Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-23—UIsaya
Umlobi: UIsaya
Yalotshelwa: EJerusalema
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Ngemva kuka-732 B.C.E.
Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: Cishe u-778–ngemva kuka-732 B.C.E.
1. Sasiyini isimo eMpumalanga ePhakathi, futhi ikakhulukazi kwaIsrayeli nakwaJuda, ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili leminyaka B.C.E.?
ITHUNZI elisongelayo lenkosi enonya yaseAsiriya liphezu kweminye imibuso emikhulu nemincane yaseMpumalanga ePhakathi. Kuyo yonke indawo kwakukhulunywa ngozungu kanye nokuhlanganisa imibuso. (Isaya 8:9-13) UIsrayeli oyisihlubuki ngasenyakatho ngokushesha wayezoba isisulu salelisu elihlanganisa izizwe eziningi, kuyilapho amakhosi akwaJuda ngaseningizimu ayebusa ngaphansi kwesimo esingalondekile. (2 AmaKh., izahl. 15-21) Kwakwenziwa izikhali zempi ezintsha futhi zisetshenziswa, okwakunezela ezikhathini ezesabisayo. (2 IziKr. 26:14, 15) Umuntu wayengabhekaphi ukuze athole isivikelo nensindiso? Nakuba igama likaJehova lalisezindebeni zabantu nabapristi embusweni omncane wakwaJuda, izinhliziyo zabo zaziphendukele kude kwezinye izinhlangothi, okokuqala zazibheke eAsiriya bese kuba sezansi eGibithe. (2 AmaKh. 16:7; 18:21) Ukholo emandleni kaJehova lwaphela. Lapho okwakungakhulekelwa khona izithombe ngokuqondile, kwakwande indlela yokukhulekela yobuzenzisi, eyayisekelwe ezenzweni zokugcina umthetho kuphela hhayi ekwesabeni uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso.
2. (a) Ubani owaphendula ubizo lokuba umkhulumeli kaJehova, futhi nini? (b) Yini ephawulekayo ngegama lalomprofethi?
2 Khona-ke, ubani owayezokhulumela uJehova? Ubani owayezomemezela amandla akhe asindisayo? Kwezwakala impendulo yokuzithandela ithi, “nangu mina, ngithume mina.” Lamazwi ashiwo uIsaya, owayeprofetha kakade ngaphambi kwalokhu. Kwakungonyaka iNkosi u-Uziya enochoko eyafa ngawo, cishe ngo-778 B.C.E. (Isaya 6:1, 8) Igama elithi Isaya lisho “Insindiso KaJehova,” okuyincazelo efanayo, nakuba ibhalwe ngenye indlela, neyegama elithi Jesu (“UJehova Uyinsindiso”). Kusukela ekuqaleni kuya ekugcineni, isiprofetho sikaIsaya siqokomisa leliphuzu, lokuthi uJehova uyinsindiso.
3. (a) Yini eyaziwayo ngokuphathelene noIsaya? (b) Waprofetha phakathi nasiphi isikhathi, futhi babengobani abanye abaprofethi bosuku lwakhe?
3 UIsaya wayeyindodana ka-Amozi (akumelwe aphanjaniswe noAmose, omunye umprofethi wakwaJuda). (1:1, Esd) ImiBhalo ayisho lutho ngokuzalwa kanye nokufa kwakhe, nakuba isiko lamaJuda lithi wanqunywa ngesaha iNkosi embi uManase. (Qhathanisa namaHeberu 11:37.) Imibhalo yakhe ibonisa ukuthi wayeseJerusalema nomkakhe ongumprofethikazi kanye namadodana akhe okungenani amabili anamagama ayisiprofetho. (Isaya 7:3; 8:1, 3) Wakhonza okungenani phakathi nesikhathi samakhosi amane akwaJuda: u-Uziya, uJothamu, uAhazi, kanye noHezekiya; ngokusobala kusukela cishe ngo-778 B.C.E. (lapho u-Uziya efa, noma ngokunokwenzeka ngaphambili) futhi waqhubeka okungenani kwaze kwaba ngemva kuka-732 B.C.E. (unyaka we-14 kaHezekiya), noma iminyaka engengaphansi kwengu-46. Akungabazeki futhi ukuthi wayesesilobile isiprofetho sakhe ngalonyaka wakamuva. (1:1; 6:1; 36:1) Abanye abaprofethi bosuku lwakhe kwakunguMika kwaJuda, futhi enyakatho kunguHoseya no-Odedi.—Mika 1:1; Hos. 1:1; 2 IziKr. 28:6-9.
4. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uIsaya wayengumlobi walencwadi?
4 Ukuthi uJehova wayala uIsaya ukuba abhale phansi izahlulelo ezingokwesiprofetho kuqinisekiswa uIsaya 30:8: “Manje hamba ukulobe phambi kwabo esibhebheni, ukubhale encwadini ukuba kube-ngubufakazi besikhathi esizayo kuze kube-phakade.” Abefundisi bamaJuda basendulo bamqaphela uIsaya njengomlobi futhi bayihlanganisa lencwadi njengencwadi yokuqala kwezabaprofethi abakhulu (uIsaya, uJeremiya, kanye noHezekeli).
5. Yini efakazela ubunye bencwadi kaIsaya?
5 Nakuba abanye beye bakhomba ekushintsheni kwendlela yokuloba kusukela esahlukweni 40 kuqhubeke njengokubonisa omunye umlobi, noma “uIsaya Wesibili,” ushintsho lwendaba okuxoxwa ngayo kufanele lube olwanele ekuchazeni lokhu. Kunobufakazi obuningi bokuthi uIsaya wayiloba yonke lencwadi ebizwa ngegama lakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, ukuhlangana kwalencwadi kuboniswa amazwi athi, “oNgcwele kaIsrayeli,” avela izikhathi ezingu-12 ezahlukweni 1 kuya ku-39, nezikhathi ezingu-13 ezahlukweni 40 kuya ku-66, ingqikithi yezikhathi ezingu-25; kuyilapho evela izikhathi ezingu-6 kuphela kuyo yonke eminye imiBhalo yesiHeberu. Umphostoli uPawulu naye uyabufakazela ubunye balencwadi ngokucaphuna kuzo zonke izingxenye zesiprofetho nangokuthi lencwadi yabhalwa umlobi oyedwa, uIsaya.—Qhathanisa amaRoma 10:16, 20; 15:12 noIsaya 53:1; 65:1; 11:1.
6. UMqulu kaIsaya wasoLwandle Olufile ubunikeza kanjani ubufakazi obuqinisekisayo bokuthi (a) amaBhayibheli ethu namuhla aqukethe umbhalo wokuqala ophefumlelwe (b) yonke lencwadi yalotshwa uIsaya oyedwa?
6 Ngokuthakazelisayo, kusukela ngonyaka ka-1947, eminye imibhalo egciniwe yasendulo yakhishwa ebumnyameni basemigedeni endaweni engekude neKhirbet Qumran, eduze nogu olusenyakatho-ntshonalanga yoLwandle Olufile. Lena kwakuyimiQulu YasoLwandle Olufile, eyayihlanganisa isiprofetho sikaIsaya. Silotshwe kahle ngesiHeberu esingonakalisiwe sangaphambi kweMasora futhi sineminyaka engu-2 000 ubudala, esukela ekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E. Ngakho umbhalo waso mdala ngeminyaka eyinkulungwane ngaphezu kombhalo wesandla weMasora okhona omdala ukuyedlula yonke, okusekelwe kuwo izinguqulo zemiBhalo yesiHeberu yanamuhla. Kunokwehlukahluka okuthile okuncane endleleni yokubhalwa kwamagama kanye nomehluko ekwakhiweni kolimi, kodwa awehluki ngokwemfundiso embhalweni weMasora. Lobu ubufakazi obuqinisekisayo bokuthi amaBhayibheli ethu namuhla anesigijimi sokuqala esiphefumlelwe sikaIsaya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lemiqulu yasendulo ikwenza ize ukuzisholo kwabacusumbuli kokuthi ‘kunoIsaya’ ababili, njengoba isahluko 40 siqala emgqeni wokugcina wohlu lombhalo onesahluko 39, umusho wokuqala uqedelwa ohlwini olulandelayo. Ngaleyondlela, umkopishi ngokusobala wayengaqapheli noma ikuphi ukushintsha komlobi okucatshangelwayo noma ukwehlukana okuthile encwadini kulendawo.a
7. Yibuphi ubufakazi obuningi obukhona ngokuphathelene nobuqiniso bencwadi kaIsaya?
7 Kunobufakazi obuningi bobuqiniso bencwadi kaIsaya. Ngaphandle kukaMose, akekho omunye umprofethi ocashunwa kaningi abalobi beBhayibheli abangamaKristu ukwedlula yena. Ngokufanayo kunobufakazi obuningi obungokomlando nobemivubukulo obuyifakazela ukuthi iyiqiniso, njengemibhalo egciniwe engokomlando yamakhosi aseAsiriya, kuhlanganise nezibhebhe zikaSaneheribi ezinezinhlangothi eziyisithupha lapho enikeza khona ukulandisa kwakhe kokuhlasela iJerusalema.b (Isaya, izahl. 36, 37) Inqwaba yemfucumfucu eyake yaba iBabiloni isakufakazela ukugcwaliseka kukaIsaya 13:17-22.c Kwakunobufakazi obuphilayo kuzo zonke izinkulungwane zamaJuda ezaphuma eBabiloni, zikhululwe inkosi egama layo, elithi Koresi, lalilotshwe uIsaya cishe eminyakeni engu-200 ngaphambili. Kungenzeka ukuthi uKoresi kamuva waboniswa lombhalo oyisiprofetho, ngoba lapho ekhulula insali yamaJuda, wakhuluma ngokuthunywa kwakhe uJehova ukuba enze kanjalo.—Isaya 44:28; 45:1; Ezra 1:1-3.
8. Ukuphefumlelwa kwayo kufakazelwa kanjani ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho eziphathelene nobuMesiya?
8 Okuvelele encwadini kaIsaya iziprofetho eziphathelene noMesiya. UIsaya uye wabizwa ngokuthi “umprofethi onguMvangeli,” ziningi kakhulu izibikezelo ezagcwaliseka ezenzakalweni zokuphila kukaJesu. Isahluko 53, ‘isahluko ebesiyimfihlakalo’ isikhathi eside, hhayi nje kuphela kumthenwa wase-Etiyopiya okubhekiselwa kuye kuzEnzo isahluko 8 kodwa nakubantu abangamaJuda bebonke, sibikezela ngokucacile indlela uJesu aphathwa ngayo kangangokuba kunjengokulandisa kukafakazi wokuzibonela. ImiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ilandisa ngokugcwaliseka okungokwesiprofetho kwalesisahluko esiphawulekayo sikaIsaya, njengoba ukuqhathanisa okulandelayo kubonisa: ivesi 1—Johane 12:37, 38; ivesi 2—Johane 19:5-7; ivesi 3—Marku 9:12; ivesi 4—Mathewu 8:16, 17; ivesi 5—1 Petru 2:24; ivesi 6—1 Petru 2:25; ivesi 7—IzEnzo 8:32, 35; ivesi 8—IzEnzo 8:33; ivesi 9—Mathewu 27:57-60; ivesi 10—Heberu 7:27; ivesi 11—Roma 5:18; ivesi 12—Luka 22:37. Ubani ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu owayengase abe umthombo wokubikezela okunembe kangaka?
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAISAYA
9. Okuqukethwe incwadi kaIsaya kuhlukaniseka kanjani?
9 Izahluko eziyisithupha zokuqala zichaza isimo kwaJuda naseJerusalema futhi zilandisa ngecala likaJuda phambi kukaJehova kanye nokuthunywa kukaIsaya. Izahluko 7 kuya ku-12 ziphathelene nokuhlasela kwesitha okusongelayo kanye nesithembiso sokukhululwa iNkosi Yokuthula ethunywe uJehova. Izahluko 13 kuya ku-35 zinochungechunge lwezimemezelo ngokumelene nezizwe eziningi kanye nesibikezelo sensindiso eyonikezwa uJehova. Izenzakalo ezingokomlando zokubusa kukaHezekiya zichazwa ezahlukweni 36 kuya ku-39. Izahluko ezisele, kusukela ku-40 kuya ku-66, isihloko sazo ukukhululwa eBabiloni, ukubuya kwensali yamaJuda, kanye nokubuyiselwa kweSiyoni.
10. (a) Kungani uIsaya encenga isizwe ukuba silungise izindaba? (b) Yini ayiprofethayo ngengxenye yokugcina yezinsuku?
10 Isigijimi sikaIsaya “ngoJuda neJerusalema” (1:1–6:13). Ubonakala egqoke ingubo yamasaka kanye nezicathulo njengoba emi eJerusalema futhi ememeza: Babusi! Bantu! Lalelani! Isizwe senu siyagula kusukela ekhanda kuye ozwaneni, futhi nimcasulile uJehova ngezandla zenu ezingcoliswe igazi eniziphakamisayo lapho nikhuleka. Yizani, nilungise izindaba naye, lezozono ezibomvu njengegazi zingenziwa zibe mhlophe njengeqhwa. Engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku, intaba yendlu kaJehova iyophakanyiswa, futhi zonke izizwe ziyogelezela kuyo ziyofundiswa. Ngeke zisafunda ukulwa. UJehova uyophakanyiselwa phezulu futhi angcweliswe. Kodwa okwamanje uIsrayeli noJuda, nakuba betshalwe njengomvini okhethiwe, baveza amagilebhisi okungabi namthetho. Benza okuhle kube kubi nokubi kube kuhle, ngoba bazibona behlakaniphile.
11. UIsaya wamukela ukuthunywa kwakhe kanye namuphi umbono?
11 UIsaya uthi: “Ngabona uJehova ehlezi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi esiphezulu nesiphakemeyo.” Umbono uhambisana nokuthunywa uJehova kokuthi: “Hamba usho kulababantu ukuthi: Yizwani, yizwani.” Isikhathi esingakanani? “Kuze kuchithwe imizi.”—6:1, 9, 11.
12. (a) UIsaya namadodana akhe basetshenziswa kanjani njengezibonakaliso eziyisiprofetho? (b) Yisiphi isithembiso esivelele esinikezwa kuIsaya isahluko 9?
12 Ukuhlasela kwesitha okusongelayo kanye nesithembiso sokukhululwa (7:1–12:6). UJehova usebenzisa uIsaya namadodana akhe ‘njengezibonakaliso nezimangaliso’ eziyisiprofetho ukuze abonise okokuqala ukuthi ukuhlangana kweAsiriya noIsrayeli ngokumelene noJuda ngeke kuphumelele kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJuda uyakuthunjwa kubuye insali kuphela. Intombi iyokhulelwa izale indodana. Igama layo kuyothiwa ngubani? UImanuweli (okusho ukuthi, “UNkulunkulu Unathi”). Izitha ezihlangene ngokumelene noJuda maziqaphele! “Zibhinceni, niyakuphela amandla nokho.” Kuzoba khona izikhathi ezinzima, kodwa kuyokhanya ukukhanya okukhulu phezu kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngoba sizalelwe umntwana, “negama lakhe liyakuthiwa uMluleki omangalisayo, uNkulunkulu onamandla, uYise ongunaphakade, iNkosi yokuthula.”—7:14; 8:9, 18; 9:6.
13. (a) Yimuphi umphumela olindele iAsiriya eliqhoshayo? (b) Yini eyoba umphumela wokubusa ‘kwegatsha’ likaJese?
13 “Wo kulo iAsiriya,” kusho uJehova, “intonga yentukuthelo yami.” Ngemva kokusebenzisa leyontonga ngokumelene ‘nesizwe esingenaNkulunkulu,’ uNkulunkulu uyolibhubhisa neAsiriya eliqhoshayo ngokwalo. Kamuva, “insali iyakubuya.” (10:5, 6, 21) Bheka manje ihlumela, igatsha elivela empandeni kaJese (uyise kaDavide)! ‘Leligatsha’ liyobusa ngokulunga, futhi ngalo kuyoba khona injabulo kuyo yonke indalo, kungabibikho ngozi noma incithakalo, “ngokuba umhlaba uyakugcwala ukumazi uJehova njengamanzi asibekela ulwandle.” (11:1, 9) Kunalona njengebhanela lezizwe, indlela yensali ebuyayo iyosuka eAsiriya. Kuyoba khona injabulo ekukheni amanzi emithonjeni yensindiso nasekuhlabeleleni kuJehova.
14. Yikuphi ukwehliswa okubikezelwayo ngeBabiloni?
14 Ukumemezela ukubhujiswa kweBabiloni (13:1–14:27). UIsaya manje ubheka ngalé kosuku lweAsiriya kuze kufike esikhathini sokudlondlobala kweBabiloni. Lalela! Umsindo wabantu abaningi, ukuxokozela kwemibuso, kwezizwe eziqoqene ndawonye! UJehova uvivisa amabutho empi! Usuku olumnyama ngeBabiloni. Ubuso obumangele bungamalangabi, nezinhliziyo ziphela amandla. AmaMede angenasihe ayolishayisa amankeyana iBabiloni, “umhlobiso wemibuso.” Liyoba ihlane elingahlalwa muntu kanye nendawo yezilwane zasendle “ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane.” (13:19, 20) Abafileyo eSheoli bashukunyiswa ukuba bamukele inkosi yaseBabiloni. Izimpethu ziba isendlalelo sayo futhi izibungu ziba isembozo sayo. Yeka ukwehliswa ‘kwekhwezi elikhanyayo, indodana yokusa’! (14:12) Yaphishekela ukuphakamisa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi kodwa isibe isidumbu esilahlelwe ngaphandle, njengoba uJehova eshanela iBabiloni ngomshanelo wembubhiso. Akukho gama, kwansali, kwanzalo, nakuchuma, okufanele kusale!
15. Incwadi kaIsaya iprofetha ngokuphathelene nayiphi incithakalo yezizwe eziningi?
15 Incithakalo yezizwe eziningi (14:28–23:18). UIsaya manje ukhomba emuva eFilistiya eduze koLwandle iMedithera bese kuba kwaMowabi, eningizimu-mpumalanga yoLwandle Olufile. Isiprofetho sakhe usiqondisa ngalé komngcele ongasenyakatho wakwaIsrayeli kuya eDamaseku laseSiriya, adlulele phakathi eningizimu alibhekise eKushe (e-Etiyopiya), ewuke njalo ngeNayili aye eGibithe, izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu zihambe zibangela incithakalo kuyo yonke lendlela. Ukhuluma ngenkosi yaseAsiriya uSarigoni, umanduleli kaSaneheribi, ethumela umphathi wamabutho uTharithani ngokumelene nomuzi wamaFilisti iAshidodi, entshonalanga yeJerusalema. Kulesikhathi uIsaya utshelwa ukuba ahlubule izingubo ahambe-ze futhi engafake zicathulo iminyaka emithathu. Ngalendlela ukubonisa ngokusobala ukuba yize kokwethembela kwabaseGibithe nakwabase-Etiyopiya, labo, ‘abazinqe zabo zihlubuliwe,’ abayothunjwa iAsiriya.—20:4.
16. Iziphi izinhlekelele ezibonwayo ngeBabiloni, iEdomu, nabantu abanesiyaluyalu baseJerusalema, kanye neSidoni neTire?
16 Emi phezu kwenqaba yokulinda ubona ukuwa kweBabiloni kanye nonkulunkulu balo, futhi ubona izitha ze-Edomu. UJehova ngokwakhe ukhuluma nabantu baseJerusalema abanesiyaluyalu abathi, “Masidle, siphuze, ngokuba ngomuso sizakufa.” ‘Niyakufa,’ kusho uJehova. (22:13, 14) Imikhumbi yaseTharishishi nayo iyohewula, futhi iSidoni liyohlaziswa, ngoba uJehova ukhiphe umyalo ngokumelene neTire, ukuba “badeleleke bonke abadumileyo bomhlaba.”—23:9.
17. Yisiphi isahlulelo nokubuyiselwa okubikezelwayo ngoJuda?
17 Isahlulelo nensindiso kaJehova (24:1–27:13). Kodwa bheka manje kwaJuda! UJehova wenza ukuba izwe likhale ibhungane. Abantu nabapristi, inceku nenkosi, umthengi nomthengisi—bonke kufanele bahambe, ngoba beqile imithetho kaNkulunkulu futhi baphulé isivumelwano saphakade. Kodwa ngesikhathi esifanele uyophendulela ukunakekela kwakhe eziboshweni futhi aziqoqe. Uyinqaba nesiphephelo. Uyokwenza idili entabeni yakhe futhi agwinye ukufa kuze kube phakade, asule izinyembezi kubo bonke ubuso. Kuyothiwa: “Lo unguNkulunkulu wethu.” “Lo unguJehova.” (25:9) UJuda unomuzi omise insindiso ibe izingange. Ukuthula okungapheli kungokwalabo abathembela kuJehova, “ngokuba uJehova, yebo, uJehova uyidwala elingunaphakade.” Kodwa omubi “akafundi ukulunga.” (26:4, 10) UJehova uyozibulala izitha zakhe, kodwa uyobuyisela uJakobe.
18, 19. (a) Yibaphi omaye nezinjabulo okuphikisanayo okumenyezelwayo ngezwe lakwaEfrayimi neSiyoni? (b) UJehova uyosindisa futhi alawule abantu bakhe ngaziphi izindlela?
18 Intukuthelo nezibusiso zikaNkulunkulu (28:1–35:10). Maye ezidakweni zakwaEfrayimi, ‘ezibuhle bazo obukhazimulayo’ kumelwe bunyamalale! Kodwa uJehova “uyakuba-ngumqhele wobukhosi nesicoco esihle” ensalini yabantu bakhe. (28:1, 5) Nokho, izedeleli zaseJerusalema zenza amanga abe isiphephelo, kunasetsheni elivivinyekile neliyigugu eliyisisekelo eSiyoni. Isikhukhula esikhulu siyobakhukhula bonke. Abaprofethi baseJerusalema balele, futhi incwadi kaNkulunkulu ivalekile kubo. Izindebe ziyasondelana, kodwa izinhliziyo zikude. Nokho usuku luyofika lapho isithulu siyokuzwa amazwi encwadi. Impumputhe iyobona futhi othobekileyo ajabule.
19 Maye kulabo abehlela eGibithe ukuze bathole isiphephelo! Labantu abantamo zilukhuni bafuna imibono emihle, ekhohlisayo. Bayonqunywa, kodwa uJehova uyoyibuyisela insali. Laba bayobona uMfundisi wabo Omkhulu, futhi bayozihlakaza izithombe zabo, bazibize ngokuthi ‘okungcolileyo!’ (30:22, NW) UJehova unguMvikeli weqiniso weJerusalema. Inkosi iyobusa ngokulunga, kanye nezikhulu zayo. Ngokuthula iyoletha uxolo, kanye nokulondeka okungapheli. Ukukhohlisa kuyobangela ukuba izithunywa zokuthula zikhale ngomunyu, kodwa kubantu bakhe oPhakeme, uJehova, unguMahluleli, uMenzi Wemithetho, neNkosi, futhi uyobasindisa. Akekho owakhé khona ngalesosikhathi oyothi: “Ngiyagula.”—33:24.
20. Iyiphi intukuthelo ezovuthela izizwe, kodwa isiphi isibusiso esilindele insali ebuyiselwe?
20 Intukuthelo kaJehova kufanele ivuthele izizwe. Izidumbu ziyonuka, futhi izintaba ziyoncibilika ngenxa yegazi. IEdomu kufanele libe ihlane elingahlalwa muntu. Kodwa kubantu bakaJehova abahlengiwe, ugwadule luyoqhakaza, futhi “inkazimulo kaJehova, nobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu wethu,” kuyovela. (35:2) Izimpumputhe, izithulu, nezimungulu ziyophulukiswa, futhi iNdlela yobuNgcwele iyovulelwa abahlengiwe bakaJehova lapho bebuyela eSiyoni ngenjabulo.
21. IAsiriya lijikijela maphi amagama okweyisa eJerusalema?
21 UJehova uliphindisela emuva iAsiriya osukwini lukaHezekiya (36:1–39:8). Ingabe iseluleko sikaIsaya sokuthembela kuJehova siwusizo? Ingabe singakumela ukuvivinywa? Onyakeni we-14 wokubusa kukaHezekiya, uSaneheribi waseAsiriya uqotha imbokodo nesisekelo ePalestina futhi uphambukisa amanye amabutho akhe ukuba azame ukwesabisa iJerusalema. Umkhulumeli wakhe okhuluma isiHeberu, uRabi-Shake, ujikijela imibuzo yokweyisa kubantu abami ezindongeni zomuzi: ‘Liyini ithemba lenu? IGibithe? Umhlanga ofecekileyo! UJehova? Akekho unkulunkulu ongakhulula enkosini yaseAsiriya!’ (36:4, 6, 18, 20) Belalela inkosi, abantu abaphenduli.
22. UJehova uwuphendula kanjani umthandazo kaHezekiya, futhi usigcwalisa kanjani isiprofetho sikaIsaya?
22 UHezekiya uthandazela insindiso kuJehova ngenxa yegama laKhe, futhi ngoIsaya, uJehova uphendula ngokuthi uyofaka ingwegwe ekhaleni leAsiriya futhi aliphindisele emuva ngendlela eleza ngayo. Ingelosi ibulala abantu baseAsiriya abangu-185 000, futhi uSaneheribi uyabaleka edidekile uphindela ekhaya, lapho kamuva amadodana akhe embulala khona ethempelini lakhe lobuqaba.
23. (a) Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenza uHezekiya aqambele uJehova ihubo? (b) Ibuphi ubuwula abenzayo, obuphumela kusiphi isiprofetho esashiwo uIsaya?
23 UHezekiya ugulela ukufa. Nokho, ngokuyisimangaliso uJehova ubangela ukuba umthunzi obangelwa ilanga uhlehle, njengesibonakaliso sokuthi uHezekiya uzophulukiswa, futhi kunezelwa iminyaka engu-15 ekuphileni kwakhe. Ebonga, uqamba ihubo elihle lokudumisa uJehova. Lapho inkosi yaseBabiloni ithumela izithunywa, ngobuzenzisi imhalalisela ngokusimama kwakhe, ngobuwula uHezekiya uzibonisa amagugu asebukhosini. Ngenxa yalokho, uIsaya uprofetha ukuthi yonke into esendlini kaHezekiya ngolunye usuku iyothathwa iyiswe eBabiloni.
24. (a) Yiziphi izindaba zenduduzo uJehova azimemezelayo? (b) Ingabe onkulunkulu bezizwe bangaqhathaniswa noJehova ngobukhulu, futhi ibuphi ubufakazi abufunayo?
24 UJehova ududuza ofakazi bakhe (40:1–44:28). Igama lokuqala lesahluko 40, elithi “Duduzani,” liyichaza kahle yonke ingxenye esele yencwadi kaIsaya. Kumemeza izwi ehlane: “Lungisani ehlane indlela kaJehova.” (40:1, 3) Kunezindaba ezinhle ngeSiyoni. UJehova welusa umhlambi wakhe, egona amawundlu esifubeni sakhe. Esemazulwini aphakeme ubheka phansi esiyingelezini somhlaba. Yini angaqhathaniswa nayo ngobukhulu? Upha amandla amakhulu kwabakhatheleyo nabadangeleyo abathembela kuye. Uthi izithombe ezibunjiwe zezizwe ziwumoya futhi ziyize. Okhethiweyo wakhe uyoba njengesivumelwano sabantu kanye nokukhanya kwezizwe ukuze avule amehlo aphuphuthekile. UJehova uthi kuJakobe, “Uthandekile kimi,” futhi uyamemeza ekuphumeni kwelanga, ekushoneni kwelanga, enyakatho, naseningizimu: ‘Balethe, ungabagodli; lethani amadodana namadodakazi ami.’ (43:4, 6) Njengoba ukuqulwa kwecala kuqhubeka, ubekela onkulunkulu bezizwe inselele yokuba baveze ofakazi abazoqinisekisa ubunkulunkulu babo. Abantu bakwaIsrayeli bangofakazi bakaJehova, inceku yakhe, abafakazela ukuthi unguNkulunkulu noMkhululi. Uthembisa uJeshuruni (“Oqotho,” uIsrayeli) umoya wakhe abese ehlaza abenzi bezithombe ezingaboni lutho, nezingazi lutho. UJehova unguMhlengi wabantu bakhe; iJerusalema lizophinda lihlalwe abantu futhi ithempeli lalo lakhiwe kabusha.
25. Yini abantu abazoyazi ngezahlulelo zikaJehova eBabiloni nakonkulunkulu balo bamanga?
25 Impindiselo phezu kweBabiloni (45:1–48:22). Ngenxa kaIsrayeli, uJehova ukhetha uKoresi ukuba abhubhise iBabiloni. Abantu bazokwenziwa bazi ukuthi uJehova kuphela onguNkulunkulu, uMdali wamazulu, umhlaba, nabantu abakuwo. Ugcona onkulunkulu baseBabiloni uBeli noNebo, ngokuba nguyena kuphela ongasho isiphetho ekuqaleni. Indodakazi yaseBabiloni iyohlala othulini, yehliswe esihlalweni sobukhosi futhi ihanjiswe-ze, futhi abeluleki bayo abaningi bayoshiswa njengamabibi. UJehova utshela abakhulekeli bezithombe bakwaIsrayeli ‘abanezintamo zensimbi, namabunzi ethusi’ ukuthi bebengaba nokuthula, ukulunga, nokuchuma ngokumlalela, kodwa “akukho ukuthula kwababi.”—48:4, 22.
26. ISiyoni liyoduduzwa kanjani?
26 ISiyoni liyaduduzwa (49:1–59:21). Enikela ngenceku yakhe njengokukhanya kwezizwe, uJehova umemeza kulabo abasebumnyameni: “Phumani.” (49:9) ISiyoni liyoduduzwa, futhi ihlane lalo liyoba njenge-Edeni, insimu kaJehova, echichima injabulo, intokozo, ukubonga, kanye nezwi lokuhlabelela. UJehova uyokwenza ukuba amazulu anyamalale njengomusi, umhlaba uguge njengengubo, futhi izakhamuzi zawo zife njengensensane. Ngakho kungani besaba ukuhlambalaza kwabantu abafayo? Indebe ebabayo ephuzwe iJerusalema manje kufanele idluliselwe ezizweni eziye zalinyathelela phansi.
27. Yiziphi izindaba ezinhle ezimenyezelwa eSiyoni, futhi yini eprofethwayo ngokuphathelene ‘nenceku kaJehova’?
27 ‘Vuka, Siyoni, zithintithe othulini!’ Bheka isithunywa, seqa izintaba sinezindaba ezinhle futhi simemeza eSiyoni, “UNkulunkulu wakho uyinkosi.” (52:1, 2, 7) Phumani endaweni engahlanzekile futhi nizigcine nihlanzekile, nisenkonzweni kaJehova. Umprofethi manje uchaza ‘inceku kaJehova.’ (53:11) Ingumuntu odelelekile, oshiyiwe, othwala ubuhlungu bethu kodwa obhekwa njengoshaywe uNkulunkulu. Yagwazwa ngenxa yeziphambeko zethu, kodwa yasiphulukisa ngamanxeba ayo. Njengemvu ezohlatshwa, ayenzanga budlova futhi ayikhulumanga nkohliso. Yanikela ngomphefumulo wayo njengomhlatshelo wecala ukuze ithwale izono zabantu abaningi.
28. Kuchazwa kanjani ukubusiseka kweSiyoni okuzayo, futhi kungokuhlobene nasiphi isivumelwano?
28 Njengomyeni, uJehova utshela iSiyoni ukuba limemeze ngenjabulo ngenxa yokuza kwenzalo yalo. Nakuba lahlushwa futhi lahlukunyezwa, lizoba umuzi onezisekelo zesafire, imibhoshongo yamarubi, namasango amatshe acwebezelayo. Amadodana alo, efundiswe uJehova, ayojabulela ukuthula okukhulu, futhi asikho isikhali esenzelwe wona esiyophumelela. “We nina nonke enomileyo,” kumemeza uJehova. Uma beza, uyokwenza nabo “isivumelwano esiphakade, izenzo zomusa oqinisekileyo zikaDavide”; uyobanika umholi nomyali njengofakazi emaqenjini ezizwe. (55:1-4) Imicabango kaNkulunkulu iphakeme ngokungenakuqhathaniswa kuneyomuntu, futhi nakanjani izwi lakhe liyophumelela. Abathenwa abagcina umthetho wakhe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bangabasiphi isizwe, bayokwamukela igama elingcono kunamadodana namadodakazi. Indlu kaJehova iyobizwa ngokuthi indlu yokukhuleka yabo bonke abantu.
29. Yini uJehova ayitshela abakhulekeli bezithombe, kodwa ikuphi ukuqinisekisa akunikeza abantu bakhe?
29 NjengoPhakeme, ogama lakhe lingongcwele, uJehova utshela abakhulekeli bezithombe abahlanyiswa ubulili ukuthi ngeke abekezelele uIsrayeli kuze kube phakade. Ukuzila kwabo ukudla okungokwenkolo kungokokusibekela ububi. Isandla sikaJehova asisifushane kakhulu ukuba sisindise, nendlebe yakhe ayikude ukuba izwe, kodwa ‘zona kanye izono zenu zinehlukanisa noNkulunkulu wenu,’ kusho uIsaya. (59:2) Yingakho benethemba lokuthola ukukhanya kodwa bedukuza ebumnyameni. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, umoya kaJehova ophezu kwabantu bakhe besivumelwano abathembekile uqinisekisa ukuthi izwi lakhe liyohlala emilonyeni yabo kuzo zonke izizukulwane zesikhathi esizayo, lingasuki.
30. UJehova ulenza kanjani iSiyoni libe lihle, njengoba kuboniswa yimaphi amagama amasha?
30 UJehova wenza iSiyoni libe lihle (60:1–64:12). “Vuka ukhanye, ngokuba . . . inkazimulo kaJehova iphumela phezu kwakho.” Ngokuphambene, ifu elimnyama ligubuzela umhlaba. (60:1, 2) Ngalesosikhathi iSiyoni liyakuphakamisa amehlo alo futhi likhazimule, futhi inhliziyo yalo iyothuthumela lapho libona ingcebo yezizwe iza kulo ngamakamela amaningi. Njengamafu amajuba andizayo, bayothutheleka kulo. Abezizwe bayokwakha izingange zalo, amakhosi ayolikhonza, futhi amasango alo awasoze avalwa. UNkulunkulu walo kufanele abe ubuhle balo, futhi uyokwandisa ngokushesha oyedwa abe inkulungwane futhi omncane abe isizwe esinamandla. Inceku kaNkulunkulu ithi umoya kaJehova uphezu kwayo, uyayigcoba ukuba ikhulume izindaba ezinhle. ISiyoni lithola igama elisha, Injabulo Yami Ikulo (Hephzibah), futhi izwe lalo libizwa ngokuthi Oganile Njengomfazi (Beulah). (62:4, umbhalo waphansi kuyiNW.) Kukhishwa umyalo wokuba kuhlelwe umendo ophuma eBabiloni futhi kuphakanyiswe ibhanela eSiyoni.
31. Ubani ovela kwaEdomi, futhi imuphi umthandazo oshiwo abantu bakaNkulunkulu?
31 EBosira ekwaEdomi kuphuma umuntu ogqoke izingubo ezibomvu klébhu. Ngentukuthelo yakhe uye wanyathela phansi abantu esikhamweni sewayini, ebabangela ukuba batshaze igazi. Abantu bakaJehova banomuzwa ojulile ngesimo sabo esingahlanzekile futhi banikela umthandazo ojulile, bethi, ‘Oh Jehova, unguBaba wethu. Thina siyibumba, wena unguMbumbi wethu. Ungathukutheli kakhulu kuze kweqe, oh Jehova. Sonke singabantu bakho.’—64:8, 9.
32. Ngokungafani nalabo abalahla uJehova, yini engenza abantu bakaJehova bajabule?
32 “Amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha”! (65:1–66:24). Abantu abamlahlile uJehova ngenxa yonkulunkulu ‘beNhlanhla’ ‘nabesiMiselo’ bayobulawa indlala futhi bahlazeke. (65:11) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyojabula ngenala. Bheka! UJehova udala amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha. Yeka injabulo nentokozo etholakala eJerusalema nakubantu balo! Kuyokwakhiwa izindlu futhi kutshalwe izivini, kuyilapho impisi ibuthisa newundlu. Akuyikuba khona ingozi noma incithakalo.
33. Iyiphi injabulo, udumo, kanye nokuhlala phakade okubikezelelwa abathandi beJerusalema?
33 Amazulu ayisihlalo sakhe sobukhosi futhi umhlaba uyisenabelo sakhe sezinyawo, ngakho iyiphi indlu abantu abangayakhela uJehova? Kuzozalwa isizwe ngosuku olulodwa, futhi bonke abathandi beJerusalema bayamenywa ukuba bajabule njengoba uJehova elehlisela ukuthula okunjengomfula. Uyokuza ezomelana nezitha zakhe njengomlilo uqobo—ngezinqola ezinjengesivunguvungu ephindisela intukuthelo yakhe kuyo yonke inyama engalaleli, ngolaka namalangabi omlilo. Izithunywa ziyohamba phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe naseziqhingini ezikude ukuze zikhulume ngenkazimulo yakhe. Amazulu akhe amasha nomhlaba omusha ayohlala phakade. Ngokufanayo, labo abamkhonzayo kanye nenzalo yabo bayokuma. Kuyokwenzeka lokhu noma ukufa kwaphakade.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
34. Yimiphi eminye yemifanekiso ecacile enezela umfutho esigijimini sikaIsaya?
34 Uma ibhekwa nhlangothi zonke, incwadi kaIsaya eyisiprofetho iyisipho esiyinzuzo kunazo zonke esivela kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Iveza imicabango ephakeme kaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 55:8-11) Izikhulumi zasobala zamaqiniso eBhayibheli zingazuza encwadini kaIsaya njengenqolobane yamagugu emifanekiso ecacile eshaya iphuzu ngomfutho njengemifanekiso kaJesu. UIsaya ugcizelela kithi ngokunamandla ubuwula bomuntu osebenzisa isihlahla esifanayo ukuba abase abuye enze isithombe sokukhulekelwa. Usenza sibe nomuzwa wokunganethezeki womuntu osembhedeni omfushane kakhulu onengubo encane kakhulu, futhi usenza sizwe ukuhona okukhulu kwabaprofethi abafana nezinja eziyizimungulu, ezivilapha kakhulu ukuba zikhonkothe. Uma nathi, njengoba uIsaya eluleka, ‘sifuna encwadini kaJehova, sifunde,’ singasiqaphela isigijimi esinamandla incwadi kaIsaya esiphathele lolusuku.—44:14-20; 28:20; 56:10-12; 34:16.
35. UIsaya ukudonsela kanjani ukunakekela eMbusweni wobuMesiya, nakumhambeli phambili, uJohane uMbhapathizi?
35 Lesiprofetho sigxila ikakhulukazi eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu ngoMesiya. UJehova ngokwakhe uyiNkosi ephakeme, futhi uyena osisindisayo. (33:22) Kodwa kuthiwani ngoMesiya ngokwakhe? Isimemezelo sengelosi kuMariya ngokuphathelene nomntwana owayezozalwa sabonisa ukuthi umbhalo kaIsaya 9:6, 7 wawuzogcwaliseka ekwamukeleni kwakhe isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide; “uyakuba-yinkosi yendlu kaJakobe kuze kube-phakade, nombuso wakhe awuyikuba-nakuphela.” (Luka 1:32, 33) UMathewu 1:22, 23 ubonisa ukuthi ukuzalwa kukaJesu incasakazi kwakuwukugcwaliseka kukaIsaya 7:14 futhi umbiza ngokuthi “uImanuweli.” Eminyakeni engu-30 kamuva, uJohane uMbhapathizi weza eshumayela ethi “umbuso wezulu ususondele.” Bonke abalobi bamaVangeli abane bacaphuna uIsaya 40:3 ukubonisa ukuthi loJohane kwakunguyena ‘omemezayo ehlane.’ (Math. 3:1-3; Marku 1:2-4; Luka 3:3-6; Johane 1:23) Ekubhapathizweni kwakhe uJesu waba uMesiya—oGcotshiwe kaJehova, igatsha noma impande kaJese—owayezobusa izizwe. Kufanele balibeke kuye ithemba labo, ekugcwalisekeni kukaIsaya 11:1, 10.—Roma 15:8, 12.
36. Yikuphi ukugcwaliseka okucebile okungokwesiprofetho okumchaza ngokucacile uMesiya iNkosi?
36 Bheka indlela incwadi kaIsaya eqhubeka ngayo ichaza uMesiya iNkosi! UJesu ufunda ukuthunywa kwakhe emqulwini kaIsaya ukuze abonise ukuthi wayengoGcotshiwe kaJehova, ube eseqhubeka ‘nokumemezela izindaba ezinhle zombuso kaNkulunkulu, ngokuba,’ njengoba asho, “ngithunyelwe lokho.” (Luka 4:17-19, 43; Isaya 61:1, 2) Ukulandisa kwamaVangeli amane kugcwele imininingwane ngokuphathelene nenkonzo kaJesu yasemhlabeni kanye nendlela afa ngayo njengoba kwabikezelwa kuIsaya isahluko 53. Nakuba azizwa izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso futhi abona imisebenzi emangalisayo kaJesu, amaJuda awazange ayithole incazelo ngenxa yezinhliziyo zawo ezingakholwa, ekugcwalisekeni kukaIsaya 6:9, 10; 29:13; no-53:1. (Math. 13:14, 15; Joh. 12:38-40; IzE. 28:24-27; Roma 10:16; Math. 15:7-9; Marku 7:6, 7) UJesu wayeyitshe lokukhubekisa kubo, kodwa waba itshe eliyisisekelo elabekwa uJehova eSiyoni futhi phezu kwalo akha indlu yakhe engokomoya ekugcwalisekeni kukaIsaya 8:14 no-28:16.—Luka 20:17; Roma 9:32, 33; 10:11; 1 Pet. 2:4-10.
37. Abaphostoli bakaJesu bayicaphuna futhi bayisebenzise kanjani incwadi kaIsaya?
37 Abaphostoli bakaJesu Kristu baqhubeka besisebenzisa kahle isiprofetho sikaIsaya, besisebenzisa enkonzweni. Ngokwesibonelo, ekuboniseni ukuthi abashumayeli bayadingeka ukuze kwakhiwe ukholo, uPawulu ucaphuna uIsaya ethi: “Yeka, zinhle izinyawo zabashumayela izindaba ezinhle.” (Roma 10:15; Isaya 52:7; bheka futhi eyabaseRoma 10:11, 16, 20, 21.) UPetru naye ucaphuna uIsaya ekuboniseni ukuhlala phakade kwezindaba ezinhle: “Ngokuba yonke inyama injengotshani, nobukhosi bayo bonke bunjengembali yotshani; utshani buyabuna, nembali iyavuthuluka, kepha izwi leNkosi limi kuze kube-phakade. Yilo lelizwi levangeli elashunyayelwa kinina.”—1 Pet. 1:24, 25; Isaya 40:6-8.
38. Isiphi isihloko esikhazimulayo soMbuso okukhulunywa ngaso encwadini kaIsaya, kamuva esasetshenziswa abanye abalobi beBhayibheli?
38 Incwadi kaIsaya ilichaza ngendlela ekhazimulayo ithemba loMbuso lesikhathi esizayo! Bheka! “Amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha,” lapho ‘inkosi iyakubusa ngokulunga’ nezikhulu ziyakubusa ngokwahlulela ngokulunga. Yeka isizathu sokujabula nokuthokoza! (65:17, 18; 32:1, 2) UPetru uyaphinda futhi ukhuluma ngesigijimi esijabulisayo sikaIsaya: “Kepha siyalindela ngesithembiso sakhe [uNkulunkulu] amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha okukhona kuwo ukulunga.” (2 Pet. 3:13) Lesihloko esimangalisayo soMbuso sikhazimula ngokugcwele ezahlukweni zokugcina zesAmbulo.—Isaya 66:22, 23; 25:8; IsAm. 21:1-5.
39. UIsaya ukhomba kuliphi ithemba elikhazimulayo?
39 Ngaleyondlela, incwadi kaIsaya, nakuba inezahlulelo ezihangulayo zezitha zikaJehova kanye nalabo abazisholo ngobuzenzisi ukuthi bayizinceku zakhe, ikhomba ngesimo esijabulisayo ethembeni elikhazimulayo loMbuso wobuMesiya lapho igama elikhulu likaJehova liyongcweliswa khona. Yenza okukhulu ekuchazeni amaqiniso amangalisayo oMbuso kaJehova nokufudumeza izinhliziyo zethu ekulindeleni ngokujabulisayo ‘insindiso yakhe.’—Isaya 25:9; 40:28-31.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, amakhasi 1221-3.
b Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, ikhasi 957; Umq. 2, amakhasi 894-5.
c Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 2, ikhasi 324.