila esimisweni sakhe sezinto esisha esilungileyo. Ukungalaleli kuka-Adamu kwaholela ekungaphelelini kwesintu, ukulahlekelwa ukuphila okuphakade nokuxoshwa ePharadesi. Ngokuqinisekile uma sifuna ukuba phakathi kwalabo ababusiswa ngalokho uAdamu akulahla, kumelwe sinikeze ubufakazi bokuthi siyalalela uma uNkulunkulu ekhuluma. Futhi uyokhuluma kanjani nathi phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane ezayo, lapho isintu sisalethwa ekupheleleni? NgoMbuso wobuMesiya. Ingabe lowohulumeni nawo uyoba nabameleli ababonakalayo emhlabeni? Yebo. INkosi iyoba ‘nezikhulu emhlabeni wonke’ eziyoyikhonza. (IHubo 45:16; qhathanisa noIsaya 32:1, 2.) Ngokulalela lezozikhulu ngothando, isintu siyobonisa ukuzithoba eNkosini yaso yasezulwini.
16. Kungani ukulalela abadala kuyisivikelo manje, futhi kukanjani kuwukulungiselelwa okuhle kokuphila oHlelweni Olusha lukaNkulunkulu?
16 Ekulungiseleleni lesosikhathi, uJehova manje unikeza ukuqeqesha ngenhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo engokwasezulwini. Emabandleni uye wamisa amadoda amadala ngokomoya, noma abadala. Anikeza ukunakekela okudingekayo emihlanganweni yebandla futhi ahole ekushumayeleni isigijimi soMbuso. Asiza bonke abafuna ukukhonza uJehova ukuba bafunde indlela yokusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuphileni kwabo futhi ngothando axwayisa ngezihibe ezingase zonakalise ubuhlobo bomuntu noNkulunkulu. OFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke futhi baye baqaphela ukuthi ukulandela iziqondiso zabadala ngokuvamile kuye kwaphumela ekulondolozeni ukuphila phakathi nezikhukhula, ukuzamazama komhlaba nasekugqashukeni kodlame. Ibandla akulona elabadala; lingelikaNkulunkulu. Abadala abasho ukuthi baphefumlelwe. Kodwa, njengoba imiBhalo ibonisa, uNkulunkulu ubasebenzisela ukuhola, futhi ukubalalela kubonisa inhlonipho ngelungiselelo uJehova alisebenzisayo ekulungiseleleni izinceku zakhe ukusindela oHlelweni Olusha.—IzEnzo 20:28; Heberu 13:17.
17. Yini okumelwe isishukumisele ukuba silalele?
17 Nokho, akusona nje kuphela isifiso sokuba phakathi kwabayosinda ekubhujisweni kwezwe okuzayo okushukumisela ekulaleleni okunjalo. Kunokwengeziwe. Yikuphi? Ukwazisa ngokuphila nawo wonke amalungiselelo uNkulunkulu aye wawenza okukusekela. Ukubonga ngezipho zakhe ezicebisa ukuphila kwethu—ikhono lokucabanga, ukwazisa ubuhle nokubaluleka kwezinto ezingokomoya, amandla okwazi nokukhulekela uMdali wethu. Futhi, ukuqaphela uthando lukaNkulunkulu olukhulu olwamshukumisela ukuba anikele ngeNdodana yakhe ukuba inikele ngokuphila kwayo njengomhlatshelo ukuze sibe nethuba lokuphila phakade.
18. Uma sifinyelela ekumazini kahle uNkulunkulu, sikubheka kanjani ukulalela yena nenhlangano yakhe?
18 Kulabo abaye bafinyelela ekumazini kahle uNkulunkulu, ukulalela akuwona neze umsebenzi ongajabulisi. Ukuqonda kahle izinjongo zakhe nezimfuneko, kanye nokubona imiphumela emihle yokuzisebenzisa, akushiyi kungabaza ezingqondweni zabo ukuthi ukwenza izinto ngendlela kaNkulunkulu kuwukuphela kwenkambo enengqondo. Bakuqaphela njengesivikelo. Kuyindlela futhi yokubonisa uthando lwabo ngoNkulunkulu. Bathola injabulo enkulu ngokumlalela.—1 Johane 5:3; IHubo 119:129.
[Izithombe ekhasini 135]
Abanye badinga ukunqoba ukuzazisa, njengo Nahamani owayenochoko