Isahluko Seshumi Nambili
Induduzo Kubantu BakaNkulunkulu
1. Yiziphi izimo ezidabukisayo ezilindele iJerusalema nezakhamuzi zalo, kodwa kunaliphi ithemba?
IMINYAKA engu-70—iminyaka evamile ephilwa umuntu—isizwe sakwaJuda siyothunjelwa eBabiloni isikhathi eside kangako. (IHubo 90:10; Jeremiya 25:11; 29:10) Ama-Israyeli amaningi athunjiwe ayogugela eBabiloni futhi afele khona. Cabanga indlela okuyowalulaza ngayo ukuchukuluzwa nokuklolodelwa izitha zawo. Cabanga nangesihlamba esiyolethwa kuNkulunkulu wawo, uJehova, lapho umuzi abeka kuwo igama lakhe wenziwe incithakalo isikhathi eside kangaka. (Nehemiya 1:9; IHubo 132:13; 137:1-3) Ithempeli elithandwayo, elaligcwaliswe ngenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi linikezelwa uSolomoni, liyobe lingasekho. (2 IziKronike 7:1-3) Yeka isimo esidabukisayo! Kodwa ngo-Isaya, uJehova uprofetha ngokubuyiselwa. (Isaya 43:14; 44:26-28) Esahlukweni 51 sencwadi ka-Isaya, sithola iziprofetho ezengeziwe ezikhuluma ngalesi sihloko senduduzo nokuqinisekiswa.
2. (a) UJehova, ngo-Isaya, uwubhekisa kubani umyalezo wenduduzo? (b) AmaJuda athembekile ‘akuphishekela’ kanjani “ukulunga”?
2 Kulabo abakwaJuda abathobisele izinhliziyo zabo kuye, uJehova uthi: “Ngilaleleni, nina bantu eniphishekela ukulunga, nina enifuna ukuthola uJehova.” (Isaya 51:1a) ‘Ukuphishekela ukulunga’ kusho ukwenza isenzo. Labo ‘abaphishekela ukulunga’ ngeke nje bamane bathi bangabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Bayokulwela ngentshiseko ukuba abalungile nokuphila ngentando kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 34:15; IzAga 21:21) Bayobheka kuJehova njengowukuphela koMthombo wokulunga, futhi ‘bayofuna ukuthola uJehova.’ (IHubo 11:7; 145:17) Akukona ukuthi bayobe bengamazi uJehova noma bengazi ukuthi kumelwe bathandaze kanjani kuye. Kunalokho, bayozama ukusondela kuye, bamkhulekele, bathandaze kuye, futhi bafune isiqondiso sakhe kukho konke abakwenzayo.
3, 4. (a) Ubani “idwala” aqoshwa kulo amaJuda, futhi ubani ‘isikhisi somgodi’ ambiwa kuwo? (b) Kungani kuyowaduduza amaJuda ukukhumbula ukuthi asukaphi?
3 Nokho, bambalwa abakuphishekela ngempela ukulunga kwaJuda, futhi lokhu kungase kubenze besabe futhi badikibale. Ngakho, esebenzisa umfanekiso wenkwali, uJehova uyabakhuthaza: “Bhekani idwala enaqoshwa kulo, nesikhisi somgodi enambiwa kuwo. Bhekani ku-Abrahama uyihlo nakuSara lowo ekugcineni owanizala enezinhlungu zokubeletha. Ngoba wayeyedwa lapho ngimbiza, futhi ngambusisa ngamandisa.” (Isaya 51:1b, 2) “Idwala” aqoshwa kulo amaJuda ngu-Abrahama, umuntu wasendulo isizwe sakwa-Israyeli esiziqhenya kakhulu ngaye. (Mathewu 3:9; Johane 8:33, 39) Ungukhokho, esivela kuye lesi sizwe. ‘Isikhisi somgodi’ nguSara, osibeletho sakhe saveza ukhokho ka-Israyeli u-Isaka.
4 U-Abrahama noSara base bedlulile eminyakeni yokuzala futhi bengenangane. Nokho, uJehova wathembisa ukubusisa u-Abrahama ‘amandise.’ (Genesise 17:1-6, 15-17) Ngokubuyiselwa kwamandla abo okuzala evela phezulu, u-Abrahama noSara bazala ingane sebekhulile, futhi isizwe sesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu savela kuyo. UJehova wayenza kanjalo leyo ndoda ukuba ibe uyise wesizwe esikhulu esinani laso laba elingabaleki njengezinkanyezi ezisemazulwini. (Genesise 15:5; IzEnzo 7:5) Uma uJehova ayengamthatha kanjalo u-Abrahama ezweni elikude amenze isizwe esinamandla, angasigcwalisa ngempela-ke isithembiso sakhe sokukhulula insali ethembekile ebugqilini baseBabiloni, ayibuyisele ezweni layo, aphinde ayenze ibe isizwe esikhulu. Isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu ku-Abrahama safezeka; isithembiso asenze kula maJuda athunjiwe naso sizogcwaliseka.
5. (a) Bafanekisela bani o-Abrahama noSara? Chaza. (b) Ekugcwalisekeni kokugcina, obani abavela ‘edwaleni’?
5 Ukumba okungokomfanekiso okukhulunywa ngakho ku-Isaya 51:1, 2 cishe kusebenza nakwesinye isimo. UDuteronomi 32:18 ubiza uJehova ngokuthi “iDwala” elazala u-Israyeli, nokuthi ‘uyiLowo owazala [u-Israyeli] ngezinhlungu zokubeletha.’ Kule nkulumo yamuva, kusetshenziswe isenzo sesiHeberu esifana nesiku-Isaya 51:2 ngokuphathelene nokuzala kukaSara u-Israyeli. Ngakho, u-Abrahama ufanekisela uJehova, u-Abrahama Omkhulu. Umka-Abrahama, uSara, uyifanekisela kahle inhlangano kaJehova yendawo yonke engokwasezulwini yezidalwa zomoya, emiBhalweni Engcwele ebizwa ngokuthi umfazi noma owesifazane kaNkulunkulu. (Genesise 3:15; IsAmbulo 12:1, 5) Ekugcwalisekeni kokugcina kwala mazwi esiprofetho sika-Isaya, isizwe esivela ‘edwaleni’ ‘ngu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,’ ibandla lamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya, elazalwa ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. Njengoba kushiwo ezahlukweni ezingaphambili zale ncwadi, leso sizwe sathunjwa yiBabiloni ngo-1918 kodwa ngo-1919 sabuyiselwa esimweni sokuchuma ngokomoya.—Galathiya 3:26-29; 4:28; 6:16.
6. (a) Yini elindele izwe lakwaJuda, futhi kuyodingeka kuphi ukubuyiselwa? (b) U-Isaya 51:3 usikhumbuza kuphi ukubuyiselwa kosuku lwanamuhla?
6 Induduzo uJehova ayinikeza iZiyoni, noma iJerusalema, ihlanganisa okungaphezu kwesithembiso sokuveza isizwe esikhulu. Siyafunda: “Ngokuqinisekile uJehova uyoliduduza iZiyoni. Ngokuqinisekile uyoziduduza zonke izindawo zalo ezibhuqiwe, futhi uyokwenza ihlane lalo libe njenge-Edene nethafa lalo eliwugwadule libe njengensimu kaJehova. Ukwethaba nokujabula kuyotholakala kulo, ukubonga nezwi lokuhuba.” (Isaya 51:3) Phakathi neminyaka engu-70 lichithiwe, izwe lakwaJuda liyophenduka libe ihlane, ligcwale izihlahla zomunga, amajikijolo nezinye izihlahla zasendle. (Isaya 64:10; Jeremiya 4:26; 9:10-12) Ngakho, ngaphandle kokubuyela kukaJuda ezweni lakhe, ukubuyiselwa kuyohlanganisa nokubuyisela izwe, eliyoguqulwa libe insimu yase-Edene enamasimu akhiqizayo athola amanzi amaningi kanye namasimu ezithelo. Kuyoba sengathi umhlabathi uyajabula. Uma liqhathaniswa nesimo salo esiyincithakalo phakathi nokuthunjwa, izwe liyoba sapharadesi. Insali egcotshiwe ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu yangena epharadesi elifuze lelo ngomqondo ongokomoya ngo-1919.—Isaya 11:6-9; 35:1-7.
Izizathu Zokuthembela KuJehova
7, 8. (a) Sisho ukuthini isicelo sikaJehova sokuba kubekwe indlebe kuye? (b) Kungani kubalulekile ukuba uJuda alalele uJehova?
7 Ekhuluma ngokuthi kudingeka ukuqapha kabusha, uJehova uthi: “Ngilaleleni, bantu bami; nawe qembu lesizwe sami, bekani indlebe kimi. Ngoba umthetho uyophuma kimi, futhi ngiyobeka isinqumo sami sokwahlulela sibe ukukhanya ezizweni. Ukulunga kwami kuseduze. Ngokuqinisekile insindiso yami iyophuma, izingalo zami ziyokwahlulela izizwe. Iziqhingi ziyothembela kimi, futhi ziyolindela ingalo yami.”—Isaya 51:4, 5.
8 Isicelo sikaJehova sokuba abantu babeke indlebe kuye sisho okungaphezu nje kokulalela isigijimi sakhe. Sisho ukulalela ngomqondo wokukwenza lokho umuntu akuzwayo. (IHubo 49:1; 78:1) Lesi sizwe kumelwe siqaphele ukuthi uJehova unguMthombo wemfundo, ubulungisa nensindiso. Uyena kuphela onguMthombo wokukhanyiselwa okungokomoya. (2 Korinte 4:6) UnguMahluleli wokugcina wesintu. Imithetho nezahlulelo ezivela kuJehova ziwukukhanya kulabo abazivumela ukuba zibaqondise.—IHubo 43:3; 119:105; IzAga 6:23.
9. Ngaphandle kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano, obani abayozuza ezenzweni zikaJehova zokusindisa?
9 Lokhu akusebenzi nje kuphela kubantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano kodwa nakubantu abanokuthambekela okufanele kuyo yonke indawo, ngisho naseziqhingini ezikude zolwandle. Ngeke badumale ngokuthembela kwabo kuNkulunkulu nasemandleni akhe okuthatha isinyathelo ngenxa yezinceku zakhe ezithembekile futhi azisindise. Bangathembela emandleni akhe, afanekiselwa ingalo yakhe; akukho muntu ongawanqanda. (Isaya 40:10; Luka 1:51, 52) Ngokufanayo namuhla, ukushumayela ngentshiseko kwamalungu asele ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu kuye kwaholela abantu abayizigidi, abaningi babo abavela eziqhingini zolwandle ezikude, ukuba baphendukele kuJehova futhi babe nokholo kuye.
10. (a) Yiliphi iqiniso uNebukadinesari ayophoqeleka ukuba alifunde? (b) Yimaphi ‘amazulu nomhlaba’ okuyoqedwa?
10 UJehova ube esebhekisela eqinisweni okuyodingeka lifundwe yinkosi yaseBabiloni uNebukadinesari. Akukho lutho ezulwini nasemhlabeni olungavimba uJehova ukuba enze intando yakhe. (Daniyeli 4:34, 35) Siyafunda: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu emazulwini ngokwawo, bese nibheka umhlaba ngaphansi. Ngoba wona kanye amazulu ayohlakazeka abe yizicucu njengomusi, futhi umhlaba uyoguga njengengubo, abakhileyo kuwo bayofa njengensensane nje. Kodwa insindiso yami, iyoba ngeyaphakade, nokulunga kwami ngeke kuphihlizwe.” (Isaya 51:6) Yize kungeyona inqubo yamakhosi aseBabiloni ukudedela izithunjwa ziphindele emakhaya, uJehova ngeke avinjwe ukuba asindise abantu bakhe. (Isaya 14:16, 17) ‘Amazulu’ aseBabiloni, noma imibuso ebusayo, iyonqotshwa. “Umhlaba” waseBabiloni, abantu ababuswa yileyo mibuso, nabo bayophela kancane kancane. Yebo, ngisho nombuso omkhulu kakhulu wanamuhla ngeke umelane namandla kaJehova noma uvimbe izenzo zakhe zokusindisa.
11. Kungani kuwakhuthaza amaKristu namuhla ukugcwaliseka okuphelele kwesiprofetho esithi ‘amazulu nomhlaba’ kwaseBabiloni kuyoqedwa?
11 Yeka indlela okuwakhuthaza ngayo amaKristu namuhla ukwazi ukuthi la mazwi ayisiprofetho agcwaliseka ngokuphelele! Ngani? Ngoba umphostoli uPetru wasebenzisa inkulumo efanayo lapho ekhuluma ngesenzakalo esisazokwenzeka. Wakhuluma ngosuku lukaJehova olusondela ngokushesha, “okuyothi ngalo amazulu njengoba eyobe esha ancibilike nezinto zawo njengoba ziyobe zishisa kakhulu zincibilike!” Wabe esethi: “Kukhona amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha esikulindele ngokwesithembiso sakhe, futhi kukho kuyohlala ukulunga.” (2 Petru 3:12, 13; Isaya 34:4; IsAmbulo 6:12-14) Nakuba izizwe ezinamandla nababusi bazo abaphakeme abanjengezinkanyezi bengamdelela uJehova, ngesikhathi sakhe esifanele bayokwenziwa ize—baxhifizwe kalula njengensensane. (IHubo 2:1-9) Uhulumeni kaNkulunkulu olungile kuphela oyobusa phakade, ubusa umphakathi wesintu esilungile.—Daniyeli 2:44; IsAmbulo 21:1-4.
12. Kungani izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kungafanele zesabe lapho zilulazwa abaphikisi abangabantu?
12 Ekhuluma ‘nabantu abaphishekela ukulunga,’ uJehova manje uthi: “Ngilaleleni nina enazi ukulunga, abantu abamthetho wami usenhliziyweni yabo. Ningasesabi isihlamba sabantu abafayo, futhi ningafikelwa ukwesaba okukhulu ngenxa nje yamazwi abo achaphayo. Ngoba bayodliwa yinundu baphele njengokungathi bayingubo, futhi inundu edla izembatho iyobadla njengokungathi bawuboya. Kodwa ukulunga kwami, kuyoba okwaphakade, nensindiso yami ibe ngeyezizukulwane ezingenakubalwa.” (Isaya 51:7, 8) Labo abathembela kuJehova bayolulazwa futhi bahlanjalazwe ngenxa yokuma kwabo okubonisa isibindi, kodwa akumelwe kwesatshwe lokhu. Abahlambalazi bamane nje bangabantu abafayo ‘abayodliwa,’ njengoba nje nengubo yoboya idliwa inundu.a NjengamaJuda athembekile asendulo, amaKristu eqiniso namuhla awanasizathu sokwesaba noma ubani owaphikisayo. UJehova, uNkulunkulu ongunaphakade, uyinsindiso yawo. (IHubo 37:1, 2) Isihlamba esivela ezitheni zikaNkulunkulu siwubufakazi bokuthi abantu bakaJehova banomoya wakhe.—Mathewu 5:11, 12; 10:24-31.
13, 14. Ibhekiselaphi inkulumo ethi “Rahabi” nethi “isilo sasolwandle,” futhi ‘siphihlizwa’ kanjani ‘sibe yizicucu’?
13 Njengokungathi ucela uJehova ukuba athathe isinyathelo ngenxa yabantu baKhe abathunjiwe, u-Isaya uthi: “Vuka, vuka, zembathise amandla, wena ngalo kaJehova! Vuka njengasezinsukwini zakudala, njengasezizukulwaneni zezikhathi ezadlula kudala. Akuwena yini owaphihliza uRahabi waba yizicucu, owahlaba isilo sasolwandle? Akuwena yini owomisa ulwandle, amanzi otwa olukhulu? Owenza ukujula kolwandle kwaba yindlela yabathengwe kabusha ukuba bawele?”—Isaya 51:9, 10.
14 U-Isaya ukhetha izibonelo eziwumlando ezifanelekayo. Wonke ama-Israyeli ayazi ngokukhululwa kwesizwe sawo eGibithe nokuwela kwawo oLwandle Olubomvu. (Eksodusi 12:24-27; 14:26-31) Inkulumo ethi “Rahabi” nethi “isilo sasolwandle” ibhekisela eGibithe ngaphansi kukaFaro owayemelene nokuFuduka kuka-Israyeli eGibithe. (IHubo 74:13; 87:4; Isaya 30:7) Njengoba liqala eNile Delta futhi lenabe amakhilomitha amaningi lize lifike eNile Valley, iGibithe lasendulo lalifana nenyoka enkulu. (Hezekeli 29:3) Kodwa lesi silo sanqunywa saba yizicucu lapho uJehova ethulula iziNhlupho Eziyishumi kuso. Sahlatshwa, salinyazwa kabi kakhulu futhi saqedwa amandla ngesikhathi ibutho laso libhujiswa emanzini oLwandle Olubomvu. Yebo, uJehova wabonisa amandla engalo yakhe lapho emelana neGibithe. Ingabe ngeke azimisele ngendlela efanayo ukulwela abantu bakhe abathunjwe eBabiloni?
15. (a) Usizi nokububula kweZiyoni kuyophela nini futhi kanjani? (b) Ezikhathini zanamuhla lwaphela nini usizi nokububula kuka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu?
15 Manje sibheka phambili ekukhululweni kuka-Israyeli eBabiloni, lesi siprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Khona-ke abakhululiwe bakaJehova bayobuya futhi bayokuza eZiyoni ngokukhamuluka kwenjabulo, futhi ukuthokoza kwaphakade kuyoba phezu kwekhanda labo. Bayofinyelela ukwethaba nokuthokoza. Usizi nokububula ngokuqinisekile kuyobaleka.” (Isaya 51:11) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isimo sabo singadabukisa kanjani eBabiloni, labo abafuna ukulunga kukaJehova banamathemba akhazimulayo. Kuyofika isikhathi oluyophela ngaso usizi nokububula. Ezindebeni zabahlawulelweyo, noma abahlengiweyo, kuyozwakala ukukhamuluka kwenjabulo, ukuthokoza nokwethaba. Ekugcwalisekeni kwanamuhla kwala mazwi angokwesiprofetho, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu wakhululwa ekuthunjweni yiBabiloni ngo-1919. Wabuyela esimweni sakhe esingokomoya ngentokozo enkulu—intokozo eye yaqhubeka kwaze kwaba namuhla.
16. Ahlawulelwa ngani amaJuda?
16 Ayohlawulelwa ngani amaJuda? Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sesishilo kakade ukuthi uJehova unikela ‘ngeGibithe njengesihlengo sakho, iTopiya neSeba esikhundleni sakho.’ (Isaya 43:1-4) Lokhu kuyokwenzeka ngemva kwesikhathi esithile. Ngemva kokunqoba iBabiloni nokukhulula izithunjwa ezingamaJuda, uMbuso WasePheresiya uyonqoba iGibithe, iTopiya neSeba. Kuyonikelwa ngala mazwe esikhundleni semiphefumulo yama-Israyeli. Lokhu kuhambisana nesimiso esikuzAga 21:18: “Omubi uyisihlengo solungile; nowenza ngokukhohlisa uthatha indawo yabaqotho.”
Ukuqinisekiswa Okwengeziwe
17. Kungani kungadingekile ukuba amaJuda esabe ukufutheka kweBabiloni?
17 UJehova uyaqhubeka eqinisekisa abantu bakhe: “Mina—mina nginguye oniduduzayo. Ungubani wena ukuba wesabe umuntu ofayo ozokufa, nendodana yomuntu eyokwenziwa ibe njengotshani nje obuluhlaza? Ukuba ukhohlwe uJehova uMenzi wakho, Lowo owelula amazulu futhi obeka isisekelo somhlaba, waze waba nengebhe njalo usuku lonke ngenxa yokufutheka kwalowo okucindezelayo, njengokungathi wayesemi ngomumo ukuba akuchithe? Kuphi ukufutheka kwalowo okucindezelayo?” (Isaya 51:12, 13) Kuza iminyaka yokuthunjwa. Noma kunjalo, asikho isizathu sokwesaba ukufutheka kweBabiloni. Nakuba leso sizwe, esiwumbuso wezwe wesithathu womlando weBhayibheli, siyobahlula abantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi sifune ‘ukubacindezela,’ noma ukubavimba bangaphunyuki, amaJuda athembekile ayazi ukuthi uJehova ubikezele ukuwa kweBabiloni, liwiswa uKoresi. (Isaya 44:8, 24-28) Ngokungafani noMdali—uNkulunkulu omi phakade, uJehova—izakhamuzi zaseBabiloni ziyoshabalala kuhle kotshani obubuniswa imisebe yelanga eshisa bhé ngenkathi yesomiso. Ziyobe zikuphi-ke izinsongo nokufutheka kwabo? Yeka indlela okuwubuwula ngayo ukwesaba umuntu sikhohlwe uJehova, okunguyena owenza izulu nomhlaba!
18. Yize abantu bakhe beyoba iziboshwa isikhathi esithile, uJehova ubaqinisekisa ngani?
18 Nakuba abantu bakaJehova beyoba izithunjwa isikhathi esithile, njengokungathi ‘baqhothé emaketangeni,’ ukukhululwa kwabo kuyoshesha. Ngeke baqothulwe eBabiloni noma babulawe indlala beyiziboshwa—bafakwe eShiyoli, emgodini, sebefile. (IHubo 30:3; 88:3-5) UJehova uyabaqinisekisa: “Lowo oqhothé emaketangeni ngokuqinisekile uyokhululwa ngokushesha, ukuze angafi aye egodini futhi ukuze isinkwa sakhe singantuleki.”—Isaya 51:14.
19. Kungani amaJuda athembekile engathembela ngokuphelele emazwini kaJehova?
19 Eqhubeka nokududuza iZiyoni, uJehova uthi: “Kodwa mina, Jehova, nginguNkulunkulu wakho, onyakazisa ulwandle ukuze amagagasi alo ahlokome. NguJehova wamabutho igama lakhe. Ngizofaka amazwi ami emlonyeni wakho, futhi ngokuqinisekile ngizokusibekela ngethunzi lesandla sami, ukuze ngitshale amazulu futhi ngibeke isisekelo somhlaba, ngisho kulo iZiyoni ukuthi, ‘Uyisizwe sami.’” (Isaya 51:15, 16) Ngokuphindaphindiwe iBhayibheli likhuluma ngekhono likaNkulunkulu lokusebenzisa amandla akhe phezu kolwandle futhi alulawule. (Jobe 26:12; IHubo 89:9; Jeremiya 31:35) Uwalawula ngokuphelele amandla emvelo, njengoba akubonisa lokho ngesikhathi ekhulula abantu bakhe eGibithe. Ubani ongaqhathaniswa nokuqhathaniswa ‘noJehova wamabutho’?—IHubo 24:10.
20. Yimaphi “amazulu nomhlaba” okuyoba khona lapho uJehova ebuyisela iZiyoni, futhi uyosho maphi amazwi aduduzayo?
20 AmaJuda ayaqhubeka engabantu besivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, futhi uJehova uwaqinisekisa ngokuthi ayophindela ezweni lawo, aphinde aphile ngaphansi koMthetho wakhe. Lapho, ayokwakha kabusha iJerusalema nethempeli futhi aqale phansi imisebenzi yawo ngaphansi kwesivumelwano asenza nabo ngoMose. Lapho ama-Israyeli abuyiselwe ezweni lawo eseqala ukuhlala ezweni kanye nemfuyo yawo, kuyoba khona “umhlaba omusha.” Uyobe ubuswa “amazulu amasha,” isimiso sikahulumeni omusha. (Isaya 65:17-19; Hagayi 1:1, 14) UJehova uyophinde athi eZiyoni: “Uyisizwe sami.”
Umyalo Wokuba Kwenziwe Isenzo Esithile
21. UJehova uthi makwenziweni?
21 Eseliqinisekisile iZiyoni, uJehova uthi makwenziwe isenzo esithile. Ekhuluma sengathi sekuphelile ukuhlupheka kweZiyoni, uthi: “Zivuse, zivuse, vuka, Jerusalema, wena ophuze esandleni sikaJehova indebe yakhe yokufutheka. Usiphuzile, usiminyile isitsha sokuphuza, indebe ebangela ukudiyazela.” (Isaya 51:17) Yebo, iJerusalema kumelwe liphume kulesi simo elikuso sosizi libuyele esikhundleni salo nasebuhleni balo bangaphambili. Sizofika isikhathi eliyobe selisiminye ngaso isitsha esingokomfanekiso sempindiselo yaphezulu. UNkulunkulu uyobe engasalithukuthelele.
22, 23. Yini eyokwehlela iJerusalema lapho liphuza isitsha solaka lukaJehova?
22 Noma kunjalo, ngenkathi iJerusalema lisajeziswa, akukho zakhamuzi zalo, “amadodana” alo, ayokwazi ukukuvimbela lokhu kujeziswa. (Isaya 43:5-7; Jeremiya 3:14) Isiprofetho sithi: “Kwakungekho neyodwa kuwo wonke amadodana alo elawazala eyayilihola, futhi kwakungekho neyodwa kuwo wonke amadodana alo elawakhulisa eyayibamba isandla salo.” (Isaya 51:18) Yeka indlela eliyohlupheka ngayo ezandleni zabaseBabiloni! “Lezo zinto ezimbili zazikwehlela. Ubani oyozwelana nawe? Ukuphanga nokwaphuka, indlala nenkemba! Ubani oyokududuza? Amadodana akho abé nesinxi. Alalé ekuqaleni kwazo zonke izitaladi njengezimvu zasendle enetheni, njengalabo abagcwele ukufutheka kukaJehova, ukusola kukaNkulunkulu wakho.”—Isaya 51:19, 20.
23 Maye ngeJerusalema! Liyokhuthazelela ‘ukuphangwa nokwaphuka’ kanye ‘nendlala nenkemba.’ Engakwazi ukuliqondisa nokuliqinisa, “amadodana” alo ayobukela engakwazi ukusiza, ezacile, engaqinile ngokwanele ukuba akwazi ukuxosha abahlaseli baseBabiloni. Ekuqaleni kwezitaladi noma obala emakhoneni azo, ayolala phansi ebanjwe isinxi, engenamandla futhi ekhathele. (IsiLilo 2:19; 4:1, 2) Ayobe esesiphuzile isitsha sokufutheka kukaNkulunkulu futhi ayobe engenamandla efana nezilwane ezibhajwe enethini.
24, 25. (a) Yini engeke iphinde yenzeke ngeJerusalema? (b) Nge-mva kweJerusalema, yini ezolandela iphuze isitsha sentukuthelo kaJehova?
24 Kodwa lesi simo esidabukisayo siyophela. U-Isaya uyaliduduza, ethi: “Ngakho-ke, ngicela ulalele lokhu, wena wesifazane ohlushwayo nodakiwe, kodwa kungengawayini. Yilokhu ekushilo iNkosi yakho, uJehova, yebo uNkulunkulu wakho, obalwelayo abantu bakhe: ‘Bheka! Ngiyosusa esandleni sakho indebe ebangela ukudiyazela. Isitsha sokuphuza, indebe yami yokufutheka—awusophinde usiphuze futhi. Ngizosibeka esandleni salabo abakucasulayo, abathé emphefumulweni wakho, “Khothama ukuze seqe,” kangangokuba wawuvame ukwenza umhlane wakho ube njengomhlabathi, nanjengesitaladi kulabo abeqayo.’” (Isaya 51:21-23) Ngemva kokulijezisa iJerusalema, uJehova ukulungele ukulihawukela nokulibonisa umoya wokuthethelela.
25 UJehova uyobe eseyayeka ukuthukuthelela iJerusalema abese ephendukela eBabiloni. IBabiloni liyobe lilichithile iJerusalema futhi lalithobisa. (IHubo 137:7-9) Kodwa iJerusalema ngeke liphuziswe yiBabiloni noma imibuso elisizana nayo kuleso sitsha. Kunalokho, lesi sitsha siyothathwa esandleni seJerusalema sinikezwe labo abayobe bekushayele izandla ukuhlaziswa kwalo. (IsiLilo 4:21, 22) IBabiloni liyowa, lidakwe liphelile. (Jeremiya 51:6-8) Kanti iZiyoni lona liyovuka! Yeka ushintsho! Leli themba lingaliduduza ngempela iZiyoni. Futhi izinceku zikaJehova zingaqiniseka ukuthi izenzo zakhe zokusindisa ziyolingcwelisa igama lakhe.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Inundu okukhulunywa ngayo lapha cishe yilena ehlala ezingutsheni eziqinile, ikakhulukazi lapho isisesigabeni esiqothulayo sokuba isibungu.
[Isithombe ekhasini 167]
UJehova, u-Abrahama Omkhulu, ‘uyidwala’ ‘abaqoshwa’ kulo abantu bakhe
[Isithombe ekhasini 170]
Abaphikisi babantu bakaNkulunkulu bayoshabalala, kuhle kwengubo edliwe izinundu
[Isithombe ekhasini 176, 177]
UJehova uwabonisile amandla akhe okulawula imvelo
[Isithombe ekhasini 178]
Isitsha eliyobe liphuze kuso iJerusalema sidluliselwa eBabiloni nasemibusweni esizana nalo