Isahluko Samashumi Amathathu
“Thuthuzelani Abantu Bam”
1. Yiyiphi enye indlela uYehova asithuthuzela ngayo?
UYEHOVA ‘nguThixo onika intuthuzelo.’ Enye indlela asithuthuzela ngayo kungezithembiso ezibhalwe eLizwini lakhe. (Roma 15:4, 5) Ngokomzekelo, xa ufelwe ngumntu omthandayo, yintoni ebinokukuthuthuzela ngakumbi kunethemba lokuvuselwa kwalowo umthandayo kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo? (Yohane 5:28, 29) Yaye kuthekani ngesithembiso sikaYehova sokuba kungekudala uza kubuphelisa ubungendawo aze awenze lo mhlaba ube yiparadesi? Akuthuthuzeli na ukuba nethemba lokusindela kuloo Paradesi izayo uze ungaze ufe?—INdumiso 37:9-11, 29; ISityhilelo 21:3-5.
2. Kutheni sinokukholosa ngezithembiso zikaThixo?
2 Ngaba ngokwenene sinokukholosa ngezithembiso zikaThixo? Eneneni, sinako! UMenzi wezo zithembiso uthembeke ngokupheleleyo. Unawo amandla kwanomnqweno wokulizalisekisa ilizwi lakhe. (Isaya 55:10, 11) Oku kwenziwa kwacaca gca ngamazwi uYehova awawathetha ngomprofeti uIsaya okuba wayeya kulubuyisela unqulo lokwenyaniso eYerusalem. Makhe sisihlolisise eso siprofeto, njengoko sibhalwe kuIsaya isahluko 40, kuba oko kunokulomeleza ukholo lwethu kuYehova, uMzalisekisi wezithembiso.
Isithembiso Esithuthuzelayo
3, 4. (a) Ngawaphi amazwi athuthuzelayo awabhalayo uIsaya aya kuba luncedo kubantu bakaThixo kwixesha elizayo? (b) Kutheni abemi bakwaYuda nabaseYerusalem beza kuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni, yaye baya kukhonza ithuba elide kangakanani?
3 Ngenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, umprofeti uIsaya ubhala amazwi athuthuzelayo awayeza kuba luncedo kubantu bakaYehova kwixesha elizayo. Emva nje kokuba exelele uKumkani uHezekiya ngokutshatyalaliswa okuzayo kweYerusalem nangokuthinjelwa kwamaYuda eBhabhiloni, uIsaya uchaza isithembiso sikaYehova sokuwabuyisa kwakhona, esithi: “‘Thuthuzelani, thuthuzelani abantu bam,’ utsho uThixo wenu. ‘Thethani kuyo iYerusalem nize nimemeze kuyo nithi inkonzo yayo yasemkhosini izalisekile, nithi isiphoso sayo sihlawulelwe. Kuba yamkele esandleni sikaYehova umlinganiselo opheleleyo ngezono zayo zonke.’”—Isaya 40:1, 2.
4 Igama lokuqala elithi “Thuthuzelani” kuIsaya isahluko 40, lisichaza kakuhle isigidimi sokukhanya nesethemba esiqulethwe kuyo yonke incwadi kaIsaya. Ngenxa yokuwexuka kwabo abemi bakwaYuda nabaseYerusalem baza kuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni ngowama-607 B.C.E. Kodwa abo bathinjwa bamaYuda abayi kuwakhonza ngonaphakade amaBhabhiloni. Kunoko, inkonzo yabo iza kuphela sakuba isiphoso sabo “sihlawulelwe.” Kuya kuthabatha ithuba elingakanani oko? Umprofeti uYeremiya uthi kuya kuthabatha iminyaka engama-70. (Yeremiya 25:11, 12) Emva koko, uYehova uza kuyikhokela intsalela eguqukileyo ayikhuphe eBhabhiloni ayibuyisele eYerusalem. Ngonyaka wama-70 wokuphanziswa kwelakwaYuda, enjani yona intuthuzelo ekuya kuba yiyo kubathinjwa ukuqonda ukuba ixesha lokukhululwa kwabo okuthenjisiweyo likufuphi!—Daniyeli 9:1, 2.
5, 6. (a) Kutheni uhambo olude lokusuka eBhabhiloni ukuya eYerusalem lungayi kuphazamisana nokuzaliseka kwesithembiso sikaThixo? (b) Ukubuyiselwa kwamaYuda ezweni lawo kuza kuzichaphazela njani ezinye iintlanga?
5 Uhambo lokusuka eBhabhiloni ukuya eYerusalem lungama-800 ukusa kwi-1 600 leekhilomitha, kuxhomekeka kwindlela ethatyathiweyo. Ngaba olu hambo lude luza kuphazamisana nokuzaliseka kwesithembiso sikaThixo? Akunjalo konke konke! UIsaya ubhala athi: “Phulaphulani! Uthile uyamemeza entlango esithi: ‘Hlahlani indlela kaYehova! Wenzeni uthi tye uhola wendlela kaThixo wethu ethafeni eliyinkqantosi. Zonke iintlambo maziphakanyiswe, nazo zonke iintaba neenduli zihliswe. Umhlaba oneendulana uya kuba ngumhlaba othe tyaba, nomhlaba omagqagala ube lithafa elisentlanjeni. Yaye ngokuqinisekileyo ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova buya kutyhileka, yonke inyama ibubone, kuba umlomo kaYehova uthethile.’”—Isaya 40:3-5.
6 Ngaphambi kokuba bathabathe uhambo, abalawuli baseMpuma babedla ngokuthumela amadoda ukuba ahlahle indlela ngokususa amatye amakhulu, ade akhe neendlela eziphakamileyo aze agece neenduli. Kwimeko yamaYuda abuyayo, kuza kuba ngathi nguThixo ngokwakhe ohamba phambili, esusa nayiphi na imiqobo. Ngapha koko, aba ngabantu begama likaYehova, yaye ukuzalisekisa isithembiso sokubabuyisela ezweni labo kuya kulwenza uzuko lwakhe lubonakale phambi kwazo zonke iintlanga. Zithanda zingathandi, ezo ntlanga ziya kunyanzeleka zibone ukuba uYehova unguMzalisekisi wezithembiso zakhe.
7, 8. (a) Amazwi akuIsaya 40:3 azaliseka njani ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo? (b) Isiprofeto sikaIsaya saba nayiphi inzaliseko enkulu ngakumbi ngowe-1919?
7 Ukubuyiselwa kwangenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo yayingekokuphela kokuzaliseka kwesi siprofeto. Siye sazaliseka nangenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. UYohane umBhaptizi wayelilizwi lothile ‘odanduluka ngamandla entlango,’ ezalisekisa uIsaya 40:3. (Luka 3:1-6) Ephefumlelwe, uYohane wawasebenzisa kuye amazwi kaIsaya. (Yohane 1:19-23) Ukususela ngowama-29 C.E., uYohane waqalisa ukulungiselela uYesu Kristu indlela.a Ukubhengeza kukaYohane kwangaphambili kwashukumisela abantu ekubeni bamfune uMesiya othenjisiweyo, baze bamphulaphule yaye bamlandele. (Luka 1:13-17, 76) Esebenzisa uYesu, uYehova wayeza kukhokelela abo baguqukileyo kwinkululeko eyayinokuziswa kuphela buBukumkani bukaThixo—inkululeko kubukhoboka besono nokufa. (Yohane 1:29; 8:32) La mazwi kaIsaya ayenenzaliseko enkulu ngakumbi yokukhululwa kwentsalela kaSirayeli wokomoya kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu ngowe-1919 nasekuhlaziyelweni kwayo kunqulo lokwenyaniso.
8 Noko ke, kuthekani ngabo babeza kungenelwa kwinzaliseko yokuqala yesi sithembiso—amaYuda asekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni? Ngaba ngokwenene anokukholosa ngesithembiso sikaYehova sokuwabuyisela ezweni lawo elithandekayo? Eneneni, anako! Esebenzisa amagama nemizekelo ecacileyo yezinto eziqhelekileyo ebomini, uIsaya ngoku unikela izizathu ezinamandla zokuba enokuthembela ngokupheleleyo ekubeni uYehova uza kukwenza oko akuthethileyo.
UThixo Olizwi Lakhe Lihlala Ngonaphakade
9, 10. UIsaya ubuthelekisa njani ubufutshane bobomi bomntu kunye nokungaphelelwa ‘kwelizwi’ likaThixo?
9 Okokuqala, ilizwi laLowo uthembisa ukuwabuyisa lihlala ngonaphakade. UIsaya ubhala esithi: “Phulaphula! Uthile uthi: ‘Memeza!’ Omnye athi: ‘Ndiya kumemeza ndithini na?’ ‘Yonke inyama iyingca eluhlaza, yaye bonke ububele bayo bothando bunjengentyatyambo yasendle. Ingca eluhlaza yomile, intyatyambo ibunile, ngenxa yokuba umoya kaYehova uvuthuze kuyo. Ngokuqinisekileyo abantu bayingca eluhlaza. Ingca eluhlaza yomile, intyatyambo ibunile; kodwa ke lona ilizwi loThixo wethu, liya kuhlala ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.’”—Isaya 40:6-8.
10 AmaSirayeli azi kakuhle ukuba ingca ayihlali ngonaphakade. Xa kubalele, ukugqatsa kwelanga kukutsho kuphele tu ukuba luhlaza kwayo, isale imbatshile. Nqwa ke nobomi bomntu, bufana nengca—bufutshane kakhulu. (INdumiso 103:15, 16; Yakobi 1:10, 11) UIsaya ubuthelekisa ubufutshane bobomi bomntu kunye nokungaphelelwa ‘kwelizwi’ okanye injongo kaThixo. Ewe, “ilizwi loThixo wethu” lihlala ngonaphakade. Xa uThixo ethetha, akukho nto inokuwatshitshisa amazwi akhe okanye iwathintele angazaliseki.—Yoshuwa 23:14.
11. Kutheni sinokuba nethemba lokuba uYehova uza kuzizalisekisa izithembiso eziseLizwini lakhe elibhaliweyo?
11 Namhlanje injongo kaYehova ibhalwe eBhayibhileni. IBhayibhile iye yajamelana nenkcaso eqatha ebudeni beenkulungwane ezidluleyo, yaye abaguquleli kwanabanye abantu abakhaliphileyo baye babeka ubomi babo esichengeni ukuze bayikhusele. Kodwa, asiyomigudu yabo kuphela ebangele ukusinda kwayo. NguYehova omele adunyiswe ngokusinda kwayo, “uThixo ophilayo nohlala ekho” noMlondolozi weLizwi lakhe. (1 Petros 1:23-25) Khawucinge nje ngako oku: Ekubeni uYehova elilondolozile iLizwi lakhe elibhaliweyo, ngaba asinakuba nethemba lokuba uza kuzizalisekisa izithembiso ezikulo?
UThixo Owomeleleyo Ozithantamisayo Izimvu Zakhe
12, 13. (a) Kutheni sinokuthenjwa nje isithembiso sokubuyiselwa? (b) Ziziphi iindaba ezimnandi eziphathelele amaYuda asekuthinjweni, yaye kutheni efanele abe nentembelo kuzo?
12 UIsaya uchaza isizathu sesibini sokuba isithembiso sokubuyiselwa sinokuthenjwa. Lowo wenza esi sithembiso nguThixo owomeleleyo obathantamisayo abantu bakhe. UIsaya uhlabela mgama esithi: “Nyuka uye entabeni ephakamileyo, wena mfazi uzisa iindaba ezilungileyo ngeZiyon. Liphakamise ngamandla ilizwi lakho, wena mfazi uzisa iindaba ezilungileyo ngeYerusalem. Liphakamise. Ungoyiki. Yithi kwizixeko zakwaYuda: ‘Nanku uThixo wethu.’ Khangela! INkosi enguMongami uYehova iya kuza kanye njengowomeleleyo [“ngamandla,” umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW eneembekiselo], yaye ingalo yayo iya kulawula. Khangela! Umvuzo wayo unayo, nentlawulo eyihlawulayo iphambi kwayo. Njengomalusi iya kuwalusa umhlambi wayo. Ngengalo yayo iya kuqokelela ndawonye amatakane; iya kuwathwala ngesifuba sayo. Ezo zanyisayo iya kuzikhaphela ngenyameko.”—Isaya 40:9-11.
13 Ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile kwakusisithethe sabafazi ukubhiyozela uloyiso, bayiyizele okanye bacule bevakalisa iindaba ezimnandi zoloyiso olo okanye inkululeko oluyizisayo. (1 Samuweli 18:6, 7; INdumiso 68:11) Esiprofetweni sakhe uIsaya uvakalisa iindaba ezimnandi eziphathelele amaYuda asekuthinjweni, ndaba ezo ezinokubhengezwa ngenkalipho, kwanasezincotsheni zeentaba—ezokuba uYehova uza kubakhokela abantu bakhe ababuyisele kwiYerusalem yabo yegugu! Banokuba nentembelo kuzo, kuba uYehova uya kuza “ngamandla.” Ngoko, akukho nto inokumthintela ekuzalisekiseni isithembiso sakhe.
14. (a) UIsaya uyizekelisa njani indlela uYehova aza kubakhokela ngothantamiso ngayo abantu bakhe? (b) Nguwuphi umzekelo obonisa indlela abalusi abazithantamisa ngenyameko ngayo izimvu zabo? (Bona ibhokisi kwiphepha 405.)
14 Noko ke, nakubeni uThixo omelele, kodwa uyathantamisa. UIsaya uchaza ngokufudumeleyo indlela uYehova aza kubakhokelela ngayo abantu bakhe ezweni labo. UYehova unjengomalusi onothando owaqokelelayo amatakane akhe aze awathwale “ngesifuba” sakhe. Igama elithi ‘isifuba’ apha ngokucacileyo libhekisela kwimiphetho engentla yesambatho. Kulapho abalusi badla ngokufaka khona amatakane angekakwazi ukuhamba ngesantya somhlambi. (2 Samuweli 12:3) Lo mfanekiso-ngqondweni ochukumisayo wabalusi abathantamisayo ngokungathandabuzekiyo uyabaqinisekisa abantu bakaYehova abasekuthinjweni ngenyameko yakhe enothando ngabo. Ngokuqinisekileyo uThixo owomeleleyo kodwa othantamisa ngolo hlobo unokuthenjwa ukuba uza kukuzalisekisa oko abathembise kona!
15. (a) Weza nini uYehova “ngamandla,” yaye ngubani ‘oyingalo yakhe elawulayo’? (b) Ziziphi iindaba ezimnandi ezimele zivakaliswe ngenkalipho?
15 La mazwi kaIsaya esiprofeto anentsingiselo enkulu nakumhla wethu. Ngowe-1914, uYehova weza “ngamandla” waza wamisela uBukumkani bakhe emazulwini. ‘Ingalo yakhe elawulayo’ nguNyana wakhe uYesu Kristu, lowo uYehova ambeke kwitrone yasezulwini. Ngowe-1919, uYehova wabakhulula abakhonzi bakhe abathanjisiweyo abasemhlabeni kubukhoboka beBhabhiloni Enkulu waza waqalisa ukulubuyisela ngokupheleleyo unqulo olunyulu loThixo ophilayo nowokwenyaniso. Ezi ziindaba ezimnandi ezimele zivakaliswe ngenkalipho, ngokungathi zibhengezwa ezincotsheni zeentaba ukuze zisasazeke ngokubanzi. Ngoko, masiwaphakamise amazwi ethu size sibazise ngenkalipho abanye ukuba uYehova uThixo ulubuyisele unqulo olunyulu kulo mhlaba!
16. UYehova ubakhokela ngayiphi indlela abantu bakhe namhlanje, yaye nguwuphi umzekelo awumiselayo?
16 Amazwi akuIsaya 40:10, 11 akwabaluleke nangenye indlela kuthi namhlanje. Kuyathuthuzela ukuphawula indlela uYehova abakhokela ngothantamiso ngayo abantu bakhe. Kanye njengokuba umalusi eziqonda iintswelo zemvu nganye—kuquka amatakane asathambileyo—uYehova uyaziqonda iintsilelo zakhe ngamnye wabakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. Ukongezelela, uYehova, njengoMalusi othantamisayo, ubamisela umzekelo abalusi abangamaKristu. Abadala bamele bawaluse ngothantamiso umhlambi, bexelisa inkxalabo yothando ebonakaliswa nguYehova ngokwakhe. Bamele bahlale beyiphaphele indlela uYehova avakalelwa ngayo ngelungu ngalinye lomhlambi, ‘awuthenge ngegazi loNyana wakhe.’—IZenzo 20:28.
Unamandla Onke, Nobulumko Bonke
17, 18. (a) Kutheni amaYuda asekuthinjweni enokuba nentembelo kwisithembiso sokubuyiselwa kwawo? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo eqhiphul’ umbilini ayibuzayo uIsaya?
17 AmaYuda asekuthinjweni anokuthembela kwisithembiso sokubuyiselwa kwawo kuba uThixo unamandla onke nobulumko bonke. UIsaya uthi: “Ngubani na olinganise amanzi kumphakathi wesandla sakhe, walinganisa amazulu ngomolulo weminwe waza waquka nothuli lomhlaba emlinganiselweni, okanye olinganisa iintaba ngesalathisi sobunzima, neenduli ngezikali? Ngubani na olinganise umoya kaYehova, yaye ngubani na onokuthi njengendoda emcebisayo amazise nantoni na? Wabhungisana nabani na ukuze lowo abe nokumqondisa, okanye ngubani na omfundisa umendo wokusesikweni, okanye omfundisa ukwazi, okanye amazise indlela yokuqonda kokwenene?”—Isaya 40:12-14.
18 Le yimibuzo eqhiphul’ umbilini amele amaYuda asekuthinjweni acamngce ngayo. Ngaba abantu bangakwazi na ukunqumamisa amaza eelwandlekazi? Ngokuqinisekileyo abanakukwazi! Ukanti, kuYehova, iilwandle ezisemhlabeni zifana nethontsi lamanzi elisentendeni yesandla sakhe.b Ngaba abantu abangento bangakwazi na ukulinganisa ubukhulu besibhakabhaka okanye ubunzima beentaba neenduli zomhlaba? Nakanye. Ukanti, kuYehova, ukulinganisa isibhakabhaka kulula njengokulinganisa komntu umgama ophakathi kukasithupha nocikicane xa isandla sivuliwe. Eneneni, uThixo angazilinganisa esikalini iintaba neenduli. Ngaba abona bantu bazizilumko banganako ukucebisa uThixo ngoko amele akwenze ngoku okanye kwixesha elizayo? Unotshe!
19, 20. Egxininisa ubukhulu bukaYehova, uIsaya usebenzisa wuphi umfanekiso-ngqondweni ocacileyo?
19 Kuthekani ngeentlanga zomhlaba ezinamandla—ngaba zinokumthintela uThixo ukuba angasiphumezi isithembiso sakhe? UIsaya uphendula ngokuzichaza iintlanga ngokuthi: “Khangela! Iintlanga zinjengethontsi e-emeleni; nanjengesuntswana lothuli ezikalini. Khangela! Uphakamisa iziqithi njengothuli nje olucolekileyo. KwaneLebhanon ayikulingene ukugcina umlilo uvutha, nezilwanyana zayo zasendle azikulingene ukuba ngumnikelo otshiswayo. Zonke iintlanga zinjengento engekhoyo phambi kwakhe; zigqalwe njengento engento nengeyonene kuye.”—Isaya 40:15-17.
20 KuYehova, zizonke nje iintlanga zinjengethontsi lamanzi eliwa e-emeleni. Zifana nje nothuli olusesikalini, olungenabunzima kwaphela.c Masithi mntu uthile wakha isibingelelo esikhulu aze abase kuso yonke imithi yeentaba zaseLebhanon. Masithi ubingelela kuso ngazo zonke izilwanyana ezikwezo ntaba. Kwanaloo mbingelelo ubungayi kumfanela uYehova. Ngokungathi awanelanga lo mfanekiso-ngqondweni, uIsaya ugxininisa nangakumbi—uthi zonke iintlanga ‘zinjengento engekhoyo’ emehlweni kaYehova.—Isaya 40:17.
21, 22. (a) UIsaya uyigxininisa njani into yokuba uYehova akanakuthelekiswa nanto? (b) Inkcazelo ecacileyo kaIsaya isikhokelela kwisiphi isigqibo? (c) Umprofeti uIsaya ubhala yiphi ingxelo echanileyo ngokwezenzululwazi? (Bona ibhokisi kwiphepha 412.)
21 Egxininisa ngokubhekele phaya ukuba uYehova akanakuthelekiswa nanto, uIsaya uyaqhubeka ebonisa ubuyatha babo benza izithixo ngegolide, isilivere, okanye umthi. Hayi indlela ekububudenge ngayo ukucinga ukuba namphi na kwabo thixo unokuba ngummeli ofanelekileyo ‘waLowo uhlala phezu kwesazinge somhlaba’ nophembelela abemi bawo!—Funda uIsaya 40:18-24.
22 Iyonke nje le nkcazelo ecace kangaka isikhokelela kwisigqibo esinye sokuba—akukho nto inokuthintela uYehova onamandla onke, nobulumko bonke, nongenakuthelekiswa nanto, ekuzalisekiseni isithembiso sakhe. Hayi indlela amele ukuba amazwi kaIsaya awathuthuzela ngayo amaYuda asekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni njengoko ayelangazelela ukubuyela ezweni lawo! Nathi namhlanje sinokuba nentembelo yokuba izithembiso zikaYehova zexesha elizayo ziza kuzaliseka.
“Ngubani Na Odale Ezi Zinto?”
23. Kungenxa yasiphi isizathu le nto amaYuda asekuthinjweni emele akhuthazeke, yaye yintoni ayigxininisayo ngoku uYehova ngaye siqu?
23 Kusekho nesinye isizathu sokuba amaYuda asekuthinjweni emele akhuthazeke. Lowo uthembisa ukuwakhulula unguMdali wezinto zonke noMthombo wawo onke amandla amakhulu. Ekugxininiseni ubukhulu bamandla akhe, uYehova utsalel’ ingqalelo kwindalo yakhe, esithi: “‘Ningandifanisa nabani, ndilingane naye?’ utsho Lowo Ungcwele. ‘Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nize nibone. Ngubani na odale ezi zinto? NguLowo uzisa umkhosi wazo kanye ngokwenani, uzibiza nangegama xa zizonke. Ngenxa yamandla amakhulu, kanjalo womelele ngamandla, akukho nanye esalayo.’”—Isaya 40:25, 26.
24. Ezithethela ngokwakhe, uYehova ubonisa njani ukuba akanakulinganiswa nanto?
24 Lowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli uzithethela ngokwakhe. Ukubonisa ukuba akanakulinganiswa nanto, uYehova utsalel’ ingqalelo kwiinkwenkwezi ezisesibhakabhakeni. Njengokuba umphathi-mkhosi ekwazi ukwalathisa umkhosi wakhe, uYehova naye uyakwazi ukuziyalela iinkwenkwezi. Ukuba ebenokuzihlanganisa, ‘akukho nanye kuzo ebiya kusala.’ Nangona inani leenkwenkwezi lilikhulu, ubiza nganye ngegama, mhlawumbi ngegama layo lobuqu okanye isibizo. Kanye njengoko esenza amajoni athobelayo, nazo zihlala endaweni yazo zithobele imiyalelo, kuba iNkokeli yazo ‘inamandla amakhulu’ kwaye ‘yomelele ngamandla.’ Ngoko ke, amaYuda asekuthinjweni anesizathu sokuba nentembelo. UMdali oyalela iinkwenkwezi, unamandla okubaxhasa abakhonzi bakhe.
25. Sinokusabela njani kwisimemo sikaThixo esikuIsaya 40:26, yaye ufanele ube yintoni umphumo woko?
25 Ngubani na kuthi onokusicel’ umngeni isimemo sikaThixo esikuIsaya 40:26, esithi: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nize nibone”? Izazi ngeenkwenkwezi zale mihla zifumanise ukuba isibhakabhaka sibonakala siqhiphul’ umbilini ngakumbi ngoku kunangomhla kaIsaya. Izazi ngeenkwenkwezi ezondela isibhakabhaka ngeeteleskopu zazo ezinamandla ziqikelela ukuba ummandla obonakalayo wesibhakabhaka uneminyele yeenkwenkwezi eli-125 lamawaka ezigidi. Kwaye, omnye nje kuyo—umnyele obizwa ngokuba yiMilky Way—kuqikelelwa ukuba uneenkwenkwezi ezimalunga ne-100 lamawaka ezigidi! Oku kufanele kuxhokonxele iintliziyo zethu ukuba zimhlonele uMdali wethu size sikholose ngokupheleleyo ngezithembiso zakhe.
26, 27. Ichazwa njani indlela abavakalelwa ngayo abathinjwa abaseBhabhiloni, yaye yintoni abafanele bayazi?
26 Esazi ukuba iminyaka ayichithele ekuthinjweni iza kuwatyhafisa amaYuda, uYehova uphefumlela uIsaya ukuba abhale kwangaphambili la mazwi esiqinisekiso: “Utsho ngasiphi na isizathu, wena Yakobi, nawe Sirayeli, ukuthi, ‘Indlela yam ifihlakele kuYehova, nokusesikweni kwam kuyadlula kuThixo wam’? Akwazi na okanye akuvanga na? UYehova, uMdali weziphelo zomhlaba, unguThixo ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo. Akadinwa okanye atyhafe. Akugocagocwa ukuqonda kwakhe.”—Isaya 40:27, 28.d
27 UIsaya uye wawabhala la mazwi kaYehova achaza indlela abavakalelwa ngayo aba bathinjwa baseBhabhiloni, kumakhulukhulu eekhilomitha kude nelizwe labo. Abanye bacinga ukuba “indlela” yabo—ubunzima bobomi babo—ayibonwa okanye ayaziwa nguThixo wabo. Bacinga ukuba uYehova akakukhathalele ukuphathwa kwabo ngokungekho sikweni. Bakhunjuzwa ngoko bafanele bakwazi, ukuba abakwazi ngokusuka kumava obuqu, ubuncinane kwinkcazelo abayifumene kwabangaphambili. UYehova unawo amandla kwanomnqweno wokubakhulula abantu bakhe. UnguThixo ongunaphakade noMdali womhlaba uphela. Usenawo laa mandla wawasebenzisa ekudaleni, yaye kwaneBhabhiloni eyomeleleyo ayinakumelana naye. UThixo ololo hlobo akanakudinwa okanye abaphoxe abantu bakhe. Abanakulindela ukuzazi ngokupheleleyo izenzo zikaYehova, kuba ukuqonda kwakhe—okanye ingqiqo yakhe—kungaphaya kwamandla abo.
28, 29. (a) UYehova ubakhumbuza njani abantu bakhe ukuba uza kubanceda abo batyhafileyo? (b) Nguwuphi umzekeliso osetyenzisiweyo ukubonisa indlela uYehova abanika ngayo amandla abakhonzi bakhe?
28 Esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova uhlabela mgama ebakhuthaza aba bathinjwa baphelelwe lithemba, esithi: “Unika odiniweyo amandla; nalowo ungenamandla umenza aphuphume ukomelela okupheleleyo. Amakhwenkwe aya kudinwa aze atyhafe, nabafana nakanjani na baya kukhubeka, kodwa abo bathembele kuYehova baya kufumana amandla kwakhona. Baya kunyuka ngamaphiko njengeenkozi. Baya kubaleka baze bangatyhafi; baya kuhamba bangadinwa.”—Isaya 40:29-31.
29 Xa ethetha ngokunika odiniweyo amandla, uYehova usenokuba ucinga ngohambo oluyindinisa ekuza kufuneka aba bathinjwa baluthabathe ekubuyeleni kwabo ekhaya. UYehova uyabakhumbuza aba bantu bakhe ukuba usoloko ebanceda abatyhafileyo abafuna ukuxhaswa nguye. Kwanabona bantu badlamkileyo—“amakhwenkwe nabafana”—basenokuphelelwa ngamandla baze bakhubeke ngenxa yokudinwa. Ukanti, uYehova uthembisa ukubanika amandla—amandla angapheliyo okubaleka nawokuhamba—abo bakholose ngaye. Ukubhabha okubonakala kulula kokhozi, intaka enamandla ekwaziyo ukundanda kangangeeyure sihlandlo ngasinye, kusetyenziselwa ukuzekelisa indlela uYehova abanika ngayo amandla abakhonzi bakhe.e Ekubeni eza kuxhaswa nguThixo, ngoko la maYuda asekuthinjweni akanasizathu sakuphelelwa lithemba.
30. AmaKristu okwenyaniso namhlanje anokuthuthuzelwa njani ziindinyana zokugqibela zikaIsaya isahluko 40?
30 Ezi ndinyana zokugqibela zikaIsaya isahluko 40 zinamazwi athuthuzelayo kumaKristu okwenyaniso aphila kwimihla yokugqibela yale nkqubo ingendawo yezinto. Ekubeni kukho iingcinezelo neengxaki ezininzi ezidandathekisayo, kuyakhuthaza ukwazi ukuba uThixo uyabubona ubunzima esibunyamezelayo kwanokuphathwa kwethu ngokungekho sikweni. Sinokuqiniseka ukuba uMdali wezinto zonke, Lowo ‘okuqonda kwakhe kungenakubaliswa,’ uza kukuphelisa konke okungekho sikweni ngexesha lakhe nangendlela yakhe. (INdumiso 147:5, 6) Okwangoku, akukho mfuneko yokuba sibulaleke sinyamezela ngamandla ethu. UYehova, onamandla angapheliyo, unako ukubomeleza—abanike “amandla angaphaya koko kuqhelekileyo”—abakhonzi bakhe xa bejamelene nezilingo.—2 Korinte 4:7.
31. Sisiphi isigidimi esinik’ ithemba esiqulethwe sisiprofeto sikaIsaya kumaYuda asekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni, yaye thina sinokuba nentembelo epheleleyo entwenini?
31 Khawucinge ngaloo maYuda asekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. IYerusalem yawo yegugu, ekumgama weekhilomitha, iphanzisiwe, netempile yayo ingamabhodlo. Kuwo, esi siprofeto sikaIsaya sasinesithembiso esithuthuzelayo nesinik’ ithemba—uYehova wayeza kuwabuyisela ezweni lawo! Ngowama-537 B.C.E., uYehova wabakhokelela ekhayeni labo abantu bakhe, ezingqina enguMzalisekisi wezithembiso. Ngoko nathi sinokuba nentembelo epheleleyo kuYehova. Izithembiso zakhe eziphathelele uBukumkani, ezichazwe kakuhle kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya, ziza kuzaliseka. Ziindaba ezimnandi ngokwenene ezo—isigidimi esinik’ ithemba kuluntu luphela!
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a UIsaya uxela kwangaphambili ukuhlahlwa kwendlela phambi kukaYehova. (Isaya 40:3) Noko ke, iincwadi zeVangeli zisisebenzisa eso siprofeto koko kwenziwa nguYohane umBhaptizi ekuhlahleni indlela kaYesu Kristu. Isizathu sokuba ababhali abaphefumlelweyo beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike basisebenzise ngolo hlobo esi siprofeto sikukuba uYesu wayemela uYise yaye weza egameni likaYise.—Yohane 5:43; 8:29.
b Kuqikelelwa ukuba “ubukhulu beelwandlekazi bumalunga nesi-1,35 sezigidi zezigidi zezigidi (1,35 x 1018), okanye malunga ne-1/4400 xa buthelekiswa nobukhulu bomHlaba.”—Encarta 97 Encyclopedia.
c IThe Expositor’s Bible Commentary ithi: “Kwiivenkile ezikumazwe aseMpuma lalingananzwa nokunanzwa oku ithontsi lamanzi elise-emeleni okanye isuntswana lothuli elisesikalini xa kulinganiswa ubunzima benyama okanye beziqhamo.”
d KuIsaya 40:28, ibinzana elithi “kwixesha elingenammiselo” lithetha ukuthi “ngonaphakade,” kuba uYehova ‘unguKumkani kanaphakade.’—1 Timoti 1:17.
e Ukhozi luyakwazi ukundanda phezulu esibhakabhakeni lungakhange lusebenzise mandla kangako. Lukwenza oko ngokusebenzisa ngobuchule amaza omoya onyukayo oshushu.
[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 404, 405]
UYehova, UMalusi Onothando
UIsaya ufanisa uYehova nomalusi onothando othwala amatakane akhe esifubeni sakhe. (Isaya 40:10, 11) Ngokucacileyo uIsaya uwusekele lo mzekeliso ufudumez’ intliziyo koko kuqhele ukwenziwa ngabalusi ngokoqobo. Omnye umakhi-mkhanya wale mihla owondela abalusi kumathambeka eNtaba yeHermon kuMbindi-Mpuma uthi: “Malusi ngamnye wayewujonga ngenyameko umhlambi wakhe ukuze abone ukuba uqhuba njani na. Xa ebona itakane elisandul’ ukuzalwa ulifaka emphethweni . . . webhatyi yakhe enkulu, ekubeni lisebuthathaka ukuba lingalandela unina. Sakuba sizele isifuba sakhe, uwabeka emagxeni amatakane, awabambe ngamanqina, okanye awafake engxoweni okanye engobozini esemhlana wembongolo, ade loo matakane akwazi ukulandela oonina.” Akuthuthuzeli na ukwazi ukuba sikhonza uThixo obathantamisa ngaloo ndlela abantu bakhe?
[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 412]
Umile Njani Umhlaba?
Kumaxesha amandulo abantu ngokubanzi babekholelwa ukuba umhlaba usicaba. Phofu ke, ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, isithandi sobulumko esingumGrike uPythagoras seza nengcamango yokuba umhlaba umel’ ukuba uyingqukuva. Kodwa ke, kwiinkulungwane ezimbini ngaphambi kokuba uPythagoras avele nale ngcamango yakhe, umprofeti uIsaya watsho ngokucacileyo nangokuqinisekileyo ukuthi: “Kukho Lowo uhlala phezu kwesazinge somhlaba.” (Isaya 40:22) Igama lesiHebhere elithi chugh eliguqulelwa apha ngokuthi ‘isazinge’ likwathetha “ingqukuva.” Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, yinto engqukuva kuphela ebonakala isisazinge macala onke.f Ngoko umprofeti uIsaya wabhala ingxelo eyayingaphambili lee kunolwazi lwexesha lakhe, kodwa eyayichanile ngokwezenzululwazi yaye ingosulelwanga ziintsomi zamandulo.
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
f Ngokwezenzululwazi, umhlaba uyingqukuva ethande ukuba sicaba emacaleni.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 403]
UYohane umBhaptizi wayelilizwi ‘elidanduluka ngamandla entlango’