Isahluko Seshumi Nambili
Ungamesabi UmAsiriya
1, 2. (a) Ngokubheka komuntu, kungani kwaqale kwabonakala uJona enesizathu esihle sokuba madolonzima ukwamukela isabelo sakhe sokushumayeza abase-Asiriya? (b) AbaseNineve basabela kanjani emyalezweni kaJona?
MAPHAKATHI nekhulu lesishiyagalolunye B.C.E., umprofethi ongumHeberu uJona, indodana ka-Amithayi, waya eNineve, inhloko-dolobha yoMbuso Wase-Asiriya. Wayehambisa umyalezo onamandla. UJehova wayethé kuye : “Sukuma, uye eNineve umuzi omkhulu, umemezele kuwo ukuthi ububi bawo bukhuphukele phambi kwami.”—Jona 1:2, 3.
2 Lapho ethunywa okokuqala, uJona wabalekela kwenye indawo, ngaseTharashishi. Ngokubheka komuntu, uJona wayefanele ukuba madolonzima. Abase-Asiriya babengabantu abanonya. Phawula indlela enye inkosi yase-Asiriya eyaziphatha ngayo izitha zayo: “Nginqumé izitho zezikhulu . . . Izithunjwa eziningi ngizishisé ngomlilo, eziningi ngazithatha njengezithunjwa eziphilayo. Ezinye ngizinqumé izandla neminwe, ezinye ngazinquma amakhala.” Kodwa lapho uJona ekugcineni ehambisa umyalezo kaJehova, abaseNineve baphenduka ezonweni zabo futhi uJehova wawusindisa lowo muzi ngaleso sikhathi.—Jona 3:3-10; Mathewu 12:41.
UJehova Uthatha ‘Intonga’
3. Ukusabela kwama-Israyeli ezixwayisweni ezazilethwa abaprofethi bakaJehova kuhluke kanjani kokwabantu baseNineve?
3 Ingabe ama-Israyeli, uJona ashumayela nakuwo, ayasabela? (2 AmaKhosi 14:25) Cha. Ayakushiya ukukhulekela okumsulwa. Yebo, aze ‘akhothamele ngisho nalo lonke ibutho lasemazulwini akhonze noBali.’ Okubi nakakhulu, ‘aqhubeka edabulisa amadodana namadodakazi awo emlilweni futhi ebhula ebheka namabika, elokhu ezithengisela ukwenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, ukuze amcasule.’ (2 AmaKhosi 17:16, 17) Ngokungafani nabaseNineve, u-Israyeli akasabeli lapho uJehova ethumela abaprofethi ukuba bamxwayise. Ngakho uJehova unquma ukuthatha izinyathelo ezinqala.
4, 5. (a) Lisho ukuthini elithi “umAsiriya,” futhi uJehova uyomsebenzisa kanjani ‘njengenduku’? (b) Liwa nini iSamariya?
4 Ngemva kokuhambela kukaJona eNineve, unya lwabase-Asiriya luthi damu okwesikhashana.a Nokho, ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesishiyagalombili B.C.E., i-Asiriya liphinda lizibonakalisa njengombuso wezempi, futhi uJehova ulisebenzisa ngendlela emangalisayo. Umprofethi u-Isaya udlulisa isixwayiso esivela kuJehova esiya embusweni wakwa-Israyeli osenyakatho: “Aha, umAsiriya, intonga yentukuthelo yami, nenduku esesandleni sawo yesijeziso sokulahlwa kwami! Ngizomthuma ngokumelene nesizwe esiyisihlubuki, nangokumelene nesizwe sokufutheka kwami ngizomkhiphela umyalo, ukuba athathe impango eningi futhi asenze sibe yindawo yokubhudulwa njengobumba lwasemigwaqweni.”—Isaya 10:5, 6.
5 Yeka ukuthotshiswa kwama-Israyeli! UNkulunkulu usebenzisa isizwe esingamaqaba—“umAsiriya”—‘njengentonga’ yokuwajezisa. Ngo-742 B.C.E., inkosi yase-Asiriya uShalimaneseri V walivimbezela iSamariya, inhloko-dolobha yesizwe sakwa-Israyeli esihlubukayo. Lisendaweni ekahle phezu kwegquma eliphakeme ngamamitha angu-90, iSamariya livimba isitha iminyaka ecishe ibe mithathu. Kodwa alikho icebo lomuntu elingavimba injongo kaNkulunkulu. Ngo-740 B.C.E., iSamariya liyawa, libhudulwa yizinyawo zabase-Asiriya.—2 AmaKhosi 18:10.
6. Kungayiphi indlela umAsiriya adlulela ngayo ngalé kwalokho uJehova akuhlosile ngaye?
6 Nakuba besetshenziswa nguJehova ukuba bafundise abantu bakhe isifundo, abase-Asiriya bona ngokwabo abanandaba noJehova. Yingakho eqhubeka ethi: “Nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi akanjalo [umAsiriya], uyozizwa enalokho kuthambekela; nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi inhliziyo yakhe ayinjalo, uyokuceba, ngoba ukubhuqa kusenhliziyweni yakhe, nokuqeda izizwe ezingembalwa.” (Isaya 10:7) UJehova ufuna ukuba umAsiriya abe ithuluzi esandleni saphezulu. Kodwa umAsiriya uzizwa ethambekele ekubeni okunye. Inhliziyo yakhe imqhubezela ekubeni acebe okuthile okukhulu nakakhulu—ukunqoba izwe langaleso sikhathi!
7. (a) Chaza inkulumo ethi “Izikhulu zami aziwona amakhosi ngesikhathi esifanayo?” (b) Yini okufanele bayiqaphele labo abashiya uJehova namuhla?
7 Imizi eminingi engeyona eyama-Israyeli eyanqotshwa umAsiriya yayikade ibuswa amakhosi ngaphambili. Manje kwase kufanele ukuba la makhosi azithobe enkosini yase-Asiriya njengezikhulu ezikhonza ngaphansi kwayo, ngakho angaqhosha kufanele: “Izikhulu zami aziwona yini futhi amakhosi ngesikhathi esifanayo?” (Isaya 10:8) Onkulunkulu bamanga bemizi evelele yezizwe bahluleka ukusindisa abakhulekeli babo ekubhujisweni. Onkulunkulu abakhulekelwa izakhamuzi zaseSamariya, njengoBali, uMoloki namathole egolide, ngeke bawuvikele lo muzi. Njengoba limshiyile uJehova, iSamariya akufanele lilindele ukuba angenele. Kwangathi noma ubani oshiya uJehova namuhla angasiphawula isiphetho seSamariya! UmAsiriya angaqhosha kufanele ngokuphathelene neSamariya neminye imizi ayinqobile: “IKalino alifani yini ncamashí neKharikemishi? IHamathi alifani yini ncamashí ne-Aripadi? ISamariya alifani yini ncamashí neDamaseku?” (Isaya 10:9) Yonke iyafana kumAsiriya—impango okufanele ayithathe.
8, 9. Kungani umAsiriya egagamela lapho eceba ukunqoba iJerusalema?
8 Nokho, lomAsiriya uyeqisa ekuqhosheni kwakhe. Uthi: “Noma nini lapho isandla sami siyifinyelele imibuso kankulunkulu ongasizi ngalutho omifanekiso yakhe ebaziweyo ingaphezu kwaleyo eseJerusalema naseSamariya, ngeke yini kube ukuthi njengoba nje ngiyobe ngenzile kulo iSamariya nakonkulunkulu balo abangasizi ngalutho, ngiyokwenza kanjalo nakulo iJerusalema nasezithombeni zalo?” (Isaya 10:10, 11) Imibuso esinqotshwe yilomAsiriya yayinezithombe ezingaphezu kwezeJerusalema noma ngisho neSamariya. Uyacabanga, ‘Yini-ke engangivimba ekwenzeni eJerusalema lokho engakwenza eSamariya?’
9 Yeka umuntu ozikhukhumezayo! UJehova ngeke amvumele ukuba anqobe iJerusalema. Yiqiniso, uJuda akanawo umlando ohlanzekile wokusekela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. (2 AmaKhosi 16:7-9; 2 IziKronike 28:24) UJehova uxwayise ngokuthi ngenxa yokungathembeki kwakhe, uJuda uzohlupheka kakhulu lapho kuhlasela umAsiriya. Kodwa iJerusalema lizosinda. (Isaya 1:7, 8) Ngesikhathi umAsiriya ehlasela, uHezekiya uyinkosi eJerusalema. UHezekiya akafani noyise, u-Ahazi. Phela, ngenyanga yakhe yokuqala ebusa, uHezekiya uvula kabusha iminyango yethempeli abuyisele ukukhulekela okumsulwa!—2 IziKronike 29:3-5.
10. Yini uJehova ayithembisayo ngokuqondene nomAsiriya?
10 Ngakho, uJehova akakwamukeli ukuhlaselwa kweJerusalema okuhlongozwa yi-Asiriya. UJehova uthembisa ukuthi uzowenza ulandise lowo mbuso wezwe oweyisayo: “Kuyokuthi lapho uJehova ekhawula wonke umsebenzi wakhe eNtabeni iZiyoni naseJerusalema, ngiyokwenza ukuba kulandiswe ngenxa yezithelo zokweyisa kwenhliziyo yenkosi yase-Asiriya nangenxa yokuzibona ibalulekile ngamehlo ayo aqhoshayo.”—Isaya 10:12.
KwaJuda NaseJerusalema!
11. Kungani umAsiriya ecabanga ukuthi iJerusalema liyoba isisulu esilula?
11 Ngemva kweminyaka engu-8 uwile umbuso wasenyakatho ngo-740 B.C.E., inkosi entsha yase-Asiriya, uSaneheribi, iya kohlasela eJerusalema. Ngokusankondlo, u-Isaya uchaza icebo lokuqhosha likaSaneheribi: “Ngizoyisusa imingcele yezizwe, futhi ngokuqinisekile ngizophanga izinto zazo ezibekelelwe, ngizokwehlisa abakhileyo njengonamandla. Isandla sami siyofinyelela umnotho walezi zizwe ngokungathi isidleke; futhi njengalapho umuntu ebutha amaqanda ashiyiwe, mina ngokwami ngiyowubutha wonke umhlaba, futhi ngokuqinisekile ngeke kube khona obhakuza amaphiko akhe noma ovula umlomo wakhe noma otshiyozayo.” (Isaya 10:13, 14) USaneheribi ucabanga ukuthi eminye imizi isiwile kanti neSamariya alisekho, ngakho uzozigwazela ibhece nje eJerusalema! Lo muzi ungase ulwe impi engatheni, kodwa njengoba kungekho otshiyozayo, abakhileyo bakhona bayonqotshwa ngokushesha, izimpahla zabo zithathwe kuhle kwamaqanda esidlekeni esishiywe dengwane.
12. UJehova uthi iyiphi indlela efanele yokubheka izinto ngokuphathelene nokuqhosha komAsiriya?
12 Kodwa kukhona akukhohlwayo uSaneheribi. ISamariya eliyisihlubuki lalisifanele isijeziso elasithola. Kodwa ngaphansi kweNkosi uHezekiya, iJerusalema seliphinde laba yindawo yokukhulekela okumsulwa. Noma ngubani ofuna ukuthinta iJerusalema kuyodingeka abhekane noJehova! Ngokuthukuthela, u-Isaya uyabuza: “Ingabe imbazo ingaziphakamisa ngaphezu kwalowo ocanda ngayo, noma ingabe isaha lingazikhulisa yini ngaphezu kwalowo olisunduza liye phambili nasemuva, njengokungathi udondolo lubayise emuva naphambili labo abaluphakamisela phezulu, njengokungathi induku imphakamisele phezulu lowo ongelona ukhuni?” (Isaya 10:15) UMbuso Wase-Asiriya umane nje uyithuluzi esandleni sikaJehova, njengoba nje imbazo, isaha, udondolo noma induku ingase isetshenziswe umbazi, umsahi noma umelusi. Induku ingalokotha kanjani-ke manje iziphakamise ngaphezu kwalowo oyisebenzisayo!
13. Chaza ukuthi kuyini nokuthi kwenzekani (a) ‘kokukhulupheleyo.’ (b) ‘okhuleni nasezihlahleni zomunga.’ (c) ‘enkazimulweni yehlathi lakhe.’
13 Yini ezokwenzeka kumAsiriya? “INkosi yeqiniso, uJehova wamabutho, iyoqhubeka ithumelela abakhulupheleyo bayo isifo esincunzayo, futhi ngaphansi kwenkazimulo yayo ukuvutha kuyoqhubeka kushisa njengokuvutha komlilo. UkuKhanya kuka-Israyeli kumelwe kube umlilo, oNgcwele wakhe abe ilangabi; kumelwe kuvuthe kudle ukhula lwakhe nezihlahla zakhe zomunga ngosuku olulodwa. Inkazimulo yehlathi lakhe neyengadi yakhe yezithelo Yena uyoyiqeda, yebo kusukela emphefumulweni kuze kufike enyameni, kumelwe ibe njengokuphela kogulayo. Yonke eminye imithi yehlathi lakhe—iyoba isibalo esingangaleso esingalotshwa umfana nje.” (Isaya 10:16-19) Yebo, uJehova uyoyincwela leyo “nduku” yase-Asiriya ilingane kahle! “Abakhulupheleyo” bebutho lomAsiriya, amasosha akhe ayizidlakela, ayoshaywa ‘ngesifo esincunzayo.’ Ngeke babukeke benamandla kangaka! Njengokhula nezihlahla zomunga eziningi, imigundatshani yakhe iyoshiswa ukuKhanya kuka-Israyeli, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Futhi “inkazimulo yehlathi lakhe,” izikhulu zempi yakhe, iyophela nya. Ngemva kokuba uJehova eseqedile ngomAsiriya, kuyobe kusele izikhulu zempi ezimbalwa kangangokuba umfanyana nje uyokwazi ukuzibala ngeminwe!—Bheka no-Isaya 10:33, 34.
14. Chaza ukungena komAsiriya ezweni lakwaJuda ngo-732 B.C.E.
14 Nakuba kunjalo, kumelwe ukuba amaJuda ahlala eJerusalema ngo-732 B.C.E. akuthola kunzima ukukholelwa ukuthi umAsiriya uyonqotshwa. Ibutho elikhulu lase-Asiriya liphokophela phambili. Lalela amagama emizi esiwile kwaJuda: ‘Ufikile e-Ayati . . . eMigironi . . . eMikimashi . . . eGeba . . . eRama . . . eGibeya likaSawule. . . eGalimi . . . eLayishi . . . e-Anathoti . . . eMadimena . . . eGebimi . . . eNobi.’ (Isaya 10:28-32a)b Ekugcineni abahlaseli bafika eLakishi, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-50 eJerusalema. Ngokushesha ibutho elikhulu lase-Asiriya lisongela lo muzi. “Usikaza isandla sakhe ngendlela esongelayo entabeni yendodakazi yaseZiyoni, igquma laseJerusalema.” (Isaya 10:32b) Yini enganqanda umAsiriya?
15, 16. (a) Kungani iNkosi uHezekiya idinga ukholo oluqinile? (b) UHezekiya ulusekelaphi ukholo lokuthi uJehova uzomsiza?
15 Esigodlweni sayo esikulo muzi, iNkosi uHezekiya iyakhathazeka. Iklebhula izingubo zayo, yembathe indwangu yesaka. (Isaya 37:1) Ithumela abantu kumprofethi u-Isaya ukuba acelele uJuda ukwaziswa okuthile kuJehova. Masinyane babuya nempendulo kaJehova: “Ungesabi . . . ngokuqinisekile ngizowuvikela lo muzi.” (Isaya 37:6, 35) Nakuba kunjalo, abase-Asiriya bayingozi futhi bazethembile impela.
16 Ukholo—yilona oluzolondoloza iNkosi uHezekiya kule nhlekelele. Ukholo ‘luwukuboniswa okusobala kwezinto ezingokoqobo nakuba zingabonwa.’ (Heberu 11:1) Luhilela ukubheka ngalé kwento esobala. Kodwa ukholo lusekelwe olwazini. Cishe uHezekiya uyakhumbula ukuthi ngaphambili, uJehova washo la mazwi aduduzayo: “Ningesabi, O bantu bami abahlala eZiyoni, ngenxa yomAsiriya . . . Ngoba kusazoba yisikhathi esincane kakhulu—ukunilahla kwami kube sekuphelile, nentukuthelo yami, ekupheleni kwabo. UJehova wamabutho ngokuqinisekile uyomphakamisela isiswebhu njengasekuhlulweni kukaMidiyani ngasedwaleni i-Orebi; futhi udondolo lwakhe luyoba phezu kolwandle, futhi ngokuqinisekile uyoluphakamisa ngendlela enza ngayo ngeGibithe.” (Isaya 10:24-26)c Yebo, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bake baba sebunzimeni ngaphambili. Ibutho laseGibithe labonakala libabhincisela nxanye okhokho bakaHezekiya oLwandle Olubomvu. Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili, akumhambelanga kahle uGideyoni ngesikhathi uMidiyani no-Amaleki behlasela u-Israyeli. Kodwa uJehova wabophula abantu bakhe kulezo zehlakalo ezimbili.—Eksodusi 14:7-9, 13, 28; AbAhluleli 6:33; 7:21, 22.
17. Ijoka lomAsiriya ‘liphihlizwa’ kanjani, futhi ngani?
17 Ingabe uJehova uzophinde akwenze lokho akwenza kulezo zigigaba zangaphambili? Yebo. UJehova uyathembisa: “Ngalolo suku umthwalo wakhe uyosuka phezu kwehlombe lakho, nejoka lakhe phezu kwentamo yakho, futhi ngokuqinisekile ijoka liyophihlizwa ngenxa yamafutha.” (Isaya 10:27) Ijoka lase-Asiriya lizosuswa ehlombe nasentanyeni yabantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano. Ngempela, ijoka “liyophihlizwa”—futhi liphihliziwe! Ngobusuku obubodwa, ingelosi kaJehova ibulala abangu-185 000 base-Asiriya. Usongo luyasuswa, futhi abase-Asiriya bayayeka ukuvimbezela, bayalishiya elakwaJuda bangaphinde babuye. (2 AmaKhosi 19:35, 36) Ngani? “Ngenxa yamafutha.” Kungenzeka ukuthi kubhekiselwa emafutheni asetshenziselwa ukugcoba uHezekiya njengenkosi yohlu lukaDavide. Ngakho, uJehova ufeza isithembiso sakhe: “Ngokuqinisekile ngizowuvikela lo muzi ukuze ngiwusindise ngenxa yami nangenxa kaDavide inceku yami.”—2 AmaKhosi 19:34.
18. (a) Ingabe isiprofetho sika-Isaya sinokugcwaliseka okungaphezu kokukodwa? Chaza. (b) Iyiphi inhlangano namuhla efana neSamariya lasendulo?
18 Indaba ka-Isaya okuxoxwa ngayo kulesi sahluko iphathelene nezinto ezenzeka kwaJuda eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-2 700 edlule. Kodwa zisasithinta kakhulu nanamuhla. (Roma 15:4) Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi abalingiswa abayinhloko kule ndaba elandiswayo evusa amadlingozi—izakhamuzi zaseSamariya naseJerusalema kanye nabase-Asiriya—bangumfuziselo wosuku lwanamuhla? Yebo, kunjalo. NjengeSamariya elikhonza izithombe, eLobukholwa lithi likhulekela uJehova, kodwa liyisihlubuki uqobo lwaso. Encwadini ethi An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, uKhadinali uJohn Henry Newman ongumRoma Katolika uyavuma ukuthi izinto eLobukholwa ebelilokhu lizisebenzisa emakhulwini eminyaka, njengempepho, amakhandlela, iziwasho, izivatho zabapristi nezithombe, “zonke zinomsuka wobuqaba.” UJehova akumjabulisi ukukhulekela kweLobukholwa kobuqaba njengoba nje kwakungamjabulisi ukukhonza izithombe kweSamariya.
19. ELobukholwa liye laxwayiswa ngani, futhi lixwayiswa ngobani?
19 Sekuyiminyaka eminingi oFakazi BakaJehova bexwayisa eLobukholwa ngentukuthelo kaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1955, emhlabeni wonke, kwanikezwa inkulumo yeningi eyayinesihloko esithi “ELobukholwa Noma UbuKristu—Yikuphi ‘Okungukukhanya Kwezwe’?” Le nkulumo yayichaza ngokucacile indlela eLobukholwa eliye lachezuka ngayo emfundisweni nasezenzweni zobuKristu bangempela. Ngemva kwalokho, amakhophi ale nkulumo enamandla athunyelwa kubefundisi emazweni amaningi. Njengenhlangano, eLobukholwa lihlulekile ukulalela lesi sixwayiso. Lenza uJehova angakwazi ukwenza ngenye indlela, ngaphandle kokulijezisa ‘ngenduku.’
20. (a) Yini ezoba umAsiriya wosuku lwanamuhla, futhi izosetshenziswa kanjani njengenduku? (b) ELobukholwa liyoyalwa ngezinga elingakanani?
20 UJehova uyosebenzisa bani ukuba ajezise eLobukholwa elihlubukayo? Impendulo siyithola esahlukweni 17 sesAmbulo. Lapho, sifunda ngesifebe, “iBabiloni Elikhulu,” esimelela zonke izinkolo zezwe zamanga, kuhlanganise neLobukholwa. Lesi sifebe sigibele isilo sasendle esinombala obomvu klebhu esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi. (IsAmbulo 17:3, 5, 7-12) Lesi silo esibomvu sifanekisela inhlangano yeZizwe Ezihlangene.d Njengoba nje umAsiriya wasendulo abhubhisa iSamariya, lesi silo sasendle esinombala obomvu klebhu ‘siyosizonda isifebe sisenze incithakalo nesihamba-ze, futhi siyodla siqede inyama yaso sisishise ngokuphelele ngomlilo.’ (IsAmbulo 17:16) Ngakho umAsiriya wosuku lwanamuhla (izizwe ezimdibi munye ne-UN) ziyoshaya eLobukholwa ngembibizane enamandla futhi ziligandaye lingaphinde libe khona.
21, 22. Ubani ozoshukumisa isilo sasendle ukuba sihlasele abantu bakaNkulunkulu?
21 Ingabe oFakazi BakaJehova abathembekile bayobhubha kanye neBabiloni Elikhulu? Cha. UNkulunkulu akabathukuthelele bona. Ukukhulekela okumsulwa kuyosinda. Nokho, isilo sasendle esibhubhisa iBabiloni Elikhulu sibanyonkoloza ngeso elibi nabantu bakaJehova. Ngokwenza kanjalo, isilo senza imicabango yomuntu othile, hhayi ekaNkulunkulu. Ekabani? EkaSathane uDeveli.
22 UJehova udalula icebo likaSathane lokuqhosha: “Ngalolo suku kuyofika izinto enhliziyweni yakho [Sathane], ngokuqinisekile uyosongoza icebo elibi; uyothi: ‘. . . Ngizothelekela labo abangenasiphazamiso, abahleli belondekile, bonke behleli bengenaludonga [oluvikelayo] . . . ’ Kuyoba ngenjongo yokuthola impango enkulu nokuphanga okukhulu.” (Hezekeli 38:10-12) USathane uyocabanga kanje, ‘Konje kungani ngingavusi izizwe ukuba zihlasele oFakazi BakaJehova? Bangatholakala kalula, abavikelekile, abangenile kwezombangazwe. Ngeke balwe. Yeka indlela okuzoba lula ngayo ukubahlwitha njengamaqanda esidlekeni esingavikelwe!’
23. Kungani umAsiriya wosuku lwanamuhla engeke akwazi ukwenza lokho akwenza kweLobukholwa kubantu bakaNkulunkulu?
23 Kodwa anogawula nibheka nina zizwe! Yazini ukuthi uma nithinta abantu bakaJehova, kuyodingeka nibhekane noNkulunkulu uqobo lwakhe! UJehova uyabathanda abantu bakhe, futhi uyobalwela njengoba nje alwela iJerusalema ngezinsuku zikaHezekiya. Lapho umAsiriya wosuku lwanamuhla ezama ukuqothula izinceku zikaJehova, empeleni uyobe elwa noJehova uNkulunkulu neWundlu, uJesu Kristu. Lena yimpi umAsiriya angeke ayinqobe. ‘IWundlu liyomnqoba,’ kusho iBhayibheli, “ngenxa yokuthi liyiNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi.” (IsAmbulo 17:14; qhathanisa noMathewu 25:40.) NjengomAsiriya wasendulo, isilo sasendle esinombala obomvu klebhu ‘siyokuya ekubhujisweni.’ Ngeke sisesatshwa.—IsAmbulo 17:11.
24. (a) Yini amaKristu eqiniso azimisele ukuyenza ukuze azilungiselele ikusasa? (b) U-Isaya ubheka kanjani esikhathini esizayo? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 155.)
24 AmaKristu eqiniso angabheka esikhathini esizayo angesabi uma egcina ubuhlobo bawo noJehova buqinile futhi enza ukwenza intando yakhe kube yinto esemqoka ekuphileni kwawo. (Mathewu 6:33) Ngeke-ke kudingeke ‘esabe lutho olubi.’ (IHubo 23:4) Ngamehlo awo okholo, ayobona ingalo kaNkulunkulu enamandla iphakama, hhayi ngenjongo yokuwajezisa, kodwa ukuze iwavikele ezitheni zakhe. Futhi izindlebe zawo ziyokuzwa la mazwi aqinisa idolo: “Ningesabi.”—Isaya 10:24.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Bheka i-Insight on the Scriptures, uMqulu 1, ikhasi 203.
b Ukuze kucace, kuxoxwa ngo-Isaya 10:28-32 kuqala ngaphambi kuka-Isaya 10:20-27.
c Ukuze uthole lapho kudingidwa khona u-Isaya 10:20-23, bheka esithi “U-Isaya Ubheka Esikhathini Esizayo,” ekhasini 155.
d Ukwaziswa okwengeziwe ngokuthi isifebe singubani nesilo sase-ndle esinombala obomvu klebhu kutholakala ezahlukweni 34 no-35 encwadini ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!, enyatheliswa yi-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 155, 156]
U-ISAYA UBHEKA ESIKHATHINI ESIZAYO
Isahluko seshumi sika-Isaya ngokuyinhloko sigxila endleleni uJehova ayosebenzisa ngayo ukuhlasela komAsiriya ukuze akhiphe isahlulelo ku-Israyeli nasesithembisweni sakhe sokulwela iJerusalema. Njengoba amavesi-20 kuya ku-23 ephakathi nendawo kulesi siprofetho, angase abhekwe njengagcwaliseka ngaso lesi sikhathi. (Qhathanisa no-Isaya 1:7-9.) Nokho, indlela amagama abekwe ngayo ibonisa ukuthi la mavesi asebenza ikakhulu esikhathini sakamuva, lapho neJerusalema kuyodingeka liphendule ngezono zezakhamuzi zalo.
INkosi u-Ahazi izama ukuthola ukulondeka ngokuphendukela e-Asiriya ukuze ithole usizo. Umprofethi u-Isaya ubikezela ukuthi esikhathini esizayo, abasindile bendlu ka-Israyeli ngeke baphinde balandele inkambo engenangqondo kanjalo. U-Isaya 10:20 uthi ‘bayoncika kuJehova, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli, ngeqiniso.’ Nokho, ivesi 21 libonisa ukuthi yinani elincane kuphela eliyokwenza kanjalo: “Yinsali kuphela . . . eyobuyela.” Lokhu kusikhumbuza ngendodana ka-Isaya uSheyari-jashubi, eyisibonakaliso kwa-Israyeli negama layo elisho ukuthi “Insali Kuphela Eyobuyela.” (Isaya 7:3) Ivesi 22 lesahluko 10 lixwayisa ‘ngokuqothulwa’ okuzayo okunqunyiwe. Ukuqothulwa okunjalo kuyoba okulungile ngoba kuyisijeziso esifanele sabantu abahlubukayo. Ngenxa yalokho, esizweni esinabantu abaningi kakhulu “ngangesihlabathi solwandle,” kuyobuyela insali kuphela. Ivesi 23 lixwayisa ngokuthi lokhu kuqothulwa okuzayo kuyothinta izwe lonke. IJerusalema ngeke lisinde kulokhu.
La mavesi akuchaza kahle lokho okwenzeka ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho uJehova esebenzisa uMbuso WaseBabiloni ‘njengenduku’ yakhe. Lonke izwe, kuhlanganise neJerusalema, lawela kumhlaseli. AmaJuda athunjelwa eBabiloni iminyaka engu-70. Kodwa ngemva kwalokho, amanye—ngisho noma ‘kuyinsali kuphela’—abuyela ayomisa kabusha ukukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema.
Isiprofetho esiku-Isaya 10:20-23 sabuye sagcwaliseka ekhulwini lokuqala, njengoba kuboniswa kumaRoma 9:27, 28. (Qhathanisa no-Isaya 1:9; Roma 9:29.) UPawulu uchaza ukuthi ngomqondo ongokomoya, “insali” yamaJuda ‘yabuyela’ kuJehova ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., njengoba nje inani elincane lamaJuda athembekile laba abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu futhi laqala ukukhulekela uJehova “ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Johane 4:24) Kamuva lahlangana nabeZizwe abakholwayo, lakha isizwe esingokomoya, ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’ (Galathiya 6:16) Kulesi senzakalo kwagcwaliseka amazwi ka-Isaya 10:20 athi: isizwe esizinikezele kuJehova ‘ngeke siphinde’ simfulathele sifune usizo kubantu.
[Isithombe ekhasini 147]
USaneheribi ucabanga ukuthi ukuqoqela ndawonye izizwe kulula njengokuqoqa amaqanda esidlekeni