1. UJehova usikhuthaza ukuthi senzeni?

UJEHOVA uyaluqakathekisa uthando oluqotho. (Hos. 6:6, NWT) Ufuna lathi siluqakathekise. Waphefumulela umphrofethi uMikha ukuthi asikhuthaze ukuthi ‘sithande ubuqotho.’ (Mik. 6:8, NWT) Kodwa kumele siqale sikwazi ukuthi luyini vele uthando oluqotho.

2. Luyini uthando oluqotho?

² Luyini uthando oluqotho? Nxa umuntu elothando oluqotho uyabe ethanda omunye kakhulu okokuthi uzaqhubeka emthanda futhi kasoze amtshiye loba sekutheni. Akulamuntu olothando oluqotho njengoJehova. Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngokuthi uJehova utshengisa njani uthando oluqotho ebantwini. Kwesilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokuthi singamlingisela njani ekutshengiseni abanye uthando oluqotho.

3. UJehova wamtshelani uMosi?

³ UJehova watshela uMosi okuthile ngebizo lakhe langobuntu bakhe ama-Israyeli esanda kusuka eGibhithe. Wathi: ‘UJehova, uJehova; uNkulunkulu olesihawu lomusa, ophuzayo ukuthukuthela, ogcwele uthando oluqotho, olothando olungapheliyo kuzinkulungwane ethethelela ububi, iziphosiso lezono.’ (Eks. 34:6, 7) Emazwini la athinta inhliziyo, uJehova watshela uMosi okuthile okuqakatheke kakhulu mayelana lothando lwakhe oluqotho. Kuyini lokho?

4-5. (a) UJehova wathi unguNkulunkulu onjani? (b) Yiphi imibuzo esizayiphendula?

⁴ UJehova kazange athi ulothando oluqotho kodwa wathi ‘ugcwele uthando oluqotho.’ Umutsho lo utholakala  kanengi ku-Nguqulo Yomhlaba Omutsha YeMibhalo Engcwele. (Nani. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; Hubo. 86:15; 103:8; Jow. 2:13; Jona. 4:2) Kuzo zonke indawo lapho otholakala khona, kuyabe kukhulunywa ngoJehova kuphela, hatshi abantu. Kungani uJehova ezichaza ngalindlela emavesini amanengi? Ufuna kusicacele ukuthi uyaluqakathekisa uthando oluqotho. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi iNkosi uDavida yababaza yathi: ‘Uthando lwakho, Jehova, lufika emazulwini. Luligugu elinganani uthando lwakho olungaphuthiyo! Bonke abantu abayizikhulu labahluphekayo bazuza isiphephelo emthunzini wamaphiko akho.’ (Hubo. 36:5, 7) Siyaluqakathekisa njengoDavida yini uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho?

⁵ Asiphenduleni imibuzo emibili elandelayo ezasinceda sizwisise ukuthi luyini uthando oluqotho: Ngobani uJehova abatshengisa uthando oluqotho? Sincedakala njani nxa uJehova esitshengisa uthando oluqotho?

6. Ngobani uJehova abatshengisa uthando oluqotho?

⁶ Ngobani uJehova abatshengisa uthando oluqotho? Kalutshengisi loba ngubani. Ulutshengisa abangane bakhe abaseduze. UNkulunkulu wethu uqotho kubangane bakhe. Ubagcinele okuhle njalo kasoze abalahle loba sekutheni.

7. UJehova utshengise njani ukuthi uyabathanda abantu bonke?

⁷ UJehova utshengise uthando ebantwini bonke. UJesu wathi kuNikhodemu: “UNkulunkulu wawuthanda kakhulu umhlaba [abantu bonke] waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu otshengisa ukuthi ulokholo kuyo angabhujiswa, kodwa abe lokuphila okungapheliyo.”—Joh. 3:1, 16; Mat. 5:44, 45.

8-9. (a) Kungani uJehova ezitshengisa uthando oluqotho izinceku zakhe? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani khathesi?

⁸ Njengoba sibonile, uJehova utshengisa uthando oluqotho ezincekwini zakhe kuphela, abangane bakhe abaseduze. Lokho kukhanya emazwini atshiwo yiNkosi uDavida lomphrofethi uDanyeli. Ngokwesibonelo, uDavida wathi: “Qhubeka ngothando lwakho [“oluqotho,” NWT] kulabo abakwaziyo.” “Kusukela phakade kusiya phakade uthando lukaJehova [“oluqotho,” NWT] lukulabo abamesabayo.” UDanyeli yena wathi: ‘O Jehova Nkulunkulu omkhulu, olothando [“oluqotho,” NWT] ngalabo bonke  abamthandayo, abagcina imilayo yakhe.’ (Hubo. 36:10; 103:17; Dan. 9:4) Amavesi la aveza ukuthi uJehova utshengisa uthando oluqotho ezincekwini zakhe ngenxa yokuthi ziyamazi, ziyamesaba, ziyamthanda njalo zigcina imilayo yakhe. Uthando lwakhe oluqotho ulugcinela abantu bakhe kuphela, labo abamkhonza ngendlela ayamukelayo.

⁹ Singakaqalisi ukukhonza uJehova, wayesithanda ngendlela athanda ngayo abantu bonke nje. (Hubo. 104:14) Kodwa khathesi njengoba sesimkhonza, usesitshengisa lothando lwakhe oluqotho futhi luyasinceda. Uze asithembise esithi: “Uthando lwami [“oluqotho,” NWT] kuwe kaluyikunyikinyiswa.” (Isaya. 54:10) UDavida wazibonela lokho, wathi, “Yazini ukuthi uJehova uzamphatha kuhle lowo oqotho kuye.” (Hubo. 4:3, NWT) Lokho kumele kusikhuthaze ukuthi senzeni? Umhubi wathi: ‘Lowo ohlakaniphileyo, kaqaphele lezizinto anakane ngothando lukaJehova’ oluqotho. (Hubo. 107:43) Yikho asixoxeni ngezindlela ezintathu uJehova asitshengisa ngazo uthando oluqotho lokuthi lusinceda njani.

10. Kusinceda njani ukwazi ukuthi uthando oluqotho lukaNkulunkulu alusoze luphele? (IHubo 31:7)

¹⁰ Uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho luzahlala kuze kube nini lanini. Ku-Nguqulo Yomhlaba Omutsha YeMibhalo Engcwele umutsho lo utholakala izikhathi ezingu-26 kuHubo 136. Ivesi yokuqala ithi: “Mbongeni uJehova ngoba muhle, uthando lwakhe oluqotho luzahlala kuze kube nini lanini.” (Hubo. 136:1, NWT) Kusukela kuvesi 2 kusiya ku-26, kuphindwa umutsho othi “ngoba uthando lwakhe oluqotho luzahlala kuze kube nini lanini.” Nxa sibala amavesi lawo sisala simangaliswe zindlela ezinengi uJehova atshengisa ngazo uthando oluqotho kokuphela. Ukuphindwaphindwa komutsho othi “ngoba uthando lwakhe oluqotho luzahlala kuze kube nini lanini” kwenza singathandabuzi ukuthi indlela uNkulunkulu athanda ngayo abantu bakhe ayitshintshi. Kuyasikhuthaza  sibili ukuthi uJehova kazilahli izinceku zakhe loba sekutheni! Uyanamathela kulabo abamkhonzayo njalo kabatshiyi, ikakhulu nxa besebunzimeni. Kusinceda njani lokho? Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova kasitshiyi kusinika intokozo lamandla esiwadingayo ukuze siqinisele nxa sisebunzimeni futhi siqhubeke sihamba endleleni eya ekuphileni.—Bala iHubo 31:7, NWT. *        

11. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuHubo 86:5, kuyini okwenza uJehova athethelele?

¹¹ Uthando oluqotho lwenza uNkulunkulu athethelele. Nxa uJehova enanzelela ukuthi umuntu owonileyo uyaphenduka futhi usekutshiyile abekwenza, uyamthethelela ngenxa yokuthi ulothando oluqotho. Umhubi uDavida wathi ngoJehova: “Kasiphathi ngokufanele izono zethu kumbe asijezise ngokulingene iziphambeko zethu.” (Hubo. 103:8-11) UDavida wayebazi kuhle ubuhlungu bokuthonisiswa ngumzwangedwa kodwa wafunda ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ‘ukuthethelela.’ Kuyini okumenza athethelele? Impendulo siyithola emthandazweni kaDavida okuHubo 86:5, NWT. * (Bala.) Wathi uJehova uyathethelela ngoba ugcwele uthando oluqotho kulabo abakhuleka kuye.

12-13. Kuyini okuzasinceda nxa sihlala sizithonisisa ngenxa yesono esasenza kudala?

¹² Kuqondile futhi kuyanceda ukuzisola nxa sonile. Kungenza siphenduke njalo sitshiye okubi ebesikwenza. Kodwa abanye abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakhulelwa yikuzithonisisa ngenxa yezono abazenza kudala. Bacabanga ukuthi uJehova kasoze abathethelele loba sekutheni, lanxa bacela ukuthi abathethelele futhi batshiya izinto ezimbi ababezenza. Nxa ulohlupho lolo, ukufunda ngokuthi uJehova uzimisele sibili ukukutshengisa uthando lwakhe oluqotho kuzakunceda.

¹³ Kusinceda njani lokho? Singenelisa ukukhonza uJehova sithokoza njalo silomzwangedwa omuhle lanxa silesono.  Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi “igazi likaJesu iNdodana yakhe liyasihlambulula kuzo zonke izono.” (1 Joh. 1:7) Nxa udanile ngenxa yesono osenzileyo, khumbula ukuthi uJehova uyafuna futhi uzimisele ukukuthethelela nxa ungaphenduka. Nanzelela ukuthi uDavida watshengisa njani ukuthi uthando lukaJehova oluqotho yilo olumenza athethelele. Wathi: “Njengokuphakama komkhathi ngaphezu komhlaba, lukhulu kangako uthando lwakhe [“oluqotho,” NWT] kulabo abamesabayo; njengobukhatshana bempumalanga kuyo intshonalanga kanjalo ususile iziphambeko zethu kithi.” (Hubo. 103:11, 12) UJehova uzimisele sibili ‘ukuthethelela ngendlela enkulu.’—Isaya. 55:7, NWT.

14. UDavida wathi uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho lusivikela njani?

¹⁴ Uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho luyasivikela ukuze sihlale singabangane bakhe. UDavida wakhuleka kuJehova wathi: ‘Uyindawo yami yokuphephela; uzangivikela enkathazweni ungizungeze ngezingoma zensindiso. Uthando lukaJehova olungaphuthiyo luyamzungeza umuntu othemba kuye.’ (Hubo. 32:7, 10) Kudala, imiduli eyayigombolozele idolobho yayivikela izakhamizi ezitheni. Uthando lukaJehova oluqotho lalo lunjengomduli osivikela kuloba yini engaphambanisa ubungane bethu laye. Kanti njalo lwenza asivikele ngokusisondeza kuye.—Jer. 31:3, NWT.

15. Uthando lukaJehova oluqotho lufanana njani lesiphephelo kumbe inqaba?

¹⁵ UDavida waphinda wakucacisa ngenye indlela ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubavikela njani abantu bakhe. Wathi: “Wena, O Nkulunkulu uyinqaba yami, uNkulunkulu wami olothando [“oluqotho,” NWT].” Waphinda wathi ngoJehova: ‘[“Uluthando lwami oluqotho,” NWT] lenqaba yami, inqaba yami lomkhululi wami, isihlangu sami engiphephela kuso.’ (Hubo. 59:17; 144:2) Kuyini okwenza uDavida wafanisa uthando lukaJehova oluqotho lenqaba kumbe isiphephelo? Kungelani lokuthi sihlala ngaphi, nxa siyizinceku zikaJehova, uzasivikela kuloba yini engaphambanisa ubungane bethu laye obuligugu. IHubo 91 lalo liyasiqinisekisa ngalokho. Umlobi wehubo lelo wathi: “Ngizakuthi kuJehova, ‘Uyisiphephelo sami lenqaba yami.’”(Hubo. 91:1-3, 9, 14) UMosi laye wathi uJehova uyisiphephelo. (Hubo. 90:1, NWT) Kanti njalo esezakufa wakhuluma amazwi athinta inhliziyo. Wathi: “UNkulunkulu uyisiphephelo kusukela ezinsukwini zakudala, Ingalo zakhe zaphakade zingaphansi kwakho.” (Dute. 33:27, NWT) Umutsho othi “ingalo zakhe zaphakade zingaphansi kwakho” usitshelani ngoJehova?

16. Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uzahlala esincedisa kwenza sikhumbuleni? (IHubo 136:23)

¹⁶ Asesabi lutho nxa uJehova eyiSiphephelo sethu. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi siyadana futhi siswele amandla okuvuka. UJehova uzakwenzani ngezikhathi ezinje? (Bala iHubo 136:23, NWT.) * Uzafaka ingalo zakhe ngaphansi kwethu, asiphakamise kuhle kuhle njalo asincedise sime. (Hubo. 28:9; 94:18) Kusinceda njani lokho? Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uzahlala esincedisa kwenza sikhumbule izinto ezimbili eziqakathekileyo. Okokuqala, uJehova uzahlala esivikela kungelani lokuthi sihlala ngaphi. Okwesibili, uBaba wethu osezulwini osithandayo ulendaba lathi sibili.

17. Kuyini esingakuthandabuziyo? (IHubo 33:18-22)

¹⁷ Njengoba sibonile, nxa sisebunzimeni singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzasincedisa ukuthi sihlale siqotho kuye. (2 Khor. 4:7-9) Umphrofethi uJeremiya wathi: “Ngenxa yothando olukhulu lukaJehova kasibhujiswanga, ngoba isihawu sakhe asipheli.” (IZiLi. 3:22) Asithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzahlala esitshengisa uthando oluqotho ngoba umhubi wathi “amehlo kaJehova akulabo abamesabayo, kulabo othemba labo lisethandweni lwakhe olungapheliyo.”—Bala iHubo 33:18-22.

18-19. (a) Kuyini esifuna ukuhlala sikukhumbula? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Kuyini esikufundileyo esifuna ukuhlala sikukhumbula? Singakakhonzi uJehova, wayesithanda ngendlela athanda ngayo abantu bonke nje. Kodwa khathesi njengoba sesimkhonza, usesitshengisa lothando lwakhe oluqotho futhi luyasinceda. Uthando oluqotho lwenza asigone njalo asivikele ngengalo zakhe. Uzasigcina siseduze kwakhe futhi uzasinika izinto ezinhle asigcinele zona. Ufuna siphumelele sibili! (Hubo. 46:1, 2, 7) Yikho kungelani lobunzima esihlangana labo, uJehova uzasinika amandla esiwadingayo ukuze sihlale siqotho kuye.

¹⁹ Sesibonile ukuthi uJehova uzitshengisa njani izinceku zakhe uthando oluqotho. Ukhangelele ukuthi lathi sitshengise uthando oluqotho kwabanye. Singakwenza njani lokho? Sizaxoxa ngendaba le eqakathekileyo esihlokweni esilandelayo.