Funa UJehova, UMhloli Wezinhliziyo
“Ngifuneni, niqhubeke niphila.”—AMOSE 5:4.
1, 2. Isho ukuthini imiBhalo lapho ithi uJehova “ubona lokho inhliziyo eyikho”?
UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU watshela umprofethi uSamuweli: “Umuntu nje ubona okubonakala emehlweni; kodwa uJehova yena, ubona lokho inhliziyo eyikho.” (1 Samuweli 16:7) UJehova ‘ukubona kanjani lokho inhliziyo eyikho’?
2 EmiBhalweni, inhliziyo ngokuvamile ifanekisela lokho umuntu ayikho ngaphakathi—izifiso zakhe, imicabango yakhe, imizwelo yakhe, nezinto azithandayo. Ngakho lapho iBhayibheli lithi uNkulunkulu ubona inhliziyo, lisho ukuthi ubheka ngale kwalokho umuntu ayikho ngaphandle, agxile kulokho ayikho ngaphakathi.
UNkulunkulu Uhlola U-Israyeli
3, 4. Ngokuka-Amose 6:4-6, sasinjani isimo embusweni wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi?
3 Lapho uMhloli wezinhliziyo ebuka umbuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi ngezinsuku zika-Amose, wayebonani? U-Amose 6:4-6 ukhuluma ngamadoda ‘ayelala emibhedeni yezinyo lendlovu anabalale ezinkukhweni zawo. Ayedla izinqama emhlambini namaduna phakathi kwamathole akhuluphalisiwe.’ Amadoda anjalo ‘ayeziklamele izinsimbi zokucula’ futhi ‘ephuza ezitsheni zewayini.’
4 Uma unganakile, ungase ucabange ukuthi isimo esihle lesi. Zinéthezekile emizini yazo kanokusho, izicebi zazikhomba ngophakathi futhi zidlalelwa umculo ngezinsimbi eziphambili. ‘Zazinanemibhede yezinyo lendlovu.’ Abavubukuli bathole inqwaba yamazinyo endlovu agwedwe ngobuciko eSamariya, inhloko-dolobha yombuso wakwa-Israyeli. (1 AmaKhosi 10:22) Kungenzeka ukuthi amaningi awo kwakuhlotshiswe ngawo ifenisha namapulangwe asezindongeni.
5. Kungani uNkulunkulu ayengajabule ngama-Israyeli osuku luka-Amose?
5 Ingabe uJehova uNkulunkulu wayengafuni ukuba ama-Israyeli anethezeke, adle izibiliboco, aphuze iwayini elimtoti futhi alalele unqambothi lomculo? Cha akunjalo. Ingani nguye onika abantu izinto ezinjalo ngokucebile ukuze bazijabulele. (1 Thimothewu 6:17) UJehova wayekhathazwa izifiso ezingalungile abantu ababenazo, isimo esibi senhliziyo yabo, indlela ababembheka ngokwedelela ngayo uNkulunkulu nokungawathandi kwabo ama-Israyeli akubo.
6. Lalinjani ingokomoya lika-Israyeli ngesikhathi sika-Amose?
6 Labo ‘ababenabalele ezinkukhweni zabo, bedla izinqama emhlambini, bephuza iwayini, futhi beklama izinsimbi zokucula’ babezothola isimanga. Babuzwa: “Ingabe niyalukhipha engqondweni yenu usuku oluyinhlekelele?” Kwakufanele ngabe bakhathazeke kakhulu ngesimo sakwa-Israyeli, kodwa ‘babengazange benziwe bagule ngenxa yesigemegeme sikaJosefa.’ (Amose 6:3-6) Naphezu kokuchuma kwesizwe kwezomnotho, uNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi ingokomoya likaJosefa—noma u-Israyeli—lalifile. Kodwa kwakungathí diki kubantu. Banjalo nabaningi namuhla. Bangase bavume ukuthi siphila ezikhathini ezinzima, kodwa uma nje bengakathinteki bona, abanandaba nokuhlupheka kwabanye futhi abazishayi mkhuba izinto ezingokomoya.
U-Israyeli—Isizwe Esonakele
7. Kwakuyokwenzekani uma abantu bakwa-Israyeli bengazilaleli izixwayiso zikaNkulunkulu?
7 Incwadi ka-Amose ichaza isizwe esonakele, nakuba sibonakala sichuma. Ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabantu izixwayiso zikaNkulunkulu bese belungisa umbono wabo, uJehova wayengeke abavikele ezitheni zabo. Ama-Asiriya ayeyofika abagxavune emibhedeni yabo kanokusho yezinyo lendlovu, abahudule ayobathumba. Kwakuyophela nyá ukunethezeka!
8. U-Israyeli wayengene kanjani esimweni esibi ngokomoya?
8 Ama-Israyeli ayengene kanjani kulesi simo? Indaba yayiqale ngo-997 B.C.E., lapho iNkosi uSolomoni ilandelwa indodana yayo esikhundleni uRehobowamu futhi izizwe eziyishumi zakwa-Israyeli zihlukana nesizwe sakwaJuda nesakwaBhenjamini. Inkosi yokuqala yombuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi kwakunguJerobowamu I, “indodana kaNebhati.” (1 AmaKhosi 11:26) UJerobowamu wenza abantu bombuso wakhe bakholwa ukuthi kuzobakhathaza ukuya eJerusalema bayokhulekela uJehova. Kodwa wayengakhathaleli ngempela inhlalakahle yabantu. Kunalokho, wayefuna ukufeza ezakhe izinhloso. (1 AmaKhosi 12:26) UJerobowamu wayesaba ukuthi uma ama-Israyeli eqhubeka eya ethempelini eJerusalema emikhosini yaminyaka yonke yokudumisa uJehova, ayezogcina esekhonza embusweni wakwaJuda. Efuna ukuvimbela lokhu, uJerobowamu wabeka amathole amabili egolide, elinye walibeka kwaDani elinye eBhethele. Kwenzeka kanjalo ukuba ukukhulekela ithole kube inkolo yoMbuso kwa-Israyeli.—2 IziKronike 11:13-15.
9, 10. (a) Imiphi imikhosi yenkolo eyahlelwa iNkosi uJerobowamu I? (b) UNkulunkulu wayeyibheka kanjani imikhosi eyayenziwa kwa-Israyeli ezinsukwini zeNkosi uJerobowamu II?
9 UJerobowamu wazama ukwenza le nkolo entsha ibe nesithunzi. Wahlela imikhosi eyayithi ayifane neyayenziwa eJerusalema. Kweyoku-1 AmaKhosi 12:32, siyafunda: “UJerobowamu wenza umkhosi ngenyanga yesishiyagalombili ngosuku lweshumi nanhlanu lwenyanga, njengomkhosi owawukwaJuda, ukuze enze iminikelo phezu kwe-altare ayelenzile eBhethele.”
10 UJehova wayengayamukeli leyo mikhosi yenkolo yamanga. Esebenzisa u-Amose, wakwenza kwacaca lokho eminyakeni engaphezu kweyikhulu kamuva lapho kubusa uJerobowamu II, owaba inkosi yombuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi ngawo-844 B.C.E. (Amose 1:1) Ngokuka-Amose 5:21-24, uNkulunkulu wathi: “Ngiye ngayizonda, ngiye ngayala imikhosi yenu, futhi ngeke ngilijabulele iphunga lemibuthano yenu enesizotha. Kodwa uma ninikela kimi iminikelo yokushiswa ephelele, neminikelo yenu yesipho ngeke ngiyijabulele, nemihlatshelo yenu yenhlanganyelo yokukhuluphalisiwe ngeke ngiyibheke. Susani kimi inhlokomo yezingoma zenu; futhi kwangathi ngingewuzwe umnkenenezo omnandi wezinsimbi zenu zomculo ezinezintambo. Mabugeleze ubulungisa njengamanzi amaningi, nokulunga njengesifufula esigeleza njalo.”
Ukufana Kwanamuhla
11, 12. Ikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kokukhulekela kuka-Israyeli wasendulo nokweLobukholwa?
11 Kusobala ukuthi uJehova wazihlola izinhliziyo zababenza imikhosi kwa-Israyeli, futhi wayilahla imikhosi neminikelo yabo. Nanamuhla uNkulunkulu uyayilahla imikhosi yobuqaba yeLobukholwa, njengoKhisimusi nama-Easter. Kubakhulekeli bakaJehova, abukho ubudlelwane phakathi kokulunga nokungalungi, phakathi kokukhanya nobumnyama.—2 Korinte 6:14-16.
12 Kukhona nokunye ukufana phakathi kokukhulekela kwama-Israyeli ayekhulekela ithole nokweLobukholwa. Nakuba abanye abazibiza ngamaKristu belamukela iqiniso leZwi likaNkulunkulu, eLobukholwa ngokwalo alimkhulekeli uNkulunkulu ngoba limthanda ngobuqotho. Ukube bekunjalo, beliyolwela ukukhulekela uJehova “ngomoya nangeqiniso” ngoba yilolo hlobo lokukhulekela olumjabulisayo. (Johane 4:24) Ngaphezu kwalokho, eLobukholwa alibenzi ‘ubulungisa bugeleze njengamanzi amaningi nokulunga njengesifufula esigeleza njalo.’ Kunalokho, lilokhu lithambisa izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu zokuziphatha. Livumela ubufebe nezinye izono ezisobala, lize libusise ngisho nemishado yongqingili!
‘Thanda Okuhle’
13. Kungani kudingeka sizivumelanise namazwi ka-Amose 5:15?
13 Kubo bonke abafisa ukumkhulekela ngendlela eyamukelekayo, uJehova uthi: “Zondani okubi, nithande okuhle.” (Amose 5:15) Uthando nenzondo yimizwelo enamandla esuka enhliziyweni engokomfanekiso. Njengoba inhliziyo ikhohlisa, kumelwe senze konke okusemandleni ethu ukuba siyilonde. (IzAga 4:23; Jeremiya 17:9) Uma siyiyeka inhliziyo ifukamele izifiso ezimbi, singase sizithole sesithanda okubi, sizonda okuhle. Futhi uma sizanelisa lezo zifiso ngokwenza isono, noma singashiseka kanjani ngeke siwuthole umusa kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke masithandazele usizo lukaNkulunkulu ukuze ‘sizonde okubi, sithande okuhle.’
14, 15. (a) Kwa-Israyeli, kwakungobani abanye balabo ababenza okuhle, kodwa abanye babo babephathwa kanjani? (b) Singabakhuthaza kanjani labo abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele namuhla?
14 Akuwona wonke ama-Israyeli ayenza okubi phambi kukaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, uHoseya no-Amose ‘babekuthanda okuhle’ futhi bakhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka njengabaprofethi. Abanye bathatha izifungo zokuba amaNaziri. Ngenkathi besengamaNaziri, babengakuthinti okwenziwe ngomvini, ikakhulukazi iwayini. (Numeri 6:1-4) Amanye ama-Israyeli ayekubheka kanjani ukuzidela kwalabo benzi bokuhle? Impendulo eshaqisayo yalowo mbuzo yembula izinga lesi sizwe esase sonakele ngalo ngokomoya. U-Amose 2:12 uthi: “Naqhubeka ninika amaNaziri iwayini ukuba aphuze, futhi nabekela abaprofethi umyalo, nithi: ‘Akumelwe niprofethe.’”
15 Lapho ebona isibonelo sokwethembeka samaNaziri nabaprofethi, lawo ma-Israyeli kwakufanele abe namahloni, athinteke, ashintshe izindlela zawo. Kunalokho, ngendlela engenaluthando azama ukudikibalisa abaqotho bangabe besamkhazimulisa uNkulunkulu. Masingalokothi sikhuthaze amaKristu angamaphayona, izithunywa zevangeli, ababonisi abajikelezayo, noma amalungu omkhaya waseBethel ukuba ayiyeke inkonzo yawo yesikhathi esigcwele ukuze aphile lokho okuthiwa ukuphila okuvamile. Kunalokho, masiwakhuthaze ukuba aqhubeke nomsebenzi wawo omuhle!
16. Kungani ama-Israyeli ayesesimweni esingcono ngesikhathi sikaMose kunangesika-Amose?
16 Nakuba ama-Israyeli amaningi ayebusa ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo ngesikhathi sika-Amose, ‘ayengacebile kuNkulunkulu.’ (Luka 12:13-21) Okhokho bawo babedle imana kuphela ehlane iminyaka engu-40. Babengadlanga zinkunzi ezikhuluphalisiweyo noma banabalale emibhedeni yezinyo lendlovu. Kodwa uMose wayeqinisile lapho ebatshela: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ukubusisile kuzo zonke izenzo zesandla sakho. . . . Kule minyaka engamashumi amane uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ubelokhu enani. Anizange nintule lutho.” (Duteronomi 2:7) Yebo, ehlane ama-Israyeli ayenazo izinto ayezidinga ngempela. Okuhle kunakho konke ukuthi ayethola uthando, isivikelo, nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu!
17. Kungani uJehova angenisa ama-Israyeli akudala eZweni Lesithembiso?
17 UJehova wakhumbuza ama-Israyeli esikhathi sika-Amose ukuthi wayengenise okhokho bawo eZweni Lesithembiso futhi wabasiza basusa zonke izitha zabo khona. (Amose 2:9, 10) Kodwa uNkulunkulu wayewakhipheleni lawo ma-Israyeli akudala eGibhithe wawayisa eZweni Lesithembiso? Ingabe wayenzela ukuba atamase, alahle noMdali wawo. Cha! Kunalokho, injongo kwakuwukuba akwazi ukumkhulekela engabantu abakhululekile nabahlanzekile ngokomoya. Kodwa izakhamuzi zombuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi zazingakuzondi okubi futhi zingakuthandi okuhle. Kunalokho, zazikhazimulisa izithombe eziqoshiwe, hhayi uJehova uNkulunkulu. Yeka isenzo esidumazayo!
UJehova Wenza Isizwe Silandise
18. Kungani uJehova esikhululile ngokomoya?
18 UNkulunkulu wayengeke akushalazele ukuziphatha okuyihlazo kwama-Israyeli. Wawenza wacaca umbono wakhe lapho ethi: “Ngiyokwenza ukuba nilandise ngazo zonke iziphambeko zenu.” (Amose 3:2) Lawo mazwi kufanele asenze sicabange ngokwethu ukukhululwa ekugqilazweni yiGibhithe lanamuhla, lesi simiso sezinto esibi. UJehova akasikhululelanga ukuba siphishekele imigomo yobugovu. Kunalokho, usikhululele ukuba simdumise ngokusuka enhliziyweni singabantu abakhululekile, abasekukhulekeleni okuhlanzekile. Futhi sonke siyolandisa ngendlela esiyisebenzisa ngayo inkululeko yethu esiyinikwe uNkulunkulu.—Roma 14:12.
19. Ngokuka-Amose 4:4, 5, iningi lama-Israyeli lase liqale ukuthandani?
19 Kuyadabukisa ukuthi iningi lezakhamuzi zakwa-Israyeli aliwunakanga umyalezo onamandla ka-Amose. Lo mprofethi wadalula isimo senhliziyo yawo sokugula ngokomoya ngala mazwi aku-Amose 4:4, 5: “Wozani eBhethele, nina bantu, neqe umthetho. Yeqani umthetho kaningi eGiligali, . . . ngoba yileyo ndlela enithande ngayo bantwana bakwa-Israyeli.” Ama-Israyeli ayengazange azihlakulele izifiso ezifanele. Ayengazange azilonde izinhliziyo zawo. Ngenxa yalokho, iningi lawo lase liqale ukuthanda okubi nokuzonda okuhle. Labo bakhulekeli bethole abanenkani abashintshanga. UJehova wayezobenza balandise, futhi babezofela ezonweni zabo!
20. Umuntu angayiphishekela kanjani inkambo evumelana no-Amose 5:4?
20 Kumelwe ukuba kwakungelula kunoma ubani owayehlala kwa-Israyeli ngaleso sikhathi ukuhlala ethembekile kuJehova. Akulula ukwehluka, njengoba amaKristu asemasha nasekhulile namuhla azi kahle. Kodwa uthando ngoNkulunkulu nesifiso sokumjabulisa kwenza ama-Israyeli athile anamathela ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. UJehova wawanikeza isimemo esimnandi esiku-Amose 5:4: “Ngifuneni, niqhubeke niphila.” Namuhla, uNkulunkulu ubabonisa isihe ngendlela efanayo labo abaphendukayo bamfune ngokungenisa ulwazi olunembile lweZwi lakhe bese benza intando yakhe. Akulula ukuphishekela le nkambo, kodwa ukwenza kanjalo kuholela ekuphileni okuphakade.—Johane 17:3.
Ukuchuma Naphezu Kwendlala Engokomoya
21. Iyiphi indlala ekhungethe labo abangekho ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso?
21 Babelindelwe yini labo ababengakusekeli ukukhulekela kweqiniso? Yindlala embi kakhulu—indlala engokomoya! INkosi EnguMbusi uJehova yathi: “Kuza izinsuku lapho ngiyothumela indlala ezweni, indlala okungeyona eyesinkwa, nokoma okungekona okokomela amanzi, kodwa okokuzwa amazwi kaJehova.” (Amose 8:11) ELobukholwa libhuqabhuqwa yileyo ndlala engokomoya. Kodwa abanezinhliziyo ezilungile kulo bayakubona ukuchuma okungokomoya kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, futhi bathuthelekela enhlanganweni kaJehova. Amazwi kaJehova awuveza kahle umahluko phakathi kwesimo seLobukholwa nesamaKristu eqiniso: “Bhekani! Izinceku zami ziyokudla, kodwa nina niyolamba. Bhekani! Izinceku zami ziyophuza, kodwa nina niyokoma. Bhekani! Izinceku zami ziyojabula, kodwa nina niyoba namahloni.”—Isaya 65:13.
22. Kungani sinesizathu sokujabula?
22 Njengezinceku zikaJehova, siyawazisa yini ngokomuntu siqu amalungiselelo nezibusiso ezingokomoya esinazo? Lapho sitadisha iBhayibheli nezincwadi zobuKristu futhi siya emihlanganweni yebandla, yesifunda, neyesigodi, ngempela kuye kuthi asikhamuluke ngenjabulo ngenxa yesimo esihle senhliziyo. Siyajabula ngokuliqonda kahle-hle iZwi likaNkulunkulu, kuhlanganise nesiprofetho sika-Amose esiphefumulelwe uNkulunkulu.
23. Yini abayijabulelayo labo abakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu?
23 Kubo bonke abantu abathanda uNkulunkulu futhi abafuna ukumkhazimulisa, isiprofetho sika-Amose sinomyalezo wethemba. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinjani isimo sethu somnotho okwamanje, noma ukuthi ikuphi ukulingwa okumelwe sibhekane nakho kuleli zwe elinezinkathazo, thina esithanda uNkulunkulu sinezibusiso ezivela kuye nekhethelo lokudla okungokomoya. (IzAga 10:22; Mathewu 24:45-47) Ngakho, yonke inkazimulo iya kuNkulunkulu, osinika zonke izinto ngokucebile ukuze sizijabulele. Kwangathi-ke sonke singazimisela ukumdumisa ngokusuka ezinhliziyweni kuze kube phakade. Siyolithola lelo lungelo elijabulisayo uma simfuna uJehova, uMhloli wezinhliziyo.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Zazinjani izimo kwa-Israyeli ngesikhathi sika-Amose?
• Izimo zasembusweni wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi zifana naziphi namuhla?
• Iyiphi indlala eyabikezelwa ekhona manje, kodwa obani engabathinti?
[Izithombe ekhasini 21]
Ama-Israyeli amaningi ayetamasa kodwa engachumile ngokomoya
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Khuthaza izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ukuba ziqhubeke nomsebenzi wazo omuhle
[Izithombe ekhasini 24, 25]
Akukho ndlala engokomoya phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova abajabulayo