1-2. IHubo 25:14 lithi kumele senzeni nxa sifuna ukuba ngabangane bakaJehova abakhulu?

 UBONA angani yibuphi ubuntu obuqakathekileyo okumele ube labo nxa ufuna ukuba ngumngane womuntu othile? Mhlawumbe ungaphendula uthi abangane kumele bathandane futhi bancedisane. Ngeke ucabange ukuthi kumele umesabe umngane wakho ukuze libe lobudlelwano obuhle. Kodwa njengoba umbhalo okusekelwe kuwo isihloko usitsho, labo abafuna ukuba ngabangane abakhulu bakaJehova kumele ‘bamesabe.’—Bala iHubo 25:14.

² Kungelani lokuthi silesikhathi esinganani sikhonza uJehova, sonke kumele simesabe. Kodwa kutshoni ukwesaba uNkulunkulu? Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi simesabe uJehova? Kuyini esingakufunda ku-Obhadiya owayekhangela indlu yenkosi, loMphristi oMkhulu uJehoyada, leNkosi uJehowashi endabeni yokwesaba uNkulunkulu?

3. Kuyini okwenza sesabe njalo ukwesaba kusivikela njani?

³ Nxa kulento esibona angani ingasilimaza siyaqalisa ukwesaba. Ukwesaba lokhu kuyasinceda ngoba kwenza sizivikele. Ngokwesibonelo ukwesaba ukuwa kuyasinceda ukuthi singasondeli eduze kakhulu kweliwa kumbe eduze kwegodi. Ukwesaba ukulimala kungenza sibalekele ingozi. Ukwesaba ukuzwisa umuntu esimthandayo ubuhlungu kungenza sibe lomusa, singakhulumi izinto ezingamcaphula kumbe singenzi izinto ezingamzwisa ubuhlungu.

4. USathane ufuna simesabe njani uJehova?

⁴ USathane ufuna abantu besabe uJehova ngendlela engayisiyo.  Ufuna sikholwe lokho okwakhulunywa ngu-Elifazi, ukuthi uJehova uhlala ezondile efuna ukuphindisela futhi ngeke simthokozise. (Jobe. 4:18, 19) USathane ufuna simesabe kakhulu uJehova size siyekele lokumkhonza. Ngakho kumele sesabe uJehova ngendlela efaneleyo ukuze singaqilwa nguSathane.

5. Kutshoni ukwesaba uNkulunkulu?

⁵ Umuntu oyesaba uNkulunkulu uyamthanda futhi kafuni ukwenza loba yini engaphambanisa ubungane bakhe laye. Leyo yiyo indlela uJesu ‘ayemesaba ngayo uNkulunkulu.’ (Heb. 5:7) Wayengamesabi okokuthuthumela uJehova. (Isaya. 11:2, 3) Kodwa wayemthanda kakhulu futhi ezimisele ukumlalela. (Joh. 14:21, 31) Lathi siyamhlonipha kakhulu uJehova njengoJesu ngoba ulothando, uhlakaniphile, wahlulela kuhle futhi ulamandla. Siyakwazi lokuthi uJehova uyasithanda kakhulu lokuthi ulendaba lokuthi senzani ngalokho asifundisa khona. Nxa singamlalela uyathokoza ngathi kodwa nxa singamlaleli uyezwa ubuhlungu.—Hubo. 78:41; Zaga. 27:11.

6. Kuyini okunye esingakwenza okungasinceda ukuthi simesabe uNkulunkulu? (IHubo 34:11)

⁶ Asizalwa simesaba uJehova kodwa kumele sifunde ukwenza njalo. (Bala iHubo 34:11.) Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi simesabe yikubuka izinto ezidaliweyo. Ukubona ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu lamandla akhe lothando lwakhe olukhulu ‘ezintweni azidalayo’ kwenza ukuthi simhloniphe futhi simthande kakhulu. (Rom. 1:20) Udadewethu okuthiwa ngu-Adrienne uthi, “Nxa ngikhangela izinto ezidaliweyo besengibona ukuthi uJehova uhlakaniphile, ngisala ngibambe owangaphansi futhi lokhu kwenza nginanzelele ukuthi uJehova uyakwazi okungifaneleyo.” Ngemva kokucabangisisa, udade lo wathi: “Angifuni ukwenza loba yini engaphambanisa ubungane bami loJehova ngoba nguye owangipha impilo.” Zinike isikhathi kuleliviki uke ucabangisise ngento eyodwa eyadalwa nguJehova. Lokhu kuzakunceda ukuthi umhloniphe kakhulu futhi umthande kakhulu.—Hubo. 111:2, 3.

7. Ukuthandaza kungasinceda njani ukuthi simesabe uJehova?

⁷ Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi simesabe uNkulunkulu yikuhlala sithandaza. Ukuthandaza zikhathi zonke kuyasinceda sibemazi ngcono uJehova. Sonke isikhathi nxa sicela ukuthi asinike amandla okuthi siqinisele ebunzimeni siyakhumbula ukuthi ulamandla amakhulu. Nxa sithandaza simbonga ngokuthi wasipha iNdodana yakhe siyakhumbula ukuthi uyasithanda kakhulu. Nxa singathandaza simncenga ukuthi asincedise ngohlupho esiyabe silalo siyakhumbula ukuthi uhlakaniphile. Imithandazo enjalo yenza simhloniphe kakhulu uJehova njalo yenza sizimisele ukungenzi loba yini engaphambanisa ubungane bethu laye.

8. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sihlale simesaba uNkulunkulu?

⁸ Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi sihlale simesaba uNkulunkulu yikutaditsha iBhayibhili silenhloso yokufunda kulabo abenza okuhle lalabo abenza okubi. Khathesi asixoxeni ngezinceku zikaJehova ezimbili ezazithembekile, u-Obhadiya owayekhangela indlu yeNkosi u-Ahabi, loMphristi Omkhulu uJehoyada. Ngemva kwalokhu sizabona ukuthi sifundani kuJehowashi inkosi yakoJuda owaqalisa esenza okuhle kodwa wasetshiya uJehova.

9. Ukwesaba uJehova kwamnceda njani u-Obhadiya? (U-1 AmaKhosi 18:3, 12)

⁹ Lapho iBhayibhili eliqalisa khona ukukhuluma ngo-Obhadiya b lithi: “U-Obhadiya wayemesaba kakhulu uJehova.” (Bala u-1 AmaKhosi 18:3, 12.) Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kwamnceda njani u-Obhadiya? Kwamenza waba ngumuntu othembekileyo, yikho inkosi yamnika umsebenzi wokukhangela indlu yakhe. (Khangela uNehemiya 7:2.) Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kwenza u-Obhadiya waba lesibindi esikhulu njalo lokhu kwamnceda ukuthi enze okulungileyo. Waphila ngesikhathi kubusa inkosi embi u-Ahabi owenza “okubi phambi kukaJehova ukwedlula wonke amakhosi ayebuse ngaphambi kwakhe.” (1 Amakho. 16:30) Phezu kwalokho, inkosikazi ka-Ahabi uJezebheli yayikhonza uBhali futhi imzonda kakhulu uJehova okokuthi yaze yazama ukuqeda ukukhonza kweqiniso embusweni wako-Israyeli wasenyakatho. Kanti njalo uJezebheli wabulala abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu abanengi. (1 Amakho. 18:4) Konke lokhu kwenza sibone ukuthi u-Obhadiya wayekhonza uNkulunkulu ngesikhathi esinzima kakhulu.

10. U-Obhadiya watshengisa njani ukuthi ulesibindi?

¹⁰ U-Obhadiya watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelesibindi? UJezebheli wathi eqalisa ukuzingela abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu ebabulala, u-Obhadiya wathatha abangu-100 wabafihla. ‘Wafaka abangu-50 ebhalwini olulodwa, kwathi abanye abangu-50 wabafaka kolunye ubhalu futhi waqhubeka ebanika ukudla lamanzi.’ (1 Amakho. 18:13, 14) Aluba wabanjwa, wayezabulawa sibili. Kufanele ukuthi njengomuntu wonke nje, u-Obhadiya wayengakufuni ukufa. Kodwa wayethanda uJehova labantu bakhe ukwedlula impilo yakhe.

11. Izinceku zikaJehova zalamuhla zifanana njani lo-Obhadiya? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹¹ Lamuhla kulezinceku zikaJehova ezinengi ezihlala emazweni lapho umsebenzi wethu ongavunyelwa khona. Abafowethu labodadewethu laba bayazihlonipha iziphathamandla kodwa njengo-Obhadiya baligugu ngoba bazinikela kuJehova kuphela. (Mat. 22:21) Batshengisa ukuthi bayamesaba uNkulunkulu  ngokulalela yena kulokuthi balalele abantu. (Imiseb. 5:29) Lokhu bakwenza ngokuhlangana ndawonye langokuqhubeka betshumayela indaba ezinhle benanzelela. (Mat. 10:16, 28) Phezu kwalokho, benza konke abangakwenza ukuze abafowabo labodadewabo bathole ukudla okungaqinisa ukholo lwabo. Cabanga ngalokhu okwenziwa nguHenri ohlala elizweni elise-Africa lapho umsebenzi wethu owawungavunyelwa khona. Ngalesosikhathi uHenri wazinikela ukuthi abe enika oFakazi amabhuku asekelwe eBhayibhilini. Wabhala wathi: “Mina ngingumuntu olenhloni. Ngakho ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi okwangenza ngaba lesibindi yikuhlonipha uJehova.” Ungenelisa yini ukuba lesibindi njengoHenri? Nxa ungafunda ukumesaba uNkulunkulu ungaba laso.

12. UMphristi Omkhulu uJehoyada lomkakhe batshengisa njani ukuthi baqotho kuJehova?

¹² UMphristi Omkhulu uJehoyada wayemesaba uJehova futhi lokhu kwamnceda ukuthi abe qotho kuye futhi akhuthaze abanye ukuthi bakhonze uJehova. Ukwesaba kwakhe uJehova kwacaca ngesikhathi indodakazi kaJezebheli u-Athaliya ihluthuna ubukhosi koJuda. Abantu babemesaba kakhulu u-Athaliya ngoba wayelolunya futhi ekufuna phansi phezulu ukubusa. Yikho waze wazama ukubulala bonke abosendo lwesikhosini lanxa kwakungabazukulu bakhe! (2 Imilan. 22:10, 11) Kodwa uJehowashi, omunye wabantwana benkosi wasinda ngoba uJehoshabhethi umkaJehoyada wamthatha. Yena lomkakhe bamfihla basebemondla. Abakwenzayo kwanceda ukuthi usendo lwamakhosi emuli kaDavida lungatshabalali. UJehoyada wayeqotho kuJehova yikho engazange amesabe u-Athaliya.—Zaga. 29:25.

13. UJehoyada watshengisa njani ukuthi uqotho ngesikhathi uJehowashi eleminyaka eyisikhombisa?

¹³ UJehoyada waphinda watshengisa ukuthi uqotho kuJehova ngesikhathi uJehowashi eseleminyaka eyisikhombisa. Wabumba icebo lokuthi uJehowashi abe yinkosi futhi nxa lalingaphumelela kwakuzabe sekubusa umuntu wosendo lukaDavida. Kodwa uJehoyada wayengabulawa nxa icebo lelo lingasaphumelelanga. Okuhle yikuthi uJehova walibusisa icebo lelo laphumelela. Izinduna lamaLevi bamsekela uJehoyada, wasebeka uJehowashi ukuthi abe yinkosi, u-Athaliya yena wabulawa. (2 Imilan. 23:1-5, 11, 12, 15; 24:1) Ngemva kwalokho uJehoyada “wenza isivumelwano phakathi kukaJehova lenkosi kanye labantu, esokuthi bazaqhubeka bengabantu bakaJehova.” (2 Amakho. 11:17) Kanti njalo uJehoyada “wafaka labalindi bamagedi ukuthi balinde amagedi endlu kaJehova ukuze kungabi laloba ngubani ongcolileyo ozangena.”—2 Imilan. 23:19.

14. UJehoyada wahlonitshwa njani ngenxa yokuhlonipha uJehova?

¹⁴ Eminyakeni eminengi eyadlulayo uJehova wayethe: “Labo abangihloniphayo yibo engizabahlonipha.” Lakanye uJehova wamnika umvuzo uJehoyada. (1 Sam. 2:30) Ngokwesibonelo wenza ukuthi okuhle okwenziwa ngumphristi lo omkhulu kubhalwe ukuze sikufunde. (Rom. 15:4) UJehoyada wathi esefile wahlonitshwa kakhulu, wangcwatshwa “edolobheni likaDavida emangcwabeni amakhosi ngoba wenza okuhle ko-Israyeli, ekwenzela uNkulunkulu weqiniso lendlu yakhe.”—2 Imilan. 24:15, 16.

15. Yiziphi izifundo esizitholayo endabeni kaJehoyada? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹⁵ Indaba kaJehoyada ingasinceda sonke ukuthi simesabe uNkulunkulu. Abadala abangamaKhristu bangalingisela uJehoyada  ngokuhlala bephapheme njalo beqotho, bedinga izindlela zokuvikela umhlambi kaNkulunkulu. (Imiseb. 20:28) Asebekhulile bangafunda ukuthi nxa bemesaba uJehova futhi beqhubeka beqotho kuye njengoJehoyada angabasebenzisa ukuthi baqhubeke besenza intando yakhe. UJehova kabalahleli iganga ngenxa yokuthi sebekhulile. Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo uJehoyada ingaba yisifundo kwabasakhulayo. Bangamlingisela ngokuphatha kuhle asebekhulile abaqotho langokubahlonipha, ikakhulu labo asebelesikhathi eside bekhonza uJehova bethembekile. (Zaga. 16:31) Kanti njalo sonke kulesifundo esingasithola ezinduneni lakumaLevi ayesekela uJehoyada. Sifunda ukuthi kumele singayekeli ukusekela “abakhokhelayo” futhi sibalalele zikhathi zonke.—Heb. 13:17.

16. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi iNkosi uJehowashi yayingamesabi uNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ UJehoyada wayinceda kakhulu iNkosi uJehowashi ukuthi yenze okulungileyo. (2 Amakho. 12:2) Lokhu kwenza ukuthi inkosi le eyayisakhula ifune ukuthokozisa uJehova. Kodwa uJehoyada wathi esefile uJehowashi walalela abakhokheli ababehlamukele uJehova. Kwasekuhamba njani? Yena labantu bakhe “baqalisa ukukhonza izithombe zika-Ashera lezinye izithombe.” (2 Imilan. 24:4, 17, 18) UJehova wezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu, yikho ‘waqhubeka ethumela abaphrofethi kubo ukuze babancede babuyele kuye kodwa bona abazange balalele.’ Kabazange bamlalele loZakhariya indodana kaJehoyada owayengumphrofethi kaJehova, engumphristi  njalo eyisihlobo sikaJehowashi. INkosi uJehowashi kayizange itshengise ukuthi iyabonga ngokuthi abemuli kaJehoyada babesindise impilo yayo ngoba yathi uZakhariya abulawe.—2 Imilan. 22:11; 24:19-22.

17. Izinto zamhambela njani uJehowashi?

¹⁷ UJehowashi wayengamesabi uJehova futhi izinto azimhambelanga kuhle. UJehova wayethe: “Abangidelelayo bazayangiswa.” (1 Sam. 2:30) Ibutho leSiriya elalilincane lanqoba ibutho likaJehowashi “elalilikhulu kakhulu” njalo ‘lamtshiya elimele kakhulu.’ AmaSiriya athi esesukile, uJehowashi wabulawa yizinceku zakhe ngoba wayebulele uZakhariya. Inkosi le embi kayizange ingcwatshwe “emangcwabeni amakhosi” ngoba abantu bakubona kungayifanelanga lokho.—2 Imilan. 24:23-25.

18. UJeremiya 17:7, 8 usinceda njani ukuthi singabi njengoJehowashi?

¹⁸ Sifundani kuJehowashi? UJehowashi wayenjengesihlahla esilempande ezingatshoniyo esijekwe ngesigodo. Umuntu owayenjengesigodo esijeke uJehowashi wathi esefile, uJehowashi waqalisa ukulalela abahlamuki wasesiwa. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi akumelanga sesabe uNkulunkulu ngenxa nje yokuthi sijekwe ngamaKhristu aqinileyo ekukhonzeni lamalunga ezimuli zethu. Kodwa umuntu ngamunye kumele aqinise ubungane bakhe loJehova ngokutaditsha zikhathi zonke, langokucabangisisa lokuthandaza. Izinto lezi zizakwenza ukuthi sihlale simesaba futhi sizinikele kuye.—Bala uJeremiya 17:7, 8; Kol. 2:6, 7.

19. UJehova ufunani kithi?

¹⁹ UJehova kakhangelelanga okunengi kakhulu kithi. Lokho akufunayo kufinqwe kuhle kumTshumayeli 12:13 othi: “Mesabe uNkulunkulu weqiniso ugcine imithetho yakhe ngoba lo yiwo wonke umlandu womuntu.” Nxa simesaba uNkulunkulu sizenelisa ukulwisana lezilingo ezizasehlela, siqhubeke siqotho njengo-Obhadiya loJehoyada. Akulalutho oluzaphambanisa ubungane bethu loJehova.