Shisekela Indlu KaJehova!
“Intshiseko ngendlu yakho iyongidla.”—JOH. 2:17.
1, 2. Yini uJesu ayenza ethempelini ngo-30 C.E., futhi kungani?
AKE ubone lesi senzakalo ngeso lengqondo. Yisikhathi sePhasika ngo-30 C.E. UJesu waqala inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni ezinyangeni eziyisithupha ezedlule futhi manje ulibangise eJerusalema. Lapho efika, uthola ‘abathengisa izinkomo nezimvu namajuba nabashintshi bemali besezihlalweni zabo’ ethempelini, eGcekeni Labezizwe. Uxosha zonke izilwane ngesitswebhu sezindophi, futhi ngokuqinisekile abathengisi bayazilandela. UJesu ube esechitha izinhlamvu zemali zabashintshi bemali agumbuqele namatafula abo. Uyala labo abathengisa amajuba ukuba bathathe okungokwabo baphume baphele.—Joh. 2:13-16.
2 Okwenziwa uJesu kubonisa indlela azizwa ngayo ngethempeli. Uyayala: “Yekani ukwenza indlu kaBaba indlu yokuthengisela!” Njengoba abafundi bakaJesu bebona lokhu, bakhumbula amazwi abhalwa umhubi uDavide emakhulwini eminyaka adlule: “Intshiseko ngendlu yakho iyongidla.”—Joh. 2:16, 17; IHu. 69:9.
3. (a) Iyini intshiseko? (b) Imuphi umbuzo esingazibuza wona?
3 Intshiseko kaJesu nokukhathalela kwakhe indlu kaNkulunkulu kwamshukumisela ukuba athathe isinyathelo. Intshiseko isho “ukuba magange nokushabashekela ukwenza okuthile.” Kuleli khulu lama-21, angaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-7 amaKristu abonisa intshiseko ngendlu kaNkulunkulu. Ngamunye wethu angazibuza, ‘Ngingayikhulisa kanjani intshiseko yami ngendlu kaJehova?’ Ukuze siphendule lo mbuzo, ake siqale sihlole ukuthi iyini le ndlu kaNkulunkulu namuhla. Sizobe sesixoxa ngezibonelo eziseBhayibhelini zabantu abathembekile ababeyishisekela le ndlu. Izibonelo zabo zalotshelwa “ukuba kufundiswe thina” futhi zingasishukumisela ukuba sibe nentshiseko eyengeziwe.—Roma 15:4.
Indlu KaNkulunkulu—Endulo Nanamuhla
4. Yayiyini injongo yethempeli elakhiwa uSolomoni?
4 Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, indlu kaNkulunkulu kwakuyithempeli elaliseJerusalema. Yiqiniso, uJehova wayengahlali kulo ngokoqobo. Wathi: “Amazulu ayisihlalo sami sobukhosi, umhlaba uyisenabelo sezinyawo zami. Khona-ke, iphi indlu eningangakhela yona, futhi-ke iphi indawo engaba yindawo yami yokuphumula?” (Isaya 66:1) Noma kunjalo, ithempeli elakhiwa ngesikhathi kubusa uSolomoni laliyisikhungo sokukhulekela uJehova, futhi nemithandazo yayenzelwa lapho.—1 AmaKh. 8:27-30.
5. Namuhla, iliphi ilungiselelo elalifuziselwa ukukhulekela okwakwenziwa ethempelini likaSolomoni?
5 Namuhla, indlu kaJehova ayisona isakhiwo esithile esiseJerusalema noma esikwenye indawo. Kunalokho, iyilungiselelo alenzile lokuba simkhulekele ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaKristu wesihlengo. Zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile emhlabeni zimunye ekukhulekeleni uJehova kuleli thempeli elingokomoya.—Isaya 60:4, 8, 13; IzE. 17:24; Heb. 8:5; 9:24.
6. Imaphi amakhosi akwaJuda abonisa intshiseko evelele ngokukhulekela kweqiniso?
6 Ngemva kokwehlukana kwesizwe sakwa-Israyeli ngo-997 B.C.E, emakhosini angu-19 abusa kwaJuda, umbuso waseningizimu, amane abonisa intshiseko evelele ngokukhulekela kweqiniso. Lawo makhosi kwakungu-Asa, uJehoshafati, uHezekiya noJosiya. Iziphi izifundo ezibalulekile esingazifunda ezibonelweni zawo?
Inkonzo Yenhliziyo Yonke Iletha Izibusiso
7, 8. (a) Inkonzo enjani uJehova ayibusisayo? (b) Isiphi isixwayiso esisithola esibonelweni seNkosi u-Asa?
7 Phakathi nokubusa kweNkosi u-Asa, uJehova wamisa abaprofethi ukuze baqondise isizwe saKhe enkambweni yokwethembeka. Ngokwesibonelo, iBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi u-Asa wamlalela umprofethi u-Azariya, indodana ka-Odedi. (Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 15:1-8.) Okwenziwa u-Asa kwenza abantu bakwaJuda baba munye kuhlanganise nabantu abaningi abavela embusweni wakwa-Israyeli abehla ukuzothamela umhlangano omkhulu owawuseJerusalema. Bebonke basho ukuthi bazimisele ukukhulekela uJehova ngobuqotho. Siyafunda: “Bafunga kuJehova ngezwi elikhulu nangokumemeza kwenjabulo nangamacilongo nangezimpondo. Wonke uJuda wajabula ngale nto efungelwe; ngoba babefunge ngenhliziyo yabo yonke futhi babemfune ngenjabulo ephelele, kangangokuba wazenza ukuba bamthole; futhi uJehova waqhubeka ebanika ukuphumula nxazonke.” (2 IziKr. 15:9-15) Ngokuqinisekile, uJehova uyosibusisa ngendlela efanayo lapho simkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke.—Marku 12:30.
8 Kuyadabukisa ukuthi kamuva u-Asa wasicasukela iseluleko asinikwa uHanana umboni. (2 IziKr. 16:7-10) Sisabela kanjani lapho uJehova eseluleka noma esiqondisa esebenzisa abadala? Ingabe sisamukela ngokushesha iseluleko sabo esisekelwe emiBhalweni futhi sigweme ukubanjwa ugibe lokusicasukela?
9. UJehoshafati nesizwe sakwaJuda babhekana naluphi usongo, futhi basabela kanjani?
9 UJehoshafati waba yinkosi kwaJuda phakathi nekhulu leshumi leminyaka B.C.E. Yena nawo wonke uJuda babhekana nosongo lwamabutho angumfelandawonye esizwe sakwa-Amoni, sakwaMowabi nabantu basezintabeni zaseSeyiri. Nakuba le nkosi yayesaba, yenzani? Yona namadoda ayo, kuhlanganise nabafazi nabantwana, babuthanela endlini kaJehova ukuze bathandaze. (Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 20:3-6.) Ngokuvumelana namazwi uSolomoni awasho lapho kunikezelwa ithempeli, uJehoshafati wanxusa uJehova ngendlela ethinta inhliziyo: “O Nkulunkulu wethu, ngeke yini ubahlulele? Ngoba awekho kithi amandla phambi kwalesi sixuku esikhulu esizayo sizokulwa nathi; futhi thina ngokwethu asazi ukuthi yini okumelwe siyenze, kodwa amehlo ethu abheke kuwe.” (2 IziKr. 20:12, 13) Ngemva kokuba uJehoshafati ethandazile ‘phakathi kwebandla,’ umoya kaJehova washukumisela uJahaziyeli, umLevi, ukuba asho amazwi aduduzayo abaqinisa abantu.—Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 20:14-17.
10. (a) UJehoshafati noJuda basithola kanjani isiqondiso? (b) Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyasazisa isiqondiso esisinikwa uJehova namuhla?
10 Yebo, ngaleso sikhathi, uJehoshafati nombuso wakwaJuda bathola isiqondiso esivela kuJehova ngoJahaziyeli. Namuhla, sithola induduzo nesiqondiso ngesigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo. Ngokuqinisekile, sifuna ukubambisana nokubahlonipha njalo abadala abamisiwe, abazikhandlayo ukuze baseluse futhi benze ngokuvumelana neziqondiso ‘zenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’—Math. 24:45; 1 Thes. 5:12, 13.
11, 12. Isiphi isifundo esingasifunda kulokho okwenzeka kuJehoshafati noJuda?
11 Njengoba nje uJehoshafati nabantu bakhe babuthana ukuze bafune isiqondiso sikaJehova, nathi masingalokothi sikudebeselele ukuhlangana njalo nabafowethu nodadewethu emihlanganweni yebandla. Lapho ngezinye izikhathi sizithola sisezimweni ezinzima, singazi nokuthi senzeni, masilandele isibonelo sikaJehoshafati nabantu bakwaJuda, siphendukele kuJehova ngomthandazo futhi sithembele kuye ngokuphelele. (IzAga 3:5, 6; Fil. 4:6, 7) Ngisho nalapho sisodwa, izicelo zethu eziya kuJehova zisenza sibe munye nayo ‘yonke inhlangano yabazalwane bethu ezweni.’—1 Pet. 5:9.
12 UJehoshafati nabantu bakhe benza ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu asinikeza ngoJahaziyeli. Kwaba namuphi umphumela? Banqoba kuleyo mpi, babuyela eJerusalema “ngokujabula” futhi ‘bafika endlini kaJehova beshaya izinsimbi zomculo ezinezintambo namahabhu namacilongo.’ (2 IziKr. 20:27, 28) Ngokufanayo nathi siyasihlonipha isiqondiso sikaJehova asinikeza ngomzila wakhe futhi sihlanganyele ekumdumiseni.
Masizinakekele Izindawo Zethu Zokukhulekela
13. Imuphi umsebenzi owenziwa uHezekiya ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe?
13 Ngenyanga yokuqala yokubusa kwakhe, uHezekiya wabonisa intshiseko yakhe ngokukhulekelwa kukaJehova ngokuphinde avule futhi alungise ithempeli. Wahlela abapristi namaLevi ukuze bahlanze indlu kaNkulunkulu futhi lokhu kwabathatha izinsuku ezingu-16. (Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 29:16-18.) Lokho abakwenza kusikhumbuza ngomsebenzi esinawo wokulungisa nokugcina izindawo zethu zokukhulekela zisesimweni esibonisa ukuthi siyakushisekela ukukhulekela uJehova. Awukaze yini uzwe okuhlangenwe nakho okubonisa indlela abantu abahlabeka umxhwele ngayo ngentshiseko yabazalwane nodade abahlanganyela emisebenzini enjalo? Yebo, imizamo yabo iletha udumo olukhulu kuJehova.
14, 15. Imuphi umsebenzi namuhla oye waletha udumo olukhulu kuJehova? Nikeza izibonelo.
14 Kwelinye idolobha elisenyakatho yeNgilandi, indoda ethile yayiphikisana nomsebenzi owawuhlongozwa wokulungisa iHholo LoMbuso eliseduze komuzi wayo. Abazalwane bendawo basabela ngomusa. Bebona ukuthi uthango oluhlukanisa iHholo LoMbuso nendawo yale ndoda lwaludinga ukulungiswa, bacela ukwenza lo msebenzi mahhala. Basebenza kanzima, futhi empeleni bakha kabusha ingxenye enkulu yothango. Basisingatha kahle kakhulu isimo kangangokuthi inhliziyo yale ndoda yashintsha. Manje isihlale iliqaphile iHholo LoMbuso.
15 Abantu bakaJehova benza umsebenzi wokwakha emhlabeni wonke. Izisebenzi zokuzithandela zendawo zihlanganyela nezisebenzi zokuzithandela zakwamanye amazwe ekwakheni amaHholo OMbuso, amaHholo Omhlangano nezakhiwo zaseBethel. USam ungunjiniyela wemishini elawula amazinga omoya ezakhiweni. Yena nomkakhe uRuth, sebehambele amazwe amaningana eYurophu nase-Afrika besiza emisebenzini yokwakha. Nomaphi lapho beya khona, bajabulela nokushumayela nabazalwane bendawo. USam uchaza lokho okwamshukumisela ukuba ahlanganyele emisebenzini enjalo emazweni ahlukahlukene: “Ngakhuthazwa abanye abaye bakhonza eBethel esendaweni yakithi nakwamanye amazwe. Ukubona nje intshiseko nenjabulo yabo kwangishukumisela ukuba ngifune ukukhonza kulo mkhakha.”
Lalela Iziqondiso Ezivela KuNkulunkulu
16, 17. Imuphi umsebenzi okhethekile abantu bakaNkulunkulu abaye bahlanganyela kuwo ngentshiseko, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
16 Ngaphandle kokulungisa ithempeli, uHezekiya wavuselela nokugujwa kwaminyaka yonke kwePhasika uJehova ayeyale ukuba kwenziwe. (Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 30:1, 4, 5.) UHezekiya nezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema bamema isizwe sonke, ngisho nalabo abasembusweni wasenyakatho. Abagijimi baya kulo lonke izwe bephethe izincwadi zesimemo.—2 IziKr. 30:6-9.
17 Eminyakeni yamuva, siye senza umsebenzi ocishe ufane ngandlela-thile. Siye sasebenzisa izimemo ezikhangayo ukuze simeme abantu emasimini ethu ukuze bazohlanganyela nathi ekukhumbuleni iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa, ngokuvumelana nomyalo kaJesu. (Luka 22:19, 20) Siye sathola iziqondiso eMhlanganweni Wenkonzo sabe sesihlanganyela ngentshiseko kulo msebenzi. Yeka indlela uJehova aye wawubusisa ngayo lo msebenzi! Phela ngonyaka odlule, abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-7 baye basakaza izimemo, futhi abantu abangu-17 790 631 baba khona eSikhumbuzweni!
18. Kungani kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba ushisekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso?
18 Nakhu okwashiwo ngoHezekiya: “Wathembela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli; ngemva kwakhe akubanga namuntu onjengaye phakathi kwawo wonke amakhosi akwaJuda, ngisho nalawo ayeye aba khona ngaphambi kwakhe. Wanamathela kuJehova. Akaphambukanga ekumlandeleni, kodwa waqhubeka egcina imiyalo yakhe uJehova ayeyiyale uMose.” (2 AmaKh. 18:5, 6) Kwangathi kungashiwo okufanayo nangathi. Ukushisekela kwethu indlu kaNkulunkulu kuyosisiza ukuba ‘sinamathele kuJehova’ sinombono wokuphila okuphakade.—Dut. 30:16.
Silalele Ngokushesha Isiqondiso
19. Ikuphi ukuzikhandla okwenziwayo ngesikhathi seSikhumbuzo?
19 Ngesikhathi uJosiya eyinkosi, naye wahlela ukuba kugujwe iPhasika futhi wazikhandla kakhulu elilungiselela. (2 AmaKh. 23:21-23; 2 IziKr. 35:1-19) Nathi siyaqikelela ukuba siyilungiselele kahle imihlangano yesigodi, yesifunda nekhethekile kanye neSikhumbuzo. Kwamanye amazwe abafowethu baze bafake ngisho nokuphila kwabo engozini ukuze bahlangane ndawonye ngenjongo yokukhumbula ukufa kukaKristu. Abadala abashisekayo bayaqikelela ukuba kungabikho muntu ebandleni olibalekayo. Asebekhulile nababuthaka bayasizwa ukuze babe khona kulesi senzakalo.
20. (a) Kwenzekani phakathi nokubusa kweNkosi uJosiya, futhi yasabela kanjani? (b) Yisiphi isifundo esifuna ukusisebenzisa?
20 Ngesikhathi kwenziwa umsebenzi wokulungisa ithempeli owahlelwa iNkosi uJosiya, uMpristi Ophakeme uHilikiya “wathola incwadi yomthetho kaJehova owanikezwa ngesandla sikaMose.” Wayinika uShafani unobhala wasebukhosini, yena owabe eseqala ukuyifundela uJosiya. (Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 34:14-18.) Waba yini umphumela? Inkosi yadabuka yabe isidabula izingubo zayo masinyane futhi yayala amadoda athile ukuba ayobuza kuJehova. Esebenzisa umprofethikazi uHulida, uNkulunkulu wadlulisela isigijimi esasilahla eminye yemikhuba yenkolo eyase yenziwa kwaJuda. Kodwa uJehova wayeyiqaphele imizamo emihle kaJosiya yokuqeda ukukhulekela izithombe, futhi wahlala emthanda naphezu kwezinhlekelele ayezibikezele ngesizwe sisonke. (2 IziKr. 34:19-28) Yini esingayifunda kulokhu? Ngokuqinisekile sinesifiso esifana nesikaJosiya. Sifuna ukusabela ngokushesha esiqondisweni sikaJehova, sicabangisise ngesibonelo esiyisixwayiso salokho okungenzeka uma sivumela ukuhlubuka nokungathembeki ukuba kungene ngesinyenyela ekukhulekeleni kwethu. Singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyokubona futhi akwamukele ukushisekela kwethu ukukhulekela kweqiniso, njengoba nje enza kuJosiya.
21, 22. (a) Kungani kufanele sishisekele indlu kaJehova? (b) Yini esizoxoxa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo?
21 Lawo makhosi amane akwaJuda—u-Asa, uJehoshafati, uHezekiya noJosiya—asibekela izibonelo ezinhle zokushisekela indlu kaNkulunkulu nokukhulekelwa kwakhe. Ngokufanayo, intshiseko yethu kufanele isishukumisele ukuba sithembele kuJehova futhi sizikhandle ekumkhulekeleni. Ngokuqinisekile kuyinkambo yokuhlakanipha neholela enjabulweni ukulalela iziqondiso ezivela kuNkulunkulu futhi sisabele lapho ibandla nabadala besikhathalela futhi besiqondisa ngothando.
22 Isihloko esilandelayo sizokhuluma ngendlela esingabonisa ngayo intshiseko yethu enkonzweni yasensimini futhi sizokhuthaza intsha ukuba ikhonze uYise onothando ngentshiseko. Sizoxoxa nangendlela esingagwema ngayo elinye lamathonya kaSathane onakalisa kakhulu. Lapho sizilalela ngentshiseko zonke lezi zikhumbuzo ezivela kuJehova, siyobe silingisa isibonelo seNdodana yakhe, uJesu, okwathiwa ngayo: “Intshiseko ngendlu yakho ingidlile.”—IHu. 69:9; 119:111, 129; 1 Pet. 2:21.
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
• Inkonzo enjani uJehova ayibusisayo, futhi ngani?
• Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi sithembele kuJehova?
• Intshiseko ingasishukumisela kanjani ukuba silalele iziqondiso ezivela kuJehova?
[Izithombe ekhasini 9]
U-Asa, uJehoshafati, uHezekiya noJosiya babonisa kanjani ukuthi bashisekela indlu kaJehova?