“Qhubeka Unqoba Okubi Ngokuhle”

“Ungazivumeli ukuba unqotshwe okubi, kodwa qhubeka unqoba okubi ngokuhle.”—ROMA 12:21.

 1. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi singakunqoba okubi?

KUNGENZEKA yini ukumelana nalabo abaphikisa ukukhulekela kweqiniso ngonya? Kungenzeka yini ukunqoba amathonya azama ukusidonsela emuva ezweni elingamesabi uNkulunkulu? Impendulo yale mibuzo yomibili inguyebo! Sikusho ngani lokhu? Ngenxa yalokho okushiwo umphostoli uPawulu encwadini ayibhalela abaseRoma. Uyabhala: “Ungazivumeli ukuba unqotshwe okubi, kodwa qhubeka unqoba okubi ngokuhle.” (Roma 12:21) Uma sithembela kuJehova futhi sizimisele ukuba singalivumeli leli zwe lisinqobe, ububi balo abusoze basinqoba. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inkulumo ethi “qhubeka unqoba okubi” ibonisa ukuthi singakunqoba okubi uma siqhubeka silwa nakho empini yethu engokomoya. Yilabo kuphela abayeka ukuqapha bese beyeka ukulwa abayonqotshwa yileli zwe elibi nombusi walo omubi, uSathane uDeveli.— 1 Johane 5:19.

 2. Kungani sizocabangela izenzakalo ezithile ezenzeka ekuphileni kukaNehemiya?

² Eminyakeni engaba ngu-500 ngaphambi kwesikhathi sikaPawulu, inceku kaNkulunkulu eyayihlala eJerusalema yabonisa ukuthi la mazwi kaPawulu okulwa nobubi ayiqiniso. Lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu, uNehemiya, akazange nje amelane nokuphikisa kwabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu kodwa futhi wanqoba okubi ngokuhle. Iziphi izinselele abhekana nazo? Yini eyamenza waphumelela? Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe? Ukuze siphendule le mibuzo, ake sicabangele izenzakalo ezithile ezenzeka ekuphileni kukaNehemiya.a

 3. UNehemiya wayephila ukuphila okunjani, futhi imuphi umsebenzi oyisimanga awufeza?

³ UNehemiya wayekhonza esigodlweni senkosi yasePheresiya, u-Aritahishashita. Nakuba ayehlala nabantu abangakholwa, akazange ‘alolongwe afane nesimiso sezinto’ salezo zinsuku. (Roma 12:2) Lapho kuphakama isidingo kwaJuda, wadela ukuphila okunethezekile, wathatha uhambo olukhandlayo lokuya eJerusalema futhi waqala umsebenzi omkhulu wokwakha kabusha udonga lomuzi. (Roma 12:1) Nakuba ayengumbusi waseJerusalema, uNehemiya wasebenza kanzima nsuku zonke nama-Israyeli akubo “kusukela ekuntweleni kokusa kuze kube sekuphumeni kwezinkanyezi.” Ngenxa yalokho, umsebenzi waphela kungakapheli nezinyanga ezimbili nje! (Nehemiya 4:21; 6:15) Kwakuyisimanga lokhu ngoba phakathi nokwakha, ama-Israyeli abhekana nokuphikiswa okuhlukahlukene. Babengobani abaphikisi bakaNehemiya, futhi wawuyini umgomo wabo?

 4. Wawuyini umgomo wabaphikisi bakaNehemiya?

⁴ Abaphikisi abavelele kwakunguSanibhalati, uThobiya noGeshemi, amadoda ayenethonya ayehlala eduze kwakwaJuda. Njengoba babeyizitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu, “kwabonakala kuyinto embi kakhulu kubo ukuthi kwakufike [uNehemiya] ezofunela amadodana ka-Israyeli okuhle.” (Nehemiya 2:10, 19) Izitha zikaNehemiya zazizimisele kakhulu ukumisa izinhlelo zikaNehemiya zokwakha, zaze zasebenzisa namacebo amabi. Ingabe uNehemiya ‘wayeyozivumela ukuba anqotshwe okubi’?

“Wathukuthela Futhi Wacasuka Kakhulu”

5, 6. (a) Izitha zikaNehemiya zasabela kanjani emsebenzini wokwakha? (b) Kungani uNehemiya engazange esatshiswe abaphikisi?

⁵ Ngesibindi, uNehemiya wakhuthaza abantu bakubo: “Wozani silwakhe kabusha udonga lweJerusalema.” Baphendula: ‘Masakheni.’ UNehemiya uthi: “Baqinisa izandla zabo baziqinisela lo msebenzi omuhle,” kodwa abaphikisi “basihleka usulu futhi basibheka ngendelelo bathi: ‘Kuyini lokhu enikwenzayo? Ingabe niyadlubulunda enkosini?’” UNehemiya akazange esatshiswe ukugcona kwabo nokubamangalela kwabo ngamanga. Watshela abaphikisi: “UNkulunkulu wamazulu nguye ozosinika impumelelo, futhi thina, zinceku zakhe, sizosukuma, futhi sizokwakha.” (Nehemiya 2:17-20) UNehemiya wayezimisele ukuqhubekela phambili nalo “msebenzi omuhle.”

⁶ Omunye walabo baphikisi, uSanibhalati, “wathukuthela futhi wacasuka kakhulu” futhi wabahlasela nakakhulu ngamazwi. Wabagcona: “Enzani la maJuda abuthaka? . . . Ingabe azowaphilisa la matshe akulezi zinqwaba zemfucumfucu enothuli?” UThobiya wahlanganyela kulokho kuhleka usulu, wathi: “Uma impungushe ingakhuphuka [kulo], ngokuqinisekile ingalubhidliza lolu donga lwabo lwamatshe.” (Nehemiya 4:1-3) Wasabela kanjani uNehemiya?

 7. UNehemiya wasabela kanjani lapho emangalelwa abaphikisi bakhe?

⁷ UNehemiya wamane wakuthalalisa lokho kuhlekwa usulu. Walalela umyalo kaNkulunkulu, akangafuna ukuziphindiselela. (Levitikusi 19:18) Kunalokho, washiyela indaba ezandleni zikaJehova futhi wathandaza: “O Nkulunkulu wethu, yizwa, ngoba sibe yinto yokwedelelwa; wenze isihlamba sabo sibuyele phezu kwekhanda labo.” (Nehemiya 4:4) UNehemiya wathembela esiqinisekisweni sikaJehova: “Impindiselo ingeyami, nokubuyisela.” (Duteronomi 32:35) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uNehemiya nabantu bakhe ‘baqhubeka nokwakha udonga.’ Abazange bavumele ukuthikamezeka. Empeleni, “lonke udonga lwahlanganiswa lwaze lwaba yingxenye yokuphakama kwalo, abantu baqhubeka benenhliziyo yokusebenza.” (Nehemiya 4:6) Izitha zokukhulekela kweqiniso zazihlulekile ukumisa umsebenzi wokwakha! Singamlingisa kanjani uNehemiya?

 8. (a) Singamlingisa kanjani uNehemiya lapho abaphikisi besimangalela ngamanga? (b) Landisa okuhlangenwe nakho kwakho noma oye wakuzwa okubonisa ukuhlakanipha kokungaziphindiseleli.

⁸ Namuhla, abaphikisi esikoleni, emsebenzini, noma ngisho nasekhaya bangase basihlasele ngokusigcona nangokusimangalela. Nokho, ngokuvamile ukumangalela okunjalo kwamanga kungasingathwa kangcono ngokusebenzisa lesi simiso esingokomBhalo: “Kukhona . . . isikhathi sokuthula.” (UmShumayeli 3:1, 7) Ngakho, njengoNehemiya siyakugwema ukuziphindiselela ngamazwi ahlabayo. (Roma 12:17) Siphendukela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo, sithembela kulowo osiqinisekisayo: “Ngizobuyisela mina.” (Roma 12:19; 1 Petru 2:19, 20) Ngokwenza kanjalo, asibavumeli abaphikisi bethu ukuba basithikameze emsebenzini ongokomoya okumelwe wenziwe namuhla—ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokwenza abafundi. (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Isikhathi ngasinye lapho sihlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela futhi senqaba ukuphazanyiswa ukuphikiswa, sisuke sibonisa umoya ofanayo wokwethembeka owaboniswa uNehemiya.

‘Ngokuqinisekile Sizokubulala’

 9. Izitha zikaNehemiya zaphikisa kanjani, futhi uNehemiya wasabela kanjani?

⁹ Lapho abaphikisi bokukhulekela kweqiniso esikhathini sikaNehemiya bezwa ukuthi “ukulungiswa kwezindonga zeJerusalema kuqhubekele phambili,” bahloma ngezinkemba ‘bayokulwa neJerusalema.’ Isimo sasibonakala singathembisi kumaJuda. Ngasenyakatho kwakukhona amaSamariya, ngasempumalanga kukhona abakwa-Amoni, eningizimu kunama-Arabhu kanti entshonalanga kunabase-Ashidodi. IJerusalema lalihaqiwe; abakhi babonakala bevalelekile! Babezokwenzenjani? UNehemiya uthi: “Sathandaza kuNkulunkulu wethu.” Izitha zasongela: “Ngokuqinisekile sizobabulala siwumise lo msebenzi.” UNehemiya wayala abakhi ukuba bavikele umuzi ‘ngezinkemba zabo, izijula zabo neminsalo yabo.’ Yiqiniso, ngokombono womuntu, iviyo elincane lamaJuda lalingenalo nelincane ithuba lokunqoba amabutho amaningi esitha, kodwa uNehemiya walikhuthaza: “Ningabesabi. Cabangani ngoJehova omkhulu nowesabekayo.”—Nehemiya 4:7-9, 11, 13, 14.

10. (a) Yini eyabangela ukuba izinto zishintshe kungazelelwe ezitheni zikaNehemiya? (b) UNehemiya wathatha ziphi izinyathelo?

¹⁰ Kwathi kusenjalo, izinto zashintsha kungazelelwe. Izitha zahoxa. Kwakwenzekeni? UNehemiya uyabika: “UNkulunkulu weqiniso wayelishafisile icebo lazo.” Nokho, uNehemiya waqaphela ukuthi izitha zazilokhu ziwusongo. Ngakho-ke, ngokuhlakanipha wayihlela kabusha indlela yabo yokusebenza. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, “ngamunye wayesebenza ngesandla esisodwa ngesinye ephethe umcibisholo.” UNehemiya waphinde wabeka umuntu “owayezoshaya uphondo” uma isitha sihlasela ukuze axwayise abakhi. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, uNehemiya waqinisekisa abantu: “UNkulunkulu wethu ngokwakhe uzosilwela.” (Nehemiya 4:15-20) Bekhuthazekile futhi bekulungele ukubhekana nokuhlaselwa, abakhi baqhubeka besebenza. Singafunda ziphi izifundo kulokhu kulandisa?

11. Yini esiza amaKristu eqiniso ukuba akwazi ukumelana nokubi emazweni lapho umsebenzi woMbuso uvinjelwe khona, futhi akunqoba kanjani okubi ngokuhle?

¹¹ Ngezinye izikhathi, amaKristu eqiniso abhekana nokuphikiswa okunobudlova. Empeleni, kwamanye amazwe abaphikisi abanonya bokukhulekela kweqiniso bayisitha esikhulu. Ngokombono womuntu, abafowethu abakulawo mazwe abanalo nelincane ithuba lokunqoba. Noma kunjalo, labo Fakazi bayaqiniseka ukuthi ‘uNkulunkulu uzobalwela.’ Ngempela, sekukaningi labo abashushiswa ngenxa yezinkolelo zabo bebona uJehova ephendula imithandazo yabo futhi ‘eshafisa icebo’ lezitha ezinamandla. Ngisho nasemazweni lapho umsebenzi woMbuso uvinjelwe khona, amaKristu athola izindlela zokuqhubeka eshumayela izindaba ezinhle. Njengoba nje abakhi eJerusalema bahlela kabusha indlela yabo yokusebenza, noFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bazihlela ngobuhlakani izindlela zabo zokushumayela lapho behlaselwa. Yebo, abazisebenzisi izikhali ezingokoqobo. (2 Korinte 10:4) Futhi ngisho nokusongelwa ngobudlova akubenzi bamise imisebenzi yabo yokushumayela. (1 Petru 4:16) Kunalokho, labo bafowethu nodadewethu abanesibindi ‘bayaqhubeka benqoba okubi ngokuhle.’

“Woza Sihlangane”

12, 13. (a) Abaphikisi bakaNehemiya basebenzisa liphi isu? (b) Kungani uNehemiya asenqaba isimemo sokuhlangana nabaphikisi bakhe?

¹² Ngemva kokuba izitha zikaNehemiya zibonile ukuthi ukuhlasela kwazo ngokuqondile kubhuntshile, zasebenzisa izindlela zokuphikisa ezicashe kakhulu. Empeleni, zazama amacebo amathathu. Maphi?

¹³ Okokuqala, izitha zikaNehemiya zazama ukumkhohlisa. Zathi kuye: “Woza sihlangane ngesivumelwano emizaneni yethafa elisesigodini lase-Ono.” I-Ono yayiphakathi kweJerusalema neSamariya. Ngakho izitha zahlongoza ukuba uNehemiya ahlangane nazo kulo muzi omaphakathi ukuze baxazulule lokho kungaboni ngaso linye. UNehemiya wayengacabanga: ‘Kuzwakala kunengqondo. Kungcono ukuxoxisana kunokulwa.’ Kodwa uNehemiya wenqaba. Wasichaza isizathu sokwenqaba kwakhe: “Babeceba ukungilimaza.” Wayifunda ivaliwe futhi akazange akhohliseke. Izikhathi ezine watshela abaphikisi bakhe: “Angikwazi ukwehla. Kungani kufanele umsebenzi ume ngesikhathi ngisawuyekile futhi ngehlele kini?” Imizamo yezitha yokwenza uNehemiya ayekethise yehluleka. Wagcina iso lakhe ligxilile emsebenzini wokwakha.—Nehemiya 6:1-4.

14. UNehemiya wasabela kanjani kulabo ababemmangalela ngamanga?

¹⁴ Okwesibili, izitha zikaNehemiya zabe sezisakaza amahemuhemu angamanga, zimangalela uNehemiya ngokuthi ‘uceba ukudlubulunda’ eNkosini u-Aritahishashita. UNehemiya waphinde wacelwa: “Woza sibonisane.” Nakulokhu, uNehemiya wenqaba ngoba wayibona inhloso yezitha. UNehemiya wachaza: “Bonke babezama ukusesabisa, bethi: ‘Izandla zabo zizowuyeka umsebenzi ungenziwa.’” Nokho, kulokhu, uNehemiya wakuphikisa ukumangalela kwezitha, wathi: “Azikho izinto ezinjengalezi ozishoyo, kunalokho zisungulwe nguwe enhliziyweni yakho.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, uNehemiya waphendukela kuJehova ukuze amsekele, wathandaza: “Qinisa izandla zami.” Wayethemba ukuthi ngosizo lukaJehova wayeyokwazi ukulishafisa leli cebo elibi futhi aqhubekele phambili nomsebenzi wokwakha.—Nehemiya 6:5-9.

15. Ikuphi ukusikisela okwenziwa umprofethi wamanga, futhi kungani uNehemiya engazange akwamukele?

¹⁵ Okwesithathu, izitha zikaNehemiya zasebenzisa umkhapheli, uShemaya ongumIsrayeli, ukuba azame ukwenza uNehemiya ukuba aphule uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. UShemaya wathi kuNehemiya: “Masihlangane ngesivumelwano endlini kaNkulunkulu weqiniso, ngaphakathi ethempelini, sivale iminyango yethempeli; ngoba bayeza ukuzokubulala.” UShemaya wathi uNehemiya wayesezobulawa kodwa wayengasindisa ukuphila kwakhe ngokucasha ethempelini. Nokho, uNehemiya wayengeyena umpristi. Wayeyobe wenza isono ngokucasha endlini kaNkulunkulu. Ingabe wayeyowuphula uMthetho kaNkulunkulu ukuze azame ukusindisa ukuphila kwakhe? UNehemiya waphendula: “Ubani onjengami ongangena ethempelini aphile? Ngeke ngingene!” Yini eyenza uNehemiya angaweli esicuphweni ayesibekelwe? Ukwazi ukuthi nakuba uShemaya ayengumIsrayeli njengaye, “kwakungeyena uNkulunkulu owayemthumile.” Phela umprofethi weqiniso akasoze ameluleka ngokuthi aphule uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Nakulokhu, uNehemiya akazange azivumele ukuba anqotshwe abaphikisi ababi. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho wakwazi ukwenza lo mbiko: “Ekugcineni udonga lwaphela ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nanhlanu ku-Eluli, ngezinsuku ezingamashumi amahlanu nambili.”—Nehemiya 6:10-15; Numeri 1:51; 18:7.

16. (a) Kufanele sisebenzelane kanjani nabangane bamanga, abantu abasimangalela ngamanga nabazalwane bamanga? (b) Ubonisa kanjani ukuthi uyenqaba ukuyekethisa ezinkolelweni zakho ekhaya, esikoleni noma emsebenzini?

¹⁶ NjengoNehemiya, nathi singase sibhekane nabaphikisi abangaba abangane bamanga, abantu abasimangalela ngamanga nabazalwane bamanga. Abanye abantu bangase basikisele ukuba siyekethise, sizivumelanise nabo ngezinga elithile. Bangase bazame ukusenza sikholelwe ukuthi uma singathi ukunciphisa intshiseko yethu ekukhonzeni uJehova, singase ngesikhathi esifanayo sikwazi ukuphishekela nemigomo yezwe. Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uza kuqala ekuphileni kwethu, siyenqaba ukuyekethisa. (Mathewu 6:33; Luka 9:57-62) Abaphikisi basakaza nezinto ezingamanga ngathi. Kwamanye amazwe simangalelwa ngokuthi siwusongo kuHulumeni, njengoba nje uNehemiya amangalelwa ngokudlubulunda enkosini. Okunye ukumangalelwa kuye kwaxazululwa ngokuphumelelayo ezinkantolo zokwahlulela. Kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umphumela uba yini ezimweni ngazinye, sithandaza ngokuqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzoqondisa izindaba ngokwentando yakhe. (Filipi 1:7) Ukuphikiswa kungase futhi kuvele kulabo abazishaya abantu abakhonza uJehova. Njengoba nje omunye umJuda wakubo kaNehemiya azama ukumnxenxela ukuba aphule uMthetho kaNkulunkulu ukuze asindise ukuphila kwakhe, nezihlubuki ezazingoFakazi zingase zizame ukusithonya ukuba siyekethise ngandlela-thile. Nokho, siyazenqaba izihlubuki ngoba siyazi ukuthi ukuphila kwethu akusindiswa ukwephula imithetho kaNkulunkulu, kodwa ukuyigcina! (1 Johane 4:1) Yebo, ngosizo lukaJehova singanqoba noma ibuphi ububi.

Ukushumayela Izindaba Ezinhle Nalapho Sibhekene Nobubi

17, 18. (a) Yini uSathane namanxusa akhe abazama ukuyenza? (b) Yini ozimisele ukuyenza, futhi ngani?

¹⁷ Ngokuqondene nabafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe, iZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Bamnqoba [uSathane] ngenxa . . . yezwi lokufakaza kwabo.” (IsAmbulo 12:11) Ngakho, ukunqoba uSathane—umthombo wobubi—kuhlobene ngokuqondile nokushumayela isigijimi soMbuso. Shono uSathane ephikelela kangaka ekuhlaseleni kokubili insali ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ ngokubhebhezela ukuphikiswa!—IsAmbulo 7:9; 12:17.

¹⁸ Njengoba sibonile, ukuphikiswa kungase kuze ngendlela yokuhlaselwa ngamazwi noma ngokusongelwa ngobudlova noma ngezindlela ezicashe kakhulu. Kunoma ikuphi, uSathane uhlale enomgomo owodwa—ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela. Nokho, uyohluleka kabuhlungu ngoba abantu bakaNkulunkulu bazimisele ‘ukuqhubeka benqoba okubi ngokuhle,’ belingisa uNehemiya wasendulo. Bayokwenza kanjalo ngokuqhubeka nomsebenzi wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuze kube yilapho uJehova ethi umsebenzi usufeziwe!—Marku 13:10; Roma 8:31; Filipi 1:27, 28.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Uyakhumbula?

• Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zamandulo zabhekana nakuphi ukuphikiswa namaKristu anamuhla abhekana nakho?

• Wawuyini umgomo oyinhloko wezitha zikaNehemiya, futhi uyini umgomo wezitha zikaNkulunkulu namuhla?

• Thina siqhubeka kanjani namuhla sinqoba okubi ngokuhle?

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 29]

Izifundo Ezitholakala Encwadini KaNehemiya

Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zibhekana

• nokuhlekwa usulu

• nokusongelwa

• nokukhohliswa

Ukukhohlisa kusetshenziswa

• abangane bamanga

• abantu abasimangalela ngamanga

• abazalwane bamanga

Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zinqoba okubi

• ngokunamathela emsebenzini wazo eziwunikwe uNkulunkulu

[Isithombe ekhasini 27]

UNehemiya nayesebenza nabo balwakha kabusha udonga lweJerusalema naphezu kokuphikiswa ngonya

[Isithombe ekhasini 31]

AmaKristu eqiniso ashumayela izindaba ezinhle ngesibindi