1. AboFakazi abathathu ekukhulunywe ngabo esigabeni batjengise njani ukuthi bathembekile kuJehova?

AKHUCABANGE ngobujamo obuhlukeneko aboFakazi bakaJehova abaqalana nabo. (1) Umntazanyana osesikolweni, ngelinye ilanga utitjherakhe umema boke abafundi eklasini lakhe bona bagidinge iholideyi elithileko. Umntazanyana lo uyazi ukuthi iholideyeli alimthabisi uZimu, yeke uyalandula ukuhlanganyela. (2) Umnakwethu osesemutjha oneenhloni usesimini. Kuthi kusese njalo utjheja ukuthi omunye umfundi othanda ukuhlekisa ngaboFakazi bakaJehova uhlala emzini olandelako. Nokho umnakwethu lo akavumeli ivalo lokuhlekwa limkhandele bona atjhumayele emzini loyo. (3) Ubaba osebenza budisi bona atlhogomele umndenakhe, ngelinye ilanga emsebenzini umphathakhe umbawa bona enze okuthileko okungasisemthethweni. Ngitjho nanyana angaphelelwa msebenzakhe, ubaba lo uhlathululela umphathakhe bona uJehova ufuna sithembeke begodu sihloniphe umthetho.—Rom. 13:1-4; Heb. 13:18.

2. Ngimiphi imibuzo esizoyiphendula begodu kubayini?

² Ngibuphi ubuntu obuhle aboFakazi abathathwaba abanabo? Kungenzeka utjhejile ukuthi banesibindi kodwana boke bathembekile kuJehova, okuyinto eqakatheke khulu. Akakho namunye kibo ovuma ukweqa iinkambiso zakaZimu. Ukuthembeka kubenza baziphathe ngendlela eyamukelekako kuJehova. Akunakuzaza ukuthi kuyamthabisa uJehova ukubona aboFakazaba bathembekile. Nathi sifuna ukuthabisa uBabethu osezulwini. Nje-ke, akhesicoce ngemibuzo nasi: Khuyini ukuthembeka? Kubayini kufuze sithembeke? Khuyini esingayenza bona sihlale sithembekile eenkhathini ezibudisezi?

3. (a) Iinsebenzi zakaZimu zitjengisa njani ukuthi zithembekile? (b) Ngimiphi imifanekiso engasisiza sizwisise ukuthi kutjho ukuthini ukuthembeka?

³ Iinsebenzi zakaZimu zitjengisa njani ukuthi zithembekile?  Ngokuthanda uJehova ngehliziyo yoke, ngokuzinikela kuye ngokupheleleko nangokwenza izinto ezimthabisako. EBhayibhelini igama lesiHebheru elithi “ukuthembeka” litjho okupheleleko, okuphilileko namkha okumsulwa. Nasi isibonelo, umThetho kaJehova kuma-Israyeli bewuthi nawaletha umnikelo wesilwana kuye kufuze isilwaneso kube ngesiphilileko. * (Lev. 22:21, 22) Abantu bakaZimu bekungakafuzi balethe isilwana esingananyawo, indlebe namkha ilihlo begodu bekungakafuzi banikele ngesilwana esigulako. Bekuqakathekile kuJehova bona isilwaneso kube ngesipheleleko, esiphilileko namkha esimsulwa. (Mal. 1:6-9) Siyazwisisa ukuthi kubayini uJehova anendaba nokuthi umnikelo ube ngophilileko namkha opheleleko. Nasithenga okuthileko mhlamunye isithelo, incwadi namkha ithulusi asilifuni elineembobo namkha elingakapheleli. Kunalokho sifuna elipheleleko nelinganabutjhophori. NoJehova uzizwa ngendlela efanako, indlela esimthanda ngayo nokuthembeka kwethu kuye kufuze kube ngokupheleleko nokumsulwa.

4. Kubayini sithi umuntu onesono angathembeka? Kghani kufuze singabi nesono bona sithembeke? (b) Ngokuya ngomTlolo wamaRhubo 103:12-14, khuyini uJehova angakayilindeli kithi?

⁴ Kghani kufanele siphethe ngokuthi kufuze singabi nesono bona sithembeke? Awa, ngitjho nanyana senza imitjhapho eminengi akukafuzi siphethe ngalokho. Akhesicoce ngamabanga amabili wokuthi kubayini kungakafaneli sicabange ukuthi kufuze singabi nesono bona sithembeke. Kokuthoma, uJehova akadzimeleli emitjhaphwenethu. Nalikhuluma ngoJehova iliZwi lakhe lithi: “Nabegade ubulunga amacala, ngubani obekangaphila na?” (Rhu. 130:3) UJehova uyazi ukuthi sinesono begodu usilibalela ngokutjhaphulukileko. (Rhu. 86:5) Kwesibili, uJehova uyazi ukuthi amandlethu aphelelaphi, yeke akalindeli bona simnikele okungaphezu kwamandlethu. (Funda iRhubo 103:12-14.) Alo-ke, singaphelela begodu sibe msulwa njani emehlwenakhe?

5. Kubayini iinsebenzi zakaJehova kufuze zibe nethando nazizakuthembeka?

⁵ Kuqakathekile bona iinsebenzi zakaJehova zibe nethando, ngombana ithando lisenza sithembeke. Indlela esithanda ngayo uZimu nokuzinikela kuye kufuze kuhlale kuphelele begodu kumsulwa. Nange ithando lethu lihlala linjalo ngitjho nanyana silingwa, lokho kutjho ukuthi sithembekile. (1 Kron. 28:9; Mat. 22:37) Akhesicoce ngaboFakazaba esikhulume ngabo ekuthomeni. Khuyini ebenza bona bathembeke kuJehova? Kghani umntazanyana loya ukuhloyile ukuzithabisa esikolweni? Kghani umnakwethu osesemutjha loya ufuna kuhlekiswe ngaye esimini? Kghani ubaba loya ufuna ukuphelelwa msebenzi? Awa, akusinjalo. Iqiniso kukuthi bayazi ukuthi uJehova uneenkambiso ezilungileko begodu bazimisele ukwenza okumthabisako. Ngebanga lokuthi bayamthanda, bacabanga ngaye ngaphambi kokwenza iinqunto. Ngokwenza njalo batjengisa ukuthi bathembekile.

6. (a) Kubayini kufuze sithembeke? (b) U-Adamu no-Eva babhalelwa njani ukuthembeka?

⁶ Kubayini kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale sithembekile? USathana wajamelana noJehova begodu ujamelene nawe, kungebangelo kuqakathekile ukuthembeka. Ingilozi eyahlubukako le, yazikhethela ukuba nguSathana namkha ‘uMphikisi’ esimini ye-Edeni. Yalinga ukona ibizo lakaJehova ngokuthi ithi unguZimu omumbi, omarhamaru begodu umBusi ongakathembeki. Okudanisako kukuthi u-Adamu no-Eva baba ngehlangothini lakaSathana, bakhetha ukujamelana noJehova. (Gen. 3:1-6) Esimini ye-Edeni bebanamathuba amanengi  wokuthuthukisa ubuhlobo babo noJehova. Nokho, lokha nabaqalene nesitjhijilo sakaSathana akhenge basathanda uJehova ngehliziyo epheleleko nemsulwa. Lokho kwenza kwaba nombuzo wokuthi: Kghani abantu bangakghona ukuhlala bathembekile kuJehova uZimu ngebanga lokuthi bamthanda? Umbuzo lo wavela nangesikhathi uJobho aqalene neenlingo.

7. Ngokuya ngomTlolo kaJobho 1:8-11, uJehova wazizwa njani ngokuthembeka kwakaJobho? USathana yena wazizwa njani?

⁷ Ngesikhathi sakaJobho ama-Israyeli bewahlala eGibhide. Bekunganamuntu othembeke njengaye. Bekanesono njengathi, okutjho bona naye imitjhapho bekayenza. Nanyana kunjalo, uJehova bakamthanda ngebanga lokuthi uthembekile. Kubonakala ngasuthi uSathana besekamthukile uJehova ngebanga lokuthembeka kwabantu. Kungebangelo uJehova azikhakhazisa ngoJobho kuSathana. Indlela uJobho aphila ngayo yatjengisa ukuthi uSathana ungusomalakazi! Nakabona koke lokhu uSathana wathi ukuthembeka kwakaJobho kufuze kulingwe. UJehova wakuvumela bona kwenzeke lokho ngebanga lokuthi bekamthemba umnganakhe uJobho.—Funda uJobho 1:8-11.

8. USathana wamhlasela njani uJobho?

⁸ USathana ukhohlakele begodu umbulali. Wathathela uJobho koke anakho, wambulalela iinceku bewamonela nebizo lakhe. Wahlasela umndeni kaJobho ngokumbulalela abantwana bakhe abalitjhumi, kwathi kusesenjalo wahlasela uJobho ngokumbangela amathumba abuhlungu kusukela ehloko bekwaba seenyaweni. UmkaJobho bekatshwenyeke khulu begodu agandelelekile, wabe watjela uJobho bona alahle itewu ngokuthi athuke uZimu bese ahlongakale. UJobho naye wakufisa ukufa kodwana kwabhala kunjalo wahlala athembekile.  USathana wathi nasele abona ukuthi izinto zigaya ngomunye umhlathi, wamlinga ngokhunye. Wasebenzisa amadoda amathathu egade abangani bakaJobho. Amadoda la avakatjhela uJobho amalangana kodwana akhenge amduduze. Kunalokho ahlekisa ngaye abe amthuka. Athi zoke izinto aqalana nazwezi zibangelwa nguZimu begodu uZimu akanandaba nokuthi uJobho uthembekile. Abe athi uJobho uyindoda engakalungi begodu nezinto ezimbi ezenzeka kuye zimfanele.—Job. 1:13-22; 2:7-11; 15:4, 5; 22:3-6; 25:4-6.

9. Ngaphezu kobudisi aqalana nabo, khuyini uJobho abhala ukuyenza?

⁹ UJobho waqalana njani neenlingwezo? Asikhumbule ukuthi bekanesono. Wabathuka kabuhlungu abaduduzi bamangabo begodu kamuva wavuma ukuthi wakhuluma izinto ezimbi ebekangakanqophi ukuzitjho. Wathi yena ulungile kunokuthi athi uZimu ulungile. (Job. 6:3; 13:4, 5; 32:2; 34:5) Nokho, ngitjho nanyana ubujamo bakhe bebubumbi uJobho wabhala ukuhlanukela uJehova. Wabhala ukukholwa amanga wabangani bakhe. Wathi: “Angeze bengivume bonyana nineqiniso, ngizabe ngiyokufa ngilokhu ngimsulwa.” (Job. 27:5) Amezwi la atjengisa ukuthi uJobho bekazimisele ukuthembeka ngitjho nanyana kuvela ini. UJobho wahlala athembekile, nathi singamlingisa.

10. Ubandakanyeka njani emlandwini uSathana awuphosa uJobho?

¹⁰ Njengombana enza kuJobho, nanamhlanjesi uSathana usasiphosa ngomlandu ofanako. Ubandakanyeka njani wena? Kuhlekuhle uSathana uthi awumthandi uJehova, uthi uzokulisa ukumlotjha nangabe ukwenza njalo kufaka ipilwakho engozini begodu uthi awukathembeki. (Job. 2:4, 5; IsAm. 12:10) Uzizwa njani ngalokho? Ahlaba aphukele amezwi la! Nokho akhucabange ngalokhu: UJehova ukuthemba khulu kangangokuthi ukunikele ithuba elihle lokuphendula uSathana. Okwanje uJehova usamvumela uSathana bona alinge ukuthembeka kwakho. Uyakuthemba kungebangelo akunikela ithuba lokutjengisa ukuthembeka kwakho nokutjengisa ukuthi uSathana uleya amala. UJehova uyaqiniseka ngokuthi uzokukghona ukuthembeka begodu uthembisa ukuthi uzokusiza bona wenze njalo. (Heb. 13:6) Lilungelo elikhulu onalo lokuthenjwa mBusi wezulu nephasi. Nje-ke, kuyakhanya bona kubayini kuqakathekile ukuthembeka. Kusinikela ithuba lokutjengisa ukuthi uSathana unamala, lokuvikela ibizo lakaBabethu wezulwini nokusekela ubukhosi bakhe. Khuyini engasisiza bona sihlale sithembekile?

11. Khuyini esingayifunda kuJobho?

¹¹ “Emihleni yokuphela” le uSathana wenza koke angakwenza bona asenze singathembeki kuZimu. (2 Thim. 3:1) Alo, khuyini engasisiza bona sihlale sithembekile ngitjho nanyana siphila eenkhathini ezibudisi kangaka? Akhesiqale godu bona khuyini esingayifunda kuJobho. UJobho akhenge afune ukuthembeka nasele aqalene neenlingo, yeke iinlingo zathi nazifikako zamfunyana athembekile kuZimu. Kwanjesi-ke, akhesicoceni ngezinto nanzi ezintantu esingazifunda kuJobho. Zizosisiza sibone ukuthi khuyini esingayenza bona sihlale sithembekile kuJehova.

12. (a) Ngokuya ngomTlolo kaJobho 26:7, 8, 14, khuyini eyenza uJobho wababaza uJehova? (b) Khuyini esingayenza bona sibabaze uJehova?

¹² UJobho bekazi ukuthi uJehova unamandla kangangani, lokho kwamenza wamthanda uJehova. Wazipha isikhathi sokucabangisisa ngendalo kaJehova. (Funda uJobho 26:7, 8, 14.) Bekathi nakacabanga ngephasi, isibhakabhaka, amafu nombani ababaze uJehova, nanyana kunjalo walemuka ukuthi kuncani khulu ebekakwazi ngendalo kaJehova. Kanti godu uJobho bekamlalela uJehova  nakakhulumako. Wathi: “Amezwakhe ngawafihla esifubeni sami.” (Job. 23:12) UJobho bekalemuka bona uJehova unamandla begodu bekamhlonipha. Bekamthanda khulu uYise wezulwini begodu bekafuna ukumthabisa. Lokho kwenza bonyana azimisele khulu ukuhlala athembekile. Nathi asilingiseni uJobho. Phela abantu bangesikhathi sakaJobho kuncani ebebakwazi ngendalo kaJehova, kodwana thina esikhathini esiphila kiswesi kunengi khulu esikwaziko. SineBhayibheli elipheleleko elisisiza sazi uJehova kuhle. Koke esikufundako eBhayibhelini kungasenza sibone ubukhulu bakaJehova. Yeke, nasesazi ukuthi uJehova unamandla kangangani begodu simhlonipha sizomthanda, simlalele besilwele ukuhlala sithembekile.—Job. 28:28.

13-14. (a) Ngokuya ngomTlolo kaJobho 31:1, uJobho watjengisa njani ukuthi uyalalela? (b) Singasilingisa njani isibonelo sakhe?

¹³ Enye into eyenza uJobho wathembeka kulalela uJehova. UJobho bekazi ukuthi nakazakuhlala athembekile kufuze alalele uJehova. Qobe nasenza into etjengisa ukuthi siyamlalela uJehova sikhuthazeka khulu bona sithembeke. UJobho wenza koke angakwenza bona ahlale alalela uZimu kikho koke ukuphila kwakhe. Isibonelo salokho nginasi, bekalwela ukuziphatha kuhle nakanabantu bengubo. (Funda uJobho 31:1.) Njengombana bekatjhadile bekazi ukuthi bekungakafuzi adlale ngethando, izinto zethando bekangazenzi kwabanye abomma kodwana bekazenza kumkakhe kwaphela. Esikhathini esiphila kiswesi, zinengi khulu izinto ezingasenza siziphathe kumbi ngokwamabhayi. Asilingiseni uJobho, izinto zethando esizenza ebantwini esitjhade nabo asingathomi sizenze ebantwini esingakatjhadi nabo. Sibalekele nokubukela iinthombe ezisilapheleko zomseme ngitjho nezivusa ikanuko. (Mat. 5:28) Nange singazibamba ezintweni ezinjalo qobe langa sizokukghona ukuhlala sithembekile.

¹⁴ Okhunye okutjengisa ukuthi uJobho bekamlalela uJehova yindlela ebekaqala ngayo izinto  zakanokutjho. Bekazi ukuthi nange angabeka ithemba lakhe ezintweni anazo bekazokwenza isono esikhulu begodu uJehova bekazomjezisa ngalokho. (Job. 31:24, 25, 28) Esikhathini esiphila kiswesi, abantu bathanda izinto zakanokutjho. Yeke nasizakuhlala sithembekile kufuze siqale imali nezinto zakanokutjho ngendlela efaneleko, njengombana iBhayibheli isikhuthaza bona senze njalo.—IzA. 30:8, 9; Mat. 6:19-21.

15. (a) Khuyini eyasiza uJobho wahlala athembekile? (b) Kuzosisiza ngani ukuhlala sikhumbula ingomuso uJehova asithembise lona?

¹⁵ UJobho bekazi ukuthi nange angahlala athembekile kuZimu uzokufumana umvuzo. Bekazi ukuthi uZimu uyakubona ukuthembeka kwakhe. (Job. 31:6) Ngitjho nanyana bekaqalene neenlingo, bekaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzomvuza emaswapheleni. Lokho kwamsiza uJobho bona ahlale athembekile. UJehova yamthabisa khulu indlela uJobho ebekathembeke ngayo kangangokuthi wambusisa naphezu kokuthi amumuntu onesono! (Job. 42:12-17; Jak. 5:11) Kanti kusesekunengi khulu uJobho asazokufumana ephasini elitjha. Alo wena, uyakholwa na ukuthi nange uhlala uthembekile uzokufumana umvuzo ovela kuJehova? UZimethu akakatjhuguluki. (Mal. 3:6) Nange singahlala sikhumbula ukuthi uyakubona ukuthembeka kwethu, sizokuhlala silikhumbula ingomuso asithembise lona.—1 Thes. 5:8, 9.

16. Khuyini ekufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁶ Yenza koke ongakwenza bona uhlale uthembekile. Ngasikhathi ungazizwa kwanga nguwe wedwa othembekileko, khumbula awusiwedwa begodu uzokuhlala unabantu abazokusekela. Uzokuba hlangana neengidi zabantu abathembekileko ephasini loke, abanokukholwa okuqinileko nabathembekileko ngitjho nanyana baqalene nokufa. (Heb. 11:36-38; 12:1) Kwanga soke singenza koke okusemandlenethu bona silingise uJobho nathi sitjho amezwi naka: “Ngizabe ngiyokufa ngilokhu ngimsulwa.” Indlela esithembeke ngayo ayidumise uJehova ngokungapheliko.