Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-29—UJoweli
Umlobi: UJoweli
Yalotshelwa: KwaJuda
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-820 B.C.E. (?)
1. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezivusa amadlingozi eziqokomisa isiprofetho sikaJoweli?
AMAGAGASI ngamagagasi, iqulo lezinambuzane lichitha izwe. Umlilo ongaphambi kwazo nelangabi elingemuva kuqedela ukubhubhisa. Kunendlala yonke indawo. Ilanga liphenduka ubumnyama futhi inyanga iba yigazi, ngoba usuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo lukaJehova luseduze. Ukhipha umyalo wokuba kufakwe isikela futhi kuqoqelwe izizwe ekubhujisweni. Nokho, abanye ‘bayokhululwa.’ (Joweli 2:32) Ukucatshangelwa kwalezenzakalo ezivusa amadlingozi kwenza isiprofetho sikaJoweli sibe esithakazelisa kakhulu nesinenzuzo kakhulu kithi.
2. Yini esiyaziyo ngoJoweli nezimo zokuprofetha kwakhe?
2 Lencwadi yethulwa ngokuthi “izwi likaJehova elafika kuJoweli indodana kaPhethuweli.” Akukho lutho olwengeziwe iBhayibheli elisitshela khona ngoJoweli ngokwakhe ngaphandle kwalokhu. Kugcizelelwe isigijimi esingokwesiprofetho hhayi umlobi. Igama elithi “Joweli” (ngesiHeberu, Yoh·ʼelʹ) liqondakala njengelisho ukuthi “UJehova UnguNkulunkulu.” Ukujwayelana kukaJoweli mathupha neJerusalema, ithempeli lalo, nemininingwane yenkonzo yasethempelini kungase kubonise ukuthi walobela incwadi yakhe eJerusalema noma kwaJuda.—Joweli 1:1, 9, 13, 14; 2:1, 15, 16, 32.
3. Kungaziphi izizathu kusikiselwa ukuthi isiprofetho sikaJoweli kungenzeka salotshwa cishe ngo-820 B.C.E.?
3 Yalotshwa nini incwadi kaJoweli? Lokhu akunakushiwo ngokuqiniseka. Izazi zisho izinsuku ezihlukahlukene ezisukela ngaphambi kuka-800 B.C.E. kuya cishe ku-400 B.C.E. Incazelo yokwahlulela kukaJehova izizwe esigodini sikaJehoshafati isikisela ukuthi uJoweli waloba isiprofetho sakhe esikhathini esithile ngemva kokunqoba kukaJehova okukhulu ngenxa yeNkosi uJehoshafati wakwaJuda, ngakho kwakungemva kokuba uJehoshafati ebe inkosi ngo-936 B.C.E. (Joweli 3:2, 12; 2 IziKr. 20:22-26) Kungenzeka ukuthi umprofethi uAmose wacaphuna embhalweni kaJoweli. Khona-ke, lokhu kuyosho ukuthi isiprofetho sikaJoweli salotshwa ngaphambi kwesika-Amose, owaqala ukuprofetha esikhathini esithile phakathi kuka-829 no-804 B.C.E. (Joweli 3:16; Amose 1:2) Indawo lencwadi ekuyo ohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli zesiHeberu ephakathi kukaHoseya noAmose ingase ibonise ukuthi kungenzeka yabhalwa osukwini olungaphambidlana. Ngalokho cishe unyaka ka-820 B.C.E. yiwo osikiselwayo ngesiprofetho sikaJoweli.
4. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bobuqiniso bencwadi kaJoweli?
4 Ubuqiniso balesiprofetho bufakazelwa izingcaphuno nokubhekisela kuso okusemiBhalweni yamaKristu YesiGreki. Ngosuku lwePentekoste, uPetru wakhuluma “ngomprofethi uJoweli” futhi wasebenzisa esinye seziprofetho zakhe. UPawulu wacaphuna isiprofetho esifanayo futhi wabonisa ukugcwaliseka kwaso kokubili kumaJuda nakwabangemaJuda. (Joweli 2:28-32; IzE. 2:16-21; Roma 10:13) Iziprofetho zikaJoweli ngezizwe ezingomakhelwane zagcwaliseka zonke. Umuzi omkhulu waseTire wavinjezelwa uNebukadinesari, futhi kamuva umuzi osesiqhingini wachithwa uAlexander Omkhulu. IFilistiya ngokufanayo lashabalala. IEdomi laba yihlane. (Joweli 3:4, 19) AmaJuda awazange akungabaze ukuba kukaJoweli yingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, futhi enza lencwadi yaba ngeyesibili phakathi kwalezo ezibizwa ngokuthi abaprofethi abangabalulekile.
5. Iyiphi indlela isiprofetho sikaJoweli esiyishukumisa ngayo imizwelo ngendlela ehlaba umxhwele?
5 Indlela kaJoweli yokuloba iyakhanya futhi ishukumisa imizwelo. Uyaphindaphinda ngenjongo yokugcizelela futhi usebenzisa izifaniso ezihlaba umxhwele. Isikhonyane kuthiwa isizwe, abantu, nempi. Amazinyo aso anjengawezingonyama, isimo saso sinjengamahhashi, futhi umsindo waso unjengezinqola zempi ezidonselwa empini. I-Interpreter’s Bible icaphuna isazi sokuncishiswa kwesikhonyane sithi: “Incazelo kaJoweli yokuhlasela kwesikhonyane ayikaze idlulwe ngokunemba kwemininingwane yayo okuvusa amadlingozi.”a Lalela manje njengoba uJoweli eprofetha ngosuku lukaJehova olwesabekayo.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAJOWELI
6. Yimuphi umbono osabisayo uJoweli awubonayo kuqala?
6 Ukuhlasela kwezinambuzane kuphundla izwe; usuku lukaJehova luseduze (1:1–2:11). Yeka umbono osabisayo wenhlekelele uJoweli awubonayo! Ukuhlasela okubhubhisayo kwesibotho, isikhonyane, inkumbi, nenkasa. Imivini nemikhiwane kuxhoziwe, futhi indlala inyonyobela izwe. Ayikho iminikelo yempuphu noma yokuphuzwa yendlu kaJehova. UJoweli uxwayisa abapristi nezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ukuba baphenduke. “Hawu lolosuku!” ebabaza, “ngokuba usuku lukaJehova lusondele, lufika njengokuchitha kuvela kuSomandla.” (1:15) Izilwane zikhungathekile. Amalangabi ashisile amadlelo nemithi, futhi ihlane liqothulwe umlilo.
7. Impi kaJehova ehlaselayo ichazwa kanjani?
7 Memezelani isixwayiso! “Bethani icilongo eSiyoni, nihlabe umkhosi entabeni yami engcwele.” (2:1) Usuku lukaJehova luseduze, usuku lobumnyama nesigayegaye. Bheka! Abantu abaningi nabanamandla. Baphendula izwe elinjenge-Edene balenza ihlane lencithakalo. Akukho lutho olubabalekelayo. Bagijima eziqongweni zezintaba njengamahhashi nangomsindo onjengezinqola. Njengabantu abahlelelwe ukulwa batheleka emzini, bagibela izingange nezindlu futhi bangena ngamafasitele. Umhlaba uyazamazama futhi amazulu ayathuthumela. UJehova olawula lempi enkulu. “Usuku lukaJehova lukhulu, luyesabeka kakhulu; ngubani ongaluthwala na?”—2:11.
8. (a) Iyiphi okuwukuphela kwendlela okungamiswa ngayo ukuhlasela kwezinambuzane? (b) Yisiphi isinxephezelo uJehova asithembisayo?
8 Phendukela kuJehova; kuzothululwa umoya (2:12-32). Kodwa kukhona okungenziwa ukuze kumiswe lokhu kuhlasela. UJehova uyeluleka: “Phendukelani kimi ngenhliziyo yenu yonke, . . . niklebhule inhliziyo yenu, hayi izingubo zenu, niphendukele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.” (2:12, 13) Ukukhala kwecilongo kubuthela abantu emhlanganweni onokuthula. Uma bebuyela kuye, ‘uJehova uyohawukela izwe lakhe, abahawukele abantu bakhe.’ (2:18) Kuyoba nezibusiso nokuthethelela, futhi umhlaseli uyophindiselwa emuva. Kunokuba kube isikhathi sokwesaba, kuyisikhathi sokujabula nokuthokoza, ngoba kuyoba nezithelo namabele newayini elisha namafutha. UJehova uyoyinxephezela iminyaka okudle ngayo impi yakhe enkulu yesikhonyane. Nasi isithembiso sakhe: “Niyakudla nokudla, nisuthe, nilidumise igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu oniphathé ngokumangalisayo.” (2:26) Bayokwazi ukuthi uJehova kuphela onguNkulunkulu wabo phakathi kukaIsrayeli.
9. Yisiphi isiprofetho esishukumisa inhliziyo esilandelayo?
9 “Kuyakuthi ngasemuva ngithulule uMoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inyama,” kusho uJehova, “amadodana enu namadodakazi enu ayakuprofetha, abadala benu baphuphe amaphupho, izinsizwa zenu zibone imibono; naphezu kwezinceku nezincekukazi ngalezozinsuku ngiyakuthulula uMoya wami.” Kuyoba nezimangaliso ezisabekayo elangeni nasenyangeni ngaphambi kokufika kosuku lukaJehova. Nokho abanye bayosinda. “Kuyakuthi bonke ababiza igama likaJehova bakhululwe.”—2:28-32.
10. Yini eyokwenzeka esigodini sikaJehoshafati?
10 Izizwe ziyokwahlulelwa “esigodini sikaJehoshafati” (3:1-21). UJehova uyobuyisa abathunjwa bakwaJuda nabaseJerusalema. Izizwe ziyoqoqwa; iTire, iSidoni, neFilistiya ziyolahlekelwa kanzima ngokuhlambalaza nangokugqilaza abantu bakaJehova. Lalela uJehova njengoba ephonsa inselele ezizweni: “Ningcwelise impi, niwavuse amaqhawe; mawasondele, enyuke onke amadoda empi.” (3:9) Mazikhande amakhuba abe izinkemba bese zinyukela esigodini sikaJehoshafati (okusho ukuthi “UJehova UnguMahluleli”). Umyalo kaJehova uyamemezela: “Fakani isikela, ngokuba okuzakuvunwa sekuvuthiwe; . . . nezikhongozelo ziyachichima, ngokuba ububi babo bukhulu. Yizixuku ngezixuku esigodini sokwahlulela, ngokuba usuku lukaJehova lusondele.” (3:13, 14) Ilanga nenyanga kuba mnyama. UJehova uyaduma eseSiyoni, ebangela ukuba izulu nomhlaba kuzamazame, kodwa uzibonakalisa eyisiphephelo nenqaba yabantu bakhe. Kumelwe nakanjani bazi ukuthi unguJehova uNkulunkulu wabo.
11. Khona-ke uJoweli uzichaza kanjani izibusiso ezivela kuJehova ezizolandela?
11 Yeka inala enjengeyasepharadesi eyobonakala “ngalolosuku”! (3:18) Izintaba ziyoconsa iwayini, amagquma agobhoze ubisi, futhi imifula iyogobhoza amanzi amaningi. Kuyovela umthombo oqabulayo endlini kaJehova. IGibithe ne-Edomi, okuye kwachitha igazi elingenacala kwaJuda, kuyoba yincithakalo, kodwa izwe lakwaJuda neJerusalema kuyohlalwa kuze kube phakade, “ngokuba uJehova wakhile eSiyoni.”—3:21.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
12. Yikuphi ukubaluleka okungokwesiprofetho kukaJoweli uPetru akugcizelela ngePentekoste?
12 Abanye abahlaziyi baye bachaza uJoweli njengomprofethi obikezela okubi. Nokho, ngokombono wabantu bakaNkulunkulu, ubonakala njengommemezeli wezindaba ezikhazimulayo zokukhululwa. Umphostoli uPawulu ugcizelela leliphuzu kwabaseRoma 10:13, ethi: “Ngokuba bonke abayakukhuleka egameni leNkosi bayakusindiswa.” (Joweli 2:32) Kwaba nokugcwaliseka okuhlaba umxhwele kwesiprofetho sikaJoweli ngosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E. Ngalesosikhathi uPetru waphefumlelwa ukuba achaze ukuthi ukuthululwa komoya kaNkulunkulu kubafundi bakaKristu kwakuwukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJoweli. (IzE. 2:1-21; Joweli 2:28, 29, 32) UPetru wakugcizelela kakhulu ukubaluleka okungokwesiprofetho kwamazwi kaJoweli: “Kuyakuthi yilowo nalowo obiza igama leNkosi uyakusindiswa.”—IzE. 2:21, 39, 40.
13. (a) Ikuphi ukufana okuhlaba umxhwele okubonakala phakathi kwencwadi kaJoweli neyesAmbulo? (b) Yikuphi ukufana okutholakala phakathi kukaJoweli nezinye iziprofetho?
13 Ukufana okuhlaba umxhwele kuyabonakala phakathi kwenhlupho yesikhonyane eyachazwa uJoweli nenhlupho eyaprofethwa kusAmbulo isahluko 9. Nalapha ilanga liba mnyama. Isikhonyane sifana namahhashi alungiselelwe ukulwa, senza umsindo onjengowezinqola zempi, futhi sinamazinyo anjengawezingonyama. (Joweli 2:4, 5, 10; 1:6; IsAm. 9:2, 7-9) Isiprofetho sikaJoweli kuJoweli 2:31, esikhuluma ngelanga eliphenduka ubumnyama, njengesenzakalo, siyahambisana namazwi akuIsaya 13:9, 10 nakusAmbulo 6:12-17, nakuMathewu 24:29, 30, lapho uJesu ebonisa khona lesiprofetho sisebenza esikhathini afika ngaso njengeNdodana yomuntu ngamandla nenkazimulo enkulu. Amazwi kaJoweli 2:11, “usuku lukaJehova lukhulu, luyesabeka kakhulu,” kubhekiselwa kuwo ngokusobala kuMalaki 4:5. Izincazelo ezifanayo ‘zalolusuku lobumnyama nesigayegaye’ ziyatholakala futhi kuJoweli 2:2 nakuZefaniya 1:14, 15.
14. Yiziphi izindinyana ezikuJoweli ezikhulisa ubukhosi bukaJehova nesihe sakhe?
14 Isiprofetho sesAmbulo sibheka phambili ‘osukwini olukhulu’ lolaka lwaphezulu. (IsAm. 6:17) UJoweli naye uprofetha ngalesosikhathi, ebonisa ukuthi lapho “usuku lukaJehova” olukhulu lufika phezu kwezizwe, labo abambizayo ukuba abavikele futhi abakhulule ‘bayokhululwa.’ “UJehova uyisiphephelo sabantu bakhe.” Ukuchuma kwase-Edene kuyobuyiselwa: “Kuyakuthi ngalolosuku izintaba ziconse iwayini elimnandi, amagquma agobhoze ubisi, yonke imifula yakwaJuda igobhoze amanzi; kuyakuvela umthombo endlini kaJehova.” Lapho eveza lezithembiso ezikhazimulayo zokubuyiselwa, uJoweli futhi ukhulisa ubukhosi bukaJehova uNkulunkulu futhi unxusa abanhliziyo-ziqotho ngesisekelo sobumnene baKhe obukhulu: “Niphendukele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, ngokuba yena unomusa, unobumnene, wephuza ukuthukuthela, unesihe esikhulu.” Bonke abalalela lokhu kunxusa okuphefumlelwe bayovuna izinzuzo zaphakade.—Joweli 2:1, 32; 3:16, 18; 2:13.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a 1956, Umq. VI, ikhasi 733.