Thembela Ezwini LikaJehova
“Ngithembelé ezwini lakho.”—IHUBO 119:42.
1. Ungathi ubani umlobi weHubo 119 futhi wayenasiphi isimo sengqondo?
UMQAMBI weHubo 119 wayelazisa izwi likaJehova. Kungenzeka laqanjwa yinkosana yakwaJuda uHezekiya. Imizwa evezwe kule ngoma ephefumulelwe ifanelana nesimo sengqondo sikaHezekiya, ‘owanamathela kuJehova’ lapho eseyinkosi yakwaJuda. (2 AmaKhosi 18:3-7) Esiqiniseka ngakho yilokhu: Umqambi waleli hubo wayesiqaphela isidingo sakhe esingokomoya.—Mathewu 5:3.
2. Siyini isihloko seHubo 119, futhi ihlelwe kanjani le ngoma?
2 Iphuzu eliyinhloko leHubo 119 ukubaluleka kwezwi likaNkulunkulu, noma umyalezo wakhe.a Cishe ukuze le ngoma ikhumbuleke kalula, umlobi wasebenzisa uhlu lwezinhlamvu zolimi lapho eyihlela. Amavesi ayo angu-176 asekelwe ezinhlamvwini zolimi lwesiHebheru ngokulandelana kwazo. NgesiHebheru sokuqala, isigaba ngasinye kwezingu-22 zaleli hubo sinemigqa engu-8 eqala ngohlamvu olufanayo. Leli hubo likhuluma ngezwi likaNkulunkulu, umthetho, izikhumbuzo, izindlela, imiyalo, iziqondiso, izinqumo zokwahlulela, amazwi, nangezimiso zakhe. Kulesi sihloko nesilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngeHubo 119 ngokwenguqulo enembile yombhalo weBhayibheli lesiHebheru. Ukucabanga ngalokho okwenzeka ezincekwini zikaJehova zesikhathi esidlule nezanamuhla kufanele kujulise ukuyazisa kwethu le ngoma ephefumulelwe uNkulunkulu futhi kusenze sibonge ngokwengeziwe ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe, iBhayibheli.
Lalela Izwi LikaNkulunkulu, Ujabule
3. Chaza futhi ufanekise lokho okushiwo ukungabi naphutha.
3 Injabulo yeqiniso ixhomeke ekuhambeni kwethu ngomthetho kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 119:1-8) Uma sihamba ngawo, uJehova uyosibheka ‘njengabangenaphutha endleleni yethu.’ (IHubo 119:1) Ukuthi asinaphutha akusho ukuthi siphelele; kunalokho, kubonisa ukuthi silwela ukwenza intando kaJehova uNkulunkulu. UNowa “akabanga naphutha phakathi kwabantu besikhathi sakhe. . . . Wahamba noNkulunkulu weqiniso.” Leyo nzalamizi ethembekile yasinda kuZamcolo nomkhaya wayo ngoba yayiphila ngendlela eshiwo uJehova. (Genesise 6:9; 1 Petru 3:20) Nokwethu ukusinda ekupheleni kwaleli zwe kuxhomeke ‘ekugcineni kwethu imiyalo kaNkulunkulu ngokucophelela,’ senze intando yakhe.—IHubo 119:4.
4. Injabulo nempumelelo yethu kuxhomekephi?
4 UJehova akasoze asishiya uma ‘simdumisa ngobuqotho benhliziyo, futhi siqhubeka sigcina iziqondiso zakhe.’ (IHubo 119:7, 8) UNkulunkulu akazange amshiye umholi wama-Israyeli, uJoshuwa, owalalela iseluleko ‘sokufunda incwadi yomthetho ubusuku nemini ukuze enze konke okulotshwe kuyo.’ Lokho kwamenza waphumelela, wakwazi nokwenza ngokuhlakanipha. (Joshuwa 1:8) Nalapho esezokufa, uJoshuwa wayesamdumisa uNkulunkulu, futhi yingakho akwazi ukukhumbuza ama-Israyeli: “Nazi kahle ngazo zonke izinhliziyo zenu nangayo yonke imiphefumulo yenu ukuthi akukho nelilodwa izwi kuwo wonke amazwi amahle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu awakhulumile kini eliye laphutha.” (Joshuwa 23:14) NjengoJoshuwa nomlobi weHubo 119, singathola injabulo nempumelelo ngokudumisa uJehova, sithembele nasezwini lakhe.
Izwi LikaJehova Lisigcina Sihlanzekile
5. (a) Bonisa ukuthi kungenzeka kanjani ukuba umuntu ahlale ehlanzekile ngokomoya. (b) Iluphi usizo umuntu osemusha owenza isono esibi angaluthola?
5 Singaba abahlanzekile ngokomoya uma sihlala siqaphile ngokuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 119:9-16) Lokhu singakwenza ngisho noma abazali bethu bengazange basibekele isibonelo esihle. Yize uyise kaHezekiya ayengumkhulekeli wezithombe, uHezekiya ‘wahlanza indlela yakhe,’ mhlawumbe ngokuhlukana nezinto zobuqaba. Ake sithi osemusha okhonza uNkulunkulu namuhla wenza isono esibi. Ukuphenduka, umthandazo, usizo lwabazali, nosizo lothando lwabadala abangamaKristu kungamsiza abe njengoHezekiya, ‘ahlanze indlela yakhe futhi ahlale eqaphile.’—Jakobe 5:13-15.
6. Ibaphi abesifazane ‘abahlanza indlela yabo futhi bahlala beqaphile ngokuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu’?
6 Nakuba uRahabi noRuthe baphila kudala lingakaqanjwa iHubo 119, ‘bayihlanza indlela yabo.’ URahabi wayeyisifebe esingumKhanani, kodwa waba umkhulekeli kaJehova, owaziwa ngokuba nokholo. (Hebheru 11:30, 31) UmMowabikazi onguRuthe washiya onkulunkulu bakubo, wakhonza uJehova, futhi wazivumelanisa noMthetho uNkulunkulu ayewunike ama-Israyeli. (Ruthe 1:14-17; 4:9-13) Bobabili laba besifazane ababengewona ama-Israyeli ‘bahlala beqaphile ngokuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu,’ baba nelungelo elimangalisayo lokuba okhokho bakaJesu Kristu.—Mathewu 1:1, 4-6.
7. UDaniyeli nabanye abasha abathathu abangamaHebheru básibeka kanjani isibonelo esihle sokuzigcina uhlanzekile ngokomoya?
7 “Ukuthambekela kwenhliziyo yomuntu kubi kusukela ebusheni bakhe kuqhubeke,” kodwa intsha ingaphila ukuphila okuhlanzekile, ngisho nakuleli zwe elonakele elilawulwa uSathane. (Genesise 8:21; 1 Johane 5:19) Bedingiselwe eBhabhiloni, uDaniyeli nabanye abasha abathathu abangamaHebheru ‘bahlala beqaphile ngokuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu.’ Ngokwesibonelo, babengafuni ukuzingcolisa “ngezibiliboco zenkosi.” (Daniyeli 1:6-10) AbaseBhabhiloni babedla izilwane ezingcolile, ezazenqatshelwe eMthethweni KaMose. (Levitikusi 11:1-31; 20:24-26) Babengazophisi njalo izilwane lapho behlaba, futhi ngokudla inyama engophanga babephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu wegazi. (Genesise 9:3, 4) Shono amaHebheru amane ayengafuni ukudla izibiliboco zenkosi! Leyo ntsha ehlonipha uNkulunkulu yazigcina ihlanzekile ngokomoya, kanjalo yabeka isibonelo esihle.
Izwi LikaNkulunkulu Lisiza Umuntu Ukuba Ahlale Ethembekile
8. Isiphi isimo sengqondo nolwazi esikudingayo ukuze siwuqonde umthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi siwusebenzise?
8 Ukuze sihlale sithembekile kuJehova kubalulekile ukuba silithande izwi likaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 119:17-24) Uma sinjengomhubi ophefumulelwe, siyolangazelela ukuqonda “izinto ezimangalisayo” zomthetho kaNkulunkulu. Siyohlale ‘silangazelela izinqumo zikaJehova zokwahlulela,’ sibonise ukuthi ‘siyazithanda izikhumbuzo zakhe.’ (IHubo 119:18, 20, 24) Uma sizinikezele kuJehova, noma ngabe sisenesikhashana, ingabe ‘sesikwakhile ukulangazelela ubisi olungonakalisiwe olungolwezwi’? (1 Petru 2:1, 2) Kudingeka siqonde izimfundiso zeBhayibheli eziyisisekelo ukuze sikwazi ukuwuqonda umthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi siwusebenzise.
9. Kufanele senzenjani lapho lokho okufunwa abantu kungqubuzana nomthetho kaNkulunkulu?
9 Kungenzeka siyazithanda izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu, kodwa siyokwenzenjani uma ngesizathu esithile ‘izikhulu’ zikhuluma kabi ngathi? (IHubo 119:23, 24) Namuhla, iziphathimandla zivamile ukuzama ukusiphoqa ukuba sihloniphe imithetho yabantu ngaphezu komthetho kaNkulunkulu. Lapho lokho okufunwa abantu kungqubuzana nentando kaNkulunkulu, siyokwenzenjani? Ukuthanda kwethu izwi likaNkulunkulu kuyosisiza sihlale sithembekile kuJehova. Njengabaphostoli bakaJesu Kristu ababeshushiswa, siyothi: “Kumelwe silalele uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.”—IzEnzo 5:29.
10, 11. Fanekisa indlela esingagcina ngayo ubuqotho kuJehova ezimweni ezinzima kakhulu.
10 Singahlala sithembekile kuJehova ngisho nasezimweni ezinzima kakhulu. (IHubo 119:25-32) Ukuze siphumelele ukugcina ubuqotho bethu kuNkulunkulu, kumelwe sibe abafundisekayo futhi sikuthandazele ngobuqotho ukuba asifundise. Kumelwe futhi sikhethe “indlela yokuthembeka.”—IHubo 119:26, 30.
11 UHezekiya, okungenzeka wabhala iHubo 119, wayikhetha “indlela yokuthembeka.” Wayikhetha naphezu kokuba ayezungezwe abakhulekeli bamanga futhi mhlawumbe ehlekwa usulu amanye amalungu asebukhosini. Kungenzeka ukuthi yizimo ezinjalo ezazenza ‘umphefumulo wakhe uqwashe ngenxa yosizi.’ (IHubo 119:28) Kodwa uHezekiya wayethembele kuNkulunkulu, eyinkosi enhle, futhi wenza “okulungile emehlweni kaJehova.” (2 AmaKhosi 18:1-5) Ngokuncika kuNkulunkulu, nathi singazikhuthazelela izinhlupheko, sigcine ubuqotho.—Jakobe 1:5-8.
Izwi LikaJehova Linikeza Isibindi
12. Singalisebenzisa kanjani iHubo 119:36, 37 thina ngabanye?
12 Ukulandela isiqondiso sezwi likaNkulunkulu kusinika isibindi esisidingayo ukuze sibhekane nezinhlupheko zokuphila. (IHubo 119:33-40) Ngokuthobeka, sifuna ukuba uJehova asifundise ukuze sikwazi ukugcina umthetho wakhe “ngenhliziyo yonke.” (IHubo 119:33, 34) Njengomhubi, siyacela kuNkulunkulu: “Thambekisela inhliziyo yami ezikhumbuzweni zakho, hhayi ezinzuzweni,” okusho izinzuzo ezingalungile. (IHubo 119:36) Njengomphostoli uPawulu, ‘siziphatha ngokwethembeka ezintweni zonke.’ (Hebheru 13:18) Uma umqashi efuna ukuba singathembeki entweni ethile, siqunga isibindi sinamathele eziqondisweni zikaNkulunkulu—futhi uJehova uyayibusisa njalo inkambo enjalo. Eqinisweni, usisiza ukuba silawule zonke izifiso ezimbi. Ngakho-ke, masithandaze: “Yenza ukuba amehlo ami adlule angakuboni okungenanzuzo.” (IHubo 119:37) Ngeke sathanda ukuba into engenanzuzo, uNkulunkulu ayizondayo, thina siyibheke njengefiselekayo. (IHubo 97:10) Phakathi kokunye, lokhu kusenza sigweme izithombe zobulili ezingcolile nemikhuba yokusebenzelana nemimoya.—1 Korinte 6:9, 10; IsAmbulo 21:8.
13. Abafundi bakaJesu ababeshushiswa basithola kanjani isibindi ababesidinga ukuze bashumayele bangesabi?
13 Ulwazi olunembile lwezwi likaNkulunkulu luyasiqinisa ukuze sishumayele ngesibindi. (IHubo 119:41-48) Siyasidinga isibindi ukuze ‘siphendule osihlambalazayo.’ (IHubo 119:42) Ngezinye izikhathi, singase sibe njengabafundi bakaJesu ababeshushiswa, abathandaza: “Jehova, [nika] izinceku zakho ukuba ziqhubeke zikhuluma izwi lakho ngaso sonke isibindi.” Waba yini umphumela? “Bonke ngothi lwabo bagcwala umoya ongcwele, bakhuluma izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi.” Nathi le Nkosi EnguMbusi isinika isibindi sokukhuluma izwi layo singesabi.—IzEnzo 4:24-31.
14. Yini esisiza ukuba sishumayele ngesibindi, njengoba kwenza uPawulu?
14 Nathi siyoba naso isibindi esidingekayo ukuze singabi namahloni okushumayela uma silazisa “izwi leqiniso” futhi ‘siwugcina njalo umthetho kaNkulunkulu.’ (IHubo 119:43, 44) Ukulitadisha ngenkuthalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe kuyasihlomisa ukuze ‘sikhulume ngezikhumbuzo zakhe phambi kwamakhosi.’ (IHubo 119:46) Umthandazo nomoya kaJehova nakho kuyosisiza sisho into efanele ngendlela efanele. (Mathewu 10:16-20; Kolose 4:6) UPawulu wakhuluma ngesibindi ngezikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu kubabusi bekhulu lokuqala. Ngokwesibonelo, washumayela kumbusi waseRoma uFeliksi, ‘owamlalela ngokuphathelene nokukholwa kuKristu Jesu.’ (IzEnzo 24:24, 25) UPawulu washumayela naphambi koMbusi uFestu neNkosi u-Agripha. (IzEnzo 25:22–26:32) Ngokusekelwa uJehova, nathi singaba ofakazi abanesibindi, singalokothi sibe “namahloni ngezindaba ezinhle.”—Roma 1:16.
IZwi LikaNkulunkulu Liyasiduduza
15. IZwi likaNkulunkulu lingasiduduza kanjani lapho abanye besihleka usulu?
15 IZwi likaJehova linikeza induduzo enokwethenjelwa. (IHubo 119:49-56) Kuba khona izikhathi lapho sikudinga kakhulu ukududuzwa. Nakuba sikhuluma ngesibindi njengoFakazi BakaJehova, labo “abagabadelayo”—abagabadelela uNkulunkulu—ngezinye izikhathi ‘basihleka usulu ngokwedlulele.’ (IHubo 119:51) Nokho, kungase kuthi sisathandaza sikhumbule izinto ezinhle ezishiwo eZwini likaNkulunkulu, bese ‘sizitholela induduzo.’ (IHubo 119:52) Phakathi nokunxusa kwethu, singase sikhumbule umthetho noma isimiso seBhayibheli esisinika induduzo nesibindi esisidingayo esimweni esicindezelayo.
16. Yini izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezingazange ziyenze naphezu kokushushiswa?
16 Abagabadelayo ababehleka umhubi usulu babengama-Israyeli—abantu besizwe esizinikezele kuNkulunkulu. Yeka ihlazo! Kodwa thina masehluke, sizimisele ukungalokothi siphambuke emthethweni kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 119:51) Lapho zishushiswa amaNazi futhi zihlukunyezwa ngezindlela ezithi azifane phakathi neminyaka edlule, izinkulungwane zezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziye zenqaba ukuphambuka emithethweni nasezimisweni eziseZwini likaNkulunkulu. (Johane 15:18-21) Futhi ukulalela uJehova akuwona umthwalo, ngoba iziqondiso zakhe zinjengamahubo asiduduzayo.—IHubo 119:54; 1 Johane 5:3.
Lazise Izwi LikaJehova
17. Ukwazisa izwi likaNkulunkulu kusishukumisela ukuba senzeni?
17 Ukuthi siyalazisa izwi likaNkulunkulu sikubonisa ngokulilalela. (IHubo 119:57-64) Umhubi ‘wathembisa ukugcina amazwi kaJehova,’ kangangokuthi ngisho ‘naphakathi kwamabili wayevuka ukuze abonge uNkulunkulu ngezinqumo zakhe zokwahlulela ezilungile.’ Uma siphaphama ebusuku, yeka ukuthi kusinikeza ithuba elihle kangakanani lokubonga uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo! (IHubo 119:57, 62) Ukwazisa kwethu izwi likaNkulunkulu kusishukumisela ukuba sifune asifundise futhi kusenza sikujabulele ukuba ‘abangane balabo abesaba uJehova’—abantu abamhlonipha ngokujulile uNkulunkulu. (IHubo 119:63, 64) Ungabatholaphi nje emhlabeni abangane abadlula labo?
18. UJehova uyiphendula kanjani imithandazo yethu lapho ‘sihaqwa izindophi zababi’?
18 Lapho sithandaza ngayo yonke inhliziyo yethu futhi ngokuthobeka sicela uJehova ukuba asifundise, sisuke ‘simncenga’ ukuze asamukele. Kudingeka sithandaze ikakhulukazi lapho ‘zona kanye izindophi zababi zisihaqa.’ (IHubo 119:58, 61) UJehova angagqashula izindophi zezitha zokusithiya, asikhulule ukuze siqhubeke nomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi. (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Lokhu kubonakale kaningi emazweni umsebenzi wethu ovinjelwe kuwo.
Yiba Nokholo Ezwini LikaNkulunkulu
19, 20. Kungenzeka kanjani ukuba ukuhlupheka kube kuhle?
19 Ukuba nokholo kuNkulunkulu nasezwini lakhe kusisiza ukuba sikhuthazele lapho sihlupheka, nokuba senze intando yakhe. (IHubo 119:65-72) Nakuba abagabadelayo ‘babembhece ngamanga,’ umhubi wahlabelela: “Kuhle ngami ukuthi ngihlushiwe.” (IHubo 119:66, 69, 71) Kungaba kanjani okuhle ukuba inceku kaJehova ihlupheke?
20 Lapho sisezinhluphekweni, akungabazeki ukuthi siyaqinisa ekuthandazeni kuJehova, okusisondeza eduze naye. Singase sichithe isikhathi esengeziwe sitadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe futhi sizikhandle kakhudlwana ukulisebenzisa. Lokhu kusenza sijabule ngokwengeziwe. Kodwa kuthiwani uma indlela esisabela ngayo ezinhluphekweni iveza izici ezingathandeki, njengokungabi nasineke nokuqhosha? Ngomthandazo oqotho nangosizo lweZwi likaNkulunkulu nomoya wakhe, singakunqoba ukushiyeka okunjalo ‘sibugqoke’ ngokwengeziwe “ubuntu obusha.” (Kolose 3:9-14) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukholo lwethu luyaqina lapho sikhuthazelela usizi. (1 Petru 1:6, 7) UPawulu wazuza ezinsizini zakhe ngoba zamenza wancika ngokwengeziwe kuJehova. (2 Korinte 1:8-10) Ingabe siyakuvumela ukuhlupheka kube nomphumela omuhle kithi?
Thembela KuJehova Njalo
21. Kwenzekani lapho uNkulunkulu ehlazisa abagabadelayo?
21 Izwi likaNkulunkulu lisinika isisekelo esinengqondo sokuthembela kuJehova. (IHubo 119:73-80) Uma sithembela ngempela kuMdali wethu, ngeke sibe nasizathu sokuba namahloni. Nokho, ngenxa yalokho okwenziwa abanye, sidinga induduzo futhi singase sizizwe sifuna ukuthandaza: “Abagabadelayo mababe namahloni.” (IHubo 119:76-78) Lapho uJehova ebahlazisa abanjalo, izindlela zabo ezimbi ziyadaluleka, bese igama lakhe elingcwele lingcweliswa. Singaqiniseka ukuthi abashushisi babantu bakaNkulunkulu empeleni akukho lutho abaluzuzayo. Ngokwesibonelo, abakaze—futhi abasoze—baqothule oFakazi BakaJehova, abathembela kuNkulunkulu ngayo yonke inhliziyo yabo.—IzAga 3:5, 6.
22. Kungamuphi umqondo umhubi ‘ayenjengegabha lesikhumba emsini’?
22 Izwi likaNkulunkulu lisenza sithembele nakakhulu kuye lapho sishushiswa. (IHubo 119:81-88) Ngenxa yokushushiswa abagabadelayo, umhubi wayezizwa “njengegabha lesikhumba emsini.” (IHubo 119:83, 86) Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, amanzi, iwayini, nezinye izinto eziwuketshezi kwakuphathwa ngamagabha esikhumba. Lapho engaphethe lutho, la magabha ayengase ashwabane uma elengiswe ngasemlilweni endlini engenashimula. Kuke kwenzeke yini ukuba izinkinga noma ushushiso kukwenze uzizwe “njengegabha lesikhumba emsini”? Uma kuke kwenzeke, thembela kuJehova, uthandaze: “Ngilonde ngokomusa wakho wothando, ukuze ngigcine isikhumbuzo somlomo wakho.”—IHubo 119:88.
23. Sixoxe ngani kuyiHubo 119:1-88, futhi yini esingase sizibuze yona njengoba silangazelela ukutadisha iHubo 119:89-176?
23 Lokhu esixoxe ngakho engxenyeni yokuqala yeHubo 119 kubonisa ukuthi uJehova uzibonisa umusa wothando izinceku zakhe ngoba zithembela ezwini lakhe futhi ziyazithanda izimiso, izikhumbuzo, imiyalo, nemithetho yakhe. (IHubo 119:16, 47, 64, 70, 77, 88) Uyajabula ngokuthi labo abazinikele kuye bahlala beqaphile ngokuvumelana nezwi lakhe. (IHubo 119:9, 17, 41, 42) Njengoba usulangazelela ukutadisha ingxenye esele yaleli hubo elimnandi, kuhle ukuzibuza, ‘Ngiyalivumela ngempela yini izwi likaJehova ukuba likhanyise indlela yami?’
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Lapha kukhulunywa ngomyalezo kaJehova; akukhulunywa ngakho konke okuqukethwe yiBhayibheli—iZwi likaNkulunkulu.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Injabulo yeqiniso ixhomekephi?
• Izwi likaJehova lisigcina kanjani sihlanzekile ngokomoya?
• Izwi likaNkulunkulu lisinika ngaziphi izindlela isibindi nenduduzo?
• Kungani kufanele sibe nokholo kuJehova nasezwini lakhe?
[Izithombe ekhasini 11]
URuthe, uRahabi, nabasha abangamaHebheru ababedingiselwe eBhabhiloni ‘bahlala beqaphile ngokuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu’
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
Ngesibindi, uPawulu ‘wakhuluma ngezikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu phambi kwamakhosi’