Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-20—IzAga
Izikhulumi: USolomoni, uAguri, uLemuweli
Yalotshelwa: EJerusalema
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-717 B.C.E.
1. Yikuphi ukuhlakanipha okutholakala encwadini yezAga?
LAPHO uSolomoni, indodana kaDavide, eba inkosi yakwaIsrayeli ngo-1037 B.C.E., wathandaza kuJehova ecela “ukuhlakanipha nokwazi” ‘kokwahlulela labantu abakhulu.’ Ephendula, uJehova wamnika ‘ukwazi, nokuhlakanipha, nenhliziyo eqondayo.’ (2 IziKr. 1:10-12; 1 AmaKh. 3:12; 4:30, 31) Ngenxa yalokho, uSolomoni “waqamba izaga eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu.” (1 AmaKh. 4:32) Okunye kwalokhu kuhlakanipha okukhulunyiwe kwabhalwa encwadini yeBhayibheli yezAga. Njengoba ukuhlakanipha kwakhe kwakuyilokho ngempela “uNkulunkulu [aye]kubekile enhliziyweni yakhe,” khona-ke lapho sifunda izAga eqinisweni sifunda ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova uNkulunkulu. (1 AmaKh. 10:23, 24) Lezizaga zifingqa amaqiniso aphakade. Zifanelana nesikhathi sethu njengesikhathi ezashiwo ngaso okokuqala.
2. Kungani isikhathi sikaSolomoni kwakuyisikhathi esifanelekayo sokunikeza isiqondiso saphezulu encwadini yezAga?
2 Isikhathi sokubusa kukaSolomoni kwakuyisikhathi esifanelekayo sokulungiselela lesiqondiso saphezulu. USolomoni kwakuthiwa ‘uhleli esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaJehova.’ Umbuso ongokwasezulwini wakwaIsrayeli wawusekudlondlobaleni kwawo, futhi uSolomoni waphiwa “udumo lobukhosi” olukhulu. (1 IziKr. 29:23, 25) Kwakuyisikhathi sokuthula nenala, isikhathi sokulondeka. (1 AmaKh. 4:20-25) Nokho, ngisho nangaphansi kwalokho kubusa okungokwasezulwini, abantu babesenazo izinkinga zabo siqu nobunzima ngenxa yokungapheleli kobuntu. Kuyaqondakala ukuthi abantu babezobheka eNkosini ehlakaniphile uSolomoni ukuba abasize baxazulule izinkinga zabo. (1 AmaKh. 3:16-28) Lapho ekhipha izahlulelo kulamacala amaningi, washo izisho eziyizaga ezafanelekela izimo eziningi zokuphila ezaziphakama zonke izinsuku. Lezizisho ezimfushane kodwa ezihlaba umxhwele bazazisa kakhulu labo ababefisa ukuqondisa ukuphila kwabo ngokuvumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu.
3. Incwadi yezAga yenziwa kanjani umqulu?
3 Ukulandisa akusho ukuthi uSolomoni wabhala incwadi yezAga. Nokho, kuyasho ukuthi “waqamba” izaga, nokuthi “wazindla, waphenya, walungisa izaga eziningi,” ngaleyondlela ebonisa ukuthi wayenesithakazelo ekulondolozeni izaga ukuze zisetshenziswe kamuva. (1 AmaKh. 4:32; UmSh. 12:9) Esikhathini sikaDavide noSolomoni, kwakunonobhala abasemthethweni ohlwini lwezikhulu zasesigodlweni. (2 Sam. 20:25; 2 AmaKh. 12:10) Ukuthi labalobi basesigodlweni sakhe baziloba futhi baziqoqa yini izaga zakhe, asazi, kodwa amazwi anoma imuphi umbusi osesikhundleni sakhe ayeyohlonishwa kakhulu futhi ngokuvamile ayeyobhalwa. Ngokuvamile kuyavunywa ukuthi lencwadi iyiqoqo elithathwe kwamanye amaqoqo yenziwa umqulu.
4. (a) Incwadi yezAga ihlukaniswe kanjani ngokuyisisekelo? (b) Ubani owasungula eziningi zezaga?
4 Incwadi yezAga ingahlukaniswa ibe izingxenye ezinhlanu. Nazi lezingxenye: (1) IzaHluko 1-9, eziqala ngamazwi athi, “Nazi izaga zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavide”; (2) IzaHluko 10-24, ezichazwa ngokuthi “Izaga zikaSolomoni”; (3) IzaHluko 25-29, okuyingxenye eqala ngokuthi: “Nalezi ziyizaga zikaSolomoni ezaphindwa ngamadoda kaHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda”; (4) IsaHluko 30, esethulwa ngokuthi “Amazwi ka-Aguri indodana kaJakhe”; (5) nesaHluko 31, esihlanganisa ‘namazwi kaLemuweli inkosi awafundiswa ngunina.’ Ngaleyondlela uSolomoni wayengumsunguli weziningi zezaga. Ngokuphathelene noAguri noLemuweli, akwaziwa lutho ngokuthé ngqo ngokuthi babengobani. Abanye abakhulumeli basikisela ukuthi kungenzeka elithi Lemuweli kwakungelinye igama likaSolomoni.
5. Incwadi yezAga yabhalwa futhi yenziwa nini umqulu?
5 IzAga zalotshwa futhi zenziwa nini umqulu? Ngokungangabazeki ingxenye enkulu yalotshwa phakathi nokubusa kukaSolomoni (1037-998 B.C.E.) ngaphambi kokuphambuka kwakhe. Ngenxa yokungaqiniseki ngokuthi babengobani oAguri noLemuweli, akunakwenzeka ukusho ukuthi imibhalo yabo yalotshwa nini. Njengoba elinye lamaqoqo lenziwa ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaHezekiya (745-717 B.C.E.), ukuqoqa kokugcina akunakuba ukuthi kwenziwa ngaphambi kokubusa kwakhe. Ingabe izingxenye ezimbili zokugcina nazo zaqoqwa ngaphansi kwegunya leNkosi uHezekiya? Ekuphenduleni lombuzo kunombhalo waphansi okhanyisayo wezAga 31:31 kuyiNew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References: “Ezinye izinguqulo zemibhalo yesiHeb[eru] zibonisa itrigrammaton, noma izinhlamvu ezintathu, Chehth, Zaʹyin, Qohph (תזק) ezimelela uphawu lweNkosi uHezekiya esemibhalweni ekopishiwe eyabhalwa onobhala bakhe ukuze zibonise ukuthi umsebenzi wawusuqediwe.”
6. Siyini isaga, futhi kungani igama lesiHeberu lalencwadi lifaneleka?
6 EmaBhayibhelini esiHeberu lencwadi yaqale yabizwa ngegama lokuqala elikuyo, elithi mish·lehʹ, elisho “izaga.” Elithi mish·lehʹ liwubuningi bebizo lesiHeberu elithi ma·shalʹ, okuyibizo ngokuvamile elibhekwa njengelithathwe egameni eliwumsuka elisho ukuthi “yiba njenge-” noma “qhathaniseka.” Lamagama akuchaza kahle lokho okuqukethwe ilencwadi, ngoba izaga zingamazwi abalulekile avame ukusebenzisa ukufanisa noma ukuqhathanisa naklanyelwe ukwenza owezwayo ukuba acabange. Ukuba mfushane kwezaga kwenza kube lula ukuziqonda futhi zithakazelise, futhi njengoba zinje kulula ukuzifundisa umuntu, ukuzifunda, nokuzikhumbula. Umqondo uyanamathela.
7. Yini okumelwe iphawulwe ngendlela incwadi yezAga ebhalwe ngayo?
7 Indlela amagama abekwe ngayo kulencwadi nayo ithakazelisa kakhulu. Ibhalwe ngendlela esankondlo yesiHeberu. Ingxenye enkulu yalencwadi yakheke ngendlela yenkondlo ephindaphinda umqondo ofanayo. Lokhu akuzenzi iziphetho zemigqa noma amavesi ukuba kuphethe ngamagama acishe afane, noma kuzwakale ngendlela efanayo. Yenza imigqa ephindaphindekayo ukuba inikeze imiqondo esakuphindaphindwa. Ubuhle bayo namandla okufundisa kukulokhu kuphindaphindwa komqondo. Imiqondo ingase ifane noma ihluke, kodwa amandla okuphindaphinda akhona ukuze engeze engqondweni anabise umqondo, futhi aqinisekise ukudluliselwa kwalokho okushiwo umqondo. Izibonelo zokuphindaphinda izinto ezinomqondo ofanayo zingatholakala kuzAga 11:25; 16:18; no-18:15, nezibonelo zokuphindaphindwa okuningi kwezinto eziphikisanayo kuzAga 10:7, 30; 12:25; 13:25; no-15:8. Enye indlela yokwakheka itholakala khona kanye ekupheleni kwalencwadi. (IzAga 31:10-31) Lapho amavesi angu-22 ahlelwe ngendlela yokuthi ngesiHeberu ngalinye liqale ngohlamvu olulandelayo ohlwini lwezinhlamvu zamagama zesiHeberu, njengoba lena kuyindlela yokubhala ngezinhlamvu zokuzikhumbuza esetshenziswe nasemahutsheni amaningi. Awukho umbhalo kweyasendulo ofana nalona ngobuhle.
8. Indlela incwadi yezAga esetshenziswe ngayo amaKristu okuqala ibufakazela kanjani ubuqiniso bayo?
8 Ubuqiniso bencwadi yezAga buyaboniswa futhi ekusetshenzisweni kwayo kakhulu amaKristu okuqala ekubekeni imithetho yokuziphatha. UJakobe ngokusobala wayejwayelene kakhulu nencwadi yezAga futhi wasebenzisa izimiso zayo eziyisisekelo eselulekweni esihle asinikeza sokuziphatha kobuKristu. (Qhathanisa izAga 14:29; 17:27 noJakobe 1:19, 20; IzAga 3:34 noJakobe 4:6; IzAga 27:1 noJakobe 4:13, 14.) Izingcaphuno ezithathwe ngokuqondile encwadini yezAga zingatholakala futhi ezindinyaneni ezilandelayo: Roma 12:20—IzAga 25:21, 22; Heberu 12:5, 6—IzAga 3:11, 12; 2 Petru 2:22—IzAga 26:11.
9. Incwadi yezAga ivumelana kanjani nalo lonke iBhayibheli?
9 Ngaphezu kwalokho, incwadi yezAga izibonisa ivumelana nalo lonke iBhayibheli, ngaleyondlela ibonisa ukuthi iyingxenye yayo “yonke imiBhalo.” Ibonisa ubunye obumangalisayo bomqondo lapho iqhathaniswa noMthetho kaMose, ukufundisa kukaJesu, nemibhalo yabafundi nabaphostoli bakaJesu. (Bheka IzAga 10:16—1 Korinte 15:58 nabaseGalathiya 6:8, 9; IzAga 12:25—Mathewu 6:25; IzAga 20:20—Eksodusi 20:12 noMathewu 15:4.) Ngisho nalapho ithinta amaphuzu anjengokulungiselelwa komhlaba ukuba uhlalwe ngabantu, kunokufana kwemiqondo kuyo kanye nabanye ababhali beBhayibheli.—IzAga 3:19, 20; Gen. 1:6, 7; Jobe 38:4-11; IHu. 104:5-9.
10, 11. Yini enye efakazela ukuthi lencwadi iphefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu?
10 Futhi okufakazela ukuphefumlelwa kwaphezulu kwalencwadi, ukunemba kwayo ngokwesayensi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isaga sikhuluma ngezimiso zamakhemikhali, zezokwelapha, noma zezempilo. IzAga 25:20 (NW) ngokusobala zikhuluma ngokwenzekayo lapho kuhlanganiswe iacid nealkali. IzAga 31:4, 5 zivumelana nokutholwe isayensi yanamuhla kokuthi ialkhoholi ifiphaza inqubo yokucabanga. Odokotela abaningi nezazi zezokudla bayavuma ukuthi uju luwukudla okunempilo, besikhumbuza isaga esithi: “Ndodana yami, yidla izinyosi, ngokuba zimnandi [zinempilo, NW].” (IzAga 24:13) Okutholwe esikhathini sethu ngezifo ezibangelwa ukukhathazeka akukusha encwadini yezAga: “Inhliziyo eyenamileyo iyikhambi elihle.”—17:22; 15:17.
11 Ngempela, incwadi yezAga izihlanganisa ngokugcwele zonke izidingo nezimo zabantu kangangokuthi enye incwadi yathi: “Akukho buhlobo ekuphileni obungenaso isiyalo sabo esifanele, akukho kuthambekela kokuhle noma kokubi okungenayo imbangela yakho efanele noma ukulungiswa. Kuyo yonke indawo ukuqapha komuntu kulethwe ebuhlotsheni obuseduze nowaPhezulu, . . . futhi umuntu uhamba sengathi uphambi kukaMenzi noMahluleli wakhe . . . Zonke izinhlobo zabantu ziyatholakala kulencwadi yasendulo; futhi nakuba yabhalwa eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezintathu edlule, isahambisana namaqiniso emvelo njengokungathi isanda kuvela kummeleli wayo ophilayo.”—Dictionary of the Bible kaSmith, 1890, Umq. III, ikhasi 2616.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YEZAGA
12. (a) Iyiphi inkondlo exhumene eyakha ingxenye yokuqala yencwadi yezAga? (b) Ifundisani ngokuhlakanipha nokuziphatha komuntu? (c) IzAga 1:7 zisibeka kanjani isibonelo sayo yonke lencwadi?
12 Ingxenye Yokuqala (1:1–9:18). Lena inkondlo exhumene eyakhiwa izinkulumo ezimfushane njengokungathi zivela kubaba ziya endodaneni, ezikhuluma ngesidingo sokuhlakanipha ukuze kuqondiswe inhliziyo, noma wonke umuntu wangaphakathi, ukuze futhi kuqondiswe isifiso. Ifundisa ngokubaluleka kokuhlakanipha nezibusiso zakho: injabulo, ubuhle, ukuthula, nokuphila. (1:33; 3:13-18; 8:32-35) Iqhathanisa lokhu nokuntuleka kokuhlakanipha nemiphumela yakho: ukuhlupheka nokufa ekugcineni. (1:28-32; 7:24-27; 8:36) Njengoba icabangela izimo eziningi kakhulu nezinto ezenzeka ekuphileni, inikeza umuntu isifundo esiyisisekelo ngokuziphatha kwabantu nemiphumela yamanje neyesikhathi esizayo yalokho kuziphatha. Amazwi akuzAga 1:7 abeka isibonelo sayo yonke lencwadi: “Ukumesaba uJehova kungukuqala kokuhlakanipha.” Zonke izenzo kumelwe zibonise ukuthi uJehova uyacatshangelwa. Kunokuphindaphindwa njalo kwesidingo sokungayikhohlwa imithetho kaNkulunkulu, ukuhlala eduze nemiyalo yakhe nokungayishiyi.
13. Bonisa izakhi eziyinhloko ezisengxenyeni yokuqala yencwadi yezAga.
13 Izakhi eziyinhloko zalengxenye yokuqala ziwukuhlakanipha okunengqondo, ulwazi, ukwesaba uJehova, isiyalo, nokuqonda. Kunikezwa izixwayiso ngabangane ababi, ukulahla ukuyala kukaJehova, nobuhlobo obungafanelekile nabesifazane abangajwayelekile. (1:10-19; 3:11, 12; 5:3-14; 7:1-27) Kabili, ukuhlakanipha kuchazwe njengokusezindaweni zomphakathi, ngaleyondlela kuyatholakala. (1:20, 21; 8:1-11) Kwenziwe samuntu futhi kukhuluma ngendlela ekhangayo kwabangenalwazi, kuze kulethe ngisho nokukhanya okuthile endabeni yokudalwa komhlaba. (1:22-33; 8:4-36) Yeka ukuthi lena incwadi emangalisa kanjani! Lengxenye iphetha ngesihloko eqale ngaso, esithi “ukuqala kokuhlakanipha kungukumesaba uJehova.” (9:10) Yonke, ikhuluma ngokuthi ukuqaphela uJehova kuzo zonke izindlela zethu, kanye nokunamathela kwethu ekulungeni kwakhe, kuyindlela yokuphila futhi kungasilonda kokuningi kakhulu okungafiseleki.
14. Ikuphi ukuphindaphinda izinto eziphikisanayo okwenza izimfundiso eziwusizo zezAga zivelele?
14 Ingxenye Yesibili (10:1–24:34). Lapha sithola izimiso eziningi eziyisisekelo, ezinhle, ezingaxhumene ezisebenzisa ukuhlakanipha ezimweni ezinzima zokuphila. Ngokusifundisa indlela eqondile yokuzisebenzisa, ihlose ukuthuthukisa injabulo enkulu nokuphila okuhle. Izinto eziphikisanayo emishweni ephindaphinda umqondo kwenza lezizimfundiso zivelele ezingqondweni zethu. Nansi ingxenye yohlu lwezihloko ezicatshangelwa ezahlukweni 10, 11, no-12:
uthando luqhathaniswa nenzondo
ukuhlakanipha kuqhathaniswa nobuwula
ukwethembeka kuqhathaniswa nokukhohlisa
ukukholeka kuqhathaniswa nokunyundela
iqiniso liqhathaniswa namanga
ukuphana kuqhathaniswa nokuncishana
ukukhuthala kuqhathaniswa nobuvila
ukuhamba ngobuqotho kuqhathaniswa nezindlela eziyisigwegwe
iseluleko esihle siqhathaniswa nokungabikho kwesiqondiso sobuciko
umfazi okhutheleyo uqhathaniswa nomfazi obanga amahloni
ukulunga kuqhathaniswa nobubi
ukuthobeka kuqhathaniswa nokuziphakamisa
Ukucabangela loluhlu ngokuphathelene nokuphila kwansuku zonke kumelwe kusiqinisekise ukuthi ngempela incwadi yezAga iyincwadi ewusizo!
15. Nikeza ezinye izibonelo zezimo ezihlukahlukene zabantu okukhulunywa ngazo encwadini yezAga.
15 Yonke lengxenye (13:1–24:34) iqhubeka nezikhumbuzo zayo zezindinganiso zikaJehova ukuze sibe nokuqonda. Uchungechunge lwezinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zezimo zabantu okukhulunywe ngalo luzobonisa ukuthi ziningi kangakanani izinto ezihlanganiswe kulencwadi. Kuzuzisa kakhulu ukuthola lesiseluleko seBhayibheli mayelana nokuzenzisa, ukuziphakamisa, ukugcina isithembiso, ukuhlakanipha, abangane, ukuqondisa nokuqeqesha abantwana, umbono womuntu ngalokho okulungile, ukuphuza ukuthukuthela, umusa kwabahluphekile, ukukhwabanisa, umthandazo, ukuhleka usulu, ukwaneliswa izidingo zokuphila, ukuqhosha, inzuzo engalungile, ukufumbathisa, ukulwa, ukuzithiba, ukuzehlukanisa, ukuthula, ukukhetha, ukuxabana, ukuthobeka, ukunethezeka, ukunakekela ubaba nomama, iziphuzo ezidakayo, ukukhohlisa, izimfanelo zomfazi, izipho, ukuboleka, ukubolekisa, umusa, ukuthembeka, imigoqo yempahla, ukwakha ikhaya, umona, ukuphindisela, ubuze, impendulo emnene, ukuzindla, nabangane beqiniso. Ingcebo enkulu yeseluleko sokuya kuso uma ufuna isiqondiso esinengqondo ezindabeni zansuku zonke! Kwabanye, iningi lalezizinto lingase libonakale lingabalulekile, kodwa kulokhu siphawula ukuthi iBhayibheli alizidebeseleli izidingo zethu ngisho nasezintweni ezibonakala zizincane. Kulokhu, izAga azinakuqhathaniswa nalutho ngobugugu.
16. Isiphi iseluleko esakhayo esinikezwe engxenyeni yesithathu yencwadi yezAga?
16 Ingxenye Yesithathu (25:1–29:27). Iseluleko esakhayo sinikeziwe ezindabeni ezinjengenhlonipho, isineke, izitha, ukusebenzelana nabantu abayiziwula, ukuzithokozisa, ukuthopha, umona, ubuhlungu obubangelwa umngane, indlala, ukunyundela, ukunakekela umthwalo wemfanelo, inzuzo, ukuvuma isono, imiphumela yokubusa okungalungile, ukuqhosha, izibusiso zokubusa okulungile, ubuhlongandlebe babantwana, ukuphathwa kwezinceku, ukuqonda, nombono.
17. (a) Imaphi “amazwi ashubile” uAguri awadluliselayo? (b) Iziphi izinto ezine ezihlukile azichazayo?
17 Ingxenye Yesine (30:1-33). Lawa “amazwi [ashubile, NW]” okuthiwa alotshwa uAguri. Ngemva kokuvuma ngokuzithoba ukungabi yilutho kwakhe, lomlobi ubhekisela ekungakwazini komuntu ukudala umhlaba nezinto ezikuwo. Ubiza iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngokuthi licwebile nangokuthi liyisihlangu. Ucela ukuba igama elingamanga lidediselwe kude naye nokuba angaphiwa ingcebo noma ubumpofu. Uchaza isizukulwane esingahlanzekile, esizidlayo, nesinobugovu esiqalekisa abazali baso. Kuchazwa izinto ezine ezingashongo ukuthi “Kwanele,” kanye nezinto ezine okunzima kakhulu ukuziqonda. (30:15, 16) Kukhulunywa ngokuzihlangula ecaleni ngesibindi kowesifazane ophingayo. Kube sekuchazwa izinto ezine umhlaba ongakwazi ukuzibekezelela, izinto ezine ezincane ezihlakaniphe ngokomzwelo wemvelo, nezinto ezine ezihamba kahle kakhulu. Ngokuqhathanisa okuhle kakhulu, umlobi uxwayisa ngokuthi “ukucindezela ulaka kuveza ukuxabana.”—30:33.
18. INkosi uLemuweli ithini (a) ngowesifazane omubi (b) nangomfazi okhuthele?
18 Ingxenye Yesihlanu (31:1-31). Lawa amanye “amazwi [ashubile, NW]” enkosi uLemuweli. Lawa abhalwe ngezindlela ezimbili. Ingxenye yokuqala ikhuluma ngokubhubha umuntu angahlangabezana nakho ngowesifazane omubi, ixwayisa ngendlela uphuzo oludakayo olungaphendukezela ngayo ukwahlulela, bese ikhuthaza ukwahlulela ngokulunga. Indlela yokubhala ngezinhlamvu zokuzikhumbuza engxenyeni yokugcina isetshenziswe ngokukhethekile ekuchazweni okusezingeni eliphakeme komfazi onekhono. Ngokuningiliza okuthile ikhulumela ubugugu bakhe, ibalula ukuthi umyeni wakhe uyamethemba futhi ungumvuzo kuye. Izimfanelo zakhe zihlanganisa ukuba okhuthele, ovuka kusesekuseni kakhulu, othenga ngokucophelela, onomusa kwabampofu, nosebenzisa ukuqonda nokhuluma ngokuhlakanipha. Futhi uqaphile, uhlonishwa abantwana bakhe, futhi indoda yakhe iyamdumisa. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, wesaba uJehova.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
19. Incwadi yezAga ngokwayo iyenza kanjani yaziwe injongo yayo ezuzisayo?
19 Injongo ezuzisayo yencwadi yezAga ishiwo emavesini okuqala: ‘Ukuze umuntu azi ukuhlakanipha nokuyalwa, nokwahlukanisa amazwi okuqonda, nokwamukela ukuyalwa kube ukuhlakanipha, nokulunga, nokwahlulela, neqiniso, nokunika abangenalwazi ukuhlakanipha, nezinsizwa ukwazi nekhono lokucabanga.’ (1:2-4) Ngokuvumelana naleyonjongo eshiwo, lencwadi iqokomisa ulwazi, ukuhlakanipha, nokuqonda, ngakunye okuzuzisa ngendlela yakho ekhethekile.
20. Ithini incwadi yezAga ngolwazi?
20 (1) Ulwazi luyisidingo esikhulu somuntu, ngoba akulungile ukuba umuntu angazi lutho. Umuntu akanakuluthola ulwazi oluqondile ngaphandle kokuba esabe uJehova, ngoba ulwazi luqala ngalokho kwesaba. Kumelwe kukhethwe ulwazi kunegolide elihle. Ngani? Ngolwazi abalungile bayahlengwa; lusivimbela ekugijimeleni esonweni. Yeka indlela okudingeka ukuba silufune ngayo, silungenise! Luyigugu. Ngakho “beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi, ubeke ukufundisa kwami enhliziyweni yakho.”—22:17; 1:7; 8:10; 11:9; 18:15; 19:2; 20:15.
21. Iyiphi imfundiso yaphezulu ephathelene nokuhlakanipha?
21 (2) Ukuhlakanipha, ukukwazi ukusebenzisa kahle ulwazi kube udumo kuJehova, “kuyinto eyinhloko.” Kuzuze. UMthombo wakho uJehova. Ukuhlakanipha okunika ukuphila kuqala ekwazini nasekwesabeni uJehova uNkulunkulu—leyo imfihlo enkulu yokuhlakanipha. Ngakho yesaba uNkulunkulu, hhayi umuntu. Ukuhlakanipha okwenziwe samuntu kukhipha isimemezelo, kunxusa bonke ukuba balungise izindlela zabo. Ukuhlakanipha kumemeza khona kanye emigwaqweni. UJehova ubiza bonke labo abangenakho okuhlangenwe nakho nalabo abangenakuqonda ukuba bachezuke futhi badle isinkwa sokuhlakanipha. Khona-ke, ngokwesaba uJehova, bayojabula ngisho noma benokuncane. Ziningi izibusiso zokuhlakanipha; izuzisa kakhulu imiphumela yakho. Ukuhlakanipha nokwazi—lezi izinto eziyisisekelo zokukwazi ukucabanga, uhlobo lokucabanga oluyosilonda. Njengoba uju luzuzisa futhi lumnandi, kunjalo nokuhlakanipha. Kuyigugu kakhulu kunegolide; kungumuthi wokuphila. Ngaphandle kokuhlakanipha abantu bayabhubha, ngoba ukuhlakanipha kulonda ukuphila; kusho ukuphila.—4:7, NW; 1:7, 20-23; 2:6, 7, 10, 11; 3:13-18, 21-26; 8:1-36; 9:1-6, 10; 10:8; 13:14; 15:16, 24; 16:16, 20-24; 24:13, 14.
22. Ikuphi ukulondeka okutholakala ekuqondeni?
22 (3) Ngaphandle kokwazi nokuhlakanipha, ukuqonda kubalulekile; ngakho, “kukho konke okuzuzayo, zuza ukuqonda.” Ukuqonda kuyikhono lokubona izingxenye zento ezihlangene; kusho ukuqonda into ngokujulile, ngaso sonke isikhathi ucabanga ngoNkulunkulu, ngoba umuntu akanakuncika kokwakhe ukuqonda. Yeka ukuthi akusoze kwenzeka kanjani ukuba nokuqonda noma ukuqonda okujulile uma umuntu enza ngokuphambene noJehova! Ukuze senze lokhu kuqonda kube ngokwethu, kumelwe sikufune ngentshiseko njengengcebo efihliwe. Ukuze siqonde, kumelwe sibe nolwazi. Ukufuna ulwazi okwenziwa oqondayo kuyavuzwa, futhi ukuhlakanipha kuba phambi kwakhe. Uyalondeka ezihibeni eziningi zalelizwe, ezinjengabantu ababi abangenakubalwa abangase bazame ukuyenga umuntu ukuba ahambe nabo endleleni yobumnyama. Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu—uMthombo wolwazi olunikeza ukuphila, ukuhlakanipha, nokuqonda!—4:7, NW; 2:3, 4; 3:5; 15:14; 17:24; 19:8; 21:30.
23. Nhloboni yeseluleko esihlakaniphile okuzoxoxwa ngaso ngokulandelayo?
23 Ngokuvumelana nenjongo ezuzisayo yencwadi yezAga, lencwadi inikeza inala yeseluleko esihlakaniphile, esiphefumlelwe sokusisiza ukuba sithole ukuqonda futhi sigcine inhliziyo, “ngokuba kuyilapho kuvela khona ukuphila.” (4:23) Okulandelayo inhlanganisela yeseluleko esihlakaniphile esigcizelelwa kuyo yonke lencwadi.
24. Kuthiwani ngababi nabalungile?
24 Ukuqhathaniswa kwababi nabalungile: Omubi uyobhajwa ezindleleni zakhe ezigwegwile, futhi ingcebo yakhe ngeke imsindise ngosuku lolaka. Olungileyo usohlwini lokuphila futhi uJehova uyomvuza.—2:21, 22; 10:6, 7, 9, 24, 25, 27-32; 11:3-7, 18-21, 23, 30, 31; 12:2, 3, 7, 28; 13:6, 9; 14:2, 11; 15:3, 8, 29; 29:16.
25. Incwadi yezAga ixwayisa kanjani ngokuziphatha okubi?
25 Isidingo sokuziphatha okuhlanzekile: USolomoni uxwayisa njalo ngokuziphatha okubi. Abantu abaphingayo bayothola inhlupho kanye nokudelelwa, futhi ihlazo labo ngeke lisuswe. “Amanzi ebiweyo” angase azwakale emnandi kosemusha, kodwa isifebe sehlela ekufeni futhi sihamba nezisulu zaso ezingenakho okuhlangenwe nakho. Labo abawela emgodini ojulile wokuziphatha okubi uJehova uyabalahla.—2:16-19; 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:4-27; 9:13-18; 22:14; 23:27, 28.
26. Kuthiwani ngokuzithiba?
26 Isidingo sokuzithiba: Ukudakwa nokuminza kuyalahlwa. Bonke abafuna ukuvunyelwa uNkulunkulu kumelwe balinganisele ekudleni nasekuphuzeni. (20:1; 21:17; 23:21, 29-35; 25:16; 31:4, 5) Labo abephuzayo ukuthukuthela banokuqonda okuningi futhi bakhulu kunendoda enamandla ethumba umuzi. (14:17, 29; 15:1, 18; 16:32; 19:11; 25: 15, 28; 29:11, 22) Ukuzithiba nakho kuyadingeka ukuze sigweme umhawu nomona, okungukubola emathanjeni omuntu.—14:30; 24:1; 27:4; 28:22.
27. (a) Kuyini ukusebenzisa kabi inkulumo? (b) Kungani ukusebenzisa ulimi nezindebe zethu ngokuhlakanipha kubaluleke kangaka?
27 Indlela ehlakaniphile nengahlakaniphile yokusebenzisa inkulumo: Inkulumo ephambene, ukunyundela, ufakazi wamanga, nomqambimanga kuyodalulwa, ngoba kuyanengeka kuJehova. (4:24; 6:16-19; 11:13; 12:17, 22; 14:5, 25; 17:4; 19:5, 9; 20:17; 24:28; 25:18) Uma umlomo womuntu ukhuluma izinto ezinhle, uwumthombo wokuphila; kodwa umlomo womuntu oyisiwula usho ukubhubha kwakhe. “Ukufa nokuphila kusemandleni olimi, nabaluthandayo bayakudla izithelo zalo.” (18:21) Ukunyundela, inkulumo ekhohlisayo, ukuthopha, namazwi asheshayo kuyalahlwa. Kuyinkambo yokuhlakanipha ukukhuluma iqiniso, ukudumisa uNkulunkulu.—10:11, 13, 14; 12:13, 14, 18, 19; 13:3; 14:3; 16:27-30; 17:27, 28; 18:6-8, 20; 26:28; 29:20; 31:26.
28. Ikuphi ukulimala okubangwa ukuqhosha, kodwa iziphi izinzuzo ezitholakala ngokuzithoba?
28 Ubuwula bokuqhosha nesidingo sokuthobeka: Umuntu oqhoshayo uziphakamisela ezingeni okungelona elakhe, abese ewa. Abaqhoshayo enhliziyweni bayanengeka kuJehova, kodwa abathobekileyo ubapha ukuhlakanipha, udumo, ingcebo, nokuphila.—3:7; 11:2; 12:9; 13:10; 15:33; 16:5, 18, 19; 18:12; 21:4; 22:4; 26:12; 28:25, 26; 29:23.
29. Ubuvila kumelwe bubhekwe kanjani, futhi kubaluleke ngani ukukhuthala?
29 Ukukhuthala, hhayi ubuvila: Umuntu ovilaphayo uchazwa ngezindlela eziningi. Kumelwe aye entuthwaneni ukuze athole isifundo futhi ahlakaniphe. Ah, kodwa okhutheleyo—uyochuma!—1:32; 6:6-11; 10:4, 5, 26; 12:24; 13:4; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:4, 13; 21:25, 26; 22:13; 24:30-34; 26:13-16; 31:24, 25.
30. Incwadi yezAga ikugcizelela kanjani ukuba nabangane abahle?
30 Abangane abahle: Kuwubuwula ukuba umngane walabo abangamesabi uJehova, nababi noma abayiziwula, abashesha ukuthukuthela, izinhlebi, noma iziminzi. Kunalokho, yiba umngane wabantu abahlakaniphile, nawe uyohlakanipha ngokwengeziwe futhi.—1:10-19; 4:14-19; 13:20; 14:7; 20:19; 22:24, 25; 28:7.
31. Isiphi iseluleko esihlakaniphile ngokuphathelene nokusola?
31 Isidingo sokusolwa nokuqondiswa: “UJehova uyamlaya amthandayo,” futhi labo abalalela lesiyalo basendleleni ephumela ekudunyisweni nasekuphileni. Ozonda ukusolwa uyoba sehlazweni.—3:11, 12; 10:17; 12:1; 13:18; 15:5, 31-33; 17:10; 19:25; 29:1.
32. Kunikezwa siphi iseluleko esihle ngokuphathelene nokuba umfazi omuhle?
32 Iseluleko esiphathelene nokuba umfazi omuhle: Ngokuphindaphindiwe incwadi yezAga ixwayisa ngokuthetha komfazi nokwenza izinto ezibanga amahloni. Umfazi ohlakaniphile, okhuthele owesaba uNkulunkulu unomthetho womusa wothando olimini lwakhe; noma ubani othola umfazi onjalo uthola umusa kuJehova.—12:4; 18:22; 19:13, 14; 21:9, 19; 27:15, 16; 31:10-31.
33. Isiphi iseluleko esihle esinikeziwe ngokuphathelene nokuqeqesha abantwana?
33 Ukukhuliswa kwabantwana: Bafundise njalo imiyalo kaNkulunkulu ukuze ‘bangakhohlwa.’ Kusukela ebuntwaneni bakhulise ngokuyala kukaJehova. Ungaluyeki uswazi lapho ludingekile; njengendlela yokubonisa uthando, uswazi nokusola kunikeza umfana ukuhlakanipha. Labo abakhulisa abantwana ngendlela kaNkulunkulu bayoba nabantwana abahlakaniphile abayolethela uyise nonina injabulo enkulu.—4:1-9; 13:24; 17:21; 22:6, 15; 23:13, 14, 22, 24, 25; 29:15, 17.
34. Kunanzuzoni ukuthatha umthwalo wemfanelo wokusiza abanye?
34 Umthwalo wemfanelo wokusiza abanye: Lokhu kugcizelelwe izikhathi eziningi encwadini yezAga. Ohlakaniphile kumelwe asakaze ulwazi kuyo yonke indawo ukuze kuzuze abanye. Umuntu futhi kumelwe abe ongagodli ekuboniseni umusa kulabo abaswele, futhi ngokwenza kanjalo, ngempela uboleka uJehova, owenza isiqinisekiso sokubuyisela.—11:24-26; 15:7; 19:17; 24:11, 12; 28:27.
35. Ngofinyelela kuwo kanye umnyombo wezinkinga zethu, incwadi yezAga inikeza siphi iseluleko?
35 Ukuncika kuJehova: Incwadi yezAga ifinyelela emnyombweni wezinkinga zethu ngokuseluleka ukuba sithembele ngokuphelele kuNkulunkulu. Kumelwe siqaphele uJehova kuzo zonke izindlela zethu. Umuntu angayihlela inkambo yakhe, kodwa uJehova kumelwe aqondise izinyathelo zakhe. Igama likaJehova lingumbhoshongo onamandla, olungileyo abalekela kuwo athole isivikelo. Thembela kuJehova futhi uye eZwini lakhe ukuze uthole isiqondiso.—3:1, 5, 6; 16:1-9; 18:10; 20:22; 28:25, 26; 30:5, 6.
36. Incwadi yezAga ingabhekwa njengehambelana nesikhathi, ewusizo, nezuzisayo ngokwamiphi imibono?
36 Yeka ukuthi incwadi yezAga izuzisa kanjani ekufundiseni nasekuyaleni thina siqu nabanye! Akukho sici sobuhlobo babantu esibonakala singanakwanga. Ingabe ukhona umuntu ozehlukanisayo kubakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu akanye nabo? (18:1) Ingabe osesikhundleni esiphakeme ufinyelela iziphetho engakezwa izinhlangothi zombili zendaba? (18:17) Ingabe umuntu ungumenzi wamahlaya angokoqobo ayingozi? (26:18, 19) Ingabe umuntu uthambekele ekukhetheni ubuso? (28:21) Umthengisi esitolo sakhe, umlimi ensimini yakhe, indoda nomfazi nengane—bonke bathola isiyalo esihle. Abazali bayasizwa ukuze bakwazi ukudalula izihibe eziningi ezicashe endleleni yentsha. Abahlakaniphile bangafundisa abangenakho okuhlangenwe nakho. Incwadi yezAga iyasiza nomaphi lapho sihlala khona; isiyalo neseluleko salencwadi asilokothi siphelelwe isikhathi. Umqeqeshi waseMelika uWilliam Lyon Phelps wake wathi: “Incwadi yezAga ihambelana nesikhathi sethu ngaphezu kwaleliphephandaba lanamuhla ekuseni.”a Incwadi yezAga ihambisana nesikhathi, iwusizo, futhi inenzuzo ekufundiseni ngoba iphefumlelwe uNkulunkulu.
37. Incwadi yezAga ivumelana kanjani nezimfundiso zikaSolomoni oMkhulu?
37 Njengoba inenzuzo ekuqondiseni izinto, incwadi yezAga, ekhulunywe kakhulu uSolomoni, iphendulela abantu kuNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke. Kanjalo noJesu Kristu, okubhekiselwa kuye kuMathewu 12:42 ‘njengokuthile okukhulu kunoSolomoni’ wabaphendulela kuye.
38. Incwadi yezAga inezela kanjani ekwaziseni kwethu ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nezimiso zawo zokulunga?
38 Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokuthi Lona ohlakaniphe kunabo bonke ukhethwe uJehova ukuba abe iMbewu yoMbuso! Isihlalo sayo sobukhosi yisona ‘esiyoqiniswa ngokulunga,’ ukuze ibuse ngokuthula okukhulu ngaphezu kokweNkosi uSolomoni. Ngokuphathelene nalokho kubusa koMbuso, kuyothiwa, “Umusa neqiniso kuyalonda inkosi; isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sisekelwa ngomusa.” Lokho kuyokwenza isintu sibe nohulumeni wokulunga waphakade, incwadi yezAga ethi futhi ngawo: “Inkosi eyahlulela abampofu ngeqiniso, isihlalo sayo sobukhosi siyakuma phakade.” Ngaleyondlela, sikwazisa ngenjabulo ukuthi incwadi yezAga ayikhanyisi indlela yethu kuphela ngokwazi, ukuhlakanipha, nokuqonda, kanye nokuphila okuphakade, kodwa okubaluleke nangaphezulu, idumisa uJehova njengoMthombo wokuhlakanipha kweqiniso, lokho asinika khona ngoKristu Jesu iNdlalifa yoMbuso. Incwadi yezAga yenezela okuningi ekwaziseni kwethu ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nezimiso zokulunga obusa ngazo manje.—IzAga 25:5; 16:12; 20:28; 29:14.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Treasury of the Christian Faith, ka-1949, ehlelwe uStuber noClark, ikhasi 48.