Izithunywa Zokuthula Kokuhlonipha UNkulunkulu Kuthiwa Ziyajabula
“Abahlengiweyo bakaJehova bayakubuya baye eSiyoni ngokwethaba, intokozo engunaphakade ibe-phezu kwamakhanda abo.”—ISAYA 35:10.
1. Yini izwe eliyidinga kakhulu?
NAMUHLA, kunanini ngaphambili, isintu sidinga isithunywa sezindaba ezinhle. Kunesidingo esiphuthumayo sokuba othile akhulume iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe, ufakazi onesibindi oyoxwayisa ababi ngembubhiso ezayo futhi asize abanhliziyo ziqotho bathole ukuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.
2, 3. Ngokuqondene no-Israyeli, uJehova wasigcwalisa kanjani isithembiso sakhe esilotshwe ku-Amose 3:7?
2 Ezinsukwini zika-Israyeli, uJehova wathembisa ukulungiselela izithunywa ezinjalo. Ekupheleni kwekhulu lesi-9 B.C.E., umprofethi u-Amose wathi: “INkosi uJehova ayenzi-lutho, ingayambulanga imfihlakalo yayo ezincekwini zayo abaprofethi.” (Amose 3:7) Emakhulwini eminyaka alandela lesi simemezelo, uJehova wenza izenzo eziningi zamandla. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-607 B.C.E., wabajezisa kanzima abantu bakhe abakhethiwe ngoba babehlubuka futhi benecala legazi. Wajezisa nezizwe ezaziseduze ezazijabula ngenxa yokuhlupheka kuka-Israyeli. (UJeremiya, izahluko 46-49) Kwathi ngo-539 B.C.E., uJehova wawisa umbuso wezwe onamandla waseBabiloni, kwaphumela ekutheni ngo-537 B.C.E., insali ka-Israyeli ibuyele ezweni layo iyokwakha kabusha ithempeli.—2 IziKronike 36:22, 23.
3 Lezi kwakuyizenzakalo ezinyakazisa umhlaba, futhi ngokuvumelana namazwi ka-Amose, uJehova wazembula kusengaphambili kubaprofethi ababekhonza njengezithunywa, bexwayisa u-Israyeli ngalokho okwakuzokuza. Maphakathi nekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E., waphakamisa u-Isaya. Maphakathi nekhulu lesi-7 B.C.E., waphakamisa uJeremiya. Kwathi ngasekupheleni kwalelo khulu leminyaka, waphakamisa uHezekeli. Laba, kanye nabanye abaprofethi abathembekile banikeza ubufakazi obungashwampuluzi ngezinjongo zikaJehova.
Ukubona Izithunywa ZikaNkulunkulu Namuhla
4. Yini ebonisa ukuthi isintu sidinga izithunywa zokuthula?
4 Kuthiwani namuhla? Abaningi emhlabeni baba nomuzwa wokwesaba lapho bebona ukuwohloka komphakathi wesintu. Labo abathanda ukulunga bayadabuka lapho bebona ubuzenzisi nokonakala okusobala kweLobukholwa. Njengoba uJehova abikezela ngoHezekeli, ‘babubula bekhala ngazo zonke izinengiso ezenziwa phakathi kwalo.’ (Hezekeli 9:4) Nokho, abaningi abazi ukuthi ziyini izinjongo zikaJehova. Kudingeka batshelwe.
5. UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi kwakuzokuba nezithunywa osukwini lwethu?
5 Ukhona yini namuhla okhuluma ngesibindi esinjengesika-Isaya, uJeremiya noHezekeli? UJesu wabonisa ukuthi wayezokuba khona. Lapho ebikezela izenzakalo zosuku lwethu, wathi: “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” (Mathewu 24:14) Ubani ogcwalisa leso siprofetho namuhla, okhonza njengesithunywa, umshumayeli wezindaba ezinhle? Ukufana phakathi kosuku lwethu nesikhathi sika-Israyeli wasendulo kuyasisiza ukuba siphendule lowo mbuzo.
6. (a) Chaza lokho “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” abhekana nakho phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala. (b) UHezekeli 11:17 wagcwaliseka kanjani ku-Israyeli wasendulo?
6 Phakathi nezinsuku ezinzima zeMpi Yezwe I, abantu bakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla, insali “ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” ogcotshiwe, baya ekuthunjweni okufana nokuka-Israyeli eBabiloni. (Galathiya 6:16) Baba sekuthunjweni okungokomoya eBabiloni Elikhulu, inhlanganisela yomhlaba yezinkolo zamanga, eLobukholwa elingelivelele nelinecala kakhulu kulo. Noma kunjalo, amazwi kaJehova kuHezekeli abonisa ukuthi babengalahliwe. Wathi: “Ngiyakunibutha ezizweni, nginiqoqe emazweni enihlakazekelwe kuwo, ngininike izwe lakwaIsrayeli.” (Hezekeli 11:17) Ukuze agcwalise leso sithembiso ku-Israyeli wasendulo, uJehova waphakamisa uKoresi wasePheresiya, owagumbuqela uMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni futhi wavulela insali ka-Israyeli indlela yokuphindela ezweni layo. Kodwa kuthiwani namuhla?
7. Yisiphi isenzakalo ngo-1919 esabonisa ukuthi uJesu wayelithathele isinyathelo iBabiloni Elikhulu? Chaza.
7 Ekuqaleni kwaleli khulu leminyaka, kwakunobufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uKoresi Omkhulu wayesebenza. Wayengubani? Akekho omunye ngaphandle kukaJesu Kristu, owabekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi kusukela ngo-1914 eMbusweni wasezulwini. LeNkosi enkulu yabonisa umusa kubafowabo abagcotshiwe emhlabeni, lapho, ngonyaka ka-1919, amaKristu agcotshiwe ekhululwa ekuthunjweni okungokomoya futhi ephindela ‘ezweni’ lawo, isimo sawo esingokomoya. (Isaya 66:8; IsAmbulo 18:4) Ngaleyo ndlela uHezekeli 11:17 waba nokugcwaliseka kosuku lwanamuhla. Ezikhathini zasendulo kwadingeka kuwe iBabiloni ukuze kuvuleke indlela yokuba ama-Israyeli aphindele ezweni lawo. Osukwini lwanamuhla ukubuyiselwa kuka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu kwakuwubufakazi bokuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu liwile ezandleni zikaKoresi Omkhulu. Lokhu kuwa kwamenyezelwa ingelosi yesibili yesAmbulo isahluko 14, lapho imemeza: “IBabiloni Elikhulu liwile, lona elenza ukuba zonke izizwe ziphuze iwayini lentukuthelo yobufebe balo!” (IsAmbulo 14:8) Yeka ushintsho ngeBabiloni Elikhulu, ikakhulukazi eLobukholwa! Yeka isibusiso kumaKristu eqiniso!
8. Incwadi kaHezekeli iyichaza kanjani injabulo yabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngemva kokukhululwa kwabo ngo-1919?
8 KuHezekeli 11:18-20, sifunda incazelo yomprofethi ngenjabulo yabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngemva kokubuyiselwa kwabo. Ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kwamazwi akhe kwasho ukuhlanzwa kuka-Israyeli ngezinsuku zika-Ezra noNehemiya. Ukugcwaliseka kosuku lwanamuhla kwasho okufanayo. Ake sibone ukuthi kanjani. UJehova uthi: “Bayakufika khona [ezweni labo], basuse lapho konke okuzondekayo kwalo nazo zonke izinengiso zalo.” Njengoba kwaprofethwa, kusukela ngo-1919, uJehova wahlanza abantu bakhe futhi wabanika amandla amasha ukuze bamkhonze. Baqala ukususa endaweni yabo engokomoya yonke imikhuba yobuBabiloni nezimfundiso ezazibenza abangcolile emehlweni akhe.
9. Yiziphi izibusiso eziphawulekayo uJehova azinika abantu bakhe kusukela ngo-1919?
9 Khona-ke, ngokwevesi 19, uJehova uyaqhubeka athi: “Ngiyakubanika inhliziyo ibenye, ngibeke umoya omusha phakathi kwabo, ngikhiphe inhliziyo yetshe enyameni yabo, ngibanike inhliziyo yenyama.” Ngokuvumelana nalamazwi, ngo-1919, uJehova wahlanganisa izinceku zakhe ezigcotshiwe, wazinikeza ‘inhliziyo eyodwa’ ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ukuze zimkhonze “nganhliziyonye.” (Zefaniya 3:9) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova wanikeza abantu bakhe umoya ongcwele ukuze ubanike amandla emsebenzini wokufakaza futhi uveze kubo izithelo ezinhle ezichazwe kweyabaseGalathiya 5:22, 23. Futhi esikhundleni senhliziyo elukhuni satshe, engasabeli, uJehova wabanika inhliziyo ethambile, evumayo, elalelayo, inhliziyo eyayizosabela entandweni yakhe.
10. Kungani uJehova eye wabusisa abantu bakhe ababuyiselwe kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke?
10 Wakwenzelani lokhu? UJehova ngokwakhe uyachaza. KuHezekeli 11:20, siyafunda: “Ukuba bahambe ngezimiso zami, bagcine izahlulelo zami, bazenze, babe-ngabantu bami, mina ngibe-nguNkulunkulu wabo.” U-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu wafunda ukulalela umthetho kaJehova kunokulandela imibono yakhe siqu. Wafunda ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokwesaba umuntu. Ngaleyo ndlela, wahluka ngendlela evelele kumaKristu okuzisholo eLobukholwa. Wayengabantu bakaJehova. Njengonjalo, uJehova wayekulungele ukumsebenzisa njengesithunywa sakhe, ‘isigqila sakhe esikholekile nesiqondayo.’—Mathewu 24:45-47.
Injabulo Yezithunywa ZikaNkulunkulu
11. Incwadi ka-Isaya iyichaza kanjani injabulo yabantu bakaJehova?
11 Ungayibona injabulo ababa nayo lapho beqaphela ukuthi babesesikhundleni esiyilungelo kanjani? Njengeqembu, bananela amazwi ka-Isaya 61:10: “Ngiyathokoza nokuthokoza ngoJehova, umphefumulo wami wenama ngoNkulunkulu wami.” Isithembiso sika-Isaya 35:10 sagcwaliseka kubo: “Abahlengiweyo bakaJehova bayakubuya baye eSiyoni ngokwethaba, intokozo engunaphakade ibe-phezu kwamakhanda abo; bayakuthola ukujabula nokuthokoza, kubaleke usizi nokububula.” Yayinjalo injabulo yezithunywa zikaJehova zokuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu emuva ngo-1919 njengoba zaziqala ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuso sonke isintu. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuze kube manje, aziyekanga ukwenza lomsebenzi, futhi injabulo yazo iye yanda. ENtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, uJesu wathi: “Bayajabula abaletha ukuthula, ngoba bayobizwa ngokuthi ‘amadodana kaNkulunkulu.’” (Mathewu 5:9, umbhalo waphansi we-NW) Insali egcotshiwe ‘yamadodana kaNkulunkulu,’ iye yakubona ukuba yiqiniso kwaleso simemezelo kusukela ngo-1919 kuze kube namuhla.
12, 13. (a) Obani abahlanganyela no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ekukhonzeni uJehova, futhi yimuphi umsebenzi abawenza? (b) Izinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe ziye zaba nayiphi injabulo enkulu?
12 Njengoba iminyaka idlula, inani lika-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu landa kwaze kwaba ngawo-1930 lapho ukubuthwa kwabasele babagcotshiwe kusondela ekupheleni. Ingabe ukwanda kwenani labashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle kwabe sekuma? Lutho neze. Isixuku esikhulu samaKristu anethemba lasemhlabeni sase siqalile kakade ukuvela, futhi sasihlanganyela nabafowabo abagcotshiwe emsebenzini wokushumayela. Umphostoli uJohane wabona lesi sixuku esikhulu embonweni, futhi iyaphawuleka indlela asichaza ngayo: ‘Baphambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu; futhi banikela inkonzo engcwele kuye imini nobusuku.’ (IsAmbulo 7:15) Yebo, isixuku esikhulu saba matasa sikhonza uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, lapho inani labagcotshiwe liqala ukuncipha, ngemva kuka-1935, umsebenzi wokufakaza waqhutshwa yilaba bangane abathembekile ngomfutho owengeziwe.
13 Ngalendlela, u-Isaya 60:3, 4 wagcwaliseka: “Izizwe ziyakuhamba ekukhanyeni kwakho, namakhosi ekukhazimuleni kokuphuma kwakho. Phakamisa amehlo akho nxazonke, ubone; babuthana bonke, beza kuwe; amadodana akho ayakuvela kude, namadodakazi akho ayakuphathwa ngezingalo.” Injabulo eyalethwa yilezi zenzakalo ku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ichazwe kahle ku-Isaya 60:5, lapho sifunda khona ukuthi: “Khona uyakubona, ukhazimule; inhliziyo yakho iyakugquma, yanuleke, ngokuba ingcebo yolwandle iyakuphendulelwa kuwe, nemfuyo yezizwe iyakuza kuwe.”
Inhlangano KaJehova Iyaqhubeka
14. (a) Yimuphi umbono wezinto zasezulwini uHezekeli awubona, futhi wathola muphi umyalo? (b) Ezikhathini zanamuhla yini abantu bakaJehova abayibonayo, futhi bazizwa benasiphi isibopho?
14 Ngo-613 B.C.E., uHezekeli wabona embonweni inhlangano kaJehova engokwasezulwini, enjengenqola, iqhubeka. (Hezekeli 1:4-28) Kamuva, uJehova wathi kuye: “Ndodana yomuntu, hamba uye endlini yakwaIsrayeli, ukhulume kuyo ngamazwi ami.” (Hezekeli 3:4) Kulonyaka ka-1997, siyabona ukuthi inhlangano kaJehova engokwasezulwini isaqhubeka ngokungenakuvinjwa ukuze ifeze izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, sisazizwa siphoqelekile ukutshela abanye ngalezo zinjongo. Ngosuku lwakhe, uHezekeli wakhuluma amazwi ayephefumulelwe uJehova ngokuqondile. Namuhla, sikhuluma amazwi avela eZwini likaJehova eliphefumulelwe, iBhayibheli. Futhi yeka isigijimi leyo ncwadi esiqukethele isintu! Njengoba abaningi bekhathazekile ngekusasa, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi izinto zimbi kakhulu—futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo, zingcono kakhulu—kunalokho abakucabangayo.
15. Kungani izimo zizimbi kakhulu kunalokho abaningi abakucabangayo namuhla?
15 Izinto zimbi kakhulu, ngoba, njengoba sifundile ezihlokweni ezandulele, maduze nje eLobukholwa nazo zonke izinkolo zamanga kuzobhujiswa ngokuphelele njengeJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isimiso sezombangazwe sembulunga yonke, esifanekiselwa isilo sasendle esinamakhanda angu-7 nezimpondo eziyishumi encwadini yesAmbulo, sezizosuswa, njengoba kwaba njalo ngomakhelwane beJerusalema abangamaqaba. (IsAmbulo 13:1, 2; 19:19-21) Osukwini lukaHezekeli uJehova wakuchaza ngokucacile ukwesaba okwakubangelwa ukusondela kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema. Kodwa amazwi akhe ayokusho okwengeziwe lapho abantu bebona ukubhujiswa okuseduze kwalelizwe. UJehova wathi kuHezekeli: “Kepha wena-ndodana yomuntu, bubula, ububule ngomunyu emehlweni abo ngokwaphuka kokhalo lwakho. Kuyakuthi lapho besho kuwe ukuthi: Ububulelani wena na? uthi: Ngenxa yombiko, ngokuba lapho ufika, izinhliziyo zonke ziyakuphela amandla, izandla zonke zidangale, kuhlwe emimoyeni yonke, amadolo onke abe-buthakathaka njengamanzi; bheka, kuyeza, futhi kuyakwenzeka, isho iNkosi uJehova.” (Hezekeli 21:6, 7; Mathewu 24:30) Izenzakalo ezesabekayo ziseduze. Ukubakhathalela kwethu okujulile abantu esiphila nabo kusishukumisela ukuba sikhiphe isixwayiso, sibatshele ‘ngombiko’ wentukuthelo kaJehova ezayo.
16. Kwabathobekileyo, kungani izimo zingcono kunalokho abaningi abakucabangayo?
16 Ngesikhathi esifanayo, kwabathobekileyo izinto zingcono kakhulu kunokucatshangwa abaningi. Ngayiphi indlela? Ngokuthi uJesu Kristu wafela izono zethu futhi manje uyabusa njengeNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (1 Thimothewu 1:15; IsAmbulo 11:15) Izinkinga zesintu ezibonakala zingenakuxazululeka, maduze nje zizonqotshwa ngalowo Mbuso wasezulwini. Ukufa, ukugula, ukonakala, indlala nobugebengu kuyoba izinto zesikhathi esidlule, futhi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyobusa ngokungaphikiswa phezu komhlaba oyipharadesi. (IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Isintu siyojabulela ukuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu—ubuhlobo obunokuthula noJehova uNkulunkulu nomunye nomunye.—IHubo 72:7.
17. Yikuphi ukwanda okuletha injabulo ezinhliziyweni zezithunywa zokuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu?
17 Kwezinye izingxenye zomhlaba, izixuku ezinkulu ngokumangalisayo zabathobekile ziyasabela kulesi sigijimi sokuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Uma siphawula izibonelo ezimbalwa nje, ngonyaka odlule i-Ukraine yabika ukwanda kwabamemezeli ngamaphesenti angu-17. IMozambique yabika ukwanda ngamaphesenti angu-17, iLithuania ukwanda ngamaphesenti angu-29. IRussia yaba nokwanda ngamaphesenti angu-31, kanti i-Albania yaba nokwanda kwabamemezeli ngamaphesenti angu-52. Lokhu kwanda kumelela amashumi ezinkulungwane zabantu abanhliziyo ziqotho abafuna ukujabulela ukuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu nabaye bamelela ukulunga. Ukwanda okushesha kanjalo kuletha injabulo kubo bonke ubuzalwane bobuKristu.
18. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu bayalalela noma cha, siyoba yini isimo sethu sengqondo?
18 Ingabe abantu basabela ngokushesha kanjalo lapho uhlala khona? Uma kunjalo, sijabula kanye nawe. Nokho, kwamanye amasimu kuthatha amahora amaningi kakhulu okuzikhandla ngaphambi kokuba kutholakale ngisho nomuntu oyedwa onesithakazelo. Ingabe labo abakhonza emasimini anjalo bayadebesela noma baphelelwe ithemba? Cha. OFakazi BakaJehova bakhumbula amazwi kaNkulunkulu kuHezekeli lapho ethuma lomprofethi osemusha okokuqala ukuba ayoshumayela kumaJuda akubo: “Bona-ke, noma bezwa noma benganaki, ngokuba bayindlu ehlubukayo, bayakwazi nokho ukuthi kade ekhona umprofethi phakathi kwabo.” (Hezekeli 2:5) NjengoHezekeli, siyaqhubeka sitshela abantu ngokuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bayasabela noma cha. Uma belalela, siyajabula. Uma besifulathela, besiklolodela, besishushisa nokusishushisa, siyabekezela. Siyamthanda uJehova, futhi iBhayibheli lithi: “Uthando . . . lukhuthazelela zonke izinto.” (1 Korinte 13:4, 7) Ngenxa yokuthi sishumayela ngokukhuthazela, abantu bayazi ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bangobani. Bayasazi isigijimi sethu. Lapho isiphelo sifika, bayokwazi ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bazama ukubasiza ukuba bajabulele ukuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.
19. Njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso, yiliphi ilungelo elikhulu esilazisayo?
19 Ingabe likhona ilungelo elidlula ukukhonza uJehova? Cha! Injabulo yethu enkulu kakhulu ivela ebuhlotsheni bethu noNkulunkulu nasekwazini ukuthi senza intando yakhe. “[Siyajabula] isizwe esikwazi ukuhlabelela ngenjabulo; siyahamba, Jehova, ekukhanyeni kobuso bakho.” (IHubo 89:15) Kwangathi singayazisa njalo injabulo yokuba izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu zokuthula esintwini. Kwangathi singayifeza ngenkuthalo ingxenye yethu kulomsebenzi kuze kube yilapho uJehova ethi ufeziwe.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Obani abayizithunywa zikaNkulunkulu zokuthula namuhla?
◻ Sazi kanjani ukuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu lawa ngo-1919?
◻ Kuyini ukukhathalela okuyinhloko ‘kwesixuku esikhulu’?
◻ Kungani ikusasa lingenathemba kunalokho abaningi abakucabangayo namuhla?
◻ Kwabanhliziyo ziqotho, kungani ikusasa lingaba ngcono kunalokho abakucabangayo?
[Izithombe ekhasini 21]
Lapho bebona ukuwohloka komphakathi wesintu, abaningi baba nomuzwa wokwesaba
[Izithombe ekhasini 23]
Izithunywa zokuthula kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu zingabantu abajabula ngaphezu kwabo bonke emhlabeni namuhla