“Thandani Iqiniso Nokuthula”!
“Izwi likaJehova-Sebawoti lafika kimi, lathi: . . . Thandani iqiniso nokuthula.”—ZAKARIYA 8:18, 19.
1, 2. (a) Uyini umlando wesintu ngokuqondene nokuthula? (b) Kungani lelizwe lamanje lingeke libe nokuthula kwangempela?
“IZWE alikaze libe nokuthula. Endaweni ethile—futhi ngokuvamile ezindaweni eziningi ngesikhathi esisodwa—bekulokhu kunempi.” Washo njalo uProfesa Milton Mayer wase-University of Massachusetts, e-U.S.A. Yeka inkulumo edabukisayo ngesintu! Yiqiniso, abantu baye bakufuna ukuthula. Izazi zezombangazwe ziye zazama izinhlobonhlobo zezindlela zokukulondoloza, kusukela kuyi-Pax Romana yezikhathi zamaRoma kuya enqubweni okuthiwa yi-“Mutually Assured Destruction [Ukubhubhisana Okuqinisekile]” phakathi neMpi Yomshoshaphansi. Nokho, ekugcineni yonke imizamo yazo yabhuntsha. Njengoba u-Isaya asho emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka adlule, “izithunywa zokuthula zikhala ngomunyu.” (Isaya 33:7) Kungani kunje?
2 Kungenxa yokuthi ukuthula okuhlala njalo kufanele kuvele kungekho nzondo nakuhaha; kumelwe kusekelwe eqinisweni. Ukuthula akunakusekelwa emangeni. Kungakho lapho uJehova ethembisa ukubuyiselwa nokuthula ku-Israyeli wasendulo athi: “Bheka, ngiyakwelulela kulo ukuthula njengomfula, nenkazimulo yezizwe njengomfudlana okhukhulayo.” (Isaya 66:12) Unkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto, uSathane uDeveli, ‘ungumbulali wabantu, nomqambimanga noyise wamanga.’ (Johane 8:44; 2 Korinte 4:4) Izwe elinonkulunkulu onjalo lingaba kanjani nokuthula?
3. Yisiphi isipho esiphawulekayo uJehova asinikeze abantu bakhe, naphezu kokuba bephila ezweni elinezinkinga?
3 Nokho, ngokuphawulekayo uJehova unikeza abantu bakhe ukuthula nakuba bephila ezweni likaSathane elicekelwe phansi yimpi. (Johane 17:16) Ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E., wagcwalisa isithembiso sakhe asenza ngoJeremiya ngokunikeza isizwe sakhe esikhethekile “ukuthula neqiniso” lapho esibuyisela ezweni lakubo. (Jeremiya 33:6, NW) Futhi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, uye wanikeza abantu bakhe “iqiniso nokuthula” ‘ezweni’ labo, noma endaweni engokomoya emhlabeni, nakuba beye baphila esikhathini esibi kakhulu sezinkathazo lelizwe eliye laba nazo kuze kube manje. (Isaya 66:8; Mathewu 24:7-13; IsAmbulo 6:1-8) Njengoba siqhubeka nengxoxo yethu kaZakariya isahluko 8, sizokuqonda ngokujulile lokhu kuthula neqiniso okuvela kuNkulunkulu futhi sibone ukuthi yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sihlale sinengxenye kukho.
“Maziqine Izandla Zenu”
4. UZakariya wakhuthaza u-Israyeli ukuba enzeni ukuze abe nokuthula?
4 Ngokwesithupha kuZakariya isahluko 8, sizwa isimemezelo esijabulisayo esivela kuJehova: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Maziqine izandla zenu nina enizwa kulezizinsuku lawamazwi avela emlonyeni wabaprofethi ababekhona mhla sibekwa isisekelo sendlu kaJehova-Sebawoti, ithempeli, ukuba yakhiwe. Ngokuba ngaphambi kwalezozinsuku kwakungekho-nkokhelo yomuntu nanzuzo yenkomo, nakophumayo nakongenayo kwakungekho ukuthula ngenxa yesitha, ngokuba ngakhulula bonke abantu, kwaba-yilowo nalowo wamelana nomfowabo.”—Zakariya 8:9, 10.
5, 6. (a) Ngenxa yokudumala kwama-Israyeli, sasiyini isimo kwa-Israyeli? (b) Yiluphi ushintsho uJehova aluthembisa u-Israyeli uma ebeka ukukhulekelwa kwakhe kuqala?
5 UZakariya wakhuluma lamazwi ngenkathi ithempeli lakhiwa kabusha eJerusalema. Ngaphambili, ama-Israyeli ayebuye eBabiloni ayedumele futhi awuyeka umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli. Ngenxa yokuthi anaka ukunethezeka kwawo siqu, awazange abe nesibusiso nokuthula okuvela kuJehova. Nakuba ayetshala amasimu awo enakekela nezivini zawo, awazange achume. (Hagayi 1:3-6) Kwakunjengokungathi ayesebenza “kungekho-nkokhelo.”
6 Manje njengoba ithempeli lalakhiwa kabusha, uZakariya wakhuthaza amaJuda ukuba ‘aqine,’ futhi ngesibindi, abeke ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuqala. Kwakuyokwenzekani uma benze njalo? “Kepha angisayikuba-njalo kuyo insali yalababantu njengasezinsukwini zakuqala, usho uJehova-Sebawoti. Ngokuba kuyakuba-khona imbewu yokuthula; umvini uyakuthela izithelo zawo, umhlabathi uveze ukudla kwawo, amazulu anike amazolo awo, ngenze ukuba insali yalababantu idle ifa lazo zonke lezizinto. Kuyakuthi, njengalokho wawuyisiqalekiso phakathi kwabezizwe wena-ndlu yakwaJuda nawe-ndlu yakwaIsrayeli, kanjalo nginisindise, nibe-yisibusiso; ningesabi, kepha maziqine izandla zenu.” (Zakariya 8:11-13) Uma u-Israyeli esebenza ngokuzimisela, wayeyochuma. Ngaphambili, lapho izizwe zifuna ukuveza isibonelo sesiqalekiso, zazingakhomba u-Israyeli. Manje u-Israyeli wayezoba isibonelo sesibusiso. Yeka isizathu esihle kakhulu ‘sokuqinisa izandla zawo’!
7. (a) Yiziphi izinguquko ezijabulisayo eziye zenzeka kubantu bakaJehova, ezafinyelela umvuthwandaba ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-1995? (b) Uma ubheka umbiko wonyaka, yimaphi amazwe owabona enenani eliphawulekayo labamemezeli, amaphayona, nesilinganiso samahora?
7 Kuthiwani ngolwanamuhla? Eminyakeni eyandulela u-1919, abantu bakaJehova babentula intshiseko. Abazange bakuthathe ngokugcwele ukuma kokungathathi hlangothi empini yezwe yokuqala, futhi babethambekele ekulandeleni umuntu kuneNkosi yabo, uJesu Kristu. Ngenxa yalokho, abanye badunyazwa ukuphikiswa okwakuvela ngaphakathi nangaphandle kwenhlangano. Khona-ke, ngo-1919, ngosizo lukaJehova baqinisa izandla zabo. (Zakariya 4:6) UJehova wabanika ukuthula, futhi bachuma kakhulu. Lokhu kubonakala emlandweni wabo weminyaka engu-75 edlule, ofinyelela umvuthwandaba ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-1995. Njengeqembu, oFakazi BakaJehova bayabugwema ubuzwe, ubuhlanga, ubandlululo, nazo zonke ezinye izimbangela zenzondo. (1 Johane 3:14-18) Bakhonza uJehova ngentshiseko eqotho ethempelini lakhe elingokomoya. (Heberu 13:15; IsAmbulo 7:15) Ngonyaka odlule kuphela, basebenza amahora angaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane bekhuluma nabanye ngoYise wasezulwini! Inyanga ngayinye, baye baqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-4 865 060. Abalinganiselwa ku-663 521 baye bahlanganyela enkonzweni yamaphayona inyanga ngayinye. Lapho abefundisi kweLobukholwa befuna ukunikeza isibonelo sabantu abashiseka ngempela ekukhulekeleni kwabo, ngezinye izikhathi babhekisela koFakazi BakaJehova.
8. UmKristu ngamunye angazuza kanjani ‘embewini yokuthula’?
8 Ngenxa yentshiseko yabo, uJehova unikeza abantu bakhe “imbewu yokuthula.” Umuntu ngamunye ohlakulela leyo mbewu uyobona ukuthula kwanda enhliziyweni yakhe nasekuphileni kwakhe. Wonke amaKristu akholwayo alwela ukuba nokuthula noJehova kanye namanye amaKristu, ahlanganyela eqinisweni nasekuthuleni kwabantu ababizwa ngegama likaJehova. (1 Petru 3:11; qhathanisa noJakobe 3:18.) Akukuhle yini lokho?
“Ningesabi”
9. UJehova wathembisa luphi ushintsho ekusebenzelaneni kwakhe nabantu bakhe?
9 Manje sifunda isimemezelo sesikhombisa esivela kuJehova. Sithini? “Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Njengalokho ngahlosa ukwenza okubi kini, lapho oyihlo bebengithukuthelisa, usho uJehova-Sebawoti, ngingazisolanga, kanjalo ngibuyé ngahlosa kulezizinsuku ukwenzela iJerusalema nendlu yakwaJuda okuhle; ningesabi.”—Zakariya 8:14, 15.
10. Yimuphi umlando woFakazi BakaJehova obonisa ukuthi bebelokhu bengesabi?
10 Nakuba ngomqondo ongokomoya abantu bakaJehova babehlakazekile phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, ezinhliziyweni zabo babefuna ukwenza okulungileyo. Ngakho, uJehova, ngemva kokukhipha isiyalo, washintsha indlela ayesebenzelana ngayo nabo. (Malaki 3:2-4) Namuhla, sibheka emuva futhi simbonge ngobuqotho ngalokho akwenzile. Yiqiniso, siye saba “izinto zokuzondwa yizizwe.” (Mathewu 24:9) Abaningi baye baboshwa, futhi abanye balufela nokulufela ukholo lwabo. Sivame ukubhekana nokunganakwa noma inzondo. Kodwa asesabi. Siyazi ukuthi uJehova unamandla kunanoma yibaphi abaphikisi, ababonakalayo noma abangabonakali. (Isaya 40:15; Efesu 6:10-13) Ngeke siyeke ukulalela lamazwi: “[Thembela kuJehova, NW], uqine, inhliziyo yakho ime isibindi.”—IHubo 27:14.
‘Khulumani Iqiniso Komunye Nomunye’
11, 12. Yini okufanele thina ngabanye siyikhumbule uma sifuna ukuhlanganyela ngokugcwele ezibusisweni uJehova azinikeza abantu bakhe?
11 Ukuze sihlanganyele ngokugcwele ezibusisweni ezivela kuJehova, kunezinto okufanele sizikhumbule. UZakariya uthi: “Yilezizinto eniyakuzenza: khulumani iqiniso, kube-yilowo nalowo nomfowabo, nahlulele izahlulelo zeqiniso nezokuthula emasangweni enu, ningacebi okubi ezinhliziyweni zenu, kube-yilowo nalowo ngomakhelwane wakhe, ningathandi izifungo zamanga, ngokuba lezozinto yilezo engizizondayo, usho uJehova.”—Zakariya 8:16, 17.
12 UJehova usinxusa ukuba sikhulume iqiniso. (Efesu 4:15, 25) Akayilaleli imithandazo yalabo abaceba okubi, bafihle iqiniso ukuze kubalungele, noma benze izifungo zamanga. (IzAga 28:9) Njengoba ekuzonda ukuhlubuka, ufuna sinamathele eqinisweni leBhayibheli. (IHubo 25:5; 2 Johane 9-11) Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengamadoda amadala emasangweni omuzi kwa-Israyeli, abadala abasingatha amacala kufanele basekele iseluleko nezinqumo zabo eqinisweni leBhayibheli, hhayi embonweni womuntu siqu. (Johane 17:17) UJehova ufuna bafune ‘isahlulelo sokuthula,’ njengabelusi abangamaKristu, bazame ukubuyisela ukuthula phakathi kwabantu abalwayo futhi basize izoni eziphendukayo ukuba zithole ukuthula noNkulunkulu. (Jakobe 5:14, 15; Jude 23) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, balondoloza ukuthula kwebandla, ngesibindi bexosha labo abaphazamisa lokho kuthula ngokuqhubeka benza okubi ngamabomu.—1 Korinte 6:9, 10.
“Ukujabula Nokuthokoza”
13. (a) Yiluphi ushintsho ngokuqondene nokuzila uZakariya aprofetha ngalo? (b) Yikuphi ukuzila okwakwenziwa kwa-Israyeli?
13 Manje, sizwa isimemezelo sesishiyagalombili esibalulekile: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Ukuzila kwenyanga yesine, nokuzila kweyesihlanu, nokuzila kweyesikhombisa, nokuzila kweyeshumi kuyakuba-ngukujabula nokuthokoza nemikhosi emihle kuyo indlu yakwaJuda; thandani iqiniso nokuthula.” (Zakariya 8:19) Ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose, ama-Israyeli ayezila ngoSuku Lokubuyisana ukuze abonise ukudabuka ngezono zawo. (Levitikusi 16:29-31) Ukuzila okune uZakariya akhuluma ngakho ngokusobala kwakugcinwa ukuze kulilelwe izenzakalo ezihilela ukunqotshwa nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema. (2 AmaKhosi 25:1-4, 8, 9, 22-26) Nokho, manje ithempeli lalakhiwa kabusha futhi sekuhlala abantu futhi eJerusalema. Ukulila kwakushintshwa kuba ukuthokoza, futhi ukuzila kwakungaba imikhosi.
14, 15. (a) Umkhosi weSikhumbuzo waba kanjani isizathu sokuthokoza, futhi lokhu kufanele kusikhumbuzeni? (b) Njengoba kuboniswa umbiko wonyaka, yimaphi amazwe aba namanani avelele ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni?
14 Namuhla, asikwenzi ukuzila uZakariya akhuluma ngakho noma ukuzila okwakufunwa uMthetho. Kusukela uJesu anikela ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yezono zethu, sijabulela izibusiso zoSuku Lokubuyisana olukhulu nakakhulu. Izono zethu ziyasitshekelwa, hhayi ngendlela yokugcina icala, kodwa ngokuphelele. (Heberu 9:6-14) Ngokulalela umyalo womPristi Ophakeme wasezulwini, uJesu Kristu, sigcina iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe njengesiwukuphela komkhosi ongcwele ogcinwa amaKristu. (Luka 22:19, 20) Ingabe ‘asijabuli yini futhi sithokoze’ njengoba sihlangana unyaka ngamunye ukuze siwugubhe?
15 Ngonyaka odlule, bangu-13 147 201 abahlangana ukuze bagubhe iSikhumbuzo, abangaphezulu ngo-858 284 kwabaka-1994. Uquqaba olungaka! Cabanga ngokuthokoza emabandleni angu-78 620 oFakazi BakaJehova njengoba amanani amakhulu ngokungavamile etheleka emaHholo abo OMbuso eze kulomkhosi. Ngokuqinisekile, bonke ababekhona bashukunyiselwa ukuba ‘bathande iqiniso nokuthula’ njengoba bekhumbula ukufa koMuntu ‘oyindlela neqiniso nokuphila’ futhi manje obusa ‘njengeNkosi enkulu yokuthula’ kaJehova! (Johane 14:6; Isaya 9:6) Lowo mkhosi washo lukhulu ikakhulu kulabo abaye basigubha emazweni akhungethwe izinxushunxushu nempi. Abanye babafowethu babona izinto ezethusa ngokungachazeki phakathi no-1995. Noma kunjalo, ‘ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula konke ukucabanga kuye kwaqapha izinhliziyo zabo namandla abo engqondo ngoKristu Jesu.’—Filipi 4:7.
‘Masinxuse Ebusweni BukaJehova’
16, 17. Abantu bezizwe ‘banganxusa kanjani ebusweni bukaJehova’?
16 Nokho, zazivelaphi zonke lezo zigidi ezaziseSikhumbuzweni? Isimemezelo sikaJehova sesishiyagalolunye siyachaza: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi: Kusezakufika izizwe nabakhé emizini eminingi, bahambe abakhileyo komunye, baye komunye, bathi: Masiye impela ukunxusa ebusweni bukaJehova, simfune uJehova-Sebawoti; nami ngiyakuhamba. Kuyakufika abantu abaningi nezizwe ezinamandla ukufuna uJehova-Sebawoti eJerusalema nokunxusa ebusweni bukaJehova.”—Zakariya 8:20-22.
17 Abantu ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni babefuna ‘ukufuna uJehova-Sebawoti.’ Abaningi balaba kwakuyizinceku zakhe ezizinikezele, futhi zabhapathizwa. Izigidi zabanye ezazikhona azikafinyeleli kulelo zinga. Kwamanye amazwe inani lababekhona eSikhumbuzweni laliliphinde kane noma kahlanu elabamemezeli boMbuso. Labantu abaningi abathakazelayo badinga usizo ukuze baqhubeke benza intuthuko. Masibafundise ukuba bathokoze ngokwazi ukuthi uJesu wafela izono zethu nokuthi manje ubusa eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 5:7, 8; IsAmbulo 11:15) Futhi masibakhuthaze ukuba bazinikezele kuJehova uNkulunkulu futhi bazithobe eNkosini yakhe emisiwe. Ngalendlela ‘bayonxusa ebusweni bukaJehova.’—IHubo 116:18, 19; Filipi 2:12, 13.
“Amadoda Ayishumi Azo Zonke Izilimi Zabezizwe”
18, 19. (a) Ekugcwalisekeni kukaZakariya 8:23, ubani namuhla ‘ongumJuda’? (b) Obani namuhla ‘abangamadoda ayishumi abambe umphetho womJuda’?
18 Okokugcina esahlukweni sesishiyagalombili sikaZakariya, siyafunda: “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti, uthi.” Sithini isimemezelo sikaJehova sokugcina? “Ngalezozinsuku amadoda ayishumi azo zonke izilimi zabezizwe ayakubamba umphetho womuntu wakwaJuda ngokuthi: Siyakuhamba nani, ngokuba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.” (Zakariya 8:23) Osukwini lukaZakariya, u-Israyeli wemvelo wayeyisizwe sikaNkulunkulu esikhethiwe. Nokho, ekhulwini lokuqala u-Israyeli waphika uMesiya kaJehova. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wethu wakhetha ‘umJuda’—u-Israyeli omusha—njengabantu bakhe abakhethekile, ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ owakhiwa amaJuda angokomoya. (Galathiya 6:16; Johane 1:11; Roma 2:28, 29) Inani lokugcina lalaba laliyoba ngu-144 000, abakhethwe esintwini ukuba babuse noJesu eMbusweni wakhe wasezulwini.—IsAmbulo 14:1, 4.
19 Abaningi balaba abangu-144 000 kakade sebeye bafa bethembekile futhi baya emvuzweni wabo wasezulwini. (1 Korinte 15:51, 52; IsAmbulo 6:9-11) Abambalwa basesemhlabeni futhi kuyabajabulisa ukubona ukuthi “amadoda ayishumi” aye akhetha ukuhamba ‘nomJuda’ ngempela ‘ayisixuku esikhulu esiphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi.’—IsAmbulo 7:9; Isaya 2:2, 3; 60:4-10, 22.
20, 21. Njengoba ukuphela kwalelizwe kusondela, singahlala kanjani sinokuthula noJehova?
20 Njengoba ukuphela kwalelizwe kuya kusondela, eLobukholwa linjengeJerusalema osukwini lukaJeremiya: “[Bekunethemba lokuthula, NW], kepha okuhle akukho; nesikhathi sokuphulukiswa, kepha luvalo.” (Jeremiya 14:19) Lolo valo luyoba lukhulu lapho izizwe ziphendukela inkolo yamanga futhi ziyiqeda kabuhlungu. Ngemva nje kwalokho, nazo izizwe ziyobhujiswa empini kaNkulunkulu yokugcina, i-Armagedoni. (Mathewu 24:29, 30; IsAmbulo 16:14, 16; 17:16-18; 19:11-21) Yeka isikhathi sesiyaluyalu leso okuyoba yiso!
21 Phakathi nakho konke lokho, uJehova uyovikela labo abathanda iqiniso futhi abahlakulela “imbewu yokuthula.” (Zakariya 8:12; Zefaniya 2:3) Khona-ke, masihlale ezweni labantu bakhe ukuze siphephe, simdumise ngentshiseko obala futhi sisize abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka ukuba ‘banxuse ebusweni bukaJehova.’ Uma senze njalo, siyojabulela ukuthula kukaJehova njalo. Yebo, “uJehova uzakunika abantu bakhe amandla; uJehova uzakubusisa abantu bakhe ngokuthula.”—IHubo 29:11.
Ungachaza?
◻ Abantu bakaNkulunkulu ‘baziqinisa kanjani izandla zabo’ osukwini lukaZakariya? Namuhla?
◻ Sisabela kanjani ekushushisweni, enzondweni, nasesimweni sokunganakwa?
◻ Yini ehilelekile ‘ekukhulumeni kwethu iqiniso komunye nomunye’?
◻ Umuntu ‘anganxusa kanjani ebusweni bukaJehova’?
◻ Yisiphi isizathu esikhulu sokuthokoza esibonakala ekugcwalisekeni kukaZakariya 8:23?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Ngonyaka odlule, oFakazi BakaJehova basebenza amahora angu-1 150 353 444 bekhuluma nabantu ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu