Isahluko Samashumi Amabili Nantathu
“Igama Elisha”
1. Yisiphi isiqinisekiso esilotshwe ku-Isaya isahluko 62?
UKUQINISEKISWA, induduzo, ithemba lokubuyiselwa—yilokho okudingwa amaJuda aphelelwe ithemba eBabiloni. Sekudlule amashumi eminyaka kwabhujiswa iJerusalema nethempeli lalo. Endaweni eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-800 eBabiloni, elakwaJuda liyincithakalo, futhi kubonakala sengathi uJehova uwalibele amaJuda. Yini engasenza ngcono isimo sawo? Yizithembiso zikaJehova zokuthi uzowaphindisela ekhaya awavumele ukuba abuyisele ukukhulekela okumsulwa. Khona-ke, esikhundleni sezincazo ezinjengethi “oshiywe ngokuphelele” nethi “incithakalo” kuyoba namagama abonisa ukwamukelwa nguNkulunkulu. (Isaya 62:4; Zakariya 2:12) Isahluko 62 sika-Isaya sigcwele lezi zithembiso. Nokho, njengezinye iziprofetho zokubuyiselwa, lesi sahluko sithinta izinto ezingaphezu kokukhululwa kwamaJuda ekuthunjweni eBabiloni. Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, u-Isaya isahluko 62 usiqinisekisa ngokuthi isizwe sikaJehova esingokomoya, “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,” nakanjani siyosinda.—Galathiya 6:16.
UJehova Akahlali Ethule
2. UJehova uphinde alibonise umusa ngayiphi indlela iZiyoni?
2 IBabiloni liyagumbuqelwa ngo-539 B.C.E. Ngemva kwalokho, inkosi yasePheresiya uKoresi ikhipha umyalo owenza amaJuda esaba uNkulunkulu akwazi ukuphindela eJerusalema ayobuyisela ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova. (Ezra 1:2-4) Ngo-537 B.C.E., amaJuda abuya kuqala asesezweni lawo. UJehova uphinde alibonise umusa iJerusalema, njengoba kuzwakala emfudumalweni yesimemezelo sakhe esiyisiprofetho: “Ngenxa yeZiyoni ngeke ngithule, nangenxa yeJerusalema ngeke ngihlale ngithule kuze kuphume ukulunga kwalo njengokukhanya, nensindiso yalo njengobhaqa oluvuthayo.”—Isaya 62:1.
3. (a) Kungani uJehova elilahla ekugcineni iZiyoni lasemhlabeni, futhi yini ethatha isikhundla salo? (b) Yikuphi ukuphambuka okwenzekayo, futhi kwenzeka nini, futhi thina namuhla siphila kuyiphi inkathi?
3 Ngo-537 B.C.E., uJehova wafeza isithembiso sakhe sokubuyisela iZiyoni, noma iJerusalema. Wazisindisa izakhamuzi zalo, nokukhanya kwazo kwakhanya bha. Kodwa kamuva zaphinde zakhukhuleka ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. Ekugcineni, zamenqaba uJesu njengoMesiya, futhi uJehova wagcina eziyekile zangabe zisaba isizwe sakhe esikhethiwe. (Mathewu 21:43; 23:38; Johane 1:9-13) UJehova wenza ukuba kuzalwe isizwe esisha, “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.” Lesi sizwe esisha saba abantu bakhe abakhethekile, futhi ngekhulu lokuqala, amalungu aso ashumayela izindaba ezinhle ngentshiseko kulo lonke izwe langaleso sikhathi. (Galathiya 6:16; Kolose 1:23) Ngokudabukisayo, ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, aphambuka enkolweni yeqiniso. Umphumela waba ukwakheka kobuKristu bezihlubuki, njengoba bukhona namuhla kweLobukholwa. (Mathewu 13:24-30, 36-43; IzEnzo 20:29, 30) Sekungamakhulu eminyaka eLobukholwa liyekiwe ukuba lihlambalaze igama likaJehova. Kodwa ekugcineni, ngo-1914, “unyaka” kaJehova “wokuthakazelelwa” waqala, kwaqala nokugcwaliseka okukhulu kwale ngxenye yesiprofetho sika-Isaya.—Isaya 61:2.
4, 5. (a) Lifanekisela bani iZiyoni nabantwana balo namuhla? (b) UJehova ulisebenzise ngandlelani iZiyoni ekwenzeni ‘insindiso yalo ibe njengobhaqa olukhanyayo’?
4 Namuhla, isithembiso sikaJehova sokubuyisela iZiyoni sigcwalisekile enhlanganweni yakhe engokwasezulwini, “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” njengoba emhlabeni limelelwe abantwana balo, amaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya. (Galathiya 4:26) Inhlangano kaJehova engokwasezulwini ikhonza njengomsizi ozinikele—iqaphile, inothando futhi ikhuthele. Yeka isikhathi esivusa amadlingozi okwaba yiso ngo-1914 lapho izala uMbuso KaMesiya! (IsAmbulo 12:1-5) Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1919, abantwana bayo basemhlabeni baye bashumayeza izizwe ngokulunga nensindiso yayo. Njengoba u-Isaya abikezela, laba bantwana bakhanyise ebumnyameni njengobhaqa, benza ukukhanya kwabo kwakhanya.—Mathewu 5:15, 16; Filipi 2:15.
5 UJehova unesithakazelo esibukhali kubakhulekeli bakhe futhi ngeke aphumule, noma ahlale ethule, kuze kube yilapho esezifeze zonke izithembiso azithembisa iZiyoni nabantwana balo. Abaseleyo kwabagcotshiwe kanye nabangane babo ‘bezinye izimvu’ nabo bayenqaba ukuthula. (Johane 10:16) Babanga umsindo ngempela njengoba betshengisa abantu okuwukuphela kwendlela yokusindiswa.—Roma 10:10.
“Igama Elisha” Elivela KuJehova
6. UJehova ucabangani ngeZiyoni?
6 UJehova ucabangani ngeZiyoni, ‘owesifazane’ wakhe wasezulwini, ofanekiselwa iJerusalema lasendulo? Uthi: “Ngokuqinisekile izizwe ziyokubona ukulunga kwakho, wena wesifazane, nawo wonke amakhosi inkazimulo yakho. Empeleni uyobizwa ngegama elisha, eliyoshiwo yiwo kanye umlomo kaJehova.” (Isaya 62:2) Njengoba ama-Israyeli enza izinto ngokulunga, izizwe ziyaphoqeleka ukuba zibukisise. Ngisho namakhosi ayaphoqeleka ukuba avume ukuthi uJehova usebenzisa iJerusalema nokuthi noma ikuphi ukubusa kwawo kuwubala uma kuqhathaniswa noMbuso kaJehova.—Isaya 49:23.
7. Liqokomisani igama elisha leZiyoni?
7 UJehova manje uqinisekisa isimo esishintshile seZiyoni ngokulinika igama elisha. Lelo gama elisha liqokomisa isimo esibusisekile nesikhundla esihloniphekile esitholwa abantwana basemhlabeni beZiyoni kusukela ngo-537 B.C.E.a Libonisa ukuthi uJehova uyavuma ukuthi iZiyoni lingelakhe. Namuhla, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ujabula kakhulu ngokwenza uJehova athokoze ngale ndlela, nezinye izimvu zijabula kanye naye.
8. UJehova ulidumise ngaziphi izindlela iZiyoni?
8 Eselinikezile iZiyoni igama lalo elisha, uJehova manje uyathembisa: “Kumelwe ube umqhele wobuhle esandleni sikaJehova, nomshuqulo wobukhosi entendeni yesandla sikaNkulunkulu wakho.” (Isaya 62:3) UJehova uphakamisa umfazi wakhe ongokomfanekiso, iZiyoni lasezulwini, ukuze abukwe ngenjabulo. (IHubo 48:2; 50:2) Umqhele wobuhle “nomshuqulo wobukhosi” kubonisa ukuthi ugqokiswe udumo negunya. (Zakariya 9:16) Njengoba efanekisela iZiyoni lasezulwini, noma “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu uwumphumela omangalisayo womsebenzi wezandla zikaNkulunkulu—amandla akhe. (Galathiya 4:26) Ngosizo lukaJehova, leso sizwe esingokomoya siye sazakhela umlando omuhle kakhulu wobuqotho nokuzinikela. Izigidi eziningi ezakhiwa abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu ziyaqiniswa ukuze zibonise ukholo nothando oluvelele. Phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, abagcotshiwe, njengoba beyobe sebewutholile umvuzo wabo okhazimulayo wasezulwini, bayoba amathuluzi uJehova ayowasebenzisela ukufukula indalo ebubulayo ayiholele ekuphileni okuphakade.—Roma 8:21, 22; IsAmbulo 22:2.
‘UJehova Uyajabula Ngawe’
9. Chaza izinguquko zeZiyoni.
9 Ukunikezwa kwegama elisha kuyingxenye yezinguquko ezijabulisayo zeZiyoni lasezulwini njengoba lifanekiselwa abantwana balo basemhlabeni. Siyafunda: “Ngeke kusathiwa ungowesifazane oshiywe ngokuphelele; nezwe lakho ngeke kusathiwa liyincithakalo; kodwa wena ngokwakho uyobizwa ngokuthi unguNjabulo Yami Ikuye, nezwe lakho ngokuthi Othathwe Njengomfazi. Ngoba uJehova uyobe ejabule ngawe, futhi izwe lakho liyothathwa njengomfazi.” (Isaya 62:4) IZiyoni lasemhlabeni belilokhu liyincithakalo kusukela labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E. Nokho, amazwi kaJehova aliqinisekisa ngokuthi lizobuyiselwa futhi kuphinde kube nabantu abahlala ezweni lalo. IZiyoni elalike lacekelwa phansi ngeke lisaba owesifazane oshiywe ngokuphelele, nezwe lalo ngeke lisaba incithakalo. Ukubuyiselwa kweJerusalema ngo-537 B.C.E. kusho isimo esisha ngalo, esingafani neze nesasekuqaleni esasonakele. UJehova uthi iZiyoni liyobizwa ngokuthi ‘iNjabulo Yami Ikuye,’ izwe lalo libizwe ngokuthi “Othathwe Njengomfazi.”—Isaya 54:1, 5, 6; 66:8; Jeremiya 23:5-8; 30:17; Galathiya 4:27-31.
10. (a) Washintsha kanjani u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu? (b) Liyini “izwe” lika-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu?
10 Kusukela ngo-1919 kwenzeka izinguquko ezifanayo ku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, kwabonakala sengathi uNkulunkulu uwalahlile amaKristu agcotshiwe. Kodwa ngo-1919 abuyiselwa esikhundleni sawo esikhethekile, nendlela yawo yokukhulekela yahlanzwa. Lokhu kwathinta izimfundiso zawo, inhlangano yawo nomsebenzi wawo. U-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu wafika ‘ezweni’ lakhe, indawo yakhe engokomoya, noma yomsebenzi.—Isaya 66:7, 8, 20-22.
11. AmaJuda amthatha kanjani unina abe umkawo?
11 Eqhubeka egcizelela isikhundla esisha nesikhethekile sabantu bakhe, uJehova uthi: “Njengoba nje insizwa ithatha intombi ukuba ibe ngumkayo, amadodana akho ayokuthatha ube umfazi wawo. Futhi uNkulunkulu wakho uyokwethaba ngawe ngokwethaba komkhwenyana ngomakoti.” (Isaya 62:5) AmaJuda, “amadodana” eZiyoni, angamthatha kanjani unina abe umkawo? Ngokuthi amadodana eZiyoni abuya ekuthunjweni yiBabiloni afika emzini wawo omdala oyinhloko-dolobha aphinde ahlale kuwo. Lapho kwenzeka lokhu, iZiyoni alibe lisaba yincithakalo kodwa ligcwala amadodana.—Jeremiya 3:14.
12. (a) UJehova ukwenze kanjani kwacaca ukuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe ayingxenye yenhlangano eboshelwe kuye ngomshado? (b) Ukusebenzelana kukaJehova nabantu bakhe kusinikeza kanjani isibonelo esihle kakhulu somshado namuhla? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 342.)
12 Ngomqondo ofanayo, kusukela ngo-1919 abantwana beZiyoni lasezulwini baye bathatha izwe labo, indawo yabo engokomoya, enegama elingokwesiprofetho elithi “Othathwe Njengomfazi.” Umsebenzi wabo wobuKristu kulelo zwe wenze kwabonakala ukuthi la maKristu agcotshiwe ‘ayisizwe segama [likaJehova].’ (IzEnzo 15:14) Ukuletha kwawo izithelo zoMbuso nokumemezela igama likaJehova kwenze kwacaca ukuthi uJehova uyajabula ngala maKristu. Wenzé kwaba sobala ukuthi ayingxenye yenhlangano eboshelwe kuye ngobunye obungenakuphela. Ngokugcoba la maKristu ngomoya ongcwele, ngokuwakhulula ekuthunjweni okungokomoya, nangokuwasebenzisela ukushumayela ngethemba loMbuso kuso sonke isintu, uJehova ubonise ukuthi uyathokoza ngawo ngentokozo efuze eyomyeni ngomakoti wakhe.—Jeremiya 32:41.
“Maningathuli”
13, 14. (a) Endulo, iJerusalema liba kanjani umuzi onikeza isiphephelo? (b) Ezikhathini zamanje, kwenzeke kanjani ukuba iZiyoni libe ‘indumiso emhlabeni’?
13 Igama elisha elingokomfanekiso uJehova alinikeza abantu bakhe libenza bazizwe belondekile. Bayazi ukuthi uyabamukela futhi bangabakhe. Esesebenzisa umfanekiso ohlukile manje, uJehova ukhuluma nabantu bakhe njengokungathi ukhuluma nomuzi obiyelwe ngezindonga: “Phezu kwezindonga zakho, Jerusalema, ngimise abalindi. Usuku lonke nobusuku bonke, njalo, mabangathuli. Nina enikhuluma ngoJehova, maningathuli, futhi ningathuli ngaye aze alimise ngokuqinile, yebo, aze alimise iJerusalema njengendumiso emhlabeni.” (Isaya 62:6, 7) Ngesikhathi sikaJehova esifanele ngemva kokubuya kwensali ethembekile eBabiloni, ngempela iJerusalema liba ‘indumiso emhlabeni’—umuzi obiyelwe ngezindonga oyisivikelo kwabakhileyo kuwo. Ubusuku nemini, abalindi abakulezo zindonga baqaphile ukuze baqikelele ukuthi umuzi ulondekile futhi bahlabe umkhosi.—Nehemiya 6:15; 7:3; Isaya 52:8.
14 Ezikhathini zanamuhla uJehova usebenzise abalindi bakhe abagcotshiwe ukuba babonise abantu abanobuvi indlela yokukhululeka ekugqilazweni yinkolo yamanga. Laba bantu baye bamenyelwa enhlanganweni yakhe, lapho bevikeleka khona ekonakalisweni ngokomoya, emathonyeni okungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu nasekucasuleni uJehova. (Jeremiya 33:9; Zefaniya 3:19) Ukuze kutholakale lokhu kuvikeleka, ibaluleke kakhulu indima yesigaba somlindi, “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,” esinikeza “ukudla” okungokomoya “ngesikhathi esifanele.” (Mathewu 24:45-47) Njengoba sisebenza nesigaba somlindi, “isixuku esikhulu” naso sifeza indima ephawulekayo ekwenzeni iZiyoni libe ‘indumiso emhlabeni.’—IsAmbulo 7:9.
15. Isigaba somlindi nabangane baso simkhonza kanjani uJehova ngokuqhubekayo?
15 Inkonzo yesigaba somlindi nabangane baso iyaqhubeka! Isimo sabo sengqondo somphefumulo wonke sibonakala ekusebenzeni ngentshiseko kwezigidi zabantu abathembekile besizwa ababonisi abajikelezayo nomkabo; amavolontiya asemakhaya aseBethel ahlukahlukene nasezindaweni zokunyathelisa zoFakazi BakaJehova; izithunywa zevangeli namaphayona akhethekile, avamile nasizayo. Ngaphandle kwalokho, bayazikhandla bakha amaHholo OMbuso amasha, behambela abagulayo, besiza abantu ababhekene nokwelashwa okusongela ukuphila, futhi benikeza izisulu zezinhlekelele nezingozi usizo olufika ngesikhathi. Ngokuvamile abaningi kulaba bantu abazidelayo basebenza “imini nobusuku” ngokoqobo!—IsAmbulo 7:14, 15.
16. Kungayiphi indlela izinceku zikaJehova ‘zingamniki ukuthula’?
16 Izinceku zikaJehova zikhuthazwa ukuba zingayeki ukukhuleka, zicele kuNkulunkulu ukuba “intando [yakhe] yenzeke nasemhlabeni, njengasezulwini.” (Mathewu 6:9, 10; 1 Thesalonika 5:17) Ziyanxuswa: “Ningathuli [ngoJehova]” kuze kube yilapho izifiso namathemba aphathelene nokubuyiselwa kokukhulekela kweqiniso esefezekile. UJesu wagcizelela isidingo sokukhuleka njalo, enxusa abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘bakhamuluke [kuNkulunkulu] imini nobusuku.’—Luka 18:1-8.
Inkonzo Eyenzelwa UNkulunkulu Iyovuzwa
17, 18. (a) Izakhamuzi zaseZiyoni kumelwe zilindele ukuzithola ngayiphi indlela izithelo zomsebenzi wazo? (b) Abantu bakaJehova namuhla bazithola kanjani izithelo zomsebenzi wabo?
17 Igama elisha uJehova alinika abantu bakhe libaqinisekisa ngokuthi imizamo yabo ayilona ize. “UJehova ufungé ngesandla sakhe sokunene nangengalo yakhe enamandla wathi: ‘Ngeke ngisanika izitha zakho okusanhlamvu kwakho ukuba kube ngukudla kwazo, futhi abezinye izizwe ngeke besaliphuza iwayini lakho elisha, olikhandlekele. Kodwa kuyodliwa yilabo kanye abakubuthayo, futhi ngokuqinisekile bayomdumisa uJehova, nabo kanye labo abaliqoqayo bayoliphuzela emagcekeni ami angcwele.’” (Isaya 62:8, 9) Isandla sikaJehova sokunene nengalo enamandla kumelela amandla akhe nezikhwepha zakhe. (Duteronomi 32:40; Hezekeli 20:5) Ukufunga kwakhe ngalezi zinto kubonisa ukuthi uzimisele ukushintsha isimo seZiyoni. Ngo-607 B.C.E., uJehova uvumela izitha zeZiyoni ukuba ziliphange futhi ziliphuce okungokwalo. (Duteronomi 28:33, 51) Kodwa manje izimpahla zeZiyoni sezizotholwa yilabo kuphela abanelungelo lokuzithola.—Duteronomi 14:22-27.
18 Ekugcwalisekeni kwanamuhla kwalesi sithembiso, abantu bakaJehova ababuyiselwe bathola ukuchuma okukhulu ngokomoya. Bazijabulela ngokugcwele izithelo zemisebenzi yabo—inani elandayo labafundi abangamaKristu nensada yokudla okungokomoya. (Isaya 55:1, 2; 65:14) Ngenxa yokuthi abantu bakhe bathembekile, uJehova akazivumeli izitha zabo ziphazamise ukuchuma kwabo ngokomoya noma zibaphuce imiphumela yenkonzo yabo yomphefumulo wonke. Awukho umsebenzi owenziwa enkonzweni kaJehova oyize.—Malaki 3:10-12; Heberu 6:10.
19, 20. (a) Icatshwa kanjani indlela ukuze amaJuda abuyele eJerusalema? (b) Ezikhathini zanamuhla iye yacatshwa kanjani indlela ukuze abanobuvi beze enhlanganweni kaJehova?
19 Leli gama elisha lenza nenhlangano kaJehova ikhange kubantu abanhliziyo ziqotho. Izixuku zithuthelekela kuyo, futhi indlela ihlala izivulekele. Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sithi: “Phumani, phumani ngamasango. Vulelani abantu indlela. Nqwabelanisani, nqwabelanisani umgwaqo omkhulu. Susani amatshe kuwo. Phakamiselani izizwe isibonakaliso.” (Isaya 62:10) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, cishe lo myalo ubhekisela ekuphumeni ngamasango emizi yaseBabiloni ngenjongo yokuphindela eJerusalema. Ababuyayo kumelwe basuse amatshe endleleni ukuze kube lula ukuhamba futhi kuphakanyiswe isibonakaliso esitshengisa indlela.—Isaya 11:12.
20 Kusukela ngo-1919, amaKristu agcotshiwe aye ahlukaniselwa inkonzo yaphezulu futhi ahamba ‘eNdleleni Yobungcwele.’ (Isaya 35:8) Yiwona ahamba kuqala emgwaqweni omkhulu ongokomoya ephuma eBabiloni Elikhulu. (Isaya 40:3; 48:20) UNkulunkulu wawanika ilungelo lokuhola ekumemezeleni imisebenzi yakhe yamandla nasekutshengiseni abanye indlela eya kulo mgwaqo omkhulu. Ukususa amatshe kuyo—ukugudluza izithiyo—kwakuzozuzisa wona ikakhulu. (Isaya 57:14) Kwakudingeka aqonde izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu nezimfundiso zakhe ngokucacile. Izinkolelo ezingamanga zingamatshe ayisikhubekiso endleleni yokuphila, kodwa iZwi likaJehova ‘lifana nesando sokukhanda esiphihliza idwala.’ Ngaso, amaKristu agcotshiwe aqhephula amatshe ayisikhubekiso ayengase akhube labo ababefuna ukukhonza uJehova.—Jeremiya 23:29.
21, 22. Yisiphi isibonakaliso uJehova asimisele labo abashiya inkolo yamanga, futhi sazi kanjani?
21 Ngo-537 B.C.E., iJerusalema laba isibonakaliso esaqhweba insali engamaJuda ukuba ibuye futhi yakhe kabusha ithempeli. (Isaya 49:22) Ngo-1919 lapho insali egcotshiwe ikhululwa ekugqilazweni yinkolo yamanga, ayizange nje ihambe ithilileka. Yayazi ukuthi iyaphi, ngoba uJehova wayeyimisele isibonakaliso. Siphi isibonakaliso? Sona lesi esibikezelwe ku-Isaya 11:10, othi: “Ngalolo suku kuyoba khona impande kaJese eyobe imi njengesibonakaliso ezizweni.” Umphostoli uPawulu uthi la mazwi asebenza kuJesu. (Roma 15:8, 12) Yebo, isibonakaliso nguKristu Jesu, obusa njengeNkosi eNtabeni YaseZiyoni ezulwini!—Heberu 12:22; IsAmbulo 14:1.
22 AmaKristu agcotshiwe nezinye izimvu babuthene kuJesu Kristu bazohlanganyela ekukhulekeleni uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, ukukhulekela okwenza abantu babe munye. Ukubusa kwakhe kulwela ubukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke futhi kubusise nabanhliziyo ziqotho abavela kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba. Ingabe lesi akusona yini isizathu sokuba sonke ngothi lwethu sihlanganyele ekumphakamiseni ngendumiso?
“Insindiso Yenu Iyeza”!
23, 24. Abanokholo kuNkulunkulu bayithola kanjani insindiso?
23 Igama elisha uJehova alinika inhlangano yakhe enjengomfazi lihlobene nensindiso yaphakade yabantwana bayo. U-Isaya uyabhala: “Bhekani! UJehova ngokwakhe wenze ukuba kuzwakale nasemajukujukwini omhlaba: ‘Thanini, endodakazini yaseZiyoni, “Bheka! Insindiso yakho iyeza. Bheka! Umvuzo awunikezayo ukanye naye, nenkokhelo ayikhokhayo iphambi kwakhe.”’” (Isaya 62:11) AmaJuda athola insindiso lapho iBabiloni liwa futhi ephindela ezweni lawo. Kodwa la mazwi abhekisele kokuthile okukhulu kunalokho. Lesi simemezelo sikaJehova sisikhumbuza isiprofetho sikaZakariya ngeJerusalema: “Jabula kakhulu, ndodakazi yaseZiyoni. Memeza ngokunqoba, ndodakazi yaseJerusalema. Bheka! Inkosi yakho iza kuwe. Ilungile, yebo, isindisiwe; ithobekile, igibele imbongolo, yebo iphezu kwesilwane esikhule ngokugcwele ithole lembongolokazi.”—Zakariya 9:9.
24 Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu nesigamu uJesu abhapathizwa emanzini futhi wagcotshwa ngomoya kaNkulunkulu, wafika eJerusalema egibele isilwane, wahlanza ithempeli lakhona. (Mathewu 21:1-5; Johane 12:14-16) Namuhla, uJesu Kristu uyena olethela bonke abanokholo kuNkulunkulu insindiso evela kuJehova. Kusukela abekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914, uJesu ubuye abe uMahluleli kaJehova omisiwe noMkhiphi-sahlulelo wakhe. Ngo-1918, ngemva kweminyaka emithathu nesigamu ebekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi, wahlanza ithempeli likaJehova elingokomoya, njengoba emhlabeni limelelwe ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe. (Malaki 3:1-5) Ukuphakanyiswa kwakhe njengesibonakaliso kwaba ukuqala kokuqoqwa okukhulu kwabantu abavela emhlabeni wonke, kusekelwa uMbuso KaMesiya. Kulandelwa isibonelo sasendulo, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu wathola “insindiso” lapho ekhululwa eBabiloni Elikhulu ngo-1919. “Umvuzo” noma “inkokhelo” ezotholwa izisebenzi ezivunayo ezizidelayo uwukuphila okungenakufa ezulwini noma ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni. Bonke abahlala bethembekile bangaqiniseka ukuthi “umshikashika [wabo] awulona ize eNkosini.”—1 Korinte 15:58.
25. Abantu bakaJehova baqinisekiswa ngani?
25 Yeka ukuthi izinto ziyihambela kahle kanjani inhlangano kaJehova engokwasezulwini, abameleli bayo abagcotshiwe abalapha emhlabeni, nabo bonke abakuyo abakhuthele! (Duteronomi 26:19) U-Isaya waprofetha: “Abantu bayobabiza ngokuthi abantu abangcwele, abathengwe kabusha nguJehova; wena uyobizwa ngokuthi Ofuniweyo, uMuzi Ongashiywanga Ngokuphelele.” (Isaya 62:12) “IJerusalema eliphezulu,” elimelelwe u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, lake lazizwa lishiyiwe. Ngeke liphinde lizizwe kanjalo. UJehova uyohlala ebanikeza ukunakekela okuyisivikelo abantu bakhe, bajabulele ukwamukelwa nguye ngokuqhubekayo.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Esiprofethweni seBhayibheli inkulumo ethi “igama elisha” ingasho isikhundla noma ilungelo elisha.—IsAmbulo 2:17; 3:12.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 342]
Isibonelo Esiphakeme Somshado
Lapho abantu beshada, bafika benezabo izinto abazilindele emshadweni. Kodwa yini uNkulunkulu ayilindele? Umshado wasungulwa uyena. Yayiyini injongo yakhe ngawo?
Enye indlela uNkulunkulu awubheka ngayo siyithola ebuhlotsheni bakhe nesizwe sakwa-Israyeli. U-Isaya ufanisa lobu buhlobo nomshado. (Isaya 62:1-5) Phawula lokho uJehova uNkulunkulu ‘njengomyeni’ akwenzela “umakoti” wakhe. Uyamvikela amngcwelise. (Isaya 62:6, 7, 12) Uyamdumisa amazise. (Isaya 62:3, 8, 9) Futhi uyajabula ngaye, njengoba kuboniswa igama elisha amnika lona.—Isaya 62:4, 5, 12.
EmiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki, uPawulu ugcizelela incazelo ka-Isaya yobuhlobo bukaJehova no-Israyeli lapho eqhathanisa ubuhlobo bendoda nomfazi nobukaKristu nebandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe.—Efesu 5:21-27.
UPawulu wakhuthaza amaKristu ukuba emishadweni yawo alingise ubuhlobo uJesu anabo nebandla. Alukho uthando olukhulu olwedlula lolo uJehova alubonisa u-Israyeli nalolo uKristu alubonisa ibandla. Lobo buhlobo obungokomfanekiso buyisibonelo esiphakeme somshado wamaKristu ophumelalayo nojabulayo.—Efesu 5:28-33.
[Isithombe ekhasini 338]
UJehova uyobiza iZiyoni lasezulwini ngegama elisha
[Izithombe ekhasini 347]
Ezikhathini zanamuhla isigaba sikaJehova somlindi asizange sithule