Ukukhonza UJehova “Nganhliziyonye”
“Ngiyakunika abantu izindebe ezihlanzekileyo, ukuze bonke babize igama likaJehova, bamkhonze nganhliziyonye.”—Zef. 3:9.
1. Yikuphi ukuqiniseka esinakho maqondana nezwi likaJehova lesiprofetho?
IZWI lesiprofetho sikaJehova ngaso sonke isikhathi ligcwaliseka ngokungenzi phutha. Yena ngokwakhe uyasitshela: “Liyakuba-njalo izwi lami eliphuma emlonyeni wami: aliyikubuyela-ze kimi, lingakafezi lokho engikufunayo, liphumelele kulokho engilithumele kukho.” (Isaya 55:11) Kuye kwaba ngaleyondlela emininingwaneni eminingi ngesiprofetho esikhulu sikaZefaniya.
2. (a) Imaphi amaqembu ezizwe okubhekiselwe kuwo kuZefaniya 2:4-8? (b) Ukuvakashela lamazwe namuhla kungakuqinisekisa kanjani ukuba yiqiniso kwesiprofetho?
2 Ngokwesibonelo, uZefaniya uloba, amazwi kaJehova okubhubhisa imizi yaseFilistiya, isizwe samaKhereti, izwe lamaFilisti elakwaMowabi nelakwa-Amoni. (Zef. 2:4-8) Zonke lezoziprofetho zagcwaliseka ngokuphawulekayo phakathi namakhulu eminyaka alandela. Namuhla, sikuphi isizwe samaFilisti, nemizi yaso, futhi akuphi amaKhereti ayezimele? Akusekho. Kuthiwani ngoMowabi no-Amoni? Isiprofetho sithi:
“Ngalokho, kuphila kwami, usho uJehova-Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, uthi: Impela uMowabi uyakuba-njengeSodoma, nabantwana bakwa-Amoni njengeGomora, izwe lezimbabazane nelemigodi kasawoti nencithakalo yaphakade.” (Zef. 2:9)
Uma uhamba namuhla udabula amazwe aseJordani lapho izizwe eziqhoshayo sakwaMowabi nesakwa-Amoni zake zachuma khona, utholani? Incithakalo—njengoba uJehova abikezela! Umlando ubonisa ukuthi ne-Ethiopia, kanye neGibithe, kwanqotshwa ezandleni zabathumbi baseBabiloni.—Zef. 2:12.
“INCITHAKALO ESABISAYO”
3, 4. (a) Ayethini amazwi kaJehova maqondana neAsiriya neNineve? (b) Kungani lokhu kwakungabonakala kungenakwenzeka? (c) Buyini ubufakazi maqondana nokugcwaliseka okuvelele kwesiprofetho?
3 Okwesabisa kakhulu ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaJehova maqondana neAsiriya neNineve. UZefaniya waprofetha lapho inhlokodolobha eqhoshayo yeAsiriya, iNineve igcwele udumo, cishe eminyakeni eyi-15 ngaphambi kokuba lesosizwe sehliswe esikhundleni saso njengombuso wezwe wesibili womlando weBhayibheli. Ubani owayengacabangela into enjalo? Kodwa uJehova wayemelene nonobuzwe “umuzi wezingazi.” (Nah. 3:1, 5) NgoZefaniya wakhuluma ngokulungisa izindaba nawo ethi:
“Uyakwelulela isandla sakhe ngasenyakatho, achithe iAsiriya, alenze iNineve libe-yincithakalo, lome njengehlane. . . . Yiwo umuzi owajabula wahlala ulondekile, owathi enhliziyweni yawo: Mina ngikhona, akakho omunye; yeka ukuphenduka kwawo incithakalo nendawo yokubuthisa kwezilwane! Bonke abadlula kuwo bayakuncimfa, banikine isandla sabo.”—Zef. 2:13-15.
4 ‘Akunakwenzeka!’ abantu balolosuku kumelwe ukuba basho kanjalo. Nokho sona kanye lesosizukulwane sakubona! Ngo-632 B.C.E. uNabopolasari waseBabiloni noSikzarusi umMede bahlasela futhi banqoba iNineve. Umlando ngeBabiloni uyasitshela: “Impango eningi yomuzi nethempeli bakuthatha futhi umuzi bawenza incithakalo.” Ngakho ukuchithwa kweNineve kwakuphelele kangangokuba indawo elalakhe kuyo ayaziwanga amakhulu amaningi eminyaka. Ngawo-1800 yabuye yabonwa, futhi umtapo odumile wezincwadi ka-Ashurbanipal II wavunjululwa. Kodwa kuze kube nanamuhla indawo isewugwadule olungenalutho lapho imihlambi ngezinye izikhathi iphumula khona. Yeka indlela amazwi kaJehova esiprofetho agcwaliseka ngokuqondile ngayo!
5. Isiphi isigijimi esinamandla lesiprofetho esisiphathele usuku lwethu?
5 Nokho ngokubaluleke kakhulu, lowomlando ongokwesiprofetho, uphethe isigijimi sanamuhla. Usebenza ‘njengesixwayiso kithi osekufikile ukugcina kwezikhathi.’ (1 Kor. 10:11, 12; Roma 15:4; 2 Thim. 3:16, 17) Usikhuthaza ukuba sigweme ukuqhosha, ukuzitika ekufuneni injabulo, ukucabanga kakhulu ngezinto ezibonakalayo nezimo zonya ezaletha isahlulelo sikaJehova phezu kwalezozizwe. Futhi, kumelwe sikhumbule ukuthi lezoziprofetho zisebenza kakhulu namuhla, nokuthi umvuthwandaba wokugcwaliseka kwazo usondela ngokushesha. Akungenxa nje yombhalo ongokomlando ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, uye wazigcina kuze kube namuhla. Lezozizwe zasendulo zinokuthile okuzifanekiselayo namuhla, ikakhulukazi imibuso efana neAsiriya elalinamabutho ezombangazwe ayeqhosha ngamandla awo ezempi. UJehova ngokuqinisekile uyoziphindiselela kwabanjalo abamelene nombuso wakhe.—Nah. 1:2; Zef. 1:2, 9.
“WO . . . MUZI OCINDEZELAYO!”
6. Imuphi umbuzo obuzwayo manje, futhi kungani ufanelekile?
6 Abanamuhla ohulumeni bobushiqela, nabangozwi-lakhe bafana ncimiji neNineve elinonya loMbuso onamandla waseAsiriya. Nokho uJehova ukwenza kube sobala ukuthi kukhona ingxenye yesimiso sezinto sezwe lanamuhla enyanyeka ngisho nangokwengeziwe phambi kwakhe. Yini leyo?
7. (a) Imuphi “umuzi ocindezelayo” ofana neJerusalema lasendulo, futhi ngaziphi izindlela? (b) Usinqabe kanjani isiyalo?
7 Yileyongxenye yezwe ethi ingabantu bakaNkulunkulu, njengoba nje noJuda neJerusalema babesho kanjalo osukwini lukaZefaniya. Izisholo ukuba “amaKristu,” futhi ngokuvamile yaziwa njenge“Lobukholwa.” Kodwa abefundisi balo baye bazihlubuka izimfundiso ezimsulwa zeZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli, futhi izizwe zalo nabantu baye bahlubuka ekulandeleni izindinganiso ezinhle zokuziphatha ezibekwe kuleloZwi. Ngakho-ke, uZefaniya manje ukhuluma ngokumelene nalowo“muzi” owedelela uNkulunkulu, ethi:
“Wo kohlubukileyo nongcolileyo, muzi ocindezelayo! Awuzwa-zwi, awamukeli ukulaywa, awumethembi uJehova, awusondelanga kuNkulunkulu wawo.”
UJehova uye wathumela oFakazi bakhe kulo lonke eLobukholwa, emadolobheni alo namadolobhana, endlini ngendlu. “Ubusuku nemini,” baye bamemezela izahlulelo zakhe. “Emini,” izimfuneko zakhe ziye zenziwa zaba sobala. Kodwa abaholi beLobukholwa nabefundisi baye badelela futhi bangaba namahloni ekumelaneni kwabo nalezithunywa zikaJehova olungile nombuso wakhe.—Zef. 3:1-5.
8, 9. (a) Isiphi isimemezelo uJehova ngokwakhe asenzayo manje? (b) Ukusebenza kwaso kwenabe kangakanani? (c) Kungani kumelwe sibonge ngenxa yalokho?
8 Ekusekeleni abantu bayo, iNkosi enkulu uJehova manje ikhipha isimemezelo sembubhiso, isenabisela ekubeni sihlanganise zonke izizwe, futhi ‘sifinyelele umvuthwandaba’ ngalamazwi:
“Ngalokho, ngilindeni, usho uJehova, kuze-kube lusuku engivuka ngalo ukuba ngiphange, ngokuba kuyisinqumo sami ukubutha izizwe ukuba ngiqoqe imibuso, ukuze ngithulule phezu kwabo ¡ntukuthelo yami, lonke ulaka lwami oluvuthayo, ngokuba wonke umhlaba uyakudliwa ngumlilo womhawu wami.”—Zef. 3:6-8.
9 Ngakho-ke ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaJehova akupheleli ekuchithweni kweLobukholwa, elinkolo yalo kumelwe ibhujiswe kanye nawo wonke umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, ochazwe eBhayibhelini njenge“BABILONI ELIKHULU.” (IsAm. 18:2-4) Usuku ‘lolaka lwakhe oluvuthayo’ nolo‘mlilo wentshiseko yakhe’ luyosusa bonke ububi emhlabeni. (Bheka futhi uIsaya 34:2-8; Jeremiya 25:32, 33.) Yeka indlela okumelwe sibonge ngayo ngokuthi lolusizi olukhulu kakhulu olungakaze lube-khona luyoba olokugcina, ngokobufakazi bukaJesu obukuMathewu 24:21! Luyobe lufeze injongo kaJehova ‘ekuletheni imbubhiso ephelele,’ njengaleyo yeNineve lasendulo. “Ukuhlupheka akuyikuvela ngokwesibili.”—Nah. 1:9; Dan. 12:1; IsAm. 19:11-21.
INDLELA YOKUSINDA
10. Yiluphi ‘ulimi olungahlanzekile’ manje olukhulunywa ezweni?
10 Ingabe ikhona indlela yokusinda phakathi nalolusizi lwezwe? Yebo ikhona! Emazwini alandelayo esiprofetho, uJehova uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ubonisa ukuthi leyondlela iyini. Uthi:
“Ngokuba lapho ngiyakunika abantu izindebe ezihlanzekileyo, ukuze bonke babize igama likaJehova, bamkhonze nganhliziyonye.” (Zef. 3:9)
Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yiluphi ulimi lwesizwe kweziyikhulu ezingase zilusebenzise, izizwe zezwe zikhuluma amanga “ngolimi” olunyanyekayo kuJehova. Esikhundleni sombuso kaNkulunkulu, ziphakamisa izimiso zazo siqu zobuzwe, zizama ukusebenzisa iU.N. ehlukene ngenxa yezinjongo zobugovu ezingokombangazwe. Zenqaba umbuso kaJehova ngoKristu Jesu.
11. (a) Yiluphi “ulimi oluhlanzekile” oluzwakala namuhla? (b) Lusakazeke kangakanani lolu“limi” olukhulunywayo? (c) Labo abalukhulumayo ‘babiza kanjani egameni likaJehova,’ namuphi umphumela?
11 Khona-ke, kuyini lokho kushintshela ‘olimini oluhlanzekile’? Kuwukushintshela esigijimini seqiniso, “izindaba ezinhle” eziqabulayo, “isibonelo samazwi aphilayo,” adumisa uJehova nezinjongo zakhe ezilungileyo ngoKristu Jesu. (2 Thim. 1:13) Lolu‘limi oluhlanzekileyo’ luyabahlanganisa. Futhi lufakazela ukuthi, onyakeni ka-1914 ophawula ukuqala kwenkathi entsha, “umbuso wezwe usungoweNkosi yethu nokaKristu wayo; iyakubusa kuze kube phakade naphakade.” (IsAm. 11:15) Njengoba ephethe lesisigijimi ngezindebe zawo, amaKristu eqiniso ezweni lonke “abiza egameni likaJehova,” ngokuzinikezela, nangobunye enikeza kuye “inkonzo engcwele.” Njengabantu okuwukuphela kwabo abahlangene ngempela emhlabeni, baya emakhaya abantu, bememezela “izindaba ezinhle” zombuso kaJehova omisiwe. Ngakho-ke bakhonza uJehova “nganhliziyonye.” (Math. 24:14; Roma 12:1) Ingabe ungomunye oye wazehlukanisa nezwe, ukuze ukhonze uNkulunkulu ngentshiseko ekuzinikezeleni kuYe? Kungokusebenza kanjalo nabantu bakaJehova abahlelekile ukuthi ‘ungase usindiswe.’—Joweli 2:32; bheka futhi uHoseya 14:1, 2; Heb. 13:15.
12, 13. (a) Iziphi izinkinga ezingase zihileleke ekufundeni ‘lololimi’? (b) Kungani ukuthobeka kudingeka ekukhonzeni “nganhliziyonye”? (c) Singayihlakulela kanjani imfanelo yokuthobeka?
12 ‘Ukushintshela olimini oluhlanzekileyo’ kuye kwaba nzima ukuba abathile bakwenze. Akulula ukuphuma kulelizwe, ezindleleni zalo ezilula neziyekelelayo, wenze ukuzinikezela okudingekayo ‘kokubiza egameni likaJehova.’ Kuye kwadinga ukulahla kwethu imicabango emibi, imikhuba emibi nezindlela zokuphila zobugovu nezimbi, ukuze sivumelane nezindinganiso ezihlanzekile neziphilisayo zabantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Efe. 4:17, 18, 29; 1 Pet. 4:3) Kuye kwadinga ukuqaphela ngokufanelekile inhlangano eyodwa uJehova ayisebenzisayo emhlabeni namuhla, futhi nalokhu ngokuhlanganyela ‘nenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Kuye kwadinga ukuthobeka ‘ekuhloleni ngokunakekela’ iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngosizo lwezincwadi zaleyo“nceku,” ukuze siqinise ukholo lwethu.—Math. 24:45; IzE. 17:11.
13 Ekukhonzeni uJehova ‘nganhliziyonye,’ sidinga, njengoba uZefaniya egcizelela ngokuphindaphinda, ukuhlakulela imfanelo yokuthobeka. Lapho senza amaphutha, njengoba bonke abantu abangaphelele bewenza, masilungele ukuwavuma, ngisho njengoba nje “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” eyenziwa abantu abangaphelele, kuye kwafuneka yenze ukulungisa okuthile. Nokho, masingayigxeki neze indikimba enhle kakhulu yeqiniso uJehova aye wayakha phakathi kwabantu bakhe ababumbene eminyakeni eyikhulu edlule, naleyo ngokulungisa okuthile eye yakhanyisa ngisho nangokwengeziwe “umkhondo wabalungileyo.”—IzAga 4:18.
14. (a) Isiphi isimo esimelene nokuthobeka, futhi siboniswa kanjani? (b) Labo abaqhoshayo baqhubeka kanjani, futhi iziphi izixwayiso okumelwe sizilalele? (c) Kukuphi lapho siyothola ‘kungantuleki lutho’ khona?
14 Ezikhathini ezithile, kuye kwaphakama phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova, labo, njengoSathane wakuqala abaye bamukela isimo sokuzibusa nesokufuna amaphutha. Abafuni ukukhonza “nganhliziyonye” nabazalwane bezwe lonke. (Qhathanisa nabase-Efesu 2:19-22.) Kunalokho, “baphekula ihlombe” emazwini kaJehova. (Zak. 7:11, 12) Lapho bethuka isibonelo ‘solimi oluhlanzekile’ lolo uJehova aye walufundisa ngomusa abantu bakhe emakhulwini eminyaka edlule, labantu abaqhoshayo bazama ukukhipha “izimvu” ‘emhlambini’ owodwa wezwe lonke lowo uJesu aye wawuhlanganisa emhlabeni. (Joh. 10:7-10, 16) Bazama ukutshala ukungabaza nokwahlukanisa abantu abangasoli lutho “etafuleni” lenala yokudla okungokomoya okwabiwa emaHolo oMbuso oFakazi BakaJehova, lapho kungantuleki lutho ‘ngempela.’ (AmaH. 23:1-6) Bathi kwanele ukufunda iBhayibheli lilodwa, bebodwa, noma namaqembu amancane ekhaya. Kodwa, okumangalisayo, ngokunjalo ukufunda iBhayibheli, baye bahlehlela emuva ezimfundisweni zokuhlubuka lezo izincwadi zabefundisi beLobukholwa ezazizifundisa emakhulwini eminyaka adlule, futhi abanye baye ngisho babuyela ekugubheni imikhosi yeLobukholwa, enjengeSaturnalia yamaRoma kaDecember 25! UJesu nabaphostoli bakhe baxwayisa ngabantu abanjalo abangenamthetho.—Math. 24:11-13; IzE. 20:28-30; 2 Pet. 2:1, 22.
15. (a) UJehova usithatha kanjani isinyathelo maqondana ‘nabaqhoshayo’? (b) ‘Abantu abathobekile nabampofu’ babonakala kanjani? (c) Ikuphi ukuqinisekisa uJehova akunikeza laba?
15 Ngomprofethi wakhe uZefaniya, uJehova utshela abantu baKhe indlela ayodalula ngayo labo abazama ngokungabi namahloni ukutshala ukungezwani enhlanganweni yaKhe yasemhlabeni, ngokuthi:
“Ngokuba khona ngiyakususa phakathi kwakho abazidla ngokujabula, awusayikuziphakamisa entabeni yami engcwele.”
Ngenjabulo, uJehova uthi:
“Ngiyakushiya phakathi kwakho abantu abahluphekayo nabampofu; bayakwethemba igama likaJehova.” (Zef. 3:11, 12)
Yebo, laba abantu abathobekileyo abasebenza “nganhliziyonye” njengoba behlanganyela ‘emsebenzini ongcwele wezindaba ezinhle.’ (Roma 15:15, 16) Abaqhoshile kakhulu ukuba bangenza umsebenzi ophansi wokuya endlini ngendlu belandela isibonelo abafundi bakaJesu abasifunda eNkosini. (Math. 10:5-13; Luka 9:2-6; IzE. 5:42) Ngokwethemba igama likaJehova, bamemezela lelogama elikhazimulayo nezinjongo zakhe zokulilwela ngombuso onqobayo kaKristu wakhe. (Hez. 38:23; Dan. 2:44) Njengoba abantu bakaJehova bekhonza futhi bephila ngokuvumelana nokulunga kwakhe, bayaqiniseka ukuthi ‘akekho oyakubesabisa.’ (Zef. 3:13) Bajabulela okoqobo ukuthula kwengqondo!
ISIKHATHI SOMSEBENZI OJABULISAYO
16. (a) UZefaniya uyiveza kanjani injabulo yakhe? (b) Iluphi ubizo olungokwesiprofetho oluye lwaphendulwa namuhla, futhi, ngubani?
16 UZefaniya ngokwakhe ujatshuliswa ukuqinisekisa okunjalo okuvela kuJehova kangangokuba ubiza abantu bakaNkulunkulu, ethi:
“Hlabelela ngokujabula, ndodakazi yaseSiyoni, umemeze, Israyeli, uthokoze, wethabe ngenhliziyo yonke, ndodakazi yaseJerusalema. UJehova ususile ukwahlulelwa kwakho, uxoshile izitha zakho iNkosi yakwa-Israyeli, uJehova, uphakathi kwakho; awuyikwesaba okubi.” (Zef. 3:14, 15)
Kusukela ngo-1919, lapho bekhululwa ebugqilini obungokomoya eBabiloni elikhulu, oFakazi BakaJehova abagcotshiwe baye bamkhonza “nganhliziyonye” ekunikezeni ubufakazi basobala obujabulisayo. UJehova uye wahlulela futhi wamukela labantwana beJerusalema lasezulwini. (Gal. 4:26; 1 Pet. 4:17) Amajele namakamu ezigqili abonakale engenamandla okubadonsela ebugqilini obungokomoya futhi. Ukujabula kwabo manje kuhlanganyelwa “isixuku esikhulu” soFakazi abangabangani, abaphawulwa kusukela ngo-1935 njengengxenye ‘yezinye izimvu’ zenkosi.—Joh. 10:16; IsAm. 7:9, 10.
17. (a) Ikuphi ukuqinisekisa okusiza abantu bakaJehova ukuba babekezele ‘enkonzweni engcwele’? (b) Kukanjani uJehova ‘ethule,’ nokho ‘ethabile . . . ngokuhlabelela,’ futhi kumelwe sisabele kanjani?
17 Ngokuqondile kwabagcotshiweyo bakhe, abamelele iSiyoni lasezulwini, futhi nangabo kwabasebenza nabo be“sixuku esikhulu,” uJehova ngokwakhe manje uyanxusa ethi:
“Ungesabi, Siyoni! Izandla zakho mazingadangali.” (Zef. 3:16)
Naphezu kobugebengu obesabekayo nonya namuhla, nezinselele ezesabekayo zenkathi yenyukliya, nonya lokushushiswa okungase kwehlele oFakazi BakaJehova, ukuba seduze kwabo noJehova nokwethembela entandweni kaNkulunkulu kubanika amandla okuqhubeka. Njengoba sesibambe igeja ‘lenkonzo engcwele,’ masingabheki emuva ezintweni ezingemuva futhi siyeke ukutshala siqhubeke, “nganhliziyonye”! (Luka 9:62; IsAm. 7:15) Ngoba manje isiprofetho sinikeza lokuqinisekisa kwaphezulu okuqhubekayo:
“UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uphakathi kwakho, iqhawe eliyakukusindisa; uyakujabula ngawe ngentokozo, athule othandweni lwakhe, ethabe ngawe ngokuhlabelela.” (Zef. 3:17)
UJehova “uthule” ekutholeni ukuphumula nokuqabuleka ngokubonisa uthando kubantu bakhe ababuyisiwe nabaphulukisiwe, futhi injabulo yakhe nentokozo kukhulu ngenxa yobuqotho babo nentshiseko enkonzweni yakhe. Kulezi“zinsuku zokugcina” kumelwe sibe nomuzwa wokusondela kakhulu kuNkulunkulu wethu ophilayo, uJehova, njengoba silekelela ngokubambisana enkonzweni yakhe.—2 Thim. 3:1.
18. (a) Abantu bakaJehova baye benziwa kanjani “igama nendumiso” kusukela ngo-1919? (b) Singakhonza kanjani “nganhliziyonye” ngenxa yezinkulungwane ezengeziwe?
18 Kusukela ngo-1919, kuye kwaba usuku oluhle lokubuyiselwa kwabo bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu. NjengoFakazi abathembekile baye baqhubeka beshumayela ngentshiseko yokuthunywa ivangeli, kangangokuba inhlangano kaJehova yande kwaze kwaba sekupheleni komhlaba. (Roma 10:10, 18) Ngempela kuye kwaba isikhathi sokungenisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu, sokubabuthela ndawonye. Ngenxa yayiphi injongo? UJehova uyaphendula ngokwakhe:
“Ngiyakunenza igama nendumiso phakathi kwabantu bonke bomhlaba.” (Zef. 3:20)
Ngokujabulisayo, insali egcotshiwe yabantu bakaNkulunkulu iye yaba “igama nendumiso” ekuphatheni igama eliyigugu leNkosi eNkulu uJehova, futhi manje abaningi balabo‘bantu bomhlaba’ basebenza nayo “nganhliziyonye,” ekwaziseni izinjongo zoMbuso wakhe. Ukushintshela kwethu ekukhulumeni “ulimi oluhlanzekileyo,” nokuqhubeka kwethu simemezela “lezozindaba ezinhle zombuso,” kusazosiza izinkulungwane ezengeziwe ukuba ‘zibize egameni likaJehova,’ ukuze lezi, nazo, ‘zifihlwe uJehova,’ phakathi nosuku lolaka lwakhe, futhi ngesibindi ziphumele ukumdumisa kuze kube phakade.