Khonza UJehova Ngokwethembeka
“Kothembekileyo [uJehova] uyazibonakalisa ethembekile.”—2 SAMUWELI 22:26.
1. UJehova ubaphatha kanjani labo abathembekile kuye?
UJEHOVA akanakukhokhelwa ngakho konke akwenzela abantu bakhe. (IHubo 116:12) Yeka ukuthi zimangalisa kanjani izipho zakhe ezingokomoya nezingokwenyama kanye nesihe sothando! INkosi uDavide yakwaIsrayeli wasendulo yayazi ukuthi noNkulunkulu uyathembeka kwabathembekile kuye. UDavide washo kanjalo engomeni ayiqamba ‘mhla uJehova emophula esandleni sezitha zakhe zonke nasesandleni [seNkosi] uSawule.’—2 Samuweli 22:1.
2. Yimaphi amanye amaphuzu avezwe engomeni kaDavide elotshwe kweyesi-2 Samuweli isahluko 22?
2 UDavide waqalisa ingoma yakhe (ehambisana neHubo 18) ngokudumisa uJehova ‘njengomkhululi’ ekuphenduleni umthandazo. (2 Samuweli 22:2-7) Esethempelini lakhe lasezulwini, uNkulunkulu wathatha isinyathelo sokukhulula inceku yakhe ethembekile ezitheni ezinamandla. (Amavesi 8-19) Kanjalo uDavide wathola umvuzo ngokuphishekela inkambo yobuqotho nokugcina izindlela zikaJehova. (Amavesi 20-27) Ngokulandelayo kubalwa izenzo ezenziwa ngamandla avela kuNkulunkulu. (Amavesi 28-43) Ekugcineni, uDavide wabhekisela ekukhululweni kubagxeki abakwabakubo nasezitheni ezikude futhi wambonga uJehova ‘njengowenza insindiso ibe nkulu enkosini yakhe; uyenza umusa kogcotshiweyo wakhe.’ (Amavesi 44-51) UJehova angasikhulula nathi uma siphishekela inkambo yobuqotho futhi sithembela kuye ukuze sithole amandla.
Okushiwo Ukuba Othembekile
3. Ngokombono ongokomBhalo, kusho ukuthini ukwethembeka?
3 Ingoma kaDavide yokukhululwa isinikeza lesiqinisekiso esiduduzayo: “Kothembekileyo [uJehova] uyazibonakalisa ethembekile.” (2 Samuweli 22:26) Yisichasiso sesiHeberu esithi cha·sidhʹ esisho “othile othembekile,” noma “umuntu onomusa wothando.” (IHubo 18:25, umbhalo waphansi weNW) Ibizo elithi cheʹsedh linomqondo womusa ozinamathelisa ngothando entweni kuze kube yilapho injongo yawo ngokuqondene naleyonto isifezekile. UJehova ubonisa lolohlobo lomusa ngezinceku zakhe, njengoba nje nazo zilubonisa ngaye. Lokhu kwethembeka kokulunga, nokungcwele kuhunyushwa ngokuthi “umusa wothando” nangokuthi “uthando lokwethembeka.” (Genesise 20:13; 21:23, qhathanisa neNW) EmiBhalweni yesiGreki, igama elithi, “ukwethembeka” linomqondo wobungcwele nenhlonipho, ovezwe ebizweni uho·si·oʹtes nasesichasisweni uhoʹsi·os. Ukwethembeka okunjalo kuhlanganisa ukwethembeka nokuzinikela futhi kusho ukuba oshisekayo noyenza ngokucophelela yonke imisebenzi ephathelene noNkulunkulu. Ukwethembeka kuJehova kusho ukunamathela kuye ngokuzinikela okuqine kangangokuba kusebenze njengento enamandla yokunamathisela.
4. Ukwethembeka kukaJehova kuboniswa kanjani?
4 Ukwethembeka kwakhe siqu uJehova kuboniswa ngezindlela eziningi. Ngokwesibonelo, ubathathela isinyathelo sokwahlulela ababi ngenxa yothando lokwethembeka ngabantu bakhe nokuba nokwethembeka ebulungiseni nasekulungeni. (IsAmbulo 15:3, 4; 16:5) Ukwethembeka esivumelwaneni sakhe noAbrahama kwamshukumisela ukuba abonise ukubhekakade kumaIsrayeli. (2 AmaKhosi 13:23) Labo abathembekile kuNkulunkulu bangalulindela usizo lwakhe kuze kube sekugcineni kwenkambo yabo yokwethembeka futhi bangaqiniseka ukuthi uyobakhumbula. (IHubo 37:27, 28; 97:10) UJesu waqiniswa ulwazi lokuthi ‘njengothembekileyo’ omkhulu kaNkulunkulu, umphefumulo wakhe wawungeke ushiywe eSheoli.—IHubo 16:10, qhathanisa neNW; IzEnzo 2:25, 27.
5. Njengoba uJehova ethembekile, yini ayifunayo ezincekwini zakhe, futhi yimuphi umbuzo oyocatshangelwa?
5 Njengoba uJehova uNkulunkulu ethembekile, ufuna ukuba izinceku zakhe zithembeke. (Efesu 4:24) Ngokwesibonelo, amadoda kumelwe athembeke ukuze afanelekele ukumiswa njengabadala bebandla. (Thithu 1:8) Yiziphi izici okufanele zishukumisele abantu bakaJehova ukuba bamkhonze ngokwethembeka?
Ukwazisa Ngezinto Esizifundile
6. Kufanele sizizwe kanjani ngezinto ezingokomBhalo esizifundile, futhi yini okufanele siyikhumbule ngolwazi olunjalo?
6 Ukubonga ngezinto ezingokomBhalo esizifundile kufanele kusishukumisele ukuba sikhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka. Umphostoli uPawulu wanxusa uThimothewu: “Yima kulokho okufundile nowaqiniseka kukho, wazi ukuthi ukufundé kobani, nokuthi kusukela ebuntwaneni wazi imibhalo engcwele enamandla okukuhlakaniphisa, kube-yinsindiso ngokukholwa kuKristu Jesu.” (2 Thimothewu 3:14, 15) Khumbula ukuthi ulwazi olunjalo luvela kuNkulunkulu ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’—Mathewu 24:45-47.
7. Abadala kufanele bazizwe kanjani ngokudla okungokomoya okulungiselelwa nguNkulunkulu ngenceku ethembekileyo?
7 Ikakhulukazi abadala abamisiwe kufanele bakwazise ukudla okungokomoya okunomsoco okulungiselelwa nguNkulunkulu ngenceku ethembekileyo. Eminyakeni edlule abadala abathile abambalwa bantula ukwazisa okunjalo. Omunye umkhulumeli waphawula ukuthi lamadoda “ayegxeka izihloko ezikuNqabayokulinda, engafuni ukuyamukela . . . njengomzila kaNkulunkulu weqiniso, njalo ezama ukuthonya abanye ngendlela yawo yokucabanga.” Nokho, abadala abathembekile abalokothi bazame ukuthonya abanye ukuba benqabe noma yikuphi kokudla okungokomoya okulungiselelwa nguNkulunkulu ngenceku ethembekileyo.
8. Kuthiwani uma singaliqondi ngokugcwele iphuzu elithile elingokomBhalo elivezwa yinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo?
8 NjengoFakazi bakaJehova abazinikezele, sonke kumelwe sithembeke kuye nasenhlanganweni yakhe. Akufanele neze sikucabange nokukucabanga ukufulathela ukukhanya kukaNkulunkulu okumangalisayo, siphishekele inkambo yokuhlubuka engaholela ekufeni okungokomoya manje nasekubhujisweni ekugcineni. (Jeremiya 17:13) Kodwa kuthiwani uma kunzima ukuba samukele noma siliqonde ngokugcwele iphuzu elithile elingokomBhalo elivezwa inceku ethembekileyo? Khona-ke masivume ngokuzithoba ukuthi silifunde kuphi iqiniso futhi sithandazele ukuhlakanipha kokubhekana naloluvivinyo kuze kube yilapho luphela lapho sekukhishwe incazelo ethile enyathelisiwe yalezozindaba.—Jakobe 1:5-8.
Yazisa Ubuzalwane BobuKristu
9. Eyoku-1 Johane 1:3-6 ikubonisa kanjani ukuthi amaKristu kumelwe abe nomoya wobuzalwane?
9 Ukwazisa okuqotho ngomoya wobuzalwane okhona ebuzalwaneni bethu bobuKristu kunikeza esinye isisusa sokukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka. Empeleni, ubuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu noKristu ngeke bube buhle ngokomoya ngaphandle kwalomoya. Umphostoli uJohane watshela amaKristu agcotshiwe: “Lokho esikubonileyo, sakuzwa, sinishumayeza khona nani, ukuze nani nibe-nenhlanganyelo [“nobuzalwane,” Diaglott] nathi. Kepha thina sinenhlanganyelo noYise naneNdodana yakhe uJesu Kristu. . . . Uma sithi sinenhlanganyelo naye sibe sisahamba ebumnyameni, sinamanga, asenzi iqiniso.” (1 Johane 1:3-6) Lesimiso sisebenza kuwo wonke amaKristu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ithemba lawo elasezulwini noma elasemhlabeni.
10. Nakuba uEvodiya noSintike ngokusobala babenobunzima ekuxazululeni inkinga ethile yabo siqu, uPawulu wababheka kanjani laba besifazane?
10 Kudingeka umzamo ukuze kulondolozwe umoya wobuzalwane. Ngokwesibonelo, abesifazane abangamaKristu uEvodiya noSintike ngokusobala bakuthola kunzima ukuxazulula inkinga eyayiphakathi kwabo. Ngakho uPawulu wabayala “ukuba babe-nokuqonda kunye eNkosini.” Wanezela: “Ngiyakunxusa nawe-mana wami oqotho, yelekelela labobesifazane, lokhu babambisana nami evangelini, kanye noKlemente nezinye izisebenzi zami abamagama abo asencwadini yokuphila.” (Filipi 4:2, 3) Labobesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu babebambisene noPawulu nabanye “evangelini,” futhi wayeqiniseka ukuthi babephakathi kwalabo “abamagama abo asencwadini yokuphila.”
11. Uma umKristu othembekile ehlangabezana nenkinga engokomoya, yini okuyoba okufanelekile ukuyikhumbula?
11 AmaKristu awafaki zimpawu ezibonisa lokho anelungelo lokukwenza enhlanganweni kaJehova nokuthi aye amkhonza kanjani ngokwethembeka. Uma enenkinga engokomoya, yeka indlela obekungeke kube uthando ngayo ukungayinaki iminyaka yawo eminingi yenkonzo yokwethembeka kuJehova! Kungenzeka ukuthi lowo obizwa ngokuthi ‘umana oqotho’ wayengumzalwane othembekile owayeshisekela ukusiza abanye. Uma ungumdala, ingabe ‘ungumana oqotho,’ okulungele ukunikeza usizo ngendlela enesihawu? Kwangathi sonke singakucabangela okuhle okwenziwa esikholwa nabo, njengoba nje noNkulunkulu enza, futhi ngothando sibasize ukuba bathwale imithwalo yabo.—Galathiya 6:2; Heberu 6:10.
Akukho Lapho Singaya Khona
12. Lapho inkulumo kaJesu ibangela ‘abaningi babafundi ukuba babuyele emuva,’ uPetru wathatha kuphi ukuma?
12 Siyoshukunyiselwa ukukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka kanye nenhlangano yakhe uma sikhumbula ukuthi akukho lapho singaya khona ukuze sithole ukuphila okuphakade. Lapho inkulumo kaJesu ibangela ‘abaningi babafundi ukuba babuyele emuva,’ wabuza abaphostoli bakhe: “Nani nithanda ukumuka na?” UPetru waphendula: “Nkosi, siyakuya kubani na? Amazwi okuphila okuphakade akuwe. Siyakholwa, siyazi ukuthi wena ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu.”—Johane 6:66-69.
13, 14. (a) Kungani inkolo yobuJuda yekhulu lokuqala leminyaka yayingenakho ukuvunyelwa kwaphezulu? (b) Omunye uFakazi KaJehova ongumakad’ ebona wathini ngenhlangano kaNkulunkulu ebonakalayo?
13 “Amazwi okuphila okuphakade” ayengatholakali enkolweni yobuJuda yekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E. Isono sayo esiyinhloko sasiwukwenqaba uJesu njengoMesiya. Kuzo zonke izinhlobo zabo ubuJuda babungasekelwe ngokukhethekile emiBhalweni YesiHeberu. AbaSadusi babekuphika ukuba khona kwezingelosi futhi babengakholelwa ovukweni. Nakuba abaFarisi babengavumelani nabo kulezici, ngendlela eyisono benza iZwi likaNkulunkulu laba yize ngenxa yamasiko abo angekho ngokombhalo. (Mathewu 15:1-11; IzEnzo 23:6-9) Lamasiko awagqilaza amaJuda futhi enza kwaba nzima ngabaningi ukuba bamukele uJesu Kristu. (Kolose 2:8) Intshiseko ‘ngamasiko okhokho’ yabangela uSawulu (uPawulu) ukuba ngokungazi abe umshushisi ononya wabalandeli bakaKristu.—Galathiya 1:13, 14, 23.
14 Inkolo yobuJuda yayingenakho ukuvunyelwa uNkulunkulu, kodwa uJehova wayibusisa inhlangano eyayakhiwa abalandeli beNdodana yakhe—‘abantu abashisekela imisebenzi emihle.’ (Thithu 2:14) Leyonhlangano isekhona namanje, futhi uFakazi kaJehova ongumakad’ ebona wathi ngayo: “Uma kukhona into ebibaluleke kakhulu kimina, bekuyindaba yokuzigcina ngiseduze nenhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo. Okuhlangenwe nakho kwami kwasekuqaleni kwangifundisa indlela okungenangqondo ngayo ukuthembela ekucabangeni komuntu. Kuthé lapho ingqondo yami isinqumile ngalelophuzu, ngazimisela ukuhlala ngikulenhlangano ethembekile. Kungayiphi enye indlela umuntu abengathola ngayo umusa kaJehova nesibusiso?” Akukho lapho singaya khona ukuze sithole umusa waphezulu nokuphila okuphakade.
15. Kungani kumelwe sibambisane nenhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo kanye nalabo abathwele imithwalo yemfanelo kuyo?
15 Izinhliziyo zethu kufanele zisishukumisele ekubeni sibambisane nenhlangano kaJehova ngoba siyazi ukuthi yiyo yodwa eqondiswa umoya wakhe futhi yenza igama lakhe nezinjongo kwaziwe. Yebo, labo abathwele imithwalo yemfanelo kuyo abaphelele. (Roma 5:12) Kodwa “intukuthelo kaJehova yabavuthela” oAroni noMiriyamu lapho begxeka uMose futhi bekhohlwa ukuthi uyena, hhayi bona, owayephathiswe umthwalo wemfanelo ovela kuNkulunkulu. (Numeri 12:7-9) Namuhla, amaKristu athembekile ayabambisana ‘nabaholayo’ ngoba yilokho uJehova akufunayo. (Heberu 13:7, 17) Ubufakazi bokwethembeka kwethu buhlanganisa nokuba khona njalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu nokunikeza izimpendulo ‘ezivusa uthando nemisebenzi emihle.’—Heberu 10:24, 25.
Yiba Ngowakhayo
16. Yisifiso sokubenzelani abanye okufanele futhi sisishukumisele ukuba sikhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka?
16 Isifiso sokwakha abanye naso kufanele sisishukumisele ukuba sikhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka. UPawulu wabhala: “Ukwazi kuyakhukhumeza, kepha uthando luyakha.” (1 Korinte 8:1) Njengoba uhlobo oluthile lolwazi lukhukhumeza lowo onalo, kumelwe ukuba uPawulu wayesho ukuthi nothando luyabakha labo ababonisa leyomfanelo. Incwadi kaProfesa Weiss noEnglish ithi: “Umuntu onekhono lokuthanda ngokuvamile naye uyathandwa. Ikhono lokudlulisela umusa nokucabangela kuzo zonke izici zokuphila . . . linomphumela owakhayo ophawulekayo kumuntu odlulisela imizwa enjalo nakumuntu oyamukelayo futhi kanjalo kulethe injabulo kubo bobabili.” Ngokubonisa uthando, sizakha thina ngokwethu kanye nabanye, njengoba kuboniswa amazwi kaJesu: “Kukhona injabulo enkulu ekupheni kunasekwamukeleni.”—IzEnzo 20:35, NW.
17. Uthando lwakha kanjani, futhi yini oluyosivimbela ukuba siyenze?
17 Kweyoku-1 Korinte 8:1, uPawulu wasebenzisa igama lesiGreki elithi a·gaʹpe, elibonisa uthando olunezimiso. Luyakha, ngoba lunokubhekakade futhi lunomusa, lubekezelela futhi lukhuthazelele izinto zonke, futhi alusoze lwaphela. Loluthando luxosha imizwelo elimazayo, enjengokuqhosha nomhawu. (1 Korinte 13:4-8) Uthando olunjalo luyosenza singakhonondi ngabafowethu, abangaphelele njengoba nje nathi sinjalo. Luyosivikela ekubeni sifane ‘nabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’ abangena ngokunyenya phakathi kwamaKristu eqiniso ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka. Labantu ‘babedelela ubukhosi futhi behlambalaza ababenikwe udumo,’ ngokusobala behlambalaza abantu abanjengababonisi abangamaKristu abagcotshiwe ababenodumo oluthile ababelunikeziwe. (Juda 3, 4, 8, qhathanisa neNW) Ekuboniseni ukuthembeka kuJehova, masingalokothi sivumele isilingo sokwenza noma yini efanayo.
Melana NoDeveli!
18. Yini uSathane angathanda ukuyenza kubantu bakaJehova, kodwa kungani engenakukwenza lokho?
18 Ukuba nolwazi lokuthi uSathane ufuna ukuqeda ubunye bethu njengabantu bakaNkulunkulu kufanele kwandise ukuzimisela kwethu ukukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka. USathane angathanda ngisho nokubhubhisa bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu, futhi izinceku zikaDeveli zasemhlabeni ngezinye izikhathi zibulala abakhulekeli beqiniso. Kodwa uNkulunkulu ngeke amvumele uSathane ukuba aziqothule zonke. UJesu wafa ukuze ‘achithe obenawo amandla okufa onguSathane.’ (Heberu 2:14) Indawo uSathane alawula kuyo iye yaba ngelinganiselwe ikakhulukazi kusukela ekuxoshweni kwakhe ezulwini ngemva kokuba uKristu ebe iNkosi ngo-1914. Futhi ngesikhathi sikaJehova esifanele, uJesu uyombhubhisa uSathane nenhlangano yakhe.
19. (a) Yisiphi isixwayiso esiphathelene nemizamo kaSathane lomagazini owasinikeza eminyakeni edlule? (b) Ukuze sigweme izingibe zikaSathane, yikuphi ukuqapha okufanele sikubonise ekusebenzelaneni nesikholwa nabo?
19 Lomagazini wake waxwayisa: “Uma uSathane, udeveli, engabangela isiphithiphithi phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, abangele ukuba baxabane futhi balwe bodwa, noma babonise futhi babe nesimo sobugovu esingaholela ekupheleni kothando kubazalwane, kanjalo uyophumelela ekubabhubhiseni.” (The Watch Tower, May 1, 1921, ikhasi 134) Masingamvumeli uDeveli ukuba aqede ubunye bethu, mhlawumbe ngokusiyengela ekubeni sinyundelane, noma silwisane. (Levitikusi 19:16) Kwangathi uSathane angesinqobe nanini ngobuqili size silimaze ngokomuntu siqu labo abakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka noma senze ukuphila kube nzima kakhulu ngabo. (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Korinte 2:10, 11.) Kunalokho, masisebenzise amazwi kaPetru: “Qondani, nilinde. Isitha senu, uSathane, siyahamba njengebhubesi elibhodlayo sifuna esingamgwinya; melanani naye niqinile ekukholweni.” (1 Petru 5:8, 9) Ngokumelana ngokuqinile noSathane, singalondoloza ubunye bethu obubusisekile njengabantu bakaJehova.—IHubo 133:1-3.
Thembela KuNkulunkulu Ngomthandazo
20, 21. Ukuthembela kuJehova ngomthandazo kuhlobene kanjani nokumkhonza ngokwethembeka?
20 Ukuthembela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo kuyosisiza ukuba siqhubeke sikhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka. Lapho sibona ukuthi uyayiphendula imithandazo yethu, sisondezwa kuye ngisho nangokwengeziwe. Umphostoli uPawulu wanxusa ukuba sithembele kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo lapho ebhala: “Ngithanda ukuba amadoda akhuleke ezindaweni zonke, ephakamisa izandla ezingcwele, engenalulaka nokuphikisana.” (1 Thimothewu 2:8) Ngokwesibonelo, yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo ukuba abadala bathembele kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo! Ukuboniswa okunjalo kokwethembeka kuJehova lapho behlangana ukuze baxoxe ngezindaba zebandla kuyobasiza ukuba bagweme izinkulumo-mpikiswano ezingapheli nokuqhuma kwentukuthelo okungase kube khona.
21 Ukuthembela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo kusisiza ukuba sinakekele amalungelo ethu enkonzweni yakhe. Indoda ethile eyayikhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka amashumi amaningi eminyaka yayingase ithi: “Ukwamukela kwethu ngokuzithandela noma isiphi isabelo esisinikezwayo enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu yomhlaba wonke, nokuhlala kwethu sisesabelweni sethu, singazanyazanyiswa, kwenza imizamo yethu eqotho ithole ukuvunyelwa okuhle uNkulunkulu. Ngisho nakuba umsebenzi esiwabelwe ungabonakala uphansi, ngokuvamile kuba ukuthi ngaphandle kokwenziwa kwawo ngokwethembeka ezinye izinkonzo eziningi ezibalulekile azinakwenziwa. Ngakho uma sithobekile futhi sinesithakazelo ekukhazimuliseni igama likaJehova ngokuqondile futhi hhayi elethu, khona-ke singaqiniseka ukuthi njalo siyoba ‘ngabagxilile, abangaxegiyo, abavame njalo emsebenzini [kaJehova].’”—1 Korinte 15:58, qhathanisa neNW.
22. Izibusiso eziningi zikaJehova kufanele zikuthinte kanjani ukwethembeka kwethu?
22 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yini esiyenzayo enkonzweni kaJehova, yebo, asinakumkhokhela ngalokho asenzela khona. Yeka indlela esilondeke ngayo enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu, njengoba sizungezwe yilabo abangabangane bakhe! (Jakobe 2:23, qhathanisa neNW) UJehova uye wasibusisa ngobunye obuvela othandweni lobuzalwane olujule kakhulu kangangokuba uSathane ngokwakhe akanakulusiphula. Ngakho-ke masinamathele kuBaba wethu wasezulwini othembekile futhi sisebenze ndawonye njengabantu bakhe. Manje naphakade, masikhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kusho ukuthini ukwethembeka?
◻ Yiziphi ezinye izici okufanele zisishukumisele ukuba sikhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka?
◻ Kungani kumelwe simelane noDeveli?
◻ Umthandazo ungasisiza kanjani ukuba sibe izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile?
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile azisivumeli iSitha sazo esinjengebhubesi, uDeveli, ukuba sonakalise ubunye bazo