Thathani Abaprofethi BakaNkulunkulu Njengesibonelo
“Bafowethu, thathani abaprofethi abakhuluma egameni likaJehova njengesibonelo sokukhuthazelelwa kokubi nokuboniswa kokubekezela.”—JAKOBE 5:10, NW.
1. Yini esiza izinceku zikaJehova ukuba zijabule ngisho nalapho zishushiswa?
IZINCEKU zikaJehova zibonisa injabulo naphezu kwesigayegaye esidlangile emhlabeni wonke kulezizinsuku zokugcina. Lokhu kunjalo ngoba ziyazi ukuthi zijabulisa uNkulunkulu. OFakazi BakaJehova bayabekezela futhi ngaphansi kokushushiswa nokuphikiswa kwenkonzo yabo yasobala ngoba bayaqaphela ukuthi bahlupheka ngenxa yokulunga. UJesu Kristu watshela abalandeli bakhe: “[Niyajabula, NW] nxa benithuka, benizingela, bekhuluma konke okubi ngani, beqamba amanga ngenxa yami. Jabulani, nithokoze, ngokuba umvuzo wenu mkhulu ezulwini; ngokuba kanjalo babazingela abaprofethi abananduleleyo.” (Mathewu 5:10-12) Ngempela, noma nini lapho izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zibhekana nokuvivinywa kokholo, zikubheka njengenjabulo.—Jakobe 1:2, 3.
2. NgokukaJakobe 5:10, yini engasisiza ukuba sibonise ukubekezela?
2 Umfundi uJakobe wabhala: “Bafowethu, thathani abaprofethi abakhuluma egameni likaJehova njengesibonelo sokukhuthazelelwa kokubi nokuboniswa kokubekezela.” (Jakobe 5:10, NW) UW. F. Arndt noF. W. Gingrich bachaza igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe lapha ngokuthi “isibonelo” (hy·poʹdeig·ma) ngokuthi “isiboniselo, isifanekiselo, isibonelo, ngomqondo omuhle [njengokuthile] okushukumisa noma okufanele kushukumisele umuntu ukuba akulingise.” Njengoba kuboniswe kuJohane 13:35, “lokhu kungaphezu kokuba isibonelo. Kungokuthile okufanekisela leyonto ngokuphelele.” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament) Ngakho-ke, izinceku zikaJehova zosuku lwanamuhla zingathatha abaprofethi bakhe abathembekile njengesibonelo ngokuphathelene ‘nokukhuthazelela okubi nokubonisa ukubekezela.’ Yini enye esingayiqonda lapho sihlola ukuphila kwabo? Futhi lokhu kungasisiza kanjani emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela?
Bakhuthazelela Okubi
3, 4. Umprofethi u-Amose wasabela kanjani ekuphikisweni u-Amasiya?
3 Ngokuvamile abaprofethi bakaJehova babehlushwa noma baphathwe kabi. Ngokwesibonelo, ekhulwini lesishiyagalolunye B.C.E., umpristi owayekhulekela ithole u-Amasiya wamelana ngonya nomprofethi u-Amose. Eqamba amanga u-Amasiya wathi u-Amose wayebophele uJerobowamu II uzungu ngokuprofetha ukuthi inkosi yayizofa ngenkemba nokuthi u-Israyeli wayezodingiswa. Ngokweyisa, u-Amasiya watshela u-Amose: “Wena-mboni, hamba, ubalekele ezweni lakwaJuda, udle khona isinkwa, uprofethe khona; ungabe usaqhubeka kodwa ukuprofetha eBethele, ngokuba liyindlu engcwele yenkosi nendlu yombuso.” Engasatshiswa yilokhu kuhlasela ngamazwi, u-Amose waphendula: “Angisiye umprofethi mina, nendodana yomprofethi angisiyo, kepha ngangingumalusi, ngangitshala imithombe. Kepha uJehova wangisusa ekulandeleni umhlambi; uJehova wathi kimi: Hamba uprofethe kubantu bami u-Israyeli.”—Amose 7:10-15.
4 Umoya kaJehova wanika u-Amose amandla okuprofetha ngesibindi. Cabanga nje ukuthi u-Amasiya wasabela kanjani lapho u-Amose ethi: “Yizwa izwi likaJehova lokuthi: Wena uthi: Ungaprofethi ngoIsrayeli, ungaconsisi izwi lakho phezu kwendlu kaIsaka. Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Umkakho uyakufeba emzini, namadodana akho namadodakazi akho ayakuwa ngenkemba, nezwe liyakudatshulwa ngentambo; wena uyakufela ezweni elingcolileyo, uIsrayeli athunjwe nokuthunjwa ezweni lakhe.” Lesosiprofetho sagcwaliseka. (Amose 7:16, 17) Yeka ukuthi u-Amasiya oyisihlubuki kumelwe ukuba washaqeka kanjani!
5 .Ikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kwesimo sezinceku zikaJehova zosuku lwanamuhla naleso somprofethi u-Amose?
5 Lokhu kuyafana nesimo sabantu bakaJehova namuhla. Sikhuthazelela okubi njengalabo abamemezela izigijimi zikaNkulunkulu, futhi abantu abaningi bakhuluma ngokweyisa ngomsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Yiqiniso, igunya lethu lokushumayela aliveli esikoleni semfundiso yenkolo. Cha. Kunalokho, umoya ongcwele kaJehova usishukumisela ukuba simemezele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Asisiguquli noma sisishaye indiva isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, njengo-Amose, ngokulalela siyasimemezela kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izilaleli zethu zisabela kanjani.—2 Korinte 2:15-17.
Babonisa Ukubekezela
6, 7. (a) Yini eyaphawula ukuprofetha kuka-Isaya? (b) Izinceku zikaJehova zosuku lwanamuhla zenza kanjani njengo-Isaya?
6 Abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu babonisa ukubekezela. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Isaya, owakhonza njengomprofethi kaJehova ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili B.C.E., wabonisa ukubekezela. UNkulunkulu wamtshela: “Hamba usho kulababantu ukuthi: Yizwani, yizwani, kepha ningaqondi; bonani, bonani, kepha ningazi. Yenza inhliziyo yalababantu ukuba ikhuluphale, nezindlebe zabo zibe-buthuntu, ufiphaze amehlo abo, funa babone ngamehlo abo, bezwe ngezindlebe zabo, baqonde ngenhliziyo yabo, babuye, baphiliswe.” (Isaya 6:9, 10) Ngempela abantu basabela ngaleyondlela. Kodwa ingabe lokhu kwabangela ukuba u-Isaya ayeke? Kunalokho, wamemezela ngokubekezela nangentshiseko izigijimi zikaJehova eziyisixwayiso. Isimo sesiHeberu samazwi kaNkulunkulu asanda kucashunwa sisekela umqondo “wokuqhubeka isikhathi eside” kwezimemezelo zalomprofethi, abantu ababezizwa “ngokuphindaphindiwe.”—Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar.
7 Namuhla abaningi basabela ezindabeni ezinhle njengoba nje abantu basabela emazwini kaJehova ayedluliselwa ngo-Isaya. Nokho, njengalowomprofethi othembekile, simemezela isigijimi soMbuso “ngokuphindaphindiwe.” Senza kanjalo ngentshiseko nangokuphikelela ngokubekezela ngoba lokhu kuyintando kaJehova.
“Benze Njalo-ke”
8, 9. Kungaziphi izindlela umprofethi kaJehova uMose eyisibonelo esihle?
8 Umprofethi uMose wayeyisibonelo sokubekezela nokulalela. Wakhetha ukuma nama-Israyeli ayegqilaziwe, kodwa kwakumelwe alinde ngokubekezela isikhathi sikaJehova sokukhululwa kwawo. Wahlala kwaMidiyani iminyaka engu-40 kwaze kwaba yilapho uNkulunkulu emsebenzisa ukuba ahole abantu bakwa-Israyeli abakhiphe ebugqileni. Lapho uMose nomfowabo u-Aroni bephambi kombusi waseGibithe, ngokulalela basho futhi benza lokho uNkulunkulu ayebayale ngakho. Eqinisweni, “benze njalo-ke.”—Eksodusi 7:1-6; Heberu 11:24-29.
9 UMose wakhuthazelela ngokubekezela iminyaka engu-40 enzima ka-Israyeli ehlane. Futhi ngokulalela walandela isiqondiso saphezulu ekwakhiweni kwetabernakele lika-Israyeli nokwenziwa kwezinye izinto ezazisetshenziswa ekukhulekeleni uJehova. Lomprofethi wayilandela eduze imiyalo kaNkulunkulu kangangokuba siyafunda: ‘UMose wenza njengakho konke uJehova amyale ngakho, wenze njalo-ke.’ (Eksodusi 40:16) Lapho sifeza inkonzo yethu ngokubambisana nenhlangano kaJehova, masikhumbule ukulalela kukaMose futhi sisebenzise iseluleko sikamphostoli uPawulu ‘sokulalela abasiholayo.’—Heberu 13:17.
Babenesimo Sengqondo Esiqondile
10, 11. (a) Yini ebonisa ukuthi umprofethi uHoseya wayenesimo sengqondo esiqondile? (b) Singasilondoloza kanjani isimo sengqondo esiqondile lapho siya kubantu emasimini ethu?
10 Kwadingeka ukuba abaprofethi babe nesimo sengqondo esiqondile njengoba babememezela izigijimi zesahlulelo kanye neziprofetho ezazibonisa ukukhathalela kothando kukaNkulunkulu ngabathembekile ababesakazeke nalo lonke elakwa-Israyeli. Lokhu kwakuyiqiniso ngoHoseya, owayengumprofethi iminyaka engengaphansi kwengu-59. Ngendlela eqondile, waqhubeka ememezela izigijimi zikaJehova futhi waphetha incwadi yakhe yesiprofetho ngalamazwi: “Ngubani ohlakaniphile, aqonde lezizinto; ngubani onomqondo, azazi, na? Ngokuba izindlela zikaJehova zilungile; abalungileyo bayakuhamba ngazo, kepha abaphambukayo bayakukhubeka ngazo.” (Hoseya 14:9) Uma nje uJehova esasivumela ukuba sinikeze ubufakazi, masibe nesimo sengqondo esiqondile futhi siqhubeke sifune labo ngokuhlakanipha abayokwamukela umusa kaNkulunkulu ongasifanele.
11 Ukuze ‘sifune abafanelekayo,’ kudingeka siphikelele futhi sibe nombono oqondile ngezindaba. (Mathewu 10:11) Ngokwesibonelo, uma besingalahlekelwa izihluthulelo zethu, besingase silandele imikhondo yezinyathelo zethu futhi sifune ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene ebesikuzo. Singase sizithole kuphela ngemva kokuba senze lokhu ngokuphindaphindiwe. Ngokufanayo masiphikelele ekufuneni abanjengezimvu. Yeka injabulo esiba nayo uma besabela ezindabeni ezinhle ensimini esetshenzwa njalo! Futhi yeka indlela esijabula ngayo ngokuthi uNkulunkulu ubusisa umsebenzi wethu emazweni lapho ngaphambili ukuvinjelwa kwakulinganisela khona inkonzo yethu yasobala!—Galathiya 6:10.
Imithombo Yesikhuthazo
12. Isiphi isiprofetho sikaJoweli esigcwaliseka ekhulwini lama-20, futhi kanjani?
12 Amazwi abaprofethi bakaJehova angaba imithombo yesikhuthazo esikhulu kithi enkonzweni yethu. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela isiprofetho sikaJoweli. Siqukethe izigijimi zesahlulelo ezaziqondiswe kuma-Israyeli ayizihlubuki nakwabanye ekhulwini lesishiyagalolunye B.C.E. Nokho, uJoweli waphefumlelwa futhi ukuba aprofethe: “[Mina Jehova ngiyakuthulula] uMoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inyama; amadodana enu namadodakazi enu ayakuprofetha, abadala benu baphuphe amaphupho, izinsizwa zenu zibone imibono; naphezu kwezinceku nezincekukazi ngalezozinsuku ngiyakuthulula uMoya wami.” (Joweli 2:28, 29) Lokhu kwagcwaliseka kubalandeli bakaJesu kusukela ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E. kuqhubeke. Futhi yeka ukugcwaliseka okukhulu kwalesisiprofetho esikubonayo kulelikhulu lama-20! Namuhla sinezigidi ‘eziprofethayo,’ noma ezimemezela isigijimi sikaJehova—phakathi kwazo okunabangaphezu kuka-600 000 abasenkonzweni yamaphayona yesikhathi esigcwele.
13, 14. Yini engasiza amaKristu asemasha ukuba athole injabulo enkonzweni yasensimini?
13 Abamemezeli abaningi boMbuso intsha. Akulula ngaso sonke isikhathi ngabo ukukhuluma nabantu abadala ngeBhayibheli. Ngezinye izikhathi izinceku zikaJehova ezisezintsha ziyatshelwa: ‘Nichitha isikhathi senu nishumayela,’ futhi ‘bekufanele ngabe nenza okuthile okuhlukile.’ Ngokuhlakanipha oFakazi BakaJehova abasebasha bangase baphendule ngokuthi bayadabuka ngokuthi lowomuntu uzizwa ngaleyondlela. Omunye umshumayeli osemusha wezindaba ezinhle ukuthola kuwusizo ukwenezela lokhu: “Nginomuzwa wokuthi ngizuza ngempela ngokuxoxa nabantu abadala abafana nawe, futhi ngiyakujabulela.” Yebo, ngokuqinisekile ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle akukhona ukuchitha isikhathi. Ukuphila kusengozini. NgoJoweli, uNkulunkulu wabuye wathi: “Kuyakuthi bonke ababiza igama likaJehova bakhululwe.”—Joweli 2:32.
14 Izingane ezihambisana nabazali bazo emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso zamukela usizo lobuzali ekuzibekeleni imigomo yomuntu siqu. Kancane kancane intsha enjalo iyathuthuka kusukela ekufundeni umbhalo kuya ekuchazeni ithemba layo elisekelwe eBhayibhelini nasekuhambiseni izincwadi ezifanelekile kubantu abathakazelayo. Njengoba bebona intuthuko yabo nesibusiso sikaJehova, abamemezeli boMbuso abasebasha bathola injabulo enkulu ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle.—IHubo 110:3; 148:12, 13.
Intshiseko Nesimo Sengqondo Sokulinda
15. Isibonelo sikaHezekeli singasisiza kanjani ukuba sivuselele intshiseko yethu ngomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso?
15 Abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu babeyisibonelo futhi ekuboniseni intshiseko nesimo sengqondo sokulinda—izici esizidingayo enkonzweni yethu namuhla. Lapho sifunda iqiniso okokuqala eZwini likaNkulunkulu, cishe saba nentshiseko eyasishukumisela ekubeni sikhulume ngesibindi. Kodwa kungenzeka ukuthi kusukela ngalesosikhathi sekudlule iminyaka eminingi, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi sesiye sayihlanganisa kaningi insimu yethu esifakaza kuyo. Kungenzeka ukuthi manje sebembalwa abantu abamukela isigijimi soMbuso. Ingabe lokhu kuye kwanciphisa intshiseko yethu? Uma kunjalo, cabangela umprofethi uHezekeli, ogama lakhe lisho ukuthi “uNkulunkulu Uyaqinisa.” Nakuba uHezekeli ayebhekene nabantu abanezinhliziyo ezilukhuni kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, uNkulunkulu wamqinisa futhi ngokomfanekiso wenza ukuba ibunzi lakhe liqine kunetshe lomlilo. Ngakho, uHezekeli wakwazi ukuqhubeka nenkonzo yakhe iminyaka eminingi kakhulu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu babelalela noma cha. Isibonelo sakhe sibonisa ukuthi nathi singenza okufanayo, futhi singasisiza ukuba sivuselele intshiseko yethu ngomsebenzi wokushumayela.—Hezekeli 3:8, 9; 2 Thimothewu 4:5.
16. Isiphi isimo sengqondo sikaMika okufanele sisihlakulele?
16 UMika, owayeprofetha ngekhulu lesishiyagalombili B.C.E., uyaphawuleka ngokubekezela kwakhe. Wabhala: “Mina ngiyakumbheka uJehova; ngiyakulindela uNkulunkulu wokusindiswa kwami; uNkulunkulu wami uyakungizwa.” (Mika 7:7) Ukuqiniseka kukaMika kwakusekelwe okholweni lwakhe oluqinile. Njengomprofethi u-Isaya, uMika wayazi ukuthi lokho uJehova ayekuhlosile wayeyokwenza nakanjani. Nathi siyakwazi lokho. (Isaya 55:11) Ngakho-ke masihlakulele isimo sengqondo sokulinda ngokuphathelene nokugcwaliseka kwezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu. Futhi masishumayele izindaba ezinhle ngentshiseko, ngisho nasezindaweni lapho abantu bebonisa khona isithakazelo esincane esigijimini soMbuso.—Thithu 2:14; Jakobe 5:7-10.
Ukubonisa Ukubekezela Namuhla
17, 18. Iziphi izibonelo zasendulo nezanamuhla ezingasisiza ukuba sibonise ukubekezela?
17 Abanye babaprofethi bakaJehova baphikelela ngokubekezela iminyaka eminingi ezabelweni zabo kodwa abazange bakubone ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zabo. Nokho, nakuba ngokuvamile babekhuthazelela ukuphathwa kabi, ukuphikelela kwabo ngokubekezela kusisiza ukuba siqaphele ukuthi singayifeza inkonzo yethu. Singazuza futhi esibonelweni sabagcotshiwe abathembekile emashumini okuqala eminyaka ekhulu lama-20. Nakuba amathemba abo okuya ezulwini ayengafezekanga ngokushesha njengoba babelindele, abazange bavumele ukudumazeka ngenxa yalokho okwakubonakala kuwukwephuza kudambise intshiseko yabo yokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu njengoba ayeyambule kubo.
18 Eminyakeni eminingi, amaningi alamaKristu ayesakaza njalo INqabayokulinda nomagazini ongumngane wayo, i-Phaphama!, (owawubizwa ngokuthi i-Golden Age futhi kamuva wabizwa ngokuthi i-Consolation). Ngentshiseko enza ukuba labomagazini abayigugu batholakale kubantu emigwaqweni nasemakhaya abo ngalokho namuhla esikubiza ngokuthi imizila kamagazini. Omunye udade osekhulile owaqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni washeshe wakhunjulwa abantu abadlulayo ababevame ukumbona efakaza emgwaqweni. Yeka ubufakazi abunikeza phakathi neminyaka yakhe eminingi yenkonzo yokwethembeka, njengoba kwaboniswa amazwi okwazisa alabo ababeyiqaphelile inkonzo yakhe yasobala! Njengommemezeli woMbuso, ingabe uyihambisa njalo INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! kulabo ohlangana nabo enkonzweni yakho?
19. Isiphi isikhuthazo esisinikezwa amaHeberu 6:10-12?
19 Cabangela futhi ukubekezela nenkonzo yokwethembeka yabazalwane abakhonza njengamalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova. Abaningana babo manje baseminyakeni yamashumi ayisishiyagalombili noma ayisishiyagalolunye yokuphila kwabo, kodwa basengabamemezeli boMbuso abanakekela ngentshiseko imisebenzi yabo abayabelwe. (Heberu 13:7) Futhi kuthiwani ngabanye asebekhulile abanethemba lokuphila ezulwini ngisho nabanye phakathi ‘kwezinye izimvu’ asebekhulile? (Johane 10:16) Bangaqiniseka ngokuthi uNkulunkulu akayena ongalungile ukuba akhohlwe umsebenzi wabo nothando abalubonisa ngenxa yegama lakhe. Kanye nabakholwa nabo abasebasha, kwangathi oFakazi BakaJehova asebekhulile bangaphikelela ekwenzeni konke abangakwenza, bebonisa ukholo nokubekezela enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. (Heberu 6:10-12) Khona-ke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ngovuko, njengoba kuyoba njalo ngabaprofethi basendulo, noma ngokusinda badlule ‘osizini olukhulu’ oluzayo, bayovuna umvuzo ocebile wokuphila okuphakade.—Mathewu 24:21.
20. (a) Yini oyifunde ‘esibonelweni’ sabaprofethi? (b) Ukubekezela okunjengokwabaprofethi kungasisiza kanjani?
20 Yeka isibonelo esihle abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu abasishiyela sona! Ngenxa yokuthi bakhuthazelela ukuhlupheka, babonisa ukubekezela, futhi babonisa ezinye izimfanelo zokwesaba uNkulunkulu, banikwa ilungelo lokukhuluma egameni likaJehova. NjengoFakazi bakhe bosuku lwanamuhla, masifane nabo futhi sinqume ngokuwujuqu njengomprofethi uHabakuki, owathi: “Ngiyakuma endaweni yami yokulinda, ngigcule enqabeni, ngikhangele ukubona ukuthi [uNkulunkulu] uyakukhulumani kimi.” (Habakuki 2:1) Masibe nokuzimisela okufanayo njengoba sibonisa ukubekezela futhi ngenjabulo siqhubeke simemezela obala igama elikhazimulayo loMdali wethu Omuhle, uJehova!—Nehemiya 8:10; Roma 10:10.
Ingabe Uwabambile Lamaphuzu?
◻ Isiphi isibonelo sokuba nesibindi esabekwa umprofethi u-Amose?
◻ Kungaziphi izindlela umprofethi uMose ayeyisibonelo ngazo?
◻ OFakazi BakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla bangenza kanjani njengo-Amose no-Isaya?
◻ Yini izikhonzi ezingamaKristu ezingayifunda ekuziphatheni kukaHoseya noJoweli?
◻ Singazuza kanjani ezibonelweni zikaHezekeli noMika?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
Naphezu kokuphikisa kobuhlanya kuka-Amasiya, umoya kaJehova wanikeza u-Amose amandla okuprofetha ngesibindi
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Abagcotshiwe abathembekile baye babeka isibonelo esihle ngokubonisa ukubekezela enkonzweni kaJehova