Ulimi Oluhlanzekile Lwazo Zonke Izizwe
“Lapho ngiyakunika abantu izindebe ezihlanzekileyo [“ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile,” “NW”], ukuze bonke babize igama likaJehova, bamkhonze nganhliziyonye.”—ZEFANIYA 3:9.
1, 2. (a) Ekugcwalisekeni kukaZefaniya 3:9, yini uJehova ayenzayo osukwini lwethu? (b) Ukuze siqonde indlela isiprofetho sikaZefaniya esisithinta ngayo, imiphi imibuzo okudingeka iphendulwe?
OSUKWINI lwethu uJehova uNkulunkulu ufeza umsebenzi omangalisa ngempela. Uhlanganisa abantu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe. Njengoba abikezela kudala eZwini lakhe eliNgcwele, lokhu ukwenza ngokubafundisa ulimi olusha.—Zefaniya 3:9.
2 Luyini lololimi? Kungani ludingekile? Ukulufunda kudingani ngathi ngabanye?
Isipho Sokukhuluma
3. (a) Yisiphi isipho esimangalisayo uAdamu asinikezwa? (b) Yiluphi ulimi olwalukhulunywa uAdamu?
3 Ikhono lokuxhumana ngokukhuluma liyisipho saphezulu esihlukanisa isintu kuyo yonke indalo eyizilwane. Umuntu wokuqala, uAdamu, wadalwa enengqondo eyayinekhono lokucabanga ngokuhlakanipha. Wayenikwe imisipha yezwi, ulimi, nezindebe okwakungasetshenziselwa ukukhuluma, kanye nohlelo lwamagama nekhono lokwakha amagama amasha. UAdamu wayeqonda lapho uJehova ekhuluma naye, ngemva kwalokho, noAdamu wayengabeka imicabango yakhe ngamazwi. (Genesise 1:28-30; 2:16, 17, 19-23) Ngokusobala ulimi olwanikezwa uAdamu yilolo kamuva olwaziwa ngokuthi isiHeberu. Okungenani eminyakeni yokuqala engu-1 757 yokuba khona komuntu, kusobala ukuthi sonke isintu saqhubeka sikhuluma lololimi olulodwa.—Genesise 11:1.
4. Izenzakalo ezinsukwini zikaNimrode zaluthinta kanjani ulimi lwabantu?
4 Khona-ke, ezinsukwini zikaNimrode, ukuze abhuntshise imizamo yabantu ababi, uJehova wasanganisa ulimi lwabo bonke ababezivumele ukuba baqoqwe ukuze bahlanganyele ekwakheni umbhoshongo waseBabele. (Genesise 11:3-9) Kusobala ukuthi uJehova waqale wayisula yonke inkumbulo yolimi lwabo oluvamile lwangaphambili wabe esefaka izilimi ezintsha ezingqondweni zabo. Lokhu akuhilelanga nje kuphela uhlelo olusha lwamagama kodwa futhi nohlelo olusha lolimi nezindlela ezintsha zemiqondo. Kulezozilimi uJehova azisungula eBabele, kwavela ezinye kancane kancane kwaze kwaba namuhla lapho, ngokwezazi zezilimi, cishe kunezilimi eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu ezikhulunywa kuwo wonke umhlaba.
5. Singakuthola kanjani okuhilelekile ‘ekushintsheleni olimini oluhlanzekile’?
5 Ingabe “ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile” bekuyodinga ukuba abantu abakhuluma zonke lezilimi bashiye ulimi lwabo lwendabuko futhi bafunde ulimi lokuqala uNkulunkulu alunikeza uAdamu? Izimo ezazizungeze ukunikezwa kwalesosiprofetho ziyasiza ekuphenduleni lowombuzo.
Isidingo Solimi Oluhlanzekile
6-8. (a) Yisiphi isimo esingokwenkolo esaba khona kwaJuda ngaphambi kokunikezwa kwesiprofetho sikaZefaniya 3:9? (b) Yisiphi isimo sengqondo esasikhona ezizweni ezazizungeze uJuda?
6 Umbuso wakwaJuda wawusanda kuphathwa okokuqala uManase kwase kuba uAmoni, ababakhele uBali ama-altare, basebenzisa ukubhula, futhi bakhuthaza imikhuba yokukhulekela imimoya. (2 AmaKhosi 21:1-6; 2 IziKronike 33:21-23) Ngenxa yalokho, phakathi nokubusa kwendodana ka-Amoni nowamlandela esikhundleni, uJosiya, uJehova wathuma umprofethi wakhe uZefaniya ukuba axwayise ngokuthi kwakuzokhishwa isahlulelo saphezulu ezweni.—Zefaniya 1:1, 2.
7 Ngisho nakuba amaJuda ayazi ngokomlando wawo siqu nangokwemiBhalo ephefumlelwe ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso, ayezitika ngemikhuba eyonakele yokukhulekelwa kukaBali. Ayekhothamela ilanga nenyanga nezinkanyezi zasezulwini, okwakuwephula ngokuqondile umthetho kaNkulunkulu. (Duteronomi 4:19; 2 AmaKhosi 23:5) Ngaphezu kwakho konke lokhu, ayehlanganyela ohlotsheni lokuxuba inkolo, enza sengathi zonke izinkolo zazifana, ngokufunga kokubili kuJehova nasegameni likankulunkulu wamanga uMilkomu. Isimo sawo sengqondo sasiwukuthi “uJehova akenzi okuhle, akenzi nokubi.” (Zefaniya 1:4-6, 12) Ngokuphathelene nezizwe ezazizungeze uJuda, zonke zazinomlando wokumelana noJehova nabantu bakhe, ngakho nazo zazilindele ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo saphezulu phezu kwazo.—Zefaniya 2:4-15.
8 Kwakusesizindeni esinjalo sezenzakalo lapho uJehova abikezela khona ukuthi ‘wayeyonika abantu izindebe ezihlanzekileyo [“ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile,” NW], ukuze bonke babize igama likaJehova, bamkhonze nganhliziyonye.’ (Zefaniya 3:9) Khona-ke, luyini lololimi oluhlanzekile?
9. (a) Kungani ulimi oluhlanzekile lungesona isiHeberu noma lumane nje lube yiZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe? (b) Luyini lololimi oluhlanzekile, futhi lukuthinta kanjani ukuphila kwalabo abalukhulumayo?
9 Ingabe ulimi lwesiHeberu? Cha; abantu bakwaJuda base benakho kakade lokho, kodwa ngokusobala izinto ababezisho nababezenza zazingahlanzekile futhi zingalungile emehlweni kaJehova. Futhi ulimi oluhlanzekile alulona nje iZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe. Nalo babenalo. Kodwa ababekudinga kwakuwukuqonda okufanele iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu nangezinjongo zakhe, futhi uJehova kuphela owayengabanikeza lokho ngomoya wakhe. Lapho befunda ukukhuluma lololimi oluhlanzekile, ukucabanga kwabo, inkulumo yabo, nokuziphatha kwabo, konke kwakuyogxila ekuqapheleni iqiniso lokuthi uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso. (Zefaniya 2:3) Babeyobeka ithemba labo kuye futhi basekele ubukhosi bakhe ngokugcwele. Lokhu kungokuthakazelisa ngokukhethekile kithina namuhla. Ngani?
Labo Abanikezwa Ulimi Oluhlanzekile
10. Kuphakathi nayiphi inkathi isiprofetho sikaZefaniya 3:9 okwakufanele sigcwaliseke ngayo?
10 Ekhomba ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho enkathini ethile yesikhathi, uZefaniya 3:9 (NW) uthi: “Ngokuba ngalesosikhathi ngiyonika abantu ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile.” Kunini lokho? Ivesi 8 liphendula ngokuthi kuphakathi nesikhathi uJehova ‘abutha ngaso izizwe,’ ngaphambi kokuba ‘athulule phezu kwazo ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo,’ lapho enikeza khona abathobekileyo bomhlaba ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile.
11. (a) Yikuphi ukugcwaliseka okubili uZefaniya 3:9 aba nakho ngaphambi kwezikhathi zanamuhla? (b) Ukugcwaliseka kwakhe namuhla kuhluke kanjani?
11 Phakathi nezinsuku zeNkosi uJosiya, ngaphambi kokuba uJehova avumele amabutho aseBabiloni ukuba akhiphe isahlulelo, abaningi bakushiya ukukhulekela kwamanga, esikhundleni sakho, bakhonza uJehova. (2 IziKronike 34:3-33) Futhi, ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka C.E., ngaphambi kokuba iJerusalema libhujiswe amaRoma, izinkulungwane zabantu zafunda iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu nangenjongo yakhe futhi zaba munye enkonzweni yakhe. Ngalesosikhathi ulimi lweqiniso lwalucetshiswe kakhulu izinto uJesu Kristu azenza ekugcwalisekeni kwenjongo kaJehova. Kodwa kusosukwini lwethu lapho isiprofetho sikaZefaniya sigcwaliseka khona ngezinga lomhlaba wonke. Zonke izizwe manje zibuthelwa ndawonye empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke eArmagedoni. (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Lokho kuqoqwa bekuqhubeka kusukela ekuzalweni koMbuso ngo-1914. Futhi kuphakathi nalenkathi lapho uJehova ebenikeza khona abantu emhlabeni wonke ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile ekugcwalisekeni kwalesiprofetho. Ukufunda lololimi kubaluleke kakhulu ngoba abayosinda osizini olukhulu oluzayo kuyoba abantu abenze ngempela lololimi oluhlanzekile lwaba ulimi lwabo.—Joweli 2:32.
12. (a) Umbono olotshwe kuIsaya 6 uhlobene kanjani nesiprofetho esiphathelene nolimi oluhlanzekile? (b) Kungani insali egcotshiwe yayidinga usizo ukuze iqhubeke yamukeleka enkonzweni kaJehova?
12 Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, kwakusekuqaleni kwenkathi eyalandela iMpi Yezwe I lapho uJehova aqala khona ukuvula amehlo okuqonda ezinceku zakhe ezigcotshiwe ukuba zibone umbono omangalisayo olotshwe kuIsaya isahluko 6. (Amavesi 1-4) Lombono ugcizelela ukubaluleka kokuba kwethu nezindebe ezihlanzekile ukuze sikhonze uJehova ngokwamukelekayo. Ubonisa ukuthi, ngomqondo ophakeme kakhulu, uJehova ungcwele. Izinceku zakhe nazo kumelwe zibonise leyomfanelo. (1 Petru 1:15, 16) Kodwa insali egcotshiwe yayidinga usizo kulokhu. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, ngezinga elithile yayiye yazivumela ukuba ingcoliswe ukuhileleka ezindabeni zezwe. “Ukumesaba uJehova kuhlanzekile,” noma kucocekile, kodwa yayiye yavumela ukwesaba umuntu nezinhlangano zabantu kwathinta izindebe zayo, kuyithulisa ekumemezeleni kwayo iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngezinga elikhulu. (IHubo 19:9) Ngokuthintana neLobukholwa, insali yayisangcoliswe amanye amasiko nemikhuba yalo.
13, 14. (a) Insali yasibonisa kanjani isimo sengqondo esifanele, futhi uJehova wathatha siphi isinyathelo ngenxa yayo? (b) Iyiphi indlela uJehova anika ngayo insali ulimi oluhlanzekile?
13 Iqaphela isimo sayo, insali yathi, njengoba kwasho umprofethi uIsaya: “Maye kimi! Ngokuba ngiphelile, lokhu ngingumuntu ozindebe zakhe zingcolile, futhi ngihlezi phakathi kwabantu abazindebe zabo zingcolile, ngokuba amehlo ami abonile iNkosi uJehova-Sebawoti.” (Isaya 6:5) Yaqaphela ukuthi isimo sayo sasingamukeleki. Ayizange iphikelele ngobuthakathaka enkambweni embi noma yenqabe ngenkani ukwamukela ukusola kukaJehova. Ayizange ihlanganyele nabefundisi lapho benikela ngenkonzo yomlomo nje kuphela eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu futhi besekela iNhlangano Yezizwe njengokungathi yayiwulowoMbuso.
14 Ngenxa yesimo sengqondo sokuphenduka saleyonsali ethobekile, uJehova ngomusa wakhe ongasifanele waqhubeka nokuhlanza izindebe zayo. UIsaya 6:6, 7 uyasitshela: “Kepha landizela kimi elinye lamaserafi liphethe ilahle elivuthayo esandleni salo, elalilithathé ngodlawu ealtare, lathinta umlomo wami, lathi: Bheka, lokhu kuthintile izindebe zakho; ububi bakho sebususiwe, nezono zakho zihlanguliwe.” Kwakuyisigijimi esihlanzayo esivela eZwini likaNkulunkulu esabhubhisa njengokungathi ngomlilo amasiko nezimfundiso zabantu. Sasusa ezinhliziyweni zayo ukwesaba abantu futhi safaka esikhundleni sakho intshiseko evuthayo yokusebenzisa izindebe zayo ekudumiseni uJehova. Kanjalo uJehova wayegcwalisa isithembiso sakhe ‘sokunika abantu ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekile [ngokwezwi nezwi, udebe olucocekile], ukuze bonke babize igama likaJehova.’—Zefaniya 3:9.
15. Ukusabela kwensali kwavumelana kanjani nesizathu esenza uJehova ayinikeze ulimi oluhlanzekile?
15 Ngakho lapho isigaba sikaIsaya ezikhathini zanamuhla siqala ukuzwa izwi likaJehova libuza, njengoba kulotshwe kuIsaya 6:8: “Ngiyakuthuma-bani, ngubani oyakusiyela na?” saphendula ngenjabulo: “Bheka, nangu mina; ngithume mina.” Kwakungelula ngabo bonke ukuba baqalise inkonzo yasobala, kodwa babefuna ukusetshenziswa uNkulunkulu njengabantu begama lakhe. Umoya wakhe wabaqinisa. Amanani abo anda.
16. (a) Ukushumayela kwensali kwaveza miphi imiphumela eyayingalindelekile? (b) Isixuku esikhulu sibunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi naso manje sikhuluma ulimi oluhlanzekile?
16 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwaba sobala ukuthi ukushumayela kwabo kwakuveza imiphumela engalindelekile. Ngabo, uJehova wayesiza elinye iqembu ukuba lifunde ulimi oluhlanzekile. (Isaya 55:5) Laba babengahlanganyeli ethembeni lokuphila kwasezulwini, kodwa bakubheka njengelungelo ukuba abangane bensali yezindlalifa zoMbuso nokukhonza nganhliziyonye nayo njengabamemezeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuqhubekayo, laba baye beza bevela “kuzo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi,” kwaze kwaba yilapho manje bakha “isixuku esikhulu” esifinyelela ezigidini. Inkulumo ephuma emilonyeni yabo ayiyona eyohlobo olungabahlanganisa nanoma imaphi amalungu ezwe ahlukanisayo. Abagxilisi amathemba abo kunoma yimuphi umuntu noma kunoma iyiphi inhlangano yomuntu. Kunalokho, “[ba]memeza ngezwi elikhulu [ba]thi: Insindiso ngekaNkulunkulu wethu ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi neyeWundlu.”—IsAmbulo 7:9, 10.
Lokho Ukufunda Ulimi Okukufunayo Kithi
17. Kungani kubalulekile ukuba silufunde kahle ulimi oluhlanzekile futhi sithuthuke ekhonweni lethu lokulusebenzisa?
17 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinesikhathi eside kangakanani sisenhlanganweni kaJehova, kuningi esingakwenza ukuze sithuthukise ulwazi lwethu lolimi oluhlanzekile nekhono lethu lokulusebenzisa kahle. Kubalulekile ukwenza umzamo wokwenza lokho. Ngani? Ngoba lokhu kubonisa uthando lwethu ngeqiniso.
18, 19. (a) Zisuka nje, kungani kubalulekile ukuhlakulela uthando oluqinile ngeqiniso? (b) Kungani kubalulekile ukuqhubeka siluhlakulela lolothando?
18 Zisuka nje, uthando olunjalo lusiza ekuvuleni umqondo womuntu nenhliziyo ukuze akwazi ukuqonda imiBhalo ayiboniswayo; lumshukumisela ukuba asondele eduze noJehova futhi azise inhlangano yaKhe. Ngakho, uthando ngeqiniso luyisihluthulelo sokugqashula emaketangeni enkolo yamanga. Abanye abantu bazisholo ukuthi banesithakazelo esigijimini seBhayibheli kodwa eqinisweni abalokothi baziyeke zonke izinto ezibaxhumanisa nenkolo yamanga nendlela yayo yokuphila kokuyekelela. Ngani? Njengoba kuchazwe kweyesi-2 Thesalonika 2:10, ‘abavumi ukuthanda iqiniso, ukuze basindiswe.’ Yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo ukuba sibe nalolothando!
19 Uma sesilamukele iqiniso, ukuhlakulela kwethu lolothando kuyisici esiyinhloko ekuthuthukeni kwethu ngokomoya. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova ubhekisela eqinisweni ‘njengolimi.’ Uma umuntu efunda ulimi olusha, kumelwe enze umzamo wenkuthalo wokwandisa uhlelo lwakhe lwamagama, ukubiza kahle amagama, ukufunda imininingwane yohlelo lolimi, njalonjalo. Uthando ngolimi olusha nangabantu abalukhulumayo kuyomsiza ukuba aqhubeke ethuthuka. Angase akwazi ukukhuluma ulimi ngezinga elithile ezinyangeni ezimbalwa, kodwa kuthatha iminyaka yomzamo wokucophelela ukuba alukhulume njengowomdabu. Kudingeka lolohlobo olufanayo lomzamo ukuze silwazi kahle ulimi oluhlanzekile.
20. (a) Yini eyenza ulimi oluhlanzekile lube oluhlanzeke ngempela? (b) Kungani ngamunye wethu kudingeka ukuba aqaphe kakhulu?
20 Kungokuphawuleka ngokukhethekile ukuthi ulimi uNkulunkulu alunikeza izinceku zakhe kuthiwa luhlanzekile. Lokhu kunjalo, hhayi ngenxa yokwakheka kohlelo lolimi, kodwa ngoba lunikeza ubufakazi bokuhlanzeka ngokokuziphatha nangokomoya. Kulolulimi akuvunyelwa ukuqamba amanga, ukukhohlisa, noma ulimi olunobuqili. Ngaso sonke isikhathi labo abakhuluma lolulimi kumelwe bakhulume iqiniso. (Zefaniya 3:13; Efesu 4:25) Inkulumo yabo ngokufanayo kumelwe ibonise izindinganiso zikaJehova eziphakeme ngokuphathelene nokuziphatha okungokobulili. (Efesu 5:3, 4) ImiBhalo isenza futhi siqaphele ukuthi yonke into ehlangene neBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, ingcolile. (IsAmbulo 18:2-4) Imifanekiso yonkulunkulu balo ibizwa ngokuthi “izithixo zendle.” (Jeremiya 50:2, NW) Khona-ke, ngokufanelekile labo abafunda ulimi oluhlanzekile kumelwe balahle izinto ezingokoqobo zokukhulekela kwamanga, benqabe izimfundiso zakho, bagqashule emikhosini yakho, futhi bangawafaki enkulumweni yabo amazwi abonisa ukucabanga kwakho okungalungile. Ngaphandle kwalokhu, kusAmbulo 16:13-16, siqasheliswa ukuthi inkulumo-ze ebuthela ndawonye izizwe ekuphikisaneni noMbuso kaNkulunkulu nayo ingcolile, iphefumlelwe ngamademoni. Ngakho sidinga ukuqapha ukuba singavumeli noma iyiphi yalezinto ezingcolile ingcolise inkulumo yethu.
21. Yini ulimi oluhlanzekile olunayo eyenezela emazwini akhulunywayo?
21 Lokho esikufundayo kubizwa ngokuthi ulimi, futhi lokho kungokufanelekile, kodwa lokho akusho ukuthi labo abalukhulumayo bamane nje bafunde indlela yokusebenzisa izinkulumo ezijwayelekile kubantu bakaJehova. Izwi, isimo sobuso, nokushukuma komzimba nakho kubalulekile. Lokhu kungase kudlulisele izigijimi amazwi ewodwa angenakuzidlulisela. Ngokuvamile kubonisa lokho esiyikho ngempela ngaphakathi. Kungabonisa ukuthi sesiwukhiphile yini umona, izingxabano, nentukuthelo, konke okuyimisebenzi yenyama enesono. Uma umoya kaNkulunkulu usebenza ngokukhululekile ekuphileni kwethu, izithelo zawo zibonakala endleleni esixoxa ngayo nabanye.—Galathiya 5:19-23; Efesu 4:31, 32.
22. Lapho silufunda kahle ulimi oluhlanzekile, lukuthinta kanjani ukwenza kwethu izinqumo?
22 Noma ubani oye wafunda ulimi olusha uyazi ukuthi ufinyelele intuthuko yangempela uma esezithola ecabanga ngokoqobo ngolimi olusha, kunokuba ahumushe esusela olimini lwakhe lwendabuko. Ngakho, nalapho sitadisha iqiniso, senza umzamo oqotho wokulisebenzisa ekuphileni kwethu, futhi silihlanganyela njalo nabanye, kancane kancane sizithola sicabanga ngeqiniso. Asihlali siqhathanisa okudala nokusha futhi sizama ukukhetha. Ngisho nasezintweni ezincane, sikhumbula izimiso zeBhayibheli ezisinikeza isiqondiso esidingekayo.—IzAga 4:1-12.
23. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yiluphi ulimi lwabo lwendabuko, yini ebonisa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke bonke bakhuluma ulimi oluhlanzekile?
23 Kuyiqiniso ukuthi kunezinkulungwane zezilimi ezisetshenziswa isintu, kodwa ulimi oluhlanzekile lungakhulunywa ngazo zonke lezilimi. Ngobunye, emhlabeni wonke, oFakazi BakaJehova balusebenzisa kahle ulimi oluhlanzekile njengoba bekhonza nganhliziyonye benikeza ubufakazi basobala obuletha udumo kuJehova, uNkulunkulu wethu onothando.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
◻ Yini ehlanganisiwe esiphweni sokukhuluma?
◻ Luyini ulimi oluhlanzekile?
◻ UZefaniya 3:9 uye wagcwaliseka kobani?
◻ Singabunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi siluthanda ngempela ulimi oluhlanzekile?
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Labo abalwaziyo ulimi oluhlanzekile baluhlanganyela nabanye
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yiluphi ulimi lwabo lwendabuko, oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke bakhuluma ulimi oluhlanzekile