Izikhombo Ze-Ncwajana YoMhlangano Wokuphila Nenkonzo
NOVEMBA 1-7
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | JOSHUWA 18-19
“UJehova Walihlukanisa Ngokuhlakanipha Izwe”
it-1-E 359 ¶1
Umngcele
Kubonakala sengathi ukwabiwa kwezindawo phakathi kwezizwe kwakuqondiswa yilezi zinto ezimbili: umphumela otholakala lapho kubhekwa inkatho nokuthi isizwe singakanani. Kungenzeka ukuthi inkatho iyona eyayisho ukuthi iyiphi indawo eyifa eyayizotholwa yisizwe ngasinye, njengokuthi ingaba senyakatho, eningizimu, empumalanga noma entshonalanga, emathafeni agudle ugu noma endaweni enezintaba. Isinqumo senkatho sasivela kuJehova, okwakwenza ukuthi izizwe zingadlelani umona futhi zingaxabani. (IzA 16:33) Ngale ndlela, uNkulunkulu wayezoqondisa izinto ukuze izimo zesizwe ngasinye zihleleke ngokuvumelana nesiprofetho esiphefumulelwe, uJakobe, inzalamizi, asisho lapho esefa esibhalwe kuGenesise 49:1-33.
it-1-E 1200 ¶1
Ifa
Amazwe ayifa. UJehova wanika abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ifa, wachazela uMose imingcele yezwe. (Num 34:1-12; Jos 1:4) UMose wabela abantwana bakwaGadi, abantwana bakwaRubeni nohhafu wesizwe sakwaManase izindawo zabo. (Num 32:33; Jos 14:3) Zonke ezinye izizwe zathola ifa lazo ngenkatho, ziqondiswa nguJoshuwa no-Elayezare. (Jos 14:1, 2) Ngokuvumelana nesiprofetho sikaJakobe esikuGenesise 49:5, 7, uSimeyoni noLevi abanikwanga eyabo ingxenye yezwe ezimele njengefa kodwa indawo uSimeyoni ayithola yayingaphakathi endaweni yakwaJuda (kanye namadolobha abantu bezizwe) (Jos 19:1-9), kanti uLevi wanikezwa amadolobha angu-48 akuyo yonke indawo yakwa-Israyeli. Njengoba amaLevi ayephathiswe inkonzo ekhethekile endlini kaNkulunkulu, kwathiwa uJehova wayezoba ifa lawo. Athola okweshumi njengengxenye yefa lawo ngenxa yenkonzo yawo. (Num 18:20, 21; 35:6, 7) Imindeni yayinikezwa izindawo khona ezweni lesizwe. Njengoba imindeni yayanda namadodana ethola ifa eliyizwe, izwe laligcina selihlukaniswa ngokwezingxenye ezincane.
it-1 359 ¶2
Umngcele
Ngemva kokuba inkatho isishilo ukuthi isizwe sizothatha yiphi indawo, kwakudingeka kubhekwe ubukhulu bayo ngokwalokhu okulandelayo: ukuthi ingakanani. “Kumelwe nihlukanise izwe ngenkatho njengefa phakathi kwemindeni yenu. Eqenjini elikhulu kufanele nandise ifa lalo, eqenjini elincane kufanele ninciphise ifa lalo. Ifa lawo wonke umuntu liyoba yindawo ayithole ngenkatho.” (Num 33:54) Isinqumo esenziwe ngenkatho sokuthi isizwe sasizoyithola kuphi indawo sasingeke sishintshe kodwa okwakungashintsha ukuthi sizothola indawo engakanani. Ngakho lapho kutholakala ukuthi indawo kaJuda yayinkulu kakhulu, yancishiswa ngokuthi izingxenye zayo zabelwe isizwe sakwaSimeyoni.—Jos 19:9.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
it-1-E 359 ¶5
Umngcele
Ukulandisa okukhuluma ngokuhlukaniswa kwendawo esentshonalanga yeJordani kubonisa ukuthi inkatho yabela kuqala uJuda (Jos 15:1-63), uJosefa (u-Efrayimi) (Jos 16:1-10) nohhafu wesizwe sakwaManase owawuhlala entshonalanga yeJordani (Jos 17:1-13), imingcele namadolobha abo kwakubaliwe. Ngemva kwalokhu, kubonakala sengathi kwaba nokuphazamiseka ekuhlukanisweni komhlaba, njengoba ikamu lakwa-Israyeli lasuswa eGiligali layiswa eShilo. (Jos 14:6; 18:1) Ukuthi lokhu kwathatha isikhathi esingakanani akwaziwa kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJoshuwa wazisola izizwe eziyisikhombisa ezisele ngenxa yokuthi azisheshanga zahlala ezweni. (Jos 18:2, 3) Kuye kwaba nezizathu eziningi ezishiwoyo zokuthi kungani lezo zizwe zenza kanjalo, abanye bathi ukucabanga ngobuningi bempango eyatholakala ngemva kokunqoba nokukhululeka osongweni lokuhlaselwa ngabaseKhanani, kungenzeka kwabangela lezi zizwe ukuba zibone kungenasidingo sokuba zisheshe zihlale ezweni elisele eliyifa lazo. Ukudonsa kwazo izinyawo ngokungabhekani nenkinga yokulwa nesitha esinamandla kungenzeka kwanezela ekutheni zingasheshi zihlale kuleli zwe. (Jos 13:1-7) Kanti futhi zazingenalo ulwazi mayelana nale ngxenye yeZwe Lesithembiso kodwa kungenzeka zase zizazi kahle ezinye izingxenye zendawo ezazivele sezihlala kuzo.
NOVEMBA 8-14
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | JOSHUWA 20-22
“Esikufundayo Ngokufinyelela Iziphetho Okungezona”
Izihluthulelo Zokukhulumisana Nomuntu Oshade Naye
Ukukhulumisana ngokukhululekile kungavimbela ukungaqondani. Kudala kwa-Israyeli, isizwe sakwaRubeni, sakwaGadi nengxenye yesizwe sakwaManase, zonke ezazihlala empumalanga yoMfula iJordani, zakha “i-altare elaliphawuleka kakhulu” eduze kwaseJordani. Ezinye izizwe zakuqonda kabi lokhu. Ngenxa yokuthi zacabanga ukuthi abafowabo ngale kweJordani babehlubuka, izizwe zasentshonalanga zalungiselela ukuyolwa nalaba bantu “abadlubulundayo.” Nokho, ngaphambi kokuyolwa, zathumela ithimba ukuba liyoxoxa nezizwe ezisempumalanga. Yeka isinyathelo esiwukuhlakanipha ezasithatha! Zathola ukuthi i-altare elalakhiwe kwakungelona elokwenza iminikelo noma imihlatshelo engekho emthethweni. Kunalokho, izizwe ezisempumalanga zazesaba ukuthi mhlawumbe kuyokwenzeka ngelinye ilanga lezi zizwe zithi kuzo: “Aninasabelo kuJehova.” Leli altare laliyoba ubufakazi bokuthi nazo zingabakhulekeli bakaJehova. (Joshuwa 22:10-29) Zabiza leli altare ngokuthi ubuFakazi, cishe ngoba laliwubufakazi bokuthi kuzona, uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso.—Joshuwa 22:34.
‘Phishekela Izinto Ezibangela Ukuthula’
Kungenzeka ukuthi amanye ama-Israyeli ayenomuzwa wokuthi kwase kunobufakazi obanele bobubi nokuthi uma ehlasela lezi ezinye izizwe zingalindele kwakuyofa abambalwa kuwo. Nokho, kunokuba ziphamazele, izizwe ezazisentshonalanga yeJordani zathumela amanxusa ukuba ayoxoxa ngale nkinga nabafowabo. Abuza: “Senzo sini sokungathembeki lesi enisenzileyo kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ngokuyeka namuhla ukulandela uJehova?” Empeleni, okwenziwa izizwe ezazakhe i-altare kwakungesona isenzo sokungathembeki. Kodwa zaziyosabela kanjani kulokho kubekwa icala? Ingabe zaziyobhoka ngolaka noma zenqabe ukukhuluma nawo? Izizwe ezazibekwa icala zaphendula ngomoya ophansi, zachaza ngokucacile ukuthi empeleni ezazikwenzile kwakushukunyiswe isifiso sazo sokukhonza uJehova. Impendulo yazo yalondoloza ubuhlobo bazo noNkulunkulu yasindisa nokuphila. Ukuxoxa ngomoya ozolile kwalungisa izinto futhi kwabuyisela ukuthula.—Josh. 22:13-34.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
it-1-E 402 ¶3
IKhanani
Nakuba abantu abaningi baseKhanani basinda ekunqotshweni okukhulu futhi benqaba ukubuswa, kwakusengashiwo ukuthi “uJehova wawanika ama-Israyeli lonke izwe ayefunge ukuthi uzolinika okhokho bawo,” ukuthi wayebanike “ukuphumula nhlangothi zonke,” nokuthi “asikho nesisodwa isithembiso esingagcwalisekanga kuzo zonke izithembiso ezinhle uJehova ayezenzile endlini ka-Israyeli; zagcwaliseka zonke.” (Jos 21:43-45) Nxazonke zama-Israyeli izitha zawo zesaba kodwa ukulondeka kwawo akusongelwanga. UNkulunkulu wayeshilo ukuthi uzowaxosha amaKhanani “kancane kancane” ukuze izilwane zasendle zingandi ezweni elingasenamuntu ngokuphazima kweso. (Eks 23:29, 30; Dut 7:22) Naphezu kokuba abantu baseKhanani benezinto zokulwa ezisezingeni eliphezulu, ezihlanganisa izinqola zempi ezinamasikela ensimbi, uma ama-Israyeli ekugcineni ayengahluleka ukuthatha izindawo ezithile, kwakungeke kusolwe uJehova ngokuthi uhlulekile ukufeza isithembiso sakhe. (Jos 17:16-18; Hlu 4:13) Kunalokho, ukulandisa kubonisa ukuthi izikhathi ezimbalwa ama-Israyeli ahlulwa ngazo kwakungenxa yokungathembeki kwawo.—Num 14:44, 45; Jos 7:1-12.
NOVEMBA 15-21
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | JOSHUWA 23-24
“UJoshuwa Weluleka Isizwe Okokugcina”
it-1-E 75
Ukuzihlanganisa
Kwaba nesimo esihlukile esavela lapho isizwe sama-Israyeli singena eKhanani, iZwe Lesithembiso. UNkulunkulu OnguMbusi wayenikeze ama-Israyeli izwe lonke ukuze kugcwaliseke isithembiso ayesenze nokhokho bawo. Ngenxa yalokho, lapho engena kulo, awangenanga njengezifiki futhi uJehova wawanqabela ukuba azihlanganise nezizwe ezingamaqaba ezweni. (Eks 23:31-33; 34:11-16) Kwakumelwe athobele imithetho nezimiso zikaNkulunkulu, hhayi imithetho yezizwe ezase zizoxoshwa kulelo zwe. (Lev 18:3, 4; 20:22-24) Ayexwayiswe ngokuqondile ngokuphathelene nokuganiselana nezizwe ezinjalo. Ubuhlobo obunjalo babuyokwenza ukuthi angazihlanganisi kuphela namakhosikazi angamaqaba kodwa asondelane nezihlobo ezingamaqaba kanye nemikhuba namasiko okukhulekela kwamanga futhi lokho kwakuyokwenza ama-Israyeli ahlubuke, kuwabekele nogibe.—Dut 7:2-4; Eks 34:16; Jos 23:12, 13.
Izwi LikaJehova Akwenzeki ingagcwaliseki
19 Ngokuqinisekile, kulokhu esiye sakubona ngamehlo ethu, singasho ukuthi: “Akukho nelilodwa izwi kuwo wonke amazwi amahle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu awakhulumile kini eliye laphutha. Agcwaliseke wonke kini. Akuphuthanga nezwi elilodwa kuwo.” (Joshuwa 23:14) UJehova ukhulula, avikele futhi anakekele izinceku zakhe. Sikhona yini isithembiso sakhe ongathi asigcwalisekanga ngesikhathi sakhe asimisile? Asikho. Ngokuhlakanipha, sithembela eZwini likaNkulunkulu elinokwethenjelwa.
20 Kuthiwani ngekusasa? UJehova uye wasitshela ukuthi iningi lethu lingaba nethemba lokuphila emhlabeni oguqulwe waba ipharadesi elijabulisayo. Abambalwa kithi banethemba lokubusa noKristu ezulwini. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinaliphi ithemba, sinesizathu esizwakalayo sokuhlala sithembekile njengoJoshuwa. Luyeza usuku lapho ithemba lethu liyogcwaliseka khona. Khona-ke, siyocabanga ngazo zonke izithembiso uJehova azenzile, futhi nathi siyothi: ‘Zigcwalisekile zonke.’
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi KaJoshuwa
24:2—Ingabe ubaba ka-Abrahama, uThera, wayengumkhulekeli wezithombe? Ekuqaleni, uThera wayengeyena umkhulekeli kaJehova uNkulunkulu. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayekhulekela unkulunkulu wenyanga okuthiwa uSin—unkulunkulu odumile e-Uri. Ngokokulandisa kwamaJuda, kungenzeka nanokuthi uThera wayengumenzi wezithombe. Nokho, lapho u-Abrahama elalela umyalo kaNkulunkulu eshiya i-Uri, uThera uhamba naye baya eHarana.—Genesise 11:31.
NOVEMBA 22-28
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ABAHLULELI 1-3
“Indaba Ekhuluma Ngesibindi Nethakazelisayo”
U-Ehudi Ugqabula Ijoka Lomcindezeli
Amasu ka-Ehudi awaphumelelanga ngenxa yokuhlakanipha kwakhe noma ukuhluleka kwesitha. Ukuphumelela kwezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu akuxhomekile kumuntu. Isizathu esiyinhloko sokuphumelela kuka-Ehudi sasiwukuthi wasekelwa uNkulunkulu njengoba enza ngokuvumelana nentando yaKhe engenakubhuntshiswa yokukhulula abantu baKhe. UNkulunkulu wayevuse u-Ehudi, ‘nalapho uJehova evusela abantu bakhe abahluleli, uJehova wayeba nalowo mahluleli.’—AbaHluleli 2:18; 3:15.
U-Ehudi Ugqabula Ijoka Lomcindezeli
Isinyathelo sokuqala u-Ehudi asithatha saba ‘ukuzenzela inkemba’—eyayisika nhlangothi zombili futhi imfushane ngokwanele ukuba ayithukuse ngaphansi kwezingubo zakhe. Kungenzeka wayekulindele ukuseshwa. Izinkemba zazivame ukubhincwa ngakwesobunxele ukuze labo abasebenzisa isandla sokunene basheshe bakwazi ukuzikhipha. Njengoba ayeyinxele, u-Ehudi wafihla inkemba yakhe “ngaphansi kwengubo yakhe phezu kwethanga lakhe lesokunene,” lapho onogada benkosi babengavamile ukusesha khona. Kungasekho lutho olumthikamezayo, “wayethula le nkokhiso ku-Egiloni inkosi yakwaMowabi.”—AbaHluleli 3:16, 17.
Imininingwane ngokwenzeka ekungeneni kwakhe ehlalankosi, ayichazwanga. IBhayibheli limane lithi: “Kwathi lapho [u-Ehudi] eseqedile ukuyethula le nkokhiso, ngaso leso sikhathi wabamukisa abantu, abaphathi benkokhiso.” (AbaHluleli 3:18) U-Ehudi wayethula inkokhiso, wakhapha abaphathi benkokhiso wabayisa endaweni ephephile kude nomuzi ka-Egiloni, wabe esebuyela kwa-Egiloni ngemva kokubamukisa. Wakwenzelani lokhu? Ingabe u-Ehudi wayehamba nala madoda ukuze amvikele, noma ngenxa yenkambiso nje, noma mhlawumbe ayemane engabathwali benkokhiso? Futhi ingabe wayefuna ukuba la madoda ahambe ngaphambi kokufeza isu lakhe ukuze angachaphazeleki? Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi u-Ehudi wayecabangani, ngesibindi wabuyela yedwa emzini ka-Egiloni.
“[U-Ehudi] wabuya ngasezinkwalini ezaziseGiligali, wathi: ‘Nginezwi eliyimfihlo engingathanda ukulixoxa nawe, nkosi.’” ImiBhalo ayichazi ukuthi wakwazi kanjani ukuphinde angene aze ayofika ku-Egiloni. Kwakungafanele yini onogada basole ukuthi kukhona okushaya amanzi? Ingabe bacabanga ukuthi umIsrayeli oyedwa nje vó akanakuba usongo enkosini yabo? Ingabe ukufika kuka-Ehudi ehamba yedwa kwenza kwabonakala sengathi uthengisa abantu bakubo? Kunoma ikuphi, u-Ehudi wacela ukukhuluma nenkosi ngasese, futhi inkosi yavuma.—AbaHluleli 3:19.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi YabaHluleli
2:10-12. Kumelwe sibe nesimiso sokutadisha iBhayibheli njalo ukuze ‘singazikhohlwa izenzo zikaJehova.’ (IHubo 103:2) Abazali kudingeka baligxilise iqiniso leZwi likaNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zezingane zabo.—Duteronomi 6:6-9.
NOVEMBA 29–DISEMBA 5
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ABAHLULELI 4-5
“UJehova Usebenzisa Abesifazane Ababili Ukuze Akhulule Abantu Bakhe”
“Ngisukuma Njengomama Kwa-Israyeli”
USisera! Lelo gama lilodwa lalibangela ukwesaba nokuthuthumela kuma-Israyeli. Inkolo nesiko lamaKhanani lalinonya, kwakwenziwa umhlatshelo ngezingane futhi kudayiswa umzimba ethempelini. Kwakunjani ukubuswa ujenene waseKhanani nebutho lakhe? Ingoma kaDebora ibonisa ukuthi kwakunzima kakhulu ukuhamba ezweni futhi emaphandleni kwakukhala ibhungane. (AbaHluleli 5:6, 7) Singase sibabone ngeso lengqondo abantu becashe emahlathini nasemagqumeni besaba ukulima noma ukuhlala emaphandleni angenazivikelo, besaba ukuhamba emigwaqweni evulekile futhi besaba ukuhlaselwa, ukulahlekelwa izingane zabo nokudlwengulwa kwamakhosikazi abo.
“Ngisukuma Njengomama Kwa-Israyeli”
Lokho kuhlukumezeka kwaqhubeka iminyaka engu-20, kwaze kwaba yilapho uJehova ebona ubufakazi bokuthi laba bantu abantamo lukhuni base bekulungele ukuphenduka noma njengoba ingoma ephefumulelwe kaDebora noBharaki isho, “Kwaze kwaba yilapho mina, Debora ngisukuma, Kwaze kwaba yilapho ngisukuma njengomama kwa-Israyeli.” Asazi ukuthi uDebora, umkaLapitodi, wayenazo yini izingane, kodwa le nkulumo yayisetshenziswa ngendlela engokomfanekiso. Empeleni uJehova wanika uDebora isabelo sokuvikela isizwe njengomama. Wamthuma ukuba abize indoda enokholo oluqinile, umaHluleli uBharaki futhi ayiyale ukuba imelane noSisera.—AbaHluleli 4:3, 6, 7; 5:7.
“Ngisukuma Njengomama Kwa-Israyeli”
UJayeli kwadingeka acabange ngokushesha. Wabonisa uSisera indawo yokulala. USisera wamyala ukuba athi akekho kunoma ubani ombuzayo. UJayeli wamembathisa njengoba elala, kwathi lapho ecela amanzi wamnika ubisi. Ngokushesha uSisera wazumeka, walala zwi̇́. UJayeli wabe esethatha isikhonkwane setende nesando—amathuluzi ayekwazi kahle ukuwasebenzisa. Njengoba eqoshama eduze kwekhanda likaSisera, wayesebhekene nomsebenzi onzima wokukhipha isahlulelo njengommeleli kaJehova. Ukungabaza kwakungasho inhlekelele. Ingabe wacabanga ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu nangendlela le ndoda eye yabahlukumeza ngayo amashumi eminyaka? Noma ingabe wacabanga ngelungelo lokumelela uJehova? Ukulandisa akusho. Esikwaziyo nje ukuthi wasithatha isinyathelo. USisera wafa!—AbaHluleli 4:18-21; 5:24-27.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi YabaHluleli
5:20—Izinkanyezi zamlwela kanjani uBharaki zisezulwini? IBhayibheli alisho ukuthi lokhu kwakuhilela usizo lwezingelosi yini, noma ukuwa kwezinto emkhathini okwabhekwa izihlakaniphi zikaSisera njengokusho inhlekelele, noma mhlawumbe izibikezelo zezinkanyezi ezikhohlisa uSisera. Nokho, ngokungangabazeki uNkulunkulu wangenela ngandlela-thile.
DISEMBA 6-12
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ABAHLULELI 6-7
“Hamba Ngala Mandla Onawo”
Izimiso ZikaNkulunkulu Zingakuzuzisa
Umuntu owayenesimo esihle sengqondo ngaye ngokwakhe nowazenza watuseka kwakunguGideyoni, umahluleli wamaHeberu asendulo. Akazange azifunele ukuba umholi ka-Israyeli. Nokho, lapho uGideyoni ekhethwa ukuba abe kulesi sikhundla, waveza ukungafaneleki kwakhe. Wachaza: “Umndeni wami umpofu kwaManase, mina ngingomncinyane endlini kababa.”—AbAhluleli 6:12-16.
“Inkemba KaJehova NekaGideyoni!”
Yeka indlela abakwaMidiyani abethuka ngayo manje! Ngokuphazima kweso, ukuthula kuphela ngokuphahlazwa kwezimbiza ezingu-300, nokushaywa kwezimpondo ezingu-300 kanye nokumemeza kwamadoda angu-300. Njengoba beshaqiswe ikakhulu amazwi amemezayo, athi “inkemba kaJehova nekaGideyoni!,” abakwaMidiyani baqala ukukhala ube mkhulu nakakhulu umsindo. Kuleyo nxushunxushu, akunakwenzeka ngabo ukuba bahlukanise umuntu wangakubo esitheni. Abangu-300 bama phuhle ezindaweni ababelwe kuzo njengoba uNkulunkulu ebangela ukuba izitha zigwazane zodwa. Ikamu liyangquzulwa, akekho ophunyukayo futhi abasele bayabulawa okuhilela ukususwa ngokuphelele kosongo lwabakwaMidiyani. Ekugcineni ukubuswa osekuthathe isikhathi eside nokunonya kuyaphela.—AbaHluleli 7:19-25; 8:10-12, 28.
Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi
Wayesho ukuthini umphostoli uPawulu lapho ethi abesifazane kufanele bathule emabandleni?
UPawulu wabhalela ibandla lamaKristu aseKorinte: Njengakuwo wonke amabandla abangcwele, abesifazane mabathule emabandleni, ngoba akuvunyelwe ukuba bakhulume. (1 Korinte 14:33, 34) Ukuze siwaqonde kahle la mazwi, kuyasiza ukucabangela umongo weseluleko sikaPawulu.
Kweyoku-1 Korinte isahluko 14, uPawulu wakhuluma ngezindaba eziphathelene nemihlangano yebandla lobuKristu. Wachaza okufanele kuxoxwe ngakho kuleyo mihlangano futhi watusa nendlela okufanele iqhutshwe ngayo. (1 Korinte 14:1-6, 26-34) Ngaphezu kwalokho, wagcizelela injongo yemihlangano yobuKristuukuze ibandla lakheke.—1 Korinte 14:4, 5, 12, 26.
Isiyalo sikaPawulu esitusa ukuthula sivela kathathu encwadini yoku-1 Korinte isahluko}14. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho lesi seluleko sivela, sisuke sibhekiswe emaqenjini ahlukahlukene ebandleni, kodwa kuzo zonke lezo zimo sinikezwa ngesizathu esifanayoukuze zonke izinto zenzeke ngokufaneleyo nangohlelo.—1 Korinte 14:40.
Okokuqala, uPawulu wathi: Uma omunye ekhuluma ngolunye ulimi, makulinganiselwe kwababili noma abathathu kugcine, futhi badedelane; futhi omunye ahumushe. Kodwa uma engekho umhumushi, makathule ebandleni azikhulumele yedwa futhi akhulume noNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 14:27, 28) Lokhu kwakungasho ukuthi lowo muntu wayengeke nanini akhulume emihlanganweni kodwa kwakusho ukuthi kwakuzoba nezikhathi lapho kwakufanele athule khona. Empeleni, injongo yemihlanganoewukwakhana yayingeke ifezwe uma ayekhuluma ulimi olungaziwa muntu.
Okwesibili, uPawulu wathi: Makukhulume abaprofethi ababili noma abathathu, abanye baqonde incazelo. Kodwa uma kuba khona isambulo komunye ngesikhathi ehlezi lapho, owokuqala makathule. Lokhu kwakungasho ukuthi umprofethi wokuqala wayenqatshelwe ukukhuluma emihlanganweni, kodwa kwakusho ukuthi kumelwe athule ngezinye izikhathi. Lowo onesambulo esiyisimangaliso wayengabe esekhuluma nebandla, futhi kufezwe injongo yomhlangano, ewukuthi bonke bakhuthazwe.—1 Korinte 14:26, 29-31.
Okwesithathu, uPawulu wakhuluma nabesifazane abangamaKristu kuphela, wathi: Abesifazane mabathule emabandleni, ngoba akuvunyelwe ukuba bakhulume, kodwa mabazithobe. (1 Korinte 14:34) Kungani uPawulu anikeza odade lo myalo? Ukuze kube nokuhleleka ebandleni. Uthi: Khona-ke, uma befuna ukufunda okuthile, mababuze abayeni babo emakhaya, ngoba kuyichilo ngowesifazane ukuba akhulume ebandleni.—1 Korinte 14:35.
Mhlawumbe abanye odade babephikisa okwakushiwo ebandleni. Iseluleko sikaPawulu sasiza odade ukuba bagweme umoya wesiyaluyalu futhi ngokuzithoba bamukele indawo yabo elungiselelweni likaJehova lobunhloko, ikakhulu maqondana nabayeni babo. (1 Korinte 11:3) Ngaphezu kwalokho, odade babeyobonisa ngokuthula ukuthi babengalangazeleli ukufundisa ebandleni. Ngesikhathi uPawulu ebhalela uThimothewu, wabonisa ukuthi kwakuyoba into engafaneleki ukuba owesifazane afundise: Angimvumeli owesifazane ukuba afundise, noma ukuba abe negunya phezu kwendoda, kodwa ukuba athule.—1 Thimothewu 2:12.
Ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi owesifazane ongumKristu akumelwe nanini akhulume emhlanganweni webandla? Cha. Ngosuku lukaPawulu, kwakunezikhathi lapho abesifazane abangamaKristu babekhuleka noma baprofethe ebandleni, mhlawumbe beshukunyiswa umoya ongcwele. Ngalezo zikhathi babesiqaphela isikhundla sabo ngokuthwala ekhanda.a (1 Korinte 11:5) Ngaphezu kwalokho, osukwini lukaPawulu nanamuhla, odade kanye nabazalwane banxuswa ukuba bamemezele obala ithemba labo. (Hebheru 10:23-25) Ngaphandle kokwenza lokhu enkonzweni yasensimini, odade bamemezela ithemba labo futhi bakhuthaze abanye emihlanganweni yebandla ngezimpendulo ezicatshangelwe kahle lapho benikezwa lelo thuba nangokwamukela izabelo zokwenza imiboniso noma ukunikeza izinkulumo zabafundi.
Ngakho-ke, abesifazane abangamaKristu bayathula ngokugwema ukuzama ukuthatha indima yowesilisa bafundise ibandla. Abalibekeli inselele igunya lalabo abafundisayo ngokubuza imibuzo enokuvukela. Ngokufeza indima yabo efanele ebandleni, odade abangamaKristu benza kube nomoya wokuthula odingekayo ukuze zonke izinto [emihlanganweni yebandla] zenzeke ngenjongo yokwakha.—1 Korinte 14:26, 33.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi YabaHluleli
6:25-27. UGideyoni wasebenzisa ukuqonda ukuze angathukuthelisi abaphikisi bakhe ngokungadingekile. Lapho sishumayela izindaba ezinhle, kumelwe siqaphele ukuba singacasuli abanye ngokungadingekile ngendlela esikhuluma ngayo.
DISEMBA 13-19
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ABAHLULELI 8-9
“Ukuthobeka Kungcono Kunokuqhosha”
Ukusingatha Kanjani Ukungaboni Ngaso Linye?
UGideyoni, owayebambene ngezihluthu nabakwaMidiyani, wacela usizo esizweni sakwa-Efrayimi. Nokho, ngemva kwempi, u-Efrayimi wakhononda kakhulu kuGideyoni ngokuthi wayengambizanga ekuqaleni kwempi. Ukulandisa kuthi ‘wazama ngamandla ukuxabana naye.’ UGideyoni waphendula ngokuthi: “Ngenzeni mina, uma kulinganiswa nokwenu na? Ukukhothoza kwabakwa-Efrayimi akukuhle yini kunokuvuna umvini kwama-Abiyezeri na? UNkulunkulu unikele esandleni senu izikhulu zakwaMidiyani, o-Orebi noZebi; mina benginamandla okwenzani, uma kulinganiswa nokwenu, na?” (AbAhluleli 8:1-3) Ngamazwi akhethwe kahle nazolile, uGideyoni wagwema lokho okwakungaba yimpi eyinhlekelele phakathi kwezizwe. Kungenzeka ukuthi abesizwe sakwa-Efrayimi babezazisa futhi beziqhenya. Nokho, lokho akuzange kuvimbele uGideyoni ukuba alwele ukwenza kube nomphumela onokuthula. Ingabe singenza okufanayo?
Okwenza Isizotha Sibaluleke Nanamuhla
15 UGideyoni uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuba nesizotha. Lapho ingelosi kaJehova ibonakala kuye okokuqala, washeshe wayichazela ukuthi yena ungomncane kunabo bonke endlini kayise. (AbaHl. 6:15) Ngemva kokwamukela isabelo ayesinikwe uJehova, uGideyoni waqikelela ukuthi ukuqonda ngokugcwele okwakudingeka akwenze futhi wafuna isiqondiso sikaJehova. (AbaHl. 6:36-40) UGideyoni wayenesibindi. Noma kunjalo, wenza ngokuqonda futhi wayeqaphile. (AbaHl. 6:11, 27) Akasamukelanga isabelo sakhe ngenjongo yokuthola udumo. Kunalokho, ngemva nje kokufeza isabelo sakhe wabuyela endlini yakhe.—AbaHl. 8:22, 23, 29.
Hamba Ngezindlela ZikaJehova
9 Ukuze sibe abangane bakaNkulunkulu, kumelwe sibe ‘abathobekile engqondweni.’ (1 Pet. 3:8; IHu. 138:6) Ukubaluleka kokuthobeka sikubona kubaHluleli isahluko 9. Indodana kaGideyoni, uJothamu, yathi: “Kwathi ngesinye isikhathi imithi yahamba yayozigcobela inkosi.” Kuleso sahluko, kwakhulunywa ngomuthi womnqumo, umkhiwane nomvini. Le mithi yayimelele abantu ababefaneleka, kodwa abangazange bafune ukubusa ama-Israyeli akubo. Kodwa ijikijolo—elisetshenziselwa nje ukubasa—lamelela ubukhosi buka-Abhimeleki oqhoshayo, umbulali owayeshabashekela ukubusa abanye. Nakuba ‘azenza isikhulu phezu kuka-Israyeli iminyaka emithathu,’ washeshe wafa. (AbaHl. 9:8-15, 22, 50-54) Yeka ukuthi kungcono kangakanani ukuba ‘othobekile engqondweni’!
Ingcebo Engokomoya
it-1-E 753 ¶1
I-Efodi, I
Naphezu kwezinhloso ezinhle zikaGideyoni zokuba akhumbule ukunqoba uJehova ayekwenzele u-Israyeli nokudumisa uNkulunkulu, i-efodi “laba ugibe kuGideyoni nasendlini yakhe,” ngenxa yokuthi ama-Israyeli enza isenzo sokuziphatha okungahlanzekile ngokomoya ngokulikhulekela. (Hlu 8:27) Nokho, iBhayibheli alisho ukuthi uGideyoni walikhulekela i-efodi, kunalokho umphostoli uPawulu umbala ngokukhethekile njengomunye ophakathi ‘kwefu elikhulu’ lofakazi abathembekile ababekhonza uJehova langaphambi kwenkathi yobuKristu.—Heb 11:32; 12:1.
DISEMBA 20-26
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ABAHLULELI 10-12
“UJefta—Indoda Engokomoya”
Ukwethembeka Kuholela Ekwamukelweni UNkulunkulu
9 Cishe isibonelo sikaJosefa samsiza uJefta. Kumelwe ukuba wafunda ngendlela uJosefa ababonisa ngayo umusa abafowabo nakuba babemzonda. (Genesise 37:4; 45:4, 5) Ukucabanga ngalesi sibonelo kungenzeka kwamsiza uJefta wasabela ngendlela eyamjabulisa uJehova. Kwamzwisa ubuhlungu ngempela uJefta lokho okwenziwa abafowabo. Kodwa ukulwela igama likaJehova nabantu bakhe kwakubaluleke kakhulu kuye kunemizwa yakhe. (AbaHluleli 11:9) Wayezimisele ukuba qotho kuJehova. Lesi simo sengqondo senza ukuba yena nama-Israyeli babusiswe uJehova.—Hebheru 11:32, 33.
it-2-E 27 ¶2
UJefta
UJefta, indoda ethatha isinyathelo, akachithanga sikhathi ekuholeni ngentshiseko. Wathumela inkosi yakwa-Amoni umyalezo owawuthi abakwa-Amoni babengobhongoza ekuhlaseleni izwe lakwa-Israyeli. Inkosi yaphendula ngokuthi vele kwakuyizwe abakwa-Israyeli ababelithathe kwabakwa-Amoni. (Hlu 11:12, 13) Lapha, uJefta wazibonisa engelona nje iqhawe eliyisidlova, elingawazi amasiko, kodwa wazibonisa eyiqhawe eliwaziyo umlando, ngokukhethekile umlando wendlela uNkulunkulu asebenzelana ngayo nabantu bakhe. Wakuphikisa lokho okwakushiwo abakwa-Amoni, waveza ukuthi (1) ama-Israyeli awazange abahlukumeze abakwa-Amoni, abakwa-Mowabi no-Edomi (Hlu 11:14-18; Dut 2:9, 19, 37; 2Kr 20:10, 11); (2) abakwa-Amoni babengakalithathi izwe okwakuxatshanwa ngenxa yalo lapho ama-Israyeli enqoba, ngoba lalisezandleni zama-Amori ayehlala eKhanani futhi uNkulunkulu wayenikele inkosi uSihoni nezwe layo esandleni sabakwa-Israyeli; (3) abakwa-Amoni babengazange baphikisane nokuhlala kwama-Israyeli kulelo zwe iminyaka engu-300; ngakho, babengakwenza ngasiphi isizathu esizwakalayo manje?—Hlu 11:19-27.
it-2-E 27 ¶3
UJefta
UJefta waveza inkinga eyinhloko lapho ebonisa ukuthi le ndaba yayihilela ukukhulekela. Wathi uJehova uNkulunkulu izwe wayelinikeze ama-Israyeli, ngenxa yalesi sizathu babengeke balinikeze noma yimuphi umuntu ongumkhulekeli wonkulunkulu bamanga. Wathi uKemoshi ungunkulunkulu wabakwa-Amoni. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi lokhu kuyiphutha. Nakuba abakwa-Amoni babekhulekela unkulunkulu okuthiwa uMilkomu, abakwaMowabi bekhulekela okuthiwa uKemoshi, lezo zizwe ezihlobene zazikhulekela onkulunkulu abaningi. USolomoni ngokungafanele, wenza ukuba abanye kwa-Israyeli bakhulekele uKemoshi ngenxa yamakhosikazi akhe ezinye izizwe. (Hlu 11:24; 1Kh 11:1, 7, 8, 33; 2Kh 23:13) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ezinye izazi zithi igama elithi “Kemoshi” lingase lisho ukuthi “Umnqobi.” (Bheka i-Gesenius’s Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, eyahunyushwa u-S. Tregelles, 1901, k. 401.) Kungenzeka uJefta wakhuluma ngalo nkulunkulu njengoba abakwa-Amoni babemdumisa ngenxa ‘yokunqoba’ abanye futhi wabanika izwe.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
it-2-E 26
UJefta
UJefta Wayeyindodana Esemthethweni. Umama kaJefta “wayeyisifebe,” nokho lokhu akuchazi ukuthi uJefta wazalelwa kulobo bufebe noma ukuthi wayeyivezandlebe. Umama wakhe wayeyisifebe ngaphambi kokuba ashade uGileyadi njengenkosikazi yesibili, njengoRahabi owake waba yisifebe ngaphambi kokuba ashade uSalimoni. (Hlu 11:1; Jos 2:1; Mat 1:5) Ukuthi uJefta wayengelona ivezandlebe kufakazelwa ukuthi abafowabo ngamzali munye abazalwa yinkosikazi kaGileyadi yokuqala bamxosha ukuze ingabi khona ingxenye yefa ayitholayo. (Hlu 11:2) Okunye ukuthi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJefta wamukelwa njengomholi wamadoda akwaGileyadi (okuyisikhundla okwakufanele sitholwe abafowabo bakaJefta ngamzali munye). (Hlu 11:11) Ngaphezu kwalokho, wenzela uNkulunkulu umhlatshelo etabernakele. (Hlu 11:30, 31) Indodana engumlanjwana yayingeke ikwazi ukukwenza konke lokhu ngoba uMthetho wawusho ngokucacile ukuthi: “Akukho ndodana engumlanjwana engangena ebandleni likaJehova. Ngisho nasesizukulwaneni seshumi akekho enzalweni yayo ongangena ebandleni likaJehova.”—Dut 23:2.
DISEMBA 27–JANUWARI 2
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ABAHLULELI 13-14
“Okungafundwa Abazali KuManowa Nomkakhe”
Bazali—Qeqeshani Izingane Zenu Kusukela Ziseyizinsana
Cabanga ngendaba yomuntu wakwaDani ogama lakhe nguManowa, owayehlala emzini waseZora kwa-Israyeli wasendulo. Ingelosi kaJehova yatshela umkaManowa owayeyinyumba ukuthi wayezozala indodana. (AbaHl. 13:2, 3) Akungabazeki ukuthi kwabajabulisa kakhulu lokho oManowa nomkakhe abathembekile. Nakuba kunjalo, kunezinto ezibalulekile abakhathazeka ngazo. Ngakho-ke, uManowa wathandaza: “Uxolo, Jehova. Umuntu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso osanda kumthumela ngicela aphinde eze kithi asifundise lokho okufanele sikwenze kumntwana ozozalwa.” (AbaHl. 13:8) UManowa nomkakhe babekhathazekile ngendlela okwakuyomelwe bayikhulise ngayo leyo ngane. Kusobala ukuthi bayifundisa indodana yabo, uSamsoni, umthetho kaNkulunkulu, kuyacaca nokuthi imizamo yabo yaphumelela. IBhayibheli lithi: “Ngemva kwesikhathi umoya kaJehova wamqhuba [uSamsoni].” Ngenxa yalokho, wenza imisebenzi eminingi yamandla njengomunye wabahluleli bakwa-Israyeli.—AbaHl. 13:25; 14:5, 6; 15:14, 15.
USamsoni Unqoba Ngamandla KaJehova!
Njengoba uSamsoni ayeqhubeka ekhula, “uJehova waqhubeka embusisa.” (AbaHluleli 13:24) Ngolunye usuku uSamsoni waya kuyise nonina wafike wathi: “Kukhona owesifazane engimbonile eThimna emadodakazini amaFilisti, manje ngithatheleni yena abe ngumkami.” (AbaHluleli 14:2) Cabanga ngendlela okwabashaqisa ngayo lokho. Esikhundleni sokuba ikhulule ama-Israyeli kubacindezeli, indodana yabo ifuna ukwenza ubuhlobo nabacindezeli ngokushada nendodakazi yabo. Ukuthatha umfazi okhulekela onkulunkulu bamaqaba kwakungqubuzana noMthetho kaNkulunkulu. (Eksodusi 34:11-16) Ngenxa yalokho, abazali bayenqaba: “Yingoba engekho yini owesifazane phakathi kwamadodakazi abafowenu naphakathi kwabo bonke abantu bakithi, ukuba uze uyothatha umfazi kumaFilisti angasokile?” Nakuba kunjalo, uSamsoni uyaphikelela athi kuyise: “Ngithathele yena nje, ngoba nguye kanye olungile emehlweni ami.”—AbaHluleli 14:3.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
USamsoni Unqoba Ngamandla KaJehova!
KuSamsoni, ‘wayelungile’ ngayiphi indlela lona wesifazane ongumFilisti? I-Cyclopedia kaMcClintock noStrong ayisikiseli ukuthi “wayenguphuma langa sikothe, enogazi futhi eyisimomondiya, kodwa wayelungile ngenxa yenjongo ethile noma ngomqondo othile.” Ngenxa yayiphi injongo? AbaHluleli 14:4 bachaza ukuthi uSamsoni “wayefuna ithuba lokulwa namaFilisti.” USamsoni wayemthandela lokho lona wesifazane. Njengoba uSamsoni ayekhula eba yindoda, “umoya kaJehova wamqhuba,” noma wamshukumisela ukuba enze okuthile. (AbaHluleli 13:25) Ngakho, ngumoya kaJehova owashukumisa uSamsoni ukuba enze isicelo sokuthola umfazi esizweni esingalindelekile futhi yiwo owawumshukumisa phakathi naso sonke isikhathi lapho ayengumahluleli kwa-Israyeli. Ingabe uSamsoni walithola ithuba ayelifuna? Okokuqala, ake sihlole indlela uJehova amqinisekisa ngayo ukuthi uyomsekela.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Ezikhathini zanamuhla, odade abavuthiwe balandela leso sibonelo lapho izimo zenza kudingeke bamelele umzalwane obhapathiziwe ebandleni.—Bheka INqabayokulinda ka-July 15, 2002, ikhasi 26.