Indawo Efanele Yokukhulekelwa KukaJehova Ekuphileni Kwethu

“Imihla yonke ngiyakukubonga, ngilidumise igama lakho phakade naphakade.”—IHUBO 145:2.

1. Ngokuphathelene nokukhulekela, yini uJehova ayifunayo?

“MINA-JEHOVA UNKULUNKULU wakho nginguNkulunkulu onomhawu.” (Eksodusi 20:5) UMose wezwa lawomazwi evela kuJehova, futhi kamuva wawaphinda lapho ekhuluma nesizwe sakwa-Israyeli. (Duteronomi 5:9) UMose wayengangabazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wayelindele ukuba izinceku zaKhe zimkhulekele ngokuphelele.

2, 3. (a) Yini eyagcizelela kuma-Israyeli ukuthi lokho okwenzeka eduze kweNtaba iSinayi kwakuyisimangaliso? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoyihlola ngokuphathelene nokukhulekela kwama-Israyeli nokwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu namuhla?

² Njengoba babekanise eduze kweNtaba iSinayi, ama-Israyeli ‘nengxubevange yabantu’ ababeshiye iGibithe nabo babona okuthile okungavamile. (Eksodusi 12:38) Kwakungafani neze nokukhulekelwa konkulunkulu baseGibithe, manje abase bethotshiswé izishayo eziyishumi, noma izinhlupho. Njengoba uJehova ayebonisa ukuba khona kwakhe kuMose, kwenzeka izenzakalo ezesabekayo: ukuduma, ukunyazima kombani, nomsindo omkhulu wokukhala kwecilongo okwenza ukuba lonke ikamu labantu lithuthumele. Kamuva kwavela umlilo nomusi njengoba intaba yonke yayizamazama. (Eksodusi 19:16-20; Heberu 12:18-21) Uma noma imuphi umIsrayeli ayedinga obunye ubufakazi bokuthi lokho okwakwenzeka kwakuyisimangaliso, lokho kwakusazokwenzeka. Ngokushesha uMose wehla entabeni ngemva kokwamukela ikhophi yesibili yemithetho kaNkulunkulu. Ngokokulandisa okuphefumlelwe, “isikhumba sobuso [bukaMose] sasikhazimula, [abantu] besaba ukusondela kuye.” Ngempela, okuhlangenwe nakho okungenakulibaleka, kwamandla angaphezu kwawomuntu!—Eksodusi 34:30.

³ Kulesosizwe sikaNkulunkulu esingokoqobo, kwakungangabazeki ukuthi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kwakunayiphi indawo. WayenguMkhululi waso. Sasimkweleta khona kanye ukuphila kwaso. Futhi wayenguMniki-mthetho waso. Kodwa ingabe sagcina ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuza kuqala? Futhi kuthiwani ngezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zosuku lwanamuhla? Kunayiphi indawo ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova ekuphileni kwazo?—Roma 15:4.

Ukukhulekela Kuka-Israyeli UJehova

4. Lalihlelwe kanjani ikamu lika-Israyeli phakathi nokukanisa kwakhe ehlane, futhi yini eyayisenkabeni yalelikamu?

⁴ Uma wawungabuka u-Israyeli ekanise ehlane ukwelenyoni, wawuyobonani? Uhele lwamatende amaningi, kodwa oluhlelekile oluhlalisa cishe abantu abayizigidi ezintathu noma ngaphezulu, oluhlelwe ngokwezigaba zezizwe ezintathu ngasenyakatho, eningizimu, empumalanga, nangasentshonalanga. Uma ubhekisisa, wawuyoqaphela okunye futhi ukuhlelwa ngamaqembu eduze kwendawo ephakathi nekamu. Lamaqoqo amancane amane amatende ayehlalisa imikhaya yesizwe sakwaLevi. Khona kanye enkabeni yekamu, endaweni eyayihlukaniswe ngesihenqo sendwangu, kwakunesakhiwo esiyingqayizivele. Lesisakhiwo ‘sasiyitende lokuhlangana,’ noma itabernakele, ama-Israyeli “ahlakaniphile ngenhliziyo” ayelakhe ngokuvumelana nohlelo lukaJehova.—Numeri 1:52, 53; 2:3, 10, 17, 18, 25; Eksodusi 35:10.

5. Lalifeza yiphi injongo itabernakele ku-Israyeli?

⁵ Endaweni ngayinye yamakamu angaba ngu-40 phakathi nohambo lwakhe lwasehlane, u-Israyeli wakha itabernakele, futhi laba isikhungo esibalulekile sokukanisa kwakhe. (Numeri, isahluko 33) Ngokufanelekile, iBhayibheli lichaza uJehova ngokuthi uhlala phakathi kwabantu bakhe khona kanye enkabeni yekamu labo. Inkazimulo yakhe yagcwalisa itabernakele. (Eksodusi 29:43-46; 40:34; Numeri 5:3; 11:20; 16:3) Incwadi ethi Our Living Bible yaphawula: “Lendawo yokukhulekela ethwalekayo yayibaluleke kakhulu, njengoba yayenza kube nesikhungo sokubuthana esingokwenkolo sezizwe. Ngaleyondlela yayizigcina zibumbene phakathi neminyaka emide yokuzula ogwadule futhi yenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukwenza izinto ngobunye.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, itabernakele lalisebenza njengesikhumbuzo sasikhathi sonke sokuthi ukukhulekela kwama-Israyeli uMdali wawo kwakubalulekile ekuphileni kwawo.

6, 7. Isiphi isakhiwo sokukhulekela esathatha indawo yetabernakele, futhi lesisakhiwo sasikhonza kanjani isizwe sakwa-Israyeli?

⁶ Ngemva kokuba ama-Israyeli esefikile eZweni Lesithembiso, itabernakele laqhubeka liyisikhungo esibalulekile sokukhulekela kuka-Israyeli. (Joshuwa 18:1; 1 Samuweli 1:3) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iNkosi uDavide yasongoza ukwakha isakhiwo esihlala njalo. Lesisakhiwo saba ithempeli, kamuva elakhiwa indodana yayo uSolomoni. (2 Samuweli 7:1-10) Lapho linikezelwa kwehla ifu labonisa ukwamukela kukaJehova lesosakhiwo. “Ngikwakhele nokukwakhela indlu yokuhlala,” kuthandaza uSolomoni, “indawo yokuhlala kwakho kuze kube-phakade.” (1 AmaKhosi 8:12, 13; 2 IziKronike 6:2) Ithempeli elalisanda kwakhiwa manje laba isikhungo esiyinhloko sokukhulekela kwesizwe.

⁷ Kathathu ngonyaka, bonke abesilisa abangama-Israyeli babenyukela eJerusalema ukuze babe khona emikhosini ejabulisayo ethempelini bekhumbula isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu. Ngokufanelekile, lokhu kuhlangana futhi ‘kwakuyimikhosi emisiweyo kaJehova’ ebekelwe eceleni eyayigxilisa ukunakekela ekukhulekelweni kukaNkulunkulu. (Levitikusi 23:2, 4) Abesifazane abazinikele babeza namanye amalungu omkhaya.—1 Samuweli 1:3-7; Luka 2:41-44.

8. IHubo 84:1-12 likufakazela kanjani ukubaluleka kokukhulekelwa kukaJehova?

⁸ Abahubi abaphefumlelwe bayivuma ngokushukumisayo indlela ukukhulekela okwakubaluleke kakhulu ngayo ekuphileni kwabo. “Zithandeka kangaka izindlu zakho, Jehova-Sebawoti,” kuhlabelela amadodana kaKora. Ngokuqinisekile ayengababazi isakhiwo esikhulu nje. Kunalokho, aphakamisa amazwi awo edumisa uJehova uNkulunkulu, ethi: “Inhliziyo yami nomzimba wami kuyahuba ngokwethaba kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.” Inkonzo yamaLevi yawalethela injabulo enkulu. “[Bayajabula, NW] abahlala endlini yakho,” ememezela. “Bayakuhlala bebonga wena.” Eqinisweni, wonke u-Israyeli wayengahlabelela: “[Uyajabula, NW] umuntu omandla akhe akuwe, abazindlela zakho zisezinhliziyweni zabo. . . . Baqhubeka emandleni, baze babonakale phambi kukaNkulunkulu eSiyoni.” Nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi uhambo lomIsrayeli lokuya eJerusalema lwalulude futhi lukhathaza, amandla akhe ayevuselelwa lapho efinyelela kulenhloko-dolobha ebalulekile. Inhliziyo yakhe yayichichima injabulo njengoba ayebabaza ilungelo lakhe lokukhulekela uJehova: “Ngokuba usuku lunye emagcekeni akho luhle kunezinye eziyizinkulungwane. Ngiyakhetha ukulinda emnyango wendlu kaNkulunkulu wami kunokuhlala ematendeni ababi. . . . Jehova-Sebawoti, [uyajabula, NW] umuntu okwethembayo.” Amazwi anjalo embula indawo yokuqala lawoma-Israyeli ayeyinikeza ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova.—IHubo 84:1-12.

9. Kwenzekani esizweni sakwa-Israyeli lapho sihluleka ukugcina ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuza kuqala?

⁹ Ngokudabukisayo, u-Israyeli wahluleka ukugcina ukukhulekela kweqiniso kuza kuqala. Wavumela ukuzinikela konkulunkulu bamanga kwehlise intshiseko yakhe ngoJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova akabange esamvikela ezitheni zakhe, evumela ukuba athunjelwe eBabiloni. Lapho ebuyiselwa ezweni lakubo ngemva kweminyaka engu-70, uJehova walungiselela u-Israyeli izikhuthazo ezivusa amadlingozi zabaprofethi abathembekile oHagayi, uZakariya, noMalaki. Umpristi u-Ezra noMbusi uNehemiya bashukumisela abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba bakhe kabusha ithempeli futhi bamise kabusha ukukhulekela kweqiniso lapho. Kodwa njengoba kwakudlula amakhulu eminyaka, ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwaphinde kwabhekwa njengokungabalulekile kulesisizwe.

Intshiseko Yokukhulekela Kweqiniso Yekhulu Lokuqala

10, 11. Ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kwakunayiphi indawo ekuphileni kwabathembekile lapho uJesu esemhlabeni?

¹⁰ Ngesikhathi sikaJehova esimisiwe, uMesiya wavela. Abantu abathembekile babebheke insindiso evela kuJehova. (Luka 2:25; 3:15) Ukulandisa kweVangeli likaLuka kuchaza ngokuqondile u-Ana oneminyaka engu-84 njengomfelokazi ‘owayengasuki ethempelini, ekhonza ngokuzila nangokukhuleka ubusuku nemini.’—Luka 2:37.

¹¹ UJesu wathi: “Ukudla kwami kungukwenza intando yongithumileyo, ngifeze umsebenzi wakhe.” (Johane 4:34) Khumbula indlela uJesu asabela ngayo lapho ehlangana nabashintshelana izimali ethempelini. Wagumbuqela amatafula abo kanye nezihlalo zabahwebi ababethengisa amajuba. UMarku uyalandisa: “[UJesu] wayengavumi ukuba umuntu adabule ithempeli ethwele isitsha. Wafundisa, wathi kubo: Akulotshiwe yini ukuthi indlu yami iyakubizwa ngokuthi indlu yokukhuleka yezizwe zonke na? Kepha nina niyenze umhume wabaphangi.” (Marku 11:15-17) Yebo, uJesu akazange avumele ngisho noyedwa ukuba adabule egcekeni lethempeli lapho ethwele izimpahla eziyisa kwenye ingxenye yomuzi. Izenzo zikaJesu zasinika isisindo iseluleko sakhe ayesinikeze ngaphambili: “Kodwa funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe.” (Mathewu 6:33) UJesu wasishiyela isibonelo esihle ngokunikeza uJehova ukuzinikela kwakhe okukhethekile. Wayekwenza ngempela lokho ayekufundisa.—1 Petru 2:21.

12. Abafundi bakaJesu bakubonisa kanjani ukunikeza kwabo ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova indawo yokuqala?

¹² UJesu wabuye wabekela abafundi bakhe isibonelo okumelwe basilandele ngendlela agcwalisa ngayo ukuthunywa kwakhe kokukhulula amaJuda acindezelwe, kodwa athembekile emithwalweni yemikhuba engokwenkolo yamanga. (Luka 4:18) Elalela umyalo kaJesu wokwenza abafundi futhi ababhapathize, amaKristu okuqala amemezela ngesibindi intando kaJehova ngokuphathelene neNkosi yawo evusiwe. Kwamjabulisa uJehova ukunikeza kwawo ukukhulekelwa kwaKhe indawo yokuqala. Ngakho, ingelosi kaNkulunkulu uqobo yakhulula ngokumangalisayo abaphostoli uPetru noJohane etilongweni futhi yabayala: “Hambani, nime nikhulume ethempelini kubantu amazwi onke alokhukuPhila.” Benamandla avuselelwe, balalela. Nsuku zonke, kokubili ethempelini laseJerusalema nasendlini ngendlu “abayekanga ukufundisa nokushumayela ivangeli ngoJesu Kristu.”—IzEnzo 1:8; 4:29, 30; 5:20, 42; Mathewu 28:19, 20.

13, 14. (a) Kusukela ezikhathini zamaKristu okuqala, yini uSathane aye wazama ukuyenza ezincekwini zikaNkulunkulu? (b) Yini izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile eziye zaqhubeka ziyenza?

¹³ Njengoba ukuphikiswa kokushumayela kwazo kwakwanda, uNkulunkulu waqondisa izinceku zakhe ezithembekile ukuba zibhale iseluleko esifike ngesikhathi. “Niphonse izinkathazo zenu zonke phezu [kukaJehova], ngokuba uyanikhathalela,” kubhala uPetru ngokushesha nje ngemva kuka-60 C.E. “Qondani, nilinde. Isitha senu, uSathane, siyahamba njengebhubesi elibhodlayo sifuna esingamgwinya; melanani naye niqinile ekukholweni, nazi ukuthi zona lezozinhlupheko zehlela abazalwane benu abasezweni.” Akungabazeki ukuthi amaKristu okuqala athola isiqinisekiso kulawomazwi. Ayazi ukuthi ngemva kokuba ehlupheke isikhashana, uNkulunkulu wayeyophelelisa ukuqeqeshwa kwawo. (1 Petru 5:7-10) Phakathi nalezozinsuku zokugcina zesimiso sezinto sobuJuda, amaKristu eqiniso aphakamisa ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kothando ngendlela evelele.—Kolose 1:23.

¹⁴ Njengoba umphostoli uPawulu ayebikezele, ukuhlubuka, ukuchezuka ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso, kwenzeka. (IzEnzo 20:29, 30; 2 Thesalonika 2:3) Ubufakazi obuphathelene namashumi eminyaka okugcina ekhulu lokuqala bakuqinisekisa ngokugcwele lokhu. (1 Johane 2:18, 19) USathane wahlwanyela ngokuphumelelayo amaKristu mbumbulu phakathi kwawangempela, ekwenza kube nzima ukuhlukanisa ‘lolukhula’ kumaKristu anjengamabele. Nakuba kunjalo, phakathi namakhulu eminyaka ayedlula, abanye abantu benza ukukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu kweza kuqala, ngisho nalapho kufaka ukuphila kwabo engozini. Kodwa kuze kwaba sekupheleni kwamashumi eminyaka ‘ezikhathi ezimisiwe zabezizwe,’ lapho uNkulunkulu abuye waqoqa khona izinceku zakhe ukuba ziphakamise ukukhulekela kweqiniso.—Mathewu 13:24-30, 36-43; Luka 21:24.

Ukukhulekelwa KukaJehova Kuyaphakanyiswa Namuhla

15. Kusukela ngo-1919, iziprofetho zika-Isaya 2:2-4 noMika 4:1-4 ziye zagcwaliseka kanjani?

¹⁵ Ngo-1919, uJehova wagunyaza insali egcotshiwe ukuba iqale umkhankaso wokufakaza ngesibindi emhlabeni wonke oye waphakamisa ukukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ngokuthutheleka ‘kwezinye izimvu’ ezingokomfanekiso kusukela ngo-1935 kuqhubeke, abantu abaningi ngokomoya abanyukela ‘entabeni yendlu kaJehova’ baye banda ngokwengeziwe. Phakathi nonyaka wenkonzo ka-1993, oFakazi BakaJehova abangu-4 709 889 bamdumisa ngokumema abanye ukuba bahlanganyele ekukhulekelweni kwakhe okuphakeme. Yeka ukuthi lokhu kuhluke kangakanani esimweni esonakele ngokomoya ‘samagquma’ amahlelo ombuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, ikakhulukazi akweLobukholwa!—Johane 10:16; Isaya 2:2-4; Mika 4:1-4.

16. Yini okudingeka ukuba zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyenze uma sicabangela lokho okubikezelwa ku-Isaya 2:10-22?

¹⁶ Abalandeli benkolo yamanga babheka amasonto abo nezindlu zabo zamasonto ngisho nabefundisi babo ‘njengabaphakeme,’ bebanikeza iziqu eziphakeme nodumo olukhulu. Kodwa phawula lokho u-Isaya akubikezela: “Amehlo omuntu aziphakamisileyo ayakuthotshiswa, nokuzikhukhumeza kwamadoda kuyakufola, kuphakame uJehova kuphela ngalolosuku.” Kuyokwenzeka nini lokhu? Phakathi nosizi olukhulu oluza ngokushesha lapho ‘izithombe ziyophela zithi nya.’ Ngenxa yokuba seduze kakhulu kwalesosikhathi esisabekayo, zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kudingeka zihlole ngokungathi sína ukuthi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kunayiphi indawo ekuphileni kwazo.—Isaya 2:10-22.

17. Izinceku zikaJehova namuhla zikubonisa kanjani ukunikeza ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova indawo yokuqala?

¹⁷ Njengoba benobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke, oFakazi BakaJehova baziwa kakhulu ngentshiseko yabo ekushumayeleni uMbuso. Ukukhulekela kwabo akuwona nje umsebenzi wenkolo wokugcina icala, obekelwe isikhathi esicishe sibe ngangehora ngesonto. Cha, kuyiyo yonke indlela yabo yokuphila. (IHubo 145:2) Empeleni, ngonyaka odlule oFakazi abangaphezu kuka-620 000 balungisa izimo zabo ukuze bahlanganyele isikhathi esigcwele enkonzweni yobuKristu. Abanye abaningi ngokuqinisekile abakushayi indiva ukukhulekela kwabo uJehova. Kuthatha indawo yokuqala ezingxoxweni zabo zansuku zonke nasekushumayeleni kwabo kwasobala, ngisho noma izibopho zabo zomkhaya zifuna ukuba basebenze kanzima emisebenzini yokuziphilisa.

18, 19. Yisho izibonelo eziyisikhuthazo okungenzeka uye wazithola ngokufunda izindaba zokuphila koFakazi.

¹⁸ Izindaba zokuphila koFakazi ezikhishwa ku-Nqabayokulinda zinikeza ukuqonda ngezindlela abazalwane nodade abahlukahlukene abaye bagcina ngayo ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuza kuqala ekuphileni kwabo. Omunye udade osemusha owanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova eneminyaka eyisithupha ubudala wazibekela umgomo wenkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli. Nina bazalwane nodade abasebasha, imuphi umgomo eningawukhetha oyonisiza ukuba nigcine ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuza kuqala ekuphileni kwenu?—Bheka isihloko esithi “Ukuphishekela Umgomo Engawubeka Ngineminyaka Eyisithupha Ubudala,” ku-Nqabayokulinda ka-March 1, 1992, amakhasi 26-30.

¹⁹ Omunye udade osemdala ongumfelokazi unikeza esinye isibonelo esihle sokubeka ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova endaweni efanele. Wathola induduzo enkulu yokukhuthazela kulabo ayebasize ukuba bafunde iqiniso. ‘Babengumkhaya’ wakhe. (Marku 3:31-35) Uma uzithola usezimweni ezifanayo, ungakwamukela yini ukusekela nosizo lwabasebasha ebandleni? (Siza uphawule indlela uDade Winifred Remmie aveza ngayo umuzwa wakhe kwesithi “Ngasabela Esikhathini Sokuvuna,” esakhishwa ku-Nqabayokulinda ka-July 1, 1992, amakhasi 21-3.) Nina zinceku zesikhathi esigcwele, bonisani ukuthi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuza kuqala ngempela ekuphileni kwenu ngokukhonza ngokuthobeka lapho nabelwe khona, nizithoba ngokuzithandela esiqondisweni esingokwasezulwini. (Siza uphawule isibonelo sikaMfoweth’ uRoy Ryan, njengoba silandiswe esihlokweni esithi “Ukunamathela Eduze Nenhlangano KaNkulunkulu,” ku-Nqabayokulinda ka-December 1, 1991, amakhasi 24-7.) Khumbula ukuthi lapho ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova sikunikeza indawo yokuqala, siba nesiqinisekiso sokuthi uyosinakekela. Akudingekile ukuba sikhathazeke ngokuthi siyozitholaphi izidingo zokuphila. Okuhlangenwe nakho kukaDade Olive noSonia Springate kuyakubonisa lokhu.—Bheka isihloko esithi “Siye Safuna UMbuso Kuqala,” ku-Nqabayokulinda ka-February 1, 1994, amakhasi 20-5.

20. Imiphi imibuzo ehlobene nalendaba manje okufanele sizibuze yona?

²⁰ Khona-ke, akufanele yini ngabanye sizibuze imibuzo yokuzihlola? Ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kunayiphi indawo ekuphileni kwami? Ingabe ngiphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwami ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngangokusemandleni ami? Yiziphi izici zokuphila engingathuthukisa kuzo? Ukucabangela ngokunakekela isihloko esilandelayo kuzosinikeza ithuba lokucabanga ngokujulile ngendlela esisebenzisa ngayo ingcebo yethu ngokuvumelana nento eza kuqala esizikhethele yona ekuphileni kwethu—ukukhulekelwa kweNkosi enguMbusi uJehova, uBaba wethu onothando.—UmShumayeli 12:13; 2 Korinte 13:5.

Ukubukeza

◻ Ngokuphathelene nokukhulekela, yini uJehova ayifunayo?

◻ Itabernakele lalisebenza njengesikhumbuzo sani?

◻ Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., obani ababeyizibonelo ezivelele zokushisekela ukukhulekela kweqiniso, futhi kanjani?

◻ Kusukela ngo-1919, ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuye kwaphakanyiswa kanjani?