UJehova Unikeza Ukuthula Okukhulu Neqiniso
“Ngibelaphe, ngibambulele ukuthula [okukhulu neqiniso, NW].”—JEREMIYA 33:6.
1, 2. (a) Ngokuqondene nokuthula, uyini umlando wezizwe? (b) Ngo-607 B.C.E., yisiphi isifundo uJehova asifundisa u-Israyeli ngokuthula?
UKUTHULA! Yeka indlela okufiseleka ngayo, kodwa yeka indlela okuye kwaba indlala ngayo emlandweni wesintu! Ikhulu lama-20, ikakhulukazi, alizange libe elinokuthula. Kunalokho, liye laba nezimpi ezimbili ezaba ezibhubhisa kakhulu emlandweni wesintu. Ngemva kwempi yezwe yokuqala, kwamiswa iNhlangano Yezizwe ukuze ilondoloze ukuthula kwezwe. Leyo nhlangano yahluleka. Ngemva kwempi yezwe yesibili, kwamiswa inhlangano yeZizwe Ezihlangene ngenjongo efanayo. Kudingeka nje sifunde amaphephandaba ansuku zonke ukuze sibone indlela nayo ehluleka ngayo.
2 Ingabe kufanele kusimangalise ukuthi izinhlangano zabantu azikwazi ukuletha ukuthula? Lutho neze. Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-2 500 edlule, abantu bakaNkulunkulu abakhethiwe, u-Israyeli, bafundiswa isifundo ngokuqondene nalokhu. Ekhulwini lesikhombisa B.C.E., ukuthula kuka-Israyeli kwakusongelwa umbuso wezwe owawudlondlobele, waseBabiloni. U-Israyeli walindela ukuthola ukuthula ngeGibithe. IGibithe lahluleka. (Jeremiya 37:5-8; Hezekeli 17:11-15) Ngo-607 B.C.E., amabutho aseBabiloni adiliza izindonga zaseJerusalema futhi ashisa ithempeli likaJehova. Ngakho u-Israyeli wafunda kabuhlungu ukuthi kuyize kangakanani ukuthembela ezinhlanganweni zabantu. Esikhundleni sokujabulela ukuthula, lesi sizwe sayiswa ngenkani ekuthunjweni eBabiloni.—2 IziKronike 36:17-21.
3. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezingokomlando ezafundisa u-Israyeli isifundo sesibili esibalulekile ngokuthula, ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi uJehova awasho ngoJeremiya?
3 Nokho, ngaphambi kokuwa kweJerusalema, uJehova wayekwembulile ukuthi nguye, hhayi iGibithe, owayeyolethela u-Israyeli ukuthula kwangempela. NgoJeremiya wathembisa: “Ngibelaphe, ngibambulele ukuthula [okukhulu neqiniso, NW]. Ngiyakukubuyisa ukuthunjwa kukaJuda nokuthunjwa kukaIsrayeli, ngibakhe njengakuqala.” (Jeremiya 33:6, 7) Lesi sithembiso sikaJehova saqala ukugcwaliseka ngo-539 B.C.E. lapho iBabiloni linqotshwa futhi abathunjwa abangama-Israyeli benikezwa inkululeko. (2 IziKronike 36:22, 23) Engxenyeni yokugcina ka-537 B.C.E., iqembu lama-Israyeli lagubha uMkhosi Wamadokodo emhlabathini wakwa-Israyeli ngokokuqala ngqá ngemva kweminyaka engu-70! Ngemva komkhosi, laqala ukwakha kabusha ithempeli likaJehova. Lazizwa kanjani ngalokhu? Umlando uthi: “Bakhamuluka ngokukhamuluka okukhulu ekumdumiseni kwabo uJehova, ngokuba isisekelo sendlu kaJehova sase sibekiwe.”—Ezra 3:11.
4. UJehova wawashukumisa kanjani ama-Israyeli ukuba enze umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli, futhi yisiphi isithembiso asenza ngokuthula?
4 Nokho, ngemva kwaleso siqalo esijabulisayo, ama-Israyeli adunyazwa abaphikisi awuyeka umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli. Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, uJehova wamisa umprofethi uHagayi noZakariya ukuze bashukumise ama-Israyeli ukuba aqede umsebenzi wokwakha. Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kwawajabulisa kanjani ukuzwa uHagayi ethi ngokuqondene nethempeli elalizokwakhiwa: “Inkazimulo yokugcina yalendlu iyakuba-nkulu kuneyokuqala, usho uJehova-Sebawoti, nginike ukuthula kulendawo”!—Hagayi 2:9.
UJehova Ugcwalisa Izithembiso Zakhe
5. Yini ephawulekayo ngesahluko sesishiyagalombili sikaZakariya?
5 Encwadini yeBhayibheli kaZakariya, sifunda ngemibono nangeziprofetho eziningi eziphefumulelwe ezaqinisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu emuva ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. Zona kanye lezi ziprofetho ziyaqhubeka zisiqinisekisa ngokusekelwa uJehova. Zisinikeza isizathu sokukholelwa ukuthi uJehova uyonika abantu bakhe ukuthula nasosukwini lwethu. Ngokwesibonelo, esahlukweni sesishiyagalombili sencwadi eqanjwe ngegama lakhe, umprofethi uZakariya izikhathi eziyishumi usho lamazwi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova uthi.’ Isikhathi ngasinye, lawo mazwi ethula isimemezelo saphezulu esiphathelene nokuthula kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ezinye zalezi zithembiso zagcwaliseka emuva osukwini lukaZakariya. Zonke ziye zagcwaliseka noma ziyagcwaliseka namuhla.
“Ngiyoba Nomhawu NgeZiyoni”
6, 7. UJehova waba ‘nomhawu ngeZiyoni nokufutheka okukhulu’ ngaziphi izindlela?
6 Lamazwi avela okokuqala kuZakariya 8:2, lapho sifunda khona ukuthi: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Ngihawukela iJerusalema [“ngiyoba nomhawu ngeZiyoni,” NW] ngokuhawukela okukhulu, yebo, ngilihawukela ngokufutheka okukhulu.” Isithembiso sikaJehova sokuba nomhawu, ukuba nentshiseko enkulu ngabantu bakhe, sasisho ukuthi wayeyoba oqaphile ekubuyiseleni ukuthula kwabo. Ukubuyiselwa kuka-Israyeli ezweni lakubo nokwakhiwa kabusha kwethempeli kwakuwubufakazi baleyo ntshiseko.
7 Nokho, kuthiwani ngalabo ababephikise abantu bakaJehova? Intshiseko yakhe ngabantu bakhe yayiyolingana ‘nokufutheka okukhulu’ phezu kwalezi zitha. Lapho amaJuda athembekile ekhulekela ethempelini elakhiwe kabusha, ayeyokwazi ukucabanga ngenhlekelele yeBabiloni elalinamandla, elase liwile. Ayengacabanga nangokuhluleka okukhulu kwezitha ezazizame ukuvimbela ukwakhiwa kabusha kwethempeli. (Ezra 4:1-6; 6:3) Futhi ayengambonga uJehova ngokuthi wayesigcwalisile isithembiso sakhe. Intshiseko yakhe yawalethela ukunqoba!
“UMuzi WeQiniso”
8. Ezinsukwini zikaZakariya, iJerusalema laliyoba kanjani umuzi weqiniso ngokungafani nasezikhathini zangaphambili?
8 Sekungokwesibili uZakariya ebhala: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi.” Athini amazwi kaJehova kulokhu? “Ngiyakubuyela eSiyoni, ngihlale phakathi kweJerusalema; iJerusalema liyakuthiwa uMuzi weQiniso nentaba kaJehova-Sebawoti iNtaba eNgcwele.” (Zakariya 8:3) Ngaphambi kuka-607 B.C.E., iJerusalema lalingewona neze umuzi weqiniso. Abapristi nabaprofethi balo babonakele, futhi abantu bakhona babengathembekile. (Jeremiya 6:13; 7:29-34; 13:23-27) Manje abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakha kabusha ithempeli, bebonisa ukuzinikela kwabo ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. UJehova wabuye wahlala eJerusalema, ngomoya. Amaqiniso okukhulekela okumsulwa abuye akhulunywa kulo, ngakho iJerusalema lalingase libizwe ngokuthi “uMuzi weQiniso.” Indawo yalo ephakeme yayingase ibizwe ngokuthi ‘intaba kaJehova.’
9. Yiluphi ushintsho oluphawulekayo esimweni olwenzeka ‘ku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ ngo-1919?
9 Nakuba lezi zimemezelo ezimbili zasho lukhulu ku-Israyeli wasendulo, zisasho lukhulu nakithi njengoba ikhulu lama-20 liya ekupheleni. Eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngu-80 edlule, phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, abagcotshiwe abayizinkulungwane ezimbalwa, ababemelela ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ ngaleso sikhathi bathunjwa ngokomoya, njengoba nje no-Israyeli wasendulo athunjelwa eBabiloni. (Galathiya 6:16) Esiprofethweni, bachazwa njengezidumbu ezidindilize emgwaqweni. Noma kunjalo, babesenesifiso esiqotho sokukhulekela uJehova “ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Johane 4:24) Ngakho, ngo-1919, uJehova wabakhulula ekuthunjweni kwabo, ebavusa esimweni sabo sokufa ngokomoya. (IsAmbulo 11:7-13) Ngaleyo ndlela uJehova wawuphendula ngoYebo ocacile umbuzo ongokwesiprofetho ka-Isaya: “Izwe lingazalwa ngosuku olulodwa na? Isizwe singabelethwa kanyekanye na?” (Isaya 66:8) Ngo-1919, abantu bakaJehova baphinde baba yisizwe esingokomoya ‘ezweni’ labo siqu, noma indawo engokomoya emhlabeni.
10. Kusukela ngo-1919, yiziphi izibusiso amaKristu agcotshiwe abelokhu ezijabulela ‘ezweni’ lawo?
10 Elondekile kulelozwe, amaKristu agcotshiwe akhonza ethempelini elikhulu likaJehova elingokomoya. Amiswa ‘njengesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,’ esamukela umthwalo wemfanelo wokunakekela impahla kaJesu yasemhlabeni, okuyilungelo asalijabulela njengoba ikhulu lama-20 lisondela esiphelweni salo. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Asifunda kahle isifundo sokuthi uJehova ‘unguye kanye uNkulunkulu wokuthula.’—1 Thesalonika 5:23.
11. Abaholi benkolo beLobukholwa baye bazibonakalisa kanjani beyizitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu?
11 Kuthiwani-ke ngezitha zika-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu? Intshiseko kaJehova ngabantu bakhe ilingana nolaka analo ngabaphikisi. Phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, abaholi benkolo beLobukholwa babangela ukucindezeleka okukhulu njengoba babezama—futhi bahluleka—ukuqothula leli qembu elincane lamaKristu akhuluma iqiniso. Phakathi nempi yezwe yesibili, abefundisi beLobukholwa babemunye entweni eyodwa kuphela: Nhlangothi zombili zempi, banxusa ohulumeni ukuba bacindezele oFakazi BakaJehova. Nanamuhla, emazweni amaningi abaholi benkolo bashoshozela ohulumeni ukuba bavimbele noma bavale umsebenzi wobuKristu wokushumayela woFakazi BakaJehova.
12, 13. Ulaka lukaJehova luboniswa kanjani kweLobukholwa?
12 UJehova uye wakubona lokhu. Ngemva kwempi yezwe yokuqala, eLobukholwa, kanye nalo lonke iBabiloni Elikhulu, labhekana nokuwa. (IsAmbulo 14:8) Ukuwa kweLobukholwa kwaziwa abaningi lapho, kusukela ngo-1922, kuthululwa uchungechunge lwezinhlupho ezingokomfanekiso, ezazidalula isimo salo sokufa ngokomoya futhi zixwayisa ngokubhujiswa kwalo okuzayo. (IsAmbulo 8:7–9:21) Njengobufakazi bokuthi ukuthululwa kwalezi zinhlupho kuyaqhubeka, inkulumo ethi “Ukuphela Kwenkolo Yamanga Kuseduze” yabekwa emhlabeni wonke ngo-April 23, 1995, yalandelwa ukusakazwa kwamakhulu ezigidi zamakhophi e-Kingdom News ekhethekile.
13 Namuhla, eLobukholwa lisesimweni esidabukisayo. Phakathi nalo lonke ikhulu lama-20, amalungu alo aye abulalana ezimpini ezinonya eziye zabusiswa abapristi nabefundisi balo. Kwamanye amazwe alisenamandla nakancane. Lahlulelwe ukubhujiswa nalo lonke iBabiloni Elikhulu.—IsAmbulo 18:21.
Ukuthula Kwabantu BakaJehova
14. Yimuphi umfanekiso wamazwi ongokwesiprofetho wabantu abanokuthula ovezwa esiprofethweni?
14 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, kulonyaka ka-1996, abantu bakaJehova bajabulela ukuthula okukhulu ezweni labo elibuyiselwe, njengoba kuchazwe esimemezelweni sikaJehova sesithathu: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Kusezakuhlala amaxhegu nezalukazi ezitaladini zaseJerusalema, yilowo nalowo abe-nodondolo esandleni sakhe ngenxa yobuningi bezinsuku zakhe. Izitaladi zasemzini ziyakugcwala abafana namantombazana bedlala ezitaladini zawo.”—Zakariya 8:4, 5.
15. Naphezu kwezimpi zezizwe, yikuphi ukuthula okuye kwajatshulelwa yizinceku zikaJehova?
15 Lomfanekiso omuhle wamazwi ubonisa okuthile okuphawulekayo kulelizwe elicekelwe phansi yimpi—abantu abanokuthula. Kusukela ngo-1919, amazwi ka-Isaya angokwesiprofetho aye agcwaliseka: “Ukuthula, ukuthula kuye okude nakuye oseduze, usho uJehova; ngiyakumphilisa. . . . Akukho ukuthula kwababi, usho uNkulunkulu wami.” (Isaya 57:19-21) Yiqiniso, abantu bakaJehova, nakuba bengeyona ingxenye yezwe, ngeke bakugweme ukuthintwa ukuyaluza kwezizwe. (Johane 17:15, 16) Kwamanye amazwe, bakhuthazelela ubunzima obukhulu, futhi abaningi baye babulawa. Nokho, amaKristu angempela anokuthula ngezindlela ezimbili eziyinhloko. Okokuqala, ‘anokuthula noNkulunkulu ngeNkosi yawo uJesu Kristu.’ (Roma 5:1) Okwesibili, anokuthula phakathi kwawo. Ahlakulela ‘ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu, okokuqala okumsulwa, bese kuba nokuthula.’ (Jakobe 3:17; Galathiya 5:22-24) Ngaphezu kwalokho, alindele ukujabulela ukuthula ngomqondo ophelele lapho ‘abathobekileyo bedla ifa lomhlaba, futhi bethokoza ngokuthula okukhulu.’—IHubo 37:11.
16, 17. (a) “Amaxhegu nezalukazi” kanye ‘nabafana namantombazane’ baye bayiqinisa kanjani inhlangano kaJehova? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthula kwabantu bakaJehova?
16 ‘Kusenamaxhegu nezalukazi’ phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova, abagcotshiwe abakhumbula ukunqoba kwasekuqaleni kwenhlangano kaJehova. Ukuthembeka nokukhuthazela kwabo kwaziswa kakhulu. Abagcotshiwe abasebasha kunabo babehola phakathi nezinsuku ezazinjengomlilo zawo-1930 nezeMpi Yezwe II, kanye neminyaka ejabulisayo yokwanda eyalandela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1935, “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ siye sazibonakalisa. (IsAmbulo 7:9; Johane 10:16) Njengoba amaKristu agcotshiwe esekhulile futhi esembalwa, ezinye izimvu ziye zamukela umsebenzi wokushumayela futhi zawenabisela emhlabeni wonke. Eminyakeni yamuva ezinye izimvu ziye zathutheleka ezweni labantu bakaNkulunkulu. Phela, ngonyaka odlule nje wodwa, ezingu-338 491 zazo ziye zabhapathizwa zibonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwazo kuJehova! Abanjalo abasanda kuhlanganyela basebasha ngempela, ngomqondo ongokomoya. Ubusha babo nentshiseko yabo iyaziswa njengoba bandisa amanani alabo abahlabelela izindumiso zokubonga “kuNkulunkulu wethu, ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, nakulo iWundlu.”—IsAmbulo 7:10.
17 Namuhla, ‘izitaladi zigcwele abafana namantombazane,’ oFakazi abanobungqabavu obunjengobasebusheni. Ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-1995, kwamukelwa imibiko ivela emazweni angu-232 neziqhingi zolwandle. Kodwa akukho mibango yamazwe, inzondo engokohlanga, umhawu ongafanele, phakathi kwabagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu. Bonke bakhula ndawonye ngokomoya, bemunye othandweni. Ubuzalwane bomhlaba wonke boFakazi BakaJehova buvelele ngempela emhlabeni wonke.—Kolose 3:14; 1 Petru 2:17.
Ingabe Kunzima Kakhulu KuJehova?
18, 19. Eminyakeni eyalandela u-1919, uJehova uye wakufeza kanjani lokho okungenzeka abantu babekubona kunzima kakhulu?
18 Emuva ngo-1918 lapho insali yabagcotshiwe yayakhiwa izinkulungwane ezimbalwa nje zemiphefumulo eyayiboshiwe ngokomoya, akekho owayengabona kusengaphambili ukuthi izinto zaziyohamba kanjani. Nokho, uJehova wayazi—njengoba kuvezwa isimemezelo sakhe sesine esingokwesiprofetho: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Uma kuyisimangaliso emehlweni ensali yalababantu ngalezozinsuku, [ingabe kufanele kubonakale kunzima, NW] emehlweni ami na? usho uJehova-Sebawoti.”—Zakariya 8:6.
19 Ngo-1919, umoya kaJehova wavuselela abantu bakhe ukuba benze umsebenzi owawusengaphambili. Noma kunjalo, kwakudinga ukholo ukunamathela enhlanganweni encane yabakhulekeli bakaJehova. Babembalwa kakhulu, futhi izinto eziningi zazingacacile. Nokho, kancane kancane uJehova wabaqinisa njengenhlangano futhi wabahlomisela ukwenza umsebenzi wobuKristu wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle nokwenza abafundi. (Isaya 60:17, 19; Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Kancane kancane, wabasiza ukuba baqonde izindaba ezibalulekile njengokungathathi-hlangothi nobukhosi bendawo yonke. Ingabe kwakunzima kakhulu kuJehova ukuba afeze intando yakhe ngalelo qembu elincane loFakazi? Impendulo ingucha omkhulu! Lokhu kuvezwe emakhasini 12 kuya ku-15 alomagazini, aneshadi lomsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wonyaka wenkonzo ka-1995.
“Mina Ngibe-nguNkulunkulu Wabo”
20. Kwaprofethwa ukuthi ukubuthwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakuyoba kukhulu kangakanani?
20 Isimemezelo sesihlanu siyaqhubeka sibonisa isimo senjabulo soFakazi BakaJehova namuhla: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Bhekani, ngiyakusindisa abantu bami ezweni lasempumalanga nasezweni lasentshonalanga, ngibahambise, bakhe phakathi kweJerusalema, babe-ngabantu bami, mina ngibe-nguNkulunkulu wabo ngeqiniso nangokulunga.”—Zakariya 8:7, 8.
21. Ukuthula okukhulu kwabantu bakaJehova kuye kwalondolozwa futhi kwandiswa kanjani?
21 Ngo-1996, singasho ngaphandle kokunqikaza ukuthi izindaba ezinhle ziye zashunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke, kusukela “ezweni lasempumalanga” kuya “ezweni lasentshonalanga.” Abantu bazo zonke izizwe baye benziwa abafundi, futhi baye babona ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaJehova: “Bonke abantwana bakho bayakuba-ngabafundi bakaJehova, nokuthula kwabantwana bakho kuyakuba-kukhulu.” (Isaya 54:13) Sinokuthula ngoba sifundiswa uJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, kuye kwanyatheliswa izincwadi ngezilimi ezingaphezu kuka-300. Ngonyaka odlule kuphela, kwanezelwa ezinye izilimi ezingu-21. Umagazini INqabayokulinda manje unyatheliswa kanyekanye ngezilimi ezingu-111, kanti i-Phaphama! ngezingu-54. Imihlangano yesizwe neyezizwe inikeza ukubonakaliswa kwasobala kokuthula kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Imihlangano yamasonto onke iyasihlanganisa futhi isinikeza isikhuthazo esisidingayo ukuze sihlale siqinile. (Heberu 10:23-25) Yebo, uJehova ufundisa abantu bakhe “ngeqiniso nangokulunga.” Unikeza abantu bakhe ukuthula. Yeka indlela esibusiswe ngayo ngokuhlanganyela kulokho kuthula okukhulu!
Ungachaza?
◻ Ezikhathini zanamuhla, uJehova uye waba kanjani ‘nomhawu nokufutheka’ ngenxa yabantu bakhe?
◻ Abantu bakaJehova bakujabulela kanjani ukuthula, ngisho nasemazweni acekelwe phansi yimpi?
◻ Kungayiphi indlela ‘izitaladi zigcwele abafana namantombazane’?
◻ Yimaphi amalungiselelo enziwe ukuze abantu bakaJehova bafundiswe nguye?
[Ishadi ekhasini 12-15]
UMBIKO WONYAKA WENKONZO KA-1995 WOFAKAZI BAKAJEHOVA EMHLABENI WONKE
(See bound volume)
[Isithombe ekhasini 8, 9]
Ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E., amaJuda athembekile ayakhe kabusha ithempeli afunda ukuthi uJehova wayewukuphela komthombo wokuthula onokwethenjelwa