1-2. (a) Yibuphi ubunzima esihlangana labo? (b) Chasisa ubunzima amaJuda ayehlangana labo. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Okwenzakala Ngensuku ZikaHagayi, LoZakhariya Lo-Ezra.”)

 UYAKE ukhathazeke yini ngokuthi kuzakwenzakalani ngesikhathi esizayo? Mhlawumbe uphelelwe ngumsebenzi futhi ukhathazekile ngokuthi uzayondla njani imuli yakho. Kungenzeka ukhathazeke ngokuvikeleka kwemuli yakho ngenxa yeziphithiphithi zezombusazwe, kumbe ukuhlukuluzwa loba ukuthi endaweni elihlala kuyo alenelisi ukwenza umsebenzi wokutshumayela likhululekile. Nxa kukhona okukuthwalise nzima okunjengalokho okuqanjiweyo, kuzakunceda ukubona indlela uJehova ancedisa ngayo ama-Israyeli ngesikhathi esebunzimeni.

² AmaJuda ayehlale eBhabhiloni okwempilo yawo yonke kwakudingeka ukuthi abe lokholo ukuze atshiye impilo entofontofo aye elizweni ayengazi okunengi ngalo. Ngesikhatshana nje esanda kufika elizweni lawo, kwaba nzima ukuthi anakekele izimuli zawo. Kanti njalo kwaba leziphithiphithi zombusazwe futhi ayehlutshwa ngabantu bezinye izizwe. Yikho kwaba nzima kwamanye amaJuda ukuthi aqhubekele phambili ngokwakha ithempeli likaJehova. Ngabo-520 B.C.E., uJehova wathuma abaphrofethi bakhe ababili, uHagayi loZakhariya ukuthi bavuselele abantu ukuze baphinde bawukhuthalele umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli. (Hag. 1:1; Zak. 1:1) Njengoba sizabona, abaphrofethi laba babakhuthaza sibili abantu baphinda bawuqalisa umsebenzi. Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-50, amaJuda la ayephenduke eBhabhiloni aphinda adinwa. U-Ezra owayengumbhali woMthetho oyingcitshi, wasuka  eBhabhiloni waya eJerusalema esiyakhuthaza abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi baqakathekise ukukhonza kweqiniso.—Ezra. 7:1, 6.

3. Yiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo? (IZaga 22:19)

³ Iziphrofetho ezakhulunywa nguHagayi loZakhariya zanceda abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakudala ukuthi baqhubeke bemthemba uJehova lanxa babehlukuluzwa. Lathi zingasinceda ukuthi sihlale silethemba lokuthi uJehova uzasincedisa ngezikhathi zobunzima. (Bala iZaga 22:19.) Sizahlola amazwi kaNkulunkulu akhulunywa nguHagayi loZakhariya kanye lalokho okwenziwa ngu-Ezra. Ngesikhathi sixoxa, sizaphendula imibuzo le: AmaJuda aphenduka eBhabhiloni enzani ngesikhathi esehlelwa zinhlupho? Kungani kumele siqakathekise ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu lanxa sisebunzimeni? Singenzani ukuze sihlale sithemba ukuthi uJehova uzasincedisa ngesikhathi sobunzima?

4-5. Kuyini okungabe kwabangela ukuthi amaJuda acine engasakukhuthalelanga ukwakha ithempeli?

⁴ Kwakulomsebenzi omkhulu amaJuda okwakumele awenze ngesikhathi efika eJerusalema. Ahle aqalisa ukwakha kutsha i-alithare likaJehova asesakha lesisekelo sethempeli. (Ezra. 3:1-3, 10) Kodwa kungakayi ngaphi idlabuzane lawo laseliphelile. Phela lanxa ayelomsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli, kwakumele akhe izindlu zawo, alime amasimu futhi ondle izimuli zawo. (Ezra. 2:68, 70) Kanti njalo izitha zawo zaziwathwalise nzima zizama ngamandla ukumisa umsebenzi wokwakha kutsha ithempeli.—Ezra. 4:1-5.

⁵ AmaJuda ayephenduke eBhabhiloni aphinda athwala nzima ngenxa yeziphithiphithi zezombusazwe kanye lokuswela izinto zokuziphilisa. Ilizwe lawo laselingaphansi kombuso wePhesiya. UKhoresi owayeyinkosi yasePhesiya wathi esefile ngo-530 B.C.E., umbusi owamlandelayo uCambyses waqalisa ukuhlasela iGibhithe. Ngesikhathi amasotsha enkosi le esiya eGibhithe, kungenzakala ukuthi ayesithi ama-Israyeli awanike ukudla lamanzi lendawo yokuhlala. Kufanele ukuthi lokhu kwawahlukuluza kakhulu ama-Israyeli. Owabusa ngemva kukaCambyses kwakunguDariyu Wokuqala. Wathi esanda kuqalisa ukubusa, abantu babevukela futhi kwakuleziphithiphithi zezombusazwe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ubunzima bonke lobu benza ukuthi ama-Israyeli ayevela eBhabhiloni akhathazeke ngokuthi ayezazinakekela njani izimuli zawo. Kanti njalo izinto zonke lezi zenza amanye amaJuda abona angani kwakungayisiso sikhathi esifaneleyo sokuvuselela ithempeli likaJehova.—Hag. 1:2.

6. Yibuphi obunye ubunzima amaJuda ahlangana labo, njalo uZakhariya wawaqinisekisa ngani okukhulunywa ngakho kuZakhariya 4:6, 7?

⁶ Bala uZakhariya 4:6, 7. Uhlupho lokuthola ezokuziphilisa kanye leziphithiphithi zombusazwe ayisikho kodwa okwakuthwalise amaJuda nzima. Kwaphinda kwaba lezitha ezaziwahlukuluza. Ngo-522 B.C.E., izitha lezi zaphumelela ukwenza ukuthi umsebenzi wokwakha kutsha ithempeli likaJehova umiswe. UZakhariya waqinisekisa amaJuda ukuthi uJehova wayezasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuthi awancede aqhubeke ngomsebenzi lanxa ayephakathi kobunzima. Ngo-520 B.C.E., iNkosi uDariyu yathi umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli uqhubekele phambili. Yaphinda yabanika lemali njalo yathi iziphathamandla zibancedise.—Ezra. 6:1, 6-10.

7. Yiziphi izibusiso ezatholwa ngamaJuda ngesikhathi eseqakathekisa ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu?

 ⁷ UJehova wasebenzisa abaphrofethi bakhe uHagayi loZakhariya ukuthi athembise abantu bakhe ukuthi wayezabasekela nxa bangaqakathekisa umsebenzi wokwakha kutsha ithempeli. (Hag. 1:8, 13, 14; Zak. 1:3, 16) AmaJuda athi esekhuthazwe ngabaphrofethi laba, awuqalisa umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli ngo-520 B.C.E., futhi awuqeda kungakedluli iminyaka emihlanu. UJehova wawasekela amaJuda la ngokuwanika izinto zokuziphilisa njalo wawanceda lokuthi  ahlale engabangane bakhe ngoba ayekuqakathekisa ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu lanxa ayesebunzimeni. Lokho kwenza akhonza uJehova ethokoza.—Ezra. 6:14-16, 22.

8. Amazwi abhalwe kuHagayi 2:4 angasinceda njani ukuthi sihlale siqakathekisa ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

⁸ Njengoba ukuhlupheka okukhulu kusondela, kumele sinanzelele ukuthi khathesi sekuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi silalele umlayo wokuthi sitshumayele. (Mak. 13:10) Kodwa kungaba nzima ukuthi siqhubeke siwuqakathekisa umsebenzi lo nxa siphikiswa enkonzweni yethu kumbe nxa silohlupho lwemali. Manje kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi siqhubeke siqakathekisa umsebenzi lo ukwedlula zonke izinto? Yikuhlala siqiniseka ukuthi “uJehova wamabutho” b uzasisekela. Uzahlala esincedisa nxa singaqakathekisa imisebenzi yoMbuso ukwedlula lokho esikufunayo. Kambe kuyini esingakwesaba nxa esincedisa?—Bala uHagayi 2:4.

9-10. U-Oleg lo-Irina bakubona njani ukuthi amazwi kaJesu akuMathewu 6:33 aliqiniso?

⁹ Asixoxeni ngalokho okwenzakala ku-Oleg lo-Irina, c umfowethu lodadewethu abatshadileyo abangamaphayona. Bathi sebethuthele kwenye indawo besiyancedisa ibandla elalikhonapho, baphelelwa ngumsebenzi ngenxa yokuthi ezomnotho zazilokhu zisiwa elizweni labo. Kwaphela isikhathi esingaba ngumnyaka bengatholi umsebenzi owawungabavumela ukuthi baqhubeke besenza inkonzo yabo. Lanxa kunjalo, babekubona ukuthi uJehova wayebasekela futhi kwezinye izikhathi babencediswa ngabafowabo labodadewabo. Manje kuyini okwabancedayo ngesikhathi leso esasinzima? Ekuqaliseni u-Oleg wayekhathazekile ngobunzima ayekubo kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wathi, “Ukuqeda isikhathi esinengi sisemsebenzini wokutshumayela  kwasinceda ukuthi sihlale sikwazi ukuthi kuyini okuqakatheke kakhulu empilweni.” Lanxa yena lomkakhe babelokhu bewudinga umsebenzi, baqhubeka bekukhuthalele ukutshumayela.

¹⁰ Ngelinye ilanga bathi befika endlini yabo bevela ekutshumayeleni, umakhelwane wabo wabatshela ukuthi kulomuntu owayefikile. Kwakungumngane wabo futhi wayehambe amakhilomitha angaba ngu-160 ebaphathele ukudla okunengi. U-Oleg uthi: “Ngalelolanga saphinda sakubona ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda kakhulu lokuthi abafowethu labodadewethu labo bayasithanda kakhulu. Asithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova kazikhohlwa izinceku zakhe lanxa kungakhanya sekumnyama phambili lasemuva, kungasathembisi.”—Mat. 6:33.

11. UJehova uzakwenzani nxa singaqakathekisa ukwenza intando yakhe?

¹¹ UJehova ufuna siwuqakathekise kakhulu umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi ngoba uzakwenza abantu bathole ukuphila. Njengoba sibonile  endimeni 7, uHagayi wakhuthaza abantu bakaJehova ukuthi baphinde baqalise ukwenza umsebenzi ongcwele, owokwakha kutsha ithempeli. UJehova wathembisa ukuthi ‘wayezababusisa’ nxa bangawenza umsebenzi. (Hag. 2:18, 19) Lathi uJehova kasoze ayekele ukusibusisa nxa singaqakathekisa ukwenza umsebenzi asiphe wona.

12. Kungani kwakumele u-Ezra lamaJuda ayebuyela lawo eJerusalema babe lokholo oluqinileyo?

¹² Ngo-468 B.C.E., u-Ezra wasuka eBhabhiloni lamanye amaJuda besiya eJerusalema. Kwakumele babe lokholo ngoba babezahamba ngezindlela eziyingozi bethwele igolide kanye lesiliva okwakunikelwe ukuthi kuyesetshenziswa ethempelini. Lokhu kwakungenza ukuthi izigebenga zibahlasele. (Ezra. 7:12-16; 8:31) Kanti njalo bathi befika eJerusalema, bananzelela ukuthi layo yayingavikelekanga. Idolobho leJerusalema lalilabantu abalutshwane njalo imiduli yalo lamagedi alo kwakumele kulungiswe. Singafundani ku-Ezra mayelana lokuhlala simthemba kakhulu uJehova?

13. Kuyini okwanceda u-Ezra ukuthi ahlale emthemba kakhulu uJehova? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹³ U-Ezra wayeke wabona indlela uJehova ayesekele ngayo abantu bakhe ezikhathini ezinzima. Kumele ukuthi u-Ezra wayeseBhabhiloni ngo-484 B.C.E., lapho iNkosi u-Ahasuweru ifaka umlayo wokuthi wonke amaJuda ayesembusweni wePhesiya kwakumele abulawe. (Esta. 3:7, 13-15) Impilo ka-Ezra yayisisengozini! AmaJuda ‘ayekuzo zonke izabelo’ athi ekuzwa lokho azila ukudla, aqhinqa isililo. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ayethandaza ecela ukuthi uJehova awancedise. (Esta. 4:3) Kumele ukuthi u-Ezra lawo wonke amaJuda bathokoza kakhulu ngesikhathi isikhuni sesitshisa umkhwezeli, labo ababefuna ukubabulala sekuyibo ababulawayo! (Esta. 9:1, 2) Kungenzeka ukuthi lokho akubona kusenzakala ngezikhathi lezi ezinzima kwamsiza ukuthi alungele izilingo ezazizakuza njalo kwamenza wangathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova kayekeli ukuvikela abantu bakhe. d

14. U-Anastasia wafundani ebona ukuthi uJehova wayemnakekela ngesikhathi esinzima?

¹⁴ Ukubona izindlela uJehova asincedisa ngazo ngezikhathi ezinzima kwenza simthembe kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Anastasia ohlala elizweni elisempumalanga ye-Europe watshiya umsebenzi wakhe ngenxa yokuthi ayesebenza labo babezama ukumbamba ngamandla ukuthi asekele ezombusazwe. Uthi: “Kwakungokokuqala empilweni yami ukuswela imali.” Uqhubeka esithi: “Ngakhuleka kuJehova ngendaba le njalo ngabona indlela anginakekela ngayo. Nxa ngingaphinda ngiphelelwe ngumsebenzi  angisoze ngesabe. Nxa uBaba osezulwini esenelisa ukunginakekela khathesi, kutsho ukuthi uzanginakekela lasesikhathini esizayo.”

15. Kuyini okwanceda u-Ezra ukuthi ahlale emthemba kakhulu uJehova? (U-Ezra 7:27, 28)

¹⁵ U-Ezra wayesibona isandla sikaJehova empilweni yakhe. Wayecabangisisa ngezikhathi uJehova ayemncedise ngazo futhi lokho kwakusenza ukuthi amthembe kakhulu. U-Ezra wathi: “Isandla sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wami besiphezu kwami.” (Bala u-Ezra 7:27, 28.) Wasebenzisa amazwi afanana lalawa okwezikhathi eziyisithupha ebhukwini alibhalayo.—Ezra. 7:6, 9; 8:18, 22, 31.

16. Kunini lapho esingabona khona isandla sikaJehova empilweni zethu? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹⁶ UJehova angasincedisa nxa sisebunzimeni. Ngokwesibonelo, siyabe sinika uJehova ithuba lokuthi asincedise nxa sicela kumqhatshi wethu ukuthi asinike isikhathi sokuthi siye emhlanganweni wesabelo. Kanti njalo nxa sicela ukuthi singasebenzi ngezinye izikhathi kumbe ngamanye amalanga ukuze singene imihlangano yebandla siyabe simnika ithuba lokuthi aphinde asincedise. Angasincedisa ngendlela esiyabe singayikhangelelanga njalo lokho kungenza ukuthi simthembe kakhulu.

17. U-Ezra watshengisa njani ukuthi wayethobekile ngesikhathi esebunzimeni? (Khangela umfanekiso ongaphandle.)

¹⁷ U-Ezra wayezithoba acele ukuthi uJehova amncedise. Nxa imisebenzi yakhe yayisimsinda, wayezithoba athandaze kuJehova ecela ukuthi amncedise. (Ezra. 8:21-23; 9:3-5) Abanye bakubona ukuthi u-Ezra wayethembele kuJehova, basebezimisela ukumncedisa lokulingisela indlela ayelokholo ngayo. (Ezra. 10:1-4) Nxa sikhathazeke kakhulu ngokuthi sizazithola ngaphi izinto zokuziphilisa kumbe ngokuvikeleka kwemuli yethu, kumele sithandaze kuJehova siqiniseka ukuthi uzasincedisa.

18. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi simthembe kakhulu uJehova?

¹⁸ Nxa singazithoba sicele ukuthi uJehova asincedise njalo sicele lokuthi abafowethu labodadewethu basincedise, sizamthemba kakhulu uJehova. Omunye udadewethu okuthiwa ngu-Erika olabantwana abathathu, wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzamncedisa nxa esebunzimeni. Ngesikhatshana nje, waswela njalo wafelwa ngumkakhe ayemthanda. Nxa ecabanga ngakho konke okwenzakalayo uthi: “Nxa usehlelwa yibunzima, ngeke wazi ukuthi uJehova uzakuncedisa njani. Angakuncedisa ngendlela oyabe ungayikhangelelanga. Engikunanzeleleyo yikuthi imithandazo yami eminengi uJehova uyiphendula esebenzisa abangane bami. Bayangikhuthaza futhi bangincedise ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo. Nxa ngingatshela abangane bami inhlupho engilazo kuba lula ukuthi bangincedise.”

19-20. Okwenziwa ngamaJuda angazange abuyele eJerusalema kusifundisani?

¹⁹ Kulesifundo esiqakathekileyo esingasifunda kumaJuda angenelisanga ukubuyela eJerusalema. Kungenzakala ukuthi abanye ababuyelanga eJerusalema ngenxa yokuthi basebekhulile ngeminyaka, loba ukuthi babegula kakhulu kumbe ukuthi babelemisebenzi okwakumele bayenze ezimulini zabo. Lanxa kunjalo, banceda labo ababebuyela eJerusalema ngezinto ababezazisebenzisa ukwakha ithempeli. (Ezra. 1:5, 6) Kukhanya langemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-19 iqembu lokuqala lamaJuda selibuyele eJerusalema, amaJuda ayesele eBhabhiloni ayelokhu ethumela izipho eJerusalema.—Zak. 6:10.

²⁰ Lanxa kulezinto esingenelisi ukuzenzela uJehova ngenxa yezizatho ezitshiyeneyo, singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa konke esimenzela khona ngenhliziyo yonke ukuze simthokozise. Sikwazi njani lokho? Ngensuku zikaZakhariya uJehova watshela umphrofethi lo ukuthi enze umqhele ngegolide langesiliva okwakuthunyezwe ngamaJuda ayesele eBhabhiloni. (Zak. 6:11) “Umqhele” lo wawuzakwenza ukuthi iminikelo ababeyenze ngenhliziyo yonke ihlale ‘ikhunjulwa.’ (Zak. 6:14) Lokhu kwenza siqiniseke ukuthi uJehova ngeke akukhohlwe esimenzela khona ngenhliziyo yonke ukuze simkhonze lanxa siyabe sisebunzimeni.—Heb. 6:10.

21. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi singakhathazeki kakhulu ngezinto ezingenzakala esikhathini esizayo?

²¹ Asithandabuzi ukuthi ensukwini lezi zokucina sizahlangana lobunzima, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kungenzakala ukuthi izinto zibe zimbi kakhulu. (2 Thim. 3:1, 13) Lanxa kunjalo, akumelanga sikhathazeke kakhulu ngokuzakwenzakala. Kumele sihlale sikhumbula amazwi kaJehova awatshela abantu bakhe ngensuku zikaHagayi athi: ‘Ngilani, lingesabi.’ (Hag. 2:4, 5) Ngakho singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzakuba lathi asincedise nxa sisenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi senze intando yakhe. Nxa singasebenzisa izifundo esizithole kulokho okwaphrofethwa nguHagayi loZakhariya kanye lakulokho okwenziwa ngu-Ezra, sizahlala simthemba uJehova kungelani lenhlupho ezingasehlela esikhathini esizayo. Lathi singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzakuba lathi asincedise nxa sisenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi senze intando yakhe.