Isahluko Samashumi Amabini Ananye
Isandla SikaYehova Siyaphakama
1. Kutheni uIsaya enoxabiso ngoYehova?
UISAYA unothando olunzulu ngoYehova yaye uyayoliswa kukumdumisa. Udanduluka athi: “Owu Yehova, unguThixo wam. Ndiyakuphakamisa, ndiyalibonga igama lakho.” Yintoni enceda lo mprofeti abe noxabiso olukhulu kangako ngoMdali wakhe? Esona sizathu siyintloko lulwazi analo ngoYehova nangezenzo zakhe. Olu lwazi silubona kumazwi alandelayo kaIsaya, athi: “Kuba wenze izinto ezimangalisayo, amacebo ukususela kumaxesha angaphambili, ukuthembeka, ukukholoseka.” (Isaya 25:1) NjengoYoshuwa owayengaphambi kwakhe, uIsaya uyazi ukuba uYehova uthembekile yaye kunokukholoswa ngaye kwaye onke “amacebo” akhe—izinto anenjongo yokuzenza—ayinyaniso.—Yoshuwa 23:14.
2. Liliphi icebo likaYehova alivakalisayo ngoku uIsaya, yaye lisenokuba libhekisela koobani eli cebo?
2 Amacebo kaYehova aquka izibhengezo zakhe zomgwebo nxamnye neentshaba zikaSirayeli. Ngoku uIsaya uvakalisa esinye sazo, esithi: “Isixeko usenze saba yimfumba yamatye, idolophu enqatyisiweyo yaba linxuwa eliwohlokayo, inqaba yokuhlala yabasemzini ayabi sosixeko, esingayi kubuya sakhiwe ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (Isaya 25:2) Sisiphi esi sixeko singachazwanga ngagama? Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uIsaya ubhekisela kwiAri yakwaMowabhi—Mowabhi lowo ekukudala elutshaba lwabantu bakaThixo.a Okanye usenokuba ubhekisela kwesinye isixeko, esinamandla ngakumbi—iBhabhiloni.—Isaya 15:1; Zefaniya 2:8, 9.
3. UYehova uzukiswa njani ziintshaba zakhe?
3 Ziza kusabela njani iintshaba zikaYehova ekuphunyezweni kwecebo lakhe nxamnye nesixeko sazo esomeleleyo? “Abo basisizwana esomeleleyo [baya] kukuzukisa; idolophu yeentlanga ezingoozwilakhe ziya kukoyika.” (Isaya 25:3) Iyaqondakala into yokuba iintshaba zikaThixo usomandla ziya kumoyika. Kodwa ke, ziza kumzukisa njani? Ngaba ziza kubatyeshela oothixo bazo bobuxoki zize zamkele unqulo olunyulu? Akunjalo! Kunoko, njengoFaro noNebhukadenetsare, zimzukisa uYehova xa zinyanzeleka ukuba ziluvume ulongamo lwakhe olubalaseleyo.—Eksodus 10:16, 17; 12:30-33; Daniyeli 4:37.
4. Yiyiphi “idolophu yeentlanga ezingoozwilakhe” ekhoyo namhlanje, ibe nayo ifanele imzukise njani uYehova?
4 Namhlanje “idolophu yeentlanga ezingoozwilakhe” ‘isisixeko esikhulu esinobukumkani phezu kookumkani bomhlaba,’ oko kukuthi, “iBhabhiloni Enkulu,” ubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki. (ISityhilelo 17:5, 18) Inxalenye eyintloko yobu bukhosi yiNgqobhoko. Iinkokeli zonqulo zeNgqobhoko zimzukisa njani uYehova? Ngokuthi nakuba kubuhlungu kodwa zizivume izinto ezimangalisayo aye waziphumeza ngenxa yamaNgqina akhe. Ingakumbi ngowe-1919 xa uYehova waphinda wabanika amandla abakhonzi bakhe okwenza imisebenzi emikhulu emva kokukhululwa kwabo kubukhoboka bokomoya beBhabhiloni Enkulu, ezi nkokeli ‘zothuka zaza zamzukisa uThixo wezulu.’—ISityhilelo 11:13.b
5. UYehova ubakhusela njani abo bakholose ngokupheleleyo ngaye?
5 Nangona esoyikeka kwiintshaba zakhe, uYehova uligwiba kwabalulamileyo nabathobekileyo abafuna ukumkhonza. Oozwilakhe bonqulo nabezobupolitika basenokuzama konke okusemandleni abo ukwaphula ukholo lwabanquli bokwenyaniso, kodwa abaphumeleli ngenxa yokuba bakholose ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova. Ekugqibeleni, ubathulisa ngokulula abachasi bakhe, esenjenjalo ngokungathi ugquma ingqatsini yelanga lasentlango ngelifu okanye ngokungathi uthintela isiphango ngodonga.—Funda uIsaya 25:4, 5.
‘Isidlo Sazo Zonke Izizwana’
6, 7. (a) Luhlobo olunjani lwesidlo asilungiselelayo uYehova, yaye esilungiselela oobani? (b) Sifanekisela ntoni isidlo aprofeta ngaso uIsaya?
6 Njengobawo onothando, uYehova akaneli nje ngokubakhusela kodwa ukwabondla nokubondla abantwana bakhe, ingakumbi ngokomoya. Emva kokubakhulula abantu bakhe ngowe-1919, wabenzela isidlo soloyiso, intabalala yokudla kokomoya: “Ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova wemikhosi uya kwenzela zonke izizwana, kule ntaba, isidlo sokutya okuneoli eninzi, isidlo sewayini egcinwe ngeentsipho, sokutya okuneoli eninzi okuzaliswe ngumongo, sewayini egcinwe ngeentsipho, yahluzwa.”—Isaya 25:6.
7 Esi sidlo senzelwa ‘entabeni’ kaYehova. Iyintoni le ntaba? ‘Yintaba yendlu kaYehova’ eziba ngumsinga ukuya kuyo zonke iintlanga “ekupheleni kwemihla.” ‘Yintaba engcwele’ kaYehova, apho abanquli bakhe abathembekileyo bengonzakalisiyo okanye bonakalise. (Isaya 2:2; 11:9) Kule ndawo iphakanyisiweyo yonqulo, uYehova wenzela abathembekileyo bakhe isidlo esikhulu. Yaye le ndyebo yokomoya ifanekisela indyebo yokwenyama eza kubakho xa uBukumkani bukaThixo busiba kuphela korhulumente woluntu. Iya kwandula ke iphele indlala. “Kuya kubakho ukudla okuziinkozo okuninzi emhlabeni; encotsheni yeentaba kuya kubakho ukuphuphuma.”—INdumiso 72:8, 16.
8, 9. (a) Ziziphi iintshaba ezimbini zoluntu eziza kushenxiswa? Cacisa. (b) Yintoni aza kuyenza uThixo ukushenxisa ungcikivo lwabantu bakhe?
8 Abo bazondlayo ngoku kwesi sidlo sokomoya banamathemba azukileyo. Phulaphula la mazwi alandelayo kaIsaya. Ethelekisa isono nokufa kunye nento ‘elukiweyo,’ okanye ‘isigubungelo’ esifuthaniselayo, uthi: “Kule ntaba ngokuqinisekileyo [uYehova] uya kuginya ubuso besigubungelo esigubungela zonke izizwana, nomsebenzi olukiweyo ogubungela zonke iintlanga. Okunene uya kuginya ukufa ngonaphakade, yaye iNkosi enguMongami uYehova ngokuqinisekileyo iya kosula iinyembezi ebusweni bonke.”—Isaya 25:7, 8a.
9 Ewe, isono nokufa ziza kuphela! (ISityhilelo 21:3, 4) Ngaphezu koko, ungcikivo lobuxoki abaye abakhonzi bakaYehova balunyamezela kangangamawaka eminyaka nalo luza kuphela. “Nongcikivo lwabantu bakhe uya kulususa emhlabeni wonke, kuba uYehova uthethile.” (Isaya 25:8b) Kuza kwenzeka njani oku? UYehova uza kuwushenxisa umthombo wolo ngcikivo, uSathana nembewu yakhe. (ISityhilelo 20:1-3) Akumangalisi ke ngoko ukuba abantu bakaThixo beza kudanduluka bathi: “Khangela! Lo nguThixo wethu. Besithembele kuye, ibe uya kusisindisa. Lo nguYehova. Besithembele kuye. Masivuye sibe nemihlali ngosindiso lwakhe.”—Isaya 25:9.
Abaziphakamisileyo Bayathotywa
10, 11. Yiyiphi impatho eqatha uYehova ayigcinele uMowabhi?
10 UYehova uyabasindisa abantu bakhe abathobekileyo. Noko ke, ummelwane kaSirayeli uMowabhi unekratshi, yaye uYehova ubathiyile abanekratshi. (IMizekeliso 16:18) Ngoko ke, uMowabhi uza kuthotywa. “Isandla sikaYehova siya kuhlala kule ntaba, yaye uMowabhi uya kunyathelwa kule ndawo yakhe njengemfumba yeendiza inyathelwa endaweni yomgquba. Uya kolula izandla zakhe phakathi kwayo njengendadi izolula xa idadayo, yaye uya kumthoba kwimpakamo yakhe ngokushukuma okukhohlisayo kwezandla zakhe. Uya kusiwisa isixeko esinqatyisiweyo, neendonga zakho eziphakamileyo zonqabiseko; uya kusithoba, asingqule emhlabeni, eluthulini.”—Isaya 25:10-12.
11 Isandla sikaYehova siza “kuhlala” entabeni yakwaMowabhi. Uza kuba yintoni umphumo woko? UMowabhi oziphakamisileyo uza kuthotywa aze anyathelelwe phantsi “endaweni yomgquba.” Ngexesha likaIsaya, iindiza bezixangxathwa zibe ziimfumba zomgquba osisichumiso; ngoko uIsaya uxela kwangaphambili ukuthotywa kukaMowabhi, phezu kwako nje ukuphakama nokunqabiseka kweendonga zakhe.
12. Kutheni inguMowabhi nje okhethelwe esi sibhengezo sikaYehova somgwebo?
12 Kutheni uYehova esibhekisa kuMowabhi kuphela esi siluleko siqatha? Kuba amaMowabhi ayinzala kaLote, umtshana ka-Abraham ongumnquli kaYehova. Ngoko, akapheleli nje ekubeni ngabamelwane bohlanga lukaThixo lomnqophiso kodwa akwazizalamane zalo. Phezu kwako nje oko, azibandakanye noothixo bobuxoki aza akha ubutshaba obuqinileyo noSirayeli. Liwafanele eli shwangusha. Singatsho ukuba, uMowabhi lo ufana nqwa neentshaba zabakhonzi bakaYehova namhlanje. Ikakhulu ufana neNgqobhoko, ezibanga iyinzalelwane yebandla lamaKristu lenkulungwane yokuqala kodwa, njengoko sibonile ngaphambilana, iyinxalenye eyintloko yeBhabhiloni Enkulu.
Ingoma Yosindiso
13, 14. Sisiphi ‘isixeko esomeleleyo’ abanaso abantu bakaThixo namhlanje, yaye ngoobani abavumelekileyo ukungena kuso?
13 Kuthekani ngabantu bakaThixo? Bezaliswe yimincili ngenxa yokubabalwa nokukhuselwa kwabo nguYehova, batsho ngoncuthu lwengoma. “Ngaloo mini kuya kuvunywa le ngoma elizweni lakwaYuda: ‘Sinesixeko esomeleleyo. Umisa iindonga nongqameko zibe lusindiso. Vulani amasango, ukuze lungene uhlanga olunobulungisa olugcina ihambo yokuthembeka.’” (Isaya 26:1, 2) Ngoxa la mazwi ngokungathandabuzekiyo azalisekayo kumaxesha amandulo, ngokucacileyo ayazaliseka nanamhlanje. “Uhlanga olunobulungisa” lukaYehova, uSirayeli wokomoya, lujizekwe ngentlangano efana nesixeko esomeleleyo. Esinjani sona isizathu sokuba nemihlali, nesokucula!
14 Luhlobo olunjani lwabantu olungena kwesi “sixeko”? Le ngoma iyaphendula, ithi: “Abo bazimasekileyo uyabalondoloza [Thixo], bahlale benoxolo, kuba bakholose ngawe. Kholosani ngoYehova ngamaxesha onke, kuba likuYa uYehova iLiwa ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (Isaya 26:3, 4) “Abo bazimasekileyo” uYehova abalondolozayo ngabo banomnqweno wokuthobela imilinganiselo yakhe yobulungisa nabakholose ngaye, bangakholosi ngezorhwebo, ezobupolitika, neenkqubo zonqulo ezingazinzanga zehlabathi. “UYa uYehova” nguye kuphela oliLiwa elithembekileyo lonqabiseko. Abo bakholose ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova bayakhuseleka yaye ‘bahlala benoxolo.’—IMizekeliso 3:5, 6; Filipi 4:6, 7.
15. Ithotywe njani “idolophu ephakamileyo” namhlanje, yaye “iinyawo zoxhwalekileyo” ziyinyathela njani?
15 Hayi indlela okwahluke ngayo oku koko kwenzeka kwiintshaba zabantu bakaThixo! “Ubawisile abo bangabemi kwindawo ephakamileyo, idolophu ephakamileyo. Uyayithoba, uyithobela emhlabeni; uyisondeza eluthulini. Unyawo luya kuyinyathela, iinyawo zoxhwalekileyo, amanyathelo ezisweli.” (Isaya 26:5, 6) Kwakhona, uIsaya usenokuba apha ubhekisela ‘kwidolophu ephakamileyo’ yakwaMowabhi, okanye usenokuba uthetha ngesinye isixeko, njengeBhabhiloni, eziphakamisileyo ngokuqinisekileyo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuba ubhekisela entwenini na, kodwa uYehova uza kuyibhukuqa loo “dolophu ephakamileyo,” ize ‘inyathelwe ngabaxhwalekileyo nabazizisweli’ bakhe. Namhlanje esi siprofeto siyifanela ncam iBhabhiloni Enkulu, ingakumbi iNgqobhoko. Ngowe-1919 le “dolophu ephakamileyo” yanyanzeleka ukuba ibakhulule abantu bakaYehova—nto leyo eyaba kukuwa okuyithob’ isidima—baza bona, ukusuka apho, bamnyathela lo mqweqwedisi wabo wakudala. (ISityhilelo 14:8) Njani? Ngokuvakalisa ekuhleni ukuza kwengqumbo kaYehova phezu kwakhe.—ISityhilelo 8:7-12; 9:14-19.
Ukunqwenela Ubulungisa ‘Nesikhumbuzo’ SikaYehova
16. Nguwuphi umzekelo omhle wenzondelelo awumiselayo uIsaya?
16 Emva kwale ngoma yoloyiso, uIsaya utyhila ubunzulu benzondelelo yakhe nemivuzo yokukhonza uThixo wobulungisa. (Funda uIsaya 26:7-9.) Lo mprofeti umisela umzekelo omhle ‘wokuthembela kuYehova’ nowokuba nomnqweno onzulu ‘ngegama’ ‘nangesikhumbuzo’ sikaYehova. Siyintoni isikhumbuzo sikaYehova? IEksodus 3:15 ithi: “UYehova . . . lilo elo igama lam kuse kwixesha elingenammiselo, yaye sisikhumbuzo sam eso kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana.” UIsaya ulihlonela ngokunzulu igama likaYehova nako konke oko limela kona, kuquka imilinganiselo neendlela zakhe zobulungisa. Abo bahlakulela uthando olufanayo ngoYehova ngokuqinisekileyo baza kusikelelwa nguye.—INdumiso 5:8; 25:4, 5; 135:13; Hoseya 12:5.
17. Ngawaphi amalungelo abaza kuwavinjwa abangendawo?
17 Noko ke, asingabo bonke abamthandayo uYehova nemilinganiselo yakhe ephakamileyo. (Funda uIsaya 26:10.) Abangendawo, nokuba sebecengwa, bala ngenkani ukufunda ubulungisa obubakhokelela “elizweni lokuthe tye,” ilizwe elinabakhonzi bakaYehova abathe tye ngokokuziphatha nangokomoya. Ngenxa yoko, abangendawo ‘abayi kububona ubuhandiba bukaYehova.’ Abayi kuphila baze banandiphe iintsikelelo eziya kuthululelwa eluntwini emva kokuba igama likaYehova lingcwalisiwe. Kwanakwihlabathi elitsha, apho wonke umhlaba uya kube ‘ulilizwe lokuthe tye,’ abanye basenokungabamkeli ububele bukaYehova bothando. Amagama abanjalo akayi kubhalwa encwadini yobomi.—Isaya 65:20; ISityhilelo 20:12, 15.
18. Abanye ngomhla kaIsaya bakukhetha njani ukuzimfamekisa, yaye baza kunyanzeleka nini ukuba ‘babone’ uYehova?
18 “Owu Yehova, isandla sakho siphakamile, kodwa abakuboni oko. Baya kubona baze babe neentloni ngenzondelelo ngabantu bakho. Ewe, wona kanye umlilo weentshaba zakho uya kuzidla uzigqibe.” (Isaya 26:11) Ngomhla kaIsaya, isandla sikaYehova siye saphakama ngokukhusela kwakhe abantu bakhe ngokuthi athabathe inyathelo nxamnye neentshaba zakhe. Kodwa inkoliso ayikhange ikuqonde oku. Abanjalo, abakhetha ukuzimfamekisa ngokomoya, baza kunyanzeleka ekugqibeleni ukuba ‘babone,’ okanye bamvume uYehova, xa bedliwa ngumlilo wenzondelelo yakhe. (Zefaniya 1:18) Kamva uThixo uthi kuHezekile: ‘Baza kwazi ukuba ndinguYehova.’—Hezekile 38:23.
“Lowo UYehova Amthandayo Uyamqeqesha”
19, 20. UYehova ubaqeqeshe ngasiphi isizathu yaye nini abantu bakhe, yaye ngoobani abaye bancedwa seso siluleko?
19 UIsaya uyazi ukuba naluphi na uxolo nokuchuma abakunandiphayo abantu belizwe lakhe kubangelwa yintsikelelo kaYehova. “Owu Yehova, uya kusimisela uxolo, ngenxa yokuba kwanemisebenzi yethu yonke usenzele.” (Isaya 26:12) Phezu kwako nje oku naphezu kwako nje ukuvulela kukaYehova abantu bakhe ithuba lokuba ‘bubukumkani nababingeleli nohlanga olungcwele,’ uYuda unembali exengaxengayo. (Eksodus 19:6) Ngokuphindaphindiweyo, abantu bakhe baye baphindela kunqulo lwezithixo zobuxoki. Ngenxa yoko, baye baqeqeshwa kaninzi. Noko ke, uqeqesho olunjalo lububungqina bothando lukaYehova kuba “lowo uYehova amthandayo uyamqeqesha.”—Hebhere 12:6.
20 Ngokufuthi, uYehova ubaqeqesha abantu bakhe ngokuvumela ezinye iintlanga, “ezinye iinkosi,” ukuba zibalawule. (Funda uIsaya 26:13.) Ngowama-607 B.C.E., uyabayekela ukuba bathinjwe ngamaBhabhiloni. Ngaba oku kuyabanceda? Ukubandezeleka kona ngokwako akumncedi nganto umntu. Noko ke, ukuba lowo ubandezelekayo ufunda isifundo koko kwenzekayo, aguquke, aze azinikele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova, wandula ke ancedakale. (Duteronomi 4:25-31) Ngaba akho amaYuda abonisa inguquko yobuthixo? Ewe! UIsaya uprofeta athi: “Siya kulikhankanya ngawe kuphela igama lakho.” Emva kokubuya kwawo ekuthinjweni ngowama-537 B.C.E., amaYuda kuye kwafuneka aqeqeshwe ngokufuthi ngenxa yezinye izono, kodwa akazange aphinde awele kumgibe wokunqula oothixo bamatye.
21. Yintoni eza kwenzeka kwabo bebecinezela abantu bakaThixo?
21 Kuthekani ngeentshaba zikaYuda? “Ekubeni zingenamandla ekufeni, aziyi kuvuka. Ngoko ke uphethulele ingqalelo yakho ukuze uzibhubhise uze utshabalalise konke ukukhankanywa kwazo.” (Isaya 26:14) IBhabhiloni iza kubandezeleka ngenxa yokuluphatha kwayo ngenkohlakalo uhlanga olunyuliweyo lukaYehova. Esebenzisa amaMedi namaPersi, uYehova uza kuyibhukuqa iBhabhiloni enekratshi aze abakhulule abantu bakhe ekuthinjweni. Eso sixeko sikhulu, iBhabhiloni, siza kuphelelwa ngamandla, ngokungathi sifile. Ekugqibeleni, siza kuphela kuthi tu.
22. Kule mihla, baye basikelelwa njani abantu bakaThixo?
22 Kwinzaliseko yale mihla, intsalela yoSirayeli wokomoya oqeqeshiweyo iye yakhululwa kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu yaza yabuyiselwa kwinkonzo kaYehova ngowe-1919. Njengoko ehlaziyekile, la maKristu athanjisiweyo azibhokoxa ngamandla emsebenzini wawo wokushumayela. (Mateyu 24:14) Ngoko, uYehova uye wawasikelela ngolwando, wada wangenisa isihlwele esikhulu ‘sezinye izimvu’ ukuba sikhonze kunye nawo. (Yohane 10:16) “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.
“Ziya Kuvuka”
23. (a) Kukuphi ukubonakaliswa okubalaseleyo kwamandla kaYehova okwenzekayo ngowama-537 B.C.E.? (b) Kukuphi ukubonakaliswa okufanayo okwenzekayo ngowe-1919 C.E.?
23 UIsaya ubuyela kwimeko kaYuda ngoxa esesekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni. Uluthelekisa olu hlanga nomfazi osezintlungwini zokubeleka kodwa ongakwaziyo ukuzala ngenxa yokungafumani luncedo. (Funda uIsaya 26:17, 18.) Olo ncedo lufika ngowama-537 B.C.E., baze abantu bakaYehova babuyele ezweni labo, bezimisele ukwakha itempile nokuhlaziya unqulo lokwenyaniso. Eneneni, olu hlanga luvuswe ekufeni. “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) Okunjani kona ukubonakaliswa kwamandla kaYehova! Kwakhona, okunjani kona ukubonakaliswa kwawo ngakumbi ekuzalisekeni kwala mazwi ngengqiqo yokomoya ngowe-1919! (ISityhilelo 11:7-11) Yaye hayi indlela esikhangele ngayo phambili kwixesha lokuzaliseka kwala mazwi ngokoqobo kwihlabathi elitsha baze abo bangenamandla ekufeni ‘balive ilizwi likaYesu baze baphume’ kumangcwaba enkumbulo!—Yohane 5:28, 29.
24, 25. (a) AmaYuda asenokuba awuthobela njani umyalelo kaYehova wokuzifihla ngowama-539 B.C.E.? (b) Asenokuba afanekisela ntoni ‘amagumbi angaphakathi’ kumaxesha ethu, yaye sisiphi isimo sengqondo esifanele sibe naso ngawo?
24 Noko ke, ukuze abathembekileyo banandiphe iintsikelelo zokomoya ezithenjiswe ngoIsaya, bamele bathobele umyalelo kaYehova othi: “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; thelekisa uZefaniya 1:14.) Esi sicatshulwa sisenokuba sizaliseka okokuqala xa amaMedi namaPersi, akhokelwa nguKumkani uKoreshi, esoyisa iBhabhiloni ngowama-539 B.C.E. Ngokutsho kombhali-mbali ongumGrike uXenophon, ekungeneni kukaKoreshi eBhabhiloni, uyalela bonke abantu ukuba bahlale ezindlwini zabo kuba umkhosi wakhe “uyalelwe ukuba ubulale bonke abo ubafumana bengaphandle.” Namhlanje, ‘amagumbi angaphakathi’ esi siprofeto asenokuthelekiswa namashumi amawaka amabandla abantu bakaYehova ehlabathini lonke. La mabandla aya kuqhubeka enendima eyintloko ebomini bethu, kwanasebudeni ‘bembandezelo enkulu.’ (ISityhilelo 7:14) Hayi indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuba sibe nesimo sengqondo esihle ngebandla size sinxulumane rhoqo nalo!—Hebhere 10:24, 25.
25 Kungekudala siza kufika isiphelo sehlabathi likaSathana. Asikayazi indlela uYehova aza kubakhusela ngayo abantu bakhe ebudeni belo xesha loyikekayo. (Zefaniya 2:3) Noko ke, siyazi ukuba ukusinda kwethu kuya kuxhomekeka ekubeni nokholo kuYehova nasekunyanisekeni kwethu kuye nasekumthobeleni kwethu.
26. Iyintoni “iLeviyatan” yomhla kaIsaya neyomhla wethu, yaye kwenzeka ntoni kwesi “silo sikhulu saselwandle”?
26 Ekhangele phambili kwelo xesha, uIsaya uprofeta athi: “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) Kwinzaliseko yaso yokuqala, “iLeviyatan” ibhekisela kumazwe asasazeke kuwo uSirayeli, njengeBhabhiloni, iYiputa neAsiriya. Ezi zixeko aziyi kukwazi ukubathintela abantu bakaYehova ukuba bangabuyeli ezweni labo ngexesha elifanelekileyo. Kodwa, ingubani iLeviyatan yale mihla? Kubonakala ukuba nguSathana—“inyoka yantlandlolo”—nenkqubo yakhe engendawo yasemhlabeni, esisixhobo sakhe sokulwa noSirayeli wokomoya. (ISityhilelo 12:9, 10; 13:14, 16, 17; 18:24) Abantu bakaThixo baphuncuka kuyo “iLeviyatan” ngowe-1919, yaye yona iza kuthi shwaka ngokupheleleyo xa uYehova ‘esibulala ngokuqinisekileyo eso silo sikhulu saselwandle.’ Okwangoku, akukho nanye into “iLeviyatan” esenokuzama ukuyenza nxamnye nabantu bakaYehova eya kuphumelela ngokwenene.—Isaya 54:17.
“Isidiliya Sewayini Ebilayo”
27, 28. (a) Isidiliya sikaYehova siwuzalise ngantoni umhlaba uphela? (b) UYehova usikhusela njani isidiliya sakhe?
27 Ngenye ingoma, uIsaya ngoku usizobela ubuhle besiqhamo sabantu bakaYehova abakhululweyo, 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) Intsalela yoSirayeli wokomoya namadlelane ayo asebenza nzima baye ngokwenene bawuzalisa umhlaba uphela ngemveliso yokomoya. Esinjani sona isizathu sokubhiyoza—sokuvuma ingoma! Lonke udumo luya kuYehova, yena osinyamekela ngothando isidiliya sakhe.—Thelekisa uYohane 15:1-8.
28 Enyanisweni, umsindo kaYehova wangaphambili uthatyathelw’ indawo luvuyo! “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 aqinisekise ukuba isidiliya sakhe siqhubeka sivelisa intabalala ‘yewayini ebilayo,’ uYehova utyumza aze atshise nayiphi na impembelelo efana nokhula enokonakalisa isidiliya sakhe. Ngoko ke, makungabikho namnye obeka engozini intlalo-ntle yebandla lamaKristu! Kunoko, sonke ‘masibambelele egwibeni likaYehova,’ sifune inkoloseko nenkuselo yakhe. Ngokwenjenjalo, siya kuba seluxolweni noThixo—nto leyo ebaluleke ngokokude uIsaya ayikhankanye kabini. Uba yintoni umphumo woko? “Kwimihla ezayo kaYakobi uya kumila ingcambu, uSirayeli uya kutyatyamba aze okunene ahlume; baya kusuka bazalise ilizwe elinemveliso ngemveliso.” (Isaya 27:6)c Hayi indlela ukuzaliseka kwale ndinyana okuwangqina ngayo amandla kaYehova! Ukususela ngowe-1919, amaKristu athanjisiweyo aye awuzalisa umhlaba “ngemveliso,” ukutya okunesondlo kokomoya. Umphumo ube kukuba, aye athelelwa zizigidi zezinye izimvu ezithembekileyo, ‘ezinikela kunye nawo inkonzo engcwele kuThixo imini nobusuku.’ (ISityhilelo 7:15) Nakuba bephila kwihlabathi elonakeleyo, baye ngovuyo banamathela kwimilinganiselo yakhe ephakamileyo. Yaye uYehova uyaqhubeka ebasikelela ngolwando. Masingaze silibethe ngoyaba ilungelo elizukileyo lokuzondla ngale “mveliso” size sabelane ngayo nabanye ngokunikela kwethu indumiso!
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a Igama elithi Ari lisenokuba lithetha “Isixeko.”
c Kwibhokisi ekwiphepha 285 kuxutyushwa ngoIsaya 27:7-13.
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 285]
“Isigodlo Esikhulu” Sivakalisa Inkululeko
Ngowama-607 B.C.E., iintlungu zikaYuda ziyakhula xa uYehova eluqeqesha olu hlanga lwakhe luwexukileyo ngokuthi alunikele ekuthinjweni. (Funda uIsaya 27:7-11.) Isiphoso solu hlanga sikhulu kakhulu ukuba singacanyagushelwa ngamadini ezilwanyana. Ngoko, njengoko ubani enokuzenza zithi saa izimvu neebhokhwe “ngesikhalo esoyikisayo” okanye njengoko enokuthi “ngokufutha” nje kwakhe aphephezelise amagqabi, wenjenjalo noYehova ukumgxotha uSirayeli kwilizwe lakhe. Emva koko, kwanezizwana ezibuthathaka, ezifaniswa nabafazi, ziyakwazi ukukuphanga oko kuseleyo kwelo lizwe.
Noko ke, liyafika ixesha lokuba uYehova abahlangule abantu bakhe ekuthinjweni. Uyabakhulula njengoko umfama esenokukhulula iziqhamo zomnquma, ngokungathi kunjalo, ezivalelwe emithini. “Kuya kuthi ke ngaloo mini uYehova asivuthulule isiqhamo, ukususela kumsinga oqukuqelayo woMlambo [umEfrate] kuse entlanjeni yaseYiputa, nicholwa-cholwe ngamnye ngamnye, nina bonyana bakaSirayeli. Kuya kuthi ke ngaloo mini kuvuthelwe isigodlo esikhulu, yaye abo batshabalalayo elizweni laseAsiriya nabo basasazekileyo elizweni laseYiputa ngokuqinisekileyo baya kuza baqubude kuYehova entabeni engcwele eYerusalem.” (Isaya 27:12, 13) Emva koloyiso lwakhe ngowama-539 B.C.E., uKoreshi ukhupha ummiselo wokuba akhululwe onke amaYuda asebukhosini bakhe, kuquka nalawo aseAsiriya naseYiputa. (Ezra 1:1-4) Kufana nokungathi kuvuthelwe “isigodlo esikhulu,” sivakalisa umhobe wokukhululeka kwabantu bakaThixo.
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 275]
“Isidlo sokutya okuneoli eninzi”
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 277]
IBhabhiloni inyathelwa ziinyawo zabo bebengamabanjwa ayo
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 278]
‘Ngenani emagumbini enu angaphakathi’