“Kwakungekhona Yini Lokho Ukungazi Mina?”

1, 2. Kungani kwakuwubuwula ngoJehoyakimi ukusukela umsebenzi wokwakha?

INKOSI UJEHOYAKIMI yayakha isithabathaba sendlu. Okungenani izitezi ezimbili zazizoba namakamelo abanzi. Amafasitela amakhulu ayezongenisa ilanga nomoya opholile owawuzogcina inkosi nomkhaya wayo bepholile. Izindonga zazizohlotshiswa ngamapulangwe omsedari waseLebhanoni onephunga elimnandi. Ingaphakathi laliyobe selipendwa ngopende obomvu klebhu owawuthengwa kwamanye amazwe, owawufunwa kakhulu izicukuthwane zakwamanye amazwe.—Jer. 22:13, 14.

² Le ndlu yayizobiza enkulu imali. Cishe ngaleso sikhathi, ezokuvikela zesizwe kanye nentela eyayifunwa iGibhithe ngokusobala kwase kuyiphundlile ingcebo. (2 AmaKh. 23:33-35) Kodwa uJehoyakimi wayithola indlela yokukhokhela isigodlo sakhe esisha. Akazange azikhokhele izisebenzi ezazakha! Waziphatha njengezigqila, wakha indlu yakhe ngezithukuthuku zazo.

 3. Yimuphi umehluko owawukhona phakathi kukaJehoyakimi noyise, futhi kungani?

³ Esebenzisa uJeremiya, uNkulunkulu wamlahla uJehoyakimi ngobugovu bakhe.a Wakhumbuza le nkosi ukuthi uyise, iNkosi uJosiya, wayebonise umusa ongaphezu kovamile nesandla esivulekile ezisebenzini nakwabampofu. UJosiya waze wamelela ngisho namacala abo angokomthetho enkantolo. Eqaphelisa uJehoyakimi ngokucabangela abampofu kukaJosiya, uJehova wabuza: “Kwakungekhona yini lokho ukungazi mina?”—Funda uJeremiya 22:15, 16.

 4. Kungani kufanele kubaluleke kuwe ukwazi uJehova?

⁴ Njengoba izimo ziwohloka ezweni likaSathane, sidinga usizo nesivikelo uJehova akunika labo abamazi ngokuseduze. Ngakho-ke, kufanele sisondele eduze nakakhulu kuNkulunkulu. Futhi kudingeka sibonakalise izimfanelo zakhe ezinhle ukuze siphumelele ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle. Nokho, ungase uzibuze, ‘UmKristu angamazi kanjani uJehova ngendlela iNkosi uJosiya eyayimazi ngayo?’

5, 6. (a) Yiliphi ithonya ubaba omuhle analo ezinganeni zakhe? (b) Ngokungafani noJehoyakimi, kufanele sisabele kanjani thina lapho sesazi izindlela zikaJehova?

⁵ Ake ucabange ngezindlela ubaba omuhle akuthonya ngazo ukuphila kwezingane zakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho zibona indlela apha ngayo abantu abaswele, cishe nazo ziyoba nesandla esivulekile. Ukubona indlela aphatha ngayo unina ngothando nangenhlonipho cishe kuyozisiza zibacabangele abobulili obuhlukile. Ukuzwa ukuthi uyise unedumela lokuba nobulungisa nokwethembeka kwezezimali, kufanele kuzenze zibe nobulungisa futhi zethembeke. Yebo, ngokwazi kwazo izindlela nezimfanelo zikayise, lezo zingane cishe ziyokhula zifuna ukuphatha abanye njengoba kwenza uyise.

⁶ Ngokufanayo, umKristu owazi uJehova njengoJosiya akamane nje amqaphele njengoMbusi Wendawo Yonke. Ngokufunda iBhayibheli, wazi indlela uNkulunkulu aphatha ngayo abanye bese naye efuna ukulingisa uYise wasezulwini. Uthando lwakhe ngoJehova luyajula njengoba usuku nosuku ecabanga ngezinto uNkulunkulu azithandayo nangazithandi. Ngokuphambene nalokhu, umuntu oyishaya indiva imithetho nezikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu, ngaleyo ndlela enqaba noma iliphi ithonya laphezulu ekuphileni kwakhe, akafinyeleli ekumazini uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Uyefana noJehoyakimi, owaliphonsa emlilweni izwi uJehova ayeliphathise uJeremiya.—Funda uJeremiya 36:21-24.

 7. Kungani kufanele ufune ukwazi uJehova njengoba kwenza iNkosi uJosiya?

⁷ Ukuphumelela kwethu enkonzweni engcwele kanye namathemba ethu okuphila ezweni elisha kuxhomeke ekumazini ngempela uJehova. (Jer. 9:24) Ake sihlole izimfanelo zikaNkulunkulu ezimbalwa njengoba zembulwe emibhalweni kaJeremiya. Njengoba sihlola ubuntu bukaNkulunkulu, funa izindlela wena ongamazi futhi umlingise ngazo njengoba kwenza iNkosi uJosiya.

 8. Uyini umusa wothando?

⁸ Izilimi eziningi ziyehluleka ukuyichaza ngokunembile imfanelo yobuntu bukaNkulunkulu eyaziwa ngokuthi umusa wothando noma uthando oluqotho. Ngokwesinye isichazamazwi seBhayibheli, igama lesiHebheru elisetshenzisiwe lisho inhlanganisela yamandla, ukugxila nothando. Leso sichazamazwi siqhubeka sithi: “Noma iyiphi incazelo yaleli gama engazivezi zontathu lezi zici, iyawulahla nakanjani umongo walo.” Ngakho, umuntu obonisa umusa wothando ungaphezu kokuba umuntu okahle. Ngokukhathalela okujulile, uzama konke angakwenza ukuze asize abanye banelise izidingo zabo, ikakhulu ezingokomoya. Isizathu esiyinhloko sokungazigodli okunjalo yisifiso sakhe sokujabulisa uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.

 9. Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo ama-Israyeli yafakazelani?

⁹ Indlela engcono yokuqonda lokho okushiwo yinkulumo yeBhayibheli ethi “umusa wothando” ukutadisha indlela uNkulunkulu abaphathe ngayo abakhulekeli bakhe beqiniso kuwo wonke umlando. UJehova wavikela futhi wondla ama-Israyeli ngenkathi esehlane iminyaka engu-40. EZweni Lesithembiso, wawanikeza abahluleli ukuze bawophule ezitheni zawo futhi bawabuyisele ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wanamathela kuwo ebuhleni nasebubini phakathi nawo wonke lawo makhulu eminyaka, wayengawatshela: “Ngikuthandé ngothando olungenasiphelo. Yingakho ngikudonse ngomusa wothando.”—Jer. 31:3.b

10. Njengoba kuboniswe endabeni yamaJuda ayeseBhabhiloni, uJehova uwubonisa kanjani umusa wothando endleleni alalela ngayo imithandazo?

¹⁰ Osukwini lwethu, uNkulunkulu uyaqhubeka ebonisa umusa wothando ngezindlela ezibazuzisa ngokuqondile abakhulekeli bakhe. Cabanga ngendaba yomthandazo. UJehova uyiqaphela yonke imithandazo eqotho, kodwa unaka ngokukhethekile lapho kuthandaza izinceku zakhe ezizinikezele. Ngisho noma kungaphela iminyaka sithandaza ngezinkinga ezifanayo ezinganqamuki, akaphelelwa yisineke; engakhathali futhi nawukulalela imithandazo yethu. Ngesinye isikhathi uJehova wathuma uJeremiya ukuba ayise isigijimi kumaJuda ayeseyizithunjwa kakade eBhabhiloni. Ayeqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-800 ethempelini, ekude nemindeni yawo nabangane ababekwaJuda. Nokho, ukuba kude kwabo nethempeli akuzange kumvimbe uJehova ekuzweni izicelo zabo zomusa namazwi abo okudumisa. Njengoba ucabanga ngeyakho imithandazo eqotho, cabanga ngenduduzo la maJuda ayizwa lapho ezwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu akuJeremiya 29:10-12.—Yifunde.

11, 12. (a) Yini uJehova ayeyiphathele abantu baseJerusalema? (b) Yiluphi usizo olungatholwa umuntu othole isiyalo abesidinga?

¹¹ Sibona obunye ubufakazi bomusa kaJehova wothando endleleni enhle abheka ngayo izinto. Njengoba ukuwa kweJerusalema kwakusondela nezakhamuzi ziqhubeka zivukela, empeleni okwakuwukuvukela uNkulunkulu, laliziphatheleni ikusasa? Mhlawumbe ukufa zibulawa indlala noma inkemba yabaseBhabhiloni? Okungconywana kwakungaba ukudingiswa isikhathi eside nokufela kwelinye izwe. Noma kunjalo, uJehova wayebaphathele “izwi elihle” labo abaphenduka futhi bashintsha ukuphila kwabo. Wathembisa ukuthi ‘uzobanaka.’ ‘Wayezobabuyisela kule ndawo,’ ezweni lakubo, ebasusa eBhabhiloni elikude. (Jer. 27:22) Ngenxa yalokho, babeyokhamuluka bathi: “Dumisani uJehova wamabutho, ngoba uJehova muhle; ngoba umusa wakhe wothando umi kuze kube nini nanini!”—Jer. 33:10, 11.

¹² Ngenxa yomusa wakhe wothando, uJehova unguMthombo wesikhuthazo kulabo abasebunzimeni ngokombono wabantu. Namuhla kunabathile abake baba yingxenye yebandla lobuKristu kodwa abathola isiyalo esasidingeka nesinobulungisa. Bangazizwa begajwe umuzwa wecala futhi bangabaze ukuvuselela ubudlelwane babo nabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Bangase bazibuze ukuthi uJehova uyoke abathethelele yini futhi abamukele. UNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke ‘unezwi elihle’ kubo bonke abanjalo. Bangathola usizo lomusa ukuze benze noma yiziphi izinguquko ezidingekayo ekucabangeni nasemikhubeni yabo. Isimiso esikulokhu esikufunde esigabeni esedlule singasebenza nakubo—uJehova ‘uzobabuyisela endaweni yabo’ phakathi kwabantu bakhe abajabulayo.—Jer. 31:18-20.

13. Kungani ukusekela kukaJehova uJeremiya kufanele kukukhuthaze?

¹³ NjengoNkulunkulu womusa wothando, uJehova ubuye azisekele ngobuqotho izinceku zakhe ezithembekile. Kulezi zinsuku zokugcina zezwe likaSathane, sinesizathu sokwethemba ukuthi uJehova uzobondla futhi abavikele bonke labo abafuna uMbuso wakhe kuqala. Khumbula ukuthi phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina zeJerusalema, uJeremiya wayencike kuJehova ukuze athole ukudla nesivikelo. UNkulunkulu akamenzelanga neze phansi. (Jer. 15:15; funda isiLilo 3:55-57.) Uma uzithola ungaphansi kokucindezeleka kwanoma yiluphi uhlobo, qiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyazikhumbula izenzo zakho zokwethembeka. Ngenxa yomusa wakhe wothando, ufisa ukukusekela ukuze ‘ungapheli.’—IsiL. 3:22.

14. Ikuphi ukungabi nabulungisa oye wakuphawula muva nje?

¹⁴ Abanye abantu babhadla iminyaka ejele ngamacala abangazange bawenze. Kuye kwenzeka nanokuthi inkantolo igwebe umuntu intambo, kuthi esebulewe kuvele ubufakazi bokuthi akanacala. Kwamanye amazwe abazali bantula ukudla kangangokuba baze bathengise izingane zabo ebugqilini ukuze umkhaya uthole okuya ngasethunjini. Uzizwa kanjani uma uzwa ngokungabi nabulungisa okunjalo namuhla? Ucabanga ukuthi uJehova yena uzizwa kanjani? IBhayibheli likwenza kucace ukuthi ufuna ukuqeda zonke izimbangela zokuhlupheka. Nguye kuphela onamandla okwenza kanjalo. Ngakho, abampofu nabangenacala abahluphekayo namuhla bangaqina idolo. UJehova, uNkulunkulu wobulungisa, uthatha izinyathelo zokubophula ekucindezelekeni kwabo kwamanje.—Jer. 23:5, 6.

15, 16. (a) Yiliphi iqiniso uJeremiya aliqokomisa ngoJehova? (b) Kungani ungayethemba imithetho kaNkulunkulu nezithembiso zakhe?

¹⁵ Ngesikhathi sikaJeremiya, abanye babeyazi imfanelo kaNkulunkulu ephakeme yobulungisa. Ngokwesibonelo, lo mprofethi wathi u-Israyeli wayengaphenduka ezonweni zakhe futhi afakazele lokho kushintsha kwenhliziyo ngezenzo, kube sengathi uthi: “Kuphila kukaJehova ngeqiniso, ngobulungisa nangokulunga!” (Jer. 4:1, 2) Lokho kuyiqiniso ngoba ukungabi nabulungisa akunandawo enjongweni kaJehova. Kodwa kunobunye ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova ungumthandi wobulungisa.

¹⁶ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyaligcina izwi lakhe futhi akazenzisi. Nakuba abantu abaningi bezephula izithembiso abazenzile, uJehova akazephuli. Ngisho nemithetho yemvelo ayimisile futhi esizuzisayo ayinakwephulwa. (Jer. 31:35, 36) Singathembela nasezithembisweni zakhe nasezinqumweni zakhe zokwahlulela ngoba zihlale zilungile.—Funda isiLilo 3:37, 38.

17. (a) Yini uJehova ayenzayo lapho ahlulela? (b) Kungani ungakwethemba ukusingatha kwabadala izinkinga ebandleni? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi, “Bahlulelela UJehova,” kuleli khasi.)

¹⁷ Lapho uJehova ahlulela, akalokothi aneliswe yilokho akuzwa kushiwo ngomlomo. Ubheka ngale kwalokho okusobala ukuze athole wonke amaqiniso. Ubuye ahlaziye nezisusa zalabo abahilelekile. Odokotela manje sebesebenzisa imishini ephambili nezinqubo zesimanje ukuze bapopole inhliziyo yesiguli ngesikhathi ishaya ukuze bazi isimo sayo. Noma, bangahlola izinso ezicwenga igazi. UJehova angenza okungaphezu kakhulu kwalokho. Uhlola inhliziyo engokomfanekiso, ahlaziye izisusa zomuntu abuye ahlole nezinso ezingokomfanekiso, ezembula imizwa yomuntu ejulile. Ngakho angakubona lokho okubangele umuntu ukuba enze ngendlela ethile nendlela azizwa ngayo ngezenzo zakhe. Futhi uMninimandla onke akadidwa ubuningi bemininingwane ayithola lapho ehlolisisa umuntu. Usebenzisa konke lokho kwaziswa ngokunembile nangokulinganisela ukuze athole ukuthi ikusasa lethu liyoba njani, udlula ngisho nokhaliphe kangakanani umahluleli ongumuntu.—Funda uJeremiya 12:1a; 20:12.

18, 19. Kungasithinta kanjani ukwazi imfanelo kaNkulunkulu yobulungisa?

¹⁸ Khona-ke, unesisekelo esiqinile sokwethembela kuJehova, ngisho noma ngezinye izikhathi unembeza ukukhathaza ngenxa yamaphutha esikhathi esedlule. Ungalokothi ukhohlwe ukuthi uJehova akayena umshushisi olukhuni ofuna isizathu sokujezisa, kodwa kunalokho, unguMahluleli onozwela ofuna ukusiza. Uma kukhona okukukhathazayo ngenkambo yakho yangaphambili noma udaba oluhilela omunye umuntu, cela uJehova amele “izimpi,” noma ukuphazamiseka ngokomzwelo, ukuze uyidlulise indaba.c Ngosizo lwakhe, ungabona indlela ayazisa ngayo ingxenye oqhubeka uyifeza enkonzweni engcwele.—Funda isiLilo 3:58, 59.

¹⁹ Kuyaqondakala ukuthi uNkulunkulu wobulungisa obuphelele ufisa ukuba labo abafuna ukwamukelwa nguye benze ubulungisa nabo ngokwabo. (Jer. 7:5-7; 22:3) Ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle ngokungakhethi yindlela ebaluleke kakhulu yokubonakalisa ubulungisa baphezulu. Uma uqotho ekwenzeni izimpindelo nasekuqhubeni izifundo zeBhayibheli, ubonisa indinganiso kaNkulunkulu ephakeme yobulungisa ngendlela ezuzisa ngempela. Kanjani? Ufisa ukuba zonke izinhlobo zabantu zifunde ngaye futhi zithole insindiso. (IsiL. 3:25, 26) Yeka ilungelo onalo lokuba yisisebenzi esikanye noNkulunkulu, ubonakalise ubulungisa bakhe kulowo msebenzi osindisa ukuphila!

20. (a) UJeremiya waqokomisa siphi isici sendlela uNkulunkulu asebenzelana ngayo nabantu? (b) ‘Ukudabuka’ kuhlobene kanjani nentethelelo kaJehova? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “UJehova ‘Uzisola’ Kanjani?”)

²⁰ Abaningi babheka incwadi kaJeremiya neyesiLilo njengezimane zilahla ububi. Lowo mbono ushalazelela amazwi kaJehova aduduzayo okuthi uyobathethelela abantu bakhe, njengoba elotshwe kulezi zincwadi. Wancenga amaJuda: “Sizani nibuye yilowo nalowo endleleni yakhe embi, nenze izindlela zenu nezenzo zenu zibe zinhle.” Ngesinye isikhathi uJeremiya wawakhuthaza: “Yenzani izindlela zenu nezenzo zenu zibe zinhle, nilalele izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, uJehova uzodabuka ngale nhlekelele ayikhulumile ngokumelene nani.” (Jer. 18:11; 26:13) Osukwini lwethu, uJehova uyaqhubeka ethethelela bonke abaphenduka ngobuqotho futhi bayeke imikhuba engalungile.

21. Yini uJehova asuke efuna ukuyifeza lapho ethethelela umuntu?

²¹ Nokho, uJehova akagcini nje ngokukhuluma ngokuthethelela. Uyathethelela. Wanxusa ngoJeremiya: “O Israyeli oyimbuka, buya . . . Ngeke ngenze ubuso bami buninyukubalele ngokuthukuthela . . . Ngeke ngihlale ngicasukile kuze kube nini nanini.” (Jer. 3:12) UNkulunkulu akaqhubeki ebathukuthelele noma ebacasukele abantu bakhe asuke esebathethelele. Kunalokho, nakuba kusuke kwenziwe ububi, uJehova ufuna ukulungisa ubudlelwane osebulimele. Kungakhathaliseki izono umuntu asuke ezenzile, uma leso soni siphenduka ngempela futhi sifuna intethelelo kaNkulunkulu, uJehova ‘uyosibuyisela’ emseni wakhe futhi asibusise. (Jer. 15:19) Leso siqinisekiso kufanele sikhuthaze noma ubani oseqhelelene noNkulunkulu ukuba abuyele kuye. Awuvumi yini ukuthi intethelelo kaJehova isidonsela kuye?—Funda isiLilo 5:21.

22, 23. Njengoba ulingisa uJehova endabeni yokuthethelela, kufanele ube yini umgomo wakho?

²² Uma othile ekucasula ngamazwi noma ngezenzo ezibonisa ukungacabangi, ingabe uyolingisa uJehova? Ngokuqondene namaJuda asendulo, uNkulunkulu wathi ‘wayezobahlanza’ labo ayebathethelele. (Funda uJeremiya 33:8.) Uhlanza ngomqondo wokudlulisa isiphambeko sabantu abaphendukayo, abanike isiqalo esisha enkonzweni yaKhe. Kuyavunywa, ukuthola intethelelo kaNkulunkulu akusho ukuthi umuntu usehlanziwe ekungaphelelini akuzuze njengefa kangangokuba manje usephelele, akasenasono. Noma kunjalo, kunesifundo esisithola kulokho uNkulunkulu akusho ngokuhlanza abantu. Singalwela ukudlulisa isiphambeko noma icala lomunye umuntu, okufanekisela ukuhlanza umbono esinawo ngalowo muntu ezinhliziyweni zethu. Kanjani?

²³ Ake uzibone ngeso lengqondo uphiwe isitsha esiyigugu esiyifa. Ukube besingangcola noma sibe namabala, ingabe ubuyovele usilahle? Cishe ubungeke. Mhlawumbe ubuyozama ukusihlanza ngokucophelela, ususe noma imaphi amabala noma ukungcola. Ufuna ukubona ubuhle baso, indlela esibenyezela ngayo elangeni. Ngendlela efanayo, ungazikhandla ukuze unqobe noma iyiphi intukuthelo oyifukamele noma ukunengeka ngomfowenu noma udadewenu okucasulile. Yilwa nokuthambekela kokucabanga amazwi noma izenzo ezibuhlungu. Njengoba uphumelela ukuzidlulisa, uhlanza umbono nezinkumbulo onazo enhliziyweni yakho ngalowo osuke usumthethelele. Njengoba usuyihlanzile inhliziyo yakho emicabangweni engafanele ngalowo muntu, usukulungele ukuphinde ube nobungane obuseduze obebubonakala sebulahleke unomphela.

24, 25. Iziphi izinzuzo oyozithola uma wazi uJehova njengeNkosi uJosiya?

²⁴ Sesihlole ezimbalwa zezimfanelo nezenzo zikaJehova esizithola njengoba siya simazi kangcono. Siyabona ukuthi izinzuzo zokwazi uJehova ngokuseduze ziyisikhuthazo esikhulu sokuba simkhulekele ngendlela ayamukelayo. Uma singazi uJehova ngokuseduze njengeNkosi uJosiya, ukuphila kwethu kuyochichima injabulo, engesinye isici sobuntu bukaNkulunkulu.

²⁵ Ukumazi ngokwengeziwe uJehova kuyocebisa ubuhlobo bethu nabanye. Ngokusebenzela ukubonisa umusa wothando, ubulungisa nentethelelo njengoba kwenza uJehova, ubungane bethu ebandleni lobuKristu buyojula futhi bube yigugu nakakhulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, siyokwazi ngokwengeziwe ukufundisa lapho senza izimpindelo ensimini yethu futhi siqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezithuthukayo. Abathakazelayo bayoyithanda indlela yokuphila yobuKristu abayibona kithi. Ngakho, siyobe sikuhlomele kangcono ukubasiza bakhulekele uJehova ngendlela eyamukelekayo, balandele “indlela enhle.”—Jer. 6:16.