Isahluko Samashumi Amabili Nambili

U-Isaya Ubikezela ‘Isenzo SikaJehova Esiyinqaba’

Isaya 28:1–29:24

1, 2. Kungani u-Israyeli noJuda bezizwa belondekile?

OKWAMANJE u-Israyeli noJuda bazizwa belondekile. Abaholi babo babumbe umfelandawonye wezombangazwe nezizwe ezinkulu nezinamandla kunabo, bezama ukuthola ukulondeka ezweni eliyingozi. ISamariya, inhloko-dolobha yakwa-Israyeli, liphendukele eSiriya elingumakhelwane, kanti iJerusalema, inhloko-dolobha yakwaJuda, lithembele e-Asiriya elinonya.

² Ngaphezu kokuthembela ezinhlanganweni ezintsha zezombusazwe, abanye embusweni wasenyakatho bangase balindele ukuvikelwa uJehova—nakuba beqhubeka besebenzisa amathole egolide ekukhulekeleni kwabo. UJuda naye uyaqiniseka ukuthi angathembela esivikelweni sikaJehova. Ithempeli likaJehova alikho yini eJerusalema, inhloko-dolobha yakhe? Kodwa kunezenzakalo ezingalindelekile ezizokwehlela zombili lezi zizwe. UJehova uphefumulela u-Isaya ukuba abikezele izenzakalo eziyobonakala zingavamile ngempela kubantu bakhe abaphambukayo. Fu-thi amazwi akhe anezifundo ezibalulekile kithi sonke namuhla.

“Izidakwa Zakwa-Efrayimi”

3, 4. Umbuso wakwa-Israyeli osenyakatho uziqhenya ngani?

³ U-Isaya uqala isiprofetho sakhe ngamazwi athusayo: “Maye kuwo umqhele ovelele wezidakwa zakwa-Efrayimi, nembali ebunayo yomhlobiso wawo wobuhle ephezu kwekhanda lesigodi esivundile salabo abahlulwa yiwayini! Bheka! UJehova unomuntu onamandla noyingqabavu. Njengesiphepho sesichotho esihambisana nokuduma, . . . ngokuqinisekile uyowisela phansi emhlabeni ngamandla. Imiqhele evelele yezidakwa zakwa-Efrayimi iyonyathelwa phansi ngezinyawo.”—Isaya 28:1-3.

⁴ U-Efrayimi, isizwe esivelele kakhulu kweziyishumi zasenyakatho, umelela wonke umbuso wakwa-Israyeli. Inhloko-dolobha yaso, iSamariya, lisendaweni enhle nefiselekayo “phezu kwekhanda lesigodi esivundile.” Abaholi bakwa-Efrayimi bayaziqhenya ‘ngomqhele wabo ovelele’ wokukhululeka ebukhosini bukaDavide eJerusalema. Kodwa ‘bayizidakwa,’ badakiwe ngokomoya ngenxa yokwakha umfelandawonye neSiriya ukuze balwe noJuda. Konke okuyigugu kubo sekuzonyathelwa yizinyawo zabahlaseli.—Qhathanisa no-Isaya 29:9.

 5. U-Israyeli ukusiphi isimo esibucayi, kodwa u-Isaya unikeza liphi ithemba?

⁵ U-Efrayimi akasiboni isimo esibucayi akuso. U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Imbali ebunayo yomhlobiso wawo wobuhle ephezu kwekhanda lesigodi esivundile kumelwe ibe njengekhiwane elivuthwe kuqala kungakabi yihlobo, okuthi, lapho umboni elibona, aligwinye, lisesentendeni yesandla sakhe.” (Isaya 28:4) U-Efrayimi uzowela ezandleni ze-Asiriya, abe ukudla okumnandi okuzoba umthamo owodwa nje. Ingabe kusho ukuthi alikho-ke ithemba? Njengokuvamile, iziprofetho zika-Isaya zesahlulelo zihambisana nethemba. Ngisho noma isizwe singawa, ngosizo lukaJehova abantu abathembekile bayosinda. “UJehova wamabutho uyoba njengomqhele womhlobiso nanjengomgexo omuhle wezimbali kwabaseleyo kubantu bakhe, nanjengomoya wobulungisa kohlezi ekwahluleleni, nanjengamandla kwabanqanda impi esangweni.”—Isaya 28:5, 6. 

“Badukile”

 6. U-Israyeli uqothulwa nini, kodwa kungani kungafanele uJuda ajabule?

⁶ Usuku lokulandisa kweSamariya lufika ngo-740 B.C.E. lapho abase-Asiriya beliqothula leli zwe futhi umbuso wasenyakatho uphela njengesizwe esizimele. Kuthiwani ngoJuda? Izwe lakhe lizohlaselwa i-Asiriya, kanti kamuva iBabiloni lizobhubhisa inhloko-dolobha yakhe. Kodwa ngesikhathi sokuphila kuka-Isaya, ithempeli nabapristi bakwaJuda kuzoqhubeka kusebenza, nabaprofethi bazoqhubeka beprofetha. Ingabe kufanele uJuda ajabule ngesehlo esizokwehlela umakhelwane wakhe osenyakatho? Akufanele! UJehova uzolungisa izinto noJuda nabaholi bakhe ngenxa yokungalaleli nokuntula kwabo ukholo.

 7. Abaholi bakwaJuda badakwe ngayiphi indlela, futhi kuba namuphi umphumela?

⁷ Eqondisa isigijimi sakhe kuJuda, u-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Nalaba futhi—badukile ngenxa yewayini futhi baye bazulazula ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo. Umpristi nomprofethi—badukile ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo, baphithene ngenxa yewayini, bazulazulile ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo; badukile ekuboneni kwabo, badiyazelile ngokuqondene nesinqumo. Ngoba wonke amatafula asegcwele ubuhlanzo obungcolile—akukho ndawo engenabo.” (Isaya 28:7, 8) Kuyenyanyeka! Ukudakwa ngokoqobo endlini kaNkulunkulu kungaba kubi ngempela. Kodwa laba bapristi nabaprofethi badakwe ngokomoya—izingqondo zabo zidungwe ukuthembela ngokweqile ezinhlanganweni zabantu. Baye bazikhohlisa ngokucabanga ukuthi inkambo yabo iyona kuphela esebenzayo, mhlawumbe bakholelwa ukuthi manje sebenalo elinye icebo uma kwenzeka isivikelo sikaJehova sehluleka. Esimweni sabo sokudakwa ngokomoya, laba baholi benkolo bakhafula izinkulumo ezinyanyekayo nezingcolile ezibonisa isimo sabo esibi sokuntula ukholo lwangempela ezithembisweni zikaNkulunkulu.

 8. Samukelwa kanjani isigijimi sika-Isaya?

⁸ Abaholi bakwaJuda basabela kanjani esixwayisweni sikaJehova? Bamhleka usulu u-Isaya, bamsola ngokuthi ukhuluma nabo njengokungathi bayizinsana: “Umuntu uyofundisa bani ulwazi, ubani ayomenza aqonde lokho okuzwakele? Ingabe yilabo abalunyulwé obisini, abasuswé emabeleni? Ngoba ‘ngumyalo phezu komyalo, umyalo phezu komyalo, umucu wokulinganisa phezu komucu wokulinganisa, umucu wokulinganisa phezu komucu wokulinganisa, kancane lapha, kancane laphaya.’” (Isaya 28:9, 10) Yeka ukuthi u-Isaya uzwakala ephindaphinda futhi engasile kanjani kubo! Ulokhu ephindaphinda, ethi: ‘Yilokhu uJehova akuyalile! Yilokhu uJehova akuyalile! Yile indinganiso kaJehova! Yile indinganiso kaJehova!’a Kodwa maduze nje uJehova “uzokhuluma” nezakhamuzi zakwaJuda ngesenzo esithile. Uzothumela amabutho aseBabiloni—abantu bakwelinye izwe abakhuluma ulimi oluhluke ngempela. Ngokuqinisekile, lawo mabutho ayokwenza “umyalo” kaJehova “phezu komyalo,” futhi uJuda uyokuwa.—Funda u-Isaya 28:11-13.

Izidakwa Ezingokomoya Namuhla

9, 10. Amazwi ka-Isaya asebenza nini futhi kanjani ezizukulwaneni zakamuva?

⁹ Ingabe iziprofetho zika-Isaya zagcwaliseka ku-Israyeli noJuda wasendulo kuphela? Cha! UJesu noPawulu bacaphuna amazwi akhe futhi bathi asebenza esizweni sosuku lwabo. (Isaya 29:10, 13; Mathewu 15:8, 9; Roma 11:8) Nanamuhla kuphakame isimo esifana nesosuku luka-Isaya.

¹⁰ Manje, ngabaholi benkolo beLobukholwa abathembela kwezombusazwe. Bayantengantenga, kuhle kwezidakwa zakwa-Israyeli nakwaJuda, bagxambukela ezindabeni zezombusazwe, bejabula ngokuthi baxoxisana nabantu okuthiwa bakhulu kuleli zwe. Esikhundleni sokukhuluma iqiniso leBhayibheli elimsulwa, bakhuluma ukungcola. Amehlo abo angokomoya anofasimba, ababona abaqondisi besintu abathembekile.—Mathewu 15:14.

11. Abaholi beLobukholwa basabela kanjani ezindabeni ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu?

¹¹ Abaholi beLobukholwa basabela kanjani lapho oFakazi BakaJehova bebaqaphelisa ngokuwukuphela kwethemba leqiniso, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu? Abaqondi. Kubona, kusengathi oFakazi balokhu bebhibhidla njengabantwana. Abaholi benkolo bazibukela phansi lezi zithunywa futhi bazihleka usulu. NjengamaJuda osuku lukaJesu, abawufuni uMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi abafuni imihlambi yabo izwe ngawo. (Mathewu 23:13) Ngakho, baxwayiswa ngokuthi uJehova ngeke alokhu ekhuluma ngezithunywa zakhe ezilungileyo. Siyeza isikhathi sokuba labo abangazithobi eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu “baphuke babekelwe ugibe babanjwe,” yebo, babhujiswe ngokuphelele.

“Isivumelwano NoKufa”

12. Siyini lesi “sivumelwano noKufa” uJuda acabanga ukuthi usenzile?

¹² U-Isaya uyaqhubeka nesimemezelo sakhe: “Nina madoda nithé: ‘Senzé isivumelwano noKufa; sibangele ukuba kube khona umbono neSheyoli; isikhukhula esikhulu esisheshayo esigubuzelayo, uma kwenzeka sidlula, ngeke size kithi, ngoba senzé amanga aba yisiphephelo sethu futhi sizithukusé emangeni.’” (Isaya 28:14, 15) Abaholi bakwaJuda baqhosha ngokuthi imifelandawonye yabo yezombusazwe iyabavikela ekunqotshweni. Banomuzwa wokuthi benze “isivumelwano noKufa” ukuba kungabathinti. Kodwa isiphephelo sabo esingenalusizo ngeke sibavikele. Izivumelwano zabo zingamanga. Ngokufanayo namuhla, ubuhlobo obuseduze eLobukholwa elinabo nabaholi bezwe ngeke bulivikele lapho kufika isikhathi sikaJehova sokuba lilandise. Nakanjani kuyoba ukuphela kwalo.—IsAmbulo 17:16, 17.

13. Lingubani “itshe elivivinyiwe,” futhi eLobukholwa lililahle kanjani?

¹³ Kufanele ngabe babheka kuphi-ke laba baholi benkolo? U-Isaya manje uloba isithembiso sikaJehova: “Ngibeka itshe njengesisekelo eZiyoni, itshe elivivinyiwe, igumbi eliyigugu lesisekelo esiqinisekile. Akekho obonisa ukholo oyokuba netwetwe. Ubulungisa ngizobenza bube ngumucu wokulinganisa nokulunga kube yileveli; isichotho siyosikhukhula isiphephelo samanga, namanzi akhukhule yona kanye indawo yokucasha.” (Isaya 28:16, 17) Kungakabiphi u-Isaya esho la mazwi, inkosi ethembekile uHezekiya ibekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi eZiyoni, futhi umbuso wayo uyasindiswa, awusindiswa amazwe angomakhelwane, kodwa ukungenela kukaJehova. Nokho, la mazwi aphefumulelwe awagcwaliseki kuHezekiya. Lapho umphostoli uPetru ecaphuna la mazwi ka-Isaya, wabonisa ukuthi uJesu Kristu, inzalo kaHezekiya eyaba khona ngemva kwesikhathi eside, ‘uyitshe elivivinyiwe’ nokuthi akekho obonisa ukholo kuYe okudingeka esabe. (1 Petru 2:6) Ave kudabukisa ukuthi abaholi beLobukholwa, nakuba bethi bangamaKristu, benzé lokho uJesu enqaba ukukwenza! Bazifunele udumo namandla kuleli zwe kunokuba balindele uJehova ukuba alethe uMbuso wakhe ongaphansi kukaJesu Kristu iNkosi.—Mathewu 4:8-10.

14. Siyochithwa nini “isivumelwano” sikaJuda “noKufa”?

¹⁴ Lapho “isikhukhula esikhulu esisheshayo esigubuzelayo” samabutho aseBabiloni sidlula ezweni, uJehova uyodalula isiphephelo sikaJuda sezombusazwe ukuthi singamanga. “Isivumelwano senu noKufa ngokuqinisekile siyochithwa,” kusho uJehova. “Isikhukhula esikhulu esisheshayo esigubuzelayo, lapho sidlula—niyoba yindawo yaso yokubhudulwa. Njalo lapho sidlula, . . . siyoba yisizathu sokuthuthumela nje kuphela ukuze senze abanye baqonde lokho okuzwakele.” (Isaya 28:18, 19) Yebo, kungafundwa isifundo esinamandla kulokho okwenzeka kulabo abathi bakhonza uJehova kodwa bebe bebeke ithemba labo ezizweni ababumbe nazo imifelandawonye.

15. U-Isaya ukufanekisa kanjani ukunganeli kwesivikelo sikaJuda?

¹⁵ Cabangela isimo abazithola bekuso laba baholi bakwaJuda. “Ukhukho lube lufushane kakhulu ukuba umuntu angenaba kulo, neshidi elilukiwe libe lincane kakhulu lapho umuntu ezisonga ngalo.” (Isaya 28:20) Kunjengokungathi bayacambalala ukuze baphumule, kodwa akucambalaleki. Kungaba ukuthi izinyawo zilunguza emakhazeni, noma uma bethi bayafinyela okokwembatha kube kuncane kakhulu ukuba kubasonge bahlale befudumele. Isimo sasisibi kanjena osukwini luka-Isaya. Futhi sinjalo nakunoma yibaphi namuhla ababeka ithemba labo esiphephelweni seLobukholwa esingamanga. Yeka indlela okunengeka ngayo ukuthi ngenxa yokuzihilela kwezombusazwe, abanye babaholi beLobukholwa baye bazithola bethinteka ezenzweni zonya ezimbi njengokuhlanzwa nokuqothulwa kohlanga!

‘Isenzo SikaJehova Esiyinqaba’

16. Yisiphi ‘isenzo sikaJehova esiyinqaba,’ futhi kungani lo msebenzi ungavamile?

¹⁶ Umphumela wokugcina uyohluka ngokuphelele kulokho abaholi benkolo bakwaJuda abakulindele. UJehova uzokwenza into engavamile ezidakweni ezingokomoya zakwaJuda. “UJehova uyovuka njengaseNtabeni iPherasimi, uyoyaluza njengasethafeni eliphansi eduze kweGibeyoni, ukuba enze isenzo sakhe—isenzo sakhe siyinqaba—futhi asebenze umsebenzi wakhe—umsebenzi wakhe awujwayelekile.” (Isaya 28:21) Ezinsukwini zeNkosi uDavide, uJehova wenza abantu bakhe bawanqoba ngokuphawulekayo amaFilisti eNtabeni iPherasimi nasethafeni eliphansi laseGibeyoni. (1 IziKronike 14:10-16) Ezinsukwini zikaJoshuwa, waze wenza ngisho nelanga lama phezu kweGibeyoni ukuze u-Israyeli awanqobe ngokuphelele ama-Amori. (Joshuwa 10:8-14) Lokho kwakungavamile impela! Namanje uJehova usazokulwa, kodwa manje eselwa nalabo abathi bangabantu bakhe. Kukhona yini okunye okungabonakala kuyinqaba noma kungavamile ngaphezu kwalokhu? Akukho, uma kucatshangelwa ukuthi iJerusalema liyisikhungo sokukhulekela uJehova nomuzi wenkosi yaKhe egcotshiwe. Kuze kube manje, umuzi kaDavide wasebukhosini eJerusalema awukaze ugumbuqelwe. Noma kunjalo, uJehova uzosenza ngempela “isenzo” sakhe “esiyinqaba.”—Qhathanisa noHabakuki 1:5-7.

17. Ukukloloda kuyoba namuphi umphumela ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho sika-Isaya?

¹⁷ Khona-ke, u-Isaya uyaxwayisa: “Ningazibonakalisi ningabaklolodeli, ukuze izibopho zenu zingabi namandla, ngoba yebo kukhona okuthile okunqunyiwe, engikuzwile eNkosini EnguMbusi, uJehova wamabutho, ukuqothulwa kwalo lonke izwe.” (Isaya 28:22) Nakuba abaholi bekloloda, isigijimi sika-Isaya siyiqiniso. Usithole kuJehova, abaholi abasebuhlotsheni besivumelwano naye. Nanamuhla, abaholi benkolo beLobukholwa bayakloloda uma bezwa ‘ngesenzo sikaJehova esiyinqaba.’ Baze bahebeze nokuhebeza. Kodwa isigijimi esimenyezelwa oFakazi BakaJehova siyiqiniso. Sitholakala eBhayibhelini, incwadi labo baholi abathi bayimelele.

18. U-Isaya ukufanekisa kanjani ukulinganisela kukaJehova lapho ekhipha isijeziso?

¹⁸ Ngokuqondene nabantu abaqotho abangabalandeli labo baholi, uJehova uyobalungisa futhi ababuyisele emseni wakhe. (Funda u-Isaya 28:23-29.) Njengoba nje nomlimi esebenzisa izindlela ezithambathambile ekubhuleni okusanhlamvu okuthambile, njengekhumini, noJehova uyasishintshashintsha isijeziso sakhe kuye ngomuntu nezimo. Akalokothi enze izinto ngendlov’ iyangena noma ngokucindezela, kodwa uthatha isinyathelo ngombono wokulungisa abaphambukayo. Yebo, uma abantu besabela ekunxuseni kukaJehova, lisuke lisekhona ithemba. Ngokufanayo nanamuhla, nakuba isiphetho seLobukholwa siqinisekisiwe, noma ubani ozithoba eMbusweni kaJehova angasigwema isahlulelo esibi esizayo.

Maye NgeJerusalema!

19. Kungayiphi indlela iJerusalema lizoba ‘iziko le-altare,’ futhi lokhu kwenzeka nini futhi kanjani?

¹⁹ Ukhuluma ngani manje uJehova? “Maye kulo i-Ariyeli, kulo i-Ariyeli, umzana uDavide akanisa kuwo! Nezelani unyaka komunye unyaka; imikhosi mayijikeleze imijikelezo yayo. Kumelwe ngenze izinto zibe nzima nge-Ariyeli, kumelwe kube khona ukukhala nesililo, kumelwe kimi libe njengeziko le-altare likaNkulunkulu.” (Isaya 29:1, 2) Elithi “Ariyeli” cishe lisho ukuthi “Iziko Le-altare LikaNkulunkulu,” futhi ngokusobala lapha lisho iJerusalema. Ithempeli ne-altare lalo lomnikelo lilapha. AmaJuda alokhu enza imikhosi neminikelo yemihlatshelo lapha, kodwa uJehova akumthokozisi ukukhulekela kwawo. (Hoseya 6:6) Kunalokho, unquma ukuthi umuzi ngokwawo uzokuba ‘iziko le-altare’ ngenye indlela. Njenge-altare, uzogcwala igazi futhi ushiswe. UJehova uze achaze nendlela okuzokwenzeka ngayo lokhu: “Kumelwe ngikanise nxazonke zakho, futhi kumelwe ngikuvimbezele ngothango lwezigxobo ezicijile ngikuphakamisele izivimbezelo. Kumelwe uthotshiswe kangangokuthi uyokhuluma usemhlabathini impela, futhi izwi lakho liyozwakala lisholo phansi njengokungathi livela othulini.” (Isaya 29:3, 4) Lokhu kwagcwaliseka ngo-607 B.C.E. kwaJuda naseJerusalema lapho ibutho laseBabiloni livimbezela futhi lichitha umuzi, lishisa nethempeli. IJerusalema lithotshiswa libe phansi njengomhlabathi elalakhiwe kuwo.

20. Siyoba yini isiphetho sezitha zikaNkulunkulu?

²⁰ Lungakafiki olwamanqamu, ngezikhathi ezithile iba khona inkosi elalela uMthetho kaJehova kwaJuda. Umphumela uba yini? UJehova uyabalwela abantu bakhe. Ngisho noma isitha singamboza izwe, siba ‘njengokusampuphu okucolekileyo nanjengamakhoba.’ Ngesikhathi sakhe esimisiwe, uJehova uyabahlakaza “ngokuduma nangokuzamazama, nangomsindo omkhulu, nangesivunguvungu, nangesiphepho, nangelangabi lomlilo oqothulayo.”—Isaya 29:5, 6.

21. Chaza umfanekiso oku-Isaya 29:7, 8.

²¹ Amabutho anenzondo angase akulindele ngamehlo abomvu ukuphanga iJerusalema nokuzitika ngempango. Kodwa azomangala! Njengomuntu olambile ophupha ezitika ngokudla, kodwa aphaphame esalambile, izitha zikaJuda ngeke zilithole idili ezililindele ngamehlo abomvu kangaka. (Funda u-Isaya 29:7, 8.) Cabangela lokho okwenzeka ebuthweni lase-Asiriya eliholwa uSaneheribi lapho lisongela iJerusalema ngosuku lwenkosi ethembekile uHezekiya. (Isaya, izahluko 36 no-37) Ngobusuku obubodwa, kungaphakamanga sandla samuntu, ibutho lase-Asiriya elesabekayo liyadudulwa—amaqhawe alo anesibindi angu-185 000 afile! Amathemba okunqoba ayophinde abhuntshiswe lapho ibutho likaGogi wakwaMagogi livivela ukulwa nabantu bakaJehova esikhathini esingekude esizayo.—Hezekeli 38:10-12; 39:6, 7.

22. Ukudakwa kukaJuda ngokomoya kumthinta kanjani?

²² Ngesikhathi u-Isaya ekhipha le ngxenye yesiprofetho sakhe, abaholi bakwaJuda abanalo ukholo olunjengolukaHezekiya. Imifelandawonye abayibumbe nezizwe ezingamesabi uNkulunkulu ibadakile ngokomoya. “Libalani, futhi nimangale; ziphumputhekiseni, niphumputhekiswe. Badakiwe, kodwa abadakwanga yiwayini; bahambé ngokuntenga, kodwa hhayi ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo.” (Isaya 29:9) Njengoba bedakiwe ngokomoya, laba baholi bayahluleka ukuqonda incazelo yombono onikezwa umprofethi kaJehova weqiniso. U-Isaya uthi: “UJehova uthululele phezu kwenu umoya wobuthongo obukhulu; uyawavala amehlo enu, nina baprofethi, umboze ngisho namakhanda enu, nina baboni bemibono. Kini umbono wakho konke uba njengamazwi encwadi evaliwe, abayinika umuntu owaziyo umbhalo, bethi: ‘Sicela ufunde lokhu ngokuzwakalayo,’ bese kudingeke athi: ‘Angikwazi, ngoba kuvaliwe’; futhi le ncwadi iyonikezwa umuntu ongawazi umbhalo, othile ethi: ‘Sicela ufunde lokhu ngokuzwakalayo,’ kudingeke athi: ‘Angiwazi nhlobo umbhalo.’”—Isaya 29:10-12.

23. Kungani uJehova eyokwenza uJuda alandise, futhi uyokwenza kanjani lokho?

²³ Abaholi benkolo bakwaJuda bathi banokuqonda okungokomoya, kodwa bamshiyile uJehova. Bafundisa imibono yabo siqu esontekile yokulungile nokungalungile, bebeka izaba ngemisebenzi yabo yokuntula ukholo neyokuziphatha okubi nokwenza abantu balahlekelwe umusa kaNkulunkulu. “Ngokuthile okumangalisayo”—‘isenzo sakhe esiyinqaba’—uJehova uyobenza balandise ngobuzenzisi babo. Uthi: “Ngenxa yokuthi laba bantu basondelé ngomlomo wabo, futhi baye bangidumisa ngezindebe zabo nje kuphela, inhliziyo yabo bayidedisele kude nami, nokungesaba kwabo kuba ngumyalo wabantu ofundiswayo, ngakho-ke nangu mina, nginguLowo oyophinde athathe isinyathelo ngokumangalisayo ngalesi sizwe, ngendlela emangalisayo nangokuthile okumangalisayo; ukuhlakanipha kwabantu baso abahlakaniphile kumelwe kushabalale, nakho kanye ukuqonda kwabantu baso abanokuqonda kuyozithukusa.” (Isaya 29:13, 14) Ukuhlakanipha nokuqonda uJuda athi unakho kuyoshabalala lapho uJehova ehlela izinto ukuze uMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni ushanele sonke isimiso sakhe senkolo sezihlubuki. Kwenzeka into efanayo ekhulwini lokuqala ngemva kokuba abaholi bamaJuda ababethi bahlakaniphile bedukise isizwe. Kuzokwenzeka into efanayo nakweLobukholwa osukwini lwethu.—Mathewu 15:8, 9; Roma 11:8.

24. AbaseJudiya babonisa kanjani ukuthi bantula ukumesaba uNkulunkulu?

²⁴ Nokho, okwamanje laba baholi bakwaJuda abaqhoshayo bakholelwa ukuthi bahlakaniphe ngokwanele ukuba bahlanekezele ukukhulekela kweqiniso bangajeziswa. Kunjalo ngempela? U-Isaya ususa isembozo abazimboze ngaso, abembule ukuthi abamesabi ngeqiniso uNkulunkulu futhi ngenxa yalokho abanakho ukuhlakanipha kwangempela: “Maye kulabo abajula kakhulu ekuthukuseleni uJehova injongo, nalabo abazenzo zabo zenzeke endaweni emnyama, kuyilapho bethi: ‘Ngubani osibonayo, ngubani owaziyo ngathi?’ Yeka ukonakala kwenu nina madoda! Ingabe umbumbi kufanele abhekwe njengobumba? Ngoba, ingabe into eyenziwe kufanele yini ithi ngokuqondene nomenzi wayo: ‘Akangenzanga’? Futhi ingabe yona into ebunjiwe empeleni iyasho yini ngokuqondene nombumbi wayo ukuthi: ‘Akabonisanga kuqonda’?” (Isaya 29:15, 16; qhathanisa neHubo 111:10.) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bacabanga ukuthi bazithukuse kanjani, phambi kukaNkulunkulu ‘báze futhi banekwe obala.’—Heberu 4:13.

‘Ngokuqinisekile Abayizithulu Bayokuzwa’

25. Kungamuphi umqondo “abayizithulu” beyokuzwa?

²⁵ Nokho, abantu ababonisa ukholo bangayithola insindiso. (Funda u-Isaya 29:17-24; qhathanisa noLuka 7:22.) “Abayizithulu bayokuzwa amazwi ale ncwadi,” isigijimi seZwi likaNkulunkulu. Yebo, lokhu akukona ukuphulukiswa kokungezwa okungokoqobo. Ukuphulukiswa okungokomoya. U-Isaya uphinde akhombe phambili ekumisweni koMbuso kaMesiya nasekubuyiselweni kokukhulekela kweqiniso emhlabeni ngokubusa kukaMesiya. Lokhu kwenzeke esikhathini sethu, futhi izigidi zabaqotho ziyamvumela uJehova azilungise futhi zifunda ukumdumisa. Yeka ukugcwaliseka okuvusa amadlingozi! Ekugcineni, kuyofika usuku lokuba bonke abantu, yonke into ephefumulayo, idumise uJehova futhi ingcwelise igama lakhe elingcwele.—IHubo 150:6.

26. Yiziphi izikhumbuzo ezingokomoya “abayizithulu” abazizwayo namuhla?

²⁶ Labo “abayizithulu” abezwa iZwi likaNkulunkulu bafundani namuhla? Ukuthi wonke amaKristu, ikakhulukazi lawo ibandla eliwabheka njengezibonelo, kumelwe aqikelele ukuthi ayakugwema ‘ukuduka ngenxa yophuzo oludakayo.’ (Isaya 28:7) Ngaphezu kwalokho, akumelwe neze sikhathale ukuzwa izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu, ezisisiza ukuba sibe nombono ongokomoya ngazo zonke izinto. Nakuba amaKristu ezithoba ngokufanele eziphathimandleni zikahulumeni futhi ethembele kuzo ukuze athole izinkonzo ezithile, insindiso ayiveli ezweni, kodwa ivela kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Akumelwe futhi sikhohlwe ukuthi, njengesahlulelo seJerusalema elahlubuka, isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu kulesi sizukulwane asinakubalekelwa. Ngosizo lukaJehova singaqhubeka simemezela isixwayiso sakhe naphezu kokuphikiswa, njengoba kwenza u-Isaya.—Isaya 28:14, 22; Mathewu 24:34; Roma 13:1-4.

27. Yiziphi izifundo amaKristu angazifunda esiprofethweni sika-Isaya?

²⁷ Abadala nabazali bangafunda endleleni uJehova anikeza ngayo isiyalo, ngaso sonke isikhathi bafune ukubuyisela umenzi wobubi emseni kaNkulunkulu, hhayi ukumane bamjezise nje. (Isaya 28:26-29; qhathanisa noJeremiya 30:11.) Futhi sonke, kuhlanganise nezingane, sikhunjuzwa indlela okubaluleke ngayo ukukhonza uJehova ngokusuka enhliziyweni, singazishayi amaKristu ukuze sijabulise abantu. (Isaya 29:13) Kumelwe sibonise ukuthi, ngokungafani nezakhamuzi zakwaJuda ezingenalukholo, siyamesaba uJehova futhi simhlonipha ngokujulile. (Isaya 29:16) Ngaphezu kwalokho, kudingeka sibonise ukuthi sizimisele ukulungiswa nokufundiswa uJehova.—Isaya 29:24.

28. Izinceku zikaJehova zizibheka kanjani izenzo zakhe zokusindisa?

²⁸ Yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo ukuba nokholo kuJehova nokuthembela endleleni yakhe yokwenza izinto! (Qhathanisa namaHubo 146:3.) Isigijimi esiyisixwayiso esisishumayelayo siyozwakala siwubuntwana kwabaningi. Ukubhujiswa okuzayo kwenhlangano ethi ikhonza uNkulunkulu, eLobukholwa, kuyinto eyinqaba nengavamile. Kodwa uJehova uzosenza “isenzo” sakhe “esiyinqaba.” Akungatshazwa lokho. Ngakho, kulezi zinsuku zokugcina zalesi simiso sezinto, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zithembela ngokugcwele eMbusweni wakhe naseNkosini yakhe emisiwe, uJesu Kristu. Ziyazi ukuthi izenzo zikaJehova zokusindisa—ezihambisana ‘nomsebenzi wakhe ongajwayelekile’—ziyolethela isintu esilalelayo izibusiso zaphakade.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Izithombe ekhasini 289]

ELobukholwa liye lathembela emifelandawonyeni eliyakhe nababusi abangabantu kunokuthembela kuNkulunkulu

[Isithombe ekhasini 290]

UJehova wenza ‘isenzo sakhe esingavamile’ lapho evumela iBabiloni libhubhise iJerusalema

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Labo ababeyizithulu ngokomoya ‘bangezwa’ iZwi likaNkulunkulu