IJerusalema Elivumelana Negama Lalo
“[Yethabani] kuze kube-phakade ngengikudalayo, ngokuba bheka, ngilidala iJerusalema libe-ngukwethaba.”—ISAYA 65:18.
1. U-Ezra wayezizwa kanjani ngomuzi kaNkulunkulu okhethiwe?
NJENGOMFUNDI okhuthele weZwi likaNkulunkulu, umpristi u-Ezra ongumJuda wayekwazisa ukuhlobana iJerusalema elake laba nakho nokukhulekelwa kukaJehova kweqiniso. (Duteronomi 12:5; Ezra 7:27) Uthando lwakhe ngomuzi kaNkulunkulu lubonakala engxenyeni yeBhayibheli aphefumulelwa ukuba ayibhale—iziKronike zokuQala nezesiBili no-Ezra. Kulokhu kulandisa okungokomlando, igama elithi Jerusalema litholakala izikhathi ezicishe zibe ngu-200 kwezingaphezu kuka-800 elivela ngazo eBhayibhelini lilonke.
2. Iyiphi incazelo engokwesiprofetho esingayibona kulokho okushiwo yigama elithi Jerusalema?
2 NgesiHeberu seBhayibheli, elithi “Jerusalema” lingaqondwa njengelisesimweni esibizwa ngokuthi “ububili” olimini lwesiHeberu. Ububili buvame kakhulu ukusetshenziswa ezintweni ezihamba ngazimbili, njengamehlo, izindlebe, izandla nezinyawo. Kulesi simo sobubili, igama elithi Jerusalema lingabhekwa njengeliyisiprofetho sokuthula abantu bakaNkulunkulu ababeyokujabulela ngomqondo okabili—ngokomoya nangokwenyama. ImiBhalo ayivezi ukuthi u-Ezra wayekuqonda ngokugcwele yini lokhu. Nokho, njengompristi, wayenza okusemandleni ukuba asize amaJuda abe nokuthula noNkulunkulu. Futhi ngokuqinisekile wazikhandla ukuze iJerusalema livumelane nencazelo yegama lalo, ethi, “Ubunini [noma, Isisekelo] Bokuthula Okukabili.”—Ezra 7:6.
3. Kudlula iminyaka emingaki ngaphambi kokuba siphinde saziswe ngemisebenzi ka-Ezra, futhi simthola ekuziphi izimo?
3 IBhayibheli alisho ukuthi u-Ezra wayekuphi phakathi neminyaka engu-12 yaphakathi nokuhambela kwakhe eJerusalema nokufika kukaNehemiya kulo muzi. Ukuba buthakathaka kwesizwe ngokomoya phakathi naleso sikhathi kusikisela ukuthi wayengekho u-Ezra. Nokho, sithola u-Ezra esephinda ekhonza njengompristi othembekile eJerusalema ngemva nje kokwakhiwa kabusha kogange lomuzi.
Usuku Lomhlangano Olumnandi
4. Yini eyayibalulekile ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yesikhombisa yama-Israyeli?
4 Ugange lwaseJerusalema lwaqedwa ngaphambi nje kwenyanga ka-Tishri yemikhosi ebalulekile, inyanga yesikhombisa ekhalendeni elingokwenkolo lama-Israyeli. Ngosuku lokuqala luka-Tishri kwakunomkhosi okhethekile wenyanga entsha obizwa ngokuthi uMkhosi Wokushaya Amacilongo. Ngalolo suku, umpristi wayeshaya amacilongo ngenkathi kunikelwa ngemihlatshelo kuJehova. (Numeri 10:10; 29:1) Lolu suku lwalulungiselela ama-Israyeli uSuku Lokubuyisana lwaminyaka yonke ngolweshumi luka-Tishri kanye noMkhosi Wokubutha kusukela ngolwe-15 kuya kolwama-21 lwaleyo nyanga.
5. (a) U-Ezra noNehemiya balusebenzisa kahle ngayiphi indlela ‘usuku lokuqala lwenyanga yesikhombisa’? (b) Kungani ama-Israyeli akhala?
5 “Ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yesikhombisa,” kwabuthana “bonke abantu,” cishe bekhuthazwe uNehemiya no-Ezra ukwenza kanjalo. Kwakukhona amadoda, abesifazane “nabo bonke ababenengqondo yokuzwa.” Ngakho, izingane ezincane zazikhona futhi zilalelisisile lapho u-Ezra emi endaweni ephakeme futhi efunda uMthetho “kusukela ekuseni kuze kube-semini.” (Nehemiya 8:1-4) Ngezikhathi ezithile, amaLevi ayesiza abantu ukuba baqonde okwakufundwa. Lokhu kwawathinta ama-Israyeli, akhala lapho eqaphela ukuthi wona nawokhokho bawo ayeshiyeke kakhulu kangakanani ekulaleleni uMthetho kaNkulunkulu.—Nehemiya 8:5-9.
6, 7. Yini amaKristu angayifunda kulokho uNehemiya akwenza ukuze enze amaJuda ayeke ukukhala?
6 Kodwa lesi kwakungesona isikhathi sesililo. Kwakuwumkhosi, futhi abantu babesanda kuphothula umsebenzi wokwakha kabusha ugange lwaseJerusalema. Ngakho-ke uNehemiya wabasiza ukuba babe nesimo sengqondo esifanele ngokuthi: “Hambani nidle okunonileyo, niphuze okumnandi, nithumele izabelo kwabangalungiselwanga-lutho, ngokuba lolusuku lungcwele kuJehova; ningadabuki, ngokuba injabulo kaJehova iyinqaba yenu.” Belalela, “abantu bonke bahamba ukuba badle, baphuze, bathumele izabelo, bajabule kakhulu, ngokuba babeqondile amazwi ababewazisiwe.”—Nehemiya 8:10-12.
7 Abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla bangafunda okuningi kulokhu kulandisa. Labo abanelungelo lokuba nezingxenye emihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu kufanele bakhumbule lokhu okungenhla. Ngaphezu kokunikeza iseluleko esilungisayo esidingekayo ngezinye izikhathi, izikhathi ezinjalo ziqokomisa izinzuzo nezibusiso ezilethwa ukuhlangabezana nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu. Kunikezwa ukutusa ngemisebenzi emihle eyenziwe, kunikezwe nesikhuthazo sokukhuthazela. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kufanele bahambe emibuthanweni enjalo benamile ezinhliziyweni ngenxa yemfundo eyakhayo abayithole eZwini likaNkulunkulu.—Heberu 10:24, 25.
Omunye Umbuthano Ojabulisayo
8, 9. Yimuphi umhlangano okhethekile owaba khona ngosuku lwesibili lwenyanga yesikhombisa, kwaba namuphi umphumela kubantu bakaNkulunkulu?
8 Ngosuku lwesibili lwaleyo nyanga ekhethekile, “kwabuthana izinhloko zawoyise babantu bonke, nabapristi, namaLevi kuEzra umbhali ukuba baqaphele amazwi omthetho.” (Nehemiya 8:13) U-Ezra wayefaneleka kahle ukuba aqhube lo mhlangano, njengoba “ayebhekisé inhliziyo yakhe ukufuna umthetho kaJehova, nokwenza nokufundisa izimiso nezahlulelo kwaIsrayeli.” (Ezra 7:10) Ngokungangabazeki, lo mhlangano waveza izindawo abantu bakaNkulunkulu ababedinga ukuvumelana kuzo ngokuseduze kakhudlwana nesivumelwano soMthetho. Into eyayidinga ukunakwa kuqala kwakuyisidingo sokwenza amalungiselelo afanele okugubha uMkhosi Wamadokodo owawusondela.
9 Lo mkhosi owawuthatha isonto wenziwa ngendlela efanele, bonke abantu behlala ezindlwaneni zesikhashana ezazakhiwe ngamagatsha namaqabunga ezihlahla ezihlukahlukene. Abantu babakhe lawa madokodo ophahleni oluyisicaba lwezindlu zabo, emagcekeni abo, emagcekeni ethempeli nasezindaweni zomphakathi zaseJerusalema. (Nehemiya 8:15, 16) Yeka ithuba elihle okwakuyilo lokuqoqa abantu bafundelwe uMthetho kaNkulunkulu! (Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 31:10-13.) Lokhu kwakwenziwa usuku ngalunye, “kusukela osukwini lokuqala kuze kube-lusuku lokugcina” lomkhosi, kwabangela “ukuthokoza okukhulu kakhulu” kubantu bakaNkulunkulu.—Nehemiya 8:17, 18.
Akufanele Siyidebeselele Indlu KaNkulunkulu
10. Kungani kwahlelwa umbuthano okhethekile ngosuku lwama-24 lwenyanga yesikhombisa?
10 Ukulungisa ukushiyeka okukhulu kunesikhathi nendawo yako efanele phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngokusobala, beqaphela ukuthi lesi kwakuyileso sikhathi, u-Ezra noNehemiya bahlela usuku lokuzila ngolwama-24 lwenyanga ka-Tishri. Kwaphinde kwafundwa uMthetho kaNkulunkulu, futhi abantu bavuma izono zabo. AmaLevi abe esebukeza ukusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu ngesihe nabantu bakhe abaphambukayo, akhuluma amazwi amahle okudumisa uJehova, amisa “isivumelwano esiqinisileyo” esaqinisekiswa ngophawu lwezikhulu zabo, amaLevi nabapristi.—Nehemiya 9:1-38.
11. Yisiphi “isivumelwano esiqinisekile” amaJuda azibophezela kuso?
11 Abantu bebonke benza isifungo sokufeza leso “sivumelwano esiqinisileyo” esasilotshiwe. ‘Babezohamba emthethweni kaNkulunkulu.’ Futhi bavuma ukuthi ngeke baganiselane ‘nabantu bezwe.’ (Nehemiya 10:28-30) Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaJuda azibopha ukuthi ayeyogcina iSabatha, enze umnikelo wemali waminyaka yonke ukuze asekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso, alethe izinkuni ze-altare lomhlatshelo, anikele ngamazibulo emfuyo yawo ukuze kwenziwe imihlatshelo futhi alethe ulibo lwezithelo zamasimu awo ezindlini zokudlela zethempeli. Ngokusobala, ayezimisele ‘ukungayishiyi indlu kaNkulunkulu wawo.’—Nehemiya 10:32-39.
12. Yini ehilelekile ekubeni ongayidebeseleli indlu kaNkulunkulu namuhla?
12 Namuhla, abantu bakaJehova kumelwe baqaphele ukuthi abalidebeseleli ilungelo labo ‘lokunikela inkonzo engcwele’ emagcekeni ethempeli likaJehova elikhulu elingokomoya. (IsAmbulo 7:15) Lokhu kuhilela imithandazo esuka enhliziyweni yasikhathi sonke yokuthuthukiswa kokukhulekelwa kukaJehova. Ukuphila ngokuvumelana nemithandazo enjalo kudinga ukulungiselela imihlangano yamaKristu nokuhlanganyela kuyo, ukuhlanganyela emalungiselelweni okushumayela izindaba ezinhle nokusiza abathakazelayo ngokubuyela kubo, uma kungenzeka, nangokubaqhubela izifundo zeBhayibheli. Abaningi abangafuni ukudebeselela indlu kaNkulunkulu benza iminikelo yezimali yokusiza emsebenzini wokushumayela nokunakekelwa kwezindawo zokukhulekela kweqiniso. Singase futhi sikwazi ukusekela ukwakhiwa kwezindawo zokuhlanganyela ezidingeka ngokuphuthumayo nokuzigcina zihlanzekile futhi zicocekile. Indlela ebalulekile yokubonisa uthando ngendlu kaNkulunkulu engokomoya iwukuthuthukisa ukuthula kwabakholwa nathi nokusiza noma yibaphi abadinga usizo lwezinto ezibonakalayo noma olungokomoya.—Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20; Heberu 13:15, 16.
Ukunikezelwa Okunenjabulo
13. Yiluphi udaba oluphuthumayo olwaludinga ukunakekelwa ngaphambi kokuba kunikezelwe ugange lwaseJerusalema, futhi yisiphi isibonelo esihle abaningi abasibeka?
13 “Isivumelwano esiqinisileyo” esenziwa osukwini lukaNehemiya salungiselela abantu bakaNkulunkulu basendulo usuku lokunikezelwa kogange lwaseJerusalema. Kodwa kwakusenolunye udaba oluphuthumayo olwaludinga ukunakekelwa. Njengoba manje lase libiyelwe ngogangekazi olunamasango angu-12, iJerusalema lalidinga izakhamuzi ezengeziwe. Nakuba kwakunama-Israyeli athile ayehlala kuwo, “umuzi wawubanzi nxazombili; wawumkhulu, kepha abantu babeyingcosana phakathi kwawo.” (Nehemiya 7:4) Ukuze kuxazululwe le nkinga, abantu “benza inkatho ukuyisa omunye kwabayishumi njalo ukuba ahlale eJerusalema, umuzi ongcwele.” Ukusabela ngokuzimisela kuleli lungiselelo kwashukumisela abantu ukuba babusise “bonke abantu ababezinikela ngenhliziyo ukuhlala eJerusalema.” (Nehemiya 11:1, 2) Yeka isibonelo esihle kubakhulekeli beqiniso namuhla abazimo zabo ziyabavumela ukuba bathuthele lapho kunesidingo esikhudlwana khona sosizo lwamaKristu avuthiwe!
14. Kwenzekani ngosuku lokunikezelwa kogange lwaseJerusalema?
14 Ngokushesha aqalwa amalungiselelo abalulekile osuku olukhulu lokunikezelwa kogange lwaseJerusalema. Kwaqoqwa abashaya izinsimbi zomculo nabahlabeleli emizini yakwaJuda ezungezile. Bahlelwa baba amaqembu amabili amakhulu abahlabeleli bokubonga, ngalinye elalizolandelwa udwendwe. (Nehemiya 12:27-31, 36, 38) La maqembu abahlabeleli nezindwendwe asuka ogangeni endaweni eqhelelene kakhulu nethempeli, cishe eSangweni lesiGodi, ahamba ahlukana ngezindlela aze ayohlangana endlini kaNkulunkulu. “Banikela ngemihlatshelo emikhulu ngalolosuku, bathokoza, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wayebathokozisile ngentokozo enkulu; nabesifazane nabantwana bathokoza, kwezwakala kude ukuthokoza kweJerusalema.”—Nehemiya 12:43.
15. Kungani ukunikezelwa kogange lwaseJerusalema kungabangelanga injabulo ehlala njalo?
15 IBhayibheli alilunikezi usuku lwalo mkhosi wenjabulo. Ngokungangabazeki, wawuyisenzakalo esivelele ekuvuselelweni kweJerusalema, uma wawungewona umvuthwandaba. Yebo, kwakunomsebenzi omkhulu wokwakha owawudinga ukwenziwa ngaphakathi komuzi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema zalahlekelwa isimo sazo esihle esingokomoya. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uNehemiya evakashela lo muzi okwesibili, wathola ukuthi indlu kaNkulunkulu yayisiphinde yadebeselelwa nokuthi ama-Israyeli ayesephinde ashada nabesifazane abangamaqaba. (Nehemiya 13:6-11, 15, 23) Lezi zimo ezimbi ziqinisekiswe emibhalweni yomprofethi uMalaki. (Malaki 1:6-8; 2:11; 3:8) Ngakho ukunikezelwa kogange lwaseJerusalema akuzange kubangele injabulo ehlala njalo.
Lokho Okubangela Injabulo Ehlala Njalo
16. Yiziphi izenzakalo eziwumvuthwandaba abantu bakaNkulunkulu ababheke phambili kuzo?
16 Namuhla, abantu bakaJehova balangazelela isikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu eyonqoba zonke izitha zakhe. Lokhu kuyoqala ngokubhujiswa ‘kweBabiloni Elikhulu’—umuzi ongokomfanekiso ohlanganisa zonke izinhlobo zenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 18:2, 8) Ukubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga kuyophawula ingxenye yokuqala yosizi olukhulu oluzayo. (Mathewu 24:21, 22) Okunye esibheke kukho yisenzakalo esikhulu ngempela—umshado wasezulwini weNkosi uJesu Kristu nomlobokazi wayo oyizakhamuzi ‘zeJerusalema Elisha’ ezingu-144 000. (IsAmbulo 19:7; 21:2) Asinakusho ukuthi lelo findo eliwumvuthwandaba liyoboshwa nini ngokuqondile, kodwa ngokuqinisekile kuyoba yisenzakalo esijabulisayo.—Bheka INqabayokulinda ka-August 15, 1990, amakhasi 30-1.
17. Sazini ngokuphothulwa kweJerusalema Elisha?
17 Siyazi ukuthi ukuphothulwa kweJerusalema Elisha kuseduze kakhulu. (Mathewu 24:3, 7-14; IsAmbulo 12:12) Ngokungafani nomuzi waseJerusalema wasemhlabeni, leli ngeke nanini libangele ukudumazeka. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi zonke izakhamuzi zalo zingabalandeli bakaJesu Kristu abagcotshwe ngomoya, bavivinywa futhi bacwengisiswa. Lapho bethembeka kuze kube sekufeni, ngamunye wabo uyobe ezibonakalise ethembeke phakade kuMbusi Wendawo Yonke, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Lokho kuyosho okukhulu kubo bonke abanye besintu—abaphilayo nabafileyo!
18. Kungani kufanele ‘sijabule futhi sethabe kuze kube-phakade’?
18 Cabanga ngalokho okuyokwenzeka lapho iJerusalema Elisha liphendukela ekunakeni abantu ababonisa ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wesihlengo. Umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “Bheka! Itende likaNkulunkulu likanye nesintu, uyohlala naso, futhi siyoba abantu bakhe. Futhi uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe uyoba naso. Futhi uyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni aso, futhi ukufa ngeke kusaba khona, noma ukulila noma ukukhala noma ubuhlungu ngeke kusaba khona. Izinto zangaphambili zidlulile.” (IsAmbulo 21:2-4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uNkulunkulu uyosebenzisa leli lungiselelo elisamuzi ukuze alethe isintu ekupheleleni kobuntu. (IsAmbulo 22:1, 2) Yeka ukuthi lezi yizizathu ezinhle kanjani ‘zokujabula nokwethaba kuze kube-phakade ngalokho uNkulunkulu akudalayo manje’!—Isaya 65:18.
19. Liyini ipharadesi elingokomoya amaKristu aye abuthelwa kulo?
19 Nokho, abantu abaphendukile akudingeki balinde kuze kube yileso sikhathi ngaphambi kokuthola usizo kuNkulunkulu. Ngonyaka ka-1919, uJehova waqala ukubuthela amalungu okugcina abangu-144 000 epharadesi elingokomoya, lapho izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu—ezinjengothando, injabulo nokuthula—ziyinala khona. (Galathiya 5:22, 23) Isici esivelele saleli pharadesi elingokomoya kuye kwaba ukholo lwezakhamuzi zalo ezigcotshiwe, eziye zakhiqiza ngendlela emangalisayo njengoba zihola ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe. (Mathewu 21:43; 24:14) Ngenxa yalokho, “ezinye izimvu” ezicishe zibe yizigidi eziyisithupha, ezinethemba lasemhlabeni, nazo ziye zavunyelwa ukungena kuleli pharadesi elingokomoya, zijabulele umsebenzi ozuzisayo. (Johane 10:16) Ziye zakufanelekela lokhu ngokuzinikezela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngesisekelo sokholo lwazo emhlatshelweni weNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. Ukuzihlanganisa kwazo nabazoba amalungu eJerusalema Elisha kuye kwaba yisibusiso ngempela. Ngakho, ngokusebenzelana kwakhe namaKristu agcotshiwe, uJehova uye wabeka isisekelo esiqinile ‘somhlaba omusha’—umphakathi wabantu abesaba uNkulunkulu abayozuza umhlaba njengefa eMbusweni wasezulwini.—Isaya 65:17; 2 Petru 3:13.
20. IJerusalema Elisha liyovumelana kanjani nencazelo yegama layo?
20 Izimo ezinokuthula ezijatshulelwa abantu bakaJehova manje epharadesi labo elingokomoya ngokushesha zizojatshulelwa epharadesi elingokwenyama emhlabeni. Lokho kuzokwenzeka lapho iJerusalema Elisha lehla livela ezulwini lizobusisa isintu. Ngendlela ekabili, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayojabulela izimo ezinokuthula ezithenjiswe ku-Isaya 65:21-25. Njengabakhulekeli bakaJehova abanobunye epharadesi elingokomoya, abagcotshiwe abasazothatha izindawo zabo eJerusalema Elisha lasezulwini nalabo ‘bezinye izimvu’ manje banokuthula okunikezwa nguNkulunkulu. Futhi ukuthula okunjalo kuyoqhubekela ePharadesi elingokwenyama, lapho ‘intando kaNkulunkulu yenzeka emhlabeni wonke, njengoba nje yenzeka ezulwini.’ (Mathewu 6:10) Yebo, umuzi kaNkulunkulu okhazimulayo wasezulwini uyovumelana negama elithi Jerusalema ngokuba ‘Isisekelo [Esiqinile] Sokuthula Okukabili.’ Kulo lonke ingunaphakade, uyoma uludumo kuMdali wawo Omkhulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu, naseNkosini enguMyeni wawo, uJesu Kristu.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Yini eyafezwa lapho uNehemiya ebuthela abantu eJerusalema?
◻ Yini amaJuda asendulo okwakudingeka ayenze ukuze angayidebeseleli indlu kaNkulunkulu, futhi yini esimenywa ukuba siyenze?
◻ “IJerusalema” lihileleke kanjani ekuletheni injabulo nokuthula okuhlala njalo?
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 23]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
AMASANGO ASEJERUSALEMA
Izinombolo zibonisa ukuphakama kwezindawo ngamamitha namuhla
ISANGO LEZINHLANZI
ISANGO LOMUZI OMDALA
ISANGO LAKWA-EFRAYIMI
ISANGO LASEGUMBINI
UGange OluBanzi
Indawo Yomphakathi
ISANGO LESIGODI
INGXENYE YESIBILI
Ugange Lokuqala LwaseNyakatho
UMUZI KADAVIDE
ISANGO LOMQUBA
ISigodi SikaHinomu
Inqaba
ISANGO LEZIMVU
ISANGO LETILONGO
Indawo Yethempeli
ISANGO LOKUBALA
ISANGO LAMAHHASHI
I-OFELI
Indawo Yomphakathi
ISANGO LAMANZI
UMthombo WaseGihoni
ISANGO LOMTHOMBO
Insimu Yenkosi
I-Eni-Rogeli
ISigodi SaseTyropoeon (Esiphakathi)
Umfudlana WaseKidroni
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Izinga okungenzeka ugange lwaseJerusalema lwase lukulo ngesikhathi sokubhujiswa komuzi nangesikhathi uNehemiya ehola ekulwakheni kabusha ugange