Londoloza Ukwesaba Kwakho UJehova
“Ngiyinkosi enkulu, usho uJehova-Sebawoti, negama lami liyesabeka phakathi kwezizwe.”—MALAKI 1:14.
1, 2. (a) Yisiphi isigijimi esinamandla esiqukethwe incwadi kaMalaki? (b) Yisiphi isifundo esinikezwa amazwi okuvula esigijimi sikaJehova?
“ISIMEMEZELO: Izwi likaJehova ngokuqondene noIsrayeli ngoMalaki.” (Malaki 1:1, NW) Lamazwi amafuphi, ashukumisayo aqalisa incwadi yeBhayibheli kaMalaki. Ngokuvamile eBhayibhelini isimemezelo ukumenyezelwa obala kobubi. Lokhu kuyiqiniso ngempela endabeni yencwadi kaMalaki nesigijimi sayo esiqondile nesinamandla esiya esizweni sakwaIsrayeli. Ukuyicabangela kwethu kuyoqokomisa isidingo sokulondoloza kwethu ukwesaba uJehova nothando lwethu ngaye.
2 Amavesi amabili okuqala alencwadi anikeza isifundo ngokunikeza iseluleko. UJehova uqinisekisa izilaleli zakhe ngesifiso sakhe sokuzisiza: “Nginithandile, usho uJehova.” Yeka isingeniso esiqinisekisayo, esifudumeza inhliziyo ngabanhliziyo-ziqotho bakwaIsrayeli oshingayo. Isigijimi siyaqhubeka: “Nokho nithi: Usithandé kanjani na? UEsawu akasiye umfowabo kaJakobe na? usho uJehova. Ngamthanda uJakobe, kepha uEsawu ngamzonda, ngenza izintaba zakhe incithakalo, nefa lakhe ngalinika amakhanka asehlane.”—Malaki 1:2, 3.
3. Zaziyini izizathu zemizwa kaJehova ngoJakobe noEsawu?
3 Kungani uJehova athanda uJakobe, futhi kamuva, inzalo kaJakobe, amaIsrayeli? Kwakungoba uJakobe wayemesaba uNkulunkulu futhi ehlonipha abazali bakhe abesaba uNkulunkulu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uEsawu, wayengumuntu onobugovu, ongamesabi uNkulunkulu. Futhi, wayentula inhlonipho ngabazali bakhe, ababenelungelo lemvelo, abalinikezwe uNkulunkulu, lokulindela ukuthobeka kwakhe. Ngokufanelekile, uJehova wathanda uJakobe kodwa wazonda uEsawu. Lokhu kuyisixwayiso kithi. Kumelwe sigweme ukulahlekelwa ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo njengoEsawu, owafuna kuphela ukwanelisa izifiso zakhe zenyama.—Genesise 26:34, 35; 27:41; Heberu 12:16.
4, 5. (a) Inkambo yokuphila kaJakobe nekaEsawu yaba naliphi ithonya enzalweni yabo? (b) Lokhu kwakufanele kuwathinte kanjani amaIsrayeli?
4 Njengoba nje inkambo kaJakobe yaba isibusiso enzalweni yakhe, amaIsrayeli, kanjalo inkambo kaEsawu yaba okuphambene enzalweni yakhe, abakwaEdomi. AbakwaEdomi abazange basijabulele isibusiso sikaJehova. Esikhundleni salokho, ngokumelana kwabo ngokunamandla nabantu besivumelwano sakhe, bazibangela inzondo kaJehova. Babhujiswa amabutho kaNebukadinesari futhi kamuva abaseArabiya. Ekugcineni, njengoba uJehova ayeprofethile, abakwaEdomi baphela njengesizwe.—Obadiya 18.
5 Isahlulelo sikaJehova kuEdomi saqala ngaphambi kosuku lukaMalaki. Lokhu kwakufanele kuwathinte kanjani amaIsrayeli? UJehova uyawatshela: “Amehlo enu ayakukubona, besenithi: UJehova uyakuba-mkhulu, kudlule nasemkhawulweni kaIsrayeli.” (Malaki 1:5) Kuwo wonke amakhulu eminyaka, uIsrayeli wayeye wabona ‘ngamehlo akhe’ uthando uJehova ayenalo ngaye njengesizwe.
Izenzo Zethu Ziyobonisa Ukuthi Siyamthanda Yini UNkulunkulu
6. UJehova wawamangalela ngani amaIsrayeli?
6 Isimemezelo siyaqhubeka: “Indodana idumisa uyise, nenceku inkosi yayo; uma nginguyise, kuphi ukudunyiswa kwami? Uma ngiyinkosi, kuphi ukwesatshwa kwami? usho uJehova-Sebawoti, kinina-bapristi enilidelela igama lami.” (Malaki 1:6; Eksodusi 4:22, 23; Duteronomi 32:6) UJehova wayewaqondisile, ewalungiselele, futhi ewavikele amaIsrayeli, njengoba nje uyise engenza endodaneni yakhe. Yini ayeyilindele ngokufanelekile? Ukuba ahlonishwe futhi esatshwe. Isizwe, kuhlanganise nabapristi, sahluleka ukwenza lokhu kodwa, kunalokho, sabonisa ukungalihloniphi igama likaJehova, nokulidelela. Saba “abantwana abahlehlayo.”—Jeremiya 3:14, 22; Duteronomi 32:18-20; Isaya 1:2, 3.
7. AmaIsrayeli azizwa kanjani ngalokhu kumangalelwa, futhi yathini impendulo kaJehova kuwo?
7 AmaIsrayeli abuza: “Silidelele kanjani igama lakho na?” UJehova wawaphendula ngokunamandla: “Ngokunikela ngesinkwa esingcolileyo ealtare lami. Besenithi: Silingcolisé ngani na? Ngokusho kwenu ukuthi: Itafula likaJehova lidelelekile. Lapho ninikela ngesilwane esiyimpumputhe sibe-ngumhlatshelo, akukubi na? Lapho ninikela ngesilwane esiqhugayo nesigulayo, akukubi na? Mawusisondeze kumbusi wakho; uyakuba-nomusa kuwe na? Uyakukwamukela na? usho uJehova-Sebawoti.”—Malaki 1:6-8.
8. Yini eyayiboniswa amaIsrayeli ngezenzo zawo?
8 Umuntu angamcabanga umIsrayeli ebheka emhlambini wakhe futhi ngesinyelela ekhetha isilwane esiyimpumputhe noma esiqhugayo ukuba anikele ngaso kuJehova! Ngalendlela wayengenza yonke imicikilisho yokwenza umnikelo kodwa ngobugovu ebe ezigcinela okuhle kakhulu komhlambi. Wayengeke alokothe enze into enjalo kumbusi ongumuntu! Kodwa amaIsrayeli akwenza kuJehova—njengokungathi wayengenakuwabona amacebo nokukhohlisa kwawo. Ngokufanelekile, uJehova wawabuza, “Kuphi ukwesatshwa kwami?” Kungenzeka ukuthi ngamazwi abo, babezisholo ukuthi bayamesaba uJehova, kodwa izenzo zabo zabonisa ngokucacile okuphambene.—Duteronomi 15:21.
9. Abapristi basabela kanjani kulokho okwakwenziwa abantu?
9 Babesabela kanjani abapristi kuleminikelo edelelekile? Bathi: “Akukubi.” Bavumela inkambo yamaIsrayeli ekhohlakele. Ngakho ngisho nakuba abathunjwa ababuya eBabiloni benza isiqalo sentshiseko ekubuyiseleni ukukhulekela kweqiniso, kamuva abazange banake, baqhosha, futhi bazishaya abangcono. Balahlekelwa ukwesaba kwabo uJehova. Ngakho, inkonzo yabo yasethempelini yaba ukuhleka usulu, futhi bagcina imikhosi ngendlela yokugcina umthetho.—Malaki 2:1-3; 3:8-10.
10. (a) Yimuphi umnikelo uJehova awufunayo namuhla? (b) Kungayiphi indlela kuphela umnikelo wethu ungamukelwa ngayo uJehova?
10 Abanye bangase baphikise: ‘Lokhu akusebenzi kithi; asisanikeli ngeminikelo yezilwane.’ Kodwa sinolunye uhlobo lomnikelo okumelwe siwunikele. Phawula isicelo sikaPawulu esiphuthumayo: “Ngiyanincenga, bazalwane, ngobubele bukaNkulunkulu ukuba ninikele imizimba yenu ibe-ngumnikelo ophilileyo, ongcwele, othandeka kuNkulunkulu, kube-ngukukhonza kwenu kokuqonda.” (Roma 12:1) Umnikelo uJehova awufunayo namuhla unguwe! Okungukuthi, amandla namakhono akho. Umnikelo wethu uyowamukela kuphela uma ungokungcono kakhulu kwethu. Ukunikeza uJehova okusele, njengomnikelo oqhugayo, ogulayo, ngokuqinisekile kuyobuthinta ubuhlobo bethu naye.
11. Yikuphi ukuhlolisisa okufanele kwenziwe inceku ngayinye kaJehova ezinikezele?
11 Ngisho nakuba abanye bengase eqinisweni bathi, “Akukubi,” siyazi ukuthi uJehova uzizwa kanjani ngakho. Ngakho-ke, masihlole ngokucophelela ‘umnikelo wokukhonza okungcwele’ esiwunikelayo, ohlanganisa ingxenye esinayo ekushumayeleni, esifundweni somuntu siqu, emthandazweni, nokuba khona emihlanganweni. Ingabe uyaneliswa ukuthi okunikeza uJehova kungokungcono kakhulu kwakho, noma ingabe okusele nje? Kunengozi yokuhileleka kakhulu ekuzijabuliseni ngezimpela-sonto kangangokuthi umuntu angabi naso isikhathi noma amandla okushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso nokuba khona emihlanganweni. Yonke indlela yethu yokuphila, ukuphila kwethu kwansuku zonke, kuhlanganise isimo sengqondo nezisusa, kufanele kuhlanganiswe nomnikelo esiwenza kuJehova. Makungabi okunye ngaphandle kokungcono kakhulu!
Ukubona Abantu Abesaba UNkulunkulu Ngeqiniso
12. Yisiphi iseluleko manje esinikezwayo?
12 “Manje,” kusho isiprofetho, “ake ninxuse kuNkulunkulu ukuba abe-nomusa kithi.” (Malaki 1:9) UJehova ukhuthaza amaIsrayeli ukuba enze okulungile, abonise ukwesaba uNkulunkulu okufanele, futhi amnikeze lokho okumfanele. Kumelwe senze okufanayo namuhla. Kungokuphila ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zikaJehova kuphela ukuthi singazuza futhi silondoloze umusa wakhe.
13. (a) Uma singamesabi uNkulunkulu, yiluphi ugibe esingangena kulo? (b) Ukuhaha kwabathinta kanjani abapristi bakwaIsrayeli?
13 Ngaphandle kokwesaba uNkulunkulu okufanele, inkonzo yethu kuye ingenziwa ngenxa nje yokugcina umthetho nangenxa yenzuzo yobugovu. Phawula indlela uJehova asola ngayo abapristi bakwaIsrayeli ngokuqondene nenkonzo yabo yasethempelini: “Sengathi kungaba-khona phakathi kwenu ongavala izicabha, ukuze ningabaseli ize ealtare lami! Angithokozi ngani, usho uJehova-Sebawoti, angiyikwamukela iminikelo ezandleni zenu.” (Malaki 1:10) Oh, yebo, abapristi babekhona benza imisebenzi yasethempelini, behluthulela iminyango yengcwelengcwele, bebasa ama-altare. Kodwa lokhu babengakwenzi mahhala. Babefuna izipho nezifumbathiso kumaIsrayeli ayeza ezokwenza iminikelo ethempelini. UJehova akathokozanga ngalesosikhathi, futhi akathokozi namanje, ngenkonzo eyenzelwa inzuzo yobugovu. Iyanengeka kuye.
14. Kungani kukhona njalo isidingo sokuqaphela ukuhaha?
14 Isidingo sokuqaphela ubugovu nokuhaha sisekhona osukwini lwethu. Ngokuphindaphindiwe imiBhalo isixwayisa ngokuhaha, ithi abantu abahahayo abathokozelwa uJehova. (1 Korinte 6:10; Efesu 5:5) Ekufezeni inkonzo yethu, sengathi uthando lwethu nokwesaba uJehova kungasigcina sikhululekile ekuyenzeni ngenxa yenzuzo yobugovu. Kufanele sisheshe ukusiphula noma yikuphi ukuthambekela okunjalo okungase kwakheke enhliziyweni yethu. Abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo baxwayiswa ngokukhethekile ukuba ‘bangahaheli inzuzo embi.’ (Thithu 1:7; 1 Thimothewu 3:8; 1 Petru 5:2) Abanye bangase ngamabomu bahlakulele ubuhlobo nabazalwane abangase babasize ngezinto ezibonakalayo, kuphumele ekukhetheni nasekubeni manqikanqika ukweluleka abanjalo. Asifuni ukufana nabapristi bakwaIsrayeli abahahayo ababefuna izipho nezifumbathiso kumaIsrayeli akanye nabo.
15. (a) UMalaki wabonisa kanjani ukuthi kwakuyoba khona abantu abesaba uJehova kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba? (b) Imiphi eminye imibhalo esekela lokhu?
15 Namuhla, uma uJehova ubengabuza umbuzo, “Kuphi ukwesatshwa kwami?” ingabe bakhona abantu abebengaphendula bathi, ‘Silapha, thina esikwesabayo’? Ngokuqinisekile! Obani? OFakazi BakaJehova abathembekile, abatholakala kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba. Leliqembu labantu lezizwe zonke nomsebenzi ababeyowenza babikezelwa kuMalaki 1:11: “Ngokuba kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube-sekushoneni kwalo igama lami likhulu phakathi kwezizwe . . . Igama lami lishiselwa . . . iminikelo ehlambulukileyo, ngokuba igama lami likhulu phakathi kwezizwe, usho uJehova-Sebawoti.”—Bheka futhi iHubo 67:7; Isaya 33:5, 6; 41:5; 59:19; Jeremiya 32:39, 40.
16. Amazwi athi kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube sekushoneni kwelanga angaba naziphi izincazelo ezihlukene, futhi lokhu kugcwaliseka kanjani?
16 Yeka ukuthi uMalaki lapha ukhuluma ngokuqonde kanjani ngomsebenzi omkhulu owenziwa osukwini lwethu ngokushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 24:14; IsAmbulo 14:6, 7) Ukusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube sekushoneni kwelanga, ngomqondo ongokoqobo, kusho ukusuka empumalanga ukuya entshonalanga. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibheka kuphi emhlabeni namuhla, sithola abantu abesaba uJehova benza intando yakhe. Ukusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube sekushoneni kwelanga kusho futhi usuku lonke. Yebo, izinceku ezesaba uNkulunkulu zidumisa ngokuqhubekayo. Njengoba uJehova athembisa, igama lakhe limenyezelwa emhlabeni wonke yilabo abamesaba ngeqiniso.—Eksodusi 9:16; 1 IziKronike 16:23, 24; IHubo 113:3.
Londoloza Ukwesaba UNkulunkulu Okufanele
17. Ungaba yini umphumela wokulahlekelwa kwethu yinhlonipho ngoJehova nokumesaba?
17 Ngalabo abahlulekayo ukuhlonipha futhi besabe uJehova, ukukhulekela kanye nenkonzo kuba umthwalo. UJehova uthi kumaIsrayeli: “Niyalihlambalaza ngokusho kwenu ukuthi: Itafula leNkosi lingcolile lona, nesithelo salo, ukudla kwalo, sidelelekile. Nisho futhi ukuthi: Bheka ukuhlupheka!” (Malaki 1:12, 13) Kungaba okufanayo ezikhathini zanamuhla. Ngalabo abalahlekelwa ukwesaba uJehova, imihlangano, inkonzo yasensimini, neminye imisebenzi yobuKristu ingaba umthwalo.
18. Ngezinye izikhathi, yini eye yenzeka kwezinye zezinceku zikaNkulunkulu osukwini lwanamuhla?
18 Phawula ukuthi INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi kaJanuary 1, 1937 yabachaza kanjani abanjalo: “Kulabo abangathembekile ilungelo lokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngokuletha izithelo zombuso kwabanye, njengoba iNkosi iyalile, liye laba yinkonzo ekhathazayo nokugcina umthetho kuphela, engabanikezi-thuba lokukhazimula emehlweni abantu. Ukuhambisa isigijimi soMbuso endlini ngendlu ngezincwadi, nokuzinikeza abantu, kungokululaza kakhulu ngabanjalo abazazisayo. Abatholi njabulo kukho . . . Ngakho baye bathi, futhi bayaqhubeka bethi: ‘Lokhu kuthwala izincwadi kumane nje kuyisu lokuthengisa izincwadi. Yeka umsebenzi okhathazayo lokho okuyiwo!’” Ngisho nanamuhla kukhona labo, ngezinye izikhathi, abathola inkonzo yasensimini iyisicefe nokuba khona emihlanganweni kukhathaza. Lokhu yilokho okungenzeka lapho silahlekelwa ukwesaba kwethu uJehova futhi, kanye nakho, uthando lwethu ngaye.
19. Singaqhubeka kanjani sibonisa ukwazisa kwethu ngamalungiselelo kaJehova?
19 Ukulondoloza ukwesaba uJehova kuyosigcina sithobekile phambi kwakhe futhi sikwazisa njalo konke asenzela khona. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sisemhlanganweni omncane ekhaya noma emhlanganweni omkhulu wamashumi ezinkulungwane enkundleni, siyambonga uJehova ngelungelo lokuba kanye nabafowethu abangamaKristu. Siyobonisa ukubonga kwethu ngokuba khona lapho nangokuvusa kulabo abakhona “uthando nemisebenzi emihle” ngengxoxo yethu eyakhayo nangokukhulumela esikwenzayo ezifundweni. (Heberu 10:24, 25) Uma kungase kube yilungelo lethu ukunakekela izabelo emihlanganweni, siyokugwema ukulungiselela ngomzuzu wokugcina, sihlanganisa imibono ngokuphuthuma. Ungalokothi uthathe izabelo ezinjalo njengento elula. Zingamalungelo angcwele, futhi indlela esizinakekela ngayo ingesinye isibonakaliso sokuthi simhlonipha futhi simesaba kangakanani uJehova.
20. (a) Yini okungamelwe neze siyikhohlwe? (b) Yisiphi isiphetho esifinyelela kuso?
20 Yeka ukuthi udabukisa kanjani umphumela ngalabo abalahlekelwa ukwesaba uNkulunkulu! Bantula ukwazisa ngelungelo elingabafanele lokuba nobuhlobo noMbusi wendawo yonke. “NgiyiNkosi enkulu, usho uJehova-Sebawoti, negama lami liyesabeka phakathi kwezizwe.” (Malaki 1:14; IsAmbulo 15:4) Sengathi singekukhohlwe lokho. Sengathi ngamunye wethu angafana nomhubi owathi: “Ngingumngane wabo bonke abakwesabayo.” (IHubo 119:63) Ngemva kokucabangela lendaba, sifinyelela esiphethweni esifana nesikaSolomoni lapho ethi: “Mesabe uNkulunkulu, ugcine imiyalo yakhe, ngokuba lokho kungokwabantu bonke. Ngokuba uNkulunkulu uyakuyisa yonke imisebenzi ekwahlulelweni kanye nakho konke okufihliweyo, noma kuhle noma kubi.”—UmShumayeli 12:13, 14.
Izifundo ezisencwadini kaMalaki—
◻ Kungani amaIsrayeli ayekweleta uJehova ukumesaba kwawo?
◻ Izenzo zethu zibonisa kanjani ukuthi simesaba ngempela uJehova?
◻ Yini ebonisa ukuthi bakhona abamesabayo uJehova emhlabeni kabanzi namuhla?
◻ Kungani kumelwe silondoloze ukwesaba uNkulunkulu okufanele?
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 18]
Kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga ukuya ekushoneni kwelanga, igama likaJehova liyokuba likhulu
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
AmaIsrayeli adelela uJehova ngokunikela ngezilwane eziyizimpumputhe, eziqhugayo, noma ezigulayo njengeminikelo