Ulithanda Kangakanani IZwi LikaNkulunkulu?
“Ngiyawuthanda umthetho wakho kangaka. Usuku lonke ngizindla ngawo.”—IHUBO 119:97.
1. Iyiphi enye yezindlela abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu ababonisa ngayo uthando lwabo ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
AMAKHULU ezigidi zabesilisa nabesifazane analo iBhayibheli. Kodwa kunomehluko phakathi kokuba neBhayibheli nokulithanda iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Umuntu angasho yini ngokufanele ukuthi uyalithanda iZwi likaNkulunkulu uma eqabukela elifunda? Lutho neze! Ngokuphambene, abanye ababekade bengalishayi mkhuba iBhayibheli sebelifunda nsuku zonke. Baye bafunda ukulithanda iZwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi njengomhubi, manje benza iZwi likaNkulunkulu libe yinto abayikhathalela “usuku lonke.”—IHubo 119:97.
2. Lwaqiniswa kanjani ukholo lomunye woFakazi BakaJehova lapho esezimweni ezinzima?
2 Omunye umuntu owafunda ukuthanda iZwi likaNkulunkulu nguNasho Dori. Ekanye nakholwa nabo, wakhuthazela amashumi amaningi eminyaka, ekhonza uJehova ezweni lenkaba yakhe i-Albania. Engxenyeni enkulu yaleso sikhathi, oFakazi BakaJehova babevinjelwe, futhi la maKristu athembekile ayengatholi zincwadi ezitheni zeBhayibheli. Noma kunjalo, ukholo lukaMfoweth’ uDori lwahlala luqinile. Kanjani? Wathi: “Umgomo wami kwakuwukufunda iBhayibheli okungenani ihora ngosuku, engakwenza iminyaka engaba ngu-60 ngaphambi kokuba amehlo ami aqale ukungaboni kahle.” IBhayibheli eliphelele lalingatholakali ngesi-Albania kwaze kwaba muva nje, kodwa uMfoweth’ uDori wayefunde isiGreki eseyingane, ngakho wayelifunda ngalolo limi iBhayibheli. Ukufunda iBhayibheli njalo kwamqinisa uMfoweth’ uDori ekulingweni okuhlukahlukene, futhi kungasiqinisa nathi.
‘Yakha Ukulangazelela’ IZwi LikaNkulunkulu
3. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo okufanele amaKristu asihlakulele mayelana neZwi likaNkulunkulu?
3 Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Njengezinsana ezisanda kuzalwa, yakhani ukulangazelela ubisi olungonakalisiwe olungolwezwi.” (1 Petru 2:2) Lawo maKristu aqaphela isidingo sawo esingokomoya athola injabulo enkulu ekufundeni iZwi likaNkulunkulu, njengoba nje nomntwana elangazelela ubisi lukanina. Ingabe yileyo ndlela ozizwa ngayo? Uma kungenjalo, ungadangali. Nawe ungakuhlakulela ukulangazelela iZwi likaNkulunkulu.
4. Yini ehilelekile ekwenzeni ukufunda iBhayibheli kube umkhuba wansuku zonke?
4 Ukuze wenze lokho, qala ngokuziqeqeshela ukwenza ukufunda iBhayibheli kube umkhuba ovamile, wansuku zonke uma kungenzeka. (IzEnzo 17:11) Ungase ungakwazi ukufunda iBhayibheli ihora ngosuku njengoba kwakwenza uNasho Dori, kodwa cishe ungakwazi ukubekela eceleni isikhathi esithile sokuhlola iZwi likaNkulunkulu usuku ngalunye. AmaKristu amaningi avuka ngaphambi kwesikhathi ukuze azindle ngendima ethile yeBhayibheli. Iyiphi nje indlela engcono kunaleyo yokuqala usuku? Amanye akhetha ukuphetha usuku ngokufunda iBhayibheli ngaphambi nje kokulala. Kanti amanye alifunda ngesinye nje isikhathi esikahle. Okubalulekile ukulifunda njalo iBhayibheli. Yibe usuzinika isikhashana sokuzindla ngalokho okufundile. Ake sibheke ezinye zezibonelo zabantu abazuza ekufundeni nasekuzindleni ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu.
Umhubi Owayewuthanda Umthetho KaNkulunkulu
5, 6. Nakuba singase singalazi igama lakhe, yini esingayithola mayelana nomlobi weHubo le-119 lapho sifunda futhi sizindla ngalokho akuloba?
5 Ngokuqinisekile umlobi weHubo 119 wayelazisa ngokujulile iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ubani owaloba lelo hubo? Umlobi akashiwo eBhayibhelini. Nokho, emongweni walo sithola imininingwane ethile ngaye, futhi siyabona ukuthi ukuphila kwakhe kwakunezinkinga ezithile. Abanye babantu ayejwayelene nabo okwakungathi bangabakhulekeli bakaJehova babengenalo uthando ayenalo ngezimiso zeBhayibheli. Nokho, lo mhubi akazange avumele isimo sabo sengqondo simvimbe ekwenzeni okulungile. (IHubo 119:23) Uma uhlala noma usebenza nomuntu ongazihloniphi izindinganiso zeBhayibheli, ungase ubone ukufana phakathi kwesimo salo mhubi nesakho.
6 Nakuba ayengumuntu ohlonipha uNkulunkulu, umhubi wayengeyena neze umuntu ozibona elungile. Wakuvuma ngobuqotho ukungapheleli kwakhe. (IHubo 119:5, 6, 67) Nokho, akazange avumele isono ukuba simlawule. Wabuza: “Insizwa iyakuyihlanza kanjani indlela yayo na?” Wayesephendula: “Ngokuqaphela okwezwi lakho.” (IHubo 119:9) Khona-ke, egcizelela ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu liyithonya elinamandla lokuhle, umhubi wanezela: “Enhliziyweni yami ngiyalonda izwi lakho, ukuze ngingoni kuwe.” (IHubo 119:11) Ithonya elingasisiza sigweme ukona kuNkulunkulu linamandla ngempela!
7. Kungani intsha ngokukhethekile kufanele iqaphele isidingo sokufunda iBhayibheli nsuku zonke?
7 Intsha engamaKristu yenza kahle ngokuhlola amazwi omhubi. AmaKristu asemasha ayahlaselwa namuhla. UDeveli angakujabulela kakhulu ukonakalisa isizukulwane esisakhula sabakhulekeli bakaJehova. Umgomo kaSathane uwukuyenga amaKristu asemasha ukuba avumele izifiso zenyama futhi aphule imithetho kaNkulunkulu. Amabhayisikobho nezinhlelo zethelevishini ngokuvamile kubonisa ukucabanga kukaDeveli. Izilomo zezinhlelo ezinjalo zibonakala zikhanga futhi zinogazi; ukuziphatha kwazo okubi kuvezwa njengento eyimvelo nje. Yimuphi umyalezo onikezwayo? Owokuthi, ‘Kulungile ukuba abantu abangashadile babe nobuhlobo bobulili uma nje bethandana ngempela.’ Ngokudabukisayo, unyaka ngamunye inani elithile lamaKristu asemasha liba yizisulu zokucabanga okunjalo. Amanye aphihlizekelwa umkhumbi wawo wokholo. Ngakho ukucindezela kukhulu! Kodwa ingabe lokhu kucindezela kukhulu kangangokuthi akunakwenzeka ngani basha ukuba nibhekane nakho? Lutho neze! UJehova uye walungiselela indlela yokuba amaKristu asemasha anqobe izifiso ezingalungile. Angamelana nanoma yisiphi isikhali esingaklanywa uDeveli ‘ngokuqaphela okweZwi likaNkulunkulu, alonde amazwi kaNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yawo.’ Singakanani isikhathi osisebenzisa njalo ufunda futhi uzindla ngeBhayibheli uwedwa?
8. Izibonelo ezivezwe kulesi sigaba zingakusiza kanjani ukuba ukhulise ukuwazisa kwakho uMthetho KaMose?
8 Umlobi weHubo le-119 wathi: “Ngiyawuthanda umthetho wakho kangaka.” (IHubo 119:97) Yimuphi umthetho ayebhekisele kuwo? Yizwi likaJehova elambuliwe, kuhlanganise nesimiso soMthetho KaMose. Abanye bangase basheshe basichithe isimiso soMthetho bathi sesaphelelwa yisikhathi futhi bazibuze ukuthi umuntu angasithanda kanjani nje. Nokho, lapho sizindla ngezici ezihlukahlukene zoMthetho KaMose, njengoba kwakwenza umhubi, singaqonda ukuhlakanipha okutholakala kulowo Mthetho. Ngalé kwezici eziningi ezingokwesiprofetho zoMthetho, kunemithetho yenhlanzeko nokudla, eyayithuthukisa ukuhlanzeka nempilo enhle. (Levitikusi 7:23, 24, 26; 11:2-8) UMthetho wawukhuthaza ukwethembeka ezindabeni zebhizinisi futhi wawukhuthaza ama-Israyeli ukuba abonise ukuzwelana nabakhulekeli abakanye nawo abaswele. (Eksodusi 22:26, 27; 23:6; Levitikusi 19:35, 36; Duteronomi 24:17-21) Kwakufanele kwahlulelwe ngokungakhethi. (Duteronomi 16:19; 19:15) Njengoba ulwazi lomlobi weHubo 119 lwalwanda ekuphileni, ngokungangabazeki wayebona indlela izinto ezazibahambela kahle ngayo labo ababesebenzisa uMthetho kaNkulunkulu, futhi uthando lwakhe ngawo lwalukhula. Ngokufanayo nanamuhla, lapho amaKristu ephumelela ekusebenziseni izimiso zeBhayibheli, uthando nokwazisa kwawo iZwi likaNkulunkulu kuyakhula.
Inkosana Eyayingesabi Ukuhluka
9. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo iNkosi uHezekiya eyasihlakulela mayelana neZwi likaNkulunkulu?
9 Okuqukethwe yiHubo 119 kuvumelana kahle nalokho esikwazi ngoHezekiya lapho eseyinkosana esencane. Ezinye izazi zeBhayibheli zisikisela ukuthi nguHezekiya ongumlobi waleli hubo. Nakuba lokhu kungenakuqinisekiswa, siyazi ukuthi uHezekiya wayelihlonipha kakhulu iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Wabonisa ngenkambo yokuphila kwakhe ukuthi wayevumelana ngokusuka enhliziyweni namazwi akumaHubo 119:97. Mayelana noHezekiya, iBhayibheli lithi: “Wabambelela kuJehova, akasukanga ekumlandeleni, kepha wagcina imiyalo yakhe uJehova ayala ngayo uMose.”—2 AmaKhosi 18:6.
10. Isibonelo sikaHezekiya siwakhuthaza ngani amaKristu angakhuliswanga abazali abahlonipha uNkulunkulu?
10 UHezekiya akakhulelanga neze emkhayeni ohlonipha uNkulunkulu. Uyise, iNkosi u-Ahazi, wayengumkhulekeli wezithombe ongenalukholo owenza ukuba okungenani eyodwa yamadodana akhe—umfowabo kaHezekiya uqobo—ishiswe iphila ibe umhlatshelo kunkulunkulu wamanga! (2 AmaKhosi 16:3) Naphezu kwalesi sibonelo esibi, uHezekiya wakwazi ‘ukuhlanza indlela yakhe’ ingabi namathonya obuqaba ngokuzijwayelanisa neZwi likaNkulunkulu.—2 IziKronike 29:2.
11. Njengoba uHezekiya ayebhekile, zamhambela kanjani izinto uyise owayengathembekile?
11 Lapho uHezekiya ekhula, wazibonela mathupha indlela uyise ongumkhulekeli wezithombe ayeziphatha ngayo izindaba zoMbuso. UJuda wayehaqwe yizitha. Kwakukhona uResini, inkosi yaseSiriya (i-Aramu), owazibandakanya nenkosi yakwa-Israyeli uPheka ekuvimbezeleni iJerusalema. (2 AmaKhosi 16:5, 6) Kwakukhona abakwa-Edomi namaFilisti, abahlasela uJuda ngokuphumelelayo baze bathumba eminye yemizi yakwaJuda. (2 IziKronike 28:16-19) U-Ahazi wazisingatha kanjani zonke lezi zinhlekelele? Kunokuba acele usizo kuJehova ukuze alwe neSiriya, u-Ahazi waphendukela enkosini yase-Asiriya, wayifumbathisa ngegolide nesiliva, kuhlanganise nelalivela engcebweni yasethempelini. Kodwa lokhu akuzange kumlethele ukuthula okuhlala njalo uJuda.—2 AmaKhosi 16:6, 8.
12. Yini uHezekiya ayengayenza ukuze agweme ukuphinda amaphutha kayise?
12 Ekugcineni, u-Ahazi wafa futhi uHezekiya waba yinkosi eneminyaka engu-25 ubudala. (2 IziKronike 29:1) Wayemncane ngokuqhathaniswa, kodwa lokho akumvimbanga ukuba abe yinkosi ephumelelayo. Kunokuba alingise ukuziphatha kukayise owayengathembekile, wanamathela eMthethweni kaJehova. Lo Mthetho wawuhlanganisa nomyalo okhethekile owawubhekiswe emakhosini: ‘Kuyakuthi nxa [inkosi] ihlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso wayo, iyakuzilobela impinda yalo mthetho encwadini ngokuthatha kuleyo ekubapristi bamaLevi; iyakuba kuyo, iyifunde zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwayo ukuba ifunde ukumesaba uJehova uNkulunkulu wayo, igcine onke amazwi omthetho.’ (Duteronomi 17:18, 19) Ngokufunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke, uHezekiya wayeyofunda ukwesaba uJehova futhi agweme ukuphinda amaphutha kayise owayengamhloniphi uNkulunkulu.
13. UmKristu angaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi ngomqondo ongokomoya, konke akwenzayo kuyophumelela?
13 Akuwona amakhosi akwa-Israyeli kuphela ayekhuthazwa ukuba alinake ngokuqhubekayo iZwi likaNkulunkulu, kodwa wonke ama-Israyeli esaba uNkulunkulu kwakufanele enze kanjalo. IHubo lokuqala lichaza umuntu ojabula ngempela ngokuthi yilowo “okuthokoza kwakhe kusemthethweni kaJehova, ozindla ngomthetho wakhe imini nobusuku.” (IHubo 1:1, 2) Ngomuntu onjalo, umhubi uthi: “Konke akwenzayo [“kuyophumelela,” NW].” (IHubo 1:3) Ngokuphambene, mayelana nomuntu ontula ukholo kuJehova uNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli lithi: “Ungumuntu omanqikanqika, ongagxilile ezindleleni zakhe zonke.” (Jakobe 1:8) Sonke siyafuna ukujabula nokuphumelela. Ukufunda iBhayibheli njalo ngendlela enenjongo kungasenza sijabule.
IZwi LikaNkulunkulu Lamqinisa UJesu
14. UJesu walubonisa kanjani uthando ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
14 Ngesinye isikhathi, abazali bakaJesu bamthola ehlezi phakathi kwabafundisi ethempelini eJerusalema. Yeka indlela lezi zazi zoMthetho kaNkulunkulu ‘ezazilokhu zimangazwe ngayo ukuqonda kwakhe nezimpendulo zakhe’! (Luka 2:46, 47) UJesu wayeneminyaka engu-12 ngaleso sikhathi. Yebo, ngisho esesemncane, kwakusobala ukuthi wayelithanda iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Kamuva, uJesu wasebenzisa imiBhalo ukuze akhuze uDeveli, wathi: “Umuntu akumelwe aphile ngesinkwa sodwa, kodwa ngawo wonke amazwi aphuma emlonyeni kaJehova.” (Mathewu 4:3-10) Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uJesu washumayela ezakhamuzini zaseNazaretha, umuzi wakubo, esebenzisa imiBhalo.—Luka 4:16-21.
15. UJesu wasibeka kanjani isibonelo lapho eshumayela kwabanye?
15 UJesu wayecaphuna kaningi eZwini likaNkulunkulu ukuze asekele izimfundiso zakhe. Izilaleli zakhe “zakhexa ngendlela yakhe yokufundisa.” (Mathewu 7:28) Futhi kwakufanele—izimfundiso zikaJesu zazivela kuJehova uNkulunkulu uqobo! UJesu wathi: “Lokho engikufundisayo akukhona okwami, kodwa kungokwalowo ongithumile. Lowo okhuluma ngokuzisungulela kwakhe siqu ufuna inkazimulo yakhe siqu; kodwa lowo ofuna inkazimulo yalowo omthumile, lona uqinisile, futhi akukho ukungalungi kuye.”—Johane 7:16, 18.
16. UJesu walubonisa ngezinga elingakanani uthando lwakhe ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
16 Ngokungafani nomlobi weHubo 119, ‘kwakungekho ukungalungi’ kuJesu. Wayengenasono, eyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, ‘eyazithoba futhi yalalela kwaze kwaba sekufeni.’ (Filipi 2:8; Heberu 7:26) Nokho, nakuba ayephelele, uJesu wayewutadisha futhi ewulalela uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakuyisici esiyinhloko esamenza wakwazi ukulondoloza ubuqotho bakhe. Lapho uPetru esebenzisa inkemba ukuze azame ukuvikela iNkosi yakhe ekuboshweni, uJesu wamkhuza lo mphostoli wayesebuza: “Ucabanga ukuthi anginakunxusa yini kuBaba ukuba anginikeze ngalomzuzwana amalegiyona ezingelosi angaphezu kwayishumi nambili? Uma kuba njalo, imiBhalo ibiyogcwaliseka kanjani ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke ngalendlela?” (Mathewu 26:53, 54) Yebo, kuJesu ukugcwaliseka kwemiBhalo kwakubaluleke ngaphezu kokuphunyuka ekufeni okunonya nokuhlazisayo. Yeka uthando oluvelele ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu!
Abanye Abalingisi BakaKristu
17. Lalibaluleke kangakanani iZwi likaNkulunkulu kumphostoli uPawulu?
17 Umphostoli uPawulu wabhalela amaKristu akanye naye: “Yibani ngabalingisi bami, njengoba nje nami ngingumlingisi kaKristu.” (1 Korinte 11:1) NjengeNkosi yakhe, uPawulu wakha uthando lwemiBhalo. Wavuma: “Ezibilinini zami ngiyawuthanda kakhulu uMthetho kaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 7:22, The Jerusalem Bible) UPawulu wayelicaphuna njalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu. (IzEnzo 13:32-41; 17:2, 3; 28:23) Lapho enikeza iziyalezo zokugcina kuThimothewu, isikhonzi esithandekayo esasikanye naye, uPawulu wagcizelela ingxenye ebalulekile okufanele ifezwe yiZwi likaNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwansuku zonke ‘komuntu kaNkulunkulu.’—2 Thimothewu 3:15-17.
18. Yisho isibonelo somuntu owabonisa ukuhlonipha iZwi likaNkulunkulu ezikhathini zanamuhla.
18 Izinceku zikaJehova eziningi ezithembekile zanamuhla nazo ziye zalingisa uthando lukaJesu ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngasekuqaleni kwaleli khulu leminyaka, insizwa ethile yathola iBhayibheli kumngane wayo. Yachaza ithonya lesi sipho esiyigugu esaba nalo kuyo: “Nganquma ukuthi ekuphileni kwami nakanjani ngiyofunda ingxenye ethile yeBhayibheli ngosuku.” Leyo nsizwa kwakunguFrederick Franz, futhi uthando lwakhe ngeBhayibheli lwaholela ekubeni ajabulele ukuphila okude nokuphumelelayo enkonzweni kaJehova. Ukhunjulwa ngothando ngenxa yekhono lakhe lokucaphuna izahluko eziphelele zeBhayibheli ngekhanda.
19. Abanye bakuhlela kanjani ukufundwa kweBhayibheli kwamasonto onke kweSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini?
19 OFakazi BakaJehova bakubheka njengokubaluleke kakhulu ukufunda iBhayibheli njalo. Isonto ngalinye, bafunda izahluko ezithile zeBhayibheli, belungiselela omunye wemihlangano yabo yobuKristu, iSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini. Kulowo mhlangano kuxoxwa ngamaphuzu avelele endimeni yeBhayibheli eyabelwe ukufundwa. Abanye oFakazi bakuthola kubalungela ukuhlukanisa indima yeBhayibheli efundwa ngalelo sonto ibe yizingxenye ezincane ezingu-7 bese befunda ingxenye eyodwa usuku ngalunye. Njengoba befunda, bacabanga ngalokho abakufundayo. Uma kwenzeka, benza ucwaningo olwengeziwe ngosizo lwezincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini.
20. Yini edingekayo ukuze uthole isikhathi sokufunda iBhayibheli njalo?
20 Kungase kudingeke ‘uthengisise isikhathi’ kwezinye izinto ukuze ufunde iBhayibheli njalo. (Efesu 5:16) Nokho, izinzuzo ziyokudlula kude noma yikuphi ukuzidela okuyomelwe ukwenze. Njengoba wakha lo mkhuba wokufunda iBhayibheli nsuku zonke, uthando lwakho ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu luyokhula. Kungakabiphi, uyoshukumiseleka ukuba usho kanye nomhubi: “Ngiyawuthanda umthetho wakho kangaka. Usuku lonke ngizindla ngawo.” (IHubo 119:97) Isimo sengqondo esinjalo siyoletha izinzuzo ezinkulu manje nasesikhathini esizayo, njengoba isihloko esilandelayo sizobonisa.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Umlobi weHubo 119 walubonisa kanjani uthando olujulile ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
◻ Yiziphi izifundo esingazithola ezibonelweni zikaJesu noPawulu?
◻ Thina ngabanye singakhula kanjani ekuthandeni iZwi likaNkulunkulu?
[Izithombe ekhasini 10]
Amakhosi athembekile kwakufanele afunde iZwi likaNkulunkulu njalo. Ingabe wena uyakwenza lokho?
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
Ngisho esengumfanyana, uJesu wayenothando ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu