Ingabe Uyabuza Uthi, “Uphi UJehova?”
“Babe kude nami . . . Abashongo ukuthi, ‘Uphi uJehova?’”—JEREMIYA 2:5, 6.
1. Lapho abantu bebuza bethi, “Uphi uNkulunkulu?,” basuke bebuzelani?
“UPHI uNkulunkulu?” Lowo mbuzo uye wabuzwa abantu abaningi. Abanye babo bemane nje bezama ukuqonda iqiniso eliyisisekelo mayelana noMdali, ukuthi uhlalaphi? Abanye bawubuze ngemva kwenhlekelele enkulu noma lapho bona ngokwabo besebunzimeni obukhulu futhi bengaqondi ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu engabasizanga. Abanye ababuzi nhlobo ngoba bayakuphika kwakona ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona.—IHubo 10:4.
2. Obani abaphumelelayo ekufuneni kwabo uNkulunkulu?
2 Kuyiqiniso ukuthi baningi ababuqaphelayo ubufakazi obuningi bokuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona. (IHubo 19:1; 104:24) Abanye babo baneliswa nje ukuba nohlobo oluthile lwenkolo. Kodwa uthando olujulile ngeqiniso lwenze abanye abaningi, kuwo wonke amazwe, ukuba bafune uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Imizamo yabo ayibanga yize ngoba ‘akakude kulowo nalowo kithi.’—IzEnzo 17:26-28.
3. (a) Ikuphi indawo kaNkulunkulu yokuhlala? (b) Usho ukuthini umbuzo ongokombhalo othi, “Uphi uJehova?”
3 Uma umuntu emthola ngempela uJehova, uyaqaphela ukuthi “uNkulunkulu unguMoya,” akabonakali emehlweni abantu. (Johane 4:24) UJesu wabiza uNkulunkulu weqiniso ngokuthi ‘uBaba osezulwini.’ Kusho ukuthini lokho? Kusho ukuthi indawo ahlala kuyo uBaba wethu osezulwini, ngomqondo ongokomoya, iphakeme, njengoba amazulu angokoqobo ephakeme ngaphezu komhlaba. (Mathewu 12:50; Isaya 63:15) Nokho, nakuba singenakumbona uNkulunkulu ngamehlo ethu enyama, wenza sikwazi ukumazi nokuba sifunde okuningi ngezinjongo zakhe. (Eksodusi 33:20; 34:6, 7) Uyayiphendula imibuzo yabantu abaqotho abafuna ukwazi injongo yokuphila. Ezindabeni ezithinta ukuphila kwethu, usinikeza isisekelo esiqinile sokuba sazi ukuthi yena umi kuphi, okungukuthi, uzibheka kanjani izindaba ezinjalo nokuba sithole ukuthi izifiso zethu ziyavumelana yini nezinjongo zakhe. Ufuna sibuze ngezinto ezinjalo futhi senze umzamo oqotho wokuthola izimpendulo. Ngomprofethi uJeremiya, uJehova wabasola abantu bakwa-Israyeli wasendulo ngoba abazange babuze. Babelazi igama likaNkulunkulu, kodwa abazange babuze ukuthi, “Uphi uJehova?” (Jeremiya 2:6) Injongo kaJehova kwakungeyona into ababeyikhathalele ngokuyinhloko. Babengasifuni isiqondiso sakhe. Lapho kufanele wenze izinqumo, ezincane nezinkulu, ingabe uyabuza uthi, “Uphi uJehova?”
Labo Ababuza KuNkulunkulu
4. Singazuza kanjani esibonelweni sikaDavide sokubuza kuJehova?
4 Lapho uDavide, indodana kaJese, eseyinsizwa, waba nokholo oluqinile kuJehova. Wazi uJehova ‘njengoNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ UDavide wayezibonele ngokwakhe uJehova emvikela. Eqhutshwa ukholo nothando ‘ngegama likaJehova,’ uDavide wabulala umdondoshiya ongumFilisti uGoliyati owayehlome eyizingovolo. (1 Samuweli 17:26, 34-51) Nokho, ukunqoba kwakhe uDavide akumenzanga wazethemba. Akazitshelanga ukuthi kunoma yini ayenzayo manje, uJehova wayezombusisa. Eminyakeni eyalandela, uDavide wayebuza ngokuphindaphindiwe kuJehova lapho kufanele enze izinqumo. (1 Samuweli 23:2; 30:8; 2 Samuweli 2:1; 5:19) Waqhubeka ethandaza: “O Jehova, ngazise izindlela zakho; ngifundise imikhondo yakho. Ngihambise eqinisweni lakho ungifundise, ngoba wena unguNkulunkulu wami wensindiso. Usuku lonke ngithembé wena.” (IHubo 25:4, 5) Yeka isibonelo esihle okumelwe sisilandele!
5, 6. UJehoshafati wamfuna kanjani uJehova ezikhathini ezihlukene zokuphila kwakhe?
5 Ezinsukwini zeNkosi uJehoshafati, inkosi yesihlanu ohlwini lobukhosi olusuka kuDavide, amabutho ahlangene ezizwe ezintathu ahlasela uJuda. Kulesi simo esibucayi isizwe esasibhekene naso, uJehoshafati “wazimisela ukuba afune uJehova.” (2 IziKronike 20:1-3) Kwakungaqali ukuba uJehoshafati afune uJehova. Le nkosi yayikugwemile ukukhulekela uBhali, okwakwenziwa umbuso wasenyakatho wakwa-Israyeli owahlubuka, yakhetha ukuhamba ezindleleni zikaJehova. (2 IziKronike 17:3, 4) Ngakho manje lapho esebhekene nesimo esibucayi, uJehoshafati ‘wamfuna’ kanjani ‘uJehova’?
6 Emthandazweni wasobala awenza eJerusalema ngalesi sikhathi esibucayi, uJehoshafati wabonisa ukuthi wayewakhumbulile amandla kaJehova amakhulu. Wayecabange ngokujulile ngenjongo kaJehova njengoba yaboniswa ukuxosha kwaKhe ezinye izizwe nokunika u-Israyeli izwe elithile njengefa. Inkosi yavuma ukuthi iyaludinga usizo lukaJehova. (2 IziKronike 20:6-12) Ingabe uJehova wavuma ukutholakala ngaleso sikhathi? Impela wavuma. NgoJahaziyeli, umLevi, uJehova wanikeza isiqondiso esicacile, ngosuku olulandelayo wenza abantu bakhe banqoba. (2 IziKronike 20:14-28) Ungaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyovuma ukuba nawe umthole lapho ufuna isiqondiso kuye?
7. Imithandazo yobani uNkulunkulu ayizwayo?
7 UJehova akakhethi. Ukhuthaza abantu bazo zonke izizwe ukuba bamfune ngomthandazo. (IHubo 65:2; IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Uyakuqaphela lokho okusezinhliziyweni zalabo abamnxusayo. Uyasiqinisekisa ukuthi uyayizwa imithandazo yabalungile. (IzAga 15:29) Uyavuma ukuba bamthole abanye ababengenaso isithakazelo kuye ngaphambili kodwa manje asebefuna isiqondiso sakhe ngokuthobeka. (Isaya 65:1) Uzwa ngisho nemithandazo yalabo abaye bahluleka ukugcina umthetho wakhe kodwa manje asebephenduka ngokuthobeka. (IHubo 32:5, 6; IzEnzo 3:19) Kodwa, uma inhliziyo yomuntu ingamthobeli uNkulunkulu, imithandazo yalowo muntu iyize. (Marku 7:6, 7) Cabanga ngezinye izibonelo.
Bacela Kodwa Bangamukela
8. Yini eyenza ukuba imithandazo yeNkosi uSawule ingamukeleki kuJehova?
8 Ngemva kokuba umprofethi uSamuweli etshele iNkosi uSawule ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyilahlile ngenxa yokungalaleli kwayo, uSawule wawa ngobuso kuJehova. (1 Samuweli 15:30, 31) Kodwa wayemane nje ezenzisa. Isifiso sikaSawule kwakungekona ukulalela uNkulunkulu, kodwa kwakuwukuba ahlonishwe abantu. Kamuva, lapho amaFilisti elwa no-Israyeli, uSawule wabuza kuJehova, emane nje egcina icala. Nokho, lapho engatholi mpendulo, waya kobuza esangomeni, nakuba ayazi ukuthi uJehova uyakulahla lokho. (Duteronomi 18:10-12; 1 Samuweli 28:6, 7) Uma isonga le ndaba, eyoku-1 IziKronike 10:14 ithi ngoSawule: “Akazange abuze uJehova.” Ngani? Ngoba imithandazo kaSawule yayingasekelwe okholweni. Ngakho, kwakufana nokuthi wayengathandazanga nhlobo.
9. Yini eyayingalungile ngesicelo sikaZedekiya sokuqondiswa uJehova?
9 Ngokufanayo, njengoba ukuphela kombuso wakwaJuda kwakusondela, kwenziwa imithandazo eminingi kwabuzwa nakubaprofethi bakaJehova. Nokho, abantu babekhulekela izithombe bebe bethi besaba uJehova. (Zefaniya 1:4-6) Nakuba babeyilandela inqubo yokubuza kuNkulunkulu, babengazilungisi izinhliziyo zabo ukuba zithobele intando yakhe. INkosi uZedekiya yancenga uJeremiya ukuba ayibuzele kuJehova. UJehova wayeseyitshelile kakade inkosi lokho okumelwe ikwenze. Kodwa ngenxa yokuntula ukholo nokwesaba abantu, inkosi ayililalelanga izwi likaJehova, futhi uJehova akayinikezanga enye impendulo ehlukile inkosi eyayingathanda ukuyizwa.—Jeremiya 21:1-12; 38:14-19.
10. Yini eyayingalungile ngendlela uJohanani afuna ngayo isiqondiso sikaJehova, futhi yini esiyifundayo ephutheni lakhe?
10 Ngemva kokuba iJerusalema libhujisiwe futhi amabutho aseBhabhiloni esehambe nezithunjwa ezingamaJuda, uJohanani walungiselela ukuthatha iqembu elincane lamaJuda ayesele kwaJuda aliyise eGibhithe. Bahlela baqeda, kodwa ngaphambi kokuba bahambe bacela uJeremiya ukuba abathandazele afune isiqondiso sikaJehova. Nokho, lapho bengayitholi impendulo ababeyifuna, baqhubeka benza njengoba babehlelile. (Jeremiya 41:16–43:7) Ingabe kulezi zenzakalo uyazibona izifundo ezingakuzuzisa ukuze kuthi lapho ufuna ubuso bukaJehova, avume ukuba umthole?
‘Qhubeka Uqinisekisa’
11. Kungani kudingeka senze lokho okushiwo kweyabase-Efesu 5:10?
11 Ukukhulekela kweqiniso kuhilela okungaphezu kokubonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwethu ngokucwiliswa emanzini, ukuya emihlanganweni yebandla, nokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasobala. Kuhilela konke ukuphila kwethu. Nsuku zonke sibhekana nezingcindezi—ezifihlekile nezisobala—ezingasiphambukisa endleleni evumelana nokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Siyokwenzenjani lapho sibhekene nazo? Lapho ebhalela amaKristu athembekile ase-Efesu, umphostoli uPawulu wawanxusa: “Qhubekani niqinisekisa ukuthi kuyini okwamukelekayo eNkosini.” (Efesu 5:10) Ukuhlakanipha kokwenza lokhu kuboniswa izimo eziningi ezibikwa emiBhalweni.
12. Kungani uJehova acasuka lapho uDavide ethutha umphongolo wesivumelwano ewuyisa eJerusalema?
12 Ngemva kokuba umphongolo wesivumelwano usubuyiselwe kwa-Israyeli futhi usuhlale iminyaka eminingi eKiriyati-jeyarimi, iNkosi uDavide yafisa ukuwuyisa eJerusalema. Yabonisana nezinduna zabantu yayisithi uMphongolo wawuzothuthwa ‘uma kubonakala kukuhle kuzo futhi kwamukeleka kuJehova.’ Kodwa ayizange ifune ngokwanele ukuze ithole ukuthi yayiyini intando kaJehova kule ndaba. Ukube yenza kanjalo, uMphongolo wawungeke ukhwezwe enqoleni. Wawuyotshathwa amaLevi angamaKohati, njengoba uNkulunkulu ayesho ngokucacile. Nakuba uDavide ayevamile ukubuza kuJehova, kulokhu akakwenzanga ngendlela efanele. Umphumela waba inhlekelele. Kamuva uDavide wavuma: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu wafohla ngokumelene nathi, ngoba singazange simfune ngokuvumelana nenkambiso.”—1 IziKronike 13:1-3; 15:11-13; Numeri 4:4-6, 15; 7:1-9.
13. Ingoma eyahlatshelelwa lapho uMphongolo uthuthwa ngokuphumelelayo yayinasiphi isikhumbuzo?
13 Ekugcineni lapho uMphongolo uthuthwa amaLevi ewususa endlini ka-Obede-edomi ewuyisa eJerusalema, kwahlatshelelwa ingoma eyayiqanjwe uDavide. Yayinalesi sikhumbuzo esisuka ekujuleni kwenhliziyo: “Funani uJehova namandla akhe, bufuneni njalo ubuso bakhe. Khumbulani izenzo zakhe ezimangalisayo azenzile, izimangaliso zakhe nezinqumo zokwahlulela zomlomo wakhe.”—1 IziKronike 16:11, 12.
14. Yini esingayifunda esibonelweni esihle sikaSolomoni nasemaphutheni awenza esekhulile?
14 Ngaphambi kokuba afe, uDavide weluleka indodana yakhe uSolomoni wathi: “Uma umfuna [uJehova], uyozenza atholakale kuwe.” (1 IziKronike 28:9) Lapho ehlala esihlalweni sobukhosi, uSolomoni waya eGibheyoni, lapho kwakukhona khona itende lokuhlangana, wenzela uJehova umhlatshelo. Lapho, uJehova wathi kuSolomoni: “Cela! Ngikupheni?” Ephendula isicelo sikaSolomoni, uJehova wamnika ukuhlakanipha okukhulu nolwazi oluningi ukuze ahlulele u-Israyeli, ngaphezu kwalokho wanezela ingcebo nodumo. (2 IziKronike 1:3-12) Esebenzisa umklamo wokwakha uJehova ayewunikeze uDavide, uSolomoni wakha ithempeli elibabazekayo. Kodwa ngokuphathelene nezindaba zakhe zomshado, akazange amfune uJehova. USolomoni washada nabesifazane ababengamkhulekeli uJehova. Esekhulile, bayichezukisa inhliziyo yakhe kuJehova. (1 AmaKhosi 11:1-10) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibonakala sivelele futhi sihlakaniphe kangakanani, noma sinolwazi olungakanani, kubalulekile ukuba ‘siqhubeke siqinisekisa ukuthi kuyini okwamukelekayo eNkosini’!
15. Lapho uZera umTopiya ehlasela uJuda, kungani u-Asa akwazi ukuthandaza eqiniseka ukuthi uJehova wayeyomkhulula uJuda?
15 Isidingo salokhu sigcizelelwa ngokwengeziwe umlando wokubusa kuka-Asa, umzukulu kaSolomoni. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-11 u-Asa eyinkosi, uZera umTopiya wahola ibutho lamadoda ayisigidi wahlasela uJuda. Ingabe uJehova wayezomkhulula uJuda? Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-500 ngaphambili, uJehova wayesho ngokucacile ukuthi yini abantu bakhe ababengayilindela uma bemlalela futhi begcina imiyalo yakhe nokuthi yini ababengayilindela uma bengamlaleli. (Duteronomi 28:1, 7, 15, 25) Ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe, u-Asa wayewasusile ezweni lakhe ama-altare nezinsika okwakusetshenziswa ekukhulekeleni kwamanga. Wakhuthaza abantu ukuba ‘bafune uJehova.’ U-Asa akazange alinde aze abhekane nenhlekelele ngaphambi kokuba enze kanjalo. Ngakho enokholo kuJehova, u-Asa wakwazi ukuthandaza kuye acele ukuba abasize. Waba yini umphumela? UJuda wenziwa wanqoba ngendlela emangalisayo.—2 IziKronike 14:2-12.
16, 17. (a) Nakuba u-Asa anqoba, yini uJehova amkhumbuza yona? (b) Lapho u-Asa enza ngobuwula, wanikezwa luphi usizo, kodwa yena wenze njani? (c) Singazuza kanjani ngokucabanga ngokuziphatha kuka-Asa?
16 Noma kunjalo, lapho u-Asa ebuya enqobile, uJehova wathuma u-Azariya ukuba ahlangabeze inkosi athi: “O Asa naye wonke uJuda noBhenjamini, ngizweni! UJehova unani kuphela uma nina niba naye; uma nimfuna, uyozenza ukuba nimthole, kodwa uma nimshiya uyonishiya.” (2 IziKronike 15:2) Intshiseko yakhe ivuselelekile, u-Asa wakhuthaza ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Kodwa eminyakeni engu-24 kamuva, lapho ephinda ebhekana nempi, u-Asa akazange amfune uJehova. Akazange alibheke iZwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi akazange akukhumbule lokho uJehova ayekwenzile lapho amabutho aseTopiya ehlasele uJuda. Ngobuwula wakha umfelandawonye neSiriya.—2 IziKronike 16:1-6.
17 Ngenxa yalokho uJehova wenza ukuba uHanana umboni amsole u-Asa. U-Asa wayesengasizakala ngisho nangaleso sikhathi, lapho umbono kaJehova ngendaba uchazwa. Kunalokho, wacasuka wafaka uHanana esitokisini. (2 IziKronike 16:7-10) Kwaze kwakubi! Kuthiwani ngathi? Ingabe sinomuzwa wokuthi siyamfuna uNkulunkulu kodwa senqabe ukwamukela iseluleko? Lapho umdala okhathazekile nokhathalelayo esebenzisa iBhayibheli eseluleka ngoba sesibanjwa yizwe, ingabe siyakubonisa ukwazisa ngosizo lothando esilunikezwayo lokuba sazi ukuthi “kuyini okwamukelekayo eNkosini”?
Ungakhohlwa Ukubuza
18. Singazuza kanjani emazwini u-Elihu awasho kuJobe?
18 Ngisho nomuntu ozakhele umlando omuhle enkonzweni kaJehova angase ashiyeke lapho engaphansi kokucindezeleka. Lapho uJobe eshaywa ngesifo esibi, elahlekelwa abantwana nempahla yakhe, futhi abangane bakhe bemmangalela ngamanga, wazicabangela yena kuphela. U-Elihu wamkhumbuza: “Akukho muntu othé, ‘Uphi uNkulunkulu uMenzi wami Omkhulu?’” (Jobe 35:10) UJobe kwakudingeka aphinde agxilise ingqondo yakhe kuJehova, acabange ngendlela Yena asibheka ngayo isimo. UJobe wasamukela ngokuthobeka leso sikhumbuzo, futhi isibonelo sakhe singasisiza ukuba nathi senze okufanayo.
19. Yini abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababevame ukwehluleka ukuyenza?
19 Abantu bakwa-Israyeli babewazi umlando wokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nesizwe sabo. Kodwa kaningi abazange bawukhumbule lapho bebhekene nezimo ezithile ekuphileni kwabo. (Jeremiya 2:5, 6, 8) Lapho kufanele benze izinqumo ekuphileni, babephishekela injabulo esikhundleni sokubuza bathi, “Uphi uJehova?”—Isaya 5:11, 12.
Qhubeka Ubuza Uthi, “Uphi UJehova?”
20, 21. (a) Obani namuhla ababonise umoya ka-Elisha ngokufuna isiqondiso sikaJehova? (b) Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sabo sokholo futhi sizuze kanjani kuso?
20 Lapho inkonzo yasobala ka-Eliya iphela, inceku yakhe u-Elisha yathatha isembatho sakhe sabaprofethi esasiwe ku-Eliya, yaya eJordani, yashaya amanzi yabuza: “Uphi uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Eliya, yebo Yena?” (2 AmaKhosi 2:14) UJehova waphendula ngokubonisa ukuthi umoya wakhe manje wawusuku-Elisha. Yini esingayifunda kulokhu?
21 Kwenzeke into efanayo ezikhathini zanamuhla. AmaKristu athile agcotshiwe ayekade ehola emsebenzini wokushumayela afa. Labo ababe sebephathiswa umsebenzi wokwengamela bahlola imiBhalo bathandaza kuJehova befuna isiqondiso. Babengayeki ukubuza, “Uphi uJehova?” Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova uye waqhubeka ehola abantu bakhe futhi ewubusisa umsebenzi wabo. Ingabe siyalulingisa ukholo lwabo? (Hebheru 13:7) Uma kunjalo, siyohlala siseduze kwenhlangano kaJehova, silalele isiqondiso sayo, futhi sihlanganyele ngokugcwele emsebenzini ewenzayo iqondiswa uJesu Kristu.—Zakariya 8:23.
Ubungaphendula Uthini?
• Kufanele siwubuze nganjongoni umbuzo othi, “Uphi uJehova?”
• Namuhla singayithola kanjani impendulo yombuzo othi, “Uphi uJehova?”
• Kungani ingaphendulwa eminye imithandazo yokucela isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu?
• Iziphi izibonelo zeBhayibheli ezibonisa isidingo ‘sokuqhubeka siqinisekisa ukuthi kuyini okwamukelekayo eNkosini’?
[Isithombe ekhasini 9]
INkosi uJehoshafati yamfuna kanjani uJehova?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Kungani uSawule abuza esangomeni?
[Izithombe ekhasini 12]
Thandaza, utadishe futhi uzindle ukuze uthole ukuthi ‘ukuphi uJehova’