Yerusalemu—kodi Ndiye ‘Woposa Chimwemwe Chanu Chopambana’?
“Lilime langa limamatike ku nsaya zanga, . . . ndikapanda kusankha Yerusalemu koposa chimwemwe changa chopambana.”—SALMO 137:6.
1. Kodi akapolo achiyuda ambiri anali ndi malingaliro otani ponena za mzinda wosankhidwa wa Mulungu?
PAFUPIFUPI zaka makumi asanu ndi aŵiri zinali zitapita akapolo achiyuda oyamba atabwerera ku Yerusalemu mu 537 B.C.E. Kachisi wa Mulungu anali atamangidwa, koma mzindawo unali udakali wabwinja. Nthaŵiyo, panali mbadwo watsopano umene unakulira kuukapolo. Mosakayikira ambiri mwa iwo anali kumva monga wamasalmo amene anaimba kuti: “Ndikakuiŵalani, Yerusalemu, dzanja lamanja langa liiŵale luso lake.” (Salmo 137:5) Ena sanangomkumbukira Yerusalemu; mwa zochita zawo anasonyeza kuti mzindawo unakhala ‘woposa chimwemwe chawo chopambana.’—Salmo 137:6.
2. Kodi Ezara anali yani, ndipo anadalitsidwa motani?
2 Mwachitsanzo, talingalirani za wansembe Ezara. Ngakhale asanabwerere kudziko lakwawo, iye anachirikiza mwachangu kulambira koyera kwa m’Yerusalemu. (Ezara 7:6, 10) Ezara anadalitsidwa kwambiri chifukwa cha zimenezo. Yehova Mulungu anasonkhezera mtima wa mfumu ya Perisiya kuti ipatse Ezara mwayi wotsogolera gulu lachiŵiri la akapolo amene anali kubwerera ku Yerusalemu. Ndiponso, mfumu inawapatsa zopereka zambiri zagolidi ndi siliva ‘kuti akakometsere nyumba ya Yehova.’—Ezara 7:21-27.
3. Kodi Nehemiya anasonyeza motani kuti Yerusalemu ndiye anali nkhaŵa yake yaikulu?
3 Patapita zaka ngati 12, panalinso Myuda wina amene anachitapo kanthu motsimikiza mtima—Nehemiya. Iye anali kutumikira m’nyumba ya mfumu ya Perisiya ku Susani. Anali ndi ntchito yapamwamba monga wonyamula chikho cha Mfumu Aritasasta, koma kwa Nehemiya, zimenezo sizinali ‘chimwemwe chopambana.’ M’malo mwake, iye analakalaka kupita kukamanganso Yerusalemu. Kwa miyezi yambiri Nehemiya anapemphera ponena za nkhaniyi, ndipo Yehova Mulungu anamdalitsa chifukwa cha zimenezo. Mfumu ya Perisiya itadziŵa nkhaŵa ya Nehemiya, inampatsa asilikali ndi makalata opereka chilolezo cha kumanganso Yerusalemu.—Nehemiya 1:1–2:9.
4. Kodi tingasonyeze motani kuti kulambira Yehova ndiko chinthu chodzetsa chimwemwe choposa china chilichonse chimene tingakhale nacho?
4 Mosakayikira, Ezara, Nehemiya, ndi Ayuda ambiri amene anagwirizana nawo anasonyeza kuti kulambira Yehova, kumene kunali kuchitikira ku Yerusalemu, kunali kofunika kwambiri kuposa china chilichonse—kuti kunali ‘koposa chimwemwe chawo chopambana,’ ndiko kuti, kunali koposa china chilichonse chimene chikanawapatsa chimwemwe. Anthuwa ngolimbikitsa kwambiri kwa onse amene amaona Yehova, kumlambira, ndi gulu lake lotsogozedwa ndi mzimu m’njira yofananayo lerolino! Kodi ndi mmene inuyo mumazionera? Kodi mwa chipiriro chanu pantchito zaumulungu mumasonyeza kuti chimwemwe chanu chachikulu ndicho mwayi wa kulambira Yehova pamodzi ndi anthu ake odzipereka? (2 Petro 3:11) Monga chilimbikitso chowonjezereka pochita zimenezi, tiyeni tipende zotsatirapo zabwino za ulendo wa Ezara wa ku Yerusalemu.
Madalitso Ndiponso Kuŵerengeredwa Mlandu
5. Kodi ndi madalitso aakulu otani amene okhala m’Yuda analandira m’masiku a Ezara?
5 Akapolo ngati 6,000 amene anali kubwerera kwawo pamodzi ndi Ezara anabweretsa zopereka zagolidi ndi siliva ku kachisi wa Yehova. Zimenezi zinakwana madola ngati 35 miliyoni pamitengo yamakono. Zimenezi zinali zoŵirikiza ngati kasanu ndi kaŵiri kuposa golidi ndi siliva amene akapolo oyamba anatha kubweretsa. Okhala m’Yerusalemu ndi Yuda ayenera kuti anamyamikira chotani nanga Yehova polandira chichirikizo cha anthu ndiponso chuma chonsechi! Koma madalitso aakulu a Mulungu amapangitsanso munthu kuŵerengeredwa mlandu.—Luka 12:48.
6. Kodi Ezara anapezanji m’dziko lakwawo, ndipo anachitanji?
6 Posapita nthaŵi Ezara anaona kuti Ayuda ambiri, kuphatikizapo ansembe ena ndi akulu, anaswa Chilamulo cha Mulungu mwa kukwatira akazi akunja. (Deuteronomo 7:3, 4) Ndithudi, kuswa pangano la Chilamulo cha Mulungu kumeneku kunamsautsa mtima kwambiri. “Pakumva mawu awa ndinang’amba chovala changa, ndi malaya anga, . . . ndi kukhala pansi m’kudabwa.” (Ezara 9:3) Ndiyeno, Aisrayeli ali pomwepo mitima yawo ili m’mwamba, Ezara anatsanulira mtima wake kwa Yehova m’pemphero. Onse ali kumva, Ezara anafotokoza kusamva kwa Aisrayeli kwa kumbuyoko ndi chenjezo la Mulungu la zimene zidzachitika ngati akwatira eni dziko akunjawo. Pomalizira pake iye anati: “Yehova Mulungu wa Israyeli, Inu ndinu wolungama, popeza tinatsala opulumuka monga lerolino; taonani, tili pamaso panu m’kupalamula kwathu; pakuti palibe wakuima pamaso panu chifukwa cha ichi.”—Ezara 9:14, 15.
7. (a) Kodi Ezara anapereka chitsanzo chabwino chotani posamalira nkhani zokhudza kulakwa? (b) Kodi olakwawo anatani m’tsiku la Ezara?
7 Ezara anagwiritsira ntchito mawu akuti “tili.” Inde, anadziika pamodzi ndi anthuwo, ngakhale kuti iyeyo anali wosalakwa. Kusautsidwa mtima kwakukulu kwa Ezara pamodzinso ndi pemphero lodzichepetsa zinakhudza mitima ya anthuwo ndi kuwasonkhezera kuchitapo kanthu posonyeza kulapa. Iwo anasankha mankhwala opweteka—onse amene anaswa Chilamulo cha Mulungu anayenera kubweza akazi awo kumaiko akwawo, pamodzinso ndi ana amene anabala nawo. Ezara anaivomereza njira imeneyi ndipo analimbikitsa olakwa onse kuti aitsatire. Pokhala anali ndi ulamuliro umene mfumu ya ku Perisiya inampatsa, Ezara anali ndi mphamvu ya kupha onse oswa lamulo kapena kuwapitikitsa m’Yerusalemu ndi m’Yuda. (Ezara 7:12, 26) Koma zikuoneka kuti sanatenge njira imeneyo. “Unayankha msonkhano wonse” nuti: “Monga mwa mawu anu tiyenera kuchita.” Ndiponso iwo anavomereza kuti: “Tachulukitsa kulakwa kwathu pachinthu ichi.” (Ezara 10:11-13) Ezara chaputala 10 chili ndi mpambo wa maina a amuna 111 amene anatsatira chosankha chakuti abweze akazi awo akunja ndi ana amene anabala nawo.
8. Kodi nchifukwa chiyani kubweza akazi achilendo kunapindulitsa mtundu wonse wa anthu?
8 Zimenezi zinali zothandiza mtundu wonse wa anthu, osati Israyeli yekha. Chikhala sanachitepo kanthu kuwongolera nkhaniyo, bwenzi Aisrayeli atasanganikirana ndi mitundu yowazinga. Zikadatero, mzere wobadwiramo Mbewu Yolonjezedwayo yodalitsira mtundu wonse wa anthu ukanaipitsidwa. (Genesis 3:15; 22:18) Zikadavuta kunenadi kuti Mbewu Yolonjezedwayo ndi mbadwa ya Mfumu Davide wafuko la Yuda. Patapita zaka ngati 12, nkhani yofunika kwambiri imeneyi anaisamaliranso pamene ‘a mbumba ya Israyeli anadzipatula kwa alendo onse.’—Nehemiya 9:1, 2; 10:29, 30.
9. Kodi Baibulo limapereka uphungu wabwino wotani kwa Akristu amene ali muukwati ndi osakhulupirira?
9 Kodi atumiki amakono a Yehova angaphunzireponji pankhaniyi? Zoona, Akristu sali m’pangano la Chilamulo. (2 Akorinto 3:14) M’malo mwake, iwo amamvera “chilamulo cha Kristu.” (Agalatiya 6:2) Chotero, Mkristu amene anakwatira kapena kukwatiwa ndi wosakhulupirira amatsatira uphungu wa Paulo wakuti: “Ngati mbale wina ali naye mkazi wosakhulupira, ndipo iye avomera mtima kukhala naye pamodzi, asalekane naye.” (1 Akorinto 7:12) Ndiponso, Akristu amene anakwatira kapena kukwatiwa ndi osakhulupirira akulamulidwa ndi Malemba kuyesetsa kupangitsa ukwati wawo kukhala wabwino. (1 Petro 3:1, 2) Kumvera uphungu wabwino umenewu nthaŵi zambiri kwadzetsa dalitso lakuti osakhulupirirawo asintha mitima ponena za kulambira koona. Ndipo ena akhala Akristu obatizidwa okhulupirika.—1 Akorinto 7:16.
10. Kodi Akristu angaphunzireponji pa amuna 111 achiisrayeli amene anabweza akazi awo achilendo?
10 Komanso, nkhani ya Aisrayeli amene anabweza akazi awo achilendo ikupereka phunziro labwino kwa Akristu amene ndi mbeta. Ameneŵa sayenera kuyamba kumakondana ndi amuna kapena akazi amene si okhulupirira. Kupeŵa ubwenzi woterowo kungakhale kovuta, ndipo kungakhalenso kopweteka, koma ndiyo njira yabwino koposa kuti munthu akhalebe ndi dalitso la Mulungu. Akristu akulamulidwa kuti: “Musakhale omangidwa m’goli ndi osakhulupira osiyana.” (2 Akorinto 6:14) Mkristu aliyense amene akufuna kukwatira kapena kukwatiwa ayenera kumaganizira zokwatira kapena kukwatiwa ndi wokhulupirira mnzake weniweni.—1 Akorinto 7:39.
11. Monga amuna achiisrayeliwo, kodi ifeyo tingayesedwe motani ponena za chimene chili chimwemwe chathu?
11 Komanso m’njira zina zambiri, Akristu asintha pamene adziŵitsidwa kuti sakuyenda m’njira yamalemba. (Agalatiya 6:1) Nthaŵi zambiri, magazini ino yatchula khalidwe losakhala lamalemba limene lingapangitse munthu kusakhalanso m’gulu la Mulungu. Mwachitsanzo, mu 1973 anthu a Yehova anamvetsetsa kuti kumwa mankhwala osokoneza bongo ndi kusuta fodya ndi machimo aakulu. Kuti tilondole njira ya Mulungu, tiyenera kuti “tidzikonzere tokha kuleka chodetsa chonse cha thupi ndi cha mzimu.” (2 Akorinto 7:1) Ambiri anamvetsera uphungu wa Baibulo umenewu; analola kuvutika ndi zopweteka zimene zimadza atangosiya fodya kuti akhalebe pakati pa anthu oyera a Mulungu. Chitsogozo cha m’Malemba chomveka chaperekedwanso chokhudza nkhani za kugonana, kavalidwe, kapesedwe, ndi kusankha bwino ntchito, zosangulutsa, ndi nyimbo. Kaya taphunzitsidwa za mapulinsipulo otani a m’Malemba, tiyeni tikhale ofunitsitsa ‘kusinthidwa,’ monga amuna 111 achiisrayeliwo. (2 Akorinto 13:11, NW) Zimenezi zidzasonyeza kuti mwayi wa kulambira Yehova mogwirizana ndi anthu ake oyera ‘ukuposa chimwemwe chathu chopambana.’
12. Kodi nchiyani chinachitika mu 455 B.C.E.?
12 Litasimba za nkhani yokhudza akazi achilendo, Baibulo silimatiuza zimene zinachitika m’Yerusalemu pazaka 12 zotsatira. Mosakayikira, anansi a Israyeli anakwiyiratu chifukwa cha maukwati ambiri amene anathetsedwa. Mu 455 B.C.E., Nehemiya anafika ku Yerusalemu ndi asilikali omperekeza. Anali ataikidwa kukhala kazembe wa Yuda ndipo anabweretsa makalata ochokera kwa mfumu ya Perisiya ompatsa chilolezo chakuti amangenso mzindawo.—Nehemiya 2:9, 10; 5:14.
Chitsutso cha Anansi Osirira
13. Kodi anansi achipembedzo chonyenga a Ayuda anasonyeza mzimu wotani, ndipo Nehemiya anatani?
13 Anansi achipembedzo chonyenga anatsutsa cholinga cha ulendo wa Nehemiya. Atsogoleri awo anamuopseza mwa kufunsa kuti: “Mulikupandukira mfumu kodi?” Posonyeza chikhulupiriro mwa Yehova, Nehemiya anayankha kuti: “Mulungu Wammwamba, Iye ndiye adzatilemeza; chifukwa chake ife akapolo ake tidzanyamuka ndi kumanga; koma inu mulibe gawo, kapena ulamuliro, kapena chikumbukiro, m’Yerusalemu.” (Nehemiya 2:19, 20) Atayamba kukonza lingalo, adani amodzimodziwo anawanyoza nati: ‘Alikuchitanji Ayuda ofookawa? Adzakometsanso miyala ya ku miunda? Ikakwerako nkhandwe, idzagamula linga lawo lamiyala.’ M’malo moyankha zonena zawozi, Nehemiya anapemphera kuti: “Imvani, Mulungu wathu, popeza tanyozeka ife; muwabwezere chitonzo chawo pamutu pawo.” (Nehemiya 4:2-4) Nthaŵi zonse, Nehemiya anapereka chitsanzo chabwino chimenechi cha kudalira Yehova!—Nehemiya 6:14; 13:14.
14, 15. (a) Kodi Nehemiya anachita motani adani awo atafuna kuwachita chiwawa? (b) Kodi Mboni za Yehova zapitiriza motani ntchito yawo yomanga yauzimu mosasamala kanthu za chitsutso cha anthu aukali?
14 Kuti akwaniritse ntchito yawo yofunika yolalikirayo, nawonso a Mboni za Yehova lerolino amadalira Mulungu. Otsutsa amayesa kudodometsa ntchitoyi mwa kuwanyoza. Nthaŵi zina, anthu ochita chidwi ndi uthenga wa Ufumu amasiya chifukwa chakuti amalephera kupirira manyozowo. Ngati manyozo alephera, otsutsawo angakwiye ndi kufuna kuyamba chiwawa. Izi nzimene omanga malinga a Yerusalemu anakumana nazo. Koma Nehemiya sanachite mantha. M’malo mwake, iye anawapatsa zida omangawo kuti adzitetezere kwa adani ndipo analimbitsa chikhulupiriro chawo mwa kunena kuti: “Musamawaopa iwo; kumbukirani Yehova wamkulu ndi woopsa, ndi kuponyera nkhondo abale anu, ana anu aamuna ndi aakazi, akazi anu, ndi nyumba zanu.”—Nehemiya 4:13, 14.
15 Monga momwe zinalili m’masiku a Nehemiya, Mboni za Yehova zili ndi zida zokwana bwino kuti zipitirize ntchito yawo yomanga yauzimu mosasamala kanthu za otsutsa aukali. “Kapolo wokhulupirika ndi wanzeru” wapereka chakudya chauzimu cholimbitsa chikhulupiriro, chimene chimapangitsa kuti anthu a Mulungu adzibalabe zipatso ngakhale kumene ntchitoyo njoletsedwa. (Mateyu 24:45) Chotero, Yehova akudalitsabe anthu ake mwa kuwachulukitsa padziko lonse lapansi.—Yesaya 60:22.
Mavuto Owayamba Okha
16. Kodi ndi mavuto owayamba okha otani amene akanawononga mzimu wa omanga linga la Yerusalemu?
16 Pamene anali mkati kumanga linga la Yerusalemu ndipo lingalo linali kukula, ntchitoyo inakhala yovuta kwambiri. Mpamene vuto lina linaonekera limene likanawononga mzimu wa omanga ovutikawo. Popeza kunali njala, Ayuda ena anali kuvutika kwambiri kupezera mabanja awo chakudya ndi kukhoma misonkho yawo ku boma la Perisiya. Ayuda achuma anali kuwakongoza chakudya ndi ndalama. Koma mosemphana ndi Chilamulo cha Mulungu, Aisrayeli aumphaŵiwo anali kupereka minda yawo ndi ana awo monga chikole kuti pambuyo pake adzalipire ndalamazo atawonjezerapo phindu. (Eksodo 22:25; Levitiko 25:35-37; Nehemiya 4:6, 10; 5:1-5) Tsopano okongozawo anali kufuna kuwalanda mindayo ndi kuwakakamiza kugulitsa ana awo kuti akhale akapolo. Mzimu wopanda chikondi ndiponso wokondetsa chuma umenewu unamkwiyitsa kwambiri Nehemiya. Mwamsanga anachitapo kanthu pofuna kuti Yehova apitirizebe kudalitsa ntchito yomanganso linga la Yerusalemu.
17. Kodi Nehemiya anachitanji pofuna kuti Yehova apitirizebe kudalitsa ntchito yomangayo, ndipo panali zotsatirapo zotani?
17 “Msonkhano waukulu” unachitika, ndipo Nehemiya anawasonyeza bwino lomwe Aisrayeli achuma kuti Yehova sanakondwere ndi zimene anachita. Ndiyeno anapempha olakwawo, kuphatikizapo ansembe ena, kuti abweze phindu lonse limene anali atatenga ndi kubweza minda imene, mosemphana ndi malamulo, anali atalanda kwa awo amene analephera kulipira ndalama zowonjezera. Kukondweretsa kwake nkwakuti olakwawo anati: “Tidzawabwezera osawalipitsa kanthu, tidzachita monga momwe mwanena.” Mawuwa sanali nkhambakamwa chabe, popeza Baibulo limasimba kuti “anthu anachita monga mwa mawu [a Nehemiya].” Msonkhano wonsewo unalemekeza Yehova.—Nehemiya 5:7-13.
18. Kodi Mboni za Yehova zadziŵika chifukwa cha mzimu wotani?
18 Bwanji m’tsiku lathu? M’malo mongofuna kupeza phindu, Mboni za Yehova zimadziŵika kulikonse chifukwa cha mzimu wawo wopatsa kwa okhulupirira anzawo ndi ena amene akanthidwa ndi tsoka. Monga momwe zinalili m’tsiku la Nehemiya, zimenezi zapangitsa anthu ambiri kuthokoza ndi kutamanda Yehova. Komabe ngakhale zili motero, “kapolo wokhulupirika ndi wanzeru” waona kuti nkofunika kupereka uphungu wa m’Malemba ponena za malonda ndi kufunika kwa kupeŵa kudyerera ena. M’maiko ena anthu ambiri amakonda kuika malowolo okwera kwambiri, koma Baibulo limachenjeza mosapita mbali kuti anthu aumbombo ndi olanda sadzaloŵa mu Ufumu wa Mulungu. (1 Akorinto 6:9, 10) Pamene Akristu ambiri amvera uphungu umenewu timakumbukira mmene Ayuda aja anazindikirira kuti kudyerera abale awo aumphaŵi ndi tchimo.
Linga la Yerusalemu Limalizidwa
19, 20. (a) Kodi otsutsa a zipembedzo zina anamva bwanji linga la Yerusalemu litamalizidwa? (b) Kodi ndi chipambano chotani chimene Mboni za Yehova zakhala nacho m’maiko ambiri?
19 Mosasamala kanthu za chitsutso chonsecho, linga la Yerusalemu linamalizidwa pamasiku 52. Kodi otsutsawo anamva bwanji? Nehemiya anati: “Atachimva adani athu onse, amitundu onse akutizinga anaopa, nagwadi nkhope; popeza anazindikira kuti ntchitoyi inachitika ndi Mulungu wathu.”—Nehemiya 6:16.
20 Lerolino, adani akupitirizabe kutsutsa ntchito ya Mulungu m’njira ndi m’malo osiyanasiyana. Komabe, anthu mamiliyoni ambiri aona kuti kutsutsa Mboni za Yehova nkopanda phindu. Mwachitsanzo, talingalirani zimene zinachitika kumbuyoku ku Nazi Germany, Eastern Europe, ndi m’maiko ambiri a mu Afirika poyesa kuthetsa ntchito yolalikira. Zoyesayesa zonse zimenezo zalephera, ndipo anthu ambiri tsopano amavomereza kuti ‘ntchito yathu ikuchitika ndi Mulungu.’ Zimenezi zakhala mfupo yaikulu kwambiri kwa amene akhala okhulupirika kwa nthaŵi yaitali amene anapanga kulambira Yehova kukhala ‘koposa chimwemwe chawo chopambana’ m’maiko amenewo!
21. Ndi zochitika zotani zazikulu zimene tidzakambitsirana m’nkhani yotsatira?
21 M’nkhani yotsatira, tidzapenda zochitika zazikulu zimene zinachitika mpaka kuperekedwanso kwachisangalalo kwa linga lomangidwanso la Yerusalemu. Tidzakambitsirananso mmene mzinda waulemerero koposa wopindulitsa mtundu wonse wa anthu watsalira pang’ono kumalizidwa.
Kodi Mukukumbukira?
◻ Kodi Ezara ndi ena anasangalala motani ndi Yerusalemu?
◻ Kodi Ezara ndi Nehemiya anathandiza Ayuda ambiri kuwongolera zolakwa zotani?
◻ Kodi mungatengepo maphunziro otani pankhani zokhudza Ezara ndi Nehemiya?
[Chithunzi patsamba 15]
Nehemiya anachita chidwi kwambiri ndi Yerusalemu ndipo osati ndi ntchito yake yapamwamba ya ku Susani
[Zithunzi pamasamba 16, 17]
Monga Nehemiya, tiyenera kupempherera chitsogozo ndi nyonga ya Yehova kuti tipitirizebe ntchito yathu yofunika koposayi ya kulalikira