Isahluko Sesibili
Ubaba Namadodana Akhe Ahlubukayo
1, 2. Chaza ukuthi kwenzeke kanjani ukuba uJehova abe namadodana ahlubukayo.
WAYEZONDLA kahle izingane zakhe, njengoba kungenza noma imuphi umzali onothando. Iminyaka eminingi wayeqikelela ukuthi ziyadla, ziyagqoka futhi zinendawo yokukhosela. Lapho kudingeka, wayeziyala. Kodwa isijeziso ezazisithola sasingeqisi; ngaso sonke isikhathi sasinikezwa “ngezinga elifanele.” (Jeremiya 30:11) Singacabanga-ke ubuhlungu abuzwayo lo baba onothando lapho kudingeka asho la mazwi: “Ngondlé amadodana futhi ngawakhulisa, kodwa wona angivukele.”—Isaya 1:2b.
2 La madodana ahlubukayo okukhulunywa ngawo lapha abantu bakwaJuda, futhi lo baba ophatheke kabi uJehova uNkulunkulu. Kwaze kwakubi! UJehova uye wabondla abantu baseJudiya futhi wabaphakamisela esikhundleni esiphezulu phakathi kwezizwe. Kamuva, wabakhumbuza ngomprofethi uHezekeli, wathi: “Ngaqhubeka ngakugqokisa isembatho esifekethisiwe ngakugqokisa izicathulo zesikhumba semvu yamanzi ngakusonga ngelineni elicolekile ngakwemboza ngendwangu ebizayo.” (Hezekeli 16:10) Noma kunjalo, izikhathi eziningi abantu bakwaJuda abakwazisi lokho uJehova abenzele kona. Kunalokho, bayahlubuka, noma bayavukela.
3.Kungani uJehova ebiza amazulu nomhlaba ukuba kufakazele ukuvukela kukaJuda?
3 Ngesizathu esihle, uJehova wandulelisa la mazwi aphathelene namadodana akhe ahlubukayo ngale nkulumo: “Yizwani, O mazulu, ubeke indlebe, O mhlaba, ngoba uJehova ngokwakhe ukhulumile.” (Isaya 1:2a) Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili, amazulu nomhlaba, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ezwa ama-Israyeli enikezwa izixwayiso ezicacile ngemiphumela yokungalaleli. UMose wathi: “Ngimisa amazulu nomhlaba, njengofakazi ngokumelene nani namuhla bokuthi niyoshabalala nokushabalala ngokushesha niphele ezweni eniwela iJordani ukuba nilithathe.” (Duteronomi 4:26) Manje, ngosuku luka-Isaya, uJehova ubiza amazulu angabonakali nomhlaba obonakalayo ukuba kufakaze ngokuvukela kukaJuda.
4. UJehova ukhetha ukuziveza kanjani kuJuda?
4 Ukuba bucayi kwesimo kudinga indlela eqondile yokusisingatha. Nokho, ngisho nakulezi zimo ezibucayi kangaka, kuyaphawuleka—futhi kuyajabulisa—ukuthi uJehova uziveza kuJuda engumzali onothando kunokuba abe umnikazi wakhe omthengile. Kufana nokuthi uJehova unxusa abantu bakhe ukuba bacabangele le ndaba ngombono kababa ososizini ngenxa yamadodana akhe aphambukayo. Hleze abanye abazali kwaJuda basesimweni esifanayo futhi lesi siqhathaniso sibashukumisela esenzweni esithile. Kunoma yikuphi, uJehova usezomangalela uJuda.
Izilwane Ezinonya Zazi Kangcono
5. Ngokungafani no-Israyeli, inkunzi nembongolo ikubonisa kanjani ukwethembeka?
5 Ngo-Isaya, uJehova uthi: “Inkunzi imazi kahle umthengi wayo, nembongolo umkhombe womnikazi wayo; u-Israyeli yena akazange azi, abantu bami abazange baziphathe ngokuqonda.” (Isaya 1:3)a Inkunzi nembongolo yizilwane eziboshelwayo abazaziyo abantu baseMpumalanga Ephakathi. Ngempela, abantu baseJudiya ngeke baphike ukuthi ngisho nalezi zilwane eziphansi ziyawubonisa umuzwa wokwethembeka, ukuqaphela ukuthi zinomnikazi. Kulokhu, cabangela lokho okwabonwa umcwaningi weBhayibheli ekupheleni kosuku edolobheni elithile laseMpumalanga Ephakathi: “Wathi ungaba ngaphakathi kwezindonga umhlambi waqala ukuhlakazeka. Zonke izinkabi zazimazi kahle hle umninizo, nendlela eya ekhaya, futhi azizange zixakeke nakancane ezindledlaneni ezididayo eziyingcingo nezigwegwile. Imbongolo yona, yaqonda ngqó esangweni, yaya ‘endaweni yomniniyo.’”
6. Abantu bakwaJuda bahluleke kanjani ukwenza ngokuqonda?
6 Njengoba izinto ezinjalo ngokungangabazeki zivamile ngosuku luka-Isaya, iphuzu lesigijimi sikaJehova licacile: Uma ngisho nesilwane esinonya simqaphela umniniso nesibaya saso, abantu bakwaJuda bangabeka zaba zini ngokushiya uJehova? Ngempela, abazange “baziphathe ngokuqonda.” Sengathi abalazi iqiniso lokuthi ukuchuma kwabo nokuba khona kwabo nje kukodwa kuxhomeke kuJehova. Ngempela, kuwubufakazi besihe ukuthi uJehova usabiza abantu baseJudiya ngokuthi “abantu bami”!
7. Yiziphi izindlela esingabonisa ngazo ukuthi siyawazisa amalungiselelo kaJehova?
7 Akumelwe neze siziphathe ngendlela ebonisa ukuntula ukuqonda ngokuba sehluleke ukubonisa ukwazisa ngakho konke uJehova asenzele kona! Kunalokho, kufanele silingise umhubi uDavide, owathi: “Ngizokudumisa, O Jehova, ngayo yonke inhliziyo yami; Ngizomemezela yonke imisebenzi yakho emangalisayo.” (IHubo 9:1) Ukuqhubeka singenisa ulwazi ngoJehova kuzosikhuthaza kulokhu, ngoba iBhayibheli lithi “ukuqonda kungukuba nolwazi ngoNgcwelengcwele.” (IzAga 9:10) Ukuzindla nsuku zonke ngezibusiso zikaJehova kuyosisiza sibe ababongayo futhi singamthathi kalula uBaba wethu wasezulwini. (Kolose 3:15) “Ongikhazimulisayo yilowo onikela ukubonga njengomhlatshelo wakhe,” kusho uJehova, “lowo ogcina indlela emisiwe, ngizomenza abone insindiso kaNkulunkulu.”—IHubo 50:23.
Ukwedelela “ONgcwele Ka-Israyeli” Ngendlela Eshaqisayo
8. Kungani abantu bakwaJuda bengase babizwe ngokuthi “isizwe esinesono”?
8 U-Isaya uqhubeka nesigijimi sakhe ngamazwi ashubile esizweni sakwaJuda: “Maye kuso isizwe esinesono, abantu abasindwa isiphambeko, inzalo eyenza okubi, amadodana achithayo! Bamshiyile uJehova, baye bamphatha ngendelelo oNgcwele ka-Israyeli, baphenduké bafulathela.” (Isaya 1:4) Izenzo ezimbi zinganqwabelana kuze kube sezingeni lokuba zifane nomthwalo osindayo nocindezelayo. Ngosuku luka-Abrahama uJehova wachaza izono zeSodoma neGomora ngokuthi ‘zinzima kakhulu.’ (Genesise 18:20) Manje kubonakala okufanayo kubantu bakwaJuda, ngoba u-Isaya uthi ‘basindwa isiphambeko.’ Ubuye ababize ngokuthi “inzalo eyenza okubi, amadodana achithayo.” Yebo, abantu baseJudiya bafana nezingane ezingamahlongandlebe. “Baphenduké bafulathela,” noma njengoba i-New Revised Standard Version ikubeka, “bahlukene ukwehlukana” noYise.
9. Ibaluleke ngani inkulumo ethi “oNgcwele Ka-Israyeli”?
9 Ngenkambo yabo yokunhlanhlatha, abantu bakwaJuda babonisa ukumedelela okukhulu “oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.” Ibaluleke ngani le nkulumo, etholakala izikhathi ezingu-25 encwadini ka-Isaya? Ukuba ongcwele kusho ukuhlanzeka nokuba msulwa. UJehova ungcwele ngezinga eliphakeme kunawo wonke. (IsAmbulo 4:8) Ama-Israyeli akhunjuzwa leli qiniso njalo lapho ebona amagama aqoshwe kungcwecwe ocwebezelayo esigqokweni sompristi omkhulu: “Ubungcwele bungobukaJehova.” (Eksodusi 39:30) Ngakho, ngokubiza uJehova ngokuthi “oNgcwele ka-Israyeli,” u-Isaya ugcizelela ububi besono sikaJuda. Phela lezi zihlubuki ziwephula ingcaca umyalo owawunikezwe oyisemkhulu: “Kumelwe nizingcwelise, nibe ngcwele, ngoba mina ngingcwele”!—Levitikusi 11:44.
10. Singakugwema kanjani ukwedelela “oNgcwele Ka-Israyeli”?
10 AmaKristu namuhla kumelwe enze konke angakwenza ukuze agweme ukulandela isibonelo sikaJuda sokwedelela “oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.” Kumelwe alingise ubungcwele bukaJehova. (1 Petru 1:15, 16) Futhi kudingeka ‘azonde okubi.’ (IHubo 97:10) Imikhuba engahlanzekile njengokuziphatha okubi kobulili, ukukhonza izithombe, ukweba nokudakwa, ingalonakalisa ibandla lobuKristu. Yingakho besuswa ekuhlanganyeleni nebandla labo abangafuni ukuyeka lezi zinto. Ekugcineni, labo abalandela inkambo yokungahlanzeki bangaphenduki, ngeke bazijabulele izibusiso zikahulumeni woMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ngempela, yonke imisebenzi enjalo emibi iwukumedelela ngendlela eshaqisayo “oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.”—Roma 1:26, 27; 1 Korinte 5:6-11; 6:9, 10.
Bayagula Kusukela Ekhanda Kuya Onyaweni
11, 12. (a) Chaza isimo esibi sikaJuda. (b) Kungani kungafanele simdabukele uJuda?
11 U-Isaya ube esezama ukubonisana nabantu bakwaJuda ngokubabonisa isimo sabo sokugula. Uthi: “Kukuphi futhi lapho ungase ushaywe khona, njengoba unezela ukuvukela okwengeziwe?” Empeleni u-Isaya ubabuza ukuthi: ‘Ave senihlupheke ngokwanele? Nizidonselelani amanzi ngomsele ngokuqhubeka nihlubuka?’ U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Lonke ikhanda lisesimweni sokugula, nayo yonke inhliziyo ibuthaka. Akukho ndawo ephilileyo kuwo kusukela ematheni onyawo kuze kufike ngisho nasekhanda.” (Isaya 1:5, 6a) UJuda usesimweni esenyanyekayo, unesifo—uyagula ngokomoya kusukela ekhanda kuya onyaweni. Isiphetho esikhwantabalisayo ngempela!
12 Ingabe kufanele simdabukele uJuda? Phinde! Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili sonke isizwe sakwa-Israyeli saxwayiswa ngokufaneleyo ngesijeziso sokungalaleli. Ngokwengxenye, satshelwa: “UJehova uyokushaya ngethumba elibulalayo emadolweni akho womabili nasemilenzeni yakho yomibili, ongeke ukwazi ukuphulukiswa kukho, kusukela ematheni onyawo kuya okhakhayini lwekhanda lakho.” (Duteronomi 28:35) Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, uJuda manje uzwa yona kanye le miphumela yenkambo yakhe yokungezwa. Konke lokhu bekungagwenywa ukube abantu bakwaJuda babevele balalela uJehova.
13, 14. (a) Ulimale kanjani uJuda? (b) Ingabe ukuhlupheka kukaJuda kumenza acabange kabusha ngenkambo yakhe yokuhlubuka?
13 U-Isaya uyaqhubeka echaza isimo sikaJuda esidabukisayo: “Amanxeba nemivimbo nemidwa emisha—akuzange kukhanywe noma kuboshwe, futhi akuzange kube khona ukuthambisa ngamafutha.” (Isaya 1:6b) Umprofethi lapha ubhekisela ezinhlotsheni ezintathu zokulimala: amanxeba (ukusikeka, njengokusikwa inkemba noma ummese), imivimbo (ukuvuvukala okubangelwa ukushaywa), nemidwa emisha (izilonda ezivulekile ezisanda kuvela, ezibonakala zingeke ziphole). Umbono onikezwayo lapha owomuntu ojeziswe kanzima ngazo zonke izindlela ongazicabanga, kwangaba bikho ngxenye yomzimba wakhe esindayo. Ngempela uJuda usesimweni esibi kakhulu.
14 Ingabe isimo sikaJuda esibuhlungu simenza aphendukele kuJehova? Cha! UJuda ufana nehlongandlebe elichazwe kuzAga 29:1: “Umuntu osolwa ngokuphindaphindiwe kodwa ayenze ibe lukhuni intamo yakhe uyophuka ngokuzumayo, futhi kungabibikho ukuphulukiswa.” Lesi sizwe sibonakala singeke siphulukiseke. Njengoba u-Isaya ekubeka, amanxeba aso ‘awazange akhanywe noma aboshwe, futhi akuzange kube khona ukuthambisa ngamafutha.’b Ngamanye amazwi, uJuda ufana nesilonda esikhamisile, esingaboshiwe ngamabhandeshi, nesiqubuka yonke indawo.
15. Singazivikela ngaziphi izindlela ekuguleni okungokomoya?
15 Nathi kumelwe sikuqaphele ukugula okungokomoya, sifunde kuJuda. Njengokugula okungokwenyama, kungangena noma ubani kithi. Kakade, ukhona yini kithina ongachayekile ezifisweni zenyama? Ubugovu nesifiso senjabulo eyeqile kungagxila ezinhliziyweni zethu. Ngakho, kudinga siziqeqeshele ‘ukwenyanya okubi sibambelele kokuhle.’ (Roma 12:9) Kudingeka sihlakulele nezithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke. (Galathiya 5:22, 23) Ngokwenza kanjalo, siyosigwema isimo esahlupha uJuda—sokugula ngokomoya kusukela ekhanda kuya onyaweni.
Izwe Eliyincithakalo
16. (a) U-Isaya usichaza kanjani isimo sendawo yakwaJuda? (b) Kungani abanye bethi la mazwi cishe ashiwo phakathi nokubusa kuka-Ahazi, kodwa singawaqonda kanjani?
16 Manje u-Isaya uyakuyeka ukufanekisa ngezifo abese ephendukela esimweni sendawo yakwaJuda. Njengokungathi ubuka ithafa elicekelwe phansi yimpi, uthi: “Izwe lenu liyincithakalo, imizi yenu ishiswa ngomlilo; umhlabathi wenu—izihambi ziwudla khona kanye phambi kwenu, futhi incithakalo injengokugumbuqela okwenziwa izihambi.” (Isaya 1:7) Ezinye izazi zithi nakuba la mazwi etholakala ekuqaleni kwencwadi ka-Isaya, cishe ashiwo kamuva ekuphileni kwalo mprofethi, mhlawumbe phakathi nokubusa kwenkosi embi u-Ahazi. Zigomela ngokuthi isikhathi sokubusa kuka-Uziya sasingesokuchuma okukhulu ukuba ingafaneleka incazelo engenathemba kanje. Kuyavunywa, akunakushiwo kugonyelwe ukuthi incwadi ka-Isaya ibhalwe ngokulandelana kwezenzakalo yini noma cha. Nokho, amazwi ka-Isaya aphathelene nencithakalo cishe ayisiprofetho. Lapho esho la mazwi, kungenzeka ukuthi u-Isaya usebenzisa indlela esetshenziswayo kwezinye izindawo eBhayibhelini—indlela yokuchaza isenzakalo esisazokwenzeka njengokungathi sesenzekile kakade, ngaleyo ndlela kugcizelelwa ukuthi leso siprofetho siyogcwaliseka nakanjani.—Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 11:15.
17. Kungani incazelo engokwesiprofetho yokuchithwa kungafanele ibamangaze abantu bakwaJuda?
17 Kunoma ikuphi, incazelo engokwesiprofetho yokuchithwa kukaJuda akufanele ibamangaze laba bantu abangezwa nabangalaleli. Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili uJehova wayebaxwayisile ngalokho okwakuyokwenzeka uma behlubuka. Wathi: “Mina, ngiyokwenza izwe libe incithakalo, futhi izitha zenu ezihlala kulo ziyomane ziligqolozele ngokumangala. Nina ngiyonihlakaza phakathi kwezizwe, futhi ngiyohosha inkemba emgodleni nginilandele; izwe lenu liyoba incithakalo, nemizi yenu iyoba incithakalo engenalutho.”—Levitikusi 26:32, 33; 1 AmaKhosi 9:6-8.
18-20. Agcwaliseka nini amazwi ka-Isaya 1:7, 8, futhi uJehova ‘ubashiya’ ngayiphi indlela “abambalwa” ngalesi sikhathi?
18 Amazwi aku-Isaya 1:7, 8 ngokusobala agcwaliseka phakathi nokuhlasela kwe-Asiriya okuphumela ekubhujisweni kuka-Israyeli, ukubhujiswa okufinyelela ezindaweni eziningi nokuhlupheka kwaJuda. (2 AmaKhosi 17:5, 18; 18:11, 13; 2 IziKronike 29:8, 9) Nokho, uJuda akaqothulwa ngokuphelele. U-Isaya uthi: “Indodakazi yaseZiyoni isele njengedokodo esivinini, njengendlwana yokuqapha ensimini yamakhukhamba, njengomuzi ovinjezelwe.”—Isaya 1:8.
19 Phakathi nakho konke lokhu kuqothulwa, “indodakazi yaseZiyoni,” iJerusalema, iyosala imile. Kodwa iyobe ibukeka ingavikelekile neze—kuhle kwedlangala esivinini noma idokodo lomlindi ensimini yamakhukhamba. Sisohambweni sehlisa iNayile, esinye isazi sekhulu le-19 sakhumbula amazwi ka-Isaya lapho sibona amadokodo anjalo, lawo esawachaza ngokuthi “afana nothango oluvimbe umoya oqhamuka enyakatho.” Lapho sekuqediwe ukuvuna kwaJuda, la madokodo ayeyekwa adilike futhi awohloke. Nakuba iJerusalema lingase libonakale lingelutho phambi kwebutho lase-Asiriya elinqoba konke, liyosinda.
20 U-Isaya uphetha le nkulumo eyisiprofetho: “Ukube uJehova wamabutho ngokwakhe wayengasishiyelanga abasindileyo abambalwa nje kuphela, ngabe sibé njengeSodoma, ngabe sifané neGomora ngokwalo.” (Isaya 1:9)c UJehova uyomsiza uJuda, amelane namandla e-Asiriya. Ngokungefani neSodoma neGomora, uJuda ngeke aqedwe. Uyosinda.
21. Ngemva kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema yiBabiloni, uJehova ‘wabashiyelani abambalwa’?
21 Ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu, uJuda waphinde wasongelwa. Abantu babengafundanga esijezisweni esalethwa nge-Asiriya. “Babeqhubeka benza uteku ngezithunywa zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso bedelela amazwi akhe futhi bebahleka insini abaprofethi bakhe.” Ngenxa yalokho, “kwafika ukufutheka kukaJehova ngokumelene nabantu bakhe, kwaze kwangaba bikho kuphulukiswa.” (2 IziKronike 36:16) Inkosi yaseBabiloni uNebukadinesari yanqoba uJuda, futhi kulokhu, akusalanga lutho ‘olunjengedokodo esivinini.’ Ngisho neJerusalema labhujiswa. (2 IziKronike 36:17-21) Nakuba kunjalo, uJehova ‘washiya abambalwa.’ Nakuba uJuda abekezela iminyaka engu-70 esekudingisweni, uJehova waqikelela ukuthi isizwe asipheli, ikakhulu uhlu lukaDavide, olwaluzoveza uMesiya owayethenjisiwe.
22, 23. Ekhulwini lokuqala, uJehova ‘wabashiyelani abambalwa’?
22 Ekhulwini lokuqala, u-Israyeli wabhekana nenhlekelele yokugcina njengabantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano. Lapho uJesu eziveza njengoMesiya othenjisiwe, isizwe samenqaba, futhi ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wasilahla. (Mathewu 21:43; 23:37-39; Johane 1:11) Ingabe uJehova wayengeke esaba nesizwe esikhethekile emhlabeni? Cha. Umphostoli uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi u-Isaya 1:9 wayeyobuye agcwaliseke futhi. Ecaphuna inguqulo ye-Septuagint, wabhala: “Njengoba nje u-Isaya ayeshilo esikhathini esingaphambili: ‘Ngaphandle kokuba uJehova wamabutho asishiyele inzalo, ngabe saba nje njengeSodoma, futhi ngabe senziwa saba nje njengeGomora.’”—Roma 9:29.
23 Abasindileyo manje kwakungamaKristu agcotshiwe, ayebe nokholo kuJesu Kristu. Okokuqala, kwakungamaJuda akholwayo. Kamuva kwangena abeZizwe abakholwayo. Bebonke bakha u-Israyeli omusha, “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.” (Galathiya 6:16; Roma 2:29) Le “nzalo” yasinda ekubhujisweni kwesimiso sezinto sobuJuda ngo-70 C.E. Ngempela, “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” usenathi namuhla. Manje sekukhona nezigidi zabantu bezizwe abakholwayo, abakha “isixuku esikhulu, okungekho muntu [okwazi] ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi.”—IsAmbulo 7:9.
24. Yini okufanele bonke abantu bayiqaphele uma befisa ukusinda enhlekeleleni enkulu kunazo zonke ezokwehlela isintu?
24 Ngokushesha leli zwe lizobhekana nempi ye-Armagedoni. (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Nakuba lena kuyoba inhlekelele engaphezu kokuhlaselwa kukaJuda ngabase-Asiriya noma abaseBabiloni, engaphezu ngisho kokubhubhisa kwamaRoma iJudiya ngo-70 C.E., bayoba khona abayosinda. (IsAmbulo 7:14) Yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo-ke ukuba sonke siwacabangisise amazwi ka-Isaya kuJuda! Ásho ukusinda kwabathembekileyo emuva ngaleso sikhathi. Futhi angasho ukusinda kwabakholwayo namuhla.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Kule ndaba, elithi “Israyeli” libhekisela embusweni wakwaJuda wezizwe ezimbili.
b Amazwi ka-Isaya abhekisela kwezokwelapha zosuku lwakhe. Umcwaningi weBhayibheli u-E. H. Plumptre uyaphawula: “‘Ukuvala’ noma ‘ukukhama’ inxeba elibhibhayo kwakuyinqubo eyayizanywa kuqala ukuze kukhishwe ubovu; ngemva kwalokho, njengasendabeni kaHezekeli (isahl. xxxviii. 21), laligcotshwa umuthi bese ‘liyaboshwa,’ kamuva kwakusetshenziswa amafutha okuthoba, noma, njengakuLuka x. 34, kube iwayini, ukuze kugezwe isilonda.”
c I-Commentary on the Old Testament, kaC. F. Keil noF. Delitzsch, ithi: “Inkulumo yomprofethi lapha isiyanqamuka. Iqiniso lokuthi lapha ihlukaniswa ibe izingxenye ezimbili ezihlukene, libonakala embhalweni ngesikhala esikhona phakathi kwevesi lesi-9 nele-10. Le ndlela yokuhlukanisa izingxenye ezinkulu nezincane, ngokushiya isikhala noma ngokunqamula imisho, indala kunonkamisa, futhi isekelwe esikweni lasendulo impela.”
[Isithombe ekhasini 20]
Ngokungafani neSodoma neGomora, elakwaJuda ngeke lihlale phakade lingenamuntu