ISAHLUKO 14
“Lona Umthetho Wethempeli”
IPHUZU ELIYINHLOKO: Umbono wethempeli—izifundo eziwusizo esikhathini sikaHezekeli nalokho okushoyo kithi namuhla
1, 2. (a) Esahlukweni esingaphambili, yini esiyifundile ngethempeli uHezekeli alibona embonweni? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo emibili esizoyiphendula kulesi sahluko?
EMBONWENI, uHezekeli akazange abone ithempeli elikhulu elingokomfanekiso umphostoli uPawulu akhuluma ngalo emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva. Sikufundile lokhu esahlukweni esingaphambili. Sifunde nokuthi lo mbono wawenzelwe ukufundisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngokubaluleka kwemithetho yakhe yokumkhonza ngendlela emsulwa. Ukuze abantu bavuselele ubuhlobo babo noJehova kwakufanele balalele leyo mithetho. Ngakho, singase sibone ukuthi kungani uJehova aligcizelela kabili leli phuzu evesini elilodwa: “Lona umthetho wethempeli.”—Funda uHezekeli 43:12.
2 Manje sekufanele sithole izimpendulo zeminye imibuzo emibili. Owokuqala: Yiziphi izifundo ezimayelana nemithetho kaJehova yokumkhonza ngendlela emsulwa okungenzeka amaJuda angesikhathi sikaHezekeli azifunda kulo mbono wethempeli? Impendulo yalowo mbuzo izosisiza siphendule umbuzo olandelayo, othi: Usho ukuthini kithi lo mbono kulezi zinsuku zokugcina ezigcwele izinkathazo?
Lo Mbono Wawubafundisa Ziphi Izifundo Abantu Basendulo?
3. Kungani intaba ephakeme uHezekeli ayibona embonweni yayingenza abantu bazizwe benamahloni?
3 Ukuze siphendule umbuzo wokuqala, ake sigxile ezintweni ezithile eziphawulekayo ezikulo mbono wethempeli. Intaba ephakeme. Indawo uHezekeli ayibona embonweni kungenzeka abantu bayihlobanisa nesiprofetho sika-Isaya esithinta inhliziyo esimayelana nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. (Isaya 2:2) Kodwa ukubona indlu kaJehova isentabeni ephakeme kangako kwabafundisani? Kwabafundisa ukuthi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu kufanele iphakanyiswe ibe ngaphezu kwazo zonke ezinye izinto. Kakade, indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu iphakeme, ngoba ilungiselelwe yiLowo ‘ophakeme kakhulu kunabo bonke abanye onkulunkulu.’ (IHu. 97:9) Kodwa abantu yibona ababengakwenzi lokho okwakufanele bakwenze. Kwase kuphele amakhulu eminyaka belokhu beshiya indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu futhi beyivumela ukuba ingcoliswe. Ngempela, kumelwe ukuba abaqotho baba namahloni lapho bebona indlu kaNkulunkulu engcwele iphakanyisiwe, iphakanyiselwe esikhundleni esiyifanele senkazimulo nodumo.
4, 5. Yiziphi izifundo eziphathelene namasango aphakeme ethempeli okungenzeka bazifunda labo ababelalele uHezekeli?
4 Amasango aphakeme. Ekuqaleni kwalo mbono, uHezekeli wabukela ingelosi ikala amasango. Ayephakeme ngamamitha angaba ngu-30! (Hez. 40:14) Endaweni yokungena kwakunamakamelo onogoda. Konke lokhu kwakubatshelani labo ababehlolisisa indlela ithempeli elalakhiwe ngayo? UJehova watshela uHezekeli: “Yinakisise indlela yokungena yethempeli.” Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi abantu babeletha abantu “abangasokile enhliziyweni nasenyameni,” babangenise endlini kaNkulunkulu engcwele. Kwaba namuphi umphumela lokho? UJehova wathi: “Bayalingcolisa ithempeli lami.”—Hez. 44:5, 7.
5 Labo ‘ababengasokile enyameni’ babehluleke ukulalela umyalo ocacile kaNkulunkulu ayewubeke kusukela ezinsukwini zika-Abrahama. (Gen. 17:9, 10; Lev. 12:1-3) Kodwa labo ‘ababengasokile enhliziyweni’ babenenkinga embi nakakhulu. Babenenkani, bevukela, bengazilaleli iziqondiso zikaJehova. Abantu abanjalo kwakungafanele bavunyelwe ukuba bangene endlini engcwele yokukhonza uJehova! UJehova uyabuzonda ubuzenzisi, kodwa abantu bakhe base bebuvumele ukuba bugcwale endlini yakhe. Amasango namakamelo onogada ethempeli elalisembonweni ayenalesi sifundo esicacile: Kwakuzophela konke lokho! Kwakumelwe kulandelwe imithetho ephakeme yokungena endlini kaNkulunkulu. Yileyo ndlela kuphela eyayizokwenza uJehova abusise indlela abantu ababemkhonza ngayo.
6, 7. (a) UJehova ulusebenzisa kanjani udonga oluzungeze isakhiwo sethempeli ukuze adlulise umyalezo kubantu bakhe? (b) Abantu bakaJehova babeyiphathe kanjani indlu yakhe? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)
6 Udonga olubiyele. Enye into eyayiphawuleka kulo mbono wethempeli kwakuwudonga olwalubiyele yonke indawo yethempeli. UHezekeli uthi ohlangothini ngalunye lolu donga lwaluyimihlanga engu-500, noma amamitha angu-1 555, okucishe kube amakhilomitha angu-1,6! (Hez. 42:15-20) Nokho, izakhiwo zethempeli namagceke alo kwakwenza isikwele esiyizingalo ezingu-500 nje kuphela, noma amamitha angu-259 ohlangothini ngalunye. Ngakho ithempeli lalizungezwe yindawo ebanzi eyayibiyelwe yiloluya donga olungaphandle.a Kungani?
7 UJehova wathi: ‘Manje mabakudedisele kude nami ukufeba nabanye onkulunkulu nezidumbu zamakhosi abo, mina ngiyohlala phakathi kwabo kuze kube phakade.’ (Hez. 43:9) Inkulumo ethi ‘nezidumbu zamakhosi abo’ kungenzeka yayibhekisela ekukhonzeni izithombe. Ngakho, ethempelini elabonwa uHezekeli embonweni, uJehova wasebenzisa leyo ndawo evulekile eyayiphakathi kodonga olubiyele nezakhiwo zethempeli namagceke alo njengendlela yokuthi: “Ningakulethi la lokho kungcola.” Ngakho uma begcina indlela ababemkhonza ngayo imsulwa, uJehova wayeyobabusisa ngokuthi abe khona phakathi kwabo.
8, 9. Yini abantu ababengayifunda eselulekweni esiqinile uJehova asinika amadoda aholayo?
8 Iseluleko esiqinile esiya emadodeni aholayo. UJehova wabuye wawanika iseluleko esiqinile kodwa esinothando amadoda ayehola phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Wawalungisa ngamazwi aqinile amaLevi lapho ephambuka ngesikhathi abantu sebekhonza izithombe, kanti wawancoma amadodana kaZadoki, ‘ayenza imisebenzi yasendlini yakhe engcwele lapho ama-Israyeli emshiya.’ Wasebenzelana ngendlela enobulungisa nenesihe neqembu ngalinye, ngokwezenzo zalo. (Hez. 44:10, 12-16) Izikhulu zakwa-Israyeli nazo zathola isiyalo esiqinile.—Hez. 45:9.
9 Ngakho uJehova wakuveza ngokucacile ukuthi amadoda anegunya nayengamele ayezolandisa kuye ngendlela ayewenza ngayo umsebenzi wawo. Nawo ayesidinga iseluleko, ukulungiswa nesiyalo. Kwakumelwe ahole ekulandeleni imithetho kaJehova!
10, 11. Ibuphi ubufakazi obusikisela ukuthi abanye ababebuya ekudingisweni bafunda embonweni kaHezekeli?
10 Ingabe ababebuya ekudingisweni bazisebenzisa izifundo abazithola embonweni kaHezekeli? Kuyavunywa ukuthi ngeke sazi ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi amadoda nabesifazane abathembekile babecabangani ngalowo mbono omangalisayo. Noma kunjalo, iZwi likaNkulunkulu lisitshela okuningi ngalokho okwenziwa abadingisiwe lapho bebuya nokuthi base bekubheka kanjani ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa. Ingabe bazisebenzisa izifundo ezazitholakala embonweni kaHezekeli? Bazisebenzisa ngezinga elithile—ikakhulukazi uma beqhathaniswa nokhokho babo ababevukela, abaphila ngaphambi kokudingiselwa eBhabhiloni.
11 Amadoda athembekile afana nabaprofethi uHagayi noZakariya, umpristi nomkopishi u-Ezra kanye nombusi uNehemiya asebenza kanzima ukuze afundise abantu izifundo ezifana nalezo ezitholakala embonweni wethempeli elabonwa uHezekeli. (Ezra 5:1, 2) Afundisa abantu ukuthi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu kumelwe iphakanyiswe futhi ize kuqala kunokukhathazeka ngezinto ezingabalulekile nezinye izinto zobugovu. (Hag. 1:3, 4) Bagcizelela ukuthi kwakufanele kuhlonishwe imithetho emayelana nokukhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Ezra noNehemiya bayala abantu ngokuqinile ukuba baxoshe amakhosikazi abo ezinye izizwe, ngoba ayenza abantu bangabi nobuhlobo obuqinile noNkulunkulu. (Funda u-Ezra 10:10, 11; Neh. 13:23-27, 30) Kuthiwani ngokukhonza izithombe? Kubonakala sengathi ngemva kokuba sesibuyile ekudingisweni, ekugcineni lesi sizwe sase sisizonda isono sokukhonza izithombe, esasisenze izikhathi eziningi emlandweni waso. Kuthiwani ngabapristi nezikhulu? Njengoba umbono kaHezekeli uveza, babephakathi kwalabo uJehova abanikeza iseluleko futhi wabalungisa. (Neh. 13:22, 28) Abaningi bathobeka basamukela leso seluleko.—Ezra 10:7-9, 12-14; Neh. 9:1-3, 38.
12. UJehova wababusisa kanjani ababedingisiwe lapho sebebuyile?
12 Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wababusisa abantu bakhe. Abantu baba nobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova, baba nempilo enhle futhi kwaba nokuhleleka, okwase kuyisikhathi eside kungekho. (Ezra 6:19-22; Neh. 8:9-12; 12:27-30, 43) Kungani kwaba njalo? Kungenxa yokuthi abantu ekugcineni base beyilandela imithetho kaJehova elungile yokumkhonza ngendlela emsulwa. Abantu abaningi bazamukela izifundo abazithola embonweni wethempeli. Ngakho ngamafuphi nje singathi, umbono wethempeli elabonwa uHezekeli wazuzisa ababekade bedingisiwe ngezindlela ezimbili ezibalulekile. (1) Wabafundisa izifundo ezibalulekile mayelana nemithetho yokukhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa nokuthi kufanele bayilandele kanjani leyo mithetho. (2) Waqinisekisa abantu ngokuthi iziprofetho ezazibikezelwe zazizogcwaliseka. Wabikezela ukuthi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uJehova yayizobuyiselwa nokuthi wayezobabusisa kanjani abantu uma bemkhonza ngendlela emsulwa. Nakhu esifuna ukukwazi namuhla: Ingabe lo mbono uyagcwaliseka manje?
Lokho Esikufundiswa Umbono KaHezekeli Namuhla
13, 14. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli uyagcwaliseka nasesikhathini sethu? (b) Lo mbono usizuzisa ngaziphi izindlela ezimbili namuhla? (Bheka nebhokisi 13A, “Amathempeli Angafani, Izifundo Ezingafani.”)
13 Singaqiniseka yini ukuthi umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli uyasebenza nakithi namuhla? Yebo! Khumbula ukufana okukhona phakathi kombono kaHezekeli wendlu kaNkulunkulu engcwele ephezu “kwentaba ephakeme kakhulu” nesiprofetho sika-Isaya esithi “intaba yendlu kaJehova iyomiswa iqine ibe ngaphezu kweziqongo zezintaba.” U-Isaya usitshela ngokuqondile ukuthi isiprofetho sakhe sasiyogcwaliseka “ezinsukwini zokugcina,” noma “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku.” (Hez. 40:2; Isaya 2:2-4; umbhalo waphansi; bheka noMika 4:1-4.) Lezi ziprofetho zisebenza ezinsukwini zokugcina, kusukela ngo-1919 lapho indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu yaphakanyiswa, yabuyiselwa njengokungathi ibekwa entabeni ephakeme.b
14 Ngakho singasho ngokuqiniseka ukuthi umbono kaHezekeli uyasebenza nasekukhonzeni uJehova ngendlela emsulwa namuhla. Njengoba lo mbono wazuzisa amaJuda ayebuya ekudingisweni ngezikhathi zasendulo, uyasizuzisa nathi namuhla ngezindlela ezimbili. (1) Usinikeza izifundo esingazisebenzisa zokuthi kufanele simkhonze kanjani uJehova ngendlela emsulwa. (2) Usinikeza iziprofetho ezisiqinisekisa ngokuthi iyobuyiselwa indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu, nokuthi uJehova uyosibusisa.
Imithetho Yokukhonza UJehova Ngendlela Emsulwa Namuhla
15. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule njengoba sithola izifundo embonweni kaHezekeli wethempeli?
15 Manje ake sixoxe ngezinto ezithile ezisembonweni kaHezekeli. Ake sizicabange sihamba noHezekeli njengoba ebuka leli thempeli elimangalisayo elisembonweni. Khumbula ukuthi asibuki ithempeli elikhulu elingokomfanekiso; kunalokho, simane nje sifunda izifundo esingazisebenzisa ekukhonzeni kwethu uJehova namuhla. Yiziphi ezinye zalezo zifundo?
16. Yini esingayifunda ekukalweni kwezinto okwenziwa embonweni kaHezekeli? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)
16 Kungani lalikalwa kangaka? Njengoba uHezekeli ebuka, indoda eyingelosi ebukeka njengethusi ikala ngokucophelela ithempeli, izindonga zalo, amasango, amakamelo onogada, amagceke ne-altare. Kumfundi ingase ibonakale iminingi kakhulu imininingwane ephathelene nalezi zinto ezikalwayo. (Hez. 40:1–42:20; 43:13, 14) Nokho, cabanga ngamaphuzu abalulekile esiwathola kuleyo mininingwane. Ngokusinikeza imininingwane enjalo, uJehova ugcizelela ngendlela enamandla ukubaluleka kwemithetho yakhe. Nguyena oyibekayo hhayi abantu. Labo abathi akunandaba ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhonzwa kanjani benza iphutha elikhulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokukalisisa ithempeli uJehova usiqinisekisa ngokuthi indlela emsulwa yokumkhonza iyobuyiselwa nakanjani. Njengoba ithempeli lalikalwe ngokunembile, kanjalo nezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu ziyogcwaliseka ngokunembile. Ngakho uHezekeli waqinisekisa ukuthi ukubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyokwenzeka nakanjani!
17. Udonga olwalubiyele ithempeli lungasikhumbuzani namuhla?
17 Udonga olubiyele. Njengoba sixoxile, uHezekeli wabona udonga luzungeze yonke indawo ayibona embonweni wethempeli. Lwaluyisikhumbuzo esinamandla sokuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakufanele imikhuba yenkolo engcolile bayidedisele kude nendlela emsulwa yokumkhonza, ingalokothi ingcolise indlu kaNkulunkulu. (Funda uHezekeli 43:7-9.) Asive sisidinga iseluleko esinjalo namuhla! Ngemva kokuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu sebekhululiwe ekuthunjweni isikhathi esingamakhulu eminyaka eBhabhiloni Elikhulu ngendlela engokomfanekiso, uKristu wabeka inceku ethembekile neqondayo ngo-1919. Ikakhulu kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, abantu bakaNkulunkulu baye basebenza kanzima ukuze balahle izimfundiso ezingamanga kanye nemikhuba ehlangene nokukhonza izithombe nobuqaba. Siyaqaphela ukuba singayingcolisi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, asenzi lutho oluhlangene namabhizinisi eHholo LoMbuso; izinto ezinjalo ezingabalulekile asizihlanganisi nokukhonza kwethu uNkulunkulu.—Marku 11:15, 16.
18, 19. (a) Yini esingayifunda emasangweni aphakeme ethempeli elalisembonweni? (b) Kufanele sisabele kanjani kulabo abafuna ukuxegisa imithetho kaJehova ephakeme? Nikeza isibonelo.
18 Amasango aphakeme. Uma sicabangisisa ngalawo masango aphakeme uHezekeli awabona, yiziphi izifundo esingazifunda? Akungabazeki ukuthi leyo ngxenye yombono wethempeli yafundisa amaJuda ayedingisiwe ukuthi imithetho kaJehova yokuziphatha iphakeme. Uma kwakunjalo endulo, kuthiwani namuhla? Sikhonza uJehova ethempelini lakhe elikhulu elingokomfanekiso. Akubalulekile yini nakakhulu manje ukuba siziphathe ngendlela efanele engenabuzenzisi? (Roma 12:9; 1 Pet. 1:14, 15) Phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina, uJehova uye waqhubeka eqondisa abantu bakhe ukuba balalele imithetho yakhe yokuziphatha.c Ngokwesibonelo, abenza okubi futhi bangaphenduki bayakhishwa ebandleni. (1 Kor. 5:11-13) Ngaphezu kwalokho, amakamelo onogada asendaweni yokungena yalawo masango angase asikhumbuze ukuthi namuhla akekho ovunyelwe ukuba angene uma uNkulunkulu engamamukeli. Ngokwesibonelo, umuntu ophila ukuphila okukabili angase angene eHholo LoMbuso, kodwa ngeke amukelwe uJehova kuze kube yilapho enza lokho uNkulunkulu akufunayo. (Jak. 4:8) Ngempela, uJehova uyayivikela indlela emsulwa yokumkhonza kulezi zinsuku ezigcwele abantu abaziphethe kabi!
19 IBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi leli zwe laliyokonakala ngaphambi kokuba ukuphela kufike. Lithi: “Abantu ababi nabakhohlisi bayoqhubeka besuka kokubi baye kokubi kakhulu, bedukisa futhi bedukiswa.” (2 Thim. 3:13) Abantu abaningi namuhla bayadukiswa bacabange ukuthi imithetho kaJehova ephakeme iqine kakhulu, iphelelwe isikhathi, noma ayilungile. Ingabe nawe uzodukiswa? Ngokwesibonelo, uma othile ezama ukukwenza ukholelwe ukuthi imithetho kaNkulunkulu mayelana nokuthandana kwabantu bobulili obufanayo iyiphutha, ingabe uyovumelana naye? Noma uyovumelana noJehova uNkulunkulu, osho ngokucacile eZwini lakhe ukuthi abantu abenza izenzo ezinjalo “benza okuyichilo”? UNkulunkulu usixwayisa ukuba singavumelani nokuziphatha okubi. (Roma 1:24-27, 32) Lapho sibhekene nezinkinga ezinjalo, siyobe senza kahle uma sicabanga ngethempeli elabonwa uHezekeli embonweni namasango alo aphakeme, bese sikhumbula lokhu: Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi leli zwe elibi lisicindezela kanjani, uJehova akayixegisi imithetho yakhe elungile. Ingabe siyavumelana noBaba wethu osezulwini futhi siyakulwela okulungile?
Sisuke sinikela “umhlatshelo wokudumisa” lapho sihlanganyela ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa
20. Yiziphi izikhumbuzo ezikhuthazayo labo abayingxenye ‘yesixuku esikhulu’ abazithola embonweni kaHezekeli?
20 Amagceke. Lapho uHezekeli ebona igceke elikhulu elingaphandle kwethempeli, kumelwe ukuba kwamjabulisa kakhulu ukucabanga ngokuthi baningi kangakanani abantu abajabulayo abakhonza uJehova ababengahlangana kulo. Namuhla, amaKristu akhonza uNkulunkulu endaweni engcwele nakakhulu. Labo abayingxenye ‘yesixuku esikhulu’ sabakhonza uJehova egcekeni elingaphandle lethempeli lakhe elingokomfanekiso, bathola izikhumbuzo ezikhuthazayo embonweni kaHezekeli. (IsAm. 7:9, 10, 14, 15) UHezekeli wabona ukuthi emagcekeni kwakunamagumbi okudlela lapho abantu babengadla khona imihlatshelo ehlanganyelwayo ababeyilethile. (Hez. 40:17) Kwakuba sengathi badla noJehova uNkulunkulu—okuwuphawu lobungane obunokuthula! Namuhla, asiyinikeli imihlatshelo njengoba kwakwenza amaJuda ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose. Kunalokho, sinikela “umhlatshelo wokudumisa” lapho siba nengxenye ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa, njengalapho siphendula futhi siveza ukholo lwethu emihlanganweni nalapho sisenkonzweni yasensimini. (Heb. 13:15) Sondliwa nangokudla esikunikezwa uJehova okuqinisa ubuhlobo bethu naye. Yingakho sizizwa njengamadodana kaKhora aculela uJehova, athi: “Usuku emagcekeni akho lungcono kuneziyinkulungwane kwenye indawo!”—IHu. 84:10.
21. Yini amaKristu agcotshiwe angayifunda esizweni sabapristi esasisembonweni kaHezekeli?
21 Abapristi. UHezekeli wabona ukuthi amasango ayesetshenziswa abapristi namaLevi ukuze bangene egcekeni elingaphakathi ayefana nalawo ayesetshenziswa izizwe ezingenabo abapristi ukuze zingene egcekeni elingaphandle. Leyo kwakuyindlela ephumelelayo yokukhumbuza amadoda avela esizweni sabapristi ukuthi nawo kwakudingeka alalele imithetho kaJehova yokumkhonza ngendlela emsulwa. Kuthiwani namuhla? Phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu namhlanje, abantu ababi abapristi ngenxa yefa abalitholile, kunalokho amaKristu agcotshiwe ayatshelwa: “Niluhlanga olukhethiwe, abapristi abangamakhosi.” (1 Pet. 2:9) Abapristi bakwa-Israyeli wasendulo babekhonza uNkulunkulu kwelinye igceke. Namuhla, amaKristu agcotshiwe awahlukanisiwe kwezinye izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu, kodwa ajabulela ubuhlobo obukhethekile noJehova njengoba engamadodana akhe. (Gal. 4:4-6) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, abagcotshiwe bangathola izikhumbuzo eziwusizo embonweni kaHezekeli. Ngokwesibonelo, bayaphawula ukuthi abapristi nabo kwakwenzeka bathole iseluleko futhi bayalwe. Wonke amaKristu kufanele akhumbule ukuthi ‘siwumhlambi owodwa’ okhonza ngaphansi ‘kukamalusi oyedwa.’—Funda uJohane 10:16.
22, 23. (a) Yini abadala abangamaKristu abangase bayifunde namuhla esikhulwini esichazwe embonweni kaHezekeli? (b) Yini engase yenzeke esikhathini esizayo?
22 Isikhulu. Embonweni kaHezekeli, isikhulu singumuntu ovelele. Asiveli esizweni sabapristi futhi ethempelini, siba ngaphansi kwabapristi. Nokho, siyengamela phakathi kwabantu sibasize banikele imihlatshelo. (Hez. 44:2, 3; 45:16, 17; 46:2) Ngakho siyisibonelo emadodeni angamaKristu anegunya ebandleni namuhla. Abadala abangamaKristu nababonisi abajikelezayo kudingeka baqhubeke bezithoba encekwini ethembekile egcotshiwe. (Heb. 13:17) Abadala basebenza kanzima ukuze basize abantu bakaNkulunkulu banikele imihlatshelo yabo yokudumisa emihlanganweni yobuKristu nasenkonzweni yasensimini. (Efe. 4:11, 12) Abadala bangase baphawule nendlela uJehova akhuza ngayo izikhulu zakwa-Israyeli ezazisebenzisa kabi igunya lazo. (Hez. 45:9) Ngendlela efanayo, abadala abacabangi ukuthi bona abasidingi iseluleko noma ukulungiswa. Kunalokho, bajabulela noma iliphi ithuba abalitholayo lokucwengwa uJehova ukuze babe abelusi nababonisi abangcono.—Funda eyoku-1 Petru 5:1-3.
23 UJehova uzoqhubeka esinikeza abelusi abanothando nabawenza kahle umsebenzi wabo ePharadesi lasemhlabeni elizayo. Namuhla abadala abaningi bayaqeqeshwa ukuze babe usizo futhi babe abelusi abazowenza kahle umsebenzi wabo ePharadesi. (IHu. 45:16) Akujabulisi yini ukucabanga ngokuthi lawo madoda azoba isibusiso kanjani ezweni elisha? Njengezinye iziprofetho ezimayelana nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu, indlela esiqonda ngayo umbono kaHezekeli ingase icace nakakhulu ngesikhathi sikaJehova esifanele. Mhlawumbe ezinye izingxenye zawo ziyosebenza ngendlela emangalisayo esikhathini esizayo, okuyoba ukugcwaliseka ebesingeke sikuqonde kahle njengamanje. Kuyobonakala ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.
UJehova Ubusisa Indlela Emsulwa Yokumkhonza
24, 25. Umbono kaHezekeli uyiveza kanjani indlela uJehova abusisa ngayo abantu bakhe abanamathela endleleni emsulwa yokumkhonza?
24 Ekuphetheni, ake sikhulume ngesenzakalo esikhulu kunazo zonke esenzeka embonweni kaHezekeli. Kufika uJehova kulelo thempeli elisembonweni, athembise abantu bakhe ukuthi uyohlala lapho uma nje beyilalela ngokwethembeka imithetho yakhe ephathelene nendlela emsulwa yokumkhonza. (Hez. 43:4-9) Ukuba khona kukaJehova kwakuzoba namuphi umphumela kubantu nasezweni labo?
25 Lo mbono uchaza izibusiso ezivela kuNkulunkulu ngokusho izinto ezimbili eziyisiprofetho ezisinika ithemba: (1) Kugeleza umfula osuka endlini engcwele yethempeli, wenze izinto ziphile nezwe livunde; futhi (2) izwe lihlukaniswa ngendlela enembile nehlelekile, ithempeli negceke lalo kube phakathi nendawo. Singaziqonda kanjani lezi zinto ezimbili namuhla? Siphila esikhathini lapho uJehova eye wangena ethempelini elikhulu elingokomfanekiso walicwenga, futhi wavumela abantu ukuba bamkhonze ngendlela engcono kakhulu. (Mal. 3:1-4) Sizokhuluma ngalezo zinto ezimbili eziyisiprofetho eZahlukweni 19 kuya ku-21 zale ncwadi.
a Ngakho uJehova wayeveza umehluko endleleni abantu ababephathe ngayo indlu yakhe engcwele esikhathini esingaphambili lapho ethi: ‘Ngokwenza indawo yabo yokungena ibe seduze kwendawo yami yokungena nangokwenza insika yabo yomnyango ibe seceleni kwensika yomnyango wami, kuhlukaniswe udonga kuphela, bangcolisa igama lami elingcwele ngezinto ezinengekayo ababezenza.’ (Hez. 43:8) EJerusalema lasendulo, ithempeli likaJehova nemizi yabantu kwakuhlukaniswe udonga nje kuphela. Njengoba abantu babephambuka emithethweni kaJehova elungile, ukungcola kwabo kokukhonza izithombe babekwenza khona lapho eduze kwendlu kaJehova. UJehova wayengeke ayimele leyo nto!
b Umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli uphinde uhambisane kahle nezinye iziprofetho ezimayelana nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu eziye zagcwaliseka phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina. Ngokwesibonelo, phawula ukufana okukhona phakathi kukaHezekeli 43:1-9 noMalaki 3:1-5; kanye noHezekeli 47:1-12 noJoweli 3:18.
c Ithempeli elingokomfanekiso laqala ukuba khona ngo-29 C.E. lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa futhi eqala umsebenzi wokuba uMpristi Ophakeme. Nokho, ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bakaJesu kwaphela amakhulu eminyaka abantu emhlabeni bengayinaki indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uJehova. Kwaze kwaba kusukela ngo-1919 kuze kube manje lapho indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uJehova yakhazinyuliswa futhi yabhekwa njengebalulekile.