Isahluko 4
UNkulunkulu—Ungubani?
1. (a) Ibaphi onkulunkulu abaye bakhulekelwa ngabantu? (b) Imuphi umehluko iBhayibheli eliwenzayo phakathi ko“nkulunkulu” no“Nkulunkulu”?
EMHLABENI wonke kunonkulunkulu abaningi abakhulekelwayo. Ezinkolweni zobuShinto, ubuBuddha, ubuHindu nezezinhlanga kunonkulunkulu abaningi. Onkulunkulu abanjengoZeus noHermes babekhulekelwa ngezinsuku zabaphostoli bakaJesu. (IzEnzo 14:11, 12, NW) Ngakho iBhayibheli liyavuma ukuthi “bakhona onkulunkulu abaningi,” kodwa futhi lithi “kithina kukhona uNkulunkulu munye, uYise, okuvela kuye konke.” (1 Korinte 8:5, 6) Uma ubungabuzwa, ‘Ungubani loNkulunkulu?’ ubungathini?
2. Imiphi imibono ehlukahlukene abantu abanayo ngoNkulunkulu?
2 Abaningi bangaphendula bathi, ‘UyiNkosi.’ Noma bangase bathi: ‘UnguMoya osezulwini.’ Isichazamazwi sibiza uNkulunkulu ngokuthi: “UMuntu oPhakeme.” Uma bebuzwa: ‘Ubani igama likaNkulunkulu?’ abanye bathi, ‘UJesu.’ Abanye abamcabangeli uNkulunkulu njengomuntu, kodwa njengamandla amakhulu akuyo yonke indawo. Abanye bayangabaza ukuthi ukhona uNkulunkulu. Singaqiniseka ukuthi ukhona?
UNKULUNKULU UKHONA NGEMPELA
3. Indlu iba khona kanjani?
3 Lapho ubuka isakhiwo esihle, wake wazibuza yini ukuthi umakhi waso ungubani? Uma othile ekutshela ukuthi akekho owakha lesosakhiwo, kodwa athi samane saba-khona nje ngokwaso, ungamkholelwa? Yebo awunakumkholelwa! Njengoba umlobi weBhayibheli asho: “Yileyondlu yakhiwa ngothile.” Wonke umuntu uyakwazi lokho. Khona-ke, asinakusamukela yini isiphetho esinengqondo somlobi weBhayibheli: “Owakha konke nguNkulunkulu”?—Heberu 3:4.
4. Izigidigidi zezinkanyezi zaba khona kanjani?
4 Cabangela amazulu kanye nezigidigidi zezinkanyezi ezikuwo. Kodwa zonke zihamba emazulwini ngokwemithetho ezigcina zisebuhlotsheni obuphelele. “Ngubani odalile lezozinto na?” kwakungumbuzo owabuzwa endulo. Impendulo eyanikezwa inengqondo: “Nguye okhipha ibandla lazo ngezibalo, abize zonke ngamagama.” (Isaya 40:26) Ngokuqinisekile bekungaba ubuwula ukucabanga ukuthi lezizigidigidi zezinkanyezi zamane zazenza ngokwazo, nokuthi ngaphandle kwanoma yikuphi ukuqondiswa, zaba sohlelweni olukhulu lwezinkanyezi oluhamba ngokuhleleka okukhulu kangaka!—AmaHubo 14:1.
5. (a) Kungenzeka yini izingxenye zomshini ngokwazo zihlangane zenze umshini wokusika inyama? (b) Lokhu kusibonisani ngezulu nomhlaba?
5 Lamazulu ahleleke ngokuphakeme ayengenakumane nje abe khona ngokwawo. UMdali ohlakaniphile onamandla amakhulu wayedingeka. (AmaHubo 19:1, 2) Usomabhizinisi owabuzwa ukuthi kungani ekholelwa kuNkulunkulu wachaza ukuthi embonini yakhe kuthatha izinsuku ezimbili ngentombazane ukuba ifunde ukuhlanganisa izingxenye eziyi-17 zomshini wokusika inyama. Wathi, “Mina ngimane ngingumakhi nje wezinto ezinjalo zokusebenza endlini. Kodwa nokho engikwaziyo ukuthi, ungase ushukumise lezozingxenye eziyi-17 zomshini wokusika inyama endishini iminyaka eyizigidi zezigidi eziyi-17 kodwa azisoze zahlangana zenze umshini wokusika inyama.” Lamazulu nomhlaba, kuhlanganise nezinhlobo eziningi zokuphila ezisemhlabeni, ayinto exaka kakhulu kunomshini wokusika inyama. Uma umshini onjalo udinga umakhi onekhono, khona-ke singaqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke wayedingeka ukuba adale zonke izinto. Akumelwe yini udumo luye kuye ngalokho aye wakwenza?—IsAmbulo 4:11; IzEnzo 14:15-17; 17:24-26.
INGABE UNKULUNKULU UNGUMUNTU WANGEMPELA?
6. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungumuntu wangempela?
6 Nakuba abantu abaningi bethi bayakholelwa kuNkulunkulu, abaningi abamcabangeli njengomuntu ngempela. Ingabe unguye? Nokho, kungabonakala ukuthi lapho kukhona inhlakanipho kukhona ingqondo. Ngokwesibonelo, singase sithi, ‘Unengqondo ekhaliphile.’ Siyazi ukuthi lapho kukhona ingqondo kukhona ubuchopho emzimbeni wohlobo oluthile. Khona-ke, ingqondo eyinhloko eyenza kube khona indalo yonke ingeyoMuntu omkhulu, uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke. Nakuba engenawo umzimba wenyama, unawo owomoya. Umuntu womoya unomzimba? Yebo, iBhayibheli lithi: “Uma ukhona umzimba wemvelo, ukhona nowomoya.”—1 Korinte 15:44; Johane 4:24.
7. (a) Yini ebonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu unendawo ahlala kuyo? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi unomzimba?
7 Njengoba uNkulunkulu engumuntu onomzimba womoya, kumelwe abe nendawo ahlala kuyo. IBhayibheli lapho libhekisela kuNkulunkulu lithi izulu “indawo yakho yokuhlala.” (1 AmaKhosi 8:43) Futhi, sitshelwa ukuthi “uKristu . . . wangena ezulwini uqobo ukuba manje abonakale ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yethu.” (Heberu 9:24) Abanye abantu bayothola umvuzo wokuphila ezulwini noNkulunkulu, okuyisikhathi lapho beyokwamukela imizimba yomoya. Khona-ke bayobona uNkulunkulu, ngokusho kweBhayibheli, futhi bafane naye. (1 Johane 3:2) Nalokhu futhi, kubonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungumuntu, nokuthi unomzimba.
8, 9. (a) Isibonelo somthombo wamandla kagesi singawabonisa kanjani amandla kaNkulunkulu afinyelela kude? (b) Uyini umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, futhi yini ongayenza?
8 Kodwa omunye angase abuze: ‘Uma uNkulunkulu engumuntu wangempela ohlala endaweni ethile ezulwini, angakubona kanjani konke okwenzeka yonke indawo? Futhi amandla akhe angazwakala kanjani yonke indawo ezulwini nasemhlabeni?’ (2 IziKronike 16:9) Iqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu ungumuntu aliwalinganiseli neze amandla akhe noma ubukhulu bakhe. Futhi akufanele neze linciphise inhlonipho yethu ngaYe. (1 IziKronike 29:11-13) Ukuze sisizakale ekuqondeni lokhu, make sicabangele imiphumela efinyelela kude yomthombo wamandla kagesi.
9 Umthombo wamandla unendawo ethile edolobheni noma eduze kwalo. Kodwa ugesi wawo uthunyelwa kuyo yonke leyondawo, unikeze ukukhanya namandla. Kungokufanayo ngoNkulunkulu. Usemazulwini. (Isaya 57:15; IHubo 123:1) Kodwa umoya wakhe ongcwele, ongamandla akhe angabonakali, ungezwakala yonke indawo ezulwini nasemhlabeni. Ngomoya wakhe ongcwele uNkulunkulu wadala amazulu, umhlaba nazo zonke izinto eziphilayo. (AmaHubo 33:6; Genesise 1:2; AmaHubo 104:30) Ukuze adale lezizinto, uNkulunkulu akudingekanga ukuba abe khona ngomzimba. Angathumela umoya wakhe, amandla akhe ayisiphekupheku, ukuba enze noma yini ayifunayo ngisho noma ekude. Yeka uNkulunkulu omangalisayo!—Jeremiya 10:12; Daniyeli 4:35.
UHLOBO LOMUNTU UNKULUNKULU AYILO
10. Iyiphi enye indlela esingamazi ngayo uNkulunkulu?
10 Ingabe uNkulunkulu uwuhlobo lomuntu esingakhula ekumthandeni uma sifinyelela ekumazini kahle? ‘Mhlawumbe kunjalo,’ ungase usho, ‘kodwa njengoba singenakumbona uNkulunkulu singafinyelela kanjani ekumazini?’ (Johane 1:18) IBhayibheli libonisa enye indlela uma lithi: “Ngokuba okungabonwayo kwakhe, kuthi amandla akhe aphakade nobuNkulunkulu bakhe kubonakala kwasekudalweni kwezwe.” (Roma 1:20) Ngakho izinto uNkulunkulu azidalile, uma sizihlola ngempela futhi sicabanga ngazo, zingasisiza ukuba siqonde ukuthi uNkulunkulu unjani.
11. Yini esingayifunda ngoNkulunkulu ngezinto azenzileyo?
11 Njengoba sesibonile, uma sibheka izinkanyezi zezulu ngokuqinisekile zisitshela ngobukhulu bukaNkulunkulu namandla amangalisayo! (AmaHubo 8:3, 4; Isaya 40:26) Khona-ke cabangela umhlaba. UNkulunkulu wawubeka emkhathini ukuze uthole ukushisa okwanele nokukhanya okwanele elangeni. Cabangela futhi umjikelezo wamanzi. Imvula iyana ukuze inisele umhlaba. Amanzi agelezela emifuleni, nayo egeleza iye olwandle. Ilanga liyawakhuphula amanzi olwandle njengomhwamuko, abuye awe njengemvula anisele umhlaba futhi. (UmShumayeli 1:7) Kukhona imijikelezo eminingi uNkulunkulu ayenza isebenze ukuze alungiselele ukudla, indawo yokukhosela nazo zonke izinto ezidingwa umuntu nezilwane! Futhi zonke lezizinto ezimangalisayo zisitshelani ngohlobo lomuntu uNkulunkulu ayilo? Ukuthi unguNkulunkulu wokuhlakanipha nokuthi uphana kakhulu futhi uyayinakekela indalo yakhe.—IzAga 3:19, 20; AmaHubo 104:13-15, 24, 25.
12. Umzimba wakho siqu ukufundisani ngoNkulunkulu?
12 Cabangela umzimba wakho siqu. Ngokusobala wenzelwa ukuba wenze okungaphezu nje kokuba uphile. Waklanywa ngokumangalisayo ukuba ujabulele ukuphila. (AmaHubo 139:14) Amehlo ethu awaboni nje kuphela okumhlophe nokumnyama kodwa abona neminye imibala, futhi umhlaba ugcwele imibalabala ongayijabulela. Siyakwazi ukuhogela nokuba sinambithe. Ukudla akuwona nje umsebenzi odingekile; kodwa kuyajabulisa. Izinzwa ezinjengalezo azidingeki ukuze siphile, kodwa ziyizipho ezivela kuNkulunkulu onothando, ophanayo nocabangayo.—Genesise 2:9; 1 Johane 4:8.
13. Yini oyifunda ngoNkulunkulu endleleni yokusebenzelana kwakhe nabantu?
13 Uma sibheka ukusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nesintu kuyabonisa futhi ukuthi uluhlobo luni lukaNkulunkulu. Unomuzwa onamandla wokwahlulela ngokulunga. Akabonisi ukukhetha izinhlanga ezithile zabantu. (IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Futhi unesihawu nomusa. IBhayibheli lithi ngokusebenzelana kwakhe nesizwe sakwaIsrayeli, leso asikhulula ebugqilini eGibithe: “Yena enesihawu . . . wakhumbula ukuthi bayinyama.” Kodwa amaIsrayeli ayelokhu engalaleli, futhi lokhu kwamenza wadabuka uNkulunkulu. Njengoba iBhayibheli lisho: “Bamdabukisa oNgcwele kaIsrayeli.” (AmaHubo 78:38-41; 103:8, 13, 14) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, lapho izinceku zakhe zilalela imithetho yakhe, uNkulunkulu uyajabula. (IzAga 27:11) Futhi, uNkulunkulu uyachaza ukuthi uzizwa kanjani uma izinceki zakhe zihlushwa izitha: “Othinta nina uthinta inhlamvu yeso [lami].” (Zakariya 2:8) Awushukunyiselwa yini ukuba umthande uNkulunkulu onothando olunjalo ngabantu abaphansi, abangelutho bazo zonke izizwe nabantu?—Isaya 40:22; Johane 3:16.
INGABE UNKULUNKULU UNGUJESU UZIQU-ZINTATHU?
14. Iyini imfundiso kaZiqu-Zintathu?
14 Ungubani loNkulunkulu omangalisayo? Abanye abantu bathi igama lakhe uJesu. Abanye bathi unguZiqu-Zintathu, nakuba igama elithi “Ziqu-Zintathu” lingekho eBhayibhelini. Ngokwemfundiso kaZiqu-Zintathu, kunabantu abathathu kuNkulunkulu oyedwa, okungukuthi kukhona “uNkulunkulu oyedwa, uYise, iNdodana noMoya oNgcwele.” Izinhlangano eziningi zenkolo zifundisa lokhu, nakuba zivuma ukuthi kuyi“mfihlo.” Ingabe imibono enjalo ngoNkulunkulu iqondile?
15. IBhayibheli libonisa kanjani ukuthi uNkulunkulu noJesu bangabantu ababili abehlukene abangalingani?
15 Nokho, ingabe uJesu wake washo ukuthi unguNkulunkulu? Cha, akakaze alokothe. Kunalokho, eBhayibhelini ubizwa ngokuthi “iNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” Futhi naye wathi: “UBaba mkhulu kunami.” (Johane 10:34-36; 14:28) Futhi, uJesu wachaza ukuthi kwakukhona izinto yena noma izingelosi ababengazazi kodwa ezazaziwa uNkulunkulu kuphela. (Marku 13:32) Futhi, uJesu wathandaza kuNkulunkulu ngesinye isikhathi: “Makungenziwa intando yami kodwa eyakho.” (Luka 22:42) Ukuba uJesu wayenguNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, wayengeke athandaze kuye ngokwakhe, akunjalo? Eqinisweni, ngemva kokufa kukaJesu, umBhalo uthi: “UJesu lo uNkulunkulu wamvusa.” (IzEnzo 2:32) Ngakho uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke noJesu ngokusobala bangabantu ababili abahlukene. Ngisho nangemva kokufa kwakhe nokuvuswa nokwenyukela ezulwini, uJesu wayesalokhu engalingani noYise.—1 Korinte 11:3; 15:28.
16. Nakuba uJesu kubhekiselwa kuye njengo“Nkulunkulu,” yini ebonisa ukuthi akayena uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke?
16 Omunye angase abuze: ‘Kodwa ingabe uJesu akabizwa yini ngokuthi uwunkulunkulu eBhayibhelini?’ Lokhu kuyiqiniso. Kodwa noSathane futhi uyabizwa ngokuthi uwunkulunkulu. (2 Korinte 4:4) KuJohane 1:1, ebhekisela kuJesu njengo“Lizwi,” ezinye izinguqulo zeBhayibheli njengesiZulu zithi: “Ekuqaleni wayekhona uLizwi, uLizwi wayekuNkulunkulu, uLizwi wayenguNkulunkulu.” Kodwa phawula, Joh 1 ivesi 2 lithi uLizwi “wayekhona ekuqaleni kuNkulunkulu.” Kanti nakuba abantu beye bambona uJesu, ivesi le-18 lithi “akakho oke wabona uNkulunkulu.” Ngakho sithola ukuthi ezinye izinguqulo ekuhumusheni ivesi loku-1 zinikeza umqondo oqondile wolimi lwakuqala uma zifundeka kanje: “ULizwi wayenoNkulunkulu, futhi uLizwi wayengowaphezulu,” noma “ewunkulunkulu,” okungukuthi, uLizwi wayengonamandla obunkulunkulu. (An American Translation) Ngokusobala, uJesu akayena uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke. Eqinisweni, uJesu wakhuluma ngoYise njengo“Nkulunkulu wami” nanjengo“Nkulunkulu wedwa oqinisileyo.”—Johane 20:17; 17:3.
17. Ukuthululwa komoya ongcwele phezu kwabalandeli bakaJesu kubonisa kanjani ukuthi awuyena umuntu?
17 Ngokuqondene no“Moya oNgcwele,” okuthiwa unguMuntu wesithathu kaZiqu-Zintathu, sesibonile kakade ukuthi awuyena umuntu kodwa ungamandla kaNkulunkulu ayisiphekupheku. UJohane uMbhapathizi wathi uJesu wayezobhapathiza ngomoya ongcwele, njengoba uJohane ayebhapathiza ngamanzi. Ngakho-ke, njengoba namanzi engeyena umuntu, ngokufanayo nomoya ongcwele awuyena umuntu. (Mathewu 3:11) Okwabikezelwa uJohane, kwagcwaliseka ngemva kokufa nokuvuka kukaJesu, lapho umoya ongcwele uthululwa phezu kwabalandeli bakhe ababehlangene eJerusalema. IBhayibheli lithi: “Base begcwala bonke uMoya oNgcwele.” (IzEnzo 2:4) Ingabe ‘bagcwala’ umuntu? Cha, kodwa bagcwala amandla kaNkulunkulu ayisiphekupheku. Ngakho amaqiniso akwenza kukhanye ukuthi uZiqu-Zintathu akuyona imfundiso yeBhayibheli. Eqinisweni, esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuba uJesu afike emhlabeni, onkulunkulu babekhulekelwa ngamaqembu amathathu, noma abathathu koyedwa, ezindaweni ezinjengaseGibithe lasendulo naseBabiloni.
IGAMA LIKANKULUNKULU
18. (a) Ingabe elithi “Nkulunkulu” igama likaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke? (b) Yiliphi igama lakhe siqu?
18 Ngokungangabazeki wonke umuntu omaziyo unegama. NoNkulunkulu ngokufanayo unegama lakhe siqu lokumhlukanisa kubo bonke abanye. Abanye bangase babuze: ‘Akuyena yini “uNkulunkulu” igama lakhe?’ Cha, ngoba “uNkulunkulu” kumane nje kuyisiqu, njengoba nje ukuthi “Mongameli,” “Nkosi” nokuthi “Mahluleli,” kuyiziqu. Igama likaNkulunkulu silifunda eBhayibhelini, lapho livela khona cishe izikhathi eziyizi-7 000. Ngokwesibonelo, amaHubo 83:18 afundeka kanje: “Bazi ukuthi nguwe wedwa, ogama lakho linguJehova; ungoPhezukonke emhlabeni wonke.” Futhi, igama likaNkulunkulu litholakala emaBhayibhelini amaningi kusAmbulo 19:1-6 njengengxenye yenkulumo ethi “Aleluya” noma “Haleluya.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi “dumisani uJah,” okuwukufushaniswa kwegama elithi Jehova.
19. (a) Kungani abanye abantu bemangala ngokubona igama likaNkulunkulu emaBhayibhelini abo? (b) Litholakalaphi leligama enguqulweni iKing James Version?
19 Abanye abantu bayamangala uma bebona igama likaNkulunkulu emaBhayibhelini abo. Lokho ngokuvamile kungenxa yokuthi iBhayibheli labo liyilelo elingavami ukusebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, iKing James Version, isebenzisa igama elithi “Jehova” kuphela kuEksodusi 6:3, amaHubo 83:18 noIsaya 12:2 no-Isa 26:4. Nokho, uma leliBhayibheli lihumusha igama likaNkulunKulu ngesiqu sokuthi “Nkosi” noma “Nkulunkulu,” ngaso sonke isikhathi lesisiqu sibhalwa ngonobumbakazi, ngokuthi “NKOSI” nokuthi “NKULUNKULU,” okwenza ukuba lamagama ahluke kwavamile athi “Nkosi” nelithi “Nkulunkulu.” Kuphawule lokho kumaHubo 110:1 kuleliBhayibheli.
20. (a) Kungani igama likaNkulunkulu belingasetshenziswa ngokuvamile? (b) Ingabe kumelwe lisetshenziswe?
20 Ungase ubuze: ‘Kodwa kungani igama likaNkulunkulu lingasetshenziswa yonke indawo lapho livela khona emibhalweni yokuqala yeBhayibheli? Kungani ngokuvamile kusetshenziswa iziqu ezithi NKOSI nesithi NKULUNKULU esikhundleni salo?’ Esandulelweni sayo iAmerican Standard Version iyachaza ukuthi kungani isebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu elithi Jehova, nokuthi kungani esikhathini eside lelogama lalingasetshenziswa: “AbaCubunguli baseMelika, ngemva kokucabangisisa kahle, bafinyelela esinqumweni esisodwa sokuthi inkolelo yeze yamaJuda, eyayibheka iGama laPhezulu njengelingcwele kakhulu ukuba libizwe, akusadingekile ibuse inguqulo yesiNgisi noma noma iyiphi enye . . . Leligama lomuntu siqu, kanye nokuhlangana kwalo nobungcwele, manje libuyiselwa endaweni embhalweni ongcwele leyo kakade okumelwe libe kuyo.” Yebo, amadoda ahumushela leliBhayibheli esiNgisini aba nomuzwa wokuthi izizathu zokuba igama likaNkulunkulu lishiywe zazingezinhle. Ngakho alibuyisela eBhayibhelini ezindaweni zalo ezifanele.
21. IDouay Version yamaKatolika ithini ngegama elithi Jehova?
21 Nokho, kukhona labo abaphikisa ngokuthi igama elithi “Jehova” akumelwe lisetshenziswe ngoba akulona ngempela igama likaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, iCatholic Douay Version, engalisebenzisi igama likaNkulunkulu embhalweni wayo oyinhloko, ithi embhalweni wayo ongaphansi kaEksodusi 6:3: “Abanye besimanje baye bakha igama elithi Jehova . . . ukuphinyiselwa kwangempela kwaleligama elisembhalweni wesiHeberu, eselinesikhathi eside lingasetshenziswa, manje sekulahlekile.”
22. (a) Igama likaNkulunkulu limelelwe kanjani ngolimi lwesiHeberu? (b) Kungani kunenkinga yokwazi indlela igama likaNkulunkulu elaliphinyiselwa ngayo kuqala?
22 Yebo, njengoba iBhayibheli lamaKatolika lapha lisho, igama likaNkulunkulu likhona embhalweni wesiHeberu, njengoba isiHeberu siwulimi izincwadi zokuqala ezingama-39 zeBhayibheli ezazibhalwe ngalo. Lapho leligama limelelwe izinhlamvu ezine zesiHeberu, YHWH. Ezikhathini zasendulo ulimi lwesiHeberu lwalubhalwa ngaphandle konkamisa, izinhlamvu ezingo-a, e, i, o, no-u, ezisisiza ukuba sinikeze umsindo ofanelekile emagameni. Ngakho-ke, inkinga namuhla iwukuthi asinayo indlela yokwazi ngokuthe ngqo ukuthi ibaphi onkamisa amaHeberu ayebasebenzisa kanye nongwaqa YHWH.
23. Indlela yokubhalwa kwegama “nklm” elisho “inkulumo” ingasisiza kanjani ukuba siqonde inkinga yokuphimisela igama likaNkulunkulu?
23 Ukuze siyiqonde kahle lenkinga, ake sicabangele igama “inkulumo.” Ake sithi ekuqaleni lalibhalwa ngokuthi “nklm,” nokuthi ngemva kwesikhathi, leligama alizange libizwe. Khona-ke, umuntu obengaphila ngemva kweminyaka eyi-1 000 kusukela manje ubengazi kanjani ukuthi angambiza kanjani u“nklm” uma embona ebhaliwe? Njengoba engakaze alizwe liphinyiselwa futhi engazi ukuthi ibaphi onkamisa ababekuleligama, ubengeke azi ngokuqinisekile. Kungokufanayo nangegama likaNkulunkulu. Akwaziwa ngokuqondile ukuthi lalibizwa kanjani, ngisho nakuba ezinye izazi zicabanga ukuthi u“Yahweh” uyindlela eqondile. Nokho, ukuthi “Jehova” sekunamakhulu eminyaka kusetshenziswa futhi sekwaziwa kakhulu.
24. (a) Ukuze singaguquguquki, kungani kufanelekile ukuba silisebenzise igama likaNkulunkulu? (b) Ngokucabangela izEnzo 15:14, kungani kubalulekile ukuba silisebenzise igama likaNkulunkulu?
24 Nokho, ingabe kumelwe sisebenzise igama likaNkulunkulu, ngisho nakuba kungenzeka singalibizi ngokuqonde ngqo ngendlela elalibizwa ngayo ekuqaleni? Nokho, siyawasebenzisa amagama abanye abantu eBhayibhelini, ngisho nakuba singawasho ngendlela ayephinyiselwa ngayo esiHeberwini sakuqala. Ngokwesibonelo, igama likaJesu liphinyiselwa ngokuthi “Yesh’ua” ngesiHeberu. Ngokufanayo, kungokufanelekile ukusebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu, esilembulelwa eBhayibhelini, kungakhathaliseki noma silibiza ngokuthi “Yahweh,” “Jehova,” noma ngenye indlela ejwayelekile olimini lwethu. Okungalungile kuwukwehluleka ukusebenzisa lelogama. Ngani? Ngoba labo abangalisebenzisi abanakuhlanganiswa nalabo uNkulunkulu azithathela bona njenga“bantu begama lakhe.” (IzEnzo 15:14) Akumelwe nje kuphela silazi igama likaNkulunkulu kodwa futhi kumelwe silidumise phambi kwabanye, njengoba uJesu enza ngesikhathi esemhlabeni.—Mathewu 6:9; Johane 17:6, 26.
UNKULUNKULU WENJONGO
25. (a) Iziphi izinto ngoNkulunkulu okungase kube nzima ngathi ukuziqonda? (b) Yini eyashukumisela uJehova ukuba aqale ukudala?
25 Nakuba kungase kube nzima ngezingqondo zethu ukuba zikuqonde lokhu, uJehova akazange abe nesiqalo futhi akasoze abe nesiphelo. Uyi“Nkosi yaphakade.” (AmaHubo 90:2; 1 Thimothewu 1:17) Ngaphambi kokuba aqale ukudala, uJehova wayeyedwa emkhathini wamazulu. Kodwa akunakwenzeka ukuthi wayenesizungu, ngoba akadingi muntu futhi akantuli lutho. Uthando olwamshukumisela ukuba aqale ukudala, ukuba anikeze abanye ukuphila ukuba bakujabulele. Izidalwa zokuqala zikaNkulunkulu kwakungabantu bomoya njengaye. Wayenenhlangano enkulu yamadodana asezulwini ngisho nangaphambi kokuba umhlaba ulungiselelwe abantu. Injongo kaJehova kwakuwukuba lamadodana athole injabulo enkulu ekuphileni nasenkonzweni ayewanikeze yona ukuba ayenze.—Jobe 38:4, 7.
26. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi injongo kaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba iyogcwaliseka?
26 Lapho kulungiselelwa umhlaba, uJehova wabeka umbhangqwana, uAdamu noEva, engxenyeni yomhlaba eyase yenziwe ipharadesi kakade. Injongo yakhe kwakuwukuba babe nabantwana ababezomlalela futhi bamkhulekele, nababezonwebela lelopharadesi emhlabeni wonke. (Genesise 1:27, 28) Nokho, njengoba sesifundile, leyonjongo enhle yaphazamiseka. UAdamu noEva bakhetha ukungamlaleli uNkulunkulu, futhi injongo yakhe ayizange igcwaliseke. Kodwa izogcwaliseka, ngoba kungaba ukuhlulwa ngoJehova ukuba angayifezi leyonjongo yakhe. Lokho yinto angenakuyenza! Uthi: “Ngiyakwenza yonke intando yami, . . . ngikhulumile, ngiyakukufikisa.”—Isaya 46:10, 11.
27. (a) Kungani kumelwe silandise kuNkulunkulu? (b) Ngakho yimuphi umbuzo okumelwe siwucabangele ngokungathi sína?
27 Uyabona yini ukuthi ungenaphi enjongweni kaNkulunkuiu? Akukhona nje ukumane wenze noma yini oyifunayo ngaphandle kokucabangela ukuthi intando kaNkulunkulu iyini. Yilokho uSathane noAdamu noEva abakwenza. Babazi ukuthi intando kaNkulunkulu iyini kodwa abazange bayenze. UNkulunkulu wababheka njengabamelwe balandise. Ingabe nathi ngokufanayo kumelwe silandise kuNkulunkulu? Yebo, ngoba uNkulunkulu unguMthombo wokuphila kwethu. Ukuphila kwethu kuxhomeke kuye. (AmaHubo 36:9; Mathewu 5:45) Kungezinga elingakananike, esiphila ngalo ukuphila kwethu ngokuvumelana nenjongo kaNkulunkulu ngathi? Kumelwe sicabange ngokungathi sina ngalokhu, ngoba ithuba lethu lokuphila okuphakade lixhomeke kukho.
INDLELA YOKUKHULEKELA UJEHOVA
28. Iziphi izinto abanye abantu abaye bazisebenzisa ekukhulekeleni uNkulunkulu?
28 Indlela esikhulekela ngayo uJehova ibalulekile. Kumelwe simkhulekele ngendlela ayishoyo, ngisho nakuba lokhu kungase kube ngokuhlukile kunendlela esiye safundiswa ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo, kuyisiko kwabanye abantu ukusebenzisa isithombe ekukhulekeleni kwabo. Bangase bathi abakhulekeli izithombe, kodwa ukusibona nokusithinta kuyabasiza ekukhulekeleni uNkulunkulu. Kodwa ingabe uNkulunkulu ufuna ukuba simkhulekele ngosizo lwezithombe?
29. IBhayibheli libonisa kanjani ukuthi akulungile ukusebenzisa izithombe ekukhulekeleni?
29 Cha, akafuni. Futhi uMose watshela amaIsrayeli ukuthi uNkulunkulu akakaze abonakale kuwona ngesimo esibonakalayo ngenxa yalesosizathu kanye. (Duteronomi 4:15-19) Eqinisweni omunye weMiyalo Eyishumi uthi: “Ungazenzeli izithombe ezibaziweyo, namfanekiso . . . ungazikhothameli, ungazikhonzi.” (Eksodusi 20:4, 5) UJehova kuphela okumelwe akhulekelwe. Ngokuphindiwe iBhayibheli liyabonisa ukuthi akulungile kangakanani ukwenza isithombe noma ukukhothama phambi kwaso, noma ukukhulekela noma ubani, noma yini ngaphandle kukaJehova.—Isaya 44:14-20; 46:6, 7; AmaHubo 115:4-8.
30. (a) UJesu nabaphostoli bakhe bathini ebonisa ukuthi ukusebenzisa izithombe akulungile? (b) NgokukaDuteronomi 7:25, yini okumelwe yenziwe ngezithombe?
30 Njengoba besingase silindele, ngalesosikhathi, uJesu akazange azisebenzise izithombe ekukhulekeleni. Wachaza: “UNkulunkulu unguMoya; abakhuleka kuye bafanele ukukhuleka ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Johane 4:24) Benza ngokuvumelana nalesoseluleko, akekho kubalandeli bakaJesu bokuqala owasebenzisa izithombe njengosizo ekukhulekeleni. Eqinisweni, umphostoli wakhe uPawulu waloba: “Sihamba ngokukholwa, asihambi ngokubona.” (2 Korinte 5:7) Futhi umphostoli wakhe uJohane waxwayisa: “Zilindeni ezithombeni.” (1 Johane 5:21) Kungani ungaqalazi endlini yakho bese uzibuza noma uyasilandela yini lesiseluleko?—Duteronomi 7:25.
31. (a) Ngisho nakuba singase singasiqondi isizathu somthetho othile kaNkulunkulu, yini eyosishukumisela ukuba siwulalele? (b) Yini okumelwe sizame ukuyenza, futhi isiphi isimemo okumelwe sisamukele?
31 Ukukhulekela uJehova uMdali, ngendlela ayala ngayo ngokuqinisekile kuyosilethela injabulo yoqobo. (Jeremiya 14:22) IBhayibheli liyabonisa ukuthi izimfuneko zakhe zingezenzuzo yethu, zingezokucabangela inhlalakahle yethu yaphakade. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi kungase kube khona izikhathi, ngenxa yolwazi lwethu olulinganiselwe nokuhlangenwe nakho, lapho ‘singaboni ngokuphelele’ ukuthi kungani umthetho othile obekwe nguNkulunkulu ubalulekile, nokuthi usisiza ngani ngempela. Kodwa ukukholelwa kwethu okuqinile ekutheni uNkulunkulu wazi ngaphezu kokuba sazi kumelwe kusishukumisele ukuba simlalele ngezinhliziyo ezivumayo. (AmaHubo 19:7-11) Ngakho-ke, masenze wonke umzamo ukuba sifunde konke esingakufunda ngoJehova, samukele lesimemo: “Wozani; masikhuleke, sikhothame, siguqe phambi kukaJehova, uMenzi wethu. Ngokuba yena unguNkulunkulu wethu, thina singabantu bedlelo lakhe nezimvu zesandla sakhe.”—AmaHubo 95:6, 7.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 42]
Izindawo ezimbalwa lapho igama likaNkulunkulu livela khona eBhayibhelini lesiZulu elidala
3 Nga bonakala kuAbrahama, na kuIsaka, na kuJakobe, ngi nguTixo onamandhla onke; kepa ngegama lami lokuti, uJehova, be ngi ngazeki kubo.
18 Ukuze bazi ukuba wena o gama lako li nguJehova u wedwa, Opakamileyo pezu komhlaba wonke.
2 Bheka u Tixo u insindiso yami; ngiya kwetemba, ngi nge sabi, ngokuba uJehova u ngamandhla ami, nesihlabelelo sami.
4 Tembani njalo njalo kuJehova: ngokuba kuJehova ku kona amandhla a nga peliyo
[Izithombe ekhasini 34, 35]
Uma indlu inomenzi, . . . nakanjani amazulu ayinkimbinkimbi kangaka kumelwe abe noMenzi nawo
[Isithombe ekhasini 39]
Njengoba uJesu athandaza kuNkulunkulu ecela ukuba kwenziwe intando kaNkulunkulu, hhayi eyakhe, kwakungenakwenzeka babe umuntu oyedwa
[Isithombe ekhasini 40, 41]
Umoya ongcwele ungaba kanjani umuntu, uma wakwazi ukugcwala kubafundi abayi-120 ngesikhathi esisodwa?
[Isithombe ekhasini 45]
Ingabe kulungile ukusebenzisa izithombe ekukhulekeleni?