Thembela KuJehova Ngayo Yonke Inhliziyo Yakho
“Labo abalaziyo igama lakho bayothembela kuwe.”—IHUBO 9:10.
1, 2. Iziphi ezinye zezinto eziyize abantu abathembela kuzo ukuze balondeke?
NAMUHLA, njengoba kunezinto eziningi kangaka ezisongela inhlalakahle yethu, kungokwemvelo ukufuna ukulondeka kothile noma kokuthile. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi ukuba nemali eningana kuyolilonda ikusasa labo, kodwa empeleni, imali iyisiphephelo esingaqinisekile neze. IBhayibheli lithi: “Othembela engcebweni yakhe—yena ngokwakhe uyowa.” (IzAga 11:28) Abanye bathembela kubaholi abangabantu, kodwa ngisho nabangcono kakhulu kubo benza amaphutha. Futhi bonke bagcina befile. Ngokuhlakanipha, iBhayibheli lithi: “Ningabeki ithemba lenu ezicukuthwaneni, noma endodaneni yomuntu wasemhlabeni, okungekhona okwayo ukusindisa.” (IHubo 146:3) Lawo mazwi aphefumulelwe angasixwayisa futhi ukuba singathembeli emizamweni yethu sisodwa. Nathi simane ‘singamadodana omuntu wasemhlabeni.’
2 Umprofethi u-Isaya wasola abaholi besizwe bakwa-Israyeli osukwini lwakhe ngoba babethembele ‘esiphephelweni samanga.’ (Isaya 28:15-17) Befuna ukulondeka, benza izivumelwano zezombusazwe nezizwe ezingomakhelwane. Izivumelwano ezinjalo zazingathembekile—zingamanga. Ngokufanayo, abaholi benkolo abaningi namuhla bakha ubuhlobo nabaholi bezombusazwe. Nalezo zivumelwano kuyocaca ukuthi ‘zingamanga.’ (IsAmbulo 17:16, 17) Ngeke zilethe ukulondeka okuhlala njalo.
Izibonelo Ezinhle ZikaJoshuwa NoKalebi
3, 4. Umbiko kaJoshuwa noKalebi wahluka kanjani kowezinye izinhloli eziyishumi?
3 Kufanele sikufunephi-ke ukulondeka? Khona kanye lapho uJoshuwa noKalebi abakufuna khona osukwini lukaMose. Ngemva nje kokukhululwa kuka-Israyeli eGibhithe, isizwe sase silungele ukungena eKhanani, eZweni Lesithembiso. Kwathunywa amadoda angu-12 ukuba ayohlola izwe, kwathi ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-40, abuya elethe umbiko. Mabili kuphela akhuluma kahle ngamathuba ka-Israyeli okunqoba iKhanani, uJoshuwa noKalebi. Amanye avuma ukuthi izwe liyathandeka kodwa athi: “Amaqiniso awukuthi abantu abahlala kuleliya zwe banamandla, futhi imizi enezivikelo eziqinile mikhulu kakhulu . . . Asikwazi ukukhuphuka siyomelana nalabo bantu, ngoba banamandla kunathi.”—Numeri 13:27, 28, 31.
4 Ama-Israyeli alalela izinhloli eziyishumi esaba, aze akhononda ngoMose. Ekugcineni, ngentshiseko enkulu uJoshuwa noKalebi bathi: “Izwe esalidabula silihlola liyizwe elihle kakhulu impela. Uma uJehova ejabule ngathi, khona-ke ngokuqinisekile uyosingenisa kuleli zwe futhi asinike lona, izwe eligeleza ubisi noju. Kuphela ningadlubulundi kuJehova; futhi nina, ningabesabi abantu bezwe.” (Numeri 14:6-9) Naphezu kwalokho, ama-Israyeli awafunanga ukulalela, futhi ngenxa yalokho awavunyelwanga ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso ngaleso sikhathi.
5. Kungani uJoshuwa noKalebi banikeza umbiko omuhle?
5 Kungani uJoshuwa noKalebi banikeza umbiko omuhle, kuyilapho izinhloli eziyishumi zanikeza omubi? Zonke izinhloli ezingu-12 zazibone izinto ezifanayo—imizi eqinile nezizwe ezinamandla. Futhi eziyishumi zaziqinisile lapho zithi u-Israyeli akanawo amandla anele okunqoba izwe. NoJoshuwa noKalebi babekwazi lokho. Nokho, izinhloli eziyishumi zazibheka izinto ngombono wenyama. UJoshuwa noKalebi bona babethembele kuJehova. Babebone izenzo zakhe zamandla eGibhithe, oLwandle Olubomvu, naphansi kweNtaba YaseSinayi. Phela ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka imibiko nje yalezo zenzo yashukumisela uRahabi waseJeriko ukuba afake ukuphila kwakhe engozini ngenxa yabantu bakaJehova! (Joshuwa 2:1-24; 6:22-25) UJoshuwa noKalebi, ababezibonele izenzo zikaJehova, babeqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzoqhubeka elwela abantu bakhe. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-40, kwacaca ukuthi ukuqiniseka kwabo kwakufanelekile lapho isizukulwane esisha sama-Israyeli singena eKhanani sinqoba izwe, siholwa nguJoshuwa.
Okwenza Kudingeke Simethembe Ngokugcwele UJehova
6. Kungani amaKristu namuhla ecindezelwa, futhi kufanele athembelephi?
6 Kulezi “zikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo,” njengama-Israyeli, nathi sibhekene nezitha ezinamandla ngaphezu kwethu. (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Siyacindezelwa ngokuziphatha, ngokomoya, nangokwenyama imbala kwezinye izimo. Thina ngokwethu asikwazi ukumelana nalezo zingcindezi, ngoba zivela esidalweni esinamandla angaphezu kwawomuntu, uSathane uDeveli. (Efesu 6:12; 1 Johane 5:19) Pho, singaphephelaphi? Indoda ethembekile yasendulo yathandaza kuJehova yathi: “Labo abalaziyo igama lakho bayothembela kuwe.” (IHubo 9:10) Uma simazi ngempela uJehova futhi siqonda ukuthi igama lakhe limelelani, siyothembela kuye ngokuqiniseka okunjengokukaJoshuwa noKalebi.—Johane 17:3.
7, 8. (a) Indalo neBhayibheli kusinika kanjani izizathu zokuthembela kuJehova? (b) IBhayibheli linikeza ziphi izizathu zokuthembela kuJehova?
7 Kungani kufanele sithembele kuJehova? UJoshuwa noKalebi bathembela kuYe ngoba, phakathi kokunye, babeboné ukubonakaliswa kwamandla akhe. Nathi sikubonile. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngemisebenzi kaJehova yendalo, ehlanganisa umkhathi nezigidigidi zemithala yawo. Amandla emvelo amakhulukazi uJehova awalawulayo abonisa ukuthi unguMninimandla onke ngempela. Njengoba sicabangisisa ngezimangaliso zendalo, siyaphoqeleka ukuvumelana noJobe, owathi ngoJehova: “Ubani ongamelana naye? Ubani oyothi kuye, ‘Wenzani?’” (Jobe 9:12) Empeleni, uma uJehova engakithi, akekho okufanele simesabe kuwo wonke umhlaba namazulu.—Roma 8:31.
8 Cabanga nangeZwi likaJehova, iBhayibheli. Lo mthombo ongashi wokuhlakanipha kwaphezulu unamandla ekusisizeni ukuba sinqobe imikhuba engalungile futhi sivumelanise ukuphila kwethu nentando kaJehova. (Hebheru 4:12) YiBhayibheli elisisiza ukuba simazi ngegama uJehova futhi sibone ukuthi igama lakhe lihambisana nani. (Eksodusi 3:14) Siyaqaphela ukuthi uJehova angaba yinoma yini akhetha ukuba yiyo ukuze afeze izinjongo zakhe—uBaba onothando, uMahluleli olungileyo, iButho elinqobayo. Siyayibona nendlela izwi lakhe elifezeka ngayo njalo. Njengoba sitadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu, sishukumiseleka ukuba silingise umhubi: “Ngithembelé ezwini lakho.”—IHubo 119:42; Isaya 40:8.
9. Isihlengo nokuvuswa kukaJesu kukuqinisa kanjani ukwethembela kwethu kuJehova?
9 Isihlengo singesinye futhi isizathu sokuthembela kuJehova. (Mathewu 20:28) Akuve kumangalisa ukuthi uJehova wathumela iNdodana yakhe uqobo ukuba izokufa ibe yisihlengo sethu! Futhi isihlengo sinamandla ngempela. Sisibekela izono zaso sonke isintu esiphendukayo, sibuyele kuJehova ngenhliziyo eqotho. (Johane 3:16; Hebheru 6:10; 1 Johane 4:16, 19) Esinye isici esasidingeka ekukhokhweni kwesihlengo kwaba ukuvuswa kukaJesu. Leso simangaliso, esafakazelwa amakhulu ofakazi, singesinye futhi isizathu sokuthembela kuJehova. Siyisiqinisekiso sokuthi amathemba ethu ngeke aphelele ezeni.—IzEnzo 17:31; Roma 5:5; 1 Korinte 15:3-8.
10. Sinaziphi izizathu ezithinta thina siqu zokuthembela kuJehova?
10 Lezi yizizathu ezimbalwa nje ezenza kufaneleke futhi kudingeke simethembe ngokuphelele uJehova. Kunezinye eziningi kakhulu, ezinye zazo ezithinta umuntu ngamunye. Ngokwesibonelo, sonke sihlala sihlale sibhekane nezimo ezinzima ekuphileni kwethu. Njengoba sifuna isiqondiso sikaJehova ekuzisingatheni, sibona indlela esiwusizo ngayo leso siqondiso. (Jakobe 1:5-8) Lapho sithembela nakakhulu kuJehova ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke futhi sibona imiphumela emihle yalokhu, ukumethemba kwethu kuqina nakakhulu.
UDavide Wayethembele KuJehova
11. UDavide wathembela kuJehova naphezu kwaziphi izimo?
11 UDavide wakwa-Israyeli wasendulo wayethembele kuJehova. UDavide wasongelwa iNkosi uSawule, ifuna ukumbulala, wasongelwa nayibutho elinamandla lamaFilisti ayezama ukunqoba u-Israyeli. Noma kunjalo, wasinda futhi wanqoba. Ngani? UDavide ngokwakhe uyachaza: “UJehova ungukukhanya kwami nensindiso yami. Ngizokwesaba bani? UJehova uyisiphephelo sokuphila kwami. Ngizoba nengebhe ngobani?” (IHubo 27:1) Nathi siyophumelela uma sithembela njengaye kuJehova.
12, 13. UDavide wabonisa kanjani ukuthi kufanele sithembele kuJehova ngisho nalapho abaphikisi besihlasela ngolimi?
12 Ngesinye isikhathi uDavide wathandaza: “O Nkulunkulu, yizwa izwi lami ekukhathazekeni kwami. Kwangathi ungalonda ukuphila kwami engebheni ngenxa yesitha. Kwangathi ungangifihla enkulumweni eyisifuba yabenzi bokubi, ekuxokozeleni kwabakwenza umkhuba okulimazayo, abacijé ulimi lwabo njengenkemba, abakhombé umcibisholo wabo, inkulumo ebabayo, ukuze bacibishele ongasoleki besezindaweni ezicashile.” (IHubo 64:1-4) Asiqiniseki ukuthi yini eyenza uDavide wabhala la mazwi. Kodwa siyazi ukuthi namuhla, abaphikisi ‘bacija ulimi lwabo’ ngendlela efanayo, belusebenzisa njengesikhali sempi. ‘Bacibishela’ amaKristu angenacala, bekhuluma noma bebhala amazwi ‘ayimicibisholo’ ehlanekezela lokho esiyikho. Uma sithembele kuJehova ngokungaxeki, uyoba yini umphumela?
13 UDavide uqhubeka athi: “UNkulunkulu uyobacibishela bengazelele. Batholé amanxeba, babangela umuntu ukuba akhubeke. Kodwa ulimi lwabo lumelene nabo siqu. . . . Olungile uyojabula ngoJehova futhi impela uyophephela kuye.” (IHubo 64:7-10) Yebo, nakuba izitha zisicijisela ulimi, ‘ulimi lwazo lugcina lumelene nazo siqu.’ Ekugcineni, uJehova ushintsha izinto kube nomphumela omuhle, ukuze labo abaye bathembela kuye bajabule.
Ukuqiniseka KukaHezekiya Kwabonakala Kufanelekile
14. (a) UHezekiya wathembela kuJehova naphezu kwasiphi isimo esiyingozi? (b) UHezekiya wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayengawakholelwa amanga omAsiriya?
14 INkosi uHezekiya yayingomunye futhi okwabonakala kufanelekile ukuthembela kwakhe kuJehova. Kusabusa uHezekiya, ibutho elinamandla lase-Asiriya lasongela iJerusalema. Lelo butho lalinqobe izizwe eziningi. Lalinqobe ngisho nemizi yakwaJuda kwaze kwasala iJerusalema lodwa likhululekile, futhi uSaneheribi wazishaya isifuba ethi nalo uzolinqoba. Esebenzisa uRabishake, wathi ukuthembela osizweni lwabaseGibhithe kwakuyoba yize—esho eqinisile. Nokho, wabe esethi: “Ungamvumeli uNkulunkulu wakho othembele kuye akukhohlise, athi: ‘IJerusalema ngeke linikelwe esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya.’” (Isaya 37:10) Kodwa uHezekiya wayazi ukuthi uJehova akakhohlisi. Ngakho wathandaza, wathi: “Manje Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, sisindise esandleni [somAsiriya], ukuze yonke imibuso yomhlaba yazi ukuthi wena Jehova, unguNkulunkulu wena wedwa.” (Isaya 37:20) UJehova wawulalela umthandazo kaHezekiya. Ngobusuku obubodwa, ingelosi yabulala amasosha ase-Asiriya angu-185 000. IJerusalema lasinda, uSaneheribi waphuma waphela kwaJuda. Bonke abezwa ngalesi senzakalo bafunda ngobukhulu bukaJehova.
15. Yini okuwukuphela kwayo eyosisiza ukuba sizilungiselele noma isiphi isimo esinzima esingasehlela kuleli zwe elingazinzile?
15 Namuhla, sisesimweni esinjengesempi njengoHezekiya. Eyethu impi ingokomoya. Noma kunjalo, kudingeka sihlakulele amakhono okuqhubeka siphila njengamabutho angokomoya. Kudingeka sikubone kuseza ukuhlaselwa bese sizilungiselela ukuze sikwazi ukukuphebeza. (Efesu 6:11, 12, 17) Kuleli zwe elingazinzile, izimo zingashintsha kungazelelwe. Kungabheduka izimpi zombango kungalindelekile. Amazwe anomlando wokubekezelela izinkolo angashintsha angabe esazibekezelela. Siyokwazi ukulungela noma yini engase yenzeke uma nje kuphela sizilungiselela ngokuhlakulela ukwethembela kuJehova ngokungaxegi, njengoHezekiya.
Kusho Ukuthini Ukuthembela KuJehova?
16, 17. Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi sithembele kuJehova?
16 Ukuthembela kuJehova akuyona into egcina ngokushiwo ngomlomo. Kuhilela inhliziyo yethu, kubonakale ngezenzo zethu. Uma sithembele kuJehova, siyolithemba ngokugcwele iZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli. Siyolifunda nsuku zonke, sizindle ngalo, futhi silivumele liqondise ukuphila kwethu. (IHubo 119:105) Ukuthembela kuJehova kuhilela nokuthembela emandleni omoya ongcwele. Ngosizo lomoya ongcwele, singahlakulela izithelo ezijabulisa uJehova futhi singanqoba imikhuba emibi egxilile. (1 Korinte 6:11; Galathiya 5:22-24) Ngakho, ngosizo lomoya ongcwele, abaningi baye bakwazi ukuyeka ukubhema noma ukudla izidakamizwa. Abanye baye bayeka ukuphila kokuziphatha okubi. Yebo, uma sithembela kuJehova, senza ngamandla akhe, hhayi awethu.—Efesu 3:14-18.
17 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuthembela kuJehova kusho ukuthemba labo uJehova abathembayo. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova uhlele ukuba “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” inakekele konke okuphathelene noMbuso emhlabeni. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Asizami ukuzenzela okufunwa yithi, futhi asiyishayi indiva leyo nceku emisiwe, ngoba siyalithemba ilungiselelo likaJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, emabandleni obuKristu kunabadala, futhi njengoba kusho umphostoli uPawulu, bamiswe umoya ongcwele. (IzEnzo 20:28) Ngokubambisana nelungiselelo labadala ebandleni, sibonisa ukuthi sithembele kuJehova.—Hebheru 13:17.
Landela Isibonelo SikaPawulu
18. AmaKristu namuhla asilandela kanjani isibonelo sikaPawulu, kodwa yini angathembeli kuyo?
18 Umphostoli uPawulu wabhekana nezingcindezi eziningi enkonzweni yakhe, njengathi. Osukwini lwakhe ubuKristu babuhlanekezelwa phambi kweziphathimandla, futhi ngezinye izikhathi wayezama ukulungisa leyo mibono eyiphutha noma ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngokomthetho. (IzEnzo 28:19-22; Filipi 1:7) Namuhla, amaKristu alandela isibonelo sakhe. Noma nini lapho kungenzeka, sisiza abanye ukuba bazi kahle ngomsebenzi wethu, sisebenzisa noma iziphi izindlela esingazisebenzisa. Silwela ukuvikela nokumisa ngokomthetho izindaba ezinhle. Nokho, asibeki lonke ithemba lethu emizamweni enjalo, ngoba impumelelo asiyibheki njengexhomeke ekuwineni amacala ezinkantolo noma ekukhulunyelweni kahle emphakathini. Kunalokho, sithembele kuJehova. Sikhumbula isikhuthazo sakhe ku-Israyeli wasendulo: “Amandla enu ayoba kuphela sekuhlaleni ningaphazamisekile ninokwethembela.”—Isaya 30:15.
19. Ukwethembela kwabafowethu kuJehova lapho beshushiswa kuye kwabonakala kanjani kufanelekile?
19 Emlandweni wethu wanamuhla, ngezinye izikhathi umsebenzi wethu uye wavinjelwa noma wabekelwa imingcele eMpumalanga naseNtshonalanga Yurophu, ezingxenyeni ezithile ze-Asia ne-Afrika, nasemazweni athile aseNingizimu naseNyakatho Melika. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova bekungafanelekile? Cha. Nakuba ngezikhathi ezithile uJehova eye wavumela ushushiso olubuhlungu ngenjongo yakhe enhle, uye wabaqinisa ngothando labo abebebhekene nalokho kushushiswa. Lapho ebhekene nakho, amaKristu amaningi aye azakhela umlando omuhle wokholo nokwethembela kuNkulunkulu.
20. Nakuba singase sizuze enkululekweni yezomthetho, iziphi izici esingasoze sahlehla kuzo?
20 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, emazweni amaningi siqashelwa ngokomthetho, futhi ngezinye izikhathi kukhulunywa kahle ngathi ezindabeni. Siyakwazisa lokhu futhi siyaqaphela ukuthi nakho kufeza injongo kaJehova. Ngesibusiso sakhe, leyo nkululeko eyengeziwe siyisebenzisela ukukhonza uJehova obala nangokugcwele, hhayi ukuthuthukisa indlela yethu yokuphila. Nokho, asisoze sahlehla ekumeni kwethu kokungathathi hlangothi, sehlise izinga emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela, noma sinciphise inkonzo yethu kuJehova ngandlela-thile ukuze nje sibhekeke kahle kuziphathimandla. Siyizikhonzi zoMbuso kaMesiya futhi simi siqinile ohlangothini lobukhosi bukaJehova. Elethu ithemba alikho kulesi simiso sezinto, kodwa lisezweni elisha, lapho uMbuso kaMesiya wasezulwini uyoba ukuphela kukahulumeni obusa lo mhlaba. Kwamabhomu, kwazikhali ezitshuzayo, kwazikhali zenuzi ngeke kuwuzamazamise lowo hulumeni noma kuwudubule kuwethule ezulwini. Awunakunqotshwa futhi uyoyifeza injongo uJehova awumisele yona.—Daniyeli 2:44; Hebheru 12:28; IsAmbulo 6:2.
21. Iyiphi inkambo esizimisele ukuyilandela?
21 UPawulu uthi: “Asilona uhlobo oluhlehlela emuva ekubhujisweni.” (Hebheru 10:39) Ngakho, kwangathi sonke singamkhonza ngokwethembeka uJehova kuze kube sekugcineni. Sinazo zonke izizathu zokuthembela ngokugcwele kuJehova manje kuze kube phakade.—IHubo 37:3; 125:1.
Ufundeni?
• Kungani uJoshuwa noKalebi babuya nombiko omuhle?
• Yiziphi ezinye zezizathu ezenza kufaneleke ukumethemba ngokuphelele uJehova?
• Kusho ukuthini ukuthembela kuJehova?
• Njengoba sithembele kuJehova, ikuphi ukuma esizimisele ukukuthatha?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Kungani uJoshuwa noKalebi banikeza umbiko omuhle?
[Izithombe ekhasini 16]
Indalo isinika isizathu esinamandla sokuthembela kuJehova
[[Umthombo]
All three images: Courtesy of Anglo-Australian Observatory, photograph by David Malin
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Ukuthembela kuJehova kusho ukuthemba labo uJehova abathembayo