Yibani Munye Ngolimi Oluhlanzekile
“Lapho ngiyakunika abantu [“ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile,” “NW”], ukuze bonke babize igama likaJehova, bamkhonze nganhliziyonye.”—ZEFANIYA 3:9.
1. Ingabe abantu bake bamuzwa uJehova uNkulunkulu ekhuluma?
ULIMI lukaJehova uNkulunkulu luhlanzekile. Kodwa ingabe abantu bake bamuzwa ekhuluma? Phela yebo! Lokho kwenzeka lapho iNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, isemhlabeni emakhulwini angu-19 eminyaka adlule. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa, uNkulunkulu wazwakala ethi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo.” (Mathewu 3:13-17) Lawo kwakungamazwi eqiniso elihlanzekile, azwiwa uJesu noJohane uMbhapathizi ngolimi lwabantu.
2. Yini eboniswa ukubhekisela komphostoli uPawulu ‘ezilimini . . . zezingelosi’?
2 Eminyakeni ethile kamuva umphostoli uPawulu ongumKristu wakhuluma “ngezilimi zabantu nezezingelosi.” (1 Korinte 13:1) Lokhu kubonisani? Phela, kubonisa ukuthi akubona abantu kuphela kodwa ngisho nabantu bomoya banalo ulimi nenkulumo! Yebo, uNkulunkulu nezingelosi abasebenzisi amazwi nolimi oluzwakalayo noluqondakalayo kithi lapho bekhuluma omunye nomunye. Ngani? Ngenxa yokuthi kudingeka umoya onjengalowo ozungeze umhlaba ukuze uthwale amaza omsindo wezwi angazwiwa futhi aqondwe ngabantu.
3. Ulimi lwabantu lwasunguleka kanjani?
3 Ulimi lwabantu lwasunguleka kanjani? Abanye bathi okhokho bethu bashikashikeka bezama ukukhulumisana ngokuphendukela ekubhodleni nasekugwavumeni. Incwadi ethi Evolution (UMtapo Wezincwadi Zokuphila Kwemvelo) ithi: “Umuntu-nkawu cishe weminyaka eyisigidi edlule . . . ngokunokwenzeka wayechwephesha emisindweni ethile yokukhuluma.” Kodwa umhlaziyi wamagama odumile uLudwig Koehler wathi: “Inkulumo yabantu iyimfihlakalo; iyisipho saphezulu, isimangaliso.” Yebo, inkulumo yabantu iyisipho saphezulu, ngoba uNkulunkulu wanika umuntu wokuqala, uAdamu, ulimi. Ngokusobala kwakuyilolo ekugcineni olwabizwa ngokuthi isiHeberu. Lololimi lwalukhulunywa inzalo yamaIsrayeli ‘ka-Abrama umHeberu,’ inzalamizi ethembekile ekhokho wayo uShemi wayeyindodana yomakhi womkhumbi uNowa. (Genesise 11:10-26; 14:13; 17:3-6) Uma kubhekwa isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu esingokwesiprofetho kuShemi, kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi ulimi lwakhe aluzange luthintwe ngokuthile uJehova uNkulunkulu akwenza ngokuyisimangaliso emakhulwini angu-43 eminyaka adlule.—Genesise 9:26.
4. Wayengubani uNimrode, futhi wasetshenziswa kanjani uSathane uDeveli?
4 Ngalesosikhathi “umhlaba wonke wawunolimi lunye nokukhuluma kunye.” (Genesise 11:1) Ngalesosikhathi kwakunendoda okuthiwa uNimrode, “iphisi elinamandla ebusweni bukaJehova.” (Genesise 10:8, 9) Isitha esikhulu esingabonakali sesintu, uSathane, sasebenzisa uNimrode ngokukhethekile ukuba amise ingxenye yasemhlabeni yenhlangano kaDeveli. UNimrode wayefuna ukuzenzela igama, futhi lesosimo sengqondo sokuqhosha sangena nakubalandeli bakhe, abaqalisa umsebenzi okhethekile wokwakha ezweni laseShineyari. NgokukaGenesise isahluko 11, ivesi 4, bathi: “Wozani, asakhe umuzi nombhoshongo osiqongo sawo sisezulwini, sizenzele igama, funa sihlakazeke ebusweni bomhlaba wonke.” Lowomsebenzi omelene nomyalo kaNkulunkulu ‘wokugcwalisa umhlaba’ waphela lapho uJehova esanganisa ulimi lwalezozihlubuki. “Kanjalo,” kusho ukulandisa kweBhayibheli, “uJehova wabahlakazela emhlabeni wonke, bephuma lapho; bayeka ukwakha umuzi.” (Genesise 9:1; 11:2-9) Lowomuzi wabizwa ngokuthi iBabele, noma iBabiloni (okusho, “Ukusangana”), “ngoba lapho uJehova wasanganisa inkulumo yomhlaba wonke.”—Byington.
5. (a) Yini eyanqandeka lapho uNkulunkulu esanganisa ulimi lwesintu? (b) Yini esingaphetha ngayo ngokuphathelene nolimi lukaNowa noShemi?
5 Lesosimangaliso—ukusanganiswa kolimi lwesintu olulodwa—saholela ekugcwaliseni umhlaba njengoba uNkulunkulu ayeyale uNowa, futhi savimbela noma yiliphi icebo uSathane okungenzeka wayenalo lokumisa ukukhulekelwa kwakhe okuhlangene nokungcolile okwakuyokwenziwa abantu ababehlubuke eNkosini enguMbusi wezulu nomhlaba. Yiqiniso, ngokuqhuba inkolo yamanga nganoma yiluphi uhlobo, abantu baba yizisulu zikaDeveli, futhi babekhonza amademoni lapho benza onkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi, bebanikeza amagama ngezilimi zabo ezihlukahlukene, futhi bebakhulekela. (1 Korinte 10:20) Kodwa isinyathelo esathathwa owukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso eBabele savimbela ukwakheka kwenkolo eyodwa yamanga ehlangene enikeza uDeveli ukukhulekela lokho ngokusobala ayekunxanela. Yebo, uNowa olungileyo nendodana yakhe uShemi babengazange basanganiswe kuleyonhlekelele yasezweni laseShineyari. Ngakho kungaphethwa ngokunengqondo ngokuthi ulimi lwabo lwahlala luyilolo olwalukhulunywa uAbrama (noma uAbrahama) othembekile—ulimi uNkulunkulu akhuluma ngalo kumuntu onguAdamu ensimini yase-Edene.
6. Ngosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E., uJehova wakubonisa kanjani ukuthi angadlulisela ikhono lokukhuluma ngezilimi?
6 UJehova, owasanganisa ulimi lwesintu lokuqala, anganikeza futhi ikhono lokukhuluma ngezilimi. Phela, wenza lokho kanye ngosuku lwePentekoste ngonyaka ka-33 weSikhathi sethu Esivamile! NgokwezEnzo 2:1-11, ngalesosikhathi abalandeli bakaJesu abangaba ngu-120 babehlangene ekamelweni eliphezulu eJerusalema. (IzEnzo 1:13, 15) Ngokungazelelwe, kwaba nenhlokomo evela ezulwini “kwangathi eyokuvunguza komoya onamandla.” “Kwabonakala izilimi ezahlukeneyo kungathi ezomlilo” futhi zasakazeka phakathi kwabo. Ngaso lesosikhathi abafundi “base begcwala bonke uMoya oNgcwele, baqala ukukhuluma ngezinye izilimi, njengalokho uMoya wabapha ukuphumisela.” Ngalezozilimi ezanikezwa ngokwaphezulu, bakhuluma “ngemisebenzi emikhulu kaNkulunkulu.” Futhi yeka ukuthi kwaba isimangaliso esingakanani njengoba amaJuda namaproselithe ezilimi ezihlukahlukene, avela ezindaweni eziqhele kakhulu njengaseMesopotamiya, eGibithe, eLibiya, naseRoma, eqonda isigijimi esinikeza ukuphila!
Ulimi UNkulunkulu Alunikezayo Namuhla!
7. Yimaphi amathemba ayeyoba khona ukuba kwakunolimi olulodwa kuphela olwalukhulunywa futhi luqondakala emhlabeni wonke?
7 Njengoba uNkulunkulu ekwazi ukudlulisela izilimi ezihlukahlukene ngokuyisimangaliso, bekungeke yini kube okuhle kakhulu uma ubengenza kube nokwenzeka ukuba kukhulunywe futhi kuqondakale ulimi olulodwa kuphela emhlabeni wonke? Lokho bekungathuthukisa ukuqondana okwengeziwe phakathi komkhaya wesintu. Njengoba iWorld Book Encyclopedia ikubeka: “Ukuba bonke abantu babekhuluma ulimi olufanayo, izibopho ezingokwempucuko nezingokomnotho beziyoba ngezisondelene kakhudlwana, futhi ukuthula bekuyokwanda phakathi kwamazwe.” Nokho, cishe kuye kwasungulwa izilimi okungenani ezingu-600 emhlabeni wonke phakathi neminyaka edlule. Phakathi kwalezi, ulimi lwesiEsperanto luye lwaba olunamandla kunazo zonke ngoba luye lwafundwa abantu abacishe babe ngu-10 000 000 kusukela ekusungulweni kwalo ngonyaka ka-1887. Nakuba kunjalo, imizamo yabantu yokuhlanganisa isintu ngokusebenzisa ulimi olukhulunywa endaweni yonke ayikaze iphumelele. Eqinisweni, izinkinga eziningi ngokwengeziwe zibangela ukwahlukana kulelizwe njengoba ‘abantu ababi beqhubekela phambili ebubini.’—2 Thimothewu 3:13.
8. Ngisho noma bekungase kusetshenziswe ulimi lwendawo yonke ezweni lanamuhla, yini ebiyolokhu ikhona, futhi ngani?
8 Ngokwenkolo, kunokusangana okukhulu. Kodwa akufanele yini sikulindele lokhu, njengoba incwadi yeBhayibheli yesAmbulo ibiza umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga ngokuthi “iBabiloni elikhulu”? (IsAmbulo 18:2) Yebo, ngoba elithi “Babiloni” lisho “Ukusangana.” Ngisho noma ulimi olusungulwe abantu noma ulimi lwemvelo njengesiNgisi, isiFulentshi, isiJalimane, noma isiRashiya belungamukelwa njengolimi lwendawo yonke ezweni lanamuhla, ukwehlukana bekuyolokhu kukhona ngokwenkolo nangezinye izindlela. Ngani? Ngoba “izwe lonke lisemandleni omubi,” uSathane uDeveli. (1 Johane 5:19, NW) Uyibo kanye ubugovu, futhi uhahela ngobugovu ukukhulekelwa yiso sonke isintu, njengoba enza ezinsukwini zikaNimrode noMbhoshongo waseBabele. Phela, ulimi lwendawo yonke olukhulunywa abantu abanesono lungase lunikeze ngisho noSathane ithuba lokumisa ukukhulekelwa kukaDeveli okuhlangene! Kodwa uJehova akasoze akuvumela lokho; empeleni, ngokushesha uzoqeda yonke inkolo yamanga, ephefumlelwe uDeveli.
9. Abantu bazo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga benziwa kanjani babe munye manje?
9 Nokho, iqiniso elimangalisayo liwukuthi abantu abalungileyo bazo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga bayahlanganiswa ngisho namanje. Lokhu kwenzeka ngokokuhlela kukaNkulunkulu, nangenxa yokukhulekelwa kwakhe. Namuhla, uNkulunkulu ukwenza kube nokwenzeka ngabantu ukuba bafunde futhi bakhulume okuwukuphela kolimi oluhlanzekileyo emhlabeni. Futhi luwulimi olukhulunywa endaweni yonke ngempela. Ngempela, uJehova uNkulunkulu ufundisa abantu abaningi bazo zonke izizwe zomhlaba lolulimi oluhlanzekile namuhla. Lokhu kuwukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu esingokwesiprofetho ngomprofethi wakhe nofakazi uZefaniya: “Ngokuba ngalesosikhathi ngiyakunikeza abantu ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile [ngokwezwi nezwi, “udebe oluhlanzekile”], ukuze bakwazi ukubiza egameni likaJehova, ukuze bamkhonze nganhliziyonye.” (Zefaniya 3:9, NW) Luyini lolulimi oluhlanzekile?
Ukuchazwa Kolimi Oluhlanzekile
10. Luyini ulimi oluhlanzekile?
10 Ulimi oluhlanzekile luyiqiniso likaNkulunkulu elitholakala eZwini lakhe siqu, imiBhalo Engcwele. Ikakhulukazi luyiqiniso eliphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu, oyoletha ukuthula nezinye izibusiso esintwini. Lolulimi oluhlanzekile luqeda amaphutha angokwenkolo nokukhulekela kwamanga. Luhlanganisa bonke abalukhulumayo ekukhulekeleni okuhlanzekile, okucocekile, nokuhle kukaNkulunkulu ophilayo noweqiniso, uJehova. Namuhla, izilimi ezingaba ngu-3 000 zinjengomgoqo ekuqondeni, futhi amakhulu ezinkolo zamanga asanganisa isintu. Ngakho yeka ukuthi sijabula kanjani ngokuthi uNkulunkulu unikeza abantu ukushintshela kulolulimi oluhlanzekile, olumangalisayo!
11. Ulimi oluhlanzekile luye lwabenzelani abantu bazo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga?
11 Yebo, lolulimi oluhlanzekile lwaziwa abantu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga. Njengoba luwukuphela kolimi oluhlanzekile lweqiniso emhlabeni, lusebenza njengamandla amakhulu ahlanganisayo. Lwenza bonke labo abalukhulumayo ukuba “babize egameni likaJehova, ukuze bamkhonze nganhliziyonye,” noma ngokwezwi nezwi, “ngahlombe linye.” Ngaleyondlela bakhonza uNkulunkulu “ngokuvumelana kunye,” “ngokuvumelana ngazwi linye nangehlombe elilodwa elinobunye.” (The New English Bible; The Amplified Bible) Inguqulo kaSteven T. Byington ifundeka kanje: “Khona-ke [kusho uJehova uNkulunkulu] ngiyoguqula izindebe zabo bonke abantu zibe ezicocekile, ukuze bonke babize egameni likaJehova futhi babambisane enkonzweni yakhe.” Ukubambisana okunjalo enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu kwabakhuluma izilimi ezihlukahlukene emhlabeni wonke, kutholakala phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova kuphela. Emazweni angu-212 namuhla, abangaphezu kwezigidi ezine balabamemezeli boMbuso bashumayela izindaba ezinhle ngezilimi eziningi zabantu. Nokho, oFakazi ‘bakhuluma-zwilinye futhi baphelelisiwe emqondweni munye nasekuboneni kunye.’ (1 Korinte 1:10) Lokhu kunjalo ngoba, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bakuphi emhlabeni, bonke oFakazi BakaJehova bakhuluma ulimi olulodwa oluhlanzekile, kube udumo nenkazimulo kuYise osezulwini.
Funda Ulimi Oluhlanzekile Manje!
12, 13. (a) Kungani kufanele ukukhathalele ukukhuluma ulimi oluhlanzekile? (b) Kungani amazwi akuZefaniya 3:8, 9 ebaluleke kangaka namuhla?
12 Kungani kufanele ukhathazeke ngokukhuluma ulimi oluhlanzekile? Phakathi kokunye, kungenxa yokuthi ukuphila kwakho kuxhomeke ekulufundeni nasekulukhulumeni. Ngaphambi nje kokuba uNkulunkulu athembise ‘ukunikeza abantu ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile,’ waxwayisa: “Ngilindeleni, usho uJehova, kuze kube-lusuku engivuka ngalo ukuba ngiphange, ngokuba kuyisinqumo sami ukubutha izizwe ukuba ngiqoqe imibuso, ukuze ngithulule phezu kwabo intukuthelo yami, lonke ulaka lwami oluvuthayo, ngokuba wonke umhlaba uyakudliwa ngumlilo womhawu wami.”—Zefaniya 3:8.
13 Lawomazwi eNkosi enguMbusi uJehova akhulunywa okokuqala emakhulwini angu-26 eminyaka adlule kwaJuda, inhloko-dolobha yakhona okwakuyiJerusalema. Kodwa leyonkulumo ngokukhethekile yayibhekisele osukwini lwethu ngenxa yokuthi iJerusalema laliwumfuziselo weLobukholwa. Futhi isikhathi sethu, kusukela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wamiswa ngo-1914, siwusuku lukaJehova lokubutha izizwe nokuhlanganisa imibuso. Uye waziletha ndawonye zonke ngaphansi kokunakekela kwakhe ngomsebenzi omkhulu wokufakaza. Nazo, lokhu kuye kwazishukumisela ekumelaneni nenjongo yakhe. Nokho, uJehova uNkulunkulu ngomusa wenza ukuba abantu abavela kuzo zonke lezizwe babe munye ekukhulumeni lolulimi oluhlanzekile. Ngalo, bonke abafuna ukuphila ezweni lakhe elisha elithenjisiwe bangase bamkhonze ngobunye ngaphambi kokuba zonke izizwe zibhujiswe ekubonakalisweni kolaka lwaphezulu okunjengomlilo “ekulweni kosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke,” ngokuvamile okubizwa ngokuthi iArmagedoni. (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16; 2 Petru 3:13) Ngokujabulisayo, labo abakhuluma lolulimi oluhlanzekile futhi ababiza egameni likaJehova ngokholo njengabakhulekeli beqiniso abamunye bayojabulela isivikelo saphezulu phakathi nokudlondlobala kwaleyonhlekelele yezwe. UNkulunkulu uyobangenisa ezweni elisha bephephile, lapho ekugcineni kuyoba ulimi oluhlanzekile kuphela olusezindebeni zaso sonke isintu.
14. NgoZefaniya, uNkulunkulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi ukusinda esiphelweni salesimiso sezinto kudinga ukuthatha isinyathelo esisheshayo?
14 Ngomprofethi wakhe uZefaniya, uJehova ukwenza kucace ukuthi labo abanethemba lokusinda ekupheleni kwalesimiso sezinto esibi samanje kumelwe bathathe isinyathelo esisheshayo. NgokukaZefaniya 2:1-3, uNkulunkulu uthi: “Buthanani, yebo, buthana, sizwe esingenamahloni, isimiso singakazali—lolusuku [‘lungakadluli,’ NW] njengamakhoba—lungakanehleli ulaka oluvuthayo lukaJehova, lungakafiki phezu kwenu usuku lolaka lukaJehova. Funani uJehova nina nonke-bathobekileyo bomhlaba enisebenzile ukwahlulela kwakhe; funani ukulunga; funani ukuthobeka; mhlawumbe niyakusitshekelwa ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova.”
15. (a) Kwakuyini ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kukaZefaniya 2:1-3? (b) Ubani owasinda ekukhipheni kukaNkulunkulu isahlulelo phezu kukaJuda, futhi yini eyofana nalokhu kusinda osukwini lwethu?
15 Lawomazwi agcwaliseka okokuqala kuJuda wasendulo neJerusalema. Abantu bakwaJuda abonayo abazange basabele kahle ekunxuseni kukaNkulunkulu, njengoba kwaboniswa ukukhipha kwakhe isahlulelo phezu kwabo ezandleni zabaseBabiloni ngonyaka ka-607 B.C.E. Njengoba uJuda ‘ayeyisizwe esingenamahloni’ phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kanjalo eLobukholwa liye laba “isizwe” esingenamahloni phambi kukaJehova. Nokho, ngenxa yokulalela izwi likaNkulunkulu, abaseJudiya abathile nabanye basinda, phakathi kwabo kwakunomprofethi othembekile kaJehova uJeremiya. Abanye abasinda kwakungumTopiya ogama lakhe linguEbedi-Meleki nenzalo kaJonadaba. (Jeremiya 35:18, 19; 39:11, 12, 16-18) Ngokufanayo namuhla, “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ zikaJesu esiqoqwa siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe siyosinda eArmagedoni singene ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 7:9; Johane 10:14-16) Kuphela yilabo abafunda futhi bakhulume ulimi oluhlanzekile abayoba abasindile abajabulayo.
16. Yini okumelwe umuntu ayenze ukuze asitshekelwe “ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova”?
16 Njengoba kwakuyisimiso sikaJehova ukuba uJuda neJerusalema kuqothulwe, kanjalo eLobukholwa kumelwe libhujiswe. Empeleni, ukubhujiswa kwayo yonke inkolo yamanga kuseduze, futhi labo abafisa ukusinda kumelwe bathathe isinyathelo ngokushesha. Kumelwe benze kanjalo “lolosuku [“lungakadluli,” NW] njengamakhoba,” apheshulwa umoya ngokushesha, njengalapho izinhlamvu ezibhuliwe zeliwa esibuyeni sokubhula. Ukuze sikhululwe olakeni lukaNkulunkulu, kumelwe sikhulume lolulimi oluhlanzekile futhi sisabele esixwayisweni saKhe lungakafiki phezu kwethu ulaka lukaJehova oluvuthayo. Osukwini lukaZefaniya nanamuhla, abathobekileyo bafuna uJehova uNkulunkulu, kanye nokulunga nokuthobeka. Ukufuna kwethu uJehova kusho ukumthanda ngayo yonke inhliziyo yethu, umphefumulo, ingqondo, namandla. (Marku 12:29, 30) “Mhlawumbe [labo abenze njalo ba]yakusitshekelwa ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova.” Kodwa kungani lesiprofetho sithi “mhlawumbe”? Kungenxa yokuthi insindiso ixhomeke ekuthembekeni nasekukhuthazeleni. (Mathewu 24:13) Labo abazivumelanisa nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga futhi abaqhubeka bekhuluma ulimi oluhlanzekile bayositshekelwa ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova.
17. Imiphi imibuzo okusamelwe siyicabangele?
17 Njengoba usuku lolaka lukaJehova luseduze futhi insindiso ixhomeke ekufundeni nasekusebenziseni lolulimi oluhlanzekile, manje yisikhathi sokuhileleka ngokujulile ekulutadisheni nasekulukhulumeni. Kodwa umuntu angalufunda kanjani lolulimi oluhlanzekile? Futhi ungazuza kanjani ngokulukhuluma?
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Ulimi lwesintu lwasunguleka kanjani?
◻ Luyini ulimi oluhlanzekile?
◻ Kungani amazwi akuZefaniya 3:8, 9 ebaluleke kangaka namuhla?
◻ Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sisitshekelwe “ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova”?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
EBabele, uNkulunkulu wahlakaza isintu ngokusanganisa ulimi lwaso