Isahluko Sesithupha
UJehova UNkulunkulu Unesihe Ensalini
1, 2. Umprofethi u-Isaya ubikezelani ngoJuda neJerusalema?
ISIPHEPHO esinamandla sigadla endaweni enesiminyaminya sabantu. Izivunguvungu, izimvula ezihambisana nesiphepho nezikhukhula ezinamandla kuhlasela izwe lonke, kubhidliza izindlu, kuvithiza izitshalo, kubulale nabantu. Kodwa ngokushesha isiphepho siyadlula, futhi kamuva kuthula kuthi cwaka. Kuba yisikhathi sokuba abasindile balungise izinto futhi bakhe kabusha.
2 Umprofethi u-Isaya ubikezela okufanayo ngoJuda neJerusalema. Amafu esiphepho sokwahlulela kwaphezulu asondela ngendlela ethusayo—futhi kube kufanele! Icala lesizwe likhulu. Ababusi nabantu bagcwalise izwe ngokungabi nabulungisa nangokuchitha igazi. Ngo-Isaya, uJehova udalula icala likaJuda abese exwayisa ngokuthi uyosahlulela lesi sizwe esingamahlongandlebe. (Isaya 3:25) Izwe lakwaJuda liyosala liyincithakalo ngokuphelele ngemva kwalesi siphepho. Kumelwe ukuba lokho okuzokwenzeka kuyamdabukisa u-Isaya.
3. Umyalezo ophefumulelwe ku-Isaya 4:2-6 uqukethe ziphi izindaba ezinhle?
3 Kodwa kunezindaba ezinhle! Isiphepho sesahlulelo sikaJehova sokulunga siyodlula, kube nensali esindayo. Yebo, ukwahlulela kukaJehova uJuda kuyohambisana nesihe! Isigijimi sika-Isaya esiphefumulelwe silotshwe ku-Isaya 4:2-6, sikhuluma ngalesi sikhathi esizayo esibusisekile. Kuba sengathi kuphuma ilanga emafwini kungazelelwe; akube kusaba nesimo nomoya oba khona ngesikhathi sokwahlulela—ochazwe ku-Isaya 2:6–4:1—kodwa kuba nezwe nabantu abavuselelwe.
4. Kungani kufanele sixoxe ngesiprofetho sika-Isaya sokubuyiselwa kwensali?
4 Isiprofetho sika-Isaya ngokuphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwensali nokulondeka kwayo okwalandela siyagcwaliseka nasesikhathini sethu—‘ingxenye yokugcina yezinsuku.’ (Isaya 2:2-4) Ake sixoxe ngalesi sigijimi esifike ngesikhathi, ngoba asinakho nje ukubaluleka okungokwesiprofetho kuphela, kodwa sisifundisa nangesihe sikaJehova nangokuthi thina ngabanye singasithola kanjani.
‘Ihlumela LikaJehova’
5, 6. (a) U-Isaya usichaza kanjani isikhathi esinokuthula esilandela isiphepho esizayo? (b) Lisho ukuthini igama elithi “ihlumela,” futhi libonisani ngezwe lakwaJuda?
5 Indlela ka-Isaya yokukhuluma iba eyomusa njengoba ebuka ngalé kwesiphepho esizayo abone isikhathi sokuthula okukhulu. Uyabhala: “Ngalolo suku lokho uJehova akwenza ukuba kuhlume [“ihlumela likaJehova,” umbhalo waphansi] kuyoba ngokokuhlobisa nenkazimulo, futhi izithelo zezwe ziyoba yinto yokuziqhenya ngayo nento enhle kulabo abangabakwa-Israyeli abaphunyukileyo.”—Isaya 4:2.
6 U-Isaya lapha ukhuluma ngokubuyiselwa. Ibizo lesiHeberu elihunyushwe ngokuthi “ihlumela” libhekisela kulokho ‘okumilayo, iklume, igatsha.’ Lihlobene nokuchuma, ukwanda nezibusiso ezivela kuJehova. Ngaleyo ndlela u-Isaya udweba umfanekiso wethemba—incithakalo ezayo ngeke ihlale unomphela. Ngesibusiso sikaJehova, izwe lakwaJuda elake lachuma liyophinde likhiqize insada yezithelo.a—Levitikusi 26:3-5.
7. Kungamuphi umqondo ihlumela likaJehova liyoba ‘elokuhlobisa nenkazimulo’?
7 U-Isaya usebenzisa amagama acacile ukuze achaze ubuhle bezinguquko ezisazokwenzeka. Ihlumela likaJehova liyoba ‘elokuhlobisa nenkazimulo.’ Igama elithi ‘ukuhlobisa’ lisikhumbuza ubuhle beZwe Lesithembiso lapho uJehova elinikeza ama-Israyeli emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili. Lalilihle kangangokuba lalibhekwa ‘njengeliwumhlobiso [“itshe eliyigugu,” New American Bible] odlula wonke amazwe.’ (Hezekeli 20:6) Ngakho amazwi ka-Isaya aqinisekisa abantu ukuthi izwe lakwaJuda liyobuyiselwa enkazimulweni nasebuhleni balo bangaphambili. Ngempela, liyofana netshe eliyigugu eliwedlula wonke emhlabeni.
8. Obani abayobe bekhona ukuze bajabulele ubuhle bezwe obubuyiselwe, futhi u-Isaya uyichaza kanjani imizwa yabo?
8 Nokho, obani abayobe bekhona ukuze bajabulele ubuhle bezwe obubuyiselwe? ‘Yilabo abangabakwa-Israyeli abaphunyukileyo,’ kubhala u-Isaya. Yebo, abathile bayosinda ekubhujisweni okuhlazisayo okubikezelwe ngaphambili. (Isaya 3:25, 26) Insali yabasindileyo iyobuyela ezweni lakwaJuda futhi ifake isandla ekubuyiselweni kwalo. Kulaba ababuyayo—“abaphunyukileyo”—insada yomkhiqizo wezwe labo elibuyiselwe iyoba “yinto yokuziqhenya ngayo nento enhle.” (Isaya 4:2; umbhalo waphansi) Esikhundleni sehlazo lokubhujiswa kuyoba nomuzwa omusha wokuziqhenya.
9. (a) Ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi ka-Isaya, kwenzekani ngo-537 B.C.E.? (b) Kungani kungase kuthiwe “abaphunyukileyo” bahlanganisa nabathile abazalelwe ekudingisweni? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)
9 Njengokusho kuka-Isaya, isiphepho sesahlulelo safika ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho abaseBabiloni bebhubhisa iJerusalema, kufa inqwaba yama-Israyeli. Amanye asinda abe eseyiswa ekudingisweni eBabiloni, kodwa ukuba kwakungengenxa yesihe sikaNkulunkulu, babengeke babe khona nhlobo abasindayo. (Nehemiya 9:31) Ekugcineni, elakwaJuda lasala liyincithakalo ngokuphelele. (2 IziKronike 36:17-21) Kwathi ngo-537 B.C.E. uNkulunkulu wesihe wavumela “abaphunyukileyo” ukuba babuyele kwaJuda ukuze babuyisele ukukhulekela kweqiniso.b (Ezra 1:1-4; 2:1) Ukuphenduka okusuka enhliziyweni kwalaba abadingisiwe ababuyayo kuvezwe kamnandi kumaHubo 137, cishe alotshwa ngesikhathi besathunjiwe noma ngemva nje kwalokho. Sebephindele kwaJuda, balima umhlabathi, batshala. Cabanga indlela okumelwe ukuba bazizwa ngayo lapho bebona ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyayibusisa imizamo yabo, wenza izwe lihlume “njengensimu yase-Edene”!—Hezekeli 36:34-36.
10, 11. (a) AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babethunjwe ngayiphi indlela ‘eBabiloni Elikhulu’ ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20? (b) UJehova wayibusisa kanjani insali yama-Israyeli angokomoya?
10 Osukwini lwethu kuye kwenzeka ukubuyiselwa okufanayo. Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20, abaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, bathunjwa ngokomoya ‘yiBabiloni Elikhulu,’ umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 17:5) Nakuba babezilahlile izimfundiso eziningi zenkolo yamanga, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babesangcoliswe imiqondo nemikhuba ethile yobuBabiloni. Ngenxa yokuphikisa okwakugqugquzelwa abefundisi, abanye babo bavalelwa ejele. Izwe labo elingokomoya—isimo sabo esingokwenkolo noma esingokomoya—sasala siyincithakalo.
11 Kodwa entwasahlobo ka-1919, uJehova waba nesihe kule nsali yama-Israyeli angokomoya. (Galathiya 6:16) Wakubona ukuphenduka kwayo nesifiso sayo sokumkhulekela ngeqiniso, ngakho wayenza yakhululwa ekuvalelweni ejele, futhi okubaluleke nakakhulu, wayikhulula ekuthunjweni okungokomoya. Laba “abaphunyukileyo” babuyiselwa esimweni sabo esingokomoya abasinikwe uNkulunkulu, asenza sahluma sakhephuzela. Lesi simo esingokomoya siye sakhanga, sadonsa izigidi zabanye abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu ukuba zihlanganyele nensali ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso.
12. Amazwi ka-Isaya asibabaza kanjani isihe uJehova anaso kubantu bakhe?
12 Amazwi ka-Isaya lapha ababaza isihe uNkulunkulu anaso kubantu bakhe. Nakuba ama-Israyeli njengesizwe amphendukela uJehova, waba nesihe ensalini ephendukayo. Singathola induduzo ekwazini ukuthi ngisho nalabo abenza amaphutha angathi sína bangabuyela kuJehova benethemba. Abaphendukayo akudingeki babe nomuzwa wokuthi isihe sikaJehova asibafanele, ngoba akayideleli inhliziyo ephukileyo. (IHubo 51:17) IBhayibheli liyasiqinisekisa: “UJehova unesihe futhi unomusa, uyephuza ukuthukuthela futhi uchichima umusa wothando. Njengoba ubaba ebonisa umusa emadodaneni akhe, uJehova ubonisé umusa kulabo abamesabayo.” (IHubo 103:8, 13) Ngokuqinisekile, uNkulunkulu onesihe kanjalo uyakufanelekela ukuba simdumise!
Insali Iba Ngcwele KuJehova
13. Njengoba kulotshwe ku-Isaya 4:3, u-Isaya uyichaza kanjani insali uJehova ayoyibonisa isihe?
13 Sesiyayazi kakade insali uJehova ayezoyibonisa isihe, kodwa manje u-Isaya uyichaza ngokuningiliziwe. Uyabhala: “Kuyothi abasele eZiyoni nabasele eJerusalema kuthiwe bangcwele kuye, wonke umuntu olotshelwe ukuphila eJerusalema.”—Isaya 4:3.
14. Obani ‘abasele,’ futhi kungani uJehova eyobabonisa isihe?
14 Bangobani laba ‘abasele’? Bangabaphunyukileyo okukhulunywe ngabo evesini elandulele—amaJuda adingisiwe ayovunyelwa ukubuyela kwaJuda. Manje u-Isaya uveza isizathu sokuba uJehova abe nesihe kubo—bayoba “ngcwele kuye.” Ubungcwele busho “ukuhlanzeka noma ukuba msulwa ngokwenkolo.” Ukuba ongcwele kuhilela ukuba ohlanzekileyo, noma omsulwa ngamazwi nangezenzo, ukufinyelela indinganiso kaJehova yokulungileyo nokufaneleyo. Yebo, uJehova uyoba nesihe kulabo ‘abangcwele kuye,’ futhi uyobavumela ukuba babuyele ‘emzini ongcwele,’ iJerusalema.—Nehemiya 11:1.
15. (a) Inkulumo ethi “olotshelwe ukuphila eJerusalema” isikhumbuza liphi isiko lamaJuda? (b) Amazwi ka-Isaya anasiphi isixwayiso esisangulukisayo?
15 Ingabe le nsali ethembekile iyohlale ilapho? ‘Iyolotshelwa ukuphila eJerusalema,’ kuthembisa u-Isaya. Lokhu kusikhumbuza isiko lamaJuda lokugcina incwadi okulotshwe kuyo ngokucophelela amagama emikhaya nezizwe zakwa-Israyeli. (Nehemiya 7:5) Ukubhalwa encwadini yamagama kwakusho ukuba ophilayo, ngoba uma umuntu efa, igama lakhe lalicinywa. Kwezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli, sifunda ngencwadi yamagama abantu engokomfanekiso, enamagama alabo uJehova abavuza ngokuphila. Kodwa ukulotshwa kwamagama kule ncwadi kunemibandela, ngoba uJehova ‘angawesula’ la magama. (Eksodusi 32:32, 33; IHubo 69:28) Khona-ke, amazwi ka-Isaya anesixwayiso esisangulukisayo—ababuyayo bangaqhubeka behlala ezweni labo elibuyiselwe uma nje kuphela behlala bengcwele phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
16. (a) UJehova wayefunani kulabo abavumela ukuba babuyele kwaJuda ngo-537 B.C.E.? (b) Kungani kungase kuthiwe isihe sikaJehova ensalini egcotshiwe ‘nakwezinye izimvu’ akusona eseze?
16 Ngo-537 B.C.E., insali eyabuyela eJerusalema yabuyela ngesisusa esimsulwa—ukubuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Akukho muntu owayengcoliswe imikhuba yenkolo yamaqaba noma ukuziphatha okungahlanzekile, u-Isaya ayexwayise ngokuqine kangaka ngako, owayenelungelo lokubuya. (Isaya 1:15-17) Yilabo uJehova ayebabheka njengabangcwele kuphela ababengabuyela kwaJuda. (Isaya 35:8) Ngokufanayo, kusukela yakhululwa ekuthunjweni okungokomoya ngo-1919, insali egcotshiwe, manje ehlangene nezigidi ‘zezinye izimvu’—labo abanethemba lokuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni—iye yazama ngokusemandleni ayo ukuba ibe ngcwele phambi kukaNkulunkulu. (Johane 10:16) Ihlukene nemikhuba nezimfundiso zobuBabiloni. Njengabantu ngabanye, ilwela ukubambelela ezindinganisweni zikaNkulunkulu zokuziphatha eziphakeme. (1 Petru 1:14-16) UJehova akayibonisanga ngeze isihe sakhe.
17. Amagama obani uJehova awaloba ‘encwadini yakhe yokuphila,’ futhi yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?
17 Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wabaphawula ababengcwele kwa-Israyeli nokuthi ‘amagama abo alotshelwa ukuphila.’ Nanamuhla uJehova uyayibona imizamo yethu yokuba abahlanzekile engqondweni nasemzimbeni lapho ‘sethula imizimba yethu ingumhlatshelo ophilayo, ongcwele, owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu.’ (Roma 12:1) Futhi bonke abalandela inkambo enjalo yokuphila uNkulunkulu ubaloba ‘encwadini yakhe yokuphila’—umbhalo ongokomfanekiso onamagama alabo abasemgqeni wokuthola ukuphila okumi phakade, ezulwini noma emhlabeni. (Filipi 4:3; Malaki 3:16) Khona-ke, masenze konke esingakwenza ukuze sihlale singcwele phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngoba ngokwenza kanjalo singase sigcine amagama ethu ekuleyo ‘ncwadi’ eyigugu.—IsAmbulo 3:5.
Isithembiso Sokunakekelwa Ngothando
18, 19. Ngokuka-Isaya 4:4, 5, yikuphi ukuhlanza uJehova azokwenza, futhi kuyokwenziwa kanjani?
18 Ngokulandelayo, u-Isaya ubonisa indlela izakhamuzi zezwe elibuyiselwe eziyoba ngcwele ngayo nokuthi zibusiso zini ezizilindele. Uthi: “Lapho uJehova eyobe eseyigezile indle yamadodakazi aseZiyoni, khona-ke uyokuhlanza asuse ngisho nokuchitha igazi kweJerusalema ngaphakathi kwalo ngomoya wokwahlulela nangomoya wokushisa, ngokuqinisekile uJehova futhi uyodala phezu kwazo zonke izindawo ezimisiwe zeNtaba yaseZiyoni naphezu kwendawo yayo yombuthano ifu emini nomusi, nokukhanya komlilo ovutha amalangabi ebusuku; ngoba phezu kwayo yonke inkazimulo kuyoba khona isikhoselo.”—Isaya 4:4, 5.
19 Ngaphambili u-Isaya ukhuze “amadodakazi aseZiyoni,” akuziphatha kwawo okonakele kwakufihlwe yizinto zokuhloba kokubukisa. Wadalula nokuba necala legazi kwabantu bebonke, ebanxusa ukuba bazigeze. (Isaya 1:15, 16; 3:16-23) Nokho, lapha ubheka esikhathini esizayo lapho uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe eyobe “eseyigezile indle,” noma ukuziphatha okungcolile, futhi ‘esehlanze amabala egazi.’ (Isaya 4:4, New International Version) Kuyokwenziwa kanjani lokhu kuhlanza? “Ngomoya wokwahlulela nangomoya wokushisa.” Ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema okuzayo nokudingiselwa eBabiloni kuyoba ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu nentukuthelo yakhe evuthayo esizweni esingahlanzekile. Insali esindayo kule nhlekelele futhi ibuyele ekhaya iyobe ithotshisiwe, icwengisisiwe. Yingakho iyoba ngcwele kuJehova futhi ithole isihe.—Qhathanisa noMalaki 3:2, 3.
20. (a) Amagama athi “ifu,” “umusi,” nathi “umlilo ovutha amalangabi” asikhumbuzani? (b) Kungani kungeke kudingeke besabe abadingisiwe abahlanziwe?
20 Ngo-Isaya, uJehova uthembisa ukuthi uyoyinakekela ngothando le nsali ehlanziwe. Amagama athi “ifu,” “umusi,” nathi “umlilo ovutha amalangabi” asikhumbuza indlela uJehova anakekela ngayo ama-Israyeli ngemva kokushiya iGibithe. “Insika yomlilo nefu” kwawavikela kwabaseGibithe ababewajaha; kwawahola nasehlane. (Eksodusi 13:21, 22; 14:19, 20, 24) Lapho uJehova eziveza eNtabeni iSinayi, le ntaba “yathunqa umusi yonke indawo.” (Eksodusi 19:18) Abadingisiwe abahlanziwe ngeke-ke kudingeke besabe. UJehova uyoba uMvikeli wabo. Uyoba nabo lapho bebuthene emizini yabo noma behlangene ndawonye emibuthanweni engcwele.
21, 22. (a) Ngokuvamile, lalakhiwelwani idokodo noma idlangala? (b) Yiliphi ithemba elibekelwe insali ehlanziwe?
21 U-Isaya uphetha incazelo yakhe yesivikelo saphezulu ngokugxila ekuphileni kwansuku zonke. Uyabhala: “Kuyoba khona idokodo ukuze libe ngumthunzi emini ekushiseni okungenamhwamuko, ukuze libe yisiphephelo futhi libe yindawo yokucashela isiphepho esinemvula.” (Isaya 4:6) Idokodo noma idlangala lalivame ukwakhiwa esivinini noma ensimini ukuze linikeze indawo yokukhosela eyayidingeka kakhulu elangeni elishisa bhé ngenkathi engenamhwamuko, emakhazeni naseziphephweni zenkathi yemvula.—Qhathanisa noJona 4:5.
22 Lapho ibhekene nokushisa okuchochobalisayo kokushushiswa neziphepho zokuphikiswa, insali ehlanziwe iyothola ukuthi uJehova unguMthombo wayo wesivikelo, wokulondeka nowesiphephelo. (IHubo 91:1, 2; 121:5) Ngakho phambi kwayo kubekwa ithemba elihle: Uma izishiya izinkolelo nemikhuba engahlanzekile yeBabiloni, ivume ukuhlanzwa isahlulelo sikaJehova, izame ukuhlala ingcwele, iyohlale iphephile, njengokungathi ‘isedokodweni’ eliyisivikelo saphezulu.
23. Kungani uJehova ebusise insali egcotshiwe nabangane bayo?
23 Phawula ukuthi kuqale kwenziwe ukuhlanza bese kulandela izibusiso. Kuye kwaba njalo osukwini lwethu. Emuva ngo-1919 insali egcotshiwe yavuma ngokuthobeka ukuba icwengisiswe, uJehova “wageza” ukungcola kwayo. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, “isixuku esikhulu” sezinye izimvu naso siye sazivumela ukuba sihlanzwe nguJehova. (IsAmbulo 7:9) Sebehlanziwe kanjalo, insali nabangane bayo baye babusiswa—uJehova uye wabangenisa ekunakekeleni kwakhe okuyisivikelo. Akakuvimbi ngokuyisimangaliso ukushisa koshushiso noma iziphepho zokuphikisa ukuba zibehlele. Kodwa uyabavikela, njengokungathi wakha phezu kwabo ‘idokodo lomthunzi nendawo yokucashela isiphepho esinemvula.’ Kanjani?
24. Kubonakala kanjani ukuthi uJehova ubabusisile abantu bakhe njengenhlangano?
24 Cabangela lokhu: Abanye ohulumeni abanamandla kunabo bonke emlandweni baye bawuvala umsebenzi wokushumayela woFakazi BakaJehova noma baye bazama ukubaqeda ngokuphelele. Nokho, oFakazi baye bahlala beqinile futhi baqhubeka beshumayela ngaphandle kokuyekethisa! Kungani izizwe ezinamandla zehlulekile ukumisa umsebenzi waleli qembu labantu abayidlanzana nababonakala bengavikelekile? Yingoba uJehova ubeke izinceku zakhe ezihlanzekile ‘edokodweni’ lesivikelo okungekho muntu ongalibhidliza!
25. Kusho ukuthini kithi ngabanye ukuba noJehova njengoMvikeli?
25 Kuthiwani ngathi njengabantu ngabanye? Ukuba noJehova njengoMvikeli akusho ukuthi siphila ukuphila okungenazinkinga kulesi simiso sezinto. AmaKristu amaningi athembekile abhekana nobunzima obukhulu njengobumpofu, izinhlekelele zemvelo, impi, ukugula nokufa. Lapho sibhekene nezingcindezi ezinjalo, masingalokothi sikhohlwe ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu unathi. Uyasivikela ngokomoya, asinike esikudingayo—ngisho ‘namandla angaphezu kwavamile’—ukuze sikhuthazelele izilingo ngokwethembeka. (2 Korinte 4:7) Njengoba siphephile ngaphansi kwakhe, akudingeki sesabe. Phela, uma nje senza okusemandleni ethu ukuba sizigcine singcwele phambi kwakhe, akukho lutho ‘oluyosehlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu.’—Roma 8:38, 39.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Ezinye izazi zisikisela ukuthi inkulumo ethi ‘ihlumela likaJehova’ ibhekisela kuMesiya, owayeyoze avele ngemva kokubuyiselwa kweJerusalema. KumaTargum Esi-Aramu, le nkulumo ibekwe ngale ndlela: “UMesiya [uKristu] kaJehova.” Ngokuthakazelisayo, lona leli bizo lesiHeberu (tseʹmach) kamuva lisetshenziswa uJeremiya lapho ekhuluma ngoMesiya ethi “uyihlumela elilungileyo” elikhuliselwa uDavide.—Jeremiya 23:5; 33:15.
b “Abaphunyukileyo” bahlanganisa nabanye ababezalelwe ekudingisweni. Babengase babhekwe ‘njengabaphunyukileyo’ ngoba babengeke bazalwe ukube okhokho babo babengasindanga ekubhujisweni.—Ezra 9:13-15; qhathanisa neyamaHeberu 7:9, 10.
[Isithombe ekhasini 63]
Isiphepho sesahlulelo saphezulu sizofikela uJuda