‘Beka Inhliziyo Yakho’ Ethempelini LikaNkulunkulu!
“Ndodana yomuntu, . . . [beka] inhliziyo yakho kukho konke engiyakukubonisa khona, . . . yitshele indlu yakwa-Israyeli konke okubonayo.”—HEZEKELI 40:4.
1. Yisiphi isimo abantu bakaNkulunkulu abakhethiwe abazithola bekuso ngo-593 B.C.E.?
KWAKUWUNYAKA KA-593 B.C.E., unyaka we-14 wokudingiswa kuka-Israyeli. KumaJuda ayehlala eBabiloni, kumelwe ukuba izwe lakubo elithandekayo lalibonakala likude ngempela. Lapho iningi lawo ligcina ukubona iJerusalema, lalivutha amalangabi, ugangekazi lwalo ludiliziwe, izakhiwo zalo ezinhle ziyincithakalo. Ithempeli likaJehova—elalikade liyinkazimulo enkulu yalo muzi, liwukuphela kwesikhungo sokukhulekela okuhlanzekile kuwo wonke umhlaba—lase liyimvithi. Manje, u-Israyeli wayesazohlala isikhathi eside esekudingisweni. Kwakusazodlula iminyaka engu-56 ngaphambi kokuba akhululwe njengoba kwakuthenjisiwe.—Jeremiya 29:10.
2. Kungani kwakuyomdabukisa uHezekeli ukukhumbula ithempeli likaNkulunkulu laseJerusalema?
2 Kumelwe ukuba kwakumdabukisa umprofethi othembekile uHezekeli ukucabanga ngethempeli likaNkulunkulu liyincithakalo emakhulwini amakhilomitha kude lé, lingamanxiwa ahlalwa yizilwane zasendle. (Jeremiya 9:11) Uyise, uBuzi, wayekade ekhonza njengompristi kulo. (Hezekeli 1:3) UHezekeli wayeyojabulela ilungelo elifanayo, kodwa wayedingiswe esemncane nabasebukhosini baseJerusalema ngo-617 B.C.E. Manje eseneminyaka engaba ngu-50 ubudala, cishe uHezekeli wayazi ukuthi wayengeke aphinde alibone iJerusalema noma ahlanganyele ekwakhiweni kabusha kwethempeli lalo. Khona-ke, cabanga ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kwasho lukhulu kanjani kuHezekeli ukuthola umbono wethempeli elikhazimulayo!
3. (a) Yayiyini injongo yombono kaHezekeli wethempeli? (b) Yiziphi izingxenye ezine eziyinhloko ezakha lo mbono?
3 Lo mbono obanzi, othatha izahluko ezingu-9 zencwadi kaHezekeli, wanika abaseJudiya ababedingisiwe isithembiso esiqinisa ukholo. Ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile kwakuzobuyiselwa! Emakhulwini eminyaka kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, kuze kube ngisho nasosukwini lwethu, lo mbono uye waba umthombo wesikhuthazo kubathandi bakaJehova. Kanjani? Ake sihlole lokho okwakushiwo umbono kaHezekeli ongokwesiprofetho kuma-Israyeli adingisiwe. Wakhiwa yizingxenye ezine eziyinhloko: ithempeli, abapristi, isikhulu nezwe.
Ithempeli Elivuselelwe
4. Uyiswaphi uHezekeli lapho umbono wakhe uqala, ubonani lapho futhi ubani ombonisa amagceke?
4 Okokuqala, uHezekeli uyiswa “entabeni ephakeme kakhulu.” Ngaseningizimu kule ntaba kunethempeli elikhulukazi, elinjengomuzi onogange. Ingelosi, ‘esimo sayo sasinjengesimo sethusi,’ ithatha lo mprofethi imbukise kahle amagceke. (Hezekeli 40:2, 3) Njengoba umbono uqhubeka, uHezekeli ubona ingelosi ilinganisa ngokucophelela amasango ethempeli angamabhanqa amathathu namakamelo awo abalindi, igceke elingaphandle, igceke elingaphakathi, amakamelo okudlela, i-altare, indlu engcwele yethempeli neNgcwele kanye neNgcwelengcwele yalo.
5. (a) Yisiphi isiqinisekiso uJehova asinika uHezekeli? (b) Zaziyini ‘izidumbu zamakhosi abo’ okwakumelwe zisuswe ethempelini, futhi kungani lokhu kwakubalulekile?
5 Khona-ke, kuvela uJehova uqobo kulo mbono. Ungena ethempelini aqinisekise uHezekeli ukuthi uzohlala khona. Kodwa uJehova uyala ukuba indlu yaKhe ihlanzwe, ethi: “Manje mabadedisele kude nami ukuphinga kwabo, nezidumbu zamakhosi abo, ngihlale phakathi kwabo kuze kube phakade.” (Hezekeli 43:2-4, 7, 9) Ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo lezi “zidumbu zamakhosi abo” zazibhekisele ezithombeni. Ababusi nabantu baseJerusalema abahlubukile babengcolise ithempeli likaNkulunkulu ngezithombe, empeleni, bezenzé zaba amakhosi. (Qhathanisa no-Amose 5:26.) Emehlweni kaJehova, zazingebona nakancane onkulunkulu noma amakhosi aphilayo, zaziyizinto ezifile nezingcolile. Kwakumelwe zisuswe.—Levitikusi 26:30; Jeremiya 16:18.
6. Kwakufanekiselani ukulinganiswa kwethempeli?
6 Yayisho ukuthini le ngxenye yombono? Yayiqinisekisa abadingiswa ngokuthi ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile ethempelini likaNkulunkulu kwakuzobuyiselwa ngokuphelele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukulinganiswa kwethempeli kwanikeza isiqinisekiso saphezulu sokuthi lo mbono wawuzogcwaliseka nakanjani. (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 31:39, 40; Zakariya 2:2-8.) Konke ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe kwakuzosuswa. UJehova wayezophinde ayibusise indlu yakhe.
Abapristi Nesikhulu
7. Yikuphi ukwaziswa okunikezwayo ngokuphathelene namaLevi nabapristi?
7 Abapristi nabo babezohlanzwa noma bacwengisiswe. AmaLevi ayezosolwa ngokuyekelela ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe, kanti amadodana kaSadoki angabapristi ayezotuswa futhi avuzwe ngokuhlala ehlanzekile.a Noma kunjalo, womabili la maqembu ayezophathiswa inkonzo endlini kaNkulunkulu evuselelwe—ngokungangabazeki okwakuyoxhomeka ekwethembekeni kwawo komuntu ngamunye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova wayala: “Bayakufundisa abantu bami ukwahlukanisa okungcwele nokuyichilo, benze umahluko phakathi kokungcolileyo nokuhlambulukileyo.” (Hezekeli 44:10-16, 23) Ngakho abapristi babezobuyiselwa, futhi ukukhuthazela kwabo ngokwethembeka kuvuzwe.
8. (a) Zazingobani izikhulu zakwa-Israyeli wasendulo? (b) Isikhulu sombono kaHezekeli sasihlanganyela ngaziphi izindlela ekukhulekeleni okuhlanzekile?
8 Lo mbono ukhuluma nangothile obizwa ngokuthi isikhulu. Kusukela ezinsukwini zikaMose, isizwe sasilokhu sinezikhulu. Igama lesiHeberu elisho isikhulu, elithi na·siʼʹ, lalingabhekisela enhlokweni yomuzi, isizwana noma ngisho isizwe. Embonweni kaHezekeli, ababusi bakwa-Israyeli njengesigaba bayasolwa ngokucindezela abantu futhi bayalwa ukuba bangakhethi futhi babe nobulungisa. Nakuba singeyena owesigaba sabapristi, lesi sikhulu sifeza indima evelele ekukhulekeleni okuhlanzekile. Siyangena sibuye siphume egcekeni elingaphandle elinezizwana ezingezona ezabapristi, sihlale emphemeni weSango Elingasempumalanga, silethe neminye yemihlatshelo abantu abayinikelayo. (Hezekeli 44:2, 3; 45:8-12, 17) Ngakho, lo mbono waqinisekisa abantu bakaHezekeli ukuthi lesi sizwe esibuyiselwe sasiyobusiswa ngabaholi abayizibonelo, amadoda ayeyosekela abapristi ekuhleleni abantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi abe yizibonelo ezinhle ezindabeni ezingokomoya.
Izwe
9. (a) Lalizohlukaniswa kanjani izwe, kodwa obani ababengeke balithole ifa? (b) Wawuyini umnikelo wokungcwele, futhi wawuquketheni?
9 Okokugcina, umbono kaHezekeli wawuhlanganisa nokuhlolwa kwezwe lakwa-Israyeli. Lalizohlukaniswa, isizwana ngasinye sithole isabelo. Isikhulu naso sasiyoba nefa. Nokho, abapristi babengeke, ngoba uJehova wathi, “Mina ngiyifa labo.” (Hezekeli 44:10, 28; Numeri 18:20) Umbono wabonisa ukuthi isabelo sezwe lesikhulu sasiyoba nhlangothi zonke zendawo ekhethekile ebizwa ngokuthi umnikelo wokungcwele. Lena kwakuyindawo eyisikwele eyayihlukaniswe yaba izingxenye ezintathu—engenhla kungeyamaLevi aphendukile, ephakathi kungeyabapristi, engezansi kungeyomuzi namasimu awo. Ithempeli likaJehova laliyoba sengxenyeni yezwe yabapristi, enkabeni yomnikelo oyisikwele.—Hezekeli 45:1-7.
10. Isiprofetho esiphathelene nokuhlukaniswa kwezwe sasisho ukuthini kwabaseJudiya abathembekile ababesekudingisweni?
10 Yeka indlela konke lokhu okumelwe ukuba kwabakhuthaza ngayo labo badingiswa! Umkhaya ngamunye waqinisekiswa ukuthi wawunefa ezweni. (Qhathanisa noMika 4:4.) Ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile kwakuyoba sendaweni ephakeme, enkabeni yalelo lizwe. Futhi phawula ukuthi embonweni kaHezekeli, isikhulu, njengabapristi, sasiyohlala ezweni elinikelwe abantu. (Hezekeli 45:16) Ngakho ezweni elibuyiselwe, abantu babeyonikelela umsebenzi walabo uJehova ayebamisele ukuba bahole, babasekele ngokubambisana nesiqondiso sabo. Kukonke, leli lizwe lalifanekisela ukuhleleka, ukubambisana nokulondeka.
11, 12. (a) UJehova ubaqinisekisa kanjani abantu bakhe ngokwesiprofetho ukuthi wayeyolibusisa izwe lakubo elibuyiselwe? (b) Yini eyayifanekiselwa yimithi esosebeni lomfula?
11 Ingabe uJehova wayezolibusisa izwe labo? Isiprofetho siphendula lo mbuzo ngomfanekiso okhuthazayo. Kunomsele ogeleza usuka ethempelini, uya uvuleka njengoba wehla, uze ungenele oLwandle Olufile usuwumfula. Ufika khona uvuselele amanzi angenakuphila, bese kuchuma ibhizinisi lokudoba ogwini. Osebeni kunemithi eminingi ethela izithelo unyaka wonke, ezinikeza ukudla neziphilisayo.—Hezekeli 47:1-12.
12 Kubadingiswa, lesi sithembiso sasenanela futhi siqinisekisa iziprofetho zokubuyiselwa zangaphambili ababezazisa kakhulu. Izikhathi ezingaphezu kwesisodwa, abaprofethi bakaJehova abaphefumulelwe babelichaze ngamagama achaza ipharadesi izwe lakwa-Israyeli eselivuselelwe laphinde lahlalwa. Ukuvuselelwa kwezingwadule kwakuyisiprofetho esiphindaphindwayo. (Isaya 35:1, 6, 7; 51:3; Hezekeli 36:35; 37:1-14) Ngakho abantu babengalindela ukuthi izibusiso zikaJehova ezinikeza ukuphila zaziyogeleza njengomfula zisuka ethempelini elivuselelwe. Ngenxa yalokho, isizwe esifile ngokomoya sasiyovuseleleka. Abantu ababuyiselwe babeyobusiswa ngamadoda angokomoya avelele—amadoda alungile naqine njengemithi egudle usebe embonweni, amadoda ayeyohola ekuvuseleleni izwe eliyincithakalo. No-Isaya wayebhale ‘ngemithi yokulunga eyayiyokwakha izincithakalo ezindala.’—Isaya 61:3, 4.
Ugcwaliseka Nini Lo Mbono?
13. (a) Kungamuphi umqondo uJehova abusisa abantu bakhe ababuyiselwe ‘ngemithi yokulunga’? (b) Sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho esiphathelene noLwandle Olufile?
13 Ingabe abadingiswa ababuyela ekhaya badumala? Lutho neze! Insali ebuyiselwe yaphindela ezweni lakubo elithandekayo ngo-537 B.C.E. Ngemva kwesikhathi, ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwale “mithi yokulunga”—enjengombhali u-Ezra, abaprofethi uHagayi noZakariya, nomPristi Ophakeme uJoshuwa—izindawo ezase zinesikhathi eside zaba yincithakalo zakhiwa kabusha. Izikhulu, ezinjengoNehemiya noZerubabele, zabusa izwe ngokungakhethi nangobulungisa. Ithempeli likaJehova lavuselelwa, futhi amalungiselelo akhe okuphila—izibusiso zokuphila ngesivumelwano sakhe—aphinde ageleza. (Duteronomi 30:19; Isaya 48:17-20) Esinye isibusiso kwakuwulwazi. Abapristi baphinde baqala ukusebenza, futhi bafundisa abantu uMthetho. (Malaki 2:7) Ngenxa yalokho, abantu bavuseleleka ngokomoya futhi baphinde baba yizinceku zikaJehova ezithelayo, njengoba kufanekiswa uLwandle Olufile oluvuselelwayo futhi lulethe ibhizinisi elikhiqizayo lokudoba.
14. Kungani kwakuzoba nokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaHezekeli okudlula lokho okwenzeka ngemva kokubuya kwamaJuda ekudingisweni eBabiloni?
14 Ingabe lezi zenzakalo zaziwukuphela kokugcwaliseka kombono kaHezekeli? Cha; kunokungaphezulu kakhulu kwalokho okuboniswayo. Cabanga: Ithempeli elabonwa uHezekeli lalingenakwakhiwa ngempela ngendlela elichazwe ngayo. Yiqiniso, amaJuda awuthatha ngokungathi sína lowo mbono futhi aze ayisebenzisa ngokoqobo eminye yemininingwane yawo.b Nokho, ithempeli lasembonweni lilonke lalilikhulu kakhulu kangangokuthi lalingenakulingana nakulingana eNtabeni iMoriya, okwakwakhiwe kuyo ithempeli langaphambili. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ithempeli likaHezekeli lalingekho emzini kodwa lalisendaweni ethé qékelele, kanti ithempeli lesibili lakhiwa lapho elokuqala lalikade likhona, emzini waseJerusalema. (Ezra 1:1, 2) Futhi, akukho mfula ongokoqobo owake wageleza usuka ethempelini laseJerusalema. Ngakho u-Israyeli wasendulo wabona ukugcwaliseka okuncane kuphela kwesiprofetho sikaHezekeli. Lokhu kusikisela ukuthi kumelwe kube khona ukugcwaliseka okukhulu okungokomoya kwalo mbono.
15. (a) Ithempeli likaJehova elingokomoya laqala nini ukusebenza? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi umbono kaHezekeli awugcwalisekanga phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kukaKristu emhlabeni?
15 Ngokusobala, kumelwe silindele ukugcwaliseka okuyinhloko kombono kaHezekeli ethempelini likaJehova elikhulu elingokomoya, umphostoli uPawulu akhuluma ngalo kabanzi encwadini yamaHeberu. Lelo thempeli laqala ukusebenza lapho uJesu Kristu egcotshwa njengomPristi Ophakeme walo ngo-29 C.E. Kodwa ingabe umbono kaHezekeli wagcwaliseka osukwini lukaJesu? Ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo, awuzange. UJesu, njengomPristi Ophakeme, wagcwalisa umfuziselo ongokwesiprofetho woSuku Lokubuyisana ngokubhapathizwa kwakhe, ukufa kwakhe okuwumhlatshelo nokungena kwakhe eNgcwelengcwele, ezulwini uqobo. (Heberu 9:24) Nokho, ngokuthakazelisayo umbono kaHezekeli awukhulumi nhlobo ngompristi ophakeme noma ngoSuku Lokubuyisana. Ngakho kubonakala kungenakwenzeka ukuthi lo mbono wawubhekisela ekhulwini lokuqala C.E. Pho, usebenza kuyiphi inkathi yesikhathi?
16. Indawo umbono kaHezekeli owenzeka kuyo isikhumbuza siphi isiprofetho, futhi lokhu kusisiza kanjani ukuba siqonde isikhathi sokugcwaliseka okuyinhloko kombono kaHezekeli?
16 Ukuze sithole impendulo, ake siphindele kuwo umbono. UHezekeli wabhala: “Ngemibono kaNkulunkulu wangiyisa ezweni lakwa-Israyeli, wangibeka entabeni ephakeme kakhulu, okwakuphezu kwayo kungathi isakhiwo somuzi ngaseningizimu.” (Hezekeli 40:2) Indawo lo mbono owenzeka kuyo, ‘intaba ephakeme kakhulu,’ isikhumbuza uMika 4:1: “Kepha kuyakuthi ngezinsuku ezizayo [engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku, NW] intaba yendlu kaJehova iqiniswe esiqongweni sezintaba, iphakame kunamagquma, nabantu bayakugobhozela khona.” Sigcwaliseka nini lesi siprofetho? UMika 4:5 ubonisa ukuthi lokhu kuqala izizwe zisakhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga. Eqinisweni, kuye kwaba sesikhathini sethu uqobo, “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku,” lapho ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile kuye kwaphakanyiswa khona, kwabuyiselwa endaweni yako efanele ekuphileni kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu.
17. Isiprofetho esikuMalaki 3:1-5 sisisiza kanjani ukuba sithole isikhathi ithempeli lombono kaHezekeli elahlanzwa ngaso?
17 Yini eyenza lokhu kubuyiselwa kwaba nokwenzeka? Khumbula, esenzakalweni esiphawuleka kunazo zonke embonweni kaHezekeli, uJehova uza ethempelini abese eyala ukuba indlu yakhe ihlanzwe kususwe ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe. Lahlanzwa nini ithempeli likaNkulunkulu elingokomoya? KuMalaki 3:1-5, uJehova ubikezela isikhathi lapho ‘eyakufika ethempelini lakhe’ ehamba ‘nesithunywa sakhe sesivumelwano,’ uJesu Kristu. Ngayiphi injongo? ‘Siyoba njengomlilo wocwengisisayo nensipho yomhlanzi.’ Lokhu kucwengisisa kwaqala phakathi nesikhathi sempi yezwe yokuqala. Waba yini umphumela? UJehova uye wahlala endlini yakhe futhi wabusisa izwe elingokomoya labantu bakhe kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke. (Isaya 66:8) Khona-ke, singaphetha ngokuthi isiprofetho sikaHezekeli sethempeli sinokugcwaliseka okubalulekile phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina.
18. Umbono wethempeli uyogcwaliseka nini okokugcina?
18 Njengezinye iziprofetho zokubuyiselwa, umbono kaHezekeli uyogcwaliseka ngenye indlela, eyokugcina, ePharadesi. Kungaleso sikhathi kuphela lapho isintu esinhliziyo zilungile siyothola khona izinzuzo zelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lethempeli ngokugcwele. Ngaleso sikhathi uKristu uyosebenzisa inzuzo yomhlatshelo wakhe wesihlengo, ekanye nabapristi bakhe basezulwini abangu-144 000. Zonke izikhonzi zokubusa kukaKristu ezingabantu ezilalelayo ziyolethwa ekupheleleni. (IsAmbulo 20:5, 6) Nokho, iPharadesi alinakuba yisikhathi esiyinhloko sokugcwaliseka kombono kaHezekeli. Kungani kungenjalo?
Umbono Ugxile Osukwini Lwethu Uqobo
19, 20. Kungani ukugcwaliseka okuyinhloko kombono kumelwe kwenzeke namuhla, hhayi ePharadesi?
19 UHezekeli wabona ithempeli elalidinga ukuhlanzwa kususwe ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe nobufebe obungokomoya. (Hezekeli 43:7-9) Ngokuqinisekile lokhu akunakubhekisela ekukhulekeleni kukaJehova ePharadesi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abapristi basembonweni bafanekisela isigaba sabapristi abagcotshiwe sisesemhlabeni, hhayi ngemva kokuvuselwa kwaso ezulwini noma phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane. Ngani? Phawula ukuthi abapristi babonakala bekhonza egcekeni elingaphakathi. Izihloko ezidlule ze-Nqabayokulinda ziye zabonisa ukuthi leli gceke lifanekisela isimo esingokomoya esiyingqayizivele sabapristi abangaphansi kukaKristu besesemhlabeni.c Qaphela nokuthi lo mbono ugcizelela ukungapheleli kwabapristi. Batshelwa ukuba banikele ngemihlatshelo yezono zabo uqobo. Baxwayiswa ngengozi yokungahlanzeki—ngokomoya nangokokuziphatha. Ngakho abafanekiseli abagcotshiwe abavusiwe, umphostoli uPawulu abhala ngabo wathi: “Icilongo liyokhala, futhi abafileyo bayovuswa benokungonakali.” (1 Korinte 15:52; Hezekeli 44:21, 22, 25, 27) Abapristi abasembonweni bahlangana nabantu futhi babakhonza ngokuqondile. Ngeke kube njalo ePharadesi, lapho isigaba sabapristi siyobe sesisezulwini. Ngakho-ke, lo mbono unikeza umfanekiso ocacile wendlela abagcotshiwe abasebenzelana ngayo eduze ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ emhlabeni namuhla.—IsAmbulo 7:9; Hezekeli 42:14.
20 Ngakho umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli ubonisa imiphumela emihle yokuhlanza ngokomoya okugcwaliseka namuhla. Kodwa kusho ukuthini lokho kuwe? Lesi akusona nje isiphicaphicwano senkolo esingasho lutho. Lo mbono ukuthinta kakhulu ukukhulekela kwakho nsuku zonke okuwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizobona ukuthi kanjani.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Kungenzeka ukuthi lokhu kwamthinta ngokuqondile uHezekeli, ngoba kuthiwa kwayena uqobo wayezalwa emndenini kaSadoki wabapristi.
b Ngokwesibonelo, iMishnah yasendulo isikisela ukuthi ethempelini elivuselelwe, i-altare, iminyango yethempeli enezicabha ezimbili nezindawo zokuphekela kwakhiwa ngendlela yokuba kuvumelane nombono kaHezekeli.
c Bheka INqabayokulinda ka-July 1, 1996, ikhasi 16; neka-December 1, 1972, ikhasi 718 (yesiNgisi).
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli nabapristi balo wagcwaliseka kanjani okokuqala?
◻ Umbono kaHezekeli wokwabiwa kwezwe wagcwaliseka kanjani okokuqala?
◻ Ekubuyiselweni kuka-Israyeli wasendulo, obani ababenjengezikhulu, obani ‘ababenjengemithi yokulunga’?
◻ Kungani umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli kumelwe ugcwaliseke ngokuyinhloko phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina?