Ukusebenza Nomhleli Wendawo Yonke
“Ngokuba thina siyizisebenzi kanye noNkulunkulu, nina niyinsimu kaNkulunkulu, niyisakhiwo sikaNkulunkulu.”—1 KORINTE 3:9.
1. Imaphi amazwi ashiwo eminyakeni engaphezu kwama-60 edlule ashukumisa ababewalalele, futhi aba namuphi umphumela kubaFundi BeBhayibheli abaqotho bangalesosikhathi?
“INHLANGANO KANKULUNKULU.” Lawomazwi asetshenziswa ilungu labahleli beWatch Tower Society ngesikhathi sengxoxo yansuku zonke yeBhayibheli ematafuleni okudlela aseBethel eminyakeni engaphezu kwama-60 edlule. Yeka ukuthi kwawuvusa amadlingozi kanjani umkhaya wasendlunkulu eBrooklyn, eNew York! Lawomazwi ayengajwayelekile, “inhlangano kaNkulunkulu,” asiza ekuqondiseni ukucabanga, inkulumo, nokubhala kwesikhathi esizayo kwalabo baFundi BeBhayibheli. Andisa umbono wabo ongokomoya ngokuqondene nayo yonke indalo futhi awuthonya kakhulu umbono wabo ngokuqondene noMhleli omangalisayo wendawo yonke, uJehova uNkulunkulu.
2. Njengoba kuboniswe ngemvelaphi yalo yesiGreki, igama elithi “inhlangano” lingase lichazwe kanjani?
2 Namuhla, lokho kungase kubonakale kumangalisa, njengoba igama elithi “inhlangano” lisetshenziswa njalo oFakazi BakaJehova, abalazisayo ilungelo labo lokusebenza noMhleli wendawo yonke. (1 Korinte 3:5-9) Igama elithi “inhlangano” (organization) lithathelwe egameni lesiGreki elithi orʹga·non. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, lisho ithuluzi noma into yokwenza umsebenzi. Livela izikhathi eziningana kuSeptuagint Version futhi lisetshenziselwa ukubhekisela emfijolini yomculo, njengehabhu likaDavide. Umsuka waleligama uerʹgon, ibizo elisho “umsebenzi.” Ngakho elithi inhlangano lisho ilungiselelo lezinto elisetshenziselwa ukufeza okuthile ngendlela enhle kakhulu enokwenzeka ngesikhathi namandla amancane kakhulu.
Imibono Yangaphambili Ngenhlangano
3. IWatch Tower kaMarch 1883 yathini “ngenhlangano yethu”?
3 Nokho, eminyakeni edlule abaFundi BeBhayibheli babenobunzima ekusebenziseni elithi “inhlangano.” Ngokwesibonelo, kuyiWatch Tower kaMarch 1883, kwathiwa:
“Kodwa, nakuba kungenakwenzeka ngomuntu ovamile ukubona inhlangano yethu, ngoba akanakuziqonda izinto zoMoya kaNkulunkulu, sithemba ukuthi ningabona ukuthi iBandla leqiniso lihleleke ngokuphelele, futhi lisesimweni esikahle kakhulu sokusebenza. . . . Sinokholo olungalinganiselwe kuMphathi wethu; futhi lenhlangano ephelele, engabonakali ezweni, iqhubekela phambili ekunqobeni okuqinisekile nokukhazimulayo.”
4. Imuphi umbono wokuhlela owavezwa kulomagazini kaDecember 1, 1894?
4 Nokho, iWatch Tower kaDecember 1, 1894, yathi:
“Kodwa njengoba lowomsebenzi wokuhlela ibandla welungiselelo elisha leVangeli wawungeyona ingxenye yomsebenzi wokuvuna welungiselelo elidala lamaJuda, ngakho umsebenzi wanamuhla wokuvuna uhlukile futhi emsebenzini welungiselelo elisha leMinyaka Eyinkulungwane Yokubusa KukaKristu manje esondelayo. . . . Kusobala ukuthi ukwenziwa kwenhlangano ebonakalayo yabaqoqiwe kuyoba ngokuphambene nomoya wecebo laphezulu; futhi uma kwenziwa kuyobe kubonisa ukuthi ibandla linesifiso sokuvumelana nomqondo osuvamé kakhulu manje wenhlangano. (Bheka uIsaya 8:12) Umsebenzi manje awuyona inhlangano, kodwa uqhekeko, njengoba kwakunjalo ekuvunweni okungokoqobo kwamaJuda. (Mathewu 10:34-36) . . .
“Ngakho-ke, nakuba singacabangi ukuthi inhlangano ebonakalayo yabahlanganisiwe iyingxenye yecebo leNkosi emsebenzini wokuvuna, njengokungathi silindele njengenhlangano ukuba iqhubekele kwenye inkathi, sikucabangela njengentando yakhe ukuthi labo abathanda iNkosi kumelwe baxoxe njalo ngamathemba abo afanayo nezinjabulo, noma izilingo nezinkinga, baxoxe ngezinto eziyigugu zeZwi lakhe.”
5. Ngokuqondene nenhlangano, yini eyashiwo encwadini iThe New Creation?
5 Ngakho-ke, ibandla lobuKristu ngalesosikhathi lalingacatshangelwa njengeliyinhlangano. Kodwa kwacatshangelwa ukuhlela ibandla. Ngokwesibonelo, iSifundo V sencwadi iThe New Creation, eyakhishwa ngo-1904, sasinesihloko esithi “Inhlangano Yendalo Entsha” futhi siqalisa ngokuthi: “Njengoba iNdalo Entsha ayiyikufinyelela ekupheleleni kwayo noma ekuphelelisweni kuze kube soVukweni Lokuqala, khona-ke ukuhleleka kwayo kuyopheliswa kuphela ngalesosikhathi. Isithombe sethempeli siyakubonisa lokhu: njengamatshe aphilileyo manje sibizelwa, noma simenyelwa ezindaweni zethempeli elikhazimulayo.”
6. Incwadi iThy Kingdom Come yamchaza kanjani “umame” wamalungu ‘endalo entsha’?
6 Ngokuthakazelisayo, incwadi iThy Kingdom Come, eyakhishwa ngo-1891, yathi ngokuqondene nalabo abagcotshiwe ‘bendalo entsha’: “Ngokuqondene noIsaya 54:1-8, uMphostoli uPawulu uye wayikhanyisa ngokuhlakanipha okungaphezu kokwabantu, futhi uye wayisebenzisa eSiyoni elingokomoya, umama wethu noma isivumelwano, efanekiselwa uSara. Inzalo yenyama ka-Abrahama iye yakhishwa ekubeni indlalifa yesithembiso, futhi inzalo yeqiniso, uKristu (owafanekiselwa uIsaka noRebeka), iye yamukelwa njengokuphela kwenzalo yesithembiso.—Gal. 4:22, 24, 26-31.”
7, 8. Ubani umyeni ‘kamame’ webandla lobuKristu, futhi uthini uIsaya 54:1-8 ngokuqondene nalokhu?
7 Lenkulumo yayingahlangene ngalutho neNhlangano Yomhlaba Yamaziyoni, eyasungulwa uTheodor Herzl ngo-1897. Leyonhlangano yayiphathelene neJerusalema eliphansi, lapha emhlabeni, hhayi “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” “umame” webandla lobuKristu. (Galathiya 4:26) Incwadi iThy Kingdom Come ayizange iqhubeke ikhulumele iqiniso lokuthi umyeni ‘kamame’ webandla lobuKristu uNkulunkulu, owafanekiselwa uAbrahama. UJehova akashadanga nesivumelwano sobuAbrahama noma isivumelwano esisha, kodwa “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” elafanekiselwa uSara unina kaIsaka. Njengaye, ‘njengomame,’ “iJerusalema eliphezulu” kumelwe libe okuthile okuphilayo futhi okunobuntu.
8 Khona-ke, lingubani “iJerusalema eliphezulu”? Ukuze sithole impendulo, masiqale sicabangele uIsaya 54:1-8, ofundeka kanje ingxenye yakhe:
“Jabula wena-nyumba, wena ongazalanga, uqhumuke ngokuhlabelela, umemeze wena ongabanga-namihelo, ngokuba abantwana boyisikhwebu baningi kunabantwana bonendoda, usho uJehova. . . . Ngokuba uMenzi wakho ungumyeni wakho, nguJehova-Sebawoti igama lakhe; oNgcwele kaIsrayeli unguMhlengi wakho, uyakubizwa ngokuthi uNkulunkulu womhlaba wonke. Ngokuba uJehova ukubizile njengomfazi oshiyiweyo nodabukileyo emoyeni; umfazi wobusha ukhona omalayo na? usho uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho. Umzuzwana omncane ngakushiya, kepha ngobumnene obukhulu ngiyakukubutha. Ngentukuthelo echichimayo ngabusitheza ubuso bami kuwe isikhashana, kepha ngomusa engapheliyo ngiyakukuhawukela, usho uJehova uMhlengi wakho.”
9. (a) KuIsaya 54:1-8, ubani noma yini uJehova akhuluma nayo ngokududuzayo? (b) NgokwabaseGalathiya 4:25, 26 ubani ‘owesifazane’ ongokomfanekiso okukhulunywa naye esimweni esingokoqobo?
9 Lapho, esikhathini sakuqala, uJehova wayengakhulumi nesivumelwano. Wayekhuluma nesizwe, abantu bakhe abakhethiwe abasesivumelwaneni soMthetho kaMose naye. NgokukaNkulunkulu, lesosizwe sasenza ‘owesifazane’ ohlangene owayefana nomfazi kuye. Ngokwencwadi yomphostoli uPawulu kwabaseGalathiya, ‘owesifazane’ ongokomfanekiso wayefanekisela okuthile, kodwa akasho ukuthi uyisivumelwano. Isivumelwano asikududuzwa. Kunalokho, uPawulu abonisa ukuthi ‘owesifazane’ owafanekiselwa ungokuthile okuphilayo, ‘njengomame,’ njengoba “umyeni” uJehova, uyaphila njengoMuntu onokuhlakanipha nekhono lokududuza. Ekhuluma ngowesifazane womlando wasendulo, umphostoli wabhala: “Kepha uHagari [isigqilakazi esamelela uSara ekuzaleni uIshmayeli kuAbrahama] lo uyintaba yaseSinayi eArabiya, eqondene neJerusalema lakalokhu [ngesikhathi uPawulu esesemhlabeni], ngokuba lisebugqilini [esivumelwaneni soMthetho kaMose] nabantwana balo. Kepha iJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, lona lingumame wethu.”—Galathiya 4:25, 26.
IJerusalema Lisebugqilini
10, 11. (a) Yisiphi isenzakalo esiphawulekayo esithinta amaIsrayeli esenzeka eNtabeni iSinayi? (b) Ngokuphathelene nesivumelwano soMthetho, yini eyenzeka ngo-33 C.E.?
10 UHagari akafanekiseli noma akameleli isivumelwano soMthetho kaMose. Futhi lesosivumelwano neMiyalo Eyishumi yaso asifanekiselwa intaba yaseSinayi, uHagari afanelana nayo. Yebo, uNkulunkulu akazange enze sivumelwano nentaba yaseSinayi. Kodwa kwakulapho lapho aletha amaIsrayeli ayewakhulule ebugqilini baseGibithe, ewaletha ebuhlotsheni besivumelwano naye, futhi wasebenzelana nawo njengesizwe esikhululekile. Lokhu kwenzeka ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka uNkulunkulu enze isivumelwano noAbrahama, emthembisa inzalo yesilisa.
11 Lapho uMose, umlamuleli wesivumelwano soMthetho, ehla eNtabeni iSinayi, ubuso bakhe babukhazimula ukwedlula obomuntu kangangokuba kwadingeka abumboze ukuze amaIsrayeli akwazi ukumbheka. (2 Korinte 3:12-16) Kodwa eNtabeni iSinayi, uMose wayengathinten ngokuqondile noJehova, ngoba uNkulunkulu wenza isivumelwano namaIsrayeli ngengelosi. (IzEnzo 7:37, 38; Heberu 2:2) Ngaleyondlela isizwe sakwaIsrayeli saba ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. Nokho emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, lesosivumelwano sasuswa, sabethelwa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa sikaJesu ngo-33 C.E.—Kolose 2:13, 14.
12. (a) IJerusalema lasemhlabeni ‘lalingumame’ kabani? (b) IJerusalema lasemhlabeni lalingaphansi kobugqili bani eminyakeni engamakhulu ayi-19 edlule, futhi kungani lingazange likhululeke?
12 UPawulu wabhala ukuthi iNtaba yaseSinayi yayihambelana neJerusalema eliphansi losuku lwakhe. Yebo, iJerusalema lalingesiso isivumelwano; laliwumuzi owaziswayo owawuhlala amaJuda. Njengenhloko-dolobha, lalimelela isizwe futhi ‘lalingumame’ ongokomfanekiso ‘wabantwana,’ okungukuthi, wawo wonke amalungu esizwe samaJuda noma samaIsrayeli. (Mathewu 23:37) EJerusalema kwakunethempeli likaJehova, uNkulunkulu amaIsrayeli ayesebuhlotsheni besivumelwano naye. Kodwa amaJuda ngalesosikhathi ayengenawo umbuso ozimele wawo siqu owawubuswa umzukulu weNkosi uDavide. Ngakho-ke, ayengakhululekile kodwa ayesebugqilini ngaphansi kweziphathi-mandla zezombangazwe zabeZizwe. Okubaluleke ngokungaphezulu, ayesebugqilini obungokwenkolo. UMesiya othenjisiwe kuphela, uJesu Kristu, owayengawakhulula kulokho, nasebugqilini besono. Kodwa leloJerusalema alizange limamukele uJesu njengoMesiya neNkosi futhi alizange likhululeke. Kunalokho, labhujiswa ezandleni zamaRoma ngo-70 C.E. ngokubulawa ‘kwabantwana’ balo.
IJerusalema Elikhululekile
13. UPawulu wathini ngeJerusalema elikhululekile, futhi yikuphi ukukhululeka “abantwana balo” okumelwe babambelele kukho?
13 UPawulu waqhathanisa iJerusalema elisebugqilini lasemhlabeni ‘neJerusalema eliphezulu,’ ‘elikhululekile.’ Ecaphuna kuIsaya 54:1-8, wabhala:
“Kepha iJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, lona lingumame wethu. Ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi: Thokoza wena-nyumba ongazaliyo; mpompoloza wena ongenamihelo ngokuba abantwana boyisikhwebu baningi kunabakhe onendoda. Kepha nina-bazalwane, njengoIsaka ningabantwana besithembiso. Kepha njengakulesosikhathi owazalwa ngokwenyama wazingela owazalwa ngokoMoya, kunjalo-ke namanje. Kodwa umbhalo uthini na? Uthi: Xosha isigqilakazi nendodana yaso, ngokuba indodana yesigqilakazi ayisoze yalidla ifa kanye nendodana yokhululekileyo. Ngakho-ke bazalwane, asisibo abantwana besigqila, singabokhululekileyo. UKristu wasikhulula ukuba sibe-nenkululeko; ngakho-ke yimani niqine, ningabe nisaboshelwa ejokeni lobugqila.”—Galathiya 4:25–5:1.
14. Kungani ukuzalwa kukaIsaka ‘kwakungokoMoya’?
14 AmaKristu aseGalathiya ayetshelwa kanjalo “ayengabantwana bakaNkulunkulu ngokwesitliembiso sakhe.” (Galathiya 4:28, Today’s English Version) Njengesibikezelo salokhu, uIsaka wazalwa uAbrahama owayesenekhulu leminyaka ubudala nomkakhe uSara owayeseneminyaka engama-90 ubudala okwakugcwalisa isithembiso sikaJehova kuleyonzalamizi ethembekile. Yebo, ukuzalwa kukaIsaka nguAbrahama kwakuyisimangaliso, ngokusobala hhayi “ngokwenyama.” (Genesise 18:11-15) Ngakho kwakumelwe kube “ngokoMoya.” Yebo, umoya ka-Abrahama oMkhulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu, ngokuqinisekile wawudingeka ukuze uvuselele amandla okuzala kowesifazane okhululekile uSara, nakuAbrahama. (Roma 4:19) Kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi “isithembiso” ngokwaso sasingesidala lapho uIsaka ezalwa ngo-1918 B.C.E., ngoba lokho kwakungemva kweminyaka engama-25 kuphela uAbrahama engenile ezweni lesithembiso laseKhanani ngo-1943 B.C.E., lapho “isithembiso” siqala ukusebenza.
15. “IJerusalema eliphezulu” lalingenabantwana isikhathi eside kangakanani, futhi baqala nini abantwana balo ukuba baningi?
15 “IJerusalema eliphezulu” ‘laliyincithakalo,’ njengokungathi lalingenabantwana, isikhathi eside kunesikaSara. Eqinisweni, “iJerusalema eliphezulu” lalikulesosimo kusukela ngo-1943 B.C.E., lapho isithembiso kuAbrahama siqala ukusebenza, kwaze kwaba yilapho uJesu ebhapathizwa ngo-29 C.E. Kwakungalesosikhathi lapho uJesu azalwa khona ngomoya ka-Abrahama oMkhulu, uJehova, futhi wagcotshwa ngomoya waKhe ukuba abe uKristu noma oGcotshiweyo, uMesiya. Kodwa “iJerusalema eliphezulu” lalizoba nabantwana abaningi abangokomoya. Ngakho ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E., ngemva kokuvuswa kukaJesu nokwenyukela ezulwini, abafundi bakhe abathembekile abangaba yi-120 bazalwa ngomoya ka-Abrahama oMkhulu. Khona-ke bagcotshwa ngalowomoya ukuba babe abafowabo abangokomoya bakaIsaka oMkhulu, uJesu Kristu. Kamuva ngalolosuku cishe amaJuda engeziwe ayizi-3 000 abhapathizwa njengabafundi bakaJesu futhi agcotshwa ngomoya engcwele. (IzEnzo 2:1-42) Kanjalo ngalolusuku “iJerusalema eliphezulu” laba “ngumame” wabantwana abaningi.
16. Liyini “iJerusalema eliphezulu”?
16 Umphostoli uPawulu wembula ukuthi owesifazane okukhulunywa naye kuIsaya 54:1-8 ‘uyiJerusalema eliphezulu.’ UJehova uNkulunkulu ‘ungumyeni’ walo, noMenzi walo Omuhle. Ngenkulumo engokomfanekiso, ‘lingumfazi’ wakhe noma inhlangano esamfazi esezulwini phezulu. Njengomyeni, nguYe olenza lizale ukuze liveze “inzalo” yeqiniso eyathenjiswa ngosuku luka-Abrahama.—Galathiya 3:16, 26-29.
17. “IJerusalema eliphezulu” laba kanjani “umame” ‘wenzalo’ yokuqala ka-Abrahama oMkhulu?
17 Ukuze ibe “inzalo” yokuqala ka-Abrahama oMkhulu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa yayivele enhlanganweni kaJehova esamfazi esezulwini. Kanjalo yaba ‘njengomame’ eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu. UJesu Kristu wayengeyona indodana engokomfanekiso yeJerusalema lasemhlabeni langesikhathi sakhe esemhlabeni, ngoba lowomuzi wawusebugqilini ngalesosikhathi, ‘nabantwana’ bawo, futhi uJesu akazange abe sebugqilini. (Galathiya 4:25) IJerusalema lasemhlabeni ‘lalingumame’ walawomaJuda emvelo enqaba uJesu Kristu ‘njengenzalo’ ethenjisiwe hhayi yenzalamizi uAbrahama kuphela kodwa futhi ka-Abrahama oMkhulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 23:37-39.
Sebenza Nomhleli Omkhulu
18. Kungani iJerusalema lasemhlabeni lalikhanga ezinsukwini zeNkosi uSolomoni?
18 UJesu Kristu, owayenenhlangano kaNkulunkulu engokwasezulwini ‘njengonina’ wayemkhulu futhi ehlakaniphile kuneNkosi uSolomoni, indodana eyaziwayo kaDavide nombusi eJerusalema lasendulo lasemhlabeni. Udumo lukaSolomoni nokuhlakanipha ngokuqinisekile kwakhanga izizwe ezingewona amaIsrayeli njengoba uJesu abonisa ngokuthi: “Inkosikazi yaseningizimu iyakusukuma ekwahluleleni kanye nalesisizukulwane, isilahle; ngokuba yavela emikhawulweni yomhlaba izakuzwa ukuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni; bhekani, lapha kukhona okukhulu kunoSolomoni.” (Mathewu 12:42; Luka 11:31) Ngengxenye ethile, uSolomoni wabonisa lokho kuhlakanipha okuvela ngendlela ayehlela ngayo ukuphatha kwakhe. Indlela ayehlela ngayo zonke izinto ngokuhlakanipha yayimangalisa.
19. Yini eyamangalisa indlovukazi yaseSheba ngokubusa kweNkosi uSolomoni?
19 Ngakho-ke kweyo-1 AmaKhosi 10:4, 5 siyafunda: “Indlovukazi yaseSheba isibonile konke ukuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni, nendlu ayakhileyo, nokudla kwasetafuleni lakhe, nokuhlala kwezinceku zakhe, nokuma kwezikhonzi zakhe, nezambatho zazo, nabaphathizitsha bakhe, nomikelo wakhe wokushiswa [anikela] ngawo endlini kaJehova akwabe kusabakho-moya kuyo.” (Bheka futhi eyesi-2 IziKronike 9:4.) Indlovukazi yaseSheba yayinesizathu sokuhlabeka umxhwele ngokuhleleka kwezisebenzi zikaSolomoni. Futhi ngokuba nokuhleleka okuhle kwezinto, wayesekuvumelaneni noNkulunkulu Wokuhleleka.—1 Korinte 14:33.
20. (a) Ekuphenduleni umthandazo kaSolomoni, yini uJehova amnikeza yona? (b) ‘Njengokuthile okukhulu kunoSolomoni,’ yini uJesu Kristu ayenzayo, futhi iyini inkambo yabalandeli bakhe?
20 Ngokuvumelana nomthandazo kaSolomoni wokuthobeka, uJehova wamnikeza “inhliziyo enokuhlakanipha nokuqonda.” (1 AmaKhosi 3:5-14) UMhleli oMkhulu wendawo yonke wanikeza uSolomoni ikhono lokuhlela izinto ngenjongo yokuhleleka okuhle nokuqeqesheka. Ngakho-ke, kwaba yisibopho senkosi yabantu bakaJehova besivumelwano ukuba isebenze noMhleli waphezulu wazo zonke izinto ezidaliwe ezulwini nasemhlabeni. Ngokuqhathanisa, uJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe, ongokuthile “okukhulu kunoSolomoni,” wenza kanjalo ngokuhlakanipha. Ngakho-ke, abalandeli bakhe abathembekile emhlabeni nabo badinga ukwenza lokhu, futhi bayakwenza.
Uthini?
◻ Ungalichaza kanjani igama elithi “inhlangano”?
◻ IJerusalema lasemhlabeni ‘lalingumame’ wobani, futhi yibuphi ubugqili elingazange likhululeke kubo?
◻ Liyini “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” futhi bangobani “abantwana” balo?
◻ USolomoni wakusebenzisa kanjani ukuhlakanipha kwakhe ayekunikezwe uNkulunkulu, futhi yini eyenziwa uSolomoni oMkhulu nabalandeli baKhe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
IJerusalema lasemhlabeni lalisebugqilini ngayiphi indlela?
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
Indlovukazi yaseSheba yamangala lapho ivakashele uSolomoni. Wayesebenza noMhleli wendawo yonke. Ingabe nawe usebenza noJehova uNkulunkulu?