1-3. Kutshoni ukukhonza uJehova ‘ngenhliziyo yonke’? Nika isibonelo.

SONKE siyawenza amaphutha ngoba silesono. Kodwa okuhle yikuthi uJehova “kasiphathi ngokufanele izono zethu.” Uyasithethelela esebenzisa inhlawulo kaJesu ikakhulu nxa siphenduka ngeqiniso. (Hubo. 103:10) Lanxa kunjalo uJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa singamkhonza ‘ngenhliziyo yonke.’ (1 ImiLan. 28:9) Pho singenelisa njani ukukwenza lokhu njengoba silesono?

² Ukuze sizwisise ukuthi singakwenza njani lokhu ake sixoxe ngeNkosi u-Asa leNkosi u-Amaziya. Amakhosi la ayesenza okuhle phambi kukaJehova lanxa ayephambanisa kwezinye izikhathi. IBhayibhili lithi “u-Asa wayezinikele kuJehova ngenhliziyo yakhe yonke empilweni yakhe yonke.” (2 ImiLan. 15:16, 17; 25:1, 2; Zaga. 17:3) Kazange aphambuke kuNkulunkulu ngoba wayezinikele kuye. Kodwa u-Amaziya yena wayengamkhonzi ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo wathi esevela bulala izitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu, wabuya ethwele onkulunkulu bazo waseqalisa ukubakhonza.—2 ImiLan. 25:11-16.

³ Ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ‘ngenhliziyo yonke’ kutsho ukuzinikela  kuye kuze kube nini lanini. Nxa iBhayibhili likhuluma ngenhliziyo izikhathi ezinengi liyabe lisitsho lokho umuntu ayikho ngaphakathi. Lokhu kugoqela indlela acabanga ngayo, izinto azithandayo, afisa ukukwenza empilweni lalokho okumfuqa ukuthi enze lezozinto. Yikho lanxa silesono singenelisa ukukhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. Okwenza simkhonze yikuthi siyamthanda, kasibanjwa ngamandla futhi kasikwenzeli ukugcina umthetho nje.—2 ImiLan. 19:9.

4. Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

⁴ Ake sixoxe ngamakhosi amane ayebusa koJuda ukuze siyizwisise ngokugcweleyo indaba yokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke. Amakhosi la ngu-Asa, uJehoshafathi, uHezekhiya loJosiya njalo ayesenza okuthokozisa uJehova lanxa ayephambanisa kwezinye izikhathi. Kungani uNkulunkulu wathi ayemkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke njalo thina singawalingisela njani?

5. Kuyini okwenziwa ngu-Asa eseyinkosi?

⁵ U-Asa wayeyinkosi yesithathu eyabusa koJuda ngemva kokuba isizwe sako-Israyeli sesidabukane phakathi. Wathi eseyinkosi wasusa zonke izithombe elizweni njalo waxotsha lamadoda ayesenza ubufebe ethempelini. Ngemva kwalokho waxotsha ugogo wakhe uMahakha esihlalweni sokuba “yindlovukazi yomndlunkulu ngoba wayebumbe isithombe esilihlazo sika-Ashera.” (1 AmaKho. 15:11-13) Kanti njalo u-Asa walaya abakoJuda ukuba “bakhonze uJehova . . . , balandele yonke imithetho lemilayo yakhe.” Siyabona sibili ukuthi wayekukhuthalele ukukhonza kweqiniso.—2 ImiLan. 14:4.

6. U-Asa wenzani lapho ibutho lamaKhushi lifuna ukuhlasela isizwe sakoJuda?

⁶ UJehova wababusisa abakoJuda ngesikhathi kubusa u-Asa futhi kwaba lokuthula okweminyaka engu-10. Ngemva kwalokho uZera umKhushi wafika ezohlasela isizwe sakoJuda elamabutho angu-1 miliyoni lezinqola ezingu-300. (2 ImiLan. 14:1, 6, 9, 10) Wenzani u-Asa? Wathandaza kuJehova ecela ukuthi amsize. (Bala u-2 ImiLando 14:11.) Lakanye uNkulunkulu wawuphendula umthandazo ka-Asa futhi walinqoba ibutho leli elalilikhulu kangaka. (2 ImiLan. 14:12, 13) Kwezinye izikhathi uJehova wayewancedisa amanye amakhosi ako-Israyeli ukuthi anqobe izitha zawo lanxa ayengathembekanga kuye. Wayekwenza lokhu ukuze atshengise ukuthi unguNkulunkulu weqiniso. (1 AmaKho. 20:13, 26-30) Kodwa endabeni yamaKhushi uJehova wamncedisa u-Asa ngenxa yokuthi wayethembele kuye. Ngokuya kwesikhathi u-Asa wenza iphutha ngokuyacela usizo kuma-Asiriya kulokuthi athembele kuJehova. (1 AmaKho. 15:16-22) Lanxa kunjalo uJehova wabona ukuthi u-Asa wayemthanda lokuthi wayezimisele ukumkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke. Singamlingisela njani u-Asa?—1 AmaKho. 15:14.

7, 8. Ungamlingisela njani u-Asa?

⁷ Sonke kumele sizihlole ukuze sibone ukuthi simkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke yini uJehova. Kufanele sizibuze imibuzo le, ‘Ngizamlalela yini uJehova lanxa izimo zinzima? Ngizimisele yini ukugcina ibandla lihlanzekile? Khumbula ukuthi u-Asa kwakumele abe lesibindi ukuze asuse ugogo wakhe uMahakha esikhundleni sokuba yindlovukazi. Yikho lawe kwezinye izikhathi kungadingakala ukuthi ube lesibindi njengaye. Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzakala ukuthi omunye emulini yangakini loba umngane wakho asuswe  ebandleni ngenxa yokungafuni ukutshiya ububi abenzayo. Uzazimisela yini ukuthi ungabi lobudlelwano laye? Uzakwenza ngenhliziyo yonke yini lokhu kumbe uzabe uvala abanye amehlo nje?

⁸ Enye indlela ongamlingisela ngayo u-Asa yikuthembela kuNkulunkulu nxa uhlukuluzwa ngabantu. Ngokwesibonelo abanye esikolo bangakuthwalisa nzima ngenxa yokuthi unguFakazi kaJehova. Abanye osebenza labo bangakuchothoza ngenxa yokuthi uyake ucele amalanga athile ukuze uyengena imihlangano. Abanye bangakubona ubuthutha ngenxa yokuthi kawuvumi ukusebenza amahola amanengi (ama-overtime) ukuze uthole imali ethe xaxa. Ezimeni ezinjalo thandaza kuNkulunkulu njengo-Asa, utshengise ukuthi uthembele kuye lokuthi uzimisele ukwenza okuqondileyo. Ungenza njalo uNkulunkulu kasoze akutshiye futhi uzakunika amandla.

9. UJehova uzwa njani nxa esibona sitshela abanye ngaye?

⁹ U-Asa wazimisela lokunceda abanye ukuthi ‘bakhonze uJehova.’ Lathi kumele senze okufananayo. UJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa esibona sitshela abantu ngaye njalo sikwenza ngenhliziyo yonke.

10, 11. Ungamlingisela njani uJehoshafathi?

¹⁰ UJehoshafathi “wahamba ngezindlela zikayise u-Asa.” (2 ImiLan. 20:31, 32) Wakwenza njani lokhu? Laye njengoyise wakhuthaza abantu ukuthi bamdinge uJehova. Wahlela ukuthi kube lamadoda ayezabhoda ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo efundela abantu “uGwalo lweMithetho kaJehova.” (2 ImiLan. 17:7-10) Waze waya laselizweni lako-Efrayimi elalisembusweni wasenyakatho ukuze ayencedisa abantu bakuleyondawo ukuthi babuyele ‘kuJehova uNkulunkulu wabo.’ (2 ImiLan. 19:4) Kuyakhanya sibili ukuthi uJehoshafathi ‘wamdinga uJehova ngenhliziyo yakhe yonke.’—2 ImiLan. 22:9.

¹¹ Lamuhla uJehova ufuna abantu emhlabeni wonke bafundiswe ngaye njalo sonke singancedisa emsebenzini lo. Wena uyabafundisa yini abanye iLizwi likaNkulunkulu nyanga zonke ukuze labo bamkhonze? UJehova uzakunceda ukuthi wenelise ukuthola isifundo seBhayibhili nxa ungakhuthala emsebenzini wokutshumayela. Nxa ungelaso isifundo thandaza kuJehova umcele ukuthi akuncedise. Phela kwezinye izikhathi kungadingakala ukuthi usebenzise isikhathi sakho sokuphumula ukuze wenelise ukuqhuba isifundo seBhayibhili. Sibonile ukuthi uJehoshafathi wanceda abanye ukuthi babuyele kuJehova, lathi singasiza labo abangasafezi inkonzo ukuthi baphinde babuyele ebandleni. Kanti njalo abadala kumele bahlele ukuvakatshela abasusiweyo abasensimini yebandla ikakhulu labo abangabe sebeyitshiyile imikhuba emibi ababeyenza.

12, 13. (a) UJehoshafathi wenzani ngesikhathi ephakathi kwesimo esasinzima kakhulu? (b) Kungani kumele ulingisele isibonelo sikaJehoshafathi endabeni yokuthandaza?

¹² UJehoshafathi wenza njengoyise u-Asa, waqhubeka ethembele kuNkulunkulu langesikhathi ekhangelane lebutho elalilamandla. (Bala u-2 ImiLando 20:2-4.) Lanxa lwalumtshaya uvalo “wazimisela ukumdinga uJehova.” Wathandaza kuye futhi emthandazweni lo wavuma ukuthi yena labantu bakhe ‘babengelamandla okumelana lebutho elikhulu elalizobahlasela’ njalo babengazi lokuthi benzeni. Waphinda wathi: “Amehlo ethu aphezu kwakho.”—2 ImiLan. 20:12.

¹³ Kwezinye izikhathi nxa singaba phakathi  kohlupho oluthile singaswela ukuthi sibambe ngaphi futhi sifikelwe yikwesaba. (2 Khor. 4:8, 9) Khumbula ukuthi uJehoshafathi ephakathi kwesimo esinjalo wema phambi kwabantu bakoJuda, wakhuleka kuNkulunkulu evuma ukuthi yena labantu bakhe babengelamandla okumelana lalobobunzima. (2 ImiLan. 20:5) Ngakho nxa uyinhloko yemuli, lingisela uJehoshafathi ngokukhuleka kuJehova ukuze akuqondise futhi akunike amandla okulwisana laloba yiluphi uhlupho ongabe uphakathi kwalo. Thandaza ukanye lemuli yakho futhi lokhu kuzakwenza ibone ukuthi uthembele kuye. Ungenza njalo uNkulunkulu uzakuphathisa njengoba nje wasiza uJehoshafathi.

14, 15. UHezekhiya watshengisa njani ukuthi uthembele kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁴ INkosi uHezekhiya layo ‘yabambelela kuJehova’ lanxa uyise wayeyisibonelo esibi futhi ekhonza izithombe. UHezekhiya “wadiliza izindawo zokukhonzela wabhidliza amatshe ababewakhonza kanye lezinsika zika-Ashera. Watshaya wenza izicucu inyoka yethusi eyayenziwe nguMosi,” ngoba kuze kube yilesosikhathi abantu babelokhu beyitshisela impepha. Wayezinikele sibili kuJehova futhi “wagcina imilayo uJehova ayeyinike uMosi.”—2 AmaKho. 18:1-6.

¹⁵ Langesikhathi ibutho lase-Asiriya elalilamandla amakhulu lifuna ukuhlasela iJerusalema, uHezekhiya wathembela kuJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. Inkosi yase-Asiriya uSenakheribi yathuka uJehova njalo yazama ukwethusela uHezekhiya. Kodwa uHezekhiya wathandaza kuJehova emcela ukuthi amncedise ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi ulamandla amakhulu ukwedlula ibutho lase-Asiriya. (Bala u-Isaya 37:15-20.) UNkulunkulu wawuphendula umthandazo wakhe ngokuthumela ingilosi eyafika yabulala amasotsha ase-Asiriya angu-185 000.—Isaya. 37:36, 37.

16, 17. Ungamlingisela njani uHezekhiya?

¹⁶ Ngokuya kwesikhathi uHezekhiya wagula waphosa wafa. Wakhuleka kuJehova emcela ukuba akhumbule ukuthi ubeziphethe njani phambi kwakhe. (Bala u-2 AmaKhosi 20:1-3.) UJehova wawuzwa umthandazo kaHezekhiya wasemsilisa. Kodwa khathesi kasingeke sikhangelele ukuthi uJehova aselaphe ngendlela eyisimangaliso kumbe ukuthi angezelele iminyaka esizayiphila. Lanxa kunjalo lathi njengoHezekhiya singathandaza kuJehova sithi: “Khumbula, O Jehova ukuthi bengiziphethe njani phambi kwakho ngokwethembeka, ngokuzinikela ngenhliziyo yami yonke.” Kanti njalo kumele sikholwe ukuthi uJehova uzasisekela futhi asiqinise nxa sigula ngoba ulawo amandla okwenza njalo.—Hubo. 41:3.

¹⁷ Isibonelo sikaHezekhiya sisifundisa ukuthi kumele silahle loba yini engaphambanisa ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu kumbe engabangela ukuthi singamkhonzi ngenhliziyo yonke. Ngokwesibonelo abanengi lamuhla baqakathekisa abantu abadumileyo labanye abangabaziyo baze babakhonze. Baqeda isikhathi esinengi bebala ngabo njalo bebuka lemifanekiso yabo. Bajayele ukukwenza lokhu besebenzisa izindlela zokuxhumana ezitshiyeneyo. Akukubi ukuthi sisebenzise izindlela lezi ukuze sixoxe lezihlobo labangane. Kodwa kuyingozi ukuchitha isikhathi esinengi kuzo. Kwezinye izikhathi singacina sizigqaja kakhulu nxa abantu besitshela ukuthi bayayithanda imifanekiso esiyifakayo loba okuthile esikubhalayo. Ikanti omunye angazonda nxa abantu bengasatsho lutho ngalokho akufakayo.  Cabanga ngomphostoli uPhawuli kanye lo-Akhwila loPhrisila. Kambe ubona angani bebengatshonela ukuthatha imifanekiso besebeyifaka ku-inthanethi loba belandelela omunye umuntu odumileyo yini? IBhayibhili lithi uPhawuli ‘wayenikela isikhathi sakhe sonke ekutshumayeleni.’ Liphinda litshengise ukuthi uPhrisila lo-Akhwila babesisebenzisa kuhle isikhathi sabo bechazela abanye ‘indlela kaNkulunkulu’ ngokugcweleyo. (ImiSeb. 18:4, 5, 26) Yikho kumele sizibuze imibuzo le, ‘Bakhona yini abantu engibaqakathekisa kakhulu okokuthi sengize ngibakhonza? Ngiyazimisela yini ukungachithi isikhathi esinengi ngisenza izinto ezingaqakathekanga?’—Bala u-Efesu 5:15, 16.

18, 19. Ufuna ukumlingisela njani uJosiya?

¹⁸ INkosi uJosiya layo yazimisela ukuqhubeka ilalela imilayo kaJehova “ngenhliziyo yayo yonke.” (2 ImiLan. 34:31) Yathi isesengumntwana ‘yaqalisa ukumdinga uNkulunkulu kakhokho wayo uDavida’ futhi isileminyaka engu-20 yahlambulula ilizwe lakoJuda yasusa izithombe ezazikulo. (Bala u-2 ImiLando 34:1-3.) UJosiya wayekukhuthalele ukwenza izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu. Wayewedlula khatshana amakhosi amanengi ayeke abusa koJuda. Kwathi kutholakala uGwalo loMthetho kaMosi, uJosiya wacela ukuthi lubalwe futhi wathi esezwile okwakulotshwe kulo wazimisela ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngokugcweleyo. Ngemva kwalokhu wakhuthaza abantu ukuthi bakhonze uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwabanceda sibili ngoba ‘kabazange baphambuke endleleni kaJehova’ ngesikhathi uJosiya ebusa.—2 ImiLan. 34:27, 33.

¹⁹ Abasakhulayo bangafunda okunengi kuJosiya. Kumele bazimisele ukukhonza uJehova besesebancane. Kungenzakala ukuthi uJosiya wafunda ngesihawu sikaNkulunkulu kukhulu wakhe uManase. Nxa ungosakhulayo zama ukuba lobungane lamaKhristu athembekileyo asekhulile emulini yangakini lasebandleni. Bazakuxoxela izinto ezinengi uJehova abenzele zona. Khumbula ukuthi ukubala iMibhalo kwamnceda uJosiya ukuthi enze okuhle phambi kukaJehova. Ngakho lawe zama ngamandla wonke ukubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngoba kuzakufuqa ukuthi wenze okumthokozisayo. Nxa ungenza njalo uzathokoza empilweni, ubuhlobo bakho loNkulunkulu buzaqina njalo uzakukhuthalela ukutshela abanye ngaye. (Bala u-2 ImiLando 34:18, 19.) Ukubala kuzakunceda lokuthi ubone lapho okumele uthuthukise khona ubusulungisa. Ngakho mlingisele uJosiya.

20, 21. (a) Ufundeni emakhosini amane esixoxe ngawo? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ Ufundeni kulokho okwenziwa ngamakhosi amane esixoxe ngawo? Amakhosi la ayekukhuthalele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu njalo ezimisele ukumkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke. Lanxa ayehlangana lobunzima obukhulu aqhubeka ebambelele kuNkulunkulu. Okuhle kakhulu yikuthi ayemthanda kakhulu uJehova.

²¹ Amakhosi amane esixoxe ngawo ayewenza amaphutha. Loba kunjalo uJehova wahlola izinhliziyo zawo wabona ukuthi ayemkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke. Lathi silesono njalo siyawenza amaphutha. Manje nxa uJehova esihlola uyakubona yini ukuthi simkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke? Umbuzo lo sizaxoxa ngawo esihlokweni esilandelayo.