IJerusalema—Ingabe ‘Lingaphezu Kwentokozo Yakho Enkulu’?
“Ulimi lwami malunamathele olwangeni lwami . . . uma ngingaphakamisi iJerusalema phezu kwentokozo yami enkulu.”—IHUBO 137:6.
1. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo amaJuda amaningi ayesekudingisweni ayenaso ngomuzi kaNkulunkulu okhethiwe?
KWASE kudlule cishe amashumi ayisikhombisa eminyaka ngemva kokubuyela eJerusalema kwamaJuda okuqala ayedingiswe ngo-537 B.C.E. Ithempeli likaNkulunkulu lase lakhiwe kabusha, kodwa lo muzi wawusadilikile. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, kwase kunesizukulwane esisha esasikhulele ekuthunjweni. Ngokungangabazeki abaningi kuso babezizwa njengomhubi owahlabelela: “Uma ngikhohlwa wena-Jerusalema, masizikhohlwe isandla sami sokunene.” (IHubo 137:5) Abanye benza okungaphezu kokumane nje balikhumbule iJerusalema; babonisa ngezenzo ukuthi laliphakeme ‘ngaphezu kwentokozo yabo enkulu.’—IHubo 137:6.
2. Wayengubani u-Ezra, futhi wabusiswa kanjani?
2 Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngompristi u-Ezra. Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba abuyele ezweni lakubo, wayethuthukise ngentshiseko izithakazelo zokukhulekela okuhlanzekile eJerusalema. (Ezra 7:6, 10) U-Ezra wabusiswa ngokucebile ngalokho. UJehova uNkulunkulu washukumisela inhliziyo yenkosi yasePheresiya ukuba inike u-Ezra ilungelo lokuhola iqembu lesibili lababesekudingisweni ababephindela eJerusalema. Ngaphezu kwalokho, le nkosi yabanika umnikelo omkhulu wegolide nesiliva ukuze ‘bahlobise indlu kaJehova eseJerusalema.’—Ezra 7:21-27.
3. UNehemiya wabonisa kanjani ukuthi iJerusalema wayelikhathalela ukudlula konke okunye?
3 Eminyakeni engaba ngu-12 kamuva, kwaba nomunye umJuda owathatha isinyathelo ngokunganqikazi—uNehemiya. Wayekhonza esigodlweni sasePheresiya eShushani. Wayenesikhundla esihloniphekile njengomphathi-zitsha weNkosi u-Aritahishashita, kodwa lokho kwakungeyona ‘intokozo [kaNehemiya] enkulu.’ Kunalokho, wayelangazelela ukuhamba ayokwakha iJerusalema kabusha. Kwaba yizinyanga uNehemiya ethandazela lokhu, futhi uJehova uNkulunkulu wambusisa ngokwenza kanjalo. Lapho izwa ngalokho okwakukhathaza uNehemiya, inkosi yasePheresiya yamnika ibutho lempi nezincwadi ezazimgunyaza ukuba akhe iJerusalema kabusha.—Nehemiya 1:1–2:9.
4. Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kubangela injabulo ngaphezu kwanoma yini enye kithi?
4 Ngokungangabazeki, u-Ezra, uNehemiya namaJuda amaningi ayebambisene nabo, babonisa ukuthi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova, okwakugxile eJerusalema, kwakubaluleke kunanoma yini enye—ukuthi ‘kwakungaphezu kwentokozo yabo enkulu,’ okuwukuthi, kwakudlula noma yini enye ababengase bayijabulele. Yeka isikhuthazo abantu abanjalo abayiso kubo bonke namuhla ababheka uJehova, ukukhulekelwa kwakhe nenhlangano yakhe ngendlela efanayo! Ingabe kunjalo nangawe? Ingabe ubonisa ngokukhuthazela kwakho emisebenzini yokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ukuthi okukujabulisa kunakho konke yilungelo lokukhulekela uJehova nabantu bakhe abazinikezele? (2 Petru 3:11) Ukuze sithole isikhuthazo esengeziwe kulokhu, ake sicabangele imiphumela emihle yohambo luka-Ezra lokuya eJerusalema.
Izibusiso Nemithwalo Yemfanelo
5. Yiziphi izibusiso ezicebile ezatholwa yizakhamuzi zakwaJuda ezinsukwini zika-Ezra?
5 Iqembu labangaba ngu-6 000 lababesekudingisweni ababephindela emuva no-Ezra lafika neminikelo yegolide nesiliva yethempeli likaJehova. Yayingaba yizigidi zamaRandi ezingu-177 ngentengo yanamuhla. Leli golide nesiliva laliliningi ngokuphindwe cishe izikhathi eziyisikhombisa kunalelo abokuqala ababedingisiwe ababekwazile ukufika nalo. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema nakwaJuda zazimbonga ngayo uJehova ngokuthola konke lokhu kusekela kwabantu nangengcebo! Kodwa izibusiso ezicebile ezivela kuNkulunkulu ziza nomthwalo wemfanelo.—Luka 12:48.
6. Yini u-Ezra ayithola ezweni lakubo, futhi wasabela kanjani?
6 Ngokushesha u-Ezra wathola ukuthi amaJuda amaningi, kuhlanganise nabapristi nabadala abathile, babeqe uMthetho kaNkulunkulu ngokushada nabesifazane abangamaqaba. (Duteronomi 7:3, 4) Ngokufanele, waba lusizi kakhulu ngenxa yalokhu kuphulwa kwesivumelwano soMthetho kaNkulunkulu. “Lapho ngizwa leyondaba, ngaklebhula ingubo yami nejazi lami, . . . ngahlala phansi ngimangele.” (Ezra 9:3) Khona-ke, phambi kwama-Israyeli akhathazekile, u-Ezra wathululela kuJehova ngomthandazo konke okusenhliziyweni yakhe. Bonke bezwa, u-Ezra wabukeza ukungalaleli kuka-Israyeli okudlule nesixwayiso sikaNkulunkulu ngalokho okwakuyokwenzeka uma beshada nezakhamuzi zezwe ezingamaqaba. Waphetha: “Jehova Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ulungile, ngokuba sishiyiwe siyinsali nje njenganamuhla; bheka, siphambi kwakho necala lethu, nokho akakho ongema phambi kwakho ngenxa yalokho.”—Ezra 9:14, 15.
7. (a) Yisiphi isibonelo esihle esabekwa u-Ezra ekusingatheni ukona? (b) Basabela kanjani ababenecala osukwini luka-Ezra?
7 U-Ezra wasebenzisa inkulumo ethi “si-.” Yebo, wazihlanganisa naye, nakuba yena ngokwakhe ayengenacala. Ukudabuka kuka-Ezra ngokujulile kanye nomthandazo wakhe wokuthobeka kwathinta izinhliziyo zabantu futhi kwabashukumisela emisebenzini efanele ukuphenduka. Bavela nekhambi elibuhlungu—bonke ababephule uMthetho kaNkulunkulu babezophindisela amakhosikazi abo akwamanye amazwe emuva emazweni akubo, kanye nezingane ayebazalele zona. U-Ezra wavumelana nalesi sinyathelo futhi wakhuthaza ababenecala ukuba basithathe. Ngegunya ayelinikwe yinkosi yasePheresiya, u-Ezra wayenelungelo lokubulala zonke izeqa-mthetho noma ukuzixosha eJerusalema nakwaJuda. (Ezra 7:12, 26) Kodwa kubonakala sengathi akudingekanga ukuba athathe isinyathelo esinjalo. “Lonke ibandla” lathi: “Njengokusho kwakho kithina nga sikwenza.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, lavuma: “Siphambukile kakhulu ngalendaba.” (Ezra 10:11-13) Isahluko 10 sika-Ezra sinikeza uhlu lwamagama amadoda angu-111 alalela lesi sinqumo ngokuxosha amakhosikazi awo akwamanye amazwe nezingane ayewazalele zona.
8. Kungani isinyathelo esinqala sokuxosha amakhosikazi akwamanye amazwe sasiyozuzisa sonke isintu?
8 Lesi sinyathelo sasingeke sizuzise u-Israyeli kuphela kodwa nesintu sonke. Ukube kwakungenziwanga lutho ukuze kulungiswe indaba, ama-Israyeli ayengase agwinywe yizizwe ezaziwazungezile. Kanjalo, uhlu lozalo lweMbewu Ethenjisiwe yokubusisa sonke isintu lwaluyoxuba nezizwe ezingaphandle. (Genesise 3:15; 22:18) Kwakuyoba nzima ukubona ukuthi ingubani iMbewu Ethenjisiwe eyinzalo yeNkosi uDavide yesizwana sakwaJuda. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-12 kamuva, le ndaba ebalulekile yaphinde yanakekelwa lapho ‘inzalo kaIsrayeli izahlukanisa nabezizwe bonke.’—Nehemiya 9:1, 2; 10:29, 30.
9. Yisiphi iseluleko esihle iBhayibheli elisinika amaKristu ashade nabantu abangakholwa?
9 Yini izinceku zikaJehova zanamuhla ezingayifunda kulokhu kulandisa? AmaKristu awekho ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. (2 Korinte 3:14) Kunalokho, alalela “umthetho kaKristu.” (Galathiya 6:2) Ngakho, umKristu oshade nomuntu ongakholwa uthobela iseluleko sikaPawulu: “Uma kukhona umfowethu onomfazi ongakholwayo, kodwa nokho umfazi evuma ukuhlala naye, makangamshiyi.” (1 Korinte 7:12) Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaKristu ashade nabantu abangakholwa abophekile ngokomBhalo ukuba asebenzele ukwenza imishado yawo iphumelele. (1 Petru 3:1, 2) Ukulalela lesi seluleko esihle ngokuvamile kuye kwaphumela esibusisweni sokuba abangane bomshado abangakholwa bashintshe ezinhliziyweni ngokuphathelene nokukhulekela kweqiniso. Abanye baye baba ngisho nangamaKristu abhapathiziwe athembekile.—1 Korinte 7:16.
10. Yisiphi isifundo amaKristu angasifunda emadodeni angu-111 angama-Israyeli axosha amakhosikazi awo akwamanye amazwe?
10 Nokho, indaba yama-Israyeli axosha amakhosikazi awo akwamanye amazwe inesifundo esihle kumaKristu angashadile. Akufanele aqale ukuphola namalungu obulili obuhlukile angakholwa. Ukugwema ubuhlobo obunjalo kungase kube nzima, kube buhlungu nokuba buhlungu, kodwa kuyinkambo engcono kakhulu ukuze umuntu aqhubeke enesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu. AmaKristu ayayalwa: “Ningaboshelwa ngokungalingani ejokeni nabangewona amakholwa.” (2 Korinte 6:14) Noma yimuphi umKristu ongashadile ofisa ukushada kufanele ahlele ukushada nomuntu okholwa naye oqotho.—1 Korinte 7:39.
11. Njengalawaya madoda angama-Israyeli, singavivinyeka kanjani ngokuphathelene nalokho okusijabulisayo?
11 AmaKristu aye enza ukulungisa nangezinye izindlela eziningi lapho eqasheliswa ukuthi angase ahileleke esenzweni esingqubuzana nemiBhalo. (Galathiya 6:1) Ngezikhathi ezithile, lo magazini uye waveza ukuziphatha okungahambisani nemiBhalo okungenza umuntu angafaneleki ukuqhubeka eyingxenye yenhlangano kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1973, abantu bakaJehova baqonda ngokugcwele ukuthi ukusebenzisa kabi izidakamizwa nokusebenzisa ugwayi kuyizono ezimbi. Ukuze siphishekele inkambo yokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, kumelwe ‘sizihlanze kukho konke ukungcola kwenyama nokomoya.’ (2 Korinte 7:1) Abaningi basilalela leso seluleko seBhayibheli; babezimisele ukubhekana nokuphazamiseka kokuyeka leyo mikhuba ukuze baqhubeke beyingxenye yabantu bakaNkulunkulu abahlanzekile. Kuye kwanikezwa nesiqondiso esingokomBhalo esicacile ngokuphathelene nezindaba ezingokobulili, ukugqoka, ukuzilungisa nokukhetha ngokuhlakanipha umsebenzi, ukuzijabulisa nomculo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yiziphi izimiso ezingokomBhalo esiqasheliswa zona, kwangathi singakulungela ‘ukulungiswa,’ njengamadoda angu-111 angama-Israyeli. (2 Korinte 13:11) Lokhu kuyobonisa ukuthi ilungelo lokukhulekela uJehova kanye nabantu bakhe abangcwele ‘lingaphezu kwentokozo yethu enkulu.’
12. Kwenzekani ngo-455 B.C.E.?
12 Ngemva kokulandisa isenzakalo esihilela amakhosikazi akwamanye amazwe, iBhayibheli alisitsheli ukuthi kwakwenzekani eJerusalema phakathi neminyaka engu-12 eyalandela. Ngokungangabazeki, omakhelwane bama-Israyeli bawazonda nakakhulu ngenxa yokunqanyulwa kwezivumelwano eziningi zomshado. Ngo-455 B.C.E., uNehemiya wafika eJerusalema ehamba nebutho lempi. Wayemiswe njengombusi wakwaJuda futhi efike nezincwadi ezivela enkosini yasePheresiya ezazimgunyaza ukuba akhe umuzi kabusha.—Nehemiya 2:9, 10; 5:14.
Ukuphikisa Komakhelwane Abanomona
13. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo esaboniswa omakhelwane bamaJuda bezinkolo zamanga, futhi uNehemiya wasabela kanjani?
13 Omakhelwane bezinkolo zamanga baphikisana nenjongo yokufika kukaNehemiya. Abaholi babo bamsongela ngokumbuza ukuthi: “Niyakuyihlubuka inkosi na?” Ebonisa ukholo kuJehova, uNehemiya waphendula: “UNkulunkulu wezulu uyakusiphumelelisa; ngalokho thina-zinceku zakhe siyakusuka sakhe, kepha nina aninasabelo, nalungelo, nasikhumbuzo eJerusalema.” (Nehemiya 2:19, 20) Lapho ukulungiswa kogange kuqalwa, lezi zitha zahleka usulu zathi: ‘Benzani lababaJuda abangenamandla na? Bayakuvusa amatshe emfuthumfuthwini yamabibi na? Uma kukhuphuka impungushe, iyakulubhidliza ugange lwamatshe abo.’ Kunokuba aphendule lezi zinkulumo, uNehemiya wathandaza: “Yizwa, Nkulunkulu wethu, ngokuba sidelelekile, ubuyisele inhlamba yabo phezu kwamakhanda abo.” (Nehemiya 4:2-4) Ngokuqhubekayo, uNehemiya wabeka lesi sibonelo esihle sokuncika kuJehova!—Nehemiya 6:14; 13:14.
14, 15. (a) UNehemiya walusingatha kanjani usongo lwesitha lokusebenzisa ubudlova? (b) OFakazi BakaJehova baye bakwazi kanjani ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokwakha okungokomoya naphezu kokuphikiswa okunonya?
14 Ukuze bafeze isabelo sabo esibalulekile sokushumayela, oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla nabo bancika kuNkulunkulu. Abaphikisi bazama ukuvimba lo msebenzi ngokuhleka usulu. Ngezinye izikhathi, abantu abanesithakazelo esigijimini soMbuso bayayeka ngoba bengenakukubekezelela ukuhlekwa usulu. Uma lokhu kuhleka usulu kungaphumeleli, abaphikisi bangase bathukuthele futhi basongele ngokuthi bazosebenzisa ubudlova. Yilokhu abakhi bezingange zaseJerusalema ababhekana nakho. Kodwa uNehemiya akavumanga ukwesatshiswa. Kunalokho, wahlomisa abakhi ukuze babhekane nokuhlasela kwezitha futhi waqinisa ukholo lwabo ngokuthi: “Ningabesabi; khumbulani iNkosi enkulu neyesabekayo, nilwele abafowenu, namadodana enu, namadodakazi enu, nawomkenu, nezindlu zenu.”—Nehemiya 4:13, 14.
15 Njengasezinsukwini zikaNehemiya, oFakazi BakaJehova baye bakuhlonyiselwa kahle ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokwakha okungokomoya naphezu kokuphikiswa ngonya. “Isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo” siye salungiselela ukudla okungokomoya okuqinisa ukholo, okwenza abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakwazi ukuba abakhiqizayo ngisho nalapho umsebenzi uvinjelwe khona. (Mathewu 24:45) Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova uye waqhubeka ebusisa abantu bakhe ngokwanda emhlabeni wonke.—Isaya 60:22.
Izinkinga Zasekhaya
16. Yiziphi izinkinga zasekhaya ezasongela ugqozi lwabakhi bogange lweJerusalema?
16 Njengoba ukwakhiwa kabusha kogange lwaseJerusalema kwakuqhubeka futhi ugange lukhuphuka, umsebenzi waya uba nzima. Yingaleso sikhathi okwadaluleka ngaso inkinga eyayisongela ugqozi lwabakhi ababezikhandla. Ngenxa yokuswelakala kokudla, amaJuda athile ayekuthola kunzima ukondla imikhaya yawo ngokudla nokukhokha izintela zawo kuhulumeni wasePheresiya. AmaJuda anothile ayewanana ukudla ewaboleka nemali. Nokho, ngokuphambene noMthetho kaNkulunkulu, lawa ma-Israyeli ampofu kwakudingeka abambise ngomhlaba wawo nezingane zawo ukuze aqinisekise ukuthi ayeyoyibuyisa imali inenzalo. (Eksodusi 22:25; Levitikusi 25:35-37; Nehemiya 4:6, 10; 5:1-5) Manje abakweletwayo babesongela ukudla umhlaba wabo futhi babaphoqe ukuba badayise izingane zabo njengezigqila. Samthukuthelisa kakhulu uNehemiya lesi simo sengqondo sokungabi naluthando nesokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo. Wathatha isinyathelo ngokushesha ukuze aqiniseke ukuthi uJehova uyaqhubeka ewubusisa umsebenzi wokwakha kabusha ugange lwaseJerusalema.
17. UNehemiya wenzani ukuze aqiniseke ukuthi uJehova uyaqhubeka ebusisa umsebenzi wokwakha, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
17 Kwahlelwa “ibandla elikhulu [noma, umhlangano],” futhi uNehemiya wawabonisa ngokucacile ama-Israyeli anothile ukuthi ayekwenzile kwakungamjabulisi uJehova. Wabe esenxusa abanecala, kuhlanganise nabanye babapristi, ukuba baphindisele yonke inzalo ababeyithathile futhi baphindisele nomhlaba ababewuthathe ngokungemthetho kulabo ababengenamandla okukhokha inzalo. Kuyatuseka ukuthi labo ababenecala bathi: “Sizakubuyisela kubo, singabizi-lutho kubo; sizakwenza njengokusho kwakho.” Lawa kwakungewona amazwi ashiwo ngomlomo nje, ngoba iBhayibheli lithi, “abantu base benza njengalelozwi [likaNehemiya].” Futhi lonke ibandla ladumisa uJehova.—Nehemiya 5:7-13.
18. Yimuphi umoya oFakazi BakaJehova abaye baziwa ngawo?
18 Kuthiwani ngosuku lwethu? Kunokuba basizakale ngabanye, oFakazi BakaJehova baziwa kabanzi ngomoya wabo wokupha abakholwa nabo nabanye abaye behlelwa yizinhlekelele. Njengasosukwini lukaNehemiya, lokhu kuye kwaphumela ekubeni kube nezinkulumo eziningi zokudumisa uJehova. Nokho, ngesikhathi esifanayo, “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo” siye sakuthola kudingekile ukunikeza iseluleko esingokomBhalo ezindabeni zebhizinisi nangesidingo sokugwema ukusizakala ngabanye ngobugovu. Emazweni athile kuyinto evamile ukubiza ilobolo elimba eqolo, kodwa iBhayibheli lixwayisa ngokucacile ukuthi abantu abahahayo nabaphangi ngeke bawuzuze njengefa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 6:9, 10) Ukusabela okuhle kweningi lamaKristu eselulekweni esinjalo kukhumbuza umuntu indlela lawo maJuda akubona ngayo ukuthi kuyisono ukusizakala ngabafowabo abampofu.
Ugange LweJerusalema Luphothuliwe
19, 20. (a) Ukuphothulwa kogange lweJerusalema kwaba namuphi umphumela kubaphikisi abangokwenkolo? (b) OFakazi BakaJehova baye baba nakuphi ukunqoba emazweni amaningi?
19 Naphezu kwakho konke ukuphikisa, ugange lweJerusalema lwaphothulwa ngezinsuku ezingu-52. Kwaba namuphi umphumela lokhu kubaphikisi? UNehemiya wathi: “Kwathi lapho zonke izitha zikuzwa lokho, abezizwe bonke abasizungezayo, besaba, bayetha, ngokuba baqonda ukuthi lowomsebenzi wawenziwe nguNkulunkulu wethu.”—Nehemiya 6:16.
20 Namuhla, ukuphikisa kwezitha umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu kuyaqhubeka ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene nasezindaweni ezihlukahlukene. Nokho, izigidi zabantu ziye zabubona ubuze bokuphikisa oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngemizamo yesikhathi esidlule yokumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela eJalimane yobuNazi, eMpumalanga Yurophu nasemazweni amaningi ase-Afrika. Yonke imizamo enjalo ayizange iphumelele, futhi abantu abaningi manje bayavuma ukuthi ‘umsebenzi wethu wenziwa nguNkulunkulu.’ Yeka umvuzo lokhu okuye kwaba yiwo kwasebekhulile abathembekile abaye ‘baphakamisa’ ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova ‘ngaphezu kwentokozo yabo enkulu’ emazweni anjalo!
21. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezibalulekile ezizohlolwa esihlokweni esilandelayo?
21 Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizobukeza izenzakalo ezibalulekile ezaholela ekunikezelweni ngenjabulo kogange lweJerusalema olwase lwakhiwe kabusha. Sizohlola nendlela okusondela ngayo ukuphothulwa komuzi omuhle nakakhulu ukuze kuzuze sonke isintu.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ U-Ezra nabanye bajabula kanjani ngeJerusalema?
◻ Yimaphi amaphutha u-Ezra noNehemiya abasiza amaJuda amaningi ukuba awalungise?
◻ Yiziphi izifundo ozitholayo endabeni ka-Ezra nekaNehemiya?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
UNehemiya wayekhathalela kakhulu iJerusalema, hhayi umsebenzi wakhe ohloniphekile eShushani
[Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]
NjengoNehemiya, kudingeka sithandazele isiqondiso sikaJehova namandla okuqhubeka esabelweni sethu esibaluleke kakhulu sokushumayela