Isahluko Sesikhombisa
Buyelani Ekukhulekeleni UJehova
1. Obani amagama onkulunkulu ababili baseBabiloni abayinhloko, futhi kubikezelwani ngabo?
NGESIKHATHI u-Israyeli ethunjelwe eBabiloni, uyobe ephakathi kokukhulekela kwamanga. Ngesikhathi sika-Isaya, abantu bakaJehova basesezweni labo futhi banethempeli nabapristi. Noma kunjalo abaningi esizweni sikaNkulunkulu esizinikezele baye bazivumela ukuba banqotshwe ukukhonza izithombe. Kubalulekile-ke ukuba bahlonyiswe kusengaphambili ukuze bangesatshiswa onkulunkulu bamanga baseBabiloni noma bayengeke ukuba babakhonze. Ngakho, ekhuluma ngokusasiprofetho ngonkulunkulu ababili abayinhloko baseBabiloni, u-Isaya uthi: “UBeli ugobile, uNebo ufolile; izithombe zabo zibe ngezezilo zasendle nezezilwane ezifuywayo, imithwalo yazo, imithwalo ehlukahlukene, iwumthwalo osindayo ezilwaneni ezikhathele.” (Isaya 46:1) UBeli ungunkulunkulu oyisithombe oyinhloko wamaKaledi. UNebo yena uhlonishwa ngoba engunkulunkulu wenhlakanipho nokwazi. Inhlonipho abaningi abanayo ngalabo nkulunkulu ibonakala ekutheni amagama abo ayatholakala emagameni abantu baseBabiloni—njengelithi Belishasari, Nabopolassar, Nebukadinesari, nelithi Nebuzaradani, uma sibala ambalwa nje.
2. Kugcizelelwa kanjani ukungabi lusizo konkulunkulu baseBabiloni?
2 U-Isaya uthi uBeli “ugobile,” uNebo “ufolile.” Lab’ onkulunkulu bamanga bayothotshiswa. Lapho uJehova ahlulela iBabiloni, ngeke bakwazi ukusiza abakhulekeli babo. Ngeke bakwazi ngisho ukuzisindisa bona ngokwabo! UBeli noNebo ngeke besathwalwa ngendlela ehloniphekile lapho kunemicimbi, njengasemkhosini waseBabiloni Wosuku Lonyaka Omusha. Kunalokho, ababakhulekelayo bayobahudula njengempahla engabalulekile. Esikhundleni sokuba badunyiswe futhi batuswe, bayohlekwa usulu futhi badelelwe.
3. (a) Bayokwethuswa yini abaseBabiloni? (b) Yini esingayifunda namuhla kulokho okwehlela onkulunkulu baseBabiloni?
3 Yeka indlela okuyobethusa ngayo abaseBabiloni ukuzwa ukuthi onkulunkulu babo ababathandayo bamane nje bawumthwalo oyohudulwa izilwane ezikhathele! Nanamuhla, onkulunkulu baleli zwe—izinto abantu abazethembayo nabachitha amandla abo ngisho nokuphila kwabo kuzo—ziyize. Abantu baye bazinikela engcebweni, ezikhalini, ezinjabulweni, kubabusi, ezweni labo noma ezimpawini zalo, nakwezinye izinto eziningi. Ngesikhathi sikaJehova esifanele ubuze balab’ onkulunkulu buyodalulwa.—Daniyeli 11:38; Mathewu 6:24; IzEnzo 12:22; Filipi 3:19; Kolose 3:5; IsAmbulo 13:14, 15.
4. Onkulunkulu baseBabiloni ‘bagoba futhi bafole’ ngamuphi umqondo?
4 Siqhubeka nokudalula ukuhluleka konkulunkulu baseBabiloni, lesi siprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Kumelwe bafole; bobabili ngokufanayo kumelwe bagobe; bamane nje abakwazi ukunikeza ukuphunyula emthwalweni osindayo, kodwa umphefumulo wabo kumelwe uye ekuthunjweni.” (Isaya 46:2) Onkulunkulu baseBabiloni babonakala ‘befola’ futhi ‘begoba’ sengathi balimale empini noma bagongobaliswe ukukhula. Bahluleka ngisho nawukwenza lula umthwalo wezilwane eziphansi ezibathwele noma ukuzisiza zikhululeke. Ingabe-ke abantu bakaJehova besivumelwano, ngisho noma bethunjelwe eBabiloni, kufanele babadumise? Cha! Ngomqondo ofanayo, izinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe, ngisho nalapho zithunjiwe ngokomoya, azizange zibadumise onkulunkulu bamanga ‘beBabiloni Elikhulu,’ abangakwazanga ukuvimbela ukuwa kwalo ngo-1919 futhi abangeke bakwazi ukulisindisa enhlekeleleni ezolehlela phakathi ‘nosizi olukhulu.’— IsAmbulo 18:2, 21; Mathewu 24:21.
5. AmaKristu namuhla akugwema kanjani ukuphinda amaphutha abakhulekeli bezithombe baseBabiloni?
5 AmaKristu eqiniso namuhla awazikhothameli izithombe zanoma yiluphi uhlobo. (1 Johane 5:21) Iziphambano ezilenga uJesu, ubuhlalu bokuthandaza nezithombe zosanta, azenzi kube lula ukuya kuMdali. Ngeke zikwazi ukusikhulumela naye. Ekhulwini lokuqala, uJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe indlela efanele yokukhulekela uNkulunkulu lapho ethi: “Mina ngiyindlela neqiniso nokuphila. Akekho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuba eze ngami. Uma nicela noma yini egameni lami, ngiyoyenza.”—Johane 14:6, 14.
“Nathwalwa Kwasesibelethweni”
6. UJehova uhluke kanjani konkulunkulu bezizwe?
6 Esebudalulile ubuze bokukhulekela onkulunkulu abayizithombe baseBabiloni, uJehova uthi kubantu bakhe: “Ngilalele, wena ndlu kaJakobe, nani nonke enisele endlini ka-Israyeli, nina eniye nathwalwa yimi kwasesiswini, enathwalwa kwasesibelethweni.” (Isaya 46:3) Yeka umehluko okhona phakathi kukaJehova nezithombe ezibaziweyo zaseBabiloni! Akukho lutho onkulunkulu baseBabiloni abangalwenzela abakhulekeli babo. Ukuze basuke kwenye indawo baye kwenye, kumelwe bathwalwe izilwane. Kanti ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJehova ubelokhu ebathwele abantu bakhe. Uye wabalondoloza kusukela ‘besesesibelethweni,’ ngesikhathi lesi sizwe sibunjwa. Izinkumbulo ezinhle zokuthwalwa uJehova kufanele zikhuthaze amaJuda ukuba agweme ukukhulekela izithombe futhi amethembe njengoba enguYise noMngane wawo.
7. Ukunakekela kukaJehova abakhulekeli bakhe ngesisa kuyedlula kanjani indlela abazali abangabantu abanakekela ngayo izingane zabo?
7 UJehova uyaqhubeka ekhuluma nabantu bakhe ngesisa: “Ngisho nasekugugeni komuntu ngingofanayo; nasebumpungeni bakhe mina ngiyoqhubeka ngiphasile. Ngokuqinisekile ngizothatha isinyathelo, ukuba mina ngokwami ngithwale, ngiphase futhi nginikeze ukuphunyula.” (Isaya 46:4) Ukunakekela kukaJehova abantu bakhe kwedlula okomzali ongumuntu. Lapho izingane zikhula, abazali bangase bazizwe bengasenawo umthwalo wemfanelo ongako ngazo. Lapho abazali bekhula, yizingane eziye zibanakekele. Akunjalo nhlobo ngoJehova. Akayeki ukunakekela izingane zakhe ezingabantu—ngisho sezikhulile. Abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu namuhla bayamethemba futhi bayamthanda uMdali wabo, futhi abaduduza kakhulu la mazwi esiprofetho sika-Isaya. Akudingeki bakhathazeke ngezinsuku noma iminyaka esele abazoyichitha kulesi simiso sezinto. UJehova uthembisa ukuthi ‘uyoqhubeka ebaphasa’ labo asebekhulile, abanikeze amandla abawadingayo ukuze bakhuthazele futhi bahlale bethembekile. Uyobathwala, abaqinise, abanikeze nendlela yokuphunyula.—Heberu 6:10.
Qaphela Izithombe Zanamuhla
8. Yisiphi isono esingathetheleleki esenziwe abanye babantu bakubo ka-Isaya?
8 Cabanga indlela abayodumala ngayo abaseBabiloni abathembela ezithombeni ezingeke zibasize ngalutho! Ingabe u-Israyeli kufanele akholelwe ukuthi lab’ onkulunkulu bangafaniswa noJehova? Cha. UJehova ubuza kufanele: “Nizongifanisa nobani noma ningilinganise nobani noma ningiqhathanise nobani ukuze sifane?” (Isaya 46:5) Akuve kungathetheleleki ukuthi abanye kubantu bakubo ka-Isaya baye baphendukela ekukhulekeleni izithombe ezingakhulumi, ezingaphili nezingenalusizo! Kuwubulima ngempela ukuba isizwe esazi uJehova sithembele ezithombeni ezingaphili nezingakwazi ukuzivikela, ezenziwe izandla zomuntu.
9. Chaza indlela yokucabanga engenangqondo yabanye abakhulekeli bezithombe.
9 Cabangela indlela engenangqondo abacabanga ngayo abakhulekeli bezithombe. Lesi siprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Kukhona labo abasafuna igolide emxhakeni, abakala isiliva ngenduku yesikali. Baqasha osebenza ngensimbi, alenze libe ngunkulunkulu. Bawa ngobuso, yebo, bayakhothama.” (Isaya 46:6) Njengokungathi isithombe esibizayo sinamandla engeziwe okusindisa kunesokhuni, abakhulekeli baso abanqeni ukuchitha izizumbulu zemali bakha unkulunkulu. Kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi mkhulu kangakanani umsebenzi owenziwayo, noma izinto zokusakha zibiza kangakanani, isithombe sihlala siyisithombe nje, asiphili.
10. Buchazwa kanjani ubuze bokukhulekela izithombe?
10 Siqhubeka nokuveza ubuwula bokukhulekela izithombe, isiprofetho sithi: “Bametshatha ehlombe, bayamthwala bambeke endaweni yakhe ukuze ame. Akasuki endaweni ami kuyo. Umuntu uyammemeza, kodwa akaphenduli; akamsindisi umuntu osizini lwakhe.” (Isaya 46:7 ) Yeka ukuthi kuwubuwula kanjani ukuthandaza esithombeni esingenakuzwa nakwenza lutho! Umhubi ubuchaza kahle ubuze bezinto ezinjalo ezikhulekelwayo: “Izithombe zabo ziyisiliva negolide, umsebenzi wezandla zomuntu wasemhlabeni. Zinomlomo, kodwa azikwazi ukukhuluma; zinamehlo, kodwa azikwazi ukubona; zinezindlebe, kodwa azikwazi ukuzwa. Zinekhala, kodwa azikwazi ukuhogela. Izandla ngezazo, kodwa azikwazi ukuthinta. Izinyawo ngezazo, kodwa azikwazi ukuhamba; azikhiphi-zwi ngomphimbo wazo. Abazenzayo bayofana nsé nazo, bonke abathembela kuzo.”—IHubo 115:4-8.
‘Qungani Isibindi’
11. Yini eyosiza labo abamanqikanqika ukuba ‘baqunge isibindi’?
11 Esebubonisile ubuze bokukhulekela izithombe, uJehova manje unikeza abantu bakhe izizathu zokuba bakhonze yena: “Kukhumbuleni lokhu, ukuze niqunge isibindi. Kubekeni enhliziyweni yenu, nina zeqamthetho. Khumbulani izinto zokuqala zesikhathi eside esidlule, ukuthi ngingowaPhezulu futhi akekho omunye uNkulunkulu, nanoma ngubani ofana nami.” (Isaya 46:8, 9) Labo abamanqikanqika phakathi kokukhulekela kweqiniso nokukhonza izithombe kufanele bakhumbule izenzakalo ezidlule. Kufanele bakhumbule izinto uJehova azenzile. Lokhu kuyobasiza baqunge isibindi futhi benze okufanele. Kuyobasiza babuyele ekukhulekeleni uJehova.
12, 13. AmaKristu akuyiphi impi, futhi angayinqoba kanjani?
12 Lesi sikhuthazo sisadingeka nanamuhla. Njengama-Israyeli, amaKristu aqotho kumelwe alwe nezilingo nokungapheleli kwawo siqu. (Roma 7:21-24) Ngaphezu kwalokho, asempini engokomoya nesitha esingabonakali, nokho esinamandla amangalisayo. Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Asibambene negazi nenyama kodwa nawohulumeni, namagunya, nababusi bezwe balobu bumnyama, nendikimba yomoya ababi esezindaweni zasezulwini.”—Efesu 6:12.
13 USathane namademoni akhe bazokwenza konke okusemandleni abo ukuze bachezukise amaKristu ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Ukuze anqobe kule mpi, amaKristu kumelwe alandele iseluleko sikaJehova, aqunge isibindi. Kanjani? Umphostoli uPawulu uyachaza: “Gqokani sonke isambatho sokuzivikela esivela kuNkulunkulu ukuze nikwazi ukuma niqinile ekumelaneni namaqhinga kaDeveli.” UJehova akaziyisi empini izinceku zakhe zingahlomile ngokwanele. Izikhali zazo ezingokomoya zihlanganisa “isihlangu esikhulu sokholo, [eziyokwazi] ngaso ukucima zonke izikhali ezijikijelwayo ezivuthayo zomubi.” (Efesu 6:11, 16) Ama-Israyeli ayeyizeqamthetho ngoba awawanakanga amalungiselelo angokomoya uJehova ayewenzele wona. Ukube ayezindla ngezenzo zamandla uJehova ayewenzele zona ngokuphindaphindiwe, ayengeke aphendukele ekukhulekeleni izithombe okunengekayo. Kwangathi singafunda esibonelweni sawo futhi sizimisele ukuba singalokothi siyekethise empini yokwenza okulungile.—1 Korinte 10:11.
14. Yiliphi ikhono uJehova alivezayo elibonisa ukuthi ungukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso?
14 UJehova nguyena “owazisa isiphetho kwasekuqaleni, nalowo owazisa izinto ezingakenziwa kusukela kudala; Lowo othi, ‘Injongo yami iyokuma, futhi ngizokwenza konke okungijabulisayo.’” (Isaya 46:10) Imuphi omunye unkulunkulu ongafana noJehova kulesi sici? Ukukwazi ukubikezela ikusasa kuwubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi uMdali unguNkulunkulu. Nokho, kudingeka okungaphezu kokubona izinto kusengaphambili ukuze umuntu aqiniseke ukuthi izinto ezibikezelwe ziyogcwaliseka. Inkulumo ethi “injongo yami iyokuma” igcizelela ukungaguquki kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu emisiwe. Njengoba uJehova enamandla angapheli, akukho lutho emhlabeni nasezulwini olungamnqanda ukuba afeze intando yakhe. (Daniyeli 4:35) Ngakho, singaqiniseka ukuthi noma iziphi iziprofetho ezingakagcwaliseki zizogcwaliseka nakanjani ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele.—Isaya 55:11.
15. Yisiphi isibonelo esiphawulekayo sekhono likaJehova lokubikezela ikusasa esitshelwa ngaso?
15 Isibonelo esimangalisayo sekhono likaJehova lokubikezela izenzakalo zesikhathi esizayo, abese ekufeza lokho akubikezele libonakala kulesi siprofetho sika-Isaya: “Lowo obiza inyoni edla inyama empumalanga, nombiza ezweni elikude umuntu ozofeza injongo yami. Ngikukhulumile nokukukhuluma; ngizokuletha futhi. Ngikwakhile, ngizokwenza futhi.” (Isaya 46:11) Njengoba ekwazi ‘ukwazisa isiphetho kwasekuqaleni,’ uJehova uNkulunkulu uyoqondisa izindaba zesintu ukuze afeze injongo yakhe. Uyobiza uKoresi “empumalanga,” noma ePheresiya, lapho kuyobe kukhona khona inhloko-dolobha kaKoresi ayithanda kakhulu, iPasargadae. UKoresi uyoba ‘njengenyoni edla inyama,’ alibhozomele ngokuphazima kweso nangokuzumayo iBabiloni.
16. UJehova ukugcizelela kanjani ukuqiniseka kwesibikezelo esiphathelene neBabiloni?
16 Ukuqiniseka kwesibikezelo sikaJehova ngeBabiloni kugcizelelwa yila mazwi, “Ngikukhulumile nokukukhuluma; ngizokuletha futhi.” Nakuba umuntu ongaphelele ethambekele ekwenzeni izithembiso ngokuphamazela, uMdali akahluleki ukufeza akushilo. Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu “ongenakuqamba amanga,” singaqiniseka ukuthi uma ‘ekwakhile,’ ‘uzokwenza futhi.’—Thithu 1:2.
Izinhliziyo Ezingenalukholo
17, 18. Obani abangase bachazwe ngokuthi ‘bangabanamandla enhliziyweni’ (a) endulo? (b) namuhla?
17 UJehova uphinde agxile kwabaseBabiloni, ethi: “Ngilaleleni, nina eninamandla enhliziyweni, nina enikude nokulunga.” (Isaya 46:12) Inkulumo ethi “nina eninamandla enhliziyweni” ichaza abanenkani nabazimisele ukuphikisana nentando kaNkulunkulu. Akungabazeki ukuthi abaseBabiloni bakude kakhulu noNkulunkulu. Inzondo abanayo ngoJehova nabantu bakhe ibenza bachithe iJerusalema nethempeli lalo futhi bathumbe nezakhamuzi zakhona.
18 Namuhla, labo abanezinhliziyo ezingabazayo nezingakholwa abafuni kuzwa ngesigijimi soMbuso esishunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe. (Mathewu 24:14) Abafuni ukuqaphela uJehova njengoMbusi ofanele. (IHubo 83:18; IsAmbulo 4:11) Ngezinhliziyo ‘ezikude nokulunga,’ balwa futhi baphikisane nentando yakhe. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) NjengabaseBabiloni, bayenqaba ukulalela uJehova.
Insindiso KaNkulunkulu Ngeke Yephuze
19. UJehova uyomenzela kanjani u-Israyeli isenzo sokulunga?
19 Amazwi okuphetha ka-Isaya isahluko 46 aqokomisa izici zobuntu bukaJehova: “Ngikusondezile ukulunga kwami. Akukude, nensindiso yami ngeke yephuze. Ngizonika insindiso eZiyoni, nginike no-Israyeli ubuhle bami.” (Isaya 46:13) Ukukhulula kukaNkulunkulu u-Israyeli kuyoba isenzo sokulunga. Ngeke avumele abantu bakhe ukuba baqhubeke bethunjiwe. Insindiso yeZiyoni iyofika ngesikhathi esifanele, “ngeke yephuze.” Ngemva kokukhululwa kwawo ekuthunjweni, ama-Israyeli ayoba umbukwane ezizweni eziwazungezile. Ukukhulula kukaJehova isizwe sakhe kuyoba ubufakazi bamandla akhe okusindisa. Ubuze bonkulunkulu baseBabiloni uBel noNebo buyodalulwa ukuze bonke abantu babubone, kubonakale ukuthi abanamandla.—1 AmaKhosi 18:39, 40.
20. AmaKristu angaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi ‘insindiso ngeke yephuze’?
20 Ngo-1919, uJehova wakhulula abantu bakhe ekuthunjweni okungokomoya. Akephuzanga. Leso sigigaba, kanye nezenzeka endulo lapho iBabiloni linqotshwa uKoresi, ziyasikhuthaza namuhla. UJehova uthembise ukuqeda lesi simiso esonakele sezinto, kanye nokukhulekela kwaso kwamanga. (IsAmbulo 19:1, 2, 17-21) Uma ebheka izinto ngeso lomuntu, amanye amaKristu angase abe nomuzwa wokuthi insindiso yawo iye yalibala. Kodwa ukubekezela kukaJehova kuze kube yisikhathi sakhe esifanele ukuze agcwalise leso sithembiso, empeleni kuyisenzo sokulunga. Phela, “[uJehova] akafisi ukuba kubhujiswe muntu kodwa ufisa ukuba bonke bafinyelele ekuphendukeni.” (2 Petru 3:9) Ngakho-ke qiniseka ukuthi njengasezinsukwini zika-Israyeli wasendulo, ‘insindiso ngeke yephuze.’ Ngempela, njengoba usuku lwensindiso lusondela, uJehova usalokhu esikhipha ngothando lesi simemo: “Funani uJehova, esatholakala. Mbizeni eseseduze. Umuntu omubi makashiye indlela yakhe, nomuntu olimazayo imicabango yakhe; makabuyele kuJehova, oyoba nesihe kuye, nakuNkulunkulu wethu, ngoba uyothethelela ngendlela enkulu.”—Isaya 55:6, 7.
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Onkulunkulu baseBabiloni abalivikeli ekubhujisweni
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AmaKristu namuhla kumelwe aqaphele izithombe zanamuhla
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Qunga isibindi sokwenza okulungile