Ukukhonza Njengezithunywa Zokuthula KukaNkulunkulu
“Zimnandi kangakanani ezintabeni izinyawo . . . zomemezela ukuthula.”—ISAYA 52:7.
1, 2. (a) Njengoba kubikezelwe ku-Isaya 52:7, yiziphi izindaba ezinhle okumelwe zimenyezelwe? (b) Amazwi ka-Isaya angokwesiprofetho ayesho ukuthini ku-Israyeli wasendulo?
KUNEZINDABA ezinhle okumelwe zimenyezelwe! Izindaba zokuthula—ukuthula kwangempela. Ziyisigijimi sensindiso esiphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Esikhathini eside esidlule umprofethi u-Isaya wabhala ngaso, futhi amazwi akhe siye sagcinelwa wona ku-Isaya 52:7, lapho sifunda khona ukuthi: “Zimnandi kangakanani ezintabeni izinyawo zoletha izindaba ezinhle, nomemezela ukuthula, obika izindaba ezinhle, ezwakalise ukusindiswa, oshoyo kulo iSiyoni ukuthi: UNkulunkulu wakho uyinkosi.”
2 UJehova waphefumulela umprofethi wakhe u-Isaya ukuba abhale leso sigijimi ukuze kuzuze u-Israyeli wasendulo kanye nathi namuhla. Sisho ukuthini? Ngesikhathi u-Isaya ebhala lawo mazwi, kungenzeka umbuso ka-Israyeli wasenyakatho kakade wawusuthunjwe abase-Asiriya. Kamuva, abakhe embusweni wakwaJuda oseningizimu, bathunjelwa eBabiloni. Lezo kwakuyizinsuku zosizi nesiyaluyalu esizweni ngoba abantu babengazange bamlalele uJehova, ngakho babengenakho ukuthula noNkulunkulu. Njengoba uJehova abatshela, ukuziphatha kwabo kokona kwakubangela ukuhlukana phakathi kwabo noNkulunkulu wabo. (Isaya 42:24; 59:2-4) Nokho, ngo-Isaya, uJehova wabikezela ukuthi ngesikhathi esifanele amasango aseBabiloni ayezovuleka gengelezi. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu babezokhululeka ukuba babuyele ezweni labo, ukuze bakhe kabusha ithempeli likaJehova lapho. ISiyoni lalizobuyiselwa, futhi ukukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso kwakuzophinde kuqhutshwe eJerusalema.—Isaya 44:28; 52:1, 2.
3. Isithembiso sokubuyiselwa kuka-Israyeli sasibuye sibe isiprofetho sokuthula ngayiphi indlela?
3 Lesi sithembiso sokukhululwa sasiyisiprofetho sokuthula futhi. Ukubuyiselwa ezweni uJehova ayelinikeze ama-Israyeli kwakuzoba ubufakazi besihe sikaNkulunkulu nokuphenduka kwawo. Kwakuzobonisa ukuthi anokuthula noNkulunkulu.—Isaya 14:1; 48:17, 18.
“UNkulunkulu Wakho UyiNkosi”
4. (a) Ngo-537 B.C.E. kwakungashiwo ngamuphi umqondo ukuthi ‘uJehova wayebe inkosi’? (b) UJehova waziqondisa kanjani izindaba ukuze kuzuze abantu bakhe eminyakeni eyayizolandela?
4 Lapho uJehova enza lokhu kukhulula ngo-537 B.C.E., kwakungafaneleka ukukhipha lesi simemezelo eSiyoni: “UNkulunkulu wakho uyinkosi.” Yiqiniso, uJehova ‘uyiNkosi yaphakade.’ (IsAmbulo 15:3) Kodwa lokhu kukhululwa kwabantu bakhe kwakuwukubonakaliswa okusha kobukhosi bakhe. Kwabonisa ngendlela ephawulekayo ukuphakama kwamandla akhe ngaphezu kombuso wabantu owawunamandla kunayo yonke kuze kube yileso sikhathi. (Jeremiya 51:56, 57) Ngenxa yokusebenza komoya kaJehova, uzungu olwalwakhelwe abantu bakhe lwabhuntsha. (Esteri 9:24, 25) Ngokuphindaphindiwe, uJehova wangenela ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene ukuze abangele ukuba amakhosi amaMede namaPheresiya abambisane nokufezwa kwentando yobukhosi bakhe. (Zakariya 4:6) Izenzakalo ezimangalisayo ezenzeka ngalezo zinsuku silotshelwe zona encwadini yeBhayibheli ka-Ezra, uNehemiya, u-Esteri, uHagayi, noZakariya. Futhi yeka ukuthi kuqinisa ukholo kangakanani ukuzibukeza!
5. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezibalulekile okubhekiselwa kuzo ku-Isaya 52:13–53:12?
5 Nokho, okwenzeka ngo-537 B.C.E. nangemva kwalokho kwakumane kuyisiqalo. Ngemva nje kwesiprofetho sokubuyiselwa esahlukweni 52, u-Isaya wabhala ngokuza kukaMesiya. (Isaya 52:13–53:12) NgoMesiya, owabonakala enguJesu Kristu, uJehova wayezonikeza isigijimi sokukhululwa nesokuthula esibaluleke ngisho nakakhulu kunalokho okwenzeka ngo-537 B.C.E.
Isithunywa SikaJehova Sokuthula Esikhulu Kunazo Zonke
6. Ubani oyisithunywa sikaJehova sokuthula esikhulu kunazo zonke, futhi yikuphi ukuthunywa akubhekisela kuye?
6 UJesu Kristu uyisithunywa sikaJehova sokuthula esikhulu kunazo zonke. UnguLizwi kaNkulunkulu, uMkhulumeli kaJehova siqu. (Johane 1:14) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, ngemva kwesikhathi esithile ebhapathizwe eMfuleni iJordani, uJesu wasukuma esinagogeni eNazaretha wabe esefunda ngokuzwakalayo umyalo awunikezwa ku-Isaya isahluko 61. Lowo myalo wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi lokho ayethunywe ukuba azoshumayela ngakho kwakuhilela “ukukhululwa” nokuphulukiswa, kanye nethuba lokuthola ukwamukeleka kuJehova. Nokho, uJesu wenza okungaphezu kokumemezela isigijimi sokuthula. UNkulunkulu wayemthume nokuba abeke isisekelo sokuthula okuhlala njalo.—Luka 4:16-21.
7. Yini ewumphumela wokuba nokuthula noNkulunkulu eba khona ngoJesu Kristu?
7 Lapho uJesu ezalwa, izingelosi zazibonakale kubelusi ngaseBetlehema, zidumisa uNkulunkulu zithi: “Inkazimulo kuNkulunkulu ezindaweni eziphakeme eziphezulu, naphezu komhlaba ukuthula phakathi kwabantu abathakazelelwayo.” (Luka 2:8, 13, 14) Yebo, kwakuyoba nokuthula kulabo uNkulunkulu abonise isithakazelo kubo ngoba bebonise ukholo elungiselelweni ayelenza ngeNdodana yakhe. Kwakuyosho ukuthini lokho? Kwakuyosho ukuthi nakuba abantu bezalelwa esonweni, babengaba nokuma okuhlanzekile noNkulunkulu, ubuhlobo obamukelekayo naye. (Roma 5:1) Babengajabulela ukuzola kwangaphakathi, ukuthula, okungenakutholakala ngenye indlela. Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esimisiwe, kwakuyoba khona ukukhululwa kuyo yonke imiphumela yesono esizuzwe njengefa ku-Adamu, kuhlanganise nokukhululwa ekuguleni nasekufeni. Abantu babengeke besaba yizimpumputhe noma izithulu noma izinyonga. Ubuthakathaka obukhungathekisayo nezinkinga zengqondo ezizwisa ubuhlungu kwakuyosuswa unomphela. Kwakuyokwenzeka ukuba sijabulele ukuphila siphelele phakade.—Isaya 33:24; Mathewu 9:35; Johane 3:16.
8. Kungatholwa obani ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu?
8 Kungatholwa obani ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu? Kungatholwa yibo bonke ababonisa ukholo kuJesu Kristu. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala ukuthi ‘uNkulunkulu wabona kukuhle ukuba abuyisele kuye zonke ezinye izinto ngoKristu ngegazi uJesu alithulula esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa.’ Lomphostoli wanezela ukuthi lokhu kubuyisana kwakuyohilela “izinto ezisemazulwini”—okungukuthi, labo ababeyoba izindlalifa ezikanye noKristu ezulwini. Futhi kwakuyohilela “izinto ezisemhlabeni”—okungukuthi, labo ababeyoboniswa umusa ngokunikezwa ithuba lokuphila phakade kulomhlaba lapho ulethwa esimweni sePharadesi ngokugcwele. (Kolose 1:19, 20) Ngenxa yokuzenza batholakalele inani lomhlatshelo kaJesu nangenxa yokulalela kwabo uNkulunkulu ngokusuka enhliziyweni, bonke laba babengajabulela ubungane obufudumele noNkulunkulu.—Qhathanisa noJakobe 2:22, 23.
9. (a) Ukuthula noNkulunkulu kuthonya buphi obunye ubuhlobo? (b) Ngombono wokuletha ukuthula okuhlala njalo kuyo yonke indawo, yiliphi igunya uJehova alinikeza iNdodana yakhe?
9 Yeka ukuthi ukuthula okunjalo noNkulunkulu kubaluleke kanjani! Uma kungekho ukuthula noNkulunkulu, ngeke kube khona ukuthula okuhlala njalo noma okunengqondo kunoma yibuphi obunye ubuhlobo. Ukuthula noJehova kuyisisekelo sokuthula kweqiniso emhlabeni. (Isaya 57:19-21) Ngokufanelekile, uJesu Kristu uyiNkosi Yokuthula. (Isaya 9:6) Lona abantu abangabuyisana ngaye noNkulunkulu, uJehova uye wamnikeza negunya lokubusa. (Daniyeli 7:13, 14) Futhi ngokuqondene nemiphumela yokubusa kukaJesu phezu kwesintu, uJehova uyathembisa: “Ukuthula kungabi-nakuphela.”—Isaya 9:7; IHubo 72:7.
10. UJesu wasibeka kanjani isibonelo ekumemezeleni isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu sokuthula?
10 Isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu sokuthula sidingwa yiso sonke isintu. UJesu ngokwakhe wabeka isibonelo sentshiseko ekusishumayeleni. Wenza kanjalo ethempelini eJerusalema, entabeni, endleleni, kowesifazane ongumSamariya emthonjeni, nasemakhaya abantu. Nomaphi lapho kwakunabantu khona, uJesu wenza amathuba okushumayela ngokuthula nangoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 4:18, 19; 5:1, 2; 9:9; 26:55; Marku 6:34; Luka 19:1-10; Johane 4:5-26.
Ukuqeqeshelwa Ukuhamba Ezinyathelweni ZikaKristu
11. UJesu wabaqeqeshela muphi umsebenzi abafundi bakhe?
11 UJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuba bashumayele isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu sokuthula. Njengoba nje uJesu ‘ayengufakazi kaJehova okholekileyo noqinisileyo,’ baqaphela ukuthi nabo babenomthwalo wemfanelo wokufakaza. (IsAmbulo 3:14; Isaya 43:10-12) Babheka kuKristu njengoMholi wabo.
12. UPawulu wakubonisa kanjani ukubaluleka komsebenzi wokushumayela?
12 Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ngokubaluleka komsebenzi wokushumayela, ethi: “UmBhalo uthi: ‘Akekho obeka ukholo lwakhe kuye oyodumazeka.’” Okusho ukuthi akekho obonisa ukholo kuJesu Kristu njengeNxusa Eliyinhloko likaJehova lensindiso oyodumazeka. Futhi akekho ongafaneleki ngenxa yesizinda sohlanga lwakhe, ngoba uPawulu wanezela: “Awukho umahluko phakathi komJuda nomGreki, ngoba kukhona iNkosi efanayo phezu kwabo bonke, ecebile kubo bonke abayibizayo. Ngoba ‘wonke umuntu obiza igama likaJehova uyosindiswa.’” (Roma 10:11-13) Kodwa abantu babezofunda kanjani ngalelo thuba?
13. Yini eyayidingeka ukuze abantu bezwe izindaba ezinhle, futhi amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala asabela kanjani kuleso sidingo?
13 UPawulu wakhuluma ngaleso sidingo ngokubuza imibuzo inceku kaJehova ngayinye okufanele icabange ngayo. Umphostoli wabuza: “Bayombiza kanjani lowo abangabekanga ukholo kuye? Bayolubeka kanjani ukholo kulowo abangezwanga ngaye? Bayozwa kanjani kungekho oshumayelayo? Bayoshumayela kanjani ngaphandle kokuba bethunyiwe?” (Roma 10:14, 15) Umlando wamaKristu okuqala unikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ikhanda bokuthi abesilisa nabesifazane, abancane nabadala, basabela esibonelweni esabekwa uKristu nabaphostoli bakhe. Baba abamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle abashisekayo. Belingisa uJesu, bashumayela kubantu nomaphi lapho babengabathola khona. Befisa ukuba bangashiyi noyedwa, bafeza inkonzo yabo kokubili ezindaweni zomphakathi nasendlini ngendlu.—IzEnzo 17:17; 20:20.
14. Kwabonakala kanjani kuyiqiniso ukuthi “izinyawo” zalabo abamemezela izindaba ezinhle “zibukeka kahle”?
14 Yiqiniso, akuwona wonke umuntu owamukela abashumayeli abangamaKristu ngomusa. Noma kunjalo, ingcaphuno kaPawulu ku-Isaya 52:7 yaba yiqiniso. Ngemva kokubuza umbuzo othi, ‘Bayoshumayela kanjani ngaphandle kokuba bethunyiwe?’ wanezela: “Njengoba nje kulotshiwe: ‘Yeka ukuthi zibukeka kahle kanjani izinyawo zalabo abamemezela izindaba ezinhle zezinto ezinhle!’” Iningi lethu alicabangi ukuthi izinyawo zethu zibukeka kahle, noma zinhle. Ngakho, lokhu kusho ukuthini? Yizinyawo ngokuvamile umuntu ahamba ngazo lapho eyoshumayela kwabanye. Lezo zinyawo empeleni zimelela umuntu. Futhi singaqiniseka ukuthi kwabaningi abezwa izindaba ezinhle kubaphostoli nakwabanye abafundi bakaJesu Kristu bekhulu lokuqala, kwakukuhle ngempela ukubona lamaKristu okuqala. (IzEnzo 16:13-15) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ayeyigugu emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.
15, 16. (a) AmaKristu okuqala abonisa kanjani ukuthi ayeyizithunywa zokuthula ngempela? (b) Yini engasisiza ukuba sifeze inkonzo yethu ngendlela amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala enza ngayo?
15 Abalandeli bakaJesu babenesigijimi sokuthula, futhi basidlulisela ngendlela enokuthula. UJesu wanika abafundi bakhe lezi ziyalezo: “Nomaphi lapho ningena khona endlini nithi kuqala, ‘Kwangathi lendlu ingaba nokuthula.’ Futhi uma umngane wokuthula ekhona, ukuthula kwenu kuyohlala kuye. Kodwa uma engekho, kuyobuyela kini.” (Luka 10:5, 6) Ukuthi sha·lohmʹ, noma “ukuthula,” kuyindlela yesiko yokubingelela kwamaJuda. Nokho, iziyalezo zikaJesu zazihilela okungaphezu kwalokhu. ‘Njengamanxusa abambele uKristu,’ abafundi bakhe babenxusa abantu: “Buyisanani noNkulunkulu.” (2 Korinte 5:20) Ngokuvumelana neziyalezo zikaJesu, babekhuluma nabantu ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nalokho owawungase ukusho kubo ngabanye. Labo abalalela bathola isibusiso; labo abenqaba isigijimi balahlekelwa.
16 Namuhla oFakazi BakaJehova bafeza inkonzo yabo ngendlela efanayo. Izindaba ezinhle abaziyisa kubantu akuzona ezabo; ngezaLowo obathumile. Bathunywe ukuba bazidlulise. Uma abantu bezamukela, bazibeka ethubeni lokuthola izibusiso ezimangalisayo. Uma bezenqaba, benqaba ukuthula noJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu.—Luka 10:16.
Ukuba Nokuthula Ezweni Eliyaluzayo
17. Ngisho nalapho sibhekana nabantu abanenhlamba, kufanele siziphathe kanjani, futhi ngani?
17 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu basabela kanjani, kubalulekile ukuba izinceku zikaJehova zikhumbule ukuthi ziyizithunywa zokuthula kukaNkulunkulu. Abantu bezwe bangase baphendulane ngolaka futhi baveze intukuthelo ngokusho amazwi ahlabayo noma ngokuchapha ngenhlamba labo ababacasulayo. Mhlawumbe abanye bethu babekwenza lokho esikhathini esidlule. Nokho, uma siye sagqoka ubuntu obusha futhi manje singaseyona ingxenye yezwe, ngeke sizilingise izindlela zabo. (Efesu 4:23, 24, 31; Jakobe 1:19, 20) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abanye benzani, siyosebenzisa lesi seluleko: “Uma kungenzeka, ngokusemandleni enu, yibani nokuthula nabantu bonke.”—Roma 12:18.
18. Kufanele sisabele kanjani uma isikhulu somphakathi sinokhahlo kithi, futhi ngani?
18 Ngezinye izikhathi inkonzo yethu ingabangela ukuba silethwe phambi kwezikhulu zomphakathi. Zibonisa igunya lazo, zingase ‘zifune ngenkani’ ukuba sizichazele isizathu sokuba senze izinto ezithile noma isizathu sokuba sigweme ukuhileleka emsebenzini othile. Zingase zifune ukwazi isizathu sokuba sishumayele isigijimi esisishumayelayo—isigijimi esidalula inkolo yamanga nesikhuluma ngokuphela kwesimiso sezinto samanje. Inhlonipho yethu ngesibonelo esabekwa uKristu iyosishukumisela ukuba sibonise umoya omnene nenhlonipho ejulile. (1 Petru 2:23; 3:15) Ngokuvamile, izikhulu ezinjalo zicindezelwa abefundisi noma mhlawumbe yilabo abaziphethe. Impendulo ethambile ingase izisize ukuba zibone ukuthi umsebenzi wethu awulona usongo kuzo noma ekuthuleni komphakathi. Impendulo enjalo ikhuthaza umoya wenhlonipho, ukubambisana, nokuthula kulabo abayamukelayo.—Thithu 3:1, 2.
19. Yimiphi imisebenzi oFakazi BakaJehova abangalokothi bahileleke kuyo?
19 OFakazi BakaJehova baziwa emhlabeni wonke njengabantu abangahlanganyeli ezingxabanweni zezwe. Abahileleki ezingxabanweni zezwe eziphathelene nohlanga, inkolo, noma ezombangazwe. (Johane 17:14) Ngenxa yokuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu lisiqondisa ukuba ‘sizithobe emagunyeni aphakeme,’ ngeke sikucabange nokukucabanga ukuhlanganyela eziyaluyalwini zomphakathi ukuze siphikise imithetho kahulumeni. (Roma 13:1) OFakazi BakaJehova abakaze bazihlanganise nanoma iyiphi inhlangano ehloselwe ukuketula uhulumeni. Ngenxa yezindinganiso uJehova azibekele izinceku zakhe ezingamaKristu, abacabangi nokucabanga ngokuhlanganyela kunoma okunjani ukuchitha igazi noma ubudlova! AmaKristu awakhulumi nje ngokuthula; aphila ngokuvumelana nalokho akushumayelayo.
20. Ngokuqondene nokuthula, hlobo luni lomlando iBabiloni Elikhulu eliye lawenza?
20 Ngokuphambene namaKristu eqiniso, labo abamelela izinhlangano zenkolo zeLobukholwa abazange bazibonakalise beyizithunywa zokuthula. Izinkolo zeBabiloni Elikhulu—amasonto eLobukholwa nezinkolo ezingebona ubuKristu ngokufanayo—ziye zavumela, zasekela futhi eqinisweni zahola ezimpini zezizwe. Futhi ziye zashoshozela ukushushiswa ngisho nokubulawa kwezinceku zikaJehova ezikholekile. Ngakho-ke, ngokuqondene neBabiloni Elikhulu, IsAmbulo 18:24 sithi: “Kwatholakala kulo igazi labaprofethi nelabangcwele nelabo bonke abaye babulawa emhlabeni.”
21. Abaningi abanezinhliziyo eziqotho basabela kanjani lapho bebona umehluko ekuziphatheni kwabantu bakaJehova nokwalabo abaqhuba inkolo yamanga?
21 Ngokungafani nezinkolo zeLobukholwa nalo lonke iBabiloni Elikhulu, inkolo yeqiniso ingamandla aqondile okwakha ubunye. UJesu Kristu wathi kubalandeli bakhe beqiniso: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Johane 13:35) Lolo uthando olweqa imingcele yobuzwe, ezenhlalo, ezomnotho, neyobuhlanga, manje ehlukanisa sonke isintu. Njengoba ziye zakuqaphela lokhu, izigidi zabantu kuwo wonke umhlaba zithi ezincekwini zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe: “Siyakuhamba nani, ngokuba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.”—Zakariya 8:23.
22. Siwubheka kanjani umsebenzi wokufakaza okusadingeka wenziwe?
22 Njengabantu bakaJehova, sijabula kakhulu ngalokho okuye kwafezwa, kodwa umsebenzi awukapheli. Ngemva kokuhlwanyela imbewu nokuhlakulela insimu yakhe, umlimi akayeki. Uyaqhubeka esebenza, ikakhulukazi phakathi nenkathi yokuvuna. Isikhathi sokuvuna sidinga umzamo wokuzikhandla oqhubekayo. Futhi manje kunesivuno sabakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu weqiniso esikhulu kunanini ngaphambili. Lesi isikhathi sokujabula. (Isaya 9:3) Yiqiniso, sibhekana nokuphikiswa nokunganaki. Kungenzeka ukuthi njengabantu ngabanye sizama ukubhekana nokugula okungathi sína, izimo zomkhaya ezinzima, noma ubunzima bezomnotho. Kodwa uthando ngoJehova lusishukumisela ukuba sikhuthazele. Isigijimi esisiphathiswe uNkulunkulu siyinto abantu abadinga ukuyizwa. Siyisigijimi sokuthula. Yebo, siyisigijimi esashunyayelwa uJesu ngokwakhe—izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.
Ithini Impendulo Yakho?
◻ U-Isaya 52:7 waba nakuphi ukugcwaliseka ku-Israyeli wasendulo?
◻ UJesu wazibonakalisa kanjani eyisithunywa sokuthula esikhulu kunazo zonke?
◻ Umphostoli uPawulu wamhlobanisa kanjani u-Isaya 52:7 nomsebenzi amaKristu ahlanganyela kuwo?
◻ Osukwini lwethu kuhilelani ukuba yizithunywa zokuthula?
[Izithombe ekhasini 13]
NjengoJesu, oFakazi BakaJehova bayizithunywa zokuthula kukaNkulunkulu
[Izithombe ekhasini 15]
OFakazi BakaJehova bahlala benokuthula kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu basabela kanjani esigijimini soMbuso