Isahluko Sesihlanu
UNkulunkulu Weqiniso Ubikezela Ukukhululwa
1, 2. (a) UJehova ubuza miphi imibuzo? (b) UJehova uyokufakazela kanjani ukuthi uyena kuphela uNkulunkulu weqiniso?
‘UBANI uNkulunkulu weqiniso?’ Sekungamakhulu amaningi eminyaka ubuzwa lo mbuzo. Kuyamangalisa ukuthi encwadini ka-Isaya, uJehova naye uyawubuza lo mbuzo! Uthi abantu mabacabangele lokhu: ‘Ingabe uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso? Noma ingabe ukhona omunye ongasibekela inselele isikhundla sakhe?’ Ngemva kokuqala ingxoxo, uJehova unikeza indinganiso ekahle yokuxazulula le ndaba yokuba komuntu uNkulunkulu. Indlela amaphuzu avezwe ngayo yenza abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho bafinyelele esiphethweni esisodwa esingenakuphikiswa.
2 Ngesikhathi sika-Isaya, izithombe zikhulekelwa ezindaweni eziningi. Endabeni engagudli guma necacile elotshwe esahlukweni 44 sencwadi ka-Isaya engokwesiprofetho, yeka indlela okuvezwa kuyize ngayo ukukhulekela izithombe! Noma kunjalo, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bawele kulo lolu gibe lokukhulekela izithombe. Ngakho, njengoba kubonisiwe ezahlukweni ezingaphambili zika-Isaya, ama-Israyeli afanelwe isijeziso esinzima. Kodwa ngothando, uJehova uqinisekisa lesi sizwe ngokuthi nakuba ezobavumela abaseBabiloni bathumbe abantu bakhe, uyobakhulula ngesikhathi sakhe. Ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zokukhululwa ekuthunjweni nezokubuyiselwa kokukhulekela okumsulwa ziyobonisa ngaphandle kokuthandabuza ukuthi nguJehova kuphela onguNkulunkulu weqiniso, bese beba namahloni bonke abakhulekela onkulunkulu bezizwe abangaphili.
3.Amazwi ka-Isaya angokwesiprofetho awasiza kanjani amaKristu namuhla?
3 Iziprofetho ezikule ngxenye ka-Isaya nokugcwaliseka kwazo endulo kuyaluqinisa ukholo lwamaKristu namuhla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amazwi ka-Isaya ayisiprofetho ayagcwaliseka osukwini lwethu futhi ayogcwaliseka nasesikhathini esizayo. Futhi lezo zenzakalo zihilela umkhululi nokukhululwa okungaphezulu kakhulu kwalokho okwakubikezelwe ukuthi kuyokwenzeka kubantu bakaNkulunkulu basendulo.
Ithemba Ngalabo AbangabakaJehova
4. UJehova uwakhuthaza athini ama-Israyeli?
4 Isahluko 44 siqala ngamazwi amahle ayisikhumbuzo sokuthi ama-Israyeli akhethwe uNkulunkulu, ahlukaniswa nezizwe eziwazungezile ukuze abe inceku yakhe. Lesi siprofetho sithi: “Manje lalela, Jakobe nceku yami, nawe Israyeli, engikukhethile. Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, uMenzi wakho noMbumbi wakho, owaqhubeka ekusiza ngisho kwasesiswini, ‘Ungesabi, nceku yami Jakobe, nawe, Jeshuruni, engikukhethile.’” (Isaya 44:1, 2) UJehova ubelokhu emnakekela u-Israyeli kusukela esesesibelethweni sikanina, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, kusukela u-Israyeli aba isizwe ngemva kokuphuma eGibithe. Abantu bakhe ubabiza abahlanganise ndawonye ngegama elithi “Jeshuruni,” elisho ukuthi “Oqotho,” isiqu esibonisa uthando nesisa. Leli gama libuye libe isikhumbuzo sokuthi ama-Israyeli kumelwe ahlale eqotho, okuyinto evame ukuwahlula.
5, 6. Yimaphi amalungiselelo amahle uJehova awenzela u-Israyeli, futhi kuba namuphi umphumela?
5 Yeka indlela amnandi naqabula ngayo amazwi kaJehova alandelayo! Uthi: “Ngizothululela amanzi kowomileyo, nemifudlana egeleza kahle endaweni eyomile. Ngizothululela umoya wami enzalweni yakho, nesibusiso sami kwabozalo lwakho. Ngokuqinisekile bayomila njengokungathi baphakathi kotshani obuluhlaza, njengobhabhulini ngaseziseleni zamanzi.” (Isaya 44:3, 4) Ngisho nasezweni elomile nelishisayo, imithi ingamila ngasemifuleni. Lapho uJehova ekhipha amanzi akhe eqiniso anikeza ukuphila futhi ethulula umoya wakhe ongcwele, u-Israyeli uyochuma kakhulu, kuhle kwemithi emila ngasezinkaseni. (IHubo 1:3; Jeremiya 17:7, 8) UJehova uyonikeza abantu bakhe amandla okufeza indima yabo njengofakazi bokuthi unguNkulunkulu.
6 Umphumela waloku kuthululwa komoya ongcwele uyoba ukuthi abanye abantu bayobazisa kabusha ubuhlobo buka-Israyeli noJehova. Ngakho, siyafunda: “Lona uyothi: ‘NgingokaJehova.’ Lowo azibize ngegama likaJakobe, futhi omunye uyobhala esandleni sakhe ukuthi: ‘OkaJehova.’ Umuntu uyozinika isiqu segama lika-Israyeli.” (Isaya 44:5) Yebo, kuyoba udumo ukubizwa ngegama likaJehova ngoba kuyobe kubonakala ukuthi uyena kuphela uNkulunkulu weqiniso.
Inselele Konkulunkulu
7, 8. Uthini uJehova lapho ephonsela onkulunkulu bezizwe inselele?
7 Ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, umuntu othenga omunye kabusha—ngokuvamile owesilisa oyisihlobo esiseduze—wayengathenga umuntu amkhiphe ebugqilini. (Levitikusi 25:47-54; Ruthe 2:20) UJehova manje uthi uyena Oyothenga kabusha u-Israyeli—uyena oyohlawulela isizwe, lijabhe iBabiloni nabo bonke onkulunkulu balo. (Jeremiya 50:34) Ukhuluma ngokuqondile nonkulunkulu bamanga nabakhulekeli babo, uthi: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, iNkosi ka-Israyeli nalowo Owamthenga kabusha, uJehova wamabutho, ‘Ngingowokuqala futhi ngingowokugcina, ngaphandle kwami akekho uNkulunkulu. Ngubani onjengami? Makamemeze, ukuze akusho futhi akwethule kimi. Mabasitshele bona kokubili izinto ezizayo nezinto esezizongena, kusukela ngamisa abantu bakudala. Ningabi nangebhe, futhi ningalutheki. Angizange yini kusukela ngaleso sikhathi nginenze ngabanye ukuba nizwe futhi nganazisa kona? Ningofakazi bami. Ukhona yini uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami? Cha, alikho iDwala. Alikho engilazile.’”—Isaya 44:6-8.
8 UJehova uphonsela onkulunkulu inselele yokuba bethule ubufakazi. Bangazisho yini izinto ezingakenzeki njengokungathi sezenzekile, babikezele izenzakalo ezizayo ngokunemba kube sengathi seziyenzeka kakade? ‘Owokuqala nowokugcina’ kuphela ongenza into enjalo, owaba khona bengakabi khona nakuba khona onkulunkulu bamanga, noyoqhubeka ekhona lapho sebelibaleke kudala. Abantu bakhe akudingeki besabe ukufakazela leli qiniso, ngoba basekelwa uJehova, yena oqine njengesizemazema sedwala!—Duteronomi 32:4; 2 Samuweli 22:31, 32.
Ubuze Bokukhulekela Izithombe
9.Ingabe kwakungalungile ngama-Israyeli ukwenza noma yiluphi uhlobo lomfanekiso wento ephilayo? Chaza.
9 Ukubekela inselele kukaJehova onkulunkulu bamanga kusikhumbuza umyalo wesibili eMiyalweni Eyishumi. Lowo myalo usho ngokucacile ukuthi: “Akumelwe uzenzele umfanekiso oqoshiwe noma isimo esinjenganoma yini esemazulwini phezulu noma esemhlabeni ngaphansi noma esemanzini ngaphansi komhlaba. Akumelwe uzikhothamele noma unxenxelwe ukuba uzikhonze.” (Eksodusi 20:4, 5) Lo myalo wawungeve usho ukuthi ama-Israyeli kwakungamelwe enze imifanekiso ethile yokuhlobisa. UJehova ngokwakhe wathi imifanekiso yezimbali, izilwane namakherubi kwakumelwe kubekwe etabernakele. (Eksodusi 25:18; 26:31) Nokho, lezi zinto kwakungamelwe zihlonishwe noma zikhulekelwe. Akekho okwakumelwe athandaze kuleyo mifanekiso noma anikele ngemihlatshelo kuyo. Lo myalo ophefumulelwe ngokwaphezulu wawenqabela ukwenza noma iluphi uhlobo lwesithombe ngenjongo yokusikhulekela. Ukukhulekela izithombe noma ukuzikhothamela ngenhlonipho kufana nokuzikhonza.—1 Johane 5:21.
10, 11. Kungani uJehova ebheka izithombe njengezihlazisayo?
10 U-Isaya manje uchaza ukungabi lusizo kwezithombe ezingaphili namahloni abayoba nawo labo abazenzayo: “Ababumbi bomfanekiso oqoshiwe bonke bayinto engeyona engokoqobo, nezithandwa zabo ngeke nhlobo zibe nanzuzo; futhi njengofakazi babo ababoni lutho futhi abazi lutho, ukuze babe namahloni. Ubani obumbé unkulunkulu noma obumbe umfanekiso oncibilikisiwe? Akubanga nanzuzo nhlobo. Bheka! Bonke abangane bakhe bayoba namahloni, futhi izingcweti zivela kubantu basemhlabeni. Bayoqoqana ndawonye bonke. Bayokuma. Bayoba nengebhe. Bayoba namahloni ngesikhathi esifanayo.”—Isaya 44:9-11.
11 Kungani uNkulunkulu ebheka lezi zithombe njengezihlazisa kangaka? Okokuqala, umfanekiso woMninimandla onke awunakwakhiwa ngokunembile ngezinto eziphathekayo. (IzEnzo 17:29) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukukhulekela into edaliwe kunoMdali kuwukudelela ukuba kukaJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akusehlisi yini isithunzi somuntu, yena owadalwa “ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu”?—Genesise 1:27; Roma 1:23, 25.
12, 13. Kungani umuntu engenakusakha isithombe esifanelwe ukukhulekelwa?
12 Into engaphili ingaba yini ngcwele ngenxa nje yokuthi yakhelwe ukuba ibe yinto yokukhulekelwa? U-Isaya usikhumbuza ukuthi ukwenza isithombe kuwumsebenzi womuntu. Amathuluzi nezindlela zokusebenza zikamakhi wesithombe ziyefana nezanoma imuphi umuntu owenza umsebenzi wezandla: “Umqophi wensimbi ngengwegwe enoqhwaku, yena ubematasa kuyo emalahleni; uyayibumba ngezando, futhi uzigcina ematasa kuyo ngengalo yakhe enamandla. Futhi, uye walamba, ngakho wangaba namandla. Akawaphuzanga amanzi; ngakho uyakhathala. Umqophi wokhuni yena, uye welula umucu wokulinganisa; uyaludweba ngoshoki obomvu; ulusebenza ngesiphalo sokhuni; uqhubeka eludweba ngekhampasi, futhi kancane kancane ulwenza lube njengomfanekiso womuntu, njengobuhle besintu, ukuba luhlale endlini.”—Isaya 44:12, 13.
13 UNkulunkulu weqiniso wadala zonke izinto eziphilayo emhlabeni, kuhlanganise nomuntu. Ukuphila kuwubufakazi obumangalisayo bokuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu, kodwa zonke izinto uJehova azidalile zingaphansi kwakhe. Ingabe umuntu angenza kangcono kunoJehova? Angayenza yini into ephakeme kunaye—ephakeme kangangokuba ifanelwe ukuba azinikele kuyo? Lapho umuntu akha isithombe, uyakhathala, alambe, ome. Lezi izinto ezibonisa ukulinganiselwa komuntu, kodwa okungenani zibonisa nokuthi uyaphila. Isithombe asakhayo singase sifane nomuntu. Singaba sihle nokuba sihle. Kodwa asiphili. Izithombe aziveli nhlobo ezulwini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akukho sithombe esiqoshiwe esake ‘sawa sivela ezulwini,’ njengokungathi asiveli kumuntu ofayo.—IzEnzo 19:35.
14. Abenzi bezithombe bathembele kanjani ngokuphelele kuJehova?
14 U-Isaya uyaqhubeka abonise ukuthi abenzi bezithombe bathembele ngokuphelele ezintweni ezingokwemvelo nasezintweni zokwakha ezidalwe uJehova: “Kukhona omsebenzi wakhe ukugawula imisedari; futhi uthatha uhlobo oluthile lomuthi, yebo isihlekehleke somuthi, futhi uwuyeka uqine phakathi kwemithi yehlathi ukuze ube ngowakhe. Watshala umfire, futhi imvula ethululekayo iqhubeka iwenza ube mkhulu. Usube yinto yokuba umuntu agcine ngayo umlilo uvutha. Ngakho uthatha ingxenye yawo ukuba othe. Eqinisweni ubasa umlilo futhi empeleni abhake isinkwa. Futhi wenza unkulunkulu azomkhothamela. Uwenzé waba ngumfanekiso oqoshiwe, futhi uwa ngobuso phambi kwawo. Ingxenye yawo empeleni uyishisa emlilweni. Kwenye ingxenye yawo wosa kahle inyama ayidlayo, aneliseke. Uyotha athi: ‘Awuzwa-ke! Ngifudumele. Ngiboné ukukhanya komlilo.’ Kodwa ingxenye yawo esele uyenza ibe ngunkulunkulu, ibe ngumfanekiso wakhe oqoshiwe. Uwa ngobuso phambi kwayo ayikhothamele athandaze kuyo athi: ‘Ngikhulule, ngoba ungunkulunkulu wami.’”—Isaya 44:14-17.
15. Yini ebonisa ukuthi umenzi wezithombe untula ukuqonda?
15 Ingabe ukhuni nje olungazange lushe lungamkhulula umuntu? Cha. NguNkulunkulu weqiniso kuphela ongakhulula umuntu. Abantu bangazenza kanjani onkulunkulu izinto ezingaphili? U-Isaya ubonisa ukuthi inkinga yangempela isuke isenhliziyweni yomuntu: “Abakazi, futhi abaqondi, ngoba amehlo abo anindiwe ukuze angaboni, nenhliziyo yabo ukuze ingabi nokuqondisisa. Akekho okhumbulayo enhliziyweni yakhe noma onolwazi noma ukuqonda, othi: ‘Ingxenye yawo ngiyishise emlilweni, futhi ngabhaka nesinkwa phezu kwamalahle awo; ngosa inyama ngidle. Kodwa ingxenye yawo esele ingabe kufanele ngiyenze ibe yinto enengekayo? Ingabe kufanele ngiwe ngobuso phambi kokhuni lomuthi olomile?’ Udla umlotha. Inhliziyo yakhe ekhohlisiwe imdukisile. Akawukhululi umphefumulo wakhe, futhi akasho ukuthi: ‘Awekho yini amanga esandleni sami sokunene?’” (Isaya 44:18-20) Yebo, ukucabanga ukuthi ukukhonza izithombe kungaletha ubuhle obuthile ngokomoya kufana nokudla umlotha esikhundleni sokudla okunomsoco.
16. Kwaqala kanjani ukukhonza izithombe, futhi kubangelwa yini?
16 Empeleni ukukhonza izithombe kwaqala emazulwini lapho isidalwa esinamandla esingumoya esaba uSathane sihahela ukukhulekelwa okwakufanele uJehova kuphela. Isifiso sikaSathane sasinamandla kangangokuba samhlukanisa noNkulunkulu. Ukukhonza izithombe kwaqala lapho empeleni, ngoba umphostoli uPawulu wathi ukuhaha kuyefana nokukhonza izithombe. (Isaya 14:12-14; Hezekeli 28:13-15, 17; Kolose 3:5) USathane wayenga umbhangqwana wokuqala ongabantu ukuba ufukamele imicabango yobugovu. U-Eva wahahela lokho uSathane athi uzomnika kona: “Nakanjani amehlo enu ayovuleka futhi nakanjani niyoba njengoNkulunkulu, nazi okuhle nokubi.” UJesu wathi ukuhaha kusuka enhliziyweni. (Genesise 3:5; Marku 7:20-23) Ukukhonza izithombe kwenzeka uma izinhliziyo sezonakele. Yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo-ke ukuba sonke ‘siqaphe izinhliziyo zethu,’ singalokothi sivumele noma ubani noma yini ukuba ithathe indawo efanele uJehova kuzo!—IzAga 4:23; Jakobe 1:14.
UJehova Unxusa Izinhliziyo
17. Yini okufanele u-Israyeli ayikhumbule?
17 UJehova ube esenxusa ama-Israyeli ukuba akhumbule ukuthi asesikhundleni esiyilungelo nesinomthwalo wemfanelo. Angofakazi bakhe! Uthi: “Khumbula lezi zinto, Jakobe, nawe Israyeli, ngoba uyinceku yami. Ngikubumbile. Uyinceku yami. Israyeli, mina ngeke ngikukhohlwe. Ngizosula izeqo zakho ngokungathi ngefu, nezono zakho ngokungathi ngongqimba lwamafu. Buyela kimi, ngoba ngizokuthenga kabusha. ‘Khamulukani ngenjabulo, nina mazulu, ngoba uJehova uthathé isinyathelo! Memezani ngokunqoba, nonke nina zingxenye eziphansi zomhlaba! Yenamani, nina zintaba, ngokukhamuluka kwenjabulo, wena hlathi nani nonke mithi ekulo! Ngoba uJehova umthengé kabusha uJakobe, futhi ubonisa ubuhle bakhe ku-Israyeli.”—Isaya 44:21-23.
18. (a) Kungani u-Israyeli enesizathu sokuthokoza? (b) Izinceku zikaJehova zingasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe sesihe namuhla?
18 Akuyena u-Israyeli owabumba uJehova. Akayena unkulunkulu owenziwe umuntu. Kunalokho, uJehova wabumba u-Israyeli ukuba abe inceku yakhe ekhethiwe. Futhi uyophinde afakazele ukuthi unguNkulunkulu lapho esikhulula lesi sizwe. Ukhuluma ngesisa nabantu bakhe, abaqinisekise ukuthi uma bephenduka, uyozemboza ngokuphelele izono zabo, afihle iziphambeko zabo njengokungathi uzifihla ngemva kwamafu okungadluli lutho kuwo. Yeka isizathu sokuba u-Israyeli athokoze! Isibonelo sikaJehova sishukumisa izinceku zakhe zanamuhla ukuba zilingise isihe sakhe. Zingamlingisa ngokusiza abaphambukayo—zizame ukubabuyisela esimweni esihle ngokomoya uma kungenzeka.—Galathiya 6:1, 2.
Umvuthwandaba Wesivivinyo SobuNkulunkulu
19, 20. (a) UJehova ululetha ngandlelani udaba lwakhe emvuthwandaba? (b) Yiziphi izinto ezithinta inhliziyo uJehova aziprofetha ngabantu bakhe, futhi ubani oyoba isithunywa sakhe esiyokwenza lezi zinto?
19 UJehova manje uletha udaba lwakhe olungokomthetho emvuthwandaba onamandla. Usezonikeza impendulo yakhe esivivinyweni esinzima kunazo zonke sokuba kwakhe uNkulunkulu—ukukwazi ukubikezela ikusasa ngokunembile. Esinye isazi seBhayibheli sabiza la mavesi amahlanu alandelayo ka-Isaya isahluko 44 ngokuthi “inkondlo ebonisa ukuphakama kukaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli,” uMdali ongukuphela kwakhe, okunguyena yedwa uMembuli wekusasa nethemba lika-Israyeli lokukhululwa. Le ndima ifinyelela umvuthwandaba ophawulekayo ngokumemezela igama lomuntu oyokhulula isizwe eBabiloni.
20 “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, Owakuthenga kabusha noMbumbi wakho kwasesiswini: ‘Mina, Jehova, ngenza zonke izinto, ngelula amazulu ngokwami, ngendlale umhlaba. Ubani owayekanye nami? Ngishafisa izibonakaliso zabakhuluma okuyize, futhi nginguYe owenza ababhuli benze ngokungathi basangene; Lowo owenza amadoda ahlakaniphile aphindele emuva, lowo oguqula ngisho nolwazi lwawo lube ngubuwula; Lowo owenza izwi lenceku yakhe ligcwaliseke, Lowo oyifeza ngokuphelele injongo yezithunywa zakhe; Lowo othi ngeJerusalema, “Lizohlalwa,” nangemizi yakwaJuda, “Izokwakhiwa kabusha, futhi izindawo zalo ezenziwe incithakalo ngizozivusa”; Lowo othi otweni lwamanzi, “Hwamuka; ngizoyomisa yonke imifula yakho”; Lowo othi ngoKoresi, “Ungumalusi wami, futhi uyokufeza konke engikujabulelayo”; ngisho nangokusho kwami ngeJerusalema ukuthi, “Lizokwakhiwa kabusha,” nangethempeli ukuthi, “Siyobekwa isisekelo sakho.”’”—Isaya 44:24-28.
21. Amazwi kaJehova anikeza siphi isiqinisekiso?
21 Yebo, uJehova akanalo nje ikhono lokubikezela izenzakalo zesikhathi esizayo kuphela kodwa futhi unamandla okuyifeza yonke injongo yakhe eyambuliwe. Lesi simemezelo siyoba umthombo wethemba ku-Israyeli. Siyisiqinisekiso sokuthi nakuba amabutho aseBabiloni eyoliqothula izwe, iJerusalema nemizi encike kulo liyophinde livuke, futhi ukukhulekela kweqiniso kuphinde kumiswe. Kanjani?
22. Chaza indlela osha ngayo uMfula i-Ewufrathe.
22 Ababhuli abangaphefumulelwe ngokuvamile abalokothi basho imininingwane eminingi lapho bebikezela, besaba ukuthi ukuhamba kwesikhathi kuzosuke kubaveze ukuthi banamanga. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJehova, ngo-Isaya usho igama lomuntu ayomsebenzisela ukukhulula abantu bakhe ekuthunjweni ukuze baphindele ekhaya futhi bakhe kabusha iJerusalema nethempeli. Igama lakhe uKoresi, futhi waziwa ngokuthi uKoresi Omkhulu WasePheresiya. UJehova unikeza nemininingwane yeqhinga uKoresi ayolisebenzisa ukuze akwazi ukufohla ezivikelweni zeBabiloni ezinkulu neziyinkimbinkimbi. IBabiloni liyobe livikelwe izindonga eziphakeme nemisele yamanzi edabula futhi izungeze lo muzi. UKoresi uyosebenzisa isivikelo esiyinhloko—uMfula i-Ewufrathe—ukuze izinto zimhambele kahle. Ngokwezazi-mlando zasendulo uHerodotus noXenophon, enhla nomfula uma usuka eBabiloni, uKoresi waphambukisa amanzi e-Ewufrathe kwaze kwaba yilapho lo mfula usubohle ngokwanele ukuba amasosha akhe agxambuze awele. Ngokuphathelene nekhono layo lokuvikela iBabiloni, i-Ewufrathe enamandla iyasha.
23. Yimuphi umlando wokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sokuthi uKoresi wayeyokhulula u-Israyeli?
23 Kuthiwani ngesithembiso sokuthi uKoresi uyokhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu nokuthi uyoqikelela ukuthi iJerusalema nethempeli kwakhiwa kabusha? UKoresi uqobo lwakhe, ngesimemezelo esisemthethweni esilondolozwe eBhayibhelini, uthi: “Yilokhu uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya akushilo, ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wamazulu uyiniké mina yonke imibuso yomhlaba futhi yena ngokwakhe ungithumé ukuba ngimakhele indlu eJerusalema, elikwaJuda. Noma ubani phakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bakubo, kwangathi uNkulunkulu wakhe angaba naye. Ngakho makakhuphukele eJerusalema, elikwaJuda, futhi akhe kabusha indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli—unguNkulunkulu weqiniso—eyayiseJerusalema.’” (Ezra 1:2, 3) Izwi likaJehova ngo-Isaya ligcwaliseka ngayo yonke imininingwane!
U-Isaya, UKoresi NamaKristu Namuhla
24. Ukuphuma komyalo ka-Aritahishashita ‘wokubuyisela nokwakha kabusha iJerusalema’ kuhlobana kanjani nokuza kukaMesiya?
24 Isahluko 44 sika-Isaya sikhulisa uJehova njengowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso noMkhululi wabantu bakhe basendulo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lesi siprofetho sinencazelo ejulile kithi sonke namuhla. Umyalo kaKoresi wokwakha kabusha ithempeli laseJerusalema, owakhishwa ngo-538/537 B.C.E., waqala izenzakalo ezafinyelela umvuthwandaba ngokugcwaliseka kwesinye isiprofetho esiphawulekayo. Umyalo kaKoresi walandelwa owombusi wakamuva, u-Aritahishashita, owakhipha umyalo wokuba umuzi waseJerusalema wakhiwe kabusha. Incwadi kaDaniyeli yembula ukuthi “kusukela ekuphumeni kwezwi lokuba kubuyiselwe futhi kwakhiwe kabusha iJerusalema [ngo-455 B.C.E.] kuze kufike uMesiya uMholi,” kuyoba “ngamasonto” angu-69 ayiminyaka engu-7 lilinye. (Daniyeli 9:24, 25) Nalesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka. Ngaso kanye isikhathi esifanele ngonyaka ka-29 C.E., ngemva kweminyaka engu-483 uqalile ukusebenza umyalo ka-Aritahishashita eZweni Lesithembiso, uJesu wabhapathizwa futhi waqala inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni.a
25. Ukuwiswa kweBabiloni uKoresi kufanekiselani ezikhathini zanamuhla?
25 Ukukhululwa kwamaJuda athembekile ekuthunjweni, okwabangelwa ukuwa kweBabiloni, kwafanekisela ukukhululwa kwamaKristu agcotshiwe ekuthunjweni ngokomoya ngo-1919. Loko kukhululwa kwakuwubufakazi bokuthi elinye iBabiloni, elichazwe njengesifebe, iBabiloni Elikhulu—elifanekisela zonke izinkolo zamanga zezwe zindawonye—lase liwile. Njengoba kulotshwe encwadini yesAmbulo, umphostoli uJohane wakubona kusengaphambili ukuwa kwalo. (IsAmbulo 14:8) Wabona nokubhujiswa kwalo okuzumayo. Incazelo kaJohane yokubhujiswa kwalo mbuso wezwe ogcwele izithombe uthi awufane ngandlela-thize nencazelo ka-Isaya yokuphumelela kukaKoresi ukunqoba umuzi waseBabiloni lasendulo. Njengoba nje imisele yamanzi aseBabiloni ayisivikelo yahluleka ukulisindisa kuKoresi, ‘namanzi’ esintu asekela futhi avikele iBabiloni Elikhulu ‘ayosha’ ngaphambi kokuba lithole ukubhujiswa okulifanele.—IsAmbulo 16:12.b
26. Isiprofetho sika-Isaya nokugcwaliseka kwaso siluqinisa kanjani ukholo lwethu?
26 Kulesi sikhathi esikuso, ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kwezinkulungwane ezimbili nesigamu u-Isaya asho isiprofetho sakhe, singabona ukuthi ngempela uNkulunkulu ‘uyifeza ngokuphelele injongo yezithunywa zakhe.’ (Isaya 44:26) Ngakho-ke ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sika-Isaya kuyisibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuthi singazethemba zonke iziprofetho ezisemiBhalweni Engcwele.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Bheka isahluko 11 sencwadi ethi Sinake Isiprofetho SikaDaniyeli!, enyatheliswa yi-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
b Bheka izahluko 35 no-36 zencwadi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze! enyatheliswa yi-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
[Isithombe ekhasini 62]
Ukhuni olungashanga lungamsindisa umuntu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 63]
Ikhanda elenziwe ngemabula (“marble”) lenkosi yase-Iran, cishe uKoresi
[Isithombe ekhasini 75]
UKoresi ugcwalisa isiprofetho ngokuphambukisa amanzi e-Ewufrathe