Hambani Ngethemba Ekuholeni KukaJehova

“Qinani, nime isibindi, ningesabi, ningashaywa luvalo ngabo, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho nguyena ohamba nawe; akayikukuyeka, akushiye.”—DUTERONOMI 31:6.

1. UJehova wazibonakalisa kanjani engumholi wamaIsrayeli ongenakufaniswa?

UJEHOVA wazibonakalisa engumholi ongenakufaniswa lapho ekhipha amaIsrayeli ebugqilini baseGibithe. Akazange kuphela awaqondise ekudabuleni ihlane kodwa futhi wawalungiselela ukudla nokuphuzwayo wawanika nemfundo ephelele. Kungakho amaLevi osuku lukaNehemiya ayengathi: “Nokho wena [Jehova Nkulunkulu] ngomusa wakho omkhulu awubashiyanga ehlane; insika yefu ayisukanga phezu kwabo emini ukubahola endleleni, nensika yomlilo ebusuku ukubakhanyisela endleleni ababeyakuhamba ngayo. Wabanika nomoya wakho omuhle ukubafundisa; awugodlanga imana lakho emilonyeni yabo, wabanika amanzi ngokoma kwabo. Wabondla iminyaka engamashumi amane ehlane, kabaswelanga-lutho; izingubo zabo aziguganga, nezinyawo azivuvukalanga.”—Nehemiya 9:19-21.

2. Kungani uMose ayengakhuthaza amaIsrayeli ukuba “aqine, ame isibindi”?

² Ngesiyalo esanikezwa ngomusa onjengokababa, uMfundisi waPhezulu wafundisa amaIsrayeli okushiwo ukuba olungileyo. Konke akwenza kwakungokwezinzuzo zawo ezinhle kakhulu. Ngisho nalapho ekhononda ehlubuka, wabekezela futhi akazange awashiye. Ikakhulukazi lapho amabutho esabekayo ayizitha ebhekene nawo uJehova wanikeza ubufakazi bokuhola ngokuhlakanipha futhi waletha imbubhiso emabuthweni ahlaselayo. UMose wakhuluma iqiniso lapho ekhuthaza amaIsrayeli ngalamazwi: “Qinani, nime isibindi, ningesabi, ningashaywa luvalo ngabo, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, nguyena ohamba nawe; akayikukuyeka, akushiye.” (Duteronomi 31:1, 6) UNkulunkulu ‘wayeyohamba’ nabo uma bekholwa. Yeka isisusa esihle ngathi sokuhamba ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova!

Izixwayiso Zesikhathi Esidlule

3. Ngokushesha ngemva kokukhululwa ebugqilini baseGibithe, abantu bakwaIsrayeli bakubonakalisa kanjani ukungabongi nokuntula ithemba kuJehova?

³ Nokho, okuhlangenwe nakho kwabakwaIsrayeli kusinika isixwayiso. Nakuba babenesikhathi esifushane bekhululiwe ebugqilini baseGibithe, bona ngokuphindaphindiwe kuMholi wabo ongabonakali. Ngesikhathi uMose eseNtabeni iSinayi amukela uMthetho, abazange babonise ukwazisa ngakho konke uNkulunkulu ayebenzele khona. Baphoqa uAroni ukuba enze ithole legolide futhi balikhulekela kulokho uAroni akubiza ngokuthi “umkhosi kaJehova.” (Eksodusi 32:1-6) Izinhloli eziyishumi kweziyi-12 ezazithunywe ukuba ziyohlola iKhanani zazibonakalisa zingenalukholo, uJoshuwa noKalebi kuphela abakhuthaza abantu ukuba baqhubekele ezweni balithathe. Kodwa uIsrayeli akenzanga ngokholo kuNkulunkulu, owabe esememezele ukuthi bonke abesilisa “kusukela kwabaneminyaka engamashumi amabili kuya phezulu,” ngaphandle kwesizwe sakwaLevi kanye noKalebi noJoshuwa abathembekile, babezofa phakathi neminyaka engama-40 ehlane. (Numeri 13:1–14:38; Duteronomi 1:19-40) Ngokuqinisekile, konke lokhu kumelwe kusixwayise ngokungabongi okufanayo nokuntula ithemba ekuholeni kukaJehova!

4. Umlando kaIsrayeli wakubonisa kanjani ukufaneleka kwesehlakalo esehlela uJuda, iJerusalema, kanye nethempeli ngo-607 B.C.E.?

⁴ Nakuba amaIsrayeli azula ehlane iminyaka engama-40, uJehova akazange awashiye. Waqhubeka elwa izimpi zawo. Ngemva kokufa kukaMose noJoshuwa, uNkulunkulu wamisa abahluleli ukuba bakhulule abantu bakhe ezitheni ezicindezelayo. Kodwa ngalesosikhathi abantu bakwaIsrayeli benza okwakulungile emehlweni abo, futhi ubudlova obungenamthetho, ukuziphatha okubi, nokukhonza izithombe kwaqala ukwanda. (AbAhluleli 17:6–19:30) Kamuva, lapho befuna inkosi engumuntu ukuze babe njengezizwe ezibazungezile, uJehova wasivumela isicelo sabo kodwa wabaxwayisa ngemiphumela. (1 Samuweli 8:10-18) Nokho, ngisho nobukhosi bendlu kaDavide abuzange bubenelise abantu, futhi izizwe eziyishumi zahlubuka ngezinsuku zikaRehobowamu. (1 AmaKhosi 11:26–12:19) Ngokuqhubekayo, wona kanye umqondo wokuholwa uNkulunkulu wafiphala emiqondweni yabaningi. Ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema nethempeli kanye nokugumbuqelwa kombuso wakwaJuda yiBabiloni ngo-607 B.C.E. kwakuyizahlulelo ezazifaneleka kubantu abahluleka ukuhamba ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova. Yeka isixwayiso esihle ngathi!

Ukuhola KukaJehova Isizwe Esisha

5. Yini uJehova ayilungiselela ngoJesu, futhi yini uJesu ayeyoyenza?

⁵ NjengamaIsrayeli asendulo, izinceku zikaJehova zamuva zahamba ezimweni ezishintshashintshayo, kodwa waziqondisa ngokungahluleki. Lapho uJesu waseNazaretha evuma ubhapathizo lwamanzi ngo-29 C.E., uNkulunkulu walungiselela uMprofethi noMholi omkhulu kunoMose. NjengoMesiya, wayezohola abantu baphume kulelizwe elibi elisemandleni kaSathane. (Mathewu 3:13-17; Daniyeli 9:25; Duteronomi 18:18, 19; IzEnzo 3:19-23; 1 Johane 5:19) Kodwa baphi abantu? Phela, lawomaJuda nabanye ababeyokholwa kuMesiya olungiselelwe uMholi omkhulu wasezulwini, uJehova uNkulunkulu!

6. (a) Kungani abalandeli bakaJesu bakwazi ukushumayela nokunakekela inhlangano ekhulayo? (b) Kungani kamuva kwabonakala sengathi ukukhanya kweqiniso leBhayibheli kwase kucishile?

⁶ UJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe iqiniso elimangalisayo likaNkulunkulu futhi wabafundisa okudingekayo enkonzweni. (Luka 10:1-16) Ngakho lapho uKristu eseqede inkonzo yakhe futhi wazinikela njengomhlatshelo ngenxa yesintu esinesono, washiya abalandeli ababeqeqeshelwe ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wokushumayela nokuphatha izindaba zenhlangano ekhulayo yalabo abakholwa kuye. Phakathi nesikhathi sabaphostoli, kwakunoshushiso olunamandla. Kodwa isandla sikaJehova sasinabantu bakhe, futhi ubunzima babo benanwa ukwanda okumangalisayo kwesibalo sabakholwayo. (IzEnzo 5:41, 42; 8:4-8; 11:19-21) Ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bakaJesu nalabo ababesebenza nabo, abalandeli bakaKristu bokuzisholo baba ngaphansi kokubusa kwabefundisi namakhosi anonya nazidlayo. (IzEnzo 20:28-30) Njengoba lesimo saqhubeka amakhulu ayi-15 eminyaka, kwabonakala sengathi ukukhanya kweqiniso leBhayibheli kwase kucishiwe.

7. UJehova wabuye wakuthatha nini futhi kanjani ukuhola kwakhe, futhi yini ayembulela izinceku zakhe zanamuhla?

⁷ Khona-ke, nokho, ‘njengezwi limemeza ehlane,’ kweza isimemezelo esithi ‘UMbuso ususondele!’ (Qhathanisa noIsaya 40:3-5; Luka 3:3-6; Mathewu 10:7.) Engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19 leminyaka, uJehova wabuye waqinisekisa ubuholi bakhe futhi waqala ukubiza abakhulekeli bakhe boqobo ukuba baphume kulelizwe elibi nezimiso zalo zenkolo yobuBabiloni. (IsAmbulo 18:1-5) NgeZwi lakhe elilotshiwe nomoya ongcwele, uNkulunkulu wembulela izinceku zakhe zanamuhla ukuthi unyaka ka-1914 wawuyoba ukuphela kokubusa okungaphazanyiswanga kwezizwe zabeZizwe kanye nokubekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi sasezulwini kukaJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe, owakhethwa uNkulunkulu njengeNkosi yaso sonke isintu.—Luka 21:24; bheka iYearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ka-1975, amakhasi 34-37.

8. (a) Kamuva, yini eyahlelwa? (b) Obani abaye bajoyina abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe, futhi ukuhola kukaNkulunkulu noKristu kuye kwaba sobala kanjani?

⁸ Kanjalo-ke, isizwe esisha esakhiwa insali kaIsrayeli ongokomoya sahlelwa, sakhanyiselwa ngokwengeziwe ngezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu futhi saqeqeshelwa inkonzo ngokugcwele. Kamuva, labalandeli abagcotshiwe bakaKristu bajoyinwa isixuku esikhulu sabakholwayo abanamathemba asemhlabeni. Manje, ndawonye, bonke labofakazi bakaJehova ngenjabulo bamemezela igama lakhe noMbuso kuze kube sekugcineni komhlaba. (Isaya 66:7, 8; Galathiya 6:16; IsAmbulo 7:4, 9, 10) Emsebenzini ohlelekile woFakazi, ukuhola kukaJehova neNdodana yakhe ebusayo kuye kwabonakala kakhulu, ikakhulukazi ekusabeleni kwezigidi zabantu abaqotho abaye baba abameleli abathembekile bokubusa koMbuso. Ingabe uyingxenye yalesixuku esijabulayo esihamba ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova?—Mika 4:1, 2, 5.

9. Iyiphi inhlangano yomhlaba wonke eye yaba khona, futhi inasiphi isimo ekuholeni kukaNkulunkulu nokubusa okungokwasezulwini?

⁹ Ekugcineni, abalandeli bakaJesu babeyoba ofakazi bakhe “kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba.” (IzEnzo 1:6-8; Marku 13:10) Ngokufanelekile, oFakazi BakaJehova manje bamemezela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso emhlabeni wonke, futhi labo “abamiselwe ukuphila okuphakade” bemukela iqiniso ngezinhliziyo ezijabulayo. Baba ingxenye yenhlangano yezwe lonke yabazalwane nodade abangokomoya abaye bamukela nge-njabulo ukuhola kukaNkulunkulu futhi bazithoba ekubuseni okungokwasezulwini. (IzEnzo 13:48; 1 Petru 2:17) Njengabo, ingabe unethemba eliphelele lokuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe eyiNkosi, uJesu Kristu, baqondisa lenhlangano yabamemezeli boMbuso?

Qaphela Ungalahlekelwa Yithemba

10. Isiphi isixwayiso okumelwe sishukumise umKristu ngamunye ukuba azihlole ngokunakekela okukhulu?

¹⁰ Kungenzeka yini ngabemukeli bezibusiso eziza ngokuhola kukaJehova bawele ogibeni lokuntula ukholo nethemba kuye? Yebo, ngoba siyaxwayiswa: “Xwayani, bazalwane, ukuba nakoyedwa kini kungabikho-nhliziyo embi, engakholwayo, emhlubukisa kuNkulunkulu ophilayo; kepha yalanani imihla ngemihla kusathiwa namuhla, ukuze kungabikho kini owenziwa-lukhuni ngokukhohlisa kwesono.” (Heberu 3:12, 13) Ngakho-ke umKristu ngamunye kumelwe azihlole ngokunakekela okukhulu.

11. (a) Kungaziphi izindlela unembeza womuntu ongase ube lukhuni ngazo? (b) Yini eyenzeka kwabanye ngekhulu lokuqala C.E.?

¹¹ Unembeza womuntu ungaba lukhuni kangangokuthi angaboni lutho olungalungile ngenkambo ethile engavumelani nomoya wobuKristu futhi nebonisa ukuntula ukholo nethemba kuJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye bangase bawele ogibeni lokubeka ukufuna izinto ezibonakalayo nezinjabulo zenyama ngokulinganayo noma ngisho nangaphambi kwenkonzo yabo kuNkulunkulu. Abanye bangase baziphathe kabi noma bangase bakhulume ngokujivaza amadoda anomthwalo wemfanelo ebandleni. Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., “abangamesabi uNkulunkulu” ababengene ngokunyenya ebandleni ‘babengcolisa inyama, beyisa imibuso, behlambalaza ubukhosi’ balabo ababenomthwalo wemfanelo ebandleni. (Juda 4-8, 16) LawomaKristu amanga ayelahle ukholo lweqiniso kuJehova nasekuholeni kwakhe. Kwangathi lokho kungenzeke kithi!

12. (a) Yini umoya wokuzibusa nowokuhlubuka ongayinaki? (b) Yikuphi ukwehlukana okwakukhona phakathi kukaKora noDavide?

¹² Ngokuvamile okuhambisana ‘nokweyisa imibuso’ umoya wokuzibusa nokuhlubuka ongalinaki iqiniso lokuthi uJehova uqondisa inhlangano yakhe. Lomoya waba nemiphumela esabekayo kuKora nabanye abadelela igunya likaMose noAroni abalinikwa uNkulunkulu. (Numeri 16:1-35) Kodwa yeka okwehlukile esikuthola kuDavide! Eneliswe ukulindela uNkulunkulu ukuba alungise okungalungile uDavide wayengenakusibulala isitha sakhe esikhulu iNkosi uSawule ngoba “wayengogcotshiweyo kaJehova.” (1 Samuweli 24:2-7) Yebo, uJehova wamisa uMose, uAroni, uSawule, uDavide, uJesu Kristu, nabanye. Ngokufanayo, enhlanganweni kaJehova namuhla ukumiswa enkonzweni kwenziwa ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko ezingokomBhalo nangaphansi kokuqondisa komoya ongcwele kaJehova.—1 Thimothewu 3:1-13; Thithu 1:5-9; IzEnzo 20:28.

13. (a) Kungani kumelwe sibonge ngokuhola kukaJehova? (b) Kumelwe sihambe njengobani, futhi sinasiphi isimo sengqondo?

¹³ Njengoba ‘kungekuyo indoda ukuba iqondise izinyathelo zayo,’ kumelwe sibonge ngokuhola kukaJehova. (Jeremiya 10:23) UAbrahama nomkakhe owayezinikele uSara balalela uNkulunkulu futhi benza ngokholo. UBowazi noRuthe bahambisana namalungiselelo aphezulu. Yebo, namanye amadoda nabesifazane abathembekile bamukela ngenjabulo ukuqondisa kukaJehova. (Heberu 11:4-38; Ruthe 3:1–4:17) Khona-ke, njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zakuqala, kumelwe sigweme umoya wokuzibusa, sibambisane ngenjabulo nenhlangano kaNkulunkulu engokwasezulwini, futhi sihambe ngethemba eliphelele ekuholeni kukaJehova.

“Phonsa Phezu KukaJehova Umthwalo Wakho” Ngethemba

14. Yini engasisiza ukuba sixwaye umoya wokuhlubuka?

¹⁴ Yini engasisiza, njengofakazi bakaJehova abathembekile, ukuba simelane nomoya wokuhlubuka? Nokho, okokuqala sidinga ukuvuma ukuthi akulungile ukuhlubuka nokwenqaba ngokuqhosha isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu. (Nehemiya 9:16, 28-31; IzAga 11:2) Singathandaza kuBaba wethu wasezulwini njengoba kwenza uDavide, owancenga: “Yilonde inceku yakho nasezonweni ezihlazisayo; mazingabusi phezu kwami. Yikhona ngiyakube ngiphelele, ngingabe ngisaba-necala eziphambekweni ezinkulu.” (IHubo 19:13) Kuyosiza futhi ukukhumbula ukuthi uthando olungakanani uJehova aye wasibonisa lona. Lokhu kumelwe kukhulise uthando lwethu ngaye futhi kumelwe kusishukumisele ukuba samukele ukuhola kwakhe ngazo zonke izikhathi.—Johane 3:16; Luka 10:27.

15. Iyiphi inkambo etuswayo uma umzalwane ecabanga ukuthi akamiswa njengenceku ekhonzayo noma umbonisi ngoba abadala benokuthile ngaye?

¹⁵ Akumelwe silahlekelwe iqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu uqondisa inhlangano yakhe, nakuba ukuhamba ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova kungase kungabi lula ngezinye izikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo: Ake sithi umzalwane ucabanga ukuthi akamiswa njengenceku ekhonzayo noma umbonisi ngoba abadala benokuthile ngaye. Esikhundleni sokusabela ngendlela engaphazamisa ukuthula kwebandla, kumelwe akhumbule ukuthi uJehova oqondisa inhlangano engokwasezulwini. Ngakho-ke, umzalwane angase afune incazelo ngendlela yokuthobeka, nenokuthula. (Heberu 12:14) Khona-ke yeka ukuthi kuyoba ukuhlakanipha kanjani ngaye ukuvuma noma ibuphi ubuthakathaka aboniswa bona futhi ngomkhuleko alwele ukuthuthuka! Ngemva kwalokho, usengashiyela indaba ezandleni zikaNkulunkulu, ngokuvumelana namazwi athi: “Phonsa phezu kukaJehova umthwalo wakho.” (IHubo 55:22) Ngesikhathi esifanele nangokufaneleka kwethu ngokomoya, uJehova ngokuqinisekile uyosinika okuningi esingakwenza enkonzweni yakhe.—Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 15:58.

16. Ngisho nalapho sibhekene nokoniwa kwangempela phakathi ebandleni, iyiphi inkambo okumelwe singayithathi, futhi ngani?

¹⁶ Ngisho nalapho siye sabhekana nokoniwa kwangempela kuvela kumzalwane noma kudade, ingabe lokho kungasinika isizathu esifanele sokuyeka ukuhlanganyela nebandla? Ingabe kungathiwa senza kahle ngokuyeka ukunikela inkonzo engcwele kuJehova? Cha, ngoba inkambo enjalo iyoba eyokungathembeki kuNkulunkulu nokungakwazisi ukuhola kwakhe. Iyobonisa futhi ukuthi asibathandi esikholwa nabo abathembekile emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 22:36-40; 1 Johane 4:7, 8) Ngokungaphezulu, uma besingaphula ubuqotho bethu kuJehova, lokho bekunganika uSathane isizathu sokusola uNkulunkulu—okuyinto ngokuqinisekile esingayifisi!—IzAga 27:11.

17. (a) Yini okumelwe isisize sigcine ithemba lethu ekuholeni kukaJehova inhlangano yakhe? (b) Yini eyoba okuhlangenwe nakho kwalabo abaqhubeka behamba ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova?

¹⁷ Ngakho-ke, ‘masimbonge uJehova futhi singalingi sikhohlwe imisebenzi yaLowo oqhelisa ukuphila kwethu ngomusa nangobubele.’ (IHubo 103:2-4) Uma ngaso sonke isikhathi sikhumbula uNkulunkulu wethu onothando futhi senza ngokuvumelana neZwi lakhe, siyoba nethemba eliqinile ekuholeni kwakhe okungahluleki. (IzAga 22:19) Ukushiya uJehova nenhlangano yakhe, nokudikila ukuqondisa “kwenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” kanye nokuthembela kuphela ekufundeni iBhayibheli komuntu siqu nokulichaza kunjengomuthi omilé wodwa ezweni eliwugwadule. Kodwa ngokuphambene, umuntu othemba lakhe likuMholi wethu Omkhulu, uJehova, “uyakuba-njengomuthi otshalwé ngasemanzini, ozenabisa izimpande zawo ngasemfuleni, ongesabi lapho kufika ukushisa, amaqabunga awo abe-luhlaza.” Ngokungaphezulu, “angabi-naluvalo ngomnyaka wesigagadu anganqamuki ukuthela izithelo” kube inkazimulo kuNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:45-47; Jeremiya 17:8) Lokho kungaba okuhlangenwe nakho kwakho okubusisiwe uma ngesibindi uqhubeka uhamba ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova.

Ungaphendula?

◻ Kungaziphi izindlela uJehova azibonakalisa ngazo engumholi wamaIsrayeli ongenakufaniswa?

◻ Ngokuphathelene nokuhola kukaJehova, uIsrayeli wasendulo usinika siphi isixwayiso?

◻ Ubani uJehova amholayo namuhla?

◻ Yini engasisiza ukuba simelane nokulahlekelwa ithemba ekuholeni kukaJehova?

◻ Ngisho nalapho sibhekana nokoniwa phakathi ebandleni, isiphi isimo okumelwe sibe naso ngokuhola kukaJehova?

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

Ngo-607 B.C.E. inhlekelele yehlela labo abangahambanga ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova. Yeka ukuthi kuhlakaniphe kanjani ukuqaphela isixwayiso!

[Isithombe ekhasini 19]

UAbrahama, uSara, uDavide, uJesu, nabanye bahamba ngethemba ekuholeni kukaJehova. Ingabe nawe uhamba kanjalo?