Yenza UJehova Ithemba Lakho
“Wena uyithemba lami, Nkosi EnguMbusi Jehova, ithemba lami kusukela ebusheni bami.”—IHUBO 71:5.
1. Iyiphi inselele eyayibhekene nomfana ongumalusi, uDavide?
LE NDODA yayithi ayibe amamitha amathathu ubude. Shono nje wonke amasosha ezinhlu zempi yakwa-Israyeli ayemela kude nayo! Mihla le, amasonto amaningi elandelana, lesi siqhwaga esingumFilisti, uGoliyati sasiklolodela amabutho akwa-Israyeli, siwachukuluza sithi awathumele ingqwele eyayingathathana naso. Kwathi kungasaziwa, kwaziqhamukela umfana omncane, ongelona isosha, wayamukela leyo nselele. Lo mfanyana ongumalusi, uDavide, wamane waba into engekho lapho eqhathaniswa nesitha sakhe. Empeleni kungenzeka isisindo sakhe sasingaphansi kwesisindo sesambatho sokuzivikela sikaGoliyati nezikhali zakhe! Noma kunjalo, umfana omncane watholana phezulu nalesi siqhwaga futhi kanjalo waba uphawu oluhlala njalo lokuba nesibindi.—1 Samuweli 17:1-51.
2, 3. (a) Kungani uDavide akwazi ukubhekana noGoliyati ngesibindi esingaka? (b) Sizoxoxa ngaziphi izinyathelo ezimbili okumelwe sizithathe ukuze senze uJehova abe ithemba lethu?
2 Wasithathaphi leso sibindi uDavide? Cabanga ngamazwi ngokusobala abhalwa nguye uDavide lapho esekhulile: “Wena uyithemba lami, Nkosi EnguMbusi Jehova, ithemba lami kusukela ebusheni bami.” (IHubo 71:5) Yebo, esengumfana omncane, uDavide wayethembele ngokuphelele kuJehova. Wayebhekane ngeziqu zamehlo noGoliyati, wathi: “Wena uza kimi nenkemba nomkhonto nengcula, kodwa mina ngiza kuwe negama likaJehova wamabutho, uNkulunkulu wezinhlu zempi yakwa-Israyeli, oye wamklolodela.” (1 Samuweli 17:45) Njengoba uGoliyati ayethembele emandleni akhe amakhulu nasezikhalini zakhe, uDavide yena wayethembele kuJehova. EneNkosi EnguMbusi wendawo yonke ohlangothini lwakhe, wayezoyisabelani nje uDavide enye indoda engatheni, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi iyisidlakela futhi ihlome kangakanani?
3 Njengoba ufunda ngoDavide, uyazithola yini ufisa sengathi ukuthembela kwakho kuJehova nakho bekuqine kakhudlwana? Cishe abaningi bethu bayafisa. Ngakho, ake sihlole izinyathelo ezimbili esingazithatha ukuze senze uJehova abe ithemba lethu. Okokuqala, kudingeka sinqobe isithiyo esivamile kulelo themba futhi siqhubeke sisilawula. Okwesibili, kudingeka sifunde ukuthi yini ehilelekile ngempela ekuthembeleni kuJehova.
Ukunqoba Isithiyo Esivamile Ekuthembeleni KuJehova
4, 5. Kungani abantu abaningi bekuthola kunzima ukuthembela kuNkulunkulu?
4 Yini ethiya abantu ekubekeni ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu? Ngokuvamile, abanye basuke bexakwe ukuthi kungani izinto ezimbi zenzeka. Abaningi bafundiswa ukuthi nguNkulunkulu onecala ngokuhlupheka. Lapho kugadla inhlekelele, abefundisi bangase bathi uNkulunkulu “uzithathile” izisulu ukuze ziyoba naye ezulwini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abaholi benkolo abaningi bafundisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wazimisa kudala zonke izinto—kuhlanganise nazo zonke izinhlekelele nezenzo ezimbi—ezenzekayo kuleli zwe. Bekuyoba nzima ukuthembela kuNkulunkulu onenhliziyo eyitshe kanjalo. USathane, ophuphuthekisa izingqondo zabangakholwa, umagange ngokuthuthukisa zonke ‘izimfundiso zamademoni’ ezinjalo.—1 Thimothewu 4:1; 2 Korinte 4:4.
5 USathane ufuna abantu baphelelwe ithemba kuJehova. Leso sitha sikaNkulunkulu asifuni sizazi izimbangela zangempela zokuhlupheka kwabantu. Futhi uma sesizifundile izizathu ezingokomBhalo zokuhlupheka, uSathane angathanda ukuba sizikhohlwe. Ngakho-ke, kuhle ukuhlala sihlale sibukeze izizathu ezintathu eziyisisekelo ezenza kube nokuhlupheka ezweni. Ngokwenza kanjalo, singaqinisekisa izinhliziyo zethu ngokuthi uJehova akanacala ngezinkinga esibhekana nazo ekuphileni.—Filipi 1:9, 10.
6. Eyoku-1 Petru 5:8 isiveza kanjani esinye isizathu sokuhlupheka kwabantu?
6 Esinye isizathu sokuhlupheka kwabantu ukuthi uSathane ufuna ukuphula ubuqotho babantu bakaJehova abathembekile. Wazama ukuphula ubuqotho bukaJobe. USathane wahluleka ngaleso sikhathi, kodwa akayekanga. Njengombusi waleli zwe, ufuna ‘ukushwabadela’ izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile. (1 Petru 5:8) Lokho kusihlanganisa sonke! USathane ufuna ukusiyekisa ukukhonza uJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, ngokuvamile uphemba ushushiso. Nakuba kubuhlungu kunjalo ukuhlupheka, sinesizathu esihle sokukhuthazela. Ngokwenza kanjalo, sisiza ekuvezeni ukuthi uSathane ungumqambi-manga, kanjalo sijabulise uJehova. (Jobe 2:4; IzAga 27:11) Njengoba uJehova esiqinisa ukuze sikhuthazelele ushushiso, ukuthembela kwethu kuye nakho kuyakhula.—IHubo 9:9, 10.
7. EyabaseGalathiya 6:7 isisiza ukuba sibone siphi isizathu sokuhlupheka?
7 Isizathu sesibili sokuhlupheka sitholakala kulesi simiso: “Noma yini umuntu ayihlwanyelayo, uyovuna yona futhi.” (Galathiya 6:7) Ngezinye izikhathi abantu bahlwanyela ngokwenza ukukhetha okubi bese bevuna ukuhlupheka ngezinga elithile njengomphumela. Bangase bakhethe ukushayela budedengu, bese kuba nengozi. Abaningi bakhetha ukubhema ugwayi, okubangela isifo senhliziyo noma umdlavuza wamaphaphu. Labo abakhetha ukuziphatha kabi kobulili bazibeka engozini yokuhlupheka okubangelwa ukubhidlika kobuhlobo bomkhaya, ukulahlekelwa ukuzihlonipha, izifo ezidluliselwa ngobulili, nokukhulelwa okungafunwa. Abantu bangase bafune ukusola uNkulunkulu ngokuhlupheka okunjalo, kodwa empeleni basuke bezigwaze ngowabo ngokwenza izinqumo ezimbi.—IzAga 19:3.
8. NgokukamShumayeli 9:11, kungani abantu behlupheka?
8 Isizathu sesithathu sokuhlupheka sibekwe kumShumayeli 9:11: “Ngabuya futhi, ngabona phansi kwelanga ukuthi ukuphumelela umncintiswano akuyi ngabanejubane, noma impi ngabanamandla, noma ukudla ngabahlakaniphileyo, noma ingcebo, ngabaqondayo, ngisho nalabo abanolwazi abawutholi umusa; ngoba isikhathi nesenzakalo esingalindelekile sibehlela bonke.” Ngezinye izikhathi, kuba ukuthi nje abantu basendaweni engafanele ngesikhathi esingafanele. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siqine noma sibuthakathaka kangakanani, ukuhlupheka nokufa kungasifica ngokungalindelekile nganoma isiphi isikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi sikaJesu kwake kwawa umbhoshongo eJerusalema, wabulala abantu abangu-18. UJesu wabonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengabajezisi ngezono zabo ababezenze ngaphambili. (Luka 13:4) Cha, uJehova akanakusolwa ngokuhlupheka okunjalo.
9. Yini le abaningi abangayiqondi ngokuhlupheka?
9 Ukuqonda ezinye zezimbangela zokuhlupheka kubalulekile. Nokho, kunendaba abaningi abakuthola kunzima ukuyiqonda ngalokhu. Yile: Kungani uJehova uNkulunkulu ekuvumela ukuhlupheka?
Kungani UJehova Evumela Ukuhlupheka?
10, 11. (a) NgokweyabaseRoma 8:19-22, kwenzekani kuyo “yonke indalo”? (b) Singathola kanjani ukuthi ubani owabeka indalo ngaphansi kobuze?
10 Amavesi athile encwadini yomphostoli uPawulu eyayiya kwabaseRoma ayasikhanyisela kule ndaba ebalulekile. UPawulu wabhala: “Indalo ilindele ngokulangazela okukhulu ukwambulwa kwabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. Ngoba indalo yabekwa ngaphansi kobuze, hhayi ngentando yayo siqu kodwa ngalowo owayibeka ngaphansi kwabo, ngesisekelo sethemba lokuthi indalo ngokwayo nayo iyokhululwa ekugqilazweni ukonakala ibe nenkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. Ngoba siyazi ukuthi yonke indalo iyaqhubeka ibubula kanyekanye futhi isezinhlungwini kanyekanye kuze kube manje.”—Roma 8:19-22.
11 Ukuze silithole iphuzu lala mavesi, okokuqala kudingeka siphendule imibuzo ethile eyinhloko. Ngokwesibonelo, Ubani owabeka indalo ngaphansi kobuze? Abanye bakhomba uSathane; abanye bathi u-Adamu. Kodwa bobabili babengeke bakwazi ukuyibeka ngaphansi kobuze indalo. Kungani? Ngoba lowo obeka indalo ngaphansi kobuze wenza kanjalo “ngesisekelo sethemba.” Yebo, labo abathembekile ubanika ithemba lokuthi ekugcineni ‘bayokhululwa ekugqilazweni ukonakala.’ U-Adamu noma uSathane babengeke bakwazi ukuletha ithemba elinjalo. UJehova kuphela owayengaliletha. Ngokusobala, nguJehova owabeka indalo ngaphansi kobuze.
12. Ikuphi ukudideka okukhona mayelana nokuthi ‘indalo yonke’ iyini, futhi ungaphendulwa kanjani lo mbuzo?
12 Nokho, iyini ‘indalo yonke’ okukhulunywa ngayo kula mavesi? Abanye bathi inkulumo ethi “yonke indalo” ibhekisela kuyo yonke into eyimvelo, kuhlanganise nezilwane nezimila. Kodwa ingabe izilwane nezitshalo zinethemba lokuthola ‘inkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu’? Lutho. (2 Petru 2:12) Kusho ukuthi-ke, inkulumo ethi “yonke indalo” isho isintu kuphela. Lena yindalo ekhinyabezwe isono nokufa ngenxa yokuhlubuka okwenzeka e-Edene, manje enesidingo esikhulu sethemba.—Roma 5:12.
13. Ukuhlubuka kwase-Edene kwasenzani isintu?
13 Lokho kuhlubuka kwasenzani ngempela isintu? UPawulu uyichaza ngegama elilodwa imiphumela yako: ubuze. Enye incwadi ithi leli gama lichaza “ubuze bento engasebenzi ngendlela eyayiklanyelwe ukusebenza ngayo.” Abantu babedalelwe ukuphila phakade, basebenze ndawonye ekunakekeleni umhlaba oyipharadesi bewumkhaya ophelele nonobunye. Kunalokho, baphila ukuphila okufushane, okulusizi, futhi ngokuvamile okukhungathekisayo. Njengoba uJobe asho, “umuntu, ozalwa owesifazane, uphila isikhashana futhi ugcwele ukuyaluza.” (Jobe 14:1) Ubuze ngempela!
14, 15. (a) Sithola buphi ubufakazi bobulungisa bukaJehova endleleni agweba ngayo isintu? (b) Kungani uPawulu athi indalo yabekwa ngaphansi kobuze “hhayi ngentando yayo siqu”?
14 Manje sesifike embuzweni oyisihluthulelo: Kungani “uMahluleli womhlaba wonke” enza isintu saphila ngosizi nokukhungatheka okungaka? (Genesise 18:25) Ingabe ukwenza kwakhe kanjalo kwakunobulungisa? Ake ukhumbule lokho abazali bethu bokuqala abakwenza. Ekuvukeleni kwabo uNkulunkulu, babethatha uhlangothi lukaSathane, owabekela ubukhosi bukaJehova inselele ebopha wonke umuntu ngabhande linye. Ngezenzo zabo, basekela ukugomela okuthi isintu besiyophila kangcono ngaphandle kukaJehova, sizibuse siqondiswa yisidalwa somoya esihlubukayo. Lapho uJehova ezigweba lezo zihlubuki, wazinika lokho ezazikufuna. Wamvumela umuntu ukuba azibuse engaphansi kwethonya likaSathane. Ngaphansi kwalezo zimo, isiphi esinye isinqumo esasiyoba nobulungisa kakhulu ukudlula isinqumo sokubeka isintu ngaphansi kobuze, ngesisekelo sethemba?
15 Yebo, lokho kwakungeyona ‘intando’ yendalo. Sizalwa siyizigqila zesono nokonakala, singenakwenza noluncí ngakho. Kodwa uJehova ngomusa wakhe wabavumela o-Adamu no-Eva ukuba baqhubeke bephila nokuba babe nenzalo. Nakuba thina njengoba siyinzalo yabo sibekwe ngaphansi kobuze besono nokufa, sinethuba lokwenza lokho okwabahlula o-Adamu no-Eva. Singamlalela uJehova futhi sifunde ukuthi ubukhosi bakhe bulungile futhi buphelele, kuyilapho imibuso yabantu ehlukene noJehova iletha usizi, ukukhungatheka, nobuze. (Jeremiya 10:23; IsAmbulo 4:11) Futhi-ke ithonya likaSathane limane lizenze zibe zimbi nakakhulu izinto. Umlando wabantu uyawafakazela la maqiniso.—UmShumayeli 8:9.
16. (a) Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova akanacala ngokuhlupheka esikubonayo ezweni namuhla? (b) Iliphi ithemba uJehova alinikeza abantu abathembekile ngothando?
16 Ngokusobala, uJehova wayenezizathu eziwubulungisa zokubeka indalo ngaphansi kobuze. Nokho, ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi uJehova nguye owabangela ubuze nokuhlupheka okusikhathaza sonke namuhla? Ake ucabange ngejaji elikhipha isigwebo esinobulungisa lapho lahlulela isigebengu. Leso siboshwa singase sihlupheke kakhulu lapho sidonsa isigwebo saso, kodwa kungafaneleka yini ukuba sisole ijaji ngokuthi yilo elibangela ukuhlupheka kwaso? Ngisho noma sekuthiwani, ngeke! Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova akabubangeli neze ububi. UJakobe 1:13 uthi: “UNkulunkulu akanakulingwa ngezinto ezimbi futhi yena ngokwakhe akalingi muntu.” Masikhumbule futhi ukuthi uJehova wakhipha lesi sigwebo “ngesisekelo sethemba.” Ngothando wenzele inzalo ethembekile ka-Adamu no-Eva amalungiselelo okubona ukuphela kobuze nokuba ijabulele ‘inkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’ Kuyoze kube phakade isintu singakhathazeki ngokuthi indalo yonke ingase iphinde ibekwe ngaphansi kwesimo sosizi lobuze. Indlela enobulungisa uJehova azisingatha ngayo izinto iyobe ikwenze kwacaca unomphela ukuthi ubukhosi bakhe bufanelekile.—Isaya 25:8.
17. Kufanele kusithinte kanjani ukuhlola izizathu ezenza kube nokuhlupheka ezweni namuhla?
17 Njengoba sizihlola lezi zizathu zokuhlupheka kwabantu, ingabe sikhona yini isisekelo esisibonayo sokusola uJehova ngobubi noma sokulahlekelwa ithemba kuye? Kunalokho, ukuhlola izizathu ezinjalo kusinika isizathu sokuvumelana nala mazwi kaMose: “[UNkulunkulu] iDwala, uphelele umsebenzi wakhe, ngoba zonke izindlela zakhe ziwubulungisa. UNkulunkulu wokuthembeka, okungekho ukungabi nabulungisa kuye; ulungile futhi uqotho yena.” (Duteronomi 32:4) Masihlale sihlale sivuselele ukuziqonda kwethu lezi zizathu ngokuzindla ngazo. Ngaleyo ndlela, lapho sibhekana nokulingwa, siyokwazi ukumelana nemizamo kaSathane yokutshala ukungabaza ezingqondweni zethu. Nokho, kuthiwani ngesinyathelo sesibili esivezwe ekuqaleni? Yini ehilelekile ekuthembeleni kuJehova?
Lokho Okushiwo Ukuthembela KuJehova
18, 19. IBhayibheli lisikhuthaza ngamaphi amazwi ukuba sithembele kuJehova, kodwa abanye banamiphi imibono eyiphutha ngalokho?
18 IZwi likaNkulunkulu liyasinxusa: “Thembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uyokwenza izindlela zakho ziqonde.” (IzAga 3:5, 6) Lawo ngamazwi amahle, aqinisekisayo. Ngokuqinisekile, akukho namunye endaweni yonke onokwethenjelwa kakhulu ngaphezu kukaBaba wethu othandekayo osezulwini. Noma kunjalo, kulula ukuwafunda kunokuwasebenzisa lawo mazwi ezAga.
19 Abaningi banemibono eyiphutha ngalokho okushiwo ukuthembela kuJehova. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi ithemba elinjalo limane liwumuzwa nje, umzwelo othile wenjabulo okufanele uzenzakalele ngokwemvelo enhliziyweni. Abanye babonakala bekholelwa ukuthi ukuthembela kuNkulunkulu kusho ukuthi singamlindela ukuba asivikele kubo bonke ubunzima, axazulule ngayinye yezinkinga zethu, ajike inselele ngayinye yosuku ngalunye ibe yilokho esikufunayo—akwenze konke lokho ngokukhulu ukushesha! Kodwa imibono enjalo ayisekelwe ndawo. Ithemba liyinto engaphezu kokuba umuzwa nje, liyinto engokoqobo. Kubantu abadala, lokhu kuhilela ukwenza izinqumo ezihleliwe, ezicatshangelwe kahle.
20, 21. Kuhilelani ukuthembela kuJehova? Fanekisa.
20 Phawula futhi ukuthi zithini izAga 3:5. Ziqhathanisa ukuthembela kuJehova nokuncika kokwethu ukuqonda, ziveze ukuthi asinakukwenza kokubili. Ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi asivunyelwe ukusebenzisa amandla ethu okuqonda? Cha, ngoba uJehova, okunguye owasinika lawo mandla, ulindele ukuba siwasebenzise ekumkhonzeni. (Roma 12:1) Kodwa yini esincika noma sithembele kuyo? Uma ukucabanga kwethu kungavumelani nokukaJehova, siyakwamukela yini ukuhlakanipha kwakhe kunjengoba kunjalo—njengoba kuphakeme kakhulu kunokwethu? (Isaya 55:8, 9) Ukuthembela kuJehova kusho ukuvumela ukucabanga kwakhe kuqondise ukucabanga kwethu.
21 Ngokwesibonelo: Cabanga ngengane encane ehlezi esihlalweni esingemuva emotweni, abazali bayo bengaphambili. Uyise uyashayela. Lapho kuphakama izinkinga phakathi nohambo—njengokungaqiniseki ngendlela okumelwe ithathwe noma mhlawumbe inkinga yesimo sezulu noma isimo somgwaqo—ingane ethobekile, ebathembayo abazali bayo yenze njani? Ingabe iyamemeza ilapho esihlalweni esingemuva isho ukuthi makuthathwe yiphi indlela, itshele uyise ukuthi makashayele kanjani? Ingabe iyazingabaza izinqumo zabazali bayo noma imelane nabo lapho beyikhumbuza ukuba ihlale ibophe ibhande lesihlalo sayo? Cha, ngokwemvelo imane ibathembe abazali bayo ukuthi bayozisingatha kahle izimo ezinjalo, yize bengaphelele benjalo. UJehova yena unguBaba ophelele. Akufanele yini sithembele kuye ngokuphelele, ikakhulukazi lapho sibhekene nezimo ezinzima?—Isaya 30:21.
22, 23. (a) Kungani kufanele sithembele kuJehova lapho sibhekene nezinkinga, futhi singakwenza kanjani lokho? (b) Kuzoxoxwa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
22 Nokho, izAga 3:6 zibonisa ukuthi kufanele ‘simqaphele uJehova kuzo zonke izindlela zethu,’ hhayi nje lapho sibhekene nobunzima. Ngakho izinqumo esizenza nsuku zonke ekuphileni kufanele zibonise ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova. Lapho kuphakama izinkinga, akufanele siphelelwe ithemba, siphaphazele, noma simelane neziqondiso zikaJehova zokusingatha izindaba ngendlela engcono kakhulu. Kudingeka sibheke ukulingwa njengamathuba okusekela ubukhosi bukaJehova, okusiza ekuvezeni ukuthi uSathane ungumqambi-manga, nawokwakha ukuthobeka nezinye izimfanelo ezijabulisa uJehova.—Hebheru 5:7, 8.
23 Singakubonisa ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kunasithiyo sini esisina sisijeqeza. Lokho sikubonisa emithandazweni yethu nasendleleni esithembela ngayo eZwini likaJehova nasenhlanganweni yakhe ukuze sithole isiqondiso. Nokho, singakubonisa kanjani ngokuqondile ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova lapho sibhekene nezinkinga eziphakamayo ezweni lanamuhla? Isihloko esilandelayo sizokhuluma ngale ndaba.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• UDavide wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayenze uJehova waba ithemba lakhe?
• Iziphi izimbangela ezintathu zokuhlupheka kwabantu namuhla, futhi kungani kukuhle ukuhlala sihlale sizibukeze?
• Isiphi isigwebo esakhishwa uJehova esintwini, futhi kungani sasinobulungisa?
• Kuhilelani ukuthembela kuJehova?
[Izithombe ekhasini 8]
UDavide wenza uJehova waba ithemba lakhe
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
UJesu wabonisa ukuthi lapho umbhoshongo othile uwa eJerusalema, kwakungeyena uJehova owayenecala