Isahluko Seshumi

“Isikhathi Sokuthakazelelwa”

Isaya 49:1-26

1, 2. (a) Yisiphi isibusiso esatholwa u-Isaya? (b) Obani abathintekayo emazwini angokwesiprofetho alotshwe engxenyeni yokuqala ka-Isaya isahluko 49?

BONKE abantu abathembekile bebelokhu bejabulela ukwamukelwa nesivikelo sikaNkulunkulu. Kodwa uJehova akamane nje amukele noma ubani ngokunganaki. Umuntu kumelwe asifanelekele isibusiso esinjalo esingenakuqhathaniswa nalutho. Kwaba njalo ngo-Isaya. Wathola umusa kaNkulunkulu futhi uJehova wamsebenzisa njengethuluzi lokutshela abanye intando yaKhe. Isibonelo salokhu silotshwe engxenyeni yokuqala yesahluko 49 sesiprofetho sika-Isaya.

² Ngokwesiprofetho, la mazwi abhekiswe enzalweni ka-Abrahama. Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, leyo nzalo yisizwe sakwa-Israyeli esavela ku-Abrahama. Kodwa indlela ulimi olusetshenziswe ngayo ngokusobala ibhekisela eNzalweni ka-Abrahama osekukade ilindelwe, uMesiya othenjisiwe. La mazwi aphefumulelwe asebenza nakubafowabo bakaMesiya abangokomoya, ababa yingxenye yenzalo ka-Abrahama engokomoya ‘no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’ (Galathiya 3:7, 16, 29; 6:16) Ngokuyinhloko, le ngxenye yesiprofetho sika-Isaya ichaza ubuhlobo obukhethekile obuphakathi kukaJehova neNdodana yakhe ethandekayo, uJesu Kristu.—Isaya 49:26.

Umiswe Futhi Uvikelwe UJehova

3, 4. (a) UMesiya usekelwa ubani? (b) Ukhuluma nobani uMesiya?

³ UMesiya ujabulela ukuthakazelelwa noma ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu. UJehova umnikeza igunya namalungelo adingekayo ukuze afeze isabelo sakhe. Kuyafaneleka-ke ukuba lowo oyoba uMesiya esikhathini esizayo athi: “Ngilaleleni, nina ziqhingi, nakani, nina maqembu ezizwe akude. UJehova ngokwakhe ungibizé kwasesiswini. Ukhulumé ngegama lami ngisesezibilinini zikamama.”—Isaya 49:1.

⁴ UMesiya lapha ukhuluma nabantu abavela “kude.” Nakuba kungamaJuda athenjiswe uMesiya, inkonzo yakhe iyobusisa zonke izizwe. (Mathewu 25:31-33) ‘Iziqhingi namaqembu ezizwe,’ yize engekho esivumelwaneni noJehova, kufanele amlalele uMesiya ka-Israyeli ngoba uthunyelwe ukulethela sonke isintu insindiso.

 5. UMesiya wethiwa maphi amagama engakazalwa nakuzalwa njengomuntu?

⁵ Isiprofetho sithi uJehova uyoqamba uMesiya igama ngaphambi kokuba azalwe njengomuntu. (Mathewu 1:21; Luka 1:31) Kusekude ukuba azalwe, uJesu wethiwa ngokuthi ‘unguMeluleki Omangalisayo, uNkulunkulu Onamandla, uYise Ongunaphakade, iSikhulu Sokuthula.’ (Isaya 9:6) Igama elithi Imanuweli, cishe okuyigama lendodana ka-Isaya, nalo liyigama likaMesiya elingokwesiprofetho. (Isaya 7:14; Mathewu 1:21-23) Ngisho negama ethiwa lona, ayezokwaziwa ngalo uMesiya—elithi Jesu—labikezelwa engakazalwa. (Luka 1:30, 31) Leli gama livela egameni lesiHeberu elisho ukuthi “uJehova Uyinsindiso.” Kusobala ukuthi uJesu akazimisanga yena ukuba abe uKristu.

 6. Umlomo kaMesiya ufana nenkemba ebukhali ngayiphi indlela, futhi ufihlwe noma uthukuswe kanjani?

⁶ UMesiya uyaqhubeka ekhuluma ngokwesiprofetho: “Wenza umlomo wami waba njengenkemba ebukhali. Ungifihle ethunzini lesandla sakhe. Kancane kancane wangenza ngaba umcibisholo ophucuziwe. Wangithukusa emgodleni wakhe wemicibisholo.” (Isaya 49:2) Lapho kufika isikhathi sokuba uMesiya kaJehova aqale inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngo-29 C.E., amazwi nezenzo zikaJesu ngempela kubonakala kunjengezikhali ezibukhali neziphucuziwe, ezikwazi ukuhlaba zingene ezinhliziyweni zezilaleli zakhe. (Luka 4:31, 32) Amazwi nezenzo zakhe kuvusa intukuthelo yesitha esikhulu sikaJehova, uSathane namanxusa akhe. Kusukela uJesu ezalwa, uSathane ubezama ukususa ukuphila kwaKhe, kodwa uJesu unjengomcibisholo othukuswe emgodleni kaJehova.a Angathembela ngokuqiniseka esivikelweni sikaYise. (IHubo 91:1; Luka 1:35) Ngesikhathi esimisiwe, uJesu unikela ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yesintu. Kodwa siyeza isikhathi ayophuma ngaso njengeqhawe lasezulwini elinamandla ehlome ngomqondo ohlukile, ehlome ngenkemba ebukhali ephuma emlonyeni wakhe. Ngalesi sikhathi, le nkemba ebukhali iyobe seyimelela igunya likaJesu lokwahlulela izitha zikaJehova.—IsAmbulo 1:16.

Umshikashika Wenceku KaNkulunkulu Awulona Ize

 7. Asebenza kubani amazwi kaJehova aku-Isaya 49:3, futhi ngani?

⁷ Manje uJehova usho la mazwi ayisiprofetho: “Uyinceku yami, Israyeli, wena engizokubonisa ubuhle bami.” (Isaya 49:3) UJehova ubiza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli ngokuthi inceku yakhe. (Isaya 41:8) Kodwa uJesu Kristu uyiNceku kaNkulunkulu evelele. (IzEnzo 3:13) Ezidalweni zikaNkulunkulu, asikho nesisodwa esingabonakalisa “ubuhle” bukaJehova ukudlula uJesu. Ngakho, nakuba la mazwi umthetho wawo ebhekiswe ku-Israyeli, asebenza kuJesu ngempela.—Johane 14:9; Kolose 1:15.

 8. Abantu bakubo kaMesiya bamphatha kanjani, kodwa uMesiya ubheke ukuthi ubani ozosho ukuthi uphumelele yini noma cha?

⁸ Kodwa akulona yini iqiniso ukuthi abantu abaningi bakubo kaJesu bayamdelela futhi bayamenqaba? Kuyiqiniso. Abaningi esizweni sakwa-Israyeli abamamukeli uJesu njengeNceku kaNkulunkulu egcotshiwe. (Johane 1:11) Konke uJesu akwenzayo esesemhlabeni kungase kubonakale kungenanzuzo etheni, futhi kungabalulekile nakubaluleka kubantu aphila nabo. UMesiya ube esekhuluma ngalesi simo esingase sibonakale siwukungaphumeleli kwenkonzo yakhe: “Ngikhandlekele ize. Ngisebenzise amandla ami wonke kokungekona okungokoqobo nakokuyize.” (Isaya 49:4a) Le nkulumo ayishowo ngoba uMesiya esedikibele. Cabangela lokho akushoyo ngokulandelayo: “Impela ukwahlulelwa kwami kukuJehova, nenkokhelo yami ikuNkulunkulu wami.” (Isaya 49:4b) NguNkulunkulu ozosho ukuthi uMesiya uphumelele yini noma cha, hhayi abantu.

9, 10. (a) UJehova umthumeni uMesiya, futhi uthola miphi imiphumela? (b) Okwenzeka kuMesiya kungawakhuthaza kanjani amaKristu namuhla?

⁹ Ngokuyinhloko, uJesu ukhathalela ukwamukelwa noma ukuthakazelelwa nguNkulunkulu. Kulesi siprofetho, uMesiya uthi: “Manje uJehova, Lowo ongibumba kwasesiswini njengenceku yakhe, uthé mangibuyisele uJakobe kuye, ukuze u-Israyeli abuthelwe kuye. Ngizokhazinyuliswa emehlweni kaJehova, futhi uNkulunkulu wami uyobe ebe yizikhwepha zami.” (Isaya 49:5) UMesiya uzele ukuzophendulela izinhliziyo zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli kuYise wasezulwini. Abaningi abavumi, kodwa abanye bayavuma. Noma kunjalo umvuzo wakhe wangempela ukuJehova uNkulunkulu. Impumelelo yakhe ayikalwa ngezindinganiso zabantu kodwa ngezikaJehova uqobo.

¹⁰ Namuhla, abalandeli bakaJesu bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi bakhandlekela ize. Ezindaweni ezithile imiphumela yenkonzo yabo ingase ibonakale iwubala uma iqhathaniswa nobungako bomsebenzi nomzamo owenziwe. Noma kunjalo bayakhuthazela, bekhuthazwa isibonelo sikaJesu. Baqiniswa nangamazwi omphostoli uPawulu, owabhala: “Ngenxa yalokho, bafowethu abathandekayo, yibani ngabagxilile, abangenakunyakaziswa, ngaso sonke isikhathi ninokuningi kokukwenza emsebenzini weNkosi, nazi ukuthi umshikashika wenu awulona ize eNkosini.”—1 Korinte 15:58.

“Ukukhanya Kwezizwe”

11, 12. Kwenzeke kanjani ukuba uMesiya abe “ukukhanya kwezizwe”?

¹¹ Esiprofethweni sika-Isaya, uJehova ukhuthaza uMesiya ngokumkhumbuza ukuthi ukuba iNceku kaNkulunkulu akuyona “indaba encane.” UJesu kumelwe ‘avuse izizwe zikaJakobe futhi abuyise abalondiweyo baka-Israyeli.’ UJehova uyaqhubeka echaza: “Mina futhi ngikuniké ukuba ube ukukhanya kwezizwe, ukuze insindiso yami ifinyelele emkhawulweni womhlaba.” (Isaya 49:6) UJesu ubakhanyisela kanjani abantu kuze ‘kufinyelele emkhawulweni womhlaba’ njengoba inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni igcina kwa-Israyeli kuphela?

¹² Umlando weBhayibheli ubonisa ukuthi “ukukhanya kwezizwe” kukaNkulunkulu akucishanga lapho uJesu esehambile emhlabeni. Ngemva kweminyaka cishe engu-15 uJesu efile, izithunywa zevangeli uPawulu noBarnaba zacaphuna isiprofetho esiku-Isaya 49:6 zathi sisebenza kubafundi bakaJesu, abafowabo abangokomoya. Zachaza: “UJehova ubeke umyalo phezu kwethu ngala mazwi, ‘Ngikumisé ukuba ube ukukhanya kwezizwe, ukuba ube yinsindiso kuze kube semkhawulweni womhlaba.’” (IzEnzo 13:47) Engakafi nakufa, uPawulu wabona izindaba ezinhle zensindiso zitholwa yiyo “yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu,” hhayi amaJuda kuphela. (Kolose 1:6, 23) Namuhla, abasele kubafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe bayaqhubeka nalo msebenzi. Njengoba besekelwa “isixuku esikhulu” esibalelwa ezigidini, bakhonza ‘njengokukhanya kwezizwe’ emazweni angaphezu kuka-230 emhlabeni.—IsAmbulo 7:9.

13, 14. (a) UMesiya nabalandeli bakhe bathole ukusabela okunjani emsebenzini wokushumayela? (b) Yikuphi ukushintsha kwezimo okuye kwenzeka?

¹³ Ngempela uJehova uzibonakalise eyisekela iNceku yakhe uMesiya, abafowabo bakaMesiya abagcotshiwe, nabo bonke abakha isixuku esikhulu abaqhuba lo msebenzi wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle kanye nabagcotshiwe. Yebo, njengoJesu, abafundi bakhe baye badelelwa futhi baphikiswa. (Johane 15:20) Kodwa ngesikhathi sakhe esifanele, njalo nje uJehova uye enze ukuba isikhuni sibuye nomkhwezeli ukuze ophule izinceku zakhe ezithembekile futhi azinike umvuzo. Ngokuqondene noMesiya ‘odelelekayo emphefumulweni nonengekayo esizweni,’ uJehova uyathembisa: “Amakhosi ngokwawo ayobona futhi ngokuqinisekile ayosukuma, nezikhulu, futhi ziyokhothama ngenxa kaJehova, okholekile, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli, okukhethayo.”—Isaya 49:7.

¹⁴ Kamuva umphostoli uPawulu walobela amaKristu aseFilipi ngalokhu kushintsha kwezimo okwakubikezelwe. Wachaza uJesu ngokuthi wayehlazisiwe esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa kodwa uNkulunkulu wamphakamisa. UJehova wanika iNceku yakhe “[isikhundla] esiphakeme futhi ngomusa wamnika igama elingaphezu kwawo wonke amanye amagama, ukuze egameni likaJesu wonke amadolo aguqe.” (Filipi 2:8-11) Abalandeli bakaKristu abathembekile baxwayisiwe ngokuthi nabo bayoshushiswa. Kodwa njengoMesiya, baqinisekiswa ngokuthi uJehova uyobathakazelela.—Mathewu 5:10-12; 24:9-13; Marku 10:29, 30.

“Isikhathi Esamukeleka Ngokukhethekile”

15. Yisiphi “isikhathi” esikhethekile esikhuluma ngaso isiprofetho sika-Isaya, futhi sishoni?

¹⁵ Isiprofetho sika-Isaya siqhubeka sisho amazwi asemqoka kakhulu. UJehova utshela uMesiya: “Ngesikhathi sokuthakazelelwa ngikuphendulile, futhi ngosuku lwensindiso ngikusizile; ngaqhubeka ngikulonda ukuze ngikunike ube yisivumelwano kubantu.” (Isaya 49:8a) KumaHubo 69:13-18 kulotshwe isiprofetho esifana nalesi. Umhubi ukhuluma “ngesikhathi sokuthakazelelwa,” esebenzisa amazwi athi “isikhathi esamukelekayo.” Lezi zinkulumo zisho ukuthi ukuthakazelelwa uJehova nesivikelo sakhe kudluliselwa kubantu ngendlela ekhethekile, kodwa phakathi nesikhathi esithile esifushane.

16. Saba nini isikhathi sokuthakazelelwa nguJehova kwa-Israyeli wasendulo?

¹⁶ Saba nini leso sikhathi sokuthakazelelwa? Ekusebenzeni kwawo kokuqala, la mazwi ayeyingxenye yesiprofetho sokubuyiselwa futhi ayebikezela ukubuya kwamaJuda ekuthunjweni. Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sathola isikhathi sokuthakazelelwa lapho sesikwazi ‘ukwakha kabusha izwe’ futhi sibuyiselwe “amafa abenziwe incithakalo.” (Isaya 49:8b) Sasingasezona ‘iziboshwa’ eBabiloni. Ngesikhathi sigoduka, uJehova waqikelela ukuthi ‘asilambi’ noma ‘some,’ nokuthi ‘asishiswa ukushisa okugangathayo noma ilanga.’ Ama-Israyeli ahlakazekile abuthana ndawonye aphindela ezweni lawo ‘evela kude, evela enyakatho nasentshonalanga.’ (Isaya 49:9-12) Naphezu kwaloku kugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo kokuqala, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi lesi siprofetho sisebenza nangezinye izindlela.

17, 18. Yisiphi isikhathi sokuthakazelelwa uJehova asimisa ngekhulu lokuqala?

¹⁷ Okokuqala, ngesikhathi sokuzalwa kukaJesu, izingelosi zamemezela ukuthula nokuthakazelelwa noma umusa kaNkulunkulu kubantu. (Luka 2:13, 14) Loku kuthakazelelwa kwakubhekiswe kuphela kulabo ababebonisa ukholo kuJesu, hhayi oquqabeni lwabantu. Kamuva uJesu wasifunda obala isiprofetho esiku-Isaya 61:1, 2 futhi wathi sasisebenza kuye njengommemezeli ‘wonyaka wokuthakazelelwa nguJehova.’ (Luka 4:17-21) Umphostoli uPawulu wathi uKristu wathola isivikelo sikaJehova esikhethekile phakathi nezinsuku aphila ngazo engumuntu wenyama. (Heberu 5:7-9) Ngakho lesi sikhathi sokuthakazelelwa sibhekisela emseni uNkulunkulu awubonisa uJesu phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kwakhe engumuntu.

¹⁸ Nokho, kunokunye ukugcwaliseka kwalesi siprofetho. Ngemva kokucaphuna amazwi ka-Isaya aphathelene nalesi sikhathi sokuthakazelelwa, uPawulu waqhubeka wathi: “Bhekani! Manje yiso isikhathi esamukeleka ngokukhethekile. Bhekani! Manje yilo usuku lwensindiso.” (2 Korinte 6:2) UPawulu waloba la mazwi ngemva kweminyaka engu-22 uJesu afa. Kusobala ukuthi ngesikhathi kuzalwa ibandla lobuKristu ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., uJehova wawandisa unyaka wakhe wokuthakazelela abantu ukuze ahlanganise nabalandeli bakaKristu abagcotshiwe.

19. AmaKristu namuhla angazuza kanjani esikhathini sokuthakazelelwa uJehova?

¹⁹ Kuthiwani ngabalandeli bakaJesu namuhla abangagcotshelwe ukuba yizindlalifa zombuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini? Ingabe labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni bangazuza kulesi sikhathi esamukelekayo? Yebo. Incwadi yeBhayibheli isAmbulo ibonisa ukuthi lesi yisikhathi sikaJehova sokuthakazelela isixuku esikhulu esiyophuma “osizini olukhulu” ukuze sijabulele ukuphila emhlabeni oyipharadesi. (IsAmbulo 7:13-17) Ngakho, wonke amaKristu angayisebenzisa ngokunenzuzo le nkathi emfushane uJehova athakazelela ngayo abantu abangaphelele.

20. AmaKristu angakugwema kanjani ukulahlekelwa injongo yomusa kaJehova ongafanelwe?

²⁰ Umphostoli uPawulu wandulelisa isimemezelo sesikhathi sikaJehova esamukelekayo ngesixwayiso. Wanxusa amaKristu ukuba ‘angawamukeli umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu abese elahlekelwa injongo yawo.’ (2 Korinte 6:1) Ngenxa yalokho, amaKristu asebenzisa wonke amathuba ukuze athokozise uNkulunkulu futhi enze intando yakhe. (Efesu 5:15, 16) Ayobe enza kahle ngokulalela lesi sixwayiso sikaPawulu: “Qaphelani, bafowethu, funa kukhule kunoma ubani kini inhliziyo embi entula ukholo ngokuhlehla kuNkulunkulu ophilayo; kodwa qhubekani nikhuthazana usuku ngalunye, uma nje kusengathiwa ‘Namuhla,’ funa noma ubani kini enziwe lukhuni amandla okukhohlisa esono.”—Heberu 3:12, 13.

21. Yimaphi amazwi athokozisayo aphetha ingxenye yokuqala ka-Isaya isahluko 49?

²¹ Njengoba inkulumo eyisiprofetho phakathi kukaJehova noMesiya wakhe iphetha, u-Isaya usho amazwi athokozisayo: “Khamulukani ngokuthokoza, nina mazulu, ujabule, wena mhlaba. Izintaba mazename ngokukhamuluka kokuthokoza. Ngoba uJehova ubaduduzile abantu bakhe, futhi ubonisa isihawu kwabahluphekileyo bakhe.” (Isaya 49:13) Aze amahle amazwi okududuza ama-Israyeli asendulo neNceku kaJehova enkulu, uJesu Kristu, kanye nezinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe nabasizi bazo ‘bezinye izimvu’ namuhla!—Johane 10:16.

UJehova Akabakhohlwa Abantu Bakhe

22. UJehova ukugcizelela kanjani ukuthi akasoze abakhohlwa abantu bakhe?

²² U-Isaya manje uyaqhubeka esho izimemezelo zikaJehova. Ubikezela ukuthi ama-Israyeli athunjiwe azothanda ukukhathala nokuphelelwa yithemba. U-Isaya uthi: “IZiyoni lalilokhu lithi: ‘UJehova ungishiyile, uJehova ungikhohliwe.’” (Isaya 49:14) Ingabe kuyiqiniso lokhu? Ingabe uJehova ubashiyile abantu bakhe futhi wabakhohlwa? Njengomkhulumeli kaJehova, u-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Owesifazane angamkhohlwa yini umntanakhe osancela kangangokuba angabi naso isihawu ngendodana yesisu sakhe? Ngisho noma laba besifazane bangakhohlwa, nokho mina ngeke ngikukhohlwe.” (Isaya 49:15) Yeka ukusabela kothando kukaJehova! Uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngabantu bakhe ludlula olukamama ngomntanakhe. Njalo nje uhlale ecabanga ngabathembekileyo bakhe. Ubakhumbula njengokungathi amagama abo aqoshwe ezandleni zakhe. “Bheka! Ngikuqophé ezintendeni zezandla zami. Izindonga zakho ziphambi kwami njalo.”—Isaya 49:16.

23. Wathini uPawulu lapho ekhuthaza amaKristu ukuba amethembe uJehova ukuthi ngeke awakhohlwe?

²³ Encwadini yakhe kwabaseGalathiya, umphostoli uPawulu wanxusa amaKristu: “Masingayeki ukwenza okuhle, ngoba ngenkathi efanele siyovuna uma singakhathali.” (Galathiya 6:9) Wabhalela amaHeberu la mazwi akhuthazayo: “UNkulunkulu akayena ongalungile ukuba akhohlwe umsebenzi wenu nothando enalubonisa kulo igama lakhe.” (Heberu 6:10) Akufanele neze sibe nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova ubakhohliwe abantu bakhe. NjengeZiyoni lasendulo, amaKristu anesizathu esihle sokuthokoza nokulinda uJehova ngesineke. Ubambelela ngokuqinile ezindinganisweni zesivumelwano sakhe nasezithembisweni zakhe.

24. Liyobuyiselwa kanjani iZiyoni, futhi yimiphi imibuzo eliyoyibuza?

²⁴ Ngo-Isaya, uJehova unikeza induduzo eyengeziwe. ‘Abadiliza [iZiyoni],’ kungaba abaseBabiloni noma amaJuda ayizihlubuki, abaselona usongo. “Amadodana” aseZiyoni, amaJuda athunjiwe ahlala ethembekile kuJehova, “asheshile.” ‘Ayoqoqana ndawonye.’ Njengoba esephuthumile aphindela eJerusalema, amaJuda abuyiselwe ayoba imihlobiso emzini wawo oyinhloko-dolobha, njengoba nje ‘umakoti’ esuke ehlobe ‘ngemihlobiso.’ (Isaya 49:17, 18) Izindawo zaseZiyoni zenziwe “incithakalo.” Cabanga ukuthi liyomangala kanjani lapho ngokungazelelwe selinabantu abaningi kangaka abahlala kulo, indawo yokuhlala ize ibonakale iminyene. (Funda u-Isaya 49:19, 20.) Kulindelekile ukuba libuze ukuthi bavelaphi bonke laba bantwana: “Ngokuqinisekile uyothi enhliziyweni yakho, ‘Ngubani obé nguyise wangizalela laba, njengoba ngingowesifazane ophucwe abantwana futhi oyinyumba, oyiswe ekudingisweni nothathwe njengesiboshwa? Laba-ke, ngubani obakhulisile? Bheka! Mina ngangishiywe ngedwa. Laba—bebekuphi?’” (Isaya 49:21) Saze sajabulisa isimo seZiyoni elaliyinyumba!

25. Ezikhathini zanamuhla, yikuphi ukubuyiselwa u-Israyeli ongokomoya akuthola?

²⁵ La mazwi anokugcwaliseka kwanamuhla. Eminyakeni enzima yempi yezwe yokuqala, u-Israyeli ongokomoya wangena enkathini yokwenziwa incithakalo nokuthunjwa. Kodwa wabuyiselwa futhi waba sepharadesi elingokomoya. (Isaya 35:1-10) Njengomuzi ochazwe u-Isaya owawuke wachithwa, wajabula—ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso—lapho uzithola usunabakhulekeli bakaJehova abaningi abajabulayo nabakhuthele.

“Isibonakaliso Ezizweni”

26. Yisiphi isiqondiso uJehova asinika abantu bakhe abakhululiwe?

²⁶ Ngendlela engokwesiprofetho, uJehova manje uyisa u-Isaya esikhathini abayokhululwa ngaso abantu baKhe eBabiloni. Sikhona yini isiqondiso saphezulu abayosithola? UJehova uyaphendula: “Bheka! Ngizophakamisela isandla sami ezizweni, ngiphakamisele isibonakaliso sami emaqenjini abantu. Bayoletha amadodana akho bewathwele ngesifuba, bathwale amadodakazi akho ehlombe.” (Isaya 49:22) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, iJerusalema, elaliyikomkhulu futhi linethempeli likaJehova, liba “isibonakaliso” sikaJehova. Ngisho nabantu abavelele nabanamandla bezinye izizwe, ‘njengamakhosi namakhosazana,’ bayawasiza ama-Israyeli ohambweni lwawo lokugoduka. (Isaya 49:23a) Amakhosi asePheresiya uKoresi no-Aritahishashita Longimanus nemikhaya yawo aba abanye balaba basizi. (Ezra 5:13; 7:11-26) Futhi la mazwi ka-Isaya asebenza nakwesinye isimo.

27. (a) Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, yisiphi “isibonakaliso” izizwe eziyothutheleka kuso? (b) Uyoba yini umphumela lapho zonke izizwe ziphoqeleka ukuba zikhothamele ukubusa kukaMesiya?

²⁷ U-Isaya 11:10 ukhuluma ‘ngesibonakaliso ezizweni.’ Umphostoli uPawulu wathi la mazwi asebenza kuKristu Jesu. (Roma 15:8-12) Ngakho, ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, uJesu kanye nabayobusa naye abagcotshwe ngomoya ‘bayisibonakaliso’ sikaJehova ezithutheleka kuso izizwe. (IsAmbulo 14:1) Ngesikhathi esifanele, zonke izizwe zomhlaba—ngisho nezigaba zabantu ababusayo namuhla—kuyodingeka zikhothamele ukubusa kukaMesiya. (IHubo 2:10, 11; Daniyeli 2:44) Ube yini umphumela? UJehova uthi: “Uyokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova, lowo abathembela kimi abangeke baba namahloni ngaye.”—Isaya 49:23b.

“Manje Insindiso Yethu Isiseduze Kakhulu”

28. (a) UJehova uphinde abaqinisekise ngamaphi amazwi abantu bakhe ukuthi bayokhululwa? (b) Yisiphi isibopho uJehova asenaso namanje ngabantu bakhe?

²⁸ Abathile kulabo abathunjwe eBabiloni bangase bazibuze, ‘Kungenzeka ngempela ukuba u-Israyeli akhululwe?’ UJehova ucabangela lowo mbuzo ngokubuza: “Ingabe labo asebethathiwe kakade bangathathwa yini endodeni enamandla, noma ingabe izithunjwa eziningi zikamashiqela zingakwazi yini ukuphunyuka?” (Isaya 49:24) Impendulo ithi yebo. UJehova uyabaqinisekisa: “Ngisho nezithunjwa eziningi zendoda enamandla ziyothathwa, nalabo kakade asebethathwe ngumashiqela bayophunyuka.” (Isaya 49:25a) Yeka isiqinisekiso esiduduzayo! Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuthakazelela kukaJehova abantu bakhe kuhambisana nesibopho esiqinile sokubavikela. Ulibeka ngembaba, ethi: “Ngiyolwa nanoma ubani olwa nawe, namadodana akho mina ngokwami ngiyowasindisa.” (Isaya 49:25b) Leso sibopho sisenjalo namanje. Njengoba kulotshwe kuZakariya 2:8, uJehova uthi kubantu bakhe: “Othinta nina uthinta inhlamvu yeso lami.” Yebo, okwamanje sisenkathini yokuthakazelelwa lapho izizwe kuwo wonke umhlaba zithola ithuba lokuthutheleka eZiyoni elingokomoya. Kodwa leyo nkathi yokuthakazelelwa izophela.

29. Kuyokwenzekani kulabo abenqabayo ukulalela uJehova?

²⁹ Kuyokwenzekani kulabo abenqaba ngenkani ukulalela uJehova futhi baze bashushise ngisho nabakhulekeli bakhe? Uthi: “Abakuhlukumezayo ngiyobenza badle inyama yabo siqu; futhi bayodakwa igazi labo njengokungathi badakwe yiwayini elimnandi.” (Isaya 49:26a) Saze sasibi isimo! Abaphikisi abanenkani kanjalo abanalo ikusasa. Bayobhujiswa. Ngakho, ngokusindisa abantu bakhe nangokubhubhisa izitha zabo, uJehova uyobonakala ukuthi unguMsindisi. “Yonke inyama iyokwazi ukuthi, mina, Jehova, nginguMsindisi wakho nalowo Owakuthenga kabusha, onaMandla kaJakobe.”—Isaya 49:26b.

30. Yiziphi izenzo zokusindisa uJehova azenzele abantu bakhe, futhi yini asazoyenza?

³⁰ Lawo mazwi asebenza okokuqala lapho uJehova esebenzisa uKoresi ukuba akhulule abantu baKhe ebugqilini baseBabiloni. Asebenza nangendlela efanayo ngo-1919 lapho uJehova esebenzisa iNdodana yakhe esesihlalweni sobukhosi, uJesu Kristu, ukuba akhulule abantu baKhe ebugqilini obungokomoya. Yingakho iBhayibheli likhuluma ngabo bobabili uJehova noJesu ngokuthi abasindisi. (Thithu 2:11-13; 3:4-6) UJehova unguMsindisi wethu, kanti uJesu, uMesiya, ‘unguMmeli wakhe Oyinhloko.’ (IzEnzo 5:31) Zimangalisa ngempela izenzo zikaNkulunkulu zokusindisa azenza ngoJesu Kristu. Esebenzisa izindaba ezinhle, uJehova ukhulula abanhliziyo ziqotho ekugqilazweni inkolo yamanga. Ngomhlatshelo wesihlengo, uyabakhulula ekugqilazweni isono nokufa. Ngo-1919 wakhulula abafowabo bakaJesu ebugqilini obungokomoya. Futhi empini ye-Armagedoni esondela ngokushesha, uyokhulula isixuku esikhulu sabantu abathembekileyo ekubhujisweni kwezoni.

31. AmaKristu kufanele akubheke kanjani ukuba ngabantu abathakazelelwa uNkulunkulu?

³¹ Yeka ilungelo okuyilo-ke ukuba ngabantu abathakazelelwa uNkulunkulu! Kwangathi sonke singasisebenzisa ngokuhlakanipha lesi sikhathi esamukelekayo. Futhi kwangathi singenza ngokuvumelana nokuphuthuma kwesikhathi sethu, silalele amazwi uPawulu awasho kwabaseRoma: “Niyayazi inkathi, ukuthi kakade sekuyihora lokuba niphaphame ebuthongweni, ngoba manje insindiso yethu isiseduze kakhulu kunangesikhathi siba ngamakholwa. Ubusuku sebuqhubeke kakhulu; imini isisondele. Ngakho-ke masilahleni imisebenzi yobumnyama sigqoke izikhali zokukhanya. Masihambeni ngokufaneleyo njengasesikhathini sasemini, hhayi ngemibuthano exokozelayo nangezikhathi zokudakwa, hhayi ngobuhlobo bobulili obungemthetho nangokuziphatha okuxekethile, hhayi ngokuxabana nangomhawu. Kodwa gqokani iNkosi uJesu Kristu, futhi ningazihleleli kusengaphambili izifiso zenyama.”—Roma 13:11-14.

32. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu banaziphi iziqiniseko?

³² UJehova uzoqhubeka ebabonisa umusa labo abalalela iseluleko sakhe. Uzobanikeza amandla namakhono abawadingayo okwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. (2 Korinte 4:7) UJehova uzosebenzisa izinceku zakhe ngendlela asebenzisa ngayo uMholi wazo, uJesu. Uyokwenza umlomo wazo ube “njengenkemba ebukhali” ukuze zikwazi ukufinyelela izinhliziyo zabathobekileyo ngomyalezo wezindaba ezinhle. (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Uyovikela abantu bakhe “ethunzini lesandla sakhe.” ‘Njengomcibisholo ophucuziwe’ bayothukuswa “emgodleni wakhe.” Ngempela, uJehova ngeke abashiye abantu bakhe!—IHubo 94:14; Isaya 49:2, 15.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 138]

UMesiya ‘unjengomcibisholo ophucuziwe’ emgodleni kaJehova

[Isithombe ekhasini 141]

UMesiya ubelokhu ‘engukukhanya kwezizwe’

[Isithombe ekhasini 147]

Uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngabantu bakhe ludlula olukamama ngengane yakhe