Isahluko Samashumi Amabili Nanye
Isandla SikaJehova Siyaphakama
1. Kungani u-Isaya emazisa uJehova?
U-ISAYA umthanda ngokujulile uJehova futhi uyakuthokozela ukumdumisa. Uyamemeza: “O Jehova, unguNkulunkulu wami. Ngiyakuphakamisa, ngidumisa igama lakho.” Yini esiza lo mprofethi ukuba abe nokwazisa okuhle kangaka ngoMdali wakhe? Isici esiyinhloko siwulwazi analo ngoJehova nemisebenzi yakhe. Amazwi ka-Isaya alandelayo ayalwembula lolu lwazi: “Ngoba wena wenzé izinto ezimangalisayo, izinjongo ezisukela ezikhathini zangaphambili, ngokukholeka, ngokwethembeka.” (Isaya 25:1) NjengoJoshuwa owamandulela, u-Isaya uyazi ukuthi uJehova ukholekile futhi uthembekile nokuthi zonke “izinjongo” zakhe—izinto azijongile—ziyagcwaliseka.—Joshuwa 23:14.
2. Iyiphi injongo kaJehova eshiwo u-Isaya manje, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi iqondene nani?
2 Izinjongo zikaJehova zihlanganisa nezimemezelo zakhe zokwahlulela izitha zika-Israyeli. Manje u-Isaya umemezela esinye sazo: “Wenzé umuzi waba yinqwaba yamatshe, umzana onezivikelo eziqinile waba yincithakalo ebhidlikayo, umbhoshongo wokuhlala izihambi ukuba ungabi ngumuzi ongeke uphinde wakhiwe kuze kube phakade.” (Isaya 25:2) Yimuphi lo muzi ongashiwo ngegama? Kungenzeka ukuthi u-Isaya ukhuluma nge-Ari lakwaMowabi—sekuyisikhathi eside uMowabi enobutha nabantu bakaNkulunkulu.a Noma kungenzeka ukuthi ukhuluma ngomunye umuzi onamandla—iBabiloni.—Isaya 15:1; Zefaniya 2:8, 9.
3. Izitha zikaJehova zimkhazimulisa ngayiphi indlela?
3 Izitha zikaJehova ziyosabela kanjani lapho kugcwaliseka injongo yakhe ngomuzi wazo onamandla? “Labo abayisizwe esinamandla bayokukhazimulisa; umzana wezizwe ezingomashiqela, uyokwesaba.” (Isaya 25:3) Kuyaqondakala ukuthi izitha zikaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke ziyomesaba. Kodwa zimkhazimulisa kanjani? Ingabe ziyobashiya onkulunkulu bazo bamanga, zamukele ukukhulekela okumsulwa? Lutho! Kunalokho, njengoFaro noNebukadinesari, zikhazimulisa uJehova lapho ziphoqeleka ukuba ziqaphele ubukhulu bakhe obumangalisayo.—Eksodusi 10:16, 17; 12:30-33; Daniyeli 4:37.
4. Uyini “umzana wezizwe ezingomashiqela” namuhla, futhi nawo kudingeka umkhazimulise kanjani uJehova?
4 Namuhla “umzana wezizwe ezingomashiqela” “ngumuzi omkhulu onombuso phezu kwamakhosi omhlaba,” okusho “iBabiloni Elikhulu,” umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 17:5, 18) Ingxenye eyinhloko yalo mbuso eLobukholwa. Abaholi benkolo beLobukholwa bamdumisa kanjani uJehova? Ngokuzivuma ngobuhlungu izinto ezinhle kakhulu azifezile ngenxa yoFakazi bakhe. Ikakhulukazi ngo-1919 ngesikhathi uJehova ebuyisela izinceku zakhe emsebenzini odinga amandla ngemva kokukhululwa ekuthunjweni okungokomoya eBabiloni Elikhulu, laba baholi “bethuka futhi banika uNkulunkulu wezulu inkazimulo.”—IsAmbulo 11:13.b
5. UJehova ubavikela kanjani labo abamethemba ngokuphelele?
5 Nakuba esabeka uma ebukwa yizitha zakhe, uJehova uyisiphephelo kwabamnene nabathobekile abafuna ukumkhonza. Omashiqela bezombangazwe nabenkolo bangase bazame konke ukuze baphule ukholo lwabakhulekeli beqiniso, kodwa bayehluleka ngoba laba bakhulekeli bathembele ngokuphelele kuJehova. Ekugcineni, ubavala umlomo kalula abaphikisi bakhe, njengokungathi umboza ilanga lasehlane elivuthayo ngefu, noma uvimba amandla esiphepho esinemvula ngodonga.—Funda u-Isaya 25:4, 5.
‘Idili Lazo Zonke Izizwe’
6, 7. (a) Hlobo luni lwedili elenziwa uJehova, futhi ulenzela bani? (b) Lifanekiselani idili u-Isaya aprofetha ngalo?
6 Njengobaba onothando, uJehova akazivikeli nje kuphela izingane zakhe kodwa futhi uyazondla, ikakhulukazi ngokomoya. Ngemva kokukhulula abantu bakhe ngo-1919, wabenzela idili lokunqoba, insada yokudla okungokomoya: “UJehova wamabutho ngokuqinisekile uyokwenzela zonke izizwe, kule ntaba, idili lezidlo ezinamafutha akahle, idili lewayini elinenhlese, izidlo ezinamafutha akahle ezigcwele umnkantsha, idili lewayini elinenhlese, elihluziwe.”—Isaya 25:6.
7 Leli dili lenzelwa ‘entabeni’ kaJehova. Iyiphi le ntaba? ‘Yintaba yendlu kaJehova’ zonke izizwe ezigobhozela kuyo “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku.” ‘Iyintaba engcwele’ kaJehova, lapho abakhulekeli bakhe abathembekile bengeke balimaze khona futhi bangabangeli ncithakalo. (Isaya 2:2; 11:9) Kule ndawo yokukhulekela ephakeme, uJehova wenzela abathembekileyo bakhe isiphihli sedili. Futhi izinto ezinhle ezingokomoya ezikhishwa ngobuningi kangaka zifanekisela izinto ezinhle ezingokwenyama eziyoba khona lapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu usuwukuphela kukahulumeni wesintu. Ngaleso sikhathi indlala iyobe ingasekho. “Kuyoba khona inala yokusanhlamvu emhlabeni; kuyoba khona ukuchichima esiqongweni sezintaba.”—IHubo 72:8, 16.
8, 9. (a) Yiziphi izitha zesintu ezinkulu ezimbili eziyosuswa? Chaza. (b) Yini uNkulunkulu ayoyenza ukuze asuse isihlamba sabantu bakhe?
8 Labo manje abadla kuleli dili elingokomoya elilungiselelwe phezulu banamathemba amahle kakhulu. Lalela amazwi ka-Isaya alandelayo. Eqhathanisa isono nokufa “nokwelukiweyo” noma “isigubuzelo,” uthi: “Kule ntaba ngokuqinisekile [uJehova] uyogwinya ingaphandle lesigubuzelo esigubuzele zonke izizwe, nokulukiweyo okulukwe kwahlanganiswa phezu kwazo zonke izizwe. Empeleni uyokugwinya ukufa kuze kube phakade, iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngokuqinisekile iyosula izinyembezi ebusweni bonke.”—Isaya 25:7, 8a.
9 Yebo, ngeke sisaba khona isono nokufa! (IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, isihlamba esingamanga izinceku zikaJehova eziye zasibekezelela izinkulungwane zeminyaka naso siyosuswa. “Isihlamba sabantu bayo iyosisusa kuwo wonke umhlaba, ngoba uJehova ngokwakhe ukukhulumile.” (Isaya 25:8b) Kuyokwenzeka kanjani lokhu? UJehova uyosusa umthombo waleso sihlamba, uSathane nenzalo yakhe. (IsAmbulo 20:1-3) Akumangalisi ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayoshukunyiselwa ukuba bamemeze bathi: “Bheka! Lo nguNkulunkulu wethu. Sithembele kuye, uyosisindisa. Lo nguJehova. Sithembele kuye. Masijabule sithokoze ngensindiso yakhe.”—Isaya 25:9.
Abazidlayo Bayathotshiswa
10, 11. Iyiphi impatho embi uJehova ayibekele uMowabi?
10 UJehova uyabasindisa abantu bakhe ababonisa ukuthobeka. Nokho, umakhelwane ka-Israyeli uMowabi uyaziqhenya, kanti uJehova uyakwenyanya ukuziqhenya. (IzAga 16:18) Ngakho kunqunywa ukuba uMowabi athotshiswe. “Isandla sikaJehova siyohlala kule ntaba, futhi uMowabi uyonyathelwa endaweni yakhe njengalapho inqwaba yotshani inyathelwa endaweni yomquba. Uyokwelula izandla zakhe phakathi kwakhe njengalapho inhlambi izelulela ukubhukuda, futhi kumelwe ehlise ukuzidla kwakhe ngokunyakaza kobuciko kwezandla zakhe. Futhi umuzi onezivikelo eziqinile, nezindonga zawo zokulondeka eziphakeme, uyowudiliza; uyowehlisa, awuthintanise nomhlaba, othulini.”—Isaya 25:10-12.
11 Isandla sikaJehova “siyohlala” entabeni yakwaMowabi. Ube yini umphumela? UMowabi ozidlayo uyoshaywa futhi anyathelwe ‘njengasendaweni yomquba.’ Ngesikhathi sika-Isaya, utshani bubekwa phezu kwenqwaba yobulongwe ukuze kwenziwe umquba; ngakho u-Isaya ubikezela ukuthotshiswa kukaMowabi, naphezu kwezindonga zakhe eziphakeme, ezibonakala zilondekile.
12. Kungani sinikezwa uMowabi yedwa lesi simemezelo sikaJehova sesahlulelo?
12 Kungani uJehova enikeza uMowabi yedwa lesi seluleko esiqinile? AbakwaMowabi bayinzalo kaLoti, indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrahama ongumkhulekeli kaJehova. Ngakho, ababona nje kuphela omakhelwane besizwe sikaNkulunkulu sesivumelwano kodwa futhi bayizihlobo. Naphezu kwalokhu, baye bamukela onkulunkulu bamanga futhi babonisa ubutha obujulile ku-Israyeli. Sibafanele isiphetho sabo. Kulokhu, uMowabi ufana nezitha zezinceku zikaJehova namuhla. Ufana ikakhulukazi neLobukholwa, elithi livela ebandleni lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala, kodwa, njengoba sibonile ekuqaleni, eliyingxenye eyinhloko yeBabiloni Elikhulu.
Ingoma Yensindiso
13, 14. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu banamuphi ‘umuzi oqinile’ namuhla, futhi obani abavunyelwe ukungena kuwo?
13 Kuthiwani ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu? Bejatshuliswa ukuba nomusa nesivikelo sikaJehova, bayakhamuluka bahlabelele. “Ngalolo suku kuyohlatshelelwa le ngoma ezweni lakwaJuda: ‘Sinomuzi onamandla. Umisa insindiso njengezindonga negoqo lokuvikela. Vulani amasango, nina madoda, ukuze kungene isizwe esilungileyo esigcina ukuziphatha okukholekile.’” (Isaya 26:1, 2) Nakuba kungangabazeki ukuthi la mazwi agcwaliseka endulo, agcwaliseka nangokucacile namuhla. ‘Isizwe sikaJehova esilungileyo,’ u-Israyeli ongokomoya, sinikezwe inhlangano enamandla enjengomuzi. Yeka imbangela yokuthokoza, yokuba kuhlatshelelwe ingoma!
14 Hlobo luni lwabantu abangena kulo “muzi”? Ingoma inikeza impendulo: “Ukuthambekela okusekelwe kahle uyokulonda [Nkulunkulu] ngokuthula okuqhubekayo, ngoba umuntu wenziwa athembele kuwe. Thembelani kuJehova, nina bantu, phakade, ngoba iDwala laphakade likuJah Jehova.” (Isaya 26:3, 4) “Ukuthambekela” okusekelwa uJehova yisifiso sokulalela izimiso zakhe zokulunga nesokuthembela kuye, hhayi ezimisweni zezwe ezintengantengayo zezentengiselwano, ezombusazwe nezenkolo. “UJah Jehova” ungukuphela kweDwala lokulondeka okungathenjelwa kulo. Labo abamethemba ngokuphelele uJehova bathola isivikelo sakhe futhi bajabulela “ukuthula okuqhubekayo.”—IzAga 3:5, 6; Filipi 4:6, 7.
15. “Umzana ophakeme” wehliswe kanjani namuhla, futhi “izinyawo zohluphekileyo” ziwunyathela kanjani?
15 Yeka umehluko kulokho okwenzeka ezitheni zabantu bakaNkulunkulu! “Ubadilizile labo abahlala endaweni ephakeme, umzana ophakeme. Uyawehlisa, uwehlisela emhlabeni; uwuthintanisa nothuli. Unyawo luyowunyathela, izinyawo zohluphekileyo, izinyathelo zabantu abaphansi.” (Isaya 26:5, 6) Nalapha kungenzeka ukuthi u-Isaya ubhekisela ‘emzaneni ophakeme’ okwaMowabi, noma omunye umuzi, njengeBabiloni, ozidla ngendlela ephakeme ngempela. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ikuphi, uJehova uziguqulile izinto ‘emzaneni ophakeme,’ futhi ‘abantu bakhe abahluphekileyo nabaphansi’ bayawunyathela. Namuhla, lesi siprofetho silifanela kahle iBabiloni Elikhulu, ikakhulukazi eLobukholwa. Ngo-1919 lo “mzana ophakeme” waphoqeleka ukuba udedele abantu bakaJehova—ukuwa okuhlazisayo—futhi nabo baye bazinikela ekunyatheleni umthumbi wabo wangaphambili. (IsAmbulo 14:8) Kanjani? Ngokumemezela obala impindiselo kaJehova azoyiletha kulo.—IsAmbulo 8:7-12; 9:14-19.
Ukufisa Ukulunga “Nesikhumbuzo” SikaJehova
16. Yisiphi isibonelo esihle sokuzinikela esibekwa u-Isaya?
16 Ngemva kwale ngoma yokunqoba, u-Isaya wembula ukujula kokuzinikela kwakhe nemivuzo yokukhonza uNkulunkulu wokulunga. (Funda u-Isaya 26:7-9.) Lo mprofethi unikeza isibonelo esihle ‘sokuthemba kuJehova’ nesokuba nesifiso esijulile ‘segama’ likaJehova “nesikhumbuzo.” Siyini isikhumbuzo sikaJehova? U-Eksodusi 3:15 uthi: “UJehova . . . yileli igama lami phakade, yilesi isikhumbuzo sami ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane.” U-Isaya uyalazisa igama likaJehova nakho konke elikumelele, okuhlanganisa izindinganiso nezindlela zaKhe. Labo abahlakulela uthando olufanayo ngoJehova baqinisekiswa ngesibusiso sakhe.—IHubo 5:8; 25:4, 5; 135:13; Hoseya 12:5.
17. Yimaphi amalungelo ayogodlelwa ababi?
17 Akubona bonke abathanda uJehova nezindinganiso zakhe eziphakeme. (Funda u-Isaya 26:10.) Ngisho noma bemenywa, ababi benqaba ngenkani ukufunda ukulunga ukuze bangene “ezweni lobuqotho,” izwe okuhlala kulo izinceku zikaJehova eziqotho ngokuziphatha nangokomoya. Ngenxa yalokho, ababi ‘ngeke bakubone ukuvelela kukaJehova.’ Ngeke baphile baze babone izibusiso eziyogelezela isintu ngemva kokungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova. Ngisho nasezweni elisha, lapho umhlaba wonke ‘usuyizwe lobuqotho,’ abanye bangase bahluleke ukusabela emseni kaJehova wothando. Amagama abanjalo ngeke alotshwe encwadini yokuphila.—Isaya 65:20; IsAmbulo 20:12, 15.
18. Abanye osukwini luka-Isaya bazikhethela kanjani ukuba yizimpumputhe, futhi bayophoqeleka nini ukuba ‘babone’ uJehova?
18 “O Jehova, isandla sakho siye saba ngesiphakeme, kodwa abasiboni. Bayobona futhi babe namahloni ngokushisekela abantu bakho. Yebo, wona kanye umlilo wabaphikisana nawe uyobadla ubaqede.” (Isaya 26:11) Osukwini luka-Isaya, isandla sikaJehova siye sazibonakalisa siphakeme lapho uJehova evikela abantu bakhe ngokulwa nezitha zabo. Kodwa abaningi abakakuboni lokhu. Abanjalo, abakhetha ukuba yizimpumputhe ngokomoya, ekugcineni bayophoqeleka ukuba ‘bambone’ uJehova, noma bamqaphele, lapho beshwabadelwa umlilo wentshiseko yakhe. (Zefaniya 1:18) Kamuva uNkulunkulu uthi kuHezekeli: ‘Bayokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova.’—Hezekeli 38:23.
“Lowo UJehova Amthandayo Uyamyala”
19, 20. Kungani uJehova eyala abantu bakhe futhi ubayala kanjani, futhi obani abazuzile kuleso siyalo?
19 U-Isaya uyazi ukuthi noma ikuphi ukuthula nokuchuma okujatshulelwa abantu bakubo kubangelwa isibusiso sikaJehova. “O Jehova, uyonquma ukuba sithole ukuthula, ngoba uye wasenzela ngisho nemisebenzi yethu.” (Isaya 26:12) Naphezu kwalokhu, futhi naphezu kokubeka kukaJehova phambi kwabantu bakhe ithuba lokuba babe “umbuso wabapristi nesizwe esingcwele,” uJuda uye waba nomlando oxube okubi nokuhle. (Eksodusi 19:6) Ngokuphindaphindiwe abantu bakhona baye baphendukela ekukhulekeleni onkulunkulu bamanga. Ngenxa yalokho, bebelokhu bejeziswa izikhathi eziningi. Nokho, isiyalo esinjalo siwubufakazi bothando lukaJehova ngoba “lowo uJehova amthandayo uyamyala.”—Heberu 12:6.
20 Ngokuvamile, uJehova uyala abantu bakhe ngokuvumela ezinye izizwe, “amanye amakhosi,” ukuba ababuse. (Funda u-Isaya 26:13.) Ngo-607 B.C.E., uvumela abaseBabiloni ukuba babathumbe. Ingabe kuyabazuzisa lokhu? Ukuhlupheka akumzuzisi umuntu. Kodwa uma ohluphekayo efunda kulokho okusuke kwenzeka, aphenduke, futhi azinikezele kuJehova kuphela, khona-ke uyazuza. (Duteronomi 4:25-31) Ingabe akhona amaJuda abonisa ukuphenduka kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu? Yebo! Ngokwesiprofetho, u-Isaya uthi: “Ngawe kuphela siyokhuluma ngegama lakho.” Ngemva kokubuya kwawo ekuthunjweni ngo-537 B.C.E., amaJuda alokhu edinga ukuyalwa ngenxa yezono ezithile, kodwa awalokothi aphinde awele ogibeni lokukhulekela onkulunkulu bamatshe.
21. Kuyokwenzekani kulabo abaye bacindezela abantu bakaNkulunkulu?
21 Kuthiwani ngabathumbi bakaJuda? “Abasenamandla ekufeni, ngeke bavuke. Ngakho-ke ubanakile ukuze ubabhuqe ubhubhise konke ukuphathwa kwegama labo.” (Isaya 26:14) IBabiloni lizokhokha ngezenzo zonya elizenze esizweni sikaJehova esikhethiwe. Esebenzisa amaMede namaPheresiya, uJehova uzogumbuqela iBabiloni eliziqhenyayo, abese ekhulula abantu bakhe abathunjiwe. Lowo muzi omkhulu, iBabiloni, ngeke ube namandla, uyofana nofileyo. Ekugcineni, ngeke usaba khona.
22. Ezikhathini zanamuhla, abantu bakaNkulunkulu babusiswe kanjani?
22 Ekugcwalisekeni kwanamuhla, insali emsulwa ka-Israyeli ongokomoya yakhululwa eBabiloni Elikhulu futhi yabuyiselwa enkonzweni kaJehova ngo-1919. La maKristu agcotshiwe, anikezwe amandla amasha, azinikela ngentshiseko emsebenzini wokushumayela. (Mathewu 24:14) UJehova uye wawabusisa ngokwanda, waze waletha nesixuku esikhulu ‘sezinye izimvu’ ukuze sikhonze kanye nawo. (Johane 10:16) “Unezelile esizweni; O Jehova, unezelile esizweni; uzikhazimulisile. Uyinwebele kude yonke imingcele yezwe. O Jehova, phakathi nokucindezeleka bakunakile, bathululelé umthandazo onyenyezayo lapho bethola ukuyala kwakho.”—Isaya 26:15, 16.
“Bayovuka”
23. (a) Yikuphi ukubonakaliswa okuvelele kwamandla kaJehova okwenzeka ngo-537 B.C.E.? (b) Yikuphi ukubonakaliswa okufanayo okwenzeka ngo-1919 C.E.?
23 U-Isaya uphindela esimweni uJuda abhekene naso ngesikhathi esathunjiwe eBabiloni. Uqhathanisa lesi sizwe nowesifazane onemihelo kodwa ongakwazi ukuzibelethela ngaphandle kosizo. (Funda u-Isaya 26:17, 18.) Lolo sizo lufika ngo-537 B.C.E., futhi abantu bakaJehova babuyela ezweni lakubo, bezimisele ukwakha kabusha ithempeli futhi babuyisele ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Kufana nokuthi isizwe sivuswa kwabafileyo. “Abafileyo bakho bayophila. Isidumbu sami—bayovuka. Phaphamani nikhamuluke ngenjabulo, nina enihlala othulini! Ngoba amazolo akho angamazolo ezitshalo zemelo, nomhlabathi ngokwawo uyovumela ukuba labo abangenamandla ekufeni baziqathakele ekuzalweni kwabo.” (Isaya 26:19) Yeka ukubonakaliswa kwamandla kaJehova! Ngaphezu kwalokho, yeka ukubonakaliswa okukhulu okwaba khona ngesikhathi la mazwi egcwaliseka ngomqondo ongokomoya ngo-1919! (IsAmbulo 11:7-11) Futhi yeka indlela esibheke phambili ngayo esikhathini ayogcwaliseka ngokoqobo ngaso la mazwi ezweni elisha, nalabo abangenamandla ekufeni ‘bezwa izwi likaJesu baphume’ emathuneni ayisikhumbuzo!—Johane 5:28, 29.
24, 25. (a) Iyiphi indlela okungenzeka ukuthi amaJuda ngo-539 B.C.E. awulalela ngayo umyalo kaJehova wokuba acashe? (b) Ezikhathini zanamuhla, angaba yini ‘amakamelo angaphakathi,’ futhi kufanele sihlakulele siphi isimo sengqondo ngawo?
24 Nokho, ukuze abathembekileyo bajabulele izibusiso ezingokomoya ezathenjiswa ngo-Isaya, kumelwe balalele imiyalo kaJehova: “Hambani bantu bami, ngenani emakamelweni enu angaphakathi, nivale iminyango yenu. Zifihleni umzuzwana nje kuze kudlule isijeziso sokulahla. Ngoba, bheka! uJehova uphuma endaweni yakhe ukuze enze ukuba kulandiswe ngenxa yesiphambeko owakhileyo ezweni asenzile kuye, futhi ngokuqinisekile izwe liyokuveza obala ukuchithwa kwegazi okukulo futhi ngeke lisabafihla ababuleweyo balo.” (Isaya 26:20, 21; qhathanisa noZefaniya 1:14.) Kungenzeka ukuthi leli vesi ligcwaliseka okokuqala lapho amaMede namaPheresiya enqoba iBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E., eholwa iNkosi uKoresi. Ngokwesazi-mlando esingumGreki uXenophon, lapho uKoresi engena eBabiloni, uyala wonk’ umuntu ukuba ahlale endlini yakhe, ngoba ibutho lakhe labakhwele amahhashi ‘liyalwe ukuba libulale bonke elibathola ngaphandle.’ Namuhla, ‘amakamelo angaphakathi’ alesi siprofetho angafaniswa namashumi ezinkulungwane zamabandla abantu bakaJehova emhlabeni. Lawo mabandla azoqhubeka efeza indima ebalulekile ekuphileni kwethu, ngisho nangemva ‘kosizi olukhulu.’ (IsAmbulo 7:14) Yeka ukuthi kusemqoka kangakanani ukuba sibe nesimo sengqondo esihle ngebandla futhi sihlanganyele nalo njalo!—Heberu 10:24, 25.
25 Izwe likaSathane lizophela maduze nje. Asikakazi ukuthi uJehova uyobavikela kanjani abantu bakhe phakathi naleso sikhathi esesabekayo. (Zefaniya 2:3) Kodwa siyazi ukuthi ukusinda kwethu kuyoxhomeka okholweni esinalo kuJehova, ekuthembekeni kwethu nasekumlaleleni.
26. Ubani “uLeviyathani” osukwini luka-Isaya nasosukwini lwethu, futhi kwenzekani kulesi “silo sasolwandle”?
26 Ebheka kuleso sikhathi, u-Isaya uyaprofetha: “Ngalolo suku uJehova, ngenkemba yakhe eqinile nenkulu nenamandla, uyomnaka uLeviyathani, inyoka ehuquzelayo, yebo uLeviyathani, inyoka egwegwile, futhi ngokuqinisekile uyosibulala lesi silo sasolwandle.” (Isaya 27:1) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, “uLeviyathani” ubhekisela emazweni u-Israyeli ayehlakazekele kuwo, njengeBabiloni, iGibithe ne-Asiriya. La mazwe ayohluleka ukuvimbela abantu bakaJehova ukuba babuyele ezweni lakubo ngesikhathi esifanele. Ubani-ke uLeviyathani wosuku lwanamuhla? Kubonakala kunguSathane—“inyoka yokuqala”—nesimiso sakhe sezinto esibi lapha emhlabeni, ithuluzi lakhe lokulwa no-Israyeli ongokomoya. (IsAmbulo 12:9, 10; 13:14, 16, 17; 18:24) “ULeviyathani” wabadedela ngo-1919 abantu bakaNkulunkulu, futhi ngokushesha uzoshabalala ngokuphelele lapho uJehova ‘esibulala ngokuqinisekile isilo sasolwandle.’ Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, akukho lutho “uLeviyathani” angazama ukulwenza kubantu bakaJehova oluyophumelela ngempela.—Isaya 54:17.
“Isivini Sewayini Elinengwebu”
27, 28. (a) Isivini sikaJehova siwugcwalise ngani umhlaba wonke? (b) UJehova usivikela kanjani isivini sakhe?
27 Ngenye ingoma, u-Isaya manje ukubonisa kahle ukuthela kwabantu bakaJehova abakhululiwe: “Ngalolo suku mhlabeleleleni lona wesifazane, nina bantu: ‘Isivini sewayini elinengwebu! Mina, Jehova, ngiyamlonda. Ngizomnisela umzuzwana ngamunye. Ukuze kungabikho omnakayo ukuba amelane naye, ngizomlonda ubusuku nemini.’” (Isaya 27:2, 3) Insali ka-Israyeli ongokomoya nabangane bayo abazikhandla ngempela baye bagcwalisa umhlaba ngesivuno esingokomoya. Yeka isizathu sokuhalalisa—sengoma! Lonke udumo luya kuJehova, onakekela isivini sakhe ngothando.—Qhathanisa noJohane 15:1-8.
28 Ngempela, esikhundleni solaka lukaJehova lwasekuqaleni sekuyintokozo! “Anginakho nhlobo ukufutheka. Ubani ozonginika umunga nokhula empini? Ngizohamba phezu kwako. Ngizokuthungela ngomlilo ngasikhathi sinye. Ngaphandle kwalokho makabambelele esiphephelweni sami, makenze ukuthula nami; ukuthula makakwenze nami.” (Isaya 27:4, 5) Ukuze aqikelele ukuthi imivini yakhe iyaqhubeka ikhiqiza insada ‘yewayini elinengwebu,’ uJehova ubulala futhi aqothule njengangomlilo noma iliphi ithonya elifana nokhula elingonakalisa isivini sakhe. Ngakho, makungabikho muntu oyibeka engozini inhlalakahle yebandla lobuKristu! Kunalokho, bonke ‘mababambelele esiphephelweni sikaJehova,’ bafune umusa nesivikelo sakhe. Ngokwenza kanjalo, benza ukuthula noNkulunkulu—into ebaluleke kangangokuthi u-Isaya uyisho kabili. Umphumela uba yini? “Ezinsukwini ezizayo uJakobe uyomila izimpande, u-Israyeli uyoqhakaza futhi empeleni ahlume; uyomane agcwalise ubuso bezwe elikhiqizayo ngomkhiqizo.” (Isaya 27:6)c Yeka ukuthi ukugcwaliseka kwaleli vesi kuwubufakazi obuhle kanjani bamandla kaJehova! Kusukela ngo-1919, amaKristu agcotshiwe aye agcwalisa umhlaba ‘ngomkhiqizo,’ ukudla okungokomoya okunomsoco. Ngenxa yalokho, aye ajoyinwa izigidi zezinye izimvu eziqotho, lezo amaKristu agcotshiwe ‘anikela’ kanye nazo “[kuNkulunkulu] inkonzo engcwele imini nobusuku.” (IsAmbulo 7:15) Kuleli zwe elonakele, laba bazilondoloza ngentokozo izindinganiso zakhe eziphakeme. Futhi uJehova uyaqhubeka ebabusisa ngokwanda. Kwangathi singelokothe sikhohlwe ilungelo elikhulu lokudla ‘umkhiqizo’ nokuwabela abanye ngamazwi ethu okudumisa!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Igama elithi Ari cishe lisho “Umuzi.”
b Bheka incwadi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!, ikhasi 170.
c Kuxoxwa ngo-Isaya 27:7-13 ebhokisini elisekhasini 285.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 285]
“Uphondo Olukhulu” Lumemezela Inkululeko
Ngo-607 B.C.E., izinhlungu zikaJuda ziyanda lapho uJehova esijezisa ngokuthunjwa lesi sizwe sakhe esiphambukayo. (Funda u-Isaya 27:7-11.) Isono sesizwe sikhulu kakhulu ukuba singahlawulelwa ngemihlatshelo yezilwane. Ngakho, njengoba umuntu engase ahlakaze izimvu noma izimbuzi “ngokumemeza okwethusayo” noma engase ‘afuthe’ amaqabunga andize nomoya onamandla, uJehova uxosha u-Israyeli ezweni lakubo. Ngemva kwalokho, ngisho nabantu ababuthaka, abafanekiselwa ubulili besifazane, bayakwazi ukuphanga lokho okusele ezweni.
Nokho, kufika isikhathi sokuba uJehova akhulule abantu bakhe ekuthunjweni. Ubakhulula ngendlela umlimi angakhulula ngayo izithelo zomnqumo eziboshwe ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso ezihlahleni. “Ngalolo suku uJehova uyovuthulula izithelo, kusukela emfudlaneni ogelezayo woMfula [i-Ewufrathe] kuya esigodini sesifufula saseGibithe, kanjalo nani niyobuthwa omunye ngemva komunye, madodana ka-Israyeli. Ngalolo suku kuyoshaywa uphondo olukhulu, futhi labo abashabalalayo ezweni lase-Asiriya nalabo abahlakazekile ezweni laseGibithe ngokuqinisekile bayokuza futhi bakhothame kuJehova entabeni engcwele eJerusalema.” (Isaya 27:12, 13) Ngemva kokunqoba ngo-539 B.C.E., uKoresi ukhipha umyalo okhulula wonke amaJuda embusweni wakhe, kuhlanganise nalawo ase-Asiriya naseGibithe. (Ezra 1:1-4) Ungathi kukhalé “uphondo olukhulu,” lunanela ingoma yenkululeko yabantu bakaNkulunkulu.
[Izithombe ekhasini 275]
“Idili lezidlo ezinamafutha akahle”
[Isithombe ekhasini 277]
IBabiloni linyathelwa ngezinyawo zalabo ababeyiziboshwa
[Isithombe ekhasini 278]
“Ngenani emakamelweni enu angaphakathi”