Usindiso Kwabo Bakhetha Ukukhanya
“UYehova kukukhanya kwam nosindiso lwam. Ndiya koyika bani na?”—INDUMISO 27:1.
1. Ngawaphi amalungiselelo anik’ ubomi alungiselelwa nguYehova?
UYEHOVA nguMthombo wokukhanya kwelanga okubangela ukuba kubekho izinto eziphilayo emhlabeni. (Genesis 1:2, 14) UkwanguMdali wokukhanya kokomoya, okuphelisa ubumnyama obubulalayo behlabathi likaSathana. (Isaya 60:2; 2 Korinte 4:6; Efese 5:8-11; 6:12) Abo bakhetha ukukhanya banokuthelela umdumisi besithi: “UYehova kukukhanya kwam nosindiso lwam. Ndiya koyika bani na?” (INdumiso 27:1a) Noko ke, njengoko kwakunjalo ngexesha likaYesu, abo bakhetha ubumnyama banokulindela umgwebo oqatha kuphela.—Yohane 1:9-11; 3:19-21, 36.
2. Kumaxesha amandulo, yintoni eyenzekayo kwabo babechasa ukukhanya kukaYehova nakwabo babephulaphula ilizwi lakhe?
2 Ngemihla kaIsaya, inkoliso yabantu ababenze umnqophiso noYehova yakucekisa ukukhanya. Ngenxa yoko, uIsaya wabona ukutshatyalaliswa kobukumkani basentla bakwaSirayeli njengohlanga. Yaye ngowama-607 B.C.E., iYerusalem netempile yayo zatshatyalaliswa yaye abemi bakwaYuda basiwa ekuthinjweni. Noko ke, abo baphulaphula ilizwi likaYehova bomelezwa ukuba bachase uwexuko lwaloo mihla. Ngokuphathelele owama-607 B.C.E., uYehova wathembisa ukuba abo babemphulaphula babeya kusinda. (Yeremiya 21:8, 9) Namhlanje, thina esithanda ukukhanya sinokufunda okuninzi koko kwenzekayo emva phayaa.—Efese 5:5.
Ulonwabo Lwabo Basekukhanyeni
3. Namhlanje, yiyiphi intembelo esinokuba nayo, luluphi “uhlanga olunobulungisa” esiluthandayo, yaye sisiphi ‘isixeko esomeleleyo’ olu ‘hlanga’ olunaso?
3 “Sinesixeko esomeleleyo. [UThixo] umisa iindonga nongqameko zibe lusindiso. Vulani amasango, ukuze lungene uhlanga olunobulungisa olugcina ihambo yokuthembeka.” (Isaya 26:1, 2) La ngamazwi ovuyo abantu ababekholose ngoYehova. AmaYuda awayethembekile ngomhla kaIsaya ayekhangele kuYehova, kungekhona koothixo bobuxoki okanye abantu belizwe labo, njengokuphela koMthombo wonqabiseko. Namhlanje, sinentembelo efanayo. Ngaphezu koko, siyaluthanda ‘uhlanga lukaYehova olunobulungisa’—“uSirayeli kaThixo.” (Galati 6:16; Mateyu 21:43) NoYehova uyaluthanda olu hlanga ngenxa yokuthembeka kwalo. Ngenxa yokusikelelwa nguye, uSirayeli kaThixo ‘unesixeko esomeleleyo,’ intlangano enjengesixeko esimxhasayo nesimkhuselayo.
4. Luluphi utyekelo lwengqondo esifanele siluhlakulele?
4 Abo bakwesi ‘sixeko’ bayaqonda kakuhle ukuba “abo bazimasekileyo [uYehova] uyabalondoloza, bahlale benoxolo, kuba bakholose ngawe [Yehova].” UYehova uyabaxhasa abo iingqondo zabo zityekele ekukholoseni ngaye nabo benza ngokuvisisana nemilinganiselo yakhe yobulungisa. Ngaloo ndlela, abo babethembekile bakwaYuda basiphulaphula isibongozo sikaIsaya esithi: “Kholosani ngoYehova ngamaxesha onke, kuba likuYa uYehova iLiwa ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (Isaya 26:3, 4; INdumiso 9:10; 37:3; IMizekeliso 3:5) Abo baneso simo sengqondo bakhangela ‘kuYa uYehova’ njengokuphela kweLiwa elinqabisekileyo. Banandipha ‘ukuhlala benoxolo’ kunye naye.—Filipi 1:2; 4:6, 7.
Ukuthotywa Kweentshaba ZikaThixo
5, 6. (a) IBhabhiloni yamandulo yathotywa njani? (b) Yathotywa njani “IBhabhiloni Enkulu”?
5 Kuthekani ukuba abo bakholose ngoYehova bayabandezeleka? Akuyomfuneko ukuba boyike. UYehova uyazivumela izinto ezinjalo kangangexesha elithile, kodwa ekugqibeleni usinika isiqabu, yaye abo basibandezelayo uza kubagweba. (2 Tesalonika 1:4-7; 2 Timoti 1:8-10) Khawucinge ngemeko ‘yedolophu ethile ephakamileyo.’ UIsaya uthi: “Kuba [uYehova] ubawisile abo bangabemi kwindawo ephakamileyo, idolophu ephakamileyo. Uyayithoba, uyithobela emhlabeni; uyisondeza eluthulini. Unyawo luya kuyinyathela, iinyawo zoxhwalekileyo, amanyathelo ezisweli.” (Isaya 26:5, 6) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba idolophu ephakamileyo ekuthethwa ngayo apha yiBhabhiloni. Ngokuqinisekileyo eso sixeko sasibathuthumbisa abantu bakaThixo. Kodwa kwenzeka ntoni eBhabhiloni? Ngowama-539 B.C.E., yabhukuqwa ngamaMedi namaPersi. Okunjani kona ukuthotywa!
6 Kumhla wethu amazwi kaIsaya esiprofeto akuchaza kakuhle oko kwenzeka ‘kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu’ ukususela ngowe-1919. Loo dolophu iphakamileyo yawa ngendlela ethob’ isidima ngaloo nyaka xa yanyanzeleka ukuba ikhulule abantu bakaYehova ekuthinjweni kokomoya. (ISityhilelo 14:8) Okwenzekayo emva koko kwayithoba nangakumbi. Elo qaqobana lamaKristu ‘lamnyathela’ umthimbi walo wangaphambili. Ngowe-1922 laqalisa ukuvakalisa isiphelo seNgqobhoko, livakalisa ukukhala kwamaxilongo amane eengelosi okuchazwe kwiSityhilelo 8:7-12 nooyeha abathathu abaxelwa kwangaphambili kwiSityhilelo 9:1–11:15.
“Umendo Welungisa Uthe Tye”
7. Bafumana luphi ukhokelo abo beza ekukhanyeni kukaYehova, yaye bathembele kubani iyintoni abayithandayo?
7 UYehova unikela usindiso kwabo beza ekukhanyeni kwakhe, yaye walathisa indlela yabo, njengoko uIsaya ebonisa ngokulandelayo: “Umendo welungisa uthe tye. Ekubeni wena uthe tye, uya kugudisa umkhondo welungisa. Ewe, ngenxa yomendo wemigwebo yakho, Yehova, besithembele kuwe. Umnqweno womphefumlo usegameni lakho nakwisikhumbuzo sakho.” (Isaya 26:7, 8) UYehova nguThixo olilungisa, yaye abo bamnqulayo bamele bathobele imilinganiselo yakhe yobulungisa. Xa besenjenjalo, uYehova uyabakhokela, agudise umendo wabo. Ngokuthobela ukhokelo lwakhe, aba balulamileyo babonisa ukuba bathembele ngoYehova yaye bayalithanda igama lakhe ngentliziyo yabo iphela—‘isikhumbuzo’ sakhe.—Eksodus 3:15.
8. Sisiphi isimo sengqondo esingumzekelo esabonakaliswa nguIsaya?
8 NoIsaya wayelithanda igama likaYehova. Oku kubonakala kumazwi akhe alandelayo athi: “Bendikunqwenela ebusuku ngomphefumlo wam; ewe, ngomoya wam ngaphakathi kum ndakufuna; ngenxa yokuba, xa imigwebo yakho iziswa emhlabeni, ngokuqinisekileyo abemi belizwe elinemveliso baya kufunda ubulungisa.” (Isaya 26:9) UIsaya wayemnqwenela uYehova ‘ngomphefumlo wakhe’—ubuntu bakhe buphela. Khawube nomfanekiso-ngqondweni walo mprofeti esebenzisa ixesha lasebusuku elithe cwaka ukuze athandaze kuYehova, evakalisa iingcamango zakhe ezinzulu efuna ukhokelo lukaYehova ngokusuk’ entliziyweni. Onjani wona ukuba mhle umzekelo! Ngapha koko, uIsaya wafunda ubulungisa kwimigwebo kaYehova. Koku, usikhumbuza ngemfuneko yokuhlala sinenkalipho, siphaphile ukuze sikuqonde ukuthanda kukaYehova.
Abanye Bakhetha Ubumnyama
9, 10. Ziziphi izenzo zobubele ezenziwa nguYehova kuhlanga olwalungathembekanga, kodwa lwasabela njani?
9 UYehova wabonakalisa ububele obukhulu bothando kuYuda, kodwa okulusizi kukuba asingabo bonke abasabelayo. Uninzi lwalusoloko lukhetha ukuvukela nokuwexuka kunokukhetha ukukhanya kwenyaniso kaYehova. UIsaya wathi: “Nokuba ongendawo angababalwa, akafundi bulungisa. Elizweni lokuthe tye uya kwenza ngokungekho sikweni, angabuboni ubuhandiba bukaYehova.”—Isaya 26:10.
10 Ngomhla kaIsaya, xa isandla sikaYehova sakhusela uYuda nxamnye neentshaba zakhe, inkoliso ayizange ikunanze oko. Xa walusikelela ngoxolo lwakhe, olu hlanga aluzange lube nambulelo. Ngenxa yoko, uYehova walulahla lwaza lwakhonza “ezinye iinkosi,” ekugqibeleni wawayeka amaYuda ukuba athinjwe eBhabhiloni ngowama-607 B.C.E. (Isaya 26:11-13) Sekunjalo, intsalela yolo hlanga ekugqibeleni yabuyela kwilizwe layo, iqeqeshekile.
11, 12. (a) Babenaliphi ithemba abo babethimbe uYuda? (b) Ngowe-1919 lowo wayethimbe abakhonzi bakaYehova abathanjisiweyo ngaphambili wayenaliphi ithemba?
11 Kuthekani ngabo babethimbe uYuda? UIsaya uyaphendula ngendlela eprofetayo: “Zifile; aziyi kuphila. Ekubeni zingenamandla ekufeni, aziyi kuvuka. Ngoko ke uphethulele ingqalelo yakho ukuze uzibhubhise uze utshabalalise konke ukukhankanywa kwazo.” (Isaya 26:14) Ewe, emva kokuwa kwayo ngowama-539 B.C.E., iBhabhiloni yayingenakamva. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, eso sixeko sasingayi kubakho. Sasingayi kuba ‘namandla ekufeni,’ yaye ubukhosi baso obukhulu babuza kuphoswa kwelokulibala. Esinjani sona isilumkiso kwabo bathembele kwabo banamandla beli hlabathi!
12 Iinkalo zesi siprofeto zazaliseka xa uThixo wavumela abakhonzi bakhe abathanjisiweyo ukuba bathinjwe ngokomoya ngowe-1918 waza wabakhulula ngowe-1919. Ukususela ngoko, ikamva lalowo wayebathimbile ngaphambili, ngokuyintloko iNgqobhoko, lalimfiliba. Kodwa abantu bakaYehova babegcinelwe iintsikelelo eziyintabalala ngokwenene.
“Wongeze Uhlanga”
13, 14. Yiyiphi intabalala yeentsikelelo eye yananditshwa ngabakhonzi bakaYehova abathanjisiweyo ukususela ngowe-1919?
13 UThixo wawusikelela umoya wokuguquka wabakhonzi bakhe abathanjisiweyo ngowe-1919 waza wabathi jize ngolwando. Okokuqala, kwanikelwa ingqalelo ekuhlanganisweni kwamalungu okugqibela kaSirayeli kaThixo, kwaza emva koko kwahlanganiswa “isihlwele esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’. (ISityhilelo 7:9; Yohane 10:16) Ezi ntsikelelo zaxelwa kwangaphambili kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya: “Wongeze uhlanga; Yehova, wongeze uhlanga; uzizukisile. Uyolulele kude yonke imida yelizwe. Owu Yehova, ebudeni bokubandezeleka baphethulele ingqalelo yabo kuwe; bathulula umthandazo besebeza ekufumaneni kwabo ingqeqesho yakho.”—Isaya 26:15, 16.
14 Namhlanje, imida kaSirayeli kaThixo iye yanwenwa emhlabeni wonke, yaye isihlwele esikhulu esiye sanda ngoku, ngabantu abamalunga nezigidi ezithandathu abanesabelo ngenzondelelo kumsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. (Mateyu 24:14) Enjani yona intsikelelo evela kuYehova! Yaye olunjani lona uzuko kwigama lakhe! Namhlanje elo gama kuthethwa ngalo kumazwe angama-235—inzaliseko engummangaliso yedinga lakhe.
15. Luluphi uvuko lokomfuziselo olwenzeka ngowe-1919?
15 UYuda wayefuna uncedo lukaYehova ukuze akhululeke kubukhoboka baseBhabhiloni. Wayengenakukhululeka ngaphandle kokuba afumane uncedo. (Isaya 26:17, 18) Ngokufanayo, ukukhululwa kukaSirayeli kaThixo ngowe-1919 kwakububungqina benkxaso kaYehova. Wayengenakukhululwa ngaphandle kwakhe. Ukuguquka kwemeko yakhe kwakusothusa kakhulu kangangokuba uIsaya uyifanisa novuko: “Abafileyo bakho baya kuphila. Izidumbu zakowethu—ziya kuvuka. Vukani nize nimemelele ngovuyo, nina bahlala eluthulini! Kuba umbethe wenu unjengombethe wemifuno, nomhlaba uya kubangela bazalwe kwanabo bangenamandla ekufeni.” (Isaya 26:19; ISityhilelo 11:7-11) Ewe, abo bafileyo, ngokungathi kunjalo, baya kuzalwa ngokutsha ukuze benze umsebenzi ohlaziyiweyo!
Ukukhuselwa Ngamaxesha Engozi
16, 17. (a) Ngowama-539 B.C.E., kwakufuneka amaYuda enze ntoni ukuze asinde ekuweni kweBhabhiloni? (b) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abhekisela entwenini ‘amagumbi angaphakathi’ namhlanje, yaye singenelwa njani kuwo?
16 Abakhonzi bakaYehova basoloko beyifuna inkuselo yakhe. Noko ke, kungekudala uya kusolula okokugqibela isandla sakhe nxamnye nehlabathi likaSathana, yaye abanquli bakhe baya kufuna uncedo lwakhe ngaphezu kunanini na ngaphambili. (1 Yohane 5:19) Ngokuphathelele elo xesha liyingozi, uYehova uyasilumkisa esithi: “Hambani, bantu bam, ningene emagumbini enu angaphakathi, nize nivale iingcango zenu emva kwenu. Zifihleni umzuzwana kude kudlule isiqalekiso. Kuba, khangela! uYehova uyeza evela endaweni yakhe ukuze aphendulise ngesiphoso sommi welizwe nxamnye naye, ibe ngokuqinisekileyo ilizwe liya kulubhenca uphalazo-gazi lwalo kwaye aliyi kuba sabagubungela ababuleweyo balo.” (Isaya 26:20, 21; Zefaniya 1:14) Esi silumkiso sabonisa amaYuda indlela yokusinda ekuweni kweBhabhiloni ngowama-539 B.C.E. Abo basithobelayo bamele ukuba bahlala ezindlwini zabo, basinda kumajoni awayesezitratweni ethimba.
17 Namhlanje, ‘amagumbi angaphakathi’ esiprofeto kusenokwenzeka ukuba afanekisela amashumi amawaka amabandla abantu bakaYehova asehlabathini lonke. Loo mabandla ayinkuselo kwanangoku, indawo amaKristu anokufumana ukhuseleko kuyo phakathi kwabazalwana bawo, phantsi kwenyameko enothando yabadala. (Isaya 32:1, 2; Hebhere 10:24, 25) Oku kuyinyaniso ngokukodwa xa sibona ukusondela kwesiphelo sale nkqubo yezinto apho ukusinda kuya kuxhomekeka ekuthobeleni.—Zefaniya 2:3.
18. UYehova uya ‘kusibulala njani isilo saselwandle’ kungekudala?
18 Ngokuphathelele elo xesha, uIsaya uprofeta esithi: “Ngaloo mini uYehova, ngekrele lakhe elilukhuni nelikhulu nelomeleleyo, uya kuphethulela ingqalelo yakhe kwiLeviyatan, inyoka enyebelezayo, kuyo kanye iLeviyatan, inyoka egwenxa, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo uya kusibulala eso silo sikhulu saselwandle.” (Isaya 27:1) Yintoni ‘iLeviyatan’ yanamhlanje? Kuyabonakala ukuba ‘yinyoka yantlandlolo,’ uSathana ngokwakhe, kunye nenkqubo yakhe engendawo yezinto, leyo ayisebenzisayo ekulweni imfazwe nxamnye noSirayeli kaThixo. (ISityhilelo 12:9, 10, 17; 13:14, 16, 17) Ngowe-1919, abantu bakaThixo baphuncuka kwiLeviyatan. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, iya kunyamalala ngokupheleleyo. (ISityhilelo 19:19-21; 20:1-3, 10) Ngaloo ndlela, uYehova uya “kusibulala eso silo sikhulu saselwandle.” Okwangoku, akukho nto iLeviyatan enokuzama ukuyenza nxamnye nabantu bakaYehova eya kuphumelela ixesha elide. (Isaya 54:17) Hayi indlela ekomeleza ngayo ukuqinisekiswa ngoko!
“Isidiliya Sewayini Ebilayo”
19. Injani imeko yentsalela namhlanje?
19 Xa sicinga ngako konke oku kukhanya kuvela kuYehova, ngaba asinasizathu sokuba nemihlali? Eneneni kunjalo! UIsaya uluchaza kakuhle uvuyo lwabantu bakaYehova xa ebhala esithi: “Ngaloo mini, vumani ingoma nithi: ‘Isidiliya sewayini ebilayo! Mna, Yehova, ndingumlondolozi waso. Ndiya kusinkcenkceshela mzuzu ngamnye. Ukuze kungabikho bani uphethulela ingqalelo yakhe nxamnye naso, ndiya kusilondoloza ubusuku nemini.’” (Isaya 27:2, 3) UYehova uye wasinyamekela “isidiliya,” intsalela kaSirayeli kaThixo, namaqabane ayo asebenza nzima. (Yohane 15:1-8) Umphumo uye waba sisiqhamo esizisa uzuko egameni lakhe nesibangela imihlali phakathi kwabakhonzi bakhe abasemhlabeni.
20. UYehova ulikhusela njani ibandla lobuKristu?
20 Sinokuba nemincili kuba umsindo awayenawo uYehova ngaphambili nxamnye nabakhonzi bakhe abathanjisiweyo—awathi ngenxa yawo wavumela ukuba bathinjwe ngokomoya ngowe-1918—uphelile. UYehova uthi: “Andinamsindo. Ngubani na oya kundinika amatyholo anameva nokhula edabini? Ndiza kunyathela kuzo. Ndiza kuzitshisa ngaxeshanye. Kungenjalo makabambelele egwibeni lam, makaxolelane nam; makaxolelane nam.” (Isaya 27:4, 5) Ukuze aqiniseke ukuba imidiliya yakhe iqhubeka ivelisa intabalala ‘yewayini ebilayo,’ uYehova uyayisusa aze ayitshabalalise nayiphi na impembelelo efana nokhula enokuyonakalisa. Ngenxa yoko, makungabikho bani uyibek’ engozini impilo-ntle yebandla lobuKristu! Sonke ‘masibambelele egwibeni likaYehova,’ sifune inkoliseko nenkuselo yakhe. Ngokwenjenjalo, sizenzela uxolo noThixo—into ebaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba uIsaya uyikhankanya kabini.—INdumiso 85:1, 2, 8; Roma 5:1.
21. Ilizwe elinemveliso liye lazaliswa “ngemveliso” njani?
21 Iintsikelelo ziyaqhubeka: “Kwimihla ezayo uYakobi uya kumila ingcambu, uSirayeli uya kutyatyamba aze okunene ahlume; baya kusuka bazalise ilizwe elinemveliso ngemveliso.” (Isaya 27:6) Le ndinyana ibizaliseka ukususela ngowe-1919, inikela ubungqina obungummangaliso bamandla kaYehova. AmaKristu athanjisiweyo aye azalisa umhlaba “ngemveliso,” ukutya kokomoya okunesondlo. Kweli hlabathi lonakeleyo, alondoloza imilinganiselo kaThixo ephakamileyo ngovuyo. Yaye uYehova uyaqhubeka ewasikelela ngolwando. Ngenxa yoko, amaqabane awo azizigidi, ezinye izimvu, ‘anikela inkonzo engcwele kuThixo imini nobusuku etempileni yakhe.’ (ISityhilelo 7:15) Ngamana singahlala sinombono welungelo elizukileyo lokuba nenxaxheba ‘kwimveliso’ size sabelane ngayo nabanye!
22. Ziziphi iintsikelelo ezifunyanwa ngabo bamkela ukukhanya?
22 Kula maxesha anomngcipheko, xa ubumnyama bugubungele umhlaba nesithokothoko sobumnyama sigubungele amaqela eentlanga, ngaba asinambulelo kuba uYehova ekhanyisela abantu bakhe ngokukhanya kokomoya? (Isaya 60:2; Roma 2:19; 13:12) Kubo bonke abakwamkelayo, oko kukhanya kuthetha ukuba noxolo lwengqondo nokuba novuyo ngoku kwanobomi obungunaphakade kwixesha elizayo. Ngoko ke, thina bathanda ukukhanya sinesizathu esihle sokudumisa uYehova ngeentliziyo zethu size kunye nomdumisi sithi: “UYehova ligwiba lobomi bam. Ndiya kunkwantyiswa ngubani na? Thembela ngoYehova; yiba nesibindi uze uvumele intliziyo yakho yomelele. Ewe, thembela ngoYehova.”—INdumiso 27:1b, 14.
Ngaba Usakhumbula?
• Liliphi ikamva elilindele abo bacinezela abantu bakaYehova?
• Luluphi ulwando ekuprofetwe ngalo kuIsaya?
• Ngawaphi ‘amagumbi angaphakathi’ esifanele sihlale kuwo, yaye ngoba?
• Kutheni imeko abakuyo abantu bakaYehova isizisa indumiso kuye?
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 22]
IMPAPASHO ENTSHA
Inkoliso yenkcazelo exutyushwe kula manqaku afundisiswayo yanikelwa njengentetho kucwangciso lwendibano yesithili yowama-2000/2001. Ekupheleni kwentetho, kwakhululwa impapasho entsha ethi, Isiprofeto SikaIsaya—Ukhanyiselo Lwalo Lonke Uluntu I. Le ncwadi inamaphepha angama-416 iqulethe ingxubusho yendinyana ngendinyana yezahluko zokuqala ezingama-40 zencwadi kaIsaya.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 18]
Ngamalungisa kuphela avunyelwe ukungena kwintlangano kaYehova ‘esisixeko esomeleleyo’
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 19]
UIsaya wamfuna uYehova “ebusuku”
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 21]
UYehova uyasikhusela “isidiliya” sakhe aze asenze sibe nemveliso