1, 2. (a) Kungani kukuhle ukuba sohlangothini lukaJehova? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

UKUBAMBELELA kuJehova yinto enhle kakhulu. Phela kakho umuntu olamandla lenhlakanipho kanye lothando njengoNkulunkulu wethu. Sonke siyakufuna ukuhlala siqotho kuye njalo sisohlangothini lwakhe. (Hubo. 96:4-6) Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi ngezinye izikhathi abanye bethu bayehluleka ukwenza lokhu.

² Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngezibonelo zabanye abantu ababesithi bangabakaJehova ngapha besenza izinto ezimbi. Ezibonelweni lezi sizathola izifundo eziqakathekileyo ezizasinceda ukuthi sizimisele ukuhlala siqotho kuJehova.

3. Kungani uJehova wazama ukusiza uKhayini futhi wathini kuye?

³ UKhayini laye wayemkhonza uJehova ngoba akulandawo lapho esitshelwa khona ukuthi wayekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Pho kungani uJehova engazange amamukele? Wabona ukuthi uKhayini wayehlala efukamele imicabango lezifiso ezingalunganga enhliziyweni yakhe. (1 Joh. 3:12) Yikho uJehova wamxwayisa wathi:  “Kambe ungaze wenze okulungileyo, kawuyikwamukelwa yini? Kodwa nxa ungenzi okulungileyo, isono sicwathile emnyango wakho; sitshisekela ukukuthumba, kodwa kumele usahlule.” (Gen. 4:6, 7) Ngamanye amazwi uJehova wayesithi kuKhayini: “Nxa ungaphenduka njalo ubambelele kimi lami ngizasondela kuwe ngibe ngumngane wakho.”

4. UKhayini wenzani ngesikhathi ephiwa iseluleko njalo kwaba lempumela bani?

⁴ Aluba uKhayini wazimisela ukususa imicabango emibi ayelayo uJehova wayezamtshengisa umusa futhi amthethelele. Kodwa kazange alalele ngesikhathi enikwa iseluleko. Ukuvumela imicabango lezifiso ezimbi kwabangela ukuthi enze isono. (Jak. 1:14, 15) Kufanele ukuthi ngesikhathi uKhayini esakhula kwakungakaze kufike engqondweni yakhe ukuthi angahlamukela uJehova. Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi wenza isono esikhulu, wahlamukela uJehova njalo wabulala umfowabo.

5. Ngenjani imicabango engaphambanisa ubuhlobo bethu loJehova?

⁵ Lalamuhla umKhristu angaqhubeka esenza okubi ngapha esithi uyisikhonzi sikaJehova njengoba nje kwenza uKhayini. (Jud. 11) Umuntu onjalo angabe etshiseka enkonzweni njalo engena yonke imihlangano yebandla. Kodwa engqondweni yakhe uyabe efihle umkhuba wokucabanga izinto ezingcolileyo, umhawu loba inzondo. (1 Joh. 2:15-17; 3:15) Ukufukamela imicabango enjalo kuyingozi ngoba kudonsela umuntu esonweni. Abanye ebandleni bangabe bengakunanzeleli konke lokhu. Kodwa uJehova ubona zonke izinto futhi uyababona bonke abenza angani basohlangothini lwakhe ngapha befihla okubi abakuthweleyo.—Bala uJeremiya 17:9, 10.

6. UJehova usinceda njani ukuthi sinqobe izifiso lemicabango emibi?

⁶ UJehova kasikhalali lanxa sisenza amaphutha. Nxa sesiphambuka endleleni eyiyo, uyasinqanda esithi: “Buyani kimi, lami ngizabuya kini.” (Mal. 3:7) UJehova ufuna sibambelele kuye ngamandla ikakhulu nxa silwisana lemikhuba engalunganga. (Isaya. 55:7) Nxa singakwenza lokhu uzasisiza ukuthi siqinise ukholo lwethu njalo asinike amandla okunqoba izifiso lemicabango engalunganga.—Gen. 4:7.

7. Kuyini okwenza uSolomoni waphelelwa yibuhlobo bakhe loJehova?

⁷ Kunengi esingakufunda kulokho okwenziwa yiNkosi uSolomoni. Ngesikhathi uSolomoni esakhula wayecela ukuthi uJehova amqondise kukho konke ayekwenza. UJehova wamnika inhlakanipho enkulu kanye lomsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli elihle okumangalisayo eJerusalema. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uSolomoni wamtshiya uJehova. (1 AmaKho. 3:12; 11:1, 2) UMthetho kaJehova wawusithi inkosi engumHebheru akumelanga ‘ithathe abafazi abanengi funa inhliziyo yayo idukiswe.’ (Dute. 17:17) Kodwa uSolomoni kawulalelanga uMthetho kaJehova, wathatha abafazi abangu-700 njalo waba labanye abeceleni abangu-300. (1 AmaKho. 11:3) Abafazi bakhe abanengi wayebathethe ezizweni ezazikhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Ngokwenza lokhu wephula uMthetho kaJehova owawusenqabela ama-Israyeli ukuthi athathe abafazi kwezinye izizwe.—Dute. 7:3, 4.

8. Chaza ukuthi uSolomoni wamonela kangakanani uJehova?

⁸ Ukungalaleli uMthetho kaJehova kwacina kubangela ukuthi uSolomoni enze izinto ezimbi kakhulu. Wakhela unkulunkulukazi u-Ashitorethi i-alithare, waphinda wakha elinye futhi elikaKhemoshi unkulunkulu onengekayo wama-Amoni. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waqala ukuhlanganyela labafazi bakhe ekukhonzeni kwamanga kuma-alithare lawo. Okudanisayo  yikuthi uSolomoni wakhela onkulunkulu laba ama-alithare entabeni eyayikhangelane leJerusalema lapho ayeyakhe khona ithempeli likaJehova. (1 AmaKho. 11:5-8; 2 AmaKho. 23:13) Mhlawumbe uSolomoni wayecabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasoze abe lendaba lakho konke okubi ayekwenza ingqe nje enikela ethempelini likaJehova.

9. Ukungalaleli kukaSolomoni kwaba lempumela bani?

⁹ UJehova kasithathi kancane isono. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJehova wamthukuthelela uSolomoni ngoba inhliziyo yakhe yayisimfulathele uJehova . . . , yena ayezibonakalise kuye kabili. Lanxa wayemlayile uSolomoni ukuba angalandeli abanye onkulunkulu uSolomoni kazange awulandele umlayo kaNkulunkulu.” Ngakho uJehova wamlahla njalo wasusa isibusiso sakhe kuye. Ukungalaleli kwakhe kwaletha impumela ebuhlungu embusweni wako-Israyeli, isizwe sadabukana phakathi futhi kwaba lezinhlupho ezingapheliyo okweminyaka eminengi.—1 AmaKho. 11:9-13.

10. Kuyini okungaphambanisa ubuhlobo bethu loJehova?

¹⁰ Thina sifundani endabeni le? Esikufundayo yikuthi ukuba lobungane labantu abangayihloniphiyo imithetho kaJehova kungasithela emanyaleni njalo kuphambanise ubuhlobo bethu laye. Abanye abantu abanjalo kungaba yizihlobo zethu, omakhelwane, esisebenza labo kumbe esifunda labo esikolo. Ikanti abanye kungaba ngabazalwane esilabo ebandleni kodwa abangaqinanga ekukhonzeni. Akumelanga siyithathe lula indaba le, ngoba iqiniso elikhona ngelokuthi ukuzwanana labantu abangelandaba lemithetho kaJehova kungacina kuphambanisa ubuhlobo bethu laye.

11. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sibone abangane okumele sibaxwaye?

¹¹ Bala u-1 Khorinte 15:33. Abantu abanengi emphakathini balobuntu obuhle futhi abanye babo bayayizonda imikhuba elihlazo. Mhlawumbe bakhona abanye abantu abanjalo obaziyo. Kambe singathi bangabangane abahle yini? Zibuze ukuthi ukuba lobungane labo kukusiza ngani? Kuyabuqinisa yini ubuhlobo bakho loJehova? Kuyini abakuqathekisa kakhulu empilweni? Kuyini abathanda ukuxoxa ngakho? Ngokwesibonelo, bahlala bexoxa ngefeshini yini, imali, ezempucuko, ezokuzilibazisa loba ezinye izinto ezithandwa ngabantu kulumhlaba? Inkulumo zabo ngezokweyisa abanye yini kumbe ngezokuhlekisa abanye ngezinto ezilihlazo? Kufanele siqaphele sibili ngoba uJesu wasixwayisa wathi: “Lokho okuphihlika enhliziyweni yikho umlomo okukhulumayo.” (Mat. 12:34) Nxa ungananzelela ukuthi abangane bakho bangaphambanisa ubuhlobo bakho loJehova, ungapholisi amaseko, dlalela khatshana labo kumbe ubuqede lobobungane.—Zaga. 13:20.

12. (a) UJehova wabatshelani abako-Israyeli besanda kuphuma eGibhithe? (b) Bona baphendula bathini?

¹² Okwenzakala kuma-Israyeli esanda kuphuma eGibhithe lakho kusinika izifundo eziqakathekileyo. Abantu bako-Israyeli babuthana phambi kweNtaba iSinayi njalo uJehova waziveza kubo ngezimangaliso ezinkulu. Kwaba khona iyezi elikhulukazi phezu kwentaba njalo kwaba lomdumo lombane othuthumelisayo futhi kwezwakala umsindo omkhulu wecilongo oqhubekayo. (Eks. 19:16-19) Kusenzakala konke lokhu uJehova watshela abako-Israyeli ukuthi unguNkulunkulu ofuna bazinikele kuye kuphela. Kanti njalo wabathembisa ukuthi kasoze abatshiye labo abamthandayo futhi abalalela imithetho yakhe. (Bala u-Eksodusi 20:1-6.) Ngamanye amazwi uJehova wayesithi kubo: “Nxa lingaba qotho kimi lami ngizakuba qotho kini.” Wena wawuzakuthini usizwa isithembiso lesi esasivela kuJehova uNkulunkulu? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lawe wawuzakwenza njengama-Israyeli. IBhayibhili lithi: “Bavungama ngelizwi linye bathi, ‘Konke okutshiwo nguNkulunkulu sizakwenza.’” (Eks. 24:3) Kodwa ngesikhatshana nje kwenzakala okuthile okwanyikinya ubuqotho babo.

13. Kuyini okwanyikinya ukholo lwama-Israyeli?

¹³ Ama-Israyeli esaba kakhulu ngesikhathi ebona iyezi elimnyama, umbani kanye lezinye izimangaliso ezazisenziwa nguJehova. Lokhu kwenza abantu bacela ukuthi uMosi aqanse eNtabeni ayebakhulumela loJehova. (Eks. 20:18-21) UMosi wahamba waloba njalo abantu basebebona angani sebelahlelwe iganga. Kukhanya abako-Israyeli babethembele kakhulu kuMosi umuntu ababembona ngamehlo futhi bebeke ukholo lwabo kuye. Lokhu kwenza bakhathazeka kakhulu baze bathi ku-Aroni: “Lalela, senzele onkulunkulu abazahamba phambi kwethu, ngoba umuntu lo, uMosi owasikhupha elizweni laseGibhithe, asikwazi osekwenzakale kuye.”—Eks. 32:1, 2.

14. Abako-Israyeli babezikhohlisa ngani njalo uJehova wathini ngesono abasenzayo?

¹⁴ Ama-Israyeli ayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi uJehova kafuni lakuzwa ngendaba yokukhonza izithombe. (Eks. 20:3-5) Kodwa kungakayingaphi aphambuka aqala ukukhonza ithole legolide. U-Aroni wabiza lowombuthano wokukhonza ithole ngokuthi ‘ngumkhosi kaJehova.’ Lokhu kuyamangalisa sibili ngoba langemva kokona okungaka ama-Israyeli ayelokhu ezikhohlisa ecabanga ukuthi asohlangothini lukaJehova. UJehova wezwa njani ngalokhu? Wezwa ubuhlungu kakhulu njalo watshela uMosi wathi: ‘Abantu owabakhupha eGibhithe sebonakele njalo baphangisile badela konke engabalaya khona.’ Ulaka lukaJehova lwavutha kakhulu futhi wayesefuna ukusitshabalalisa sonke isizwe sako-Israyeli.—Eks. 32:5-10.

15, 16. UMosi lo-Aroni batshengisa njani ukuthi basohlangothini lukaJehova? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

¹⁵ Kodwa uJehova kazange avumele ulaka lwakhe lumenze atshabalalise isizwe lesi ngoba unguNkulunkulu olesihawu. Lokhu kwanika abanye ababeqotho ithuba lokutshengisa ukuthi basohlangothini lwakhe. (Eks. 32:14) UMosi wathi efika wathola ama-Israyeli engasabambeki, ayehlabela ngokuhlokoma njalo egida phambi kwesithombe sethole. Wathi ekubona lokhu wathatha ithole lelo walichola laba yimpuphu. Ngemva kwalokho wamemeza wathi: “Loba ngubani ongokaJehova keze kimi.” Wonke amadodana kaLevi athi ekuzwa lokho ayabuthana kuye.—Eks. 32:17-20, 26.

¹⁶ U-Aroni laye waphenduka waya ohlangothini lukaJehova lanxa ekuqaliseni wayevume ukuyengwa ngabantu wabumba ithole legolide. Bonke ababeqotho bakwenza kwacaca ukuthi basohlangothini lukaJehova ngokusuka eduzane  kwalabo ababesenza okubi langokuzehlukanisa labo. Mhlalokho bonke abantu ababekhonza isithombe babhujiswa. Kodwa labo ababesohlangothini lukaJehova basinda njalo bathenjiswa izibusiso.—Eks. 32:27-29.

17. Sifundani emazwini akhulunywa nguPhawuli mayelana lesithombe sethole?

¹⁷ Thina sifundani kulokhu? UPhawuli wabhala wathi: ‘Lezizinto zenzakala njengezibonelo’ ukuba zisenqabele ‘ekukhonzeni izithombe.’ “Zalotshwa njengezixwayiso kithi, osekufike kubo ukugcwaliseka kwezikhathi. Ngakho uma licabanga ukuthi limi liqinile, qaphelani ukuba lingawi.” (1 Khor. 10:6, 7, 11, 12) Amazwi kaPhawuli atshengisa ukuthi lathi lamuhla singazithola sesisenza izinto ezimbi. Kanti njalo kungenzakala ukuthi siqhubeke sisenza okubi ensitha ngapha sizikhohlisa sisithi singabakaJehova. Nxa sizikhohlisa ngaleyondlela kumele sikhumbule ukuthi ukuzitshela ukuthi siqotho kuJehova loba ukuthi singabangane bakhe akutsho ukuthi uyasamukela.—1 Khor. 10:1-5.

18. Kuyini okungabangela ukuthi sitshiye uJehova njalo ukwenza lokhu kulempumela bani?

¹⁸ Ama-Israyeli akhathazeka kakhulu ngokuphuza kukaMosi ukwehla entabeni iSinayi. Lathi singazithola sesikhathazeka kakhulu sicabanga ukuthi uSuku lukaJehova kanye lomhlaba omutsha sekuphuzile. Umcabango onjalo uyingozi ngoba ungenza sibone angathi izithembiso zikaJehova zikhatshana kakhulu ukugcwaliseka kumbe sithandabuze ukuthi ziliqiniso. Lokhu kungenza siqale ukuxotshana lezinto esizifunayo sikhohlwe ngokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Nxa singasananzelelanga singacina sitshiya uJehova njalo siqale ukwenza izinto ezimbi esasingakaze sicabange ukuthi singazenza.

19. Kuyini okungamelanga sikukhohlwe futhi kungani?

¹⁹ Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uJehova ufuna simlalele ngenhliziyo yonke njalo sizinikele kuye kuphela. (Eks. 20:5) Ukuphambuka kancane nje ekukhonzeni uJehova kutsho ukuthi siyabe sesiphilela ukwenza intando kaSathane. Kodwa ukwenza njalo kulempumela ebuhlungu. Yikho uPhawuli wasixwayisa wathi: “Kalingeke linathe inkomitshi yeNkosi lenkomitshi yamadimoni njalo, alingeke libe lokuhlanganyela etafuleni leNkosi lasetafuleni lamadimoni.”—1 Khor. 10:21.

20. UJehova ubaphatha njani abantu bakhe abaphambukileyo?

²⁰ Kulokuthile okuyisiqokoqela esikuthola endabeni kaKhayini lekaSolomoni kanye lakulokho okwenzakala kuma-Israyeli entabeni iSinayi. Bonke abantu laba babelethuba ‘lokuphenduka’ babuyele kuJehova. (ImiSeb. 3:19) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova kaphangi akhalale abantu bakhe nxa bephambuka. Ngokwesibonelo u-Aroni waphenduka futhi uJehova waba lomusa kuye wamthethelela. Lamuhla uJehova angasixwayisa esebenzisa indaba ethile eseBhayibhilini, izinto esizinikwa yinhlanganiso yakhe loba abafowethu labodadewethu esikhonza labo. Nxa singalalela njalo sisebenzise izeluleko esiziphiwayo uJehova uzasitshengisa isihawu.

21. Kuyini okufanele sizimisele ukukwenza nxa sihlangana lezimo ezingaphambanisa ubuqotho bethu?

²¹ Umusa esiwutshengiswa nguJehova usinceda njani? (2 Khor. 6:1) Usinika ithuba lokuthi sibalekele izinkanuko zomhlaba kanye lemikhuba engamthokozisiyo uNkulunkulu. (Bala uThithusi 2:11-14.) Loba nini singahlangana lezimo ezingaphambanisa ubuqotho bethu kuJehova ngoba siphila emhlabeni obuswa nguSathane. Ngakho kasizimiseleni ukuqhubeka sisohlangothini lukaJehova. IBhayibhili lithi: “Mesabeni uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu njalo limkhonze. Bambelelani kuye.”—Dute. 10:20.