1, 2. (a) UJehova waziveza anguZimu onjani esitjhabeni sakwa-Israyeli? (b) Ngimuphi umbuzo ozokuphendulwa esihlokwenesi?

NGEENKHATHI zakaNehemiya, isiqhema samaLefi savuma emthandazweni watjhatjhalazi bona abokhokho baso “bala ukulalela” imilayo kaJehova ngokubuyelelweko. Nokho, ngaso soke isikhathi, uJehova uzibonakalise ‘anguZimu wezenzo zokulibalela, onomusa nesirhawu, othathela kude ukukwata nozele umusa wethando.’ Kilabo ebebabuya ekudingisweni ngesikhathi sakaNehemiya, uJehova bekaragela phambili abatjengisa umusa ongakafaneli.—Neh. 9:16, 17.

² Umuntu ngamunye angazibuza, ‘Ukulibalela kwakaJehova kutjho ukuthi kimi?’ Ukusisiza bona siphendule umbuzo oqakathekileko lo, akhe sihlole ukusebenzelana kwakaZimu namadoda amabili azuza ekulibaleleni kwakaJehova—amakhosi amabili uDavidi noManase.

3-5. Kwenzeka njani bona uDavidi abandakanyeke esonweni esikhulu?

³ Nanyana uDavidi gade ayindoda esaba uZimu, wenza izono ezikulu. Eembili zazo zibandakanya isibili esitjhadileko, u-Uriya noBhathisheba. Imiphumela yezonwezo beyibuhlungu kibo boke ababandakanyekileko. Nokho, indlela uZimu alungisa ngayo uDavidi iveza ubukhulu bakaJehova malungana nokulibalela. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka.

⁴ UDavidi wathumela amabutho wakwa-Israyeli bona ayokuvimbezela ama-Amoni ihloko dorobha, yeRaba. Beyimakhilomitha ama-80 ukusuka epumalanga yeJerusalema, ngaphetjheya koMlambo iJordani. Phakathi nesikhatheso, asephahleni lesigodlo sakhe eJerusalema, uDavidi wabona uBhathisheba—umfazi otjhadileko—ahlamba. Indodakwakhe gade ingekho. UDavidi  watjhiswa yikanuko khulu nekabona uBhathisheba kangangobana wathi alethwe esigodlweni sakhe, lapho aphinga naye.—2 Sam. 11:1-4.

⁵ UDavidi nekafumana bona uBhathisheba usidisi, wathi akubuyiswe indodakwakhe u-Uriya eJerusalema anethemba lokobana uzokuba nobuhlobo bomseme noBhathisheba. Kodwana u-Uriya akhenge aye kwakhe—naphezu kwemizamo kaDavidi yokumkhuthaza bona enze njalo. Ngalokho, ikosi le yatlolela umlawuli wamabuthwayo incwadi ngemsitheleni, imyala bona abeke u-Uriya ‘lapho ipi itjhube khona’ begodu amasotja akunye nawo ahlehlele emva. Ngalokho njengombana bekajame phambili kwabalula ukumsahlela, u-Uriya wafela epini, njengombana uDavidi bekahlelile. (2 Sam. 11:12-17) Isono sekosi sokuphinga sahlanganisa nokubulala indoda enganamlandu.

6. Wasabela njani uZimu ezonweni zakaDavidi, begodu lokhu kuvezani ngoJehova?

⁶ Liqiniso, uJehova wakubona koke okwenzekako. Akukho okwaphunyurha kuye. (IzA. 15:3) Nanyana ikosi le ngokukhamba kwesikhathi yatjhada noBhathisheba, “into uDavidi ayenzako yabonakala iyimbi emehlweni kaJehova.” (2 Sam. 11:27) Ngalokho, uZimu wasabela njani ezonweni zakaDavidi ezikulu? Wathumela umporofidakhe uNathani kuDavidi. Njengombana anguZimu olibalelako, eqinisweni uJehova bekanekareko yokufumana isisekelo sokwandisa umusa. Indlela uJehova ayisebenzisako ayikuthinti ihliziyo? Akhange akatelele uDavidi bona avume izono zakhe kodwana watjela uNathani bona acocele ikosi indaba eveza ubumbi bezenzo zayo. (Funda yesi-2 Samuweli 12:1-4.) Qala bona yaphumelela kuhle kangangani indlela ararulula ngayo indaba ebudisi le!

7. Wasabela njani uDavidi emfanekisweni kaNathani?

⁷ Umfanekiso uNathani awusebenzisako wavusa amazizo wekosi wobulungiswa. UDavidi wakwata khulu ngendoda eregileko esemfanekisweni begodu wathi kuNathani: “Njengombana uJehova aphila, umuntu owenze lokhu ufanelwe kukufa!” Ngaphezu kwalokho, uDavidi wathi ungazimbi olahlekelweko kufuze abonelelwe. Kodwana uNathani watjho amezwi anamandla: “Nguwe umuntu loyo!” UDavidi watjelwa bona njengomphumela wezenzo zakhe, “isabula” angekhe isuke endlinakhe begodu ihlekelele izokwehlela umndenakhe. Godu uzokuhlaziswa tjhatjhalazi ngemitjhaphwakhe. UDavidi walemuka ubukhulu balokho akwenzileko begodu ngokuzisola wavuma: “Ngonile kuJehova.”—2 Sam. 12:5-14.

8, 9. IRhalani 51 liyiveza njani imicabango kaDavidi edephileko, begodu lisifundisani ngoJehova?

⁸ Amezwi wengoma iKosi uDavidi eyawatlola ngemva kwalokho aveza ukuzisola kwayo ngokuthembeka. IRhalani 51 limumethe ukuthinteka kwakaDavidi abawa uJehova begodu ngokukhanyako litjengisa bona wenza okungaphezu kokuvuma imitjhaphwakhe. Godu waphenduka ezonweni zakhe. UDavidi ngokuyihloko gade atshwenyeke ngobuhlobo bakhe noZimu. Wavuma, “Ngonile kuwe, ngone kuwe kwaphela.” Wabawa uJehova: “Zimu, bumba ihliziyo emsulwa ngaphakathi kwami, ufake umoya oneqiniso ngaphakathi kwami. . . . Buyisela kimi ithabo elivela ephulusweni yakho, ungiqinise ngomoya okhuthazako.” (Rha. 51:1-4, 7-12) Uthembekile na begodu awufihli litho newukhuluma noJehova ngemitjhaphwakho?

⁹ UJehova khenge ayisuse iimphumela ebuhlungu yezono zakaDavidi. Iimphumela leyo yamthinta ukuphila kwakhe koke. Nokho,  atjheja umoya kaDavidi wokuphenduka—‘waba nehliziyo ephukileko’—uJehova wamlibalela. (Funda iRhalani 32:5; Rha. 51:17) UZimu uMninimandla uzwisisa amazizo wamambala neenzathu ezibangela umuntu enze isono. Kunokobana avumele abaphingilekwaba babulawe bahluleli babantu ngokuvumelana nomThetho kaMosisi, ngomusa uJehova wangenela, waqalana nomlandu kaDavidi noBhathisheba ngokwakhe. (Lef. 20:10) UZimu wenza ngitjho nendodanabo uSolomoni yaba yikosi elandelako yakwa-Israyeli.—1 Mil. 22:9, 10.

10. (a) Kungenzeka uJehova walibalela uDavidi ngasiphi isisekelo? (b) Ngiziphi izinto ezenza uJehova andise ukulibalela?

¹⁰ Mhlamunye esinye isizathu esenza uJehova wamlibalela, yindlela uDavidi ngokwakhe atjengisa ngayo uSawulu umusa. (1 Sam. 24:4-7) Njengombana uJesu ahlathulula, uJehova usiphatha ngendlela esiphatha ngayo abanye. UJesu wathi: “Ningahluleli abanye, khona nani uZimu angazunahlulela, ngombana uZimu naye uzanahlulela ngayo indlela leyo enahlulela abanye ngayo.” (Mat. 7:1, 2) Qala bona kududuza kangangani ukwazi bona uJehova uzosilibalela izono zethu—ngitjho nezono ezikulu ezinjengokuphinga nofana ukubulala! UJehova uzokwenza njalo nengabe sinomoya wokulibalela, sivuma izono zethu kuye, begodu sitjengisa ukutjhentjha ezenzweni zethu ezimbi. “Iinkhathi zokuqabuleka” zivela kuJehova izoni neziphenduka kwamambala.—Funda izEnzo 3:19.

11. Kungaziphi iindlela iKosi uManase yenza okumbi emehlweni kaZimu?

¹¹ Cabanga ngokhunye ukulandisa okungokomTlolo okubonisa izinga uJehova azimisele ngalo ukulibalela. Eminyakeni ethileko ema-360 ngemva kobana uDavidi athoma ukubusa, uManase waba yikosi yakwaJuda. Ukubusa kwakhe kweminyaka ema-55 bekuzele ngobumbi, nemikghwakhe esilapheleko eyenza uJehova wamlahla. Hlangana nezinye izinto, uManase wakhela uBhali ama-aldara, wakhulekela “loke ibutho lamazulu,” weqisa amadodanakhe emlilweni, begodu wakhuthaza imikghwa yokusebenzelana nemimoya. Iye, “wenza okumbi emehlweni kaJehova ngezinga elikhulu.”—2 Mil. 33:1-6.

12. UManase wabuyela njani kuJehova?

¹² Ekugcineni, uManase wasuswa enarheni yekhabo begodu waphoselwa ejele yeBhabhiloni. Lapho kungenzeka wakhumbula amezwi kaMosisi awatlolela ama-Israyeli: “Newusebudisini obukhulu begodu woke amezwi la akufumane ekupheleni kwamalanga, ngalokho uzokubuyela kuJehova uZimakho begodu ulalele ilizwi lakhe.” (Dut.  4:30) UManase wabuyela kuJehova. Njani? “Waragela phambili azithoba khulu” begodu “bekaragela phambili athandaza” kuZimu (njengombana aveziwe esithombeni ekhasini 21). (2 Mil. 33:12, 13) Asinawo umlando onembileko wamezwi uManase awatjhoko emithandazweni leyo, kodwana singacabanga bona kungenzeka afane neweKosi uDavidi, njengombana atlolwe kuRhalani 51. Kunanyana ngibuphi ubujamo, uManase watjhentjha ngokupheleleko.

13. Kubayini uJehova alibalela uManase?

¹³ UJehova wasabela njani emithandazweni kaManase? “Wavuma bona ancengwe [nguManase] begodu wasizwa isibawo sakhe somusa.” NjengoDavidi uManase wabubona ubukhulu bezono zakhe begodu waphenduka ngeqiniso. Kungebangelo uZimu alibalela uManase begodu wambuyisela ebukhosini eJerusalema. Ngebanga lalokho, “uManase wazi bona uJehova nguZimu weqiniso.” (2 Mil. 33:13) Qala bona kukhuthaza kangangani ukufumana ubufakazi obungeziwekobu bokobana uZimethu onomusa uyabalibalela labo abaphenduke kwamambala!

14. Khuyini equnta bona uJehova uzozilibalela izoni?

¹⁴ Bambalwa hlangana nabantu bakaZimu namhlanjesi ekungatlhogeka bona balitjalelwe izono ezikulu ezinjengezakaDavidi noManase. Nanyana kunjalo, iqiniso lokobana uJehova walibalela amakhosi amabili la lisisiza silemuke bonyana uZimethu uzimisele ukulibalela ngitjho nezono ezikulu nengabe isoni siphenduke kwamambala.

15. Sazi njani bona ukulibalela kwakaJehova akuzenzakaleli?

¹⁵ Liqiniso, angeze saphetha ngokobana uJehova ngokuzenzakalelako ulibalela boke abantu izono zabo. Malungana nalokhu, akhe simadanise indlela yokucabanga kaDavidi noManase neyokucabanga kwabantu abangalaleli bakwa-Israyeli nebakwaJuda. UZimu wathumela uNathani bona akhulume noDavidi begodu amnikele ithuba lokutjhentjha  ukucabanga kwakhe. UDavidi walazisa ithubeli. UManase nekazifumana asebudisini, watjhukumiseleka bona aphenduke kwamambala. Nokho, ngokuvamileko, izakhamuzi zakwa-Israyeli nezakwaJuda akhenge ziphenduke. Ngalokho, uJehova akhenge azilibalele. Kunalokho, ngokubuyelelweko wathi abaporofidi bakhe bakhulume ngendlela aqala ngayo ukuziphatha kwazo kokungalaleli. (Funda uNehemiya 9:30.) Ngitjho nangemva kokubuya ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni ziya enarheni yazo, uJehova waragela phambili avusa iinthunywa ezithembekileko, njengo-Ezra umpristi nomporofidi uMalaki. Abantu nebenza ngokuvumelana nentando kaJehova, bafumana ithabo elikhulu.—Neh. 12:43-47.

16. (a) Kiso soke isitjhaba sakwa-Israyeli, yaba yini imiphumela yokungaphenduki kwaso? (b) Ngiliphi ithuba elingafunyanwa ziinzukulwana zakwa-Israyeli wekadeni?

¹⁶ Ngemva kobana uJesu athunyelwe ephasini begodu wanikela ngomhlatjelo wesihlengo munye opheleleko, uJehova khenge asamukela imihlatjelo yama-Israyeli yeenlwana. (1 Jwa. 4:9, 10) Njengomuntu, uJesu watjengisa umbono kaYise nekakhuluma amezwi atjhukumisako athi: ‘Jerusalema, Jerusalema! Ubulele abaporofidi, godu wakghadlha ngamatje labo abathunywe kuwe,—kukangaki ngifuna ukubuthelela abantwana bakho, njengesikhukhukazi sibuthelela amadzinyanaso ngaphasi kweempiko zaso, kodwana azange ungivumele!’ Ngakho uJesu wathi: ‘Yeke indlu yakho izakusala inganamuntu.’ (Mat. 23:37, 38) Ngalokho, isitjhaba esinesono nesingaphendukiko sajanyiselelwa ngu-Israyeli ongokomoya. (Mat. 21:43; Gal. 6:16) Kodwana kuthiwani ngabantu ngabanye egade bamalunga wesitjhaba sakwa-Israyeli wemvelo? Bamukelekile bona bazuze ekulibaleleni kwakaJehova nokufumana umusa ngokubonisa ikholo kuZimu nemhlatjelweni kaJesu Krestu. Godu ithubelo lizokuvulela abantu abafa bangakaphenduki ezonweni zabo kodwana abavuselwa ephasini elihlwengisiweko.—Jwa. 5:28, 29; IzE. 4:15.

17, 18. Singakufumana njani ukulibalela kwakaJehova?

¹⁷ Kufuze sisabele njani ekuzimiseleni kwakaJehova ukulibalela? Ngokuqinisekileko kufuze senze njengombana kwenza uDavidi noManase. Kufuze sivume izono zethu, siphenduke emitjhaphwenethu, sibawe uJehova ngokuthembeka bona asilibalele begodu abumbe kithi ihliziyo ehlwengileko. (Rha. 51:10) Nengabe senze isono esikhulu, kufuze sifune isizo elingokomoya labadala. (Jak. 5:14, 15) Naphezu kobujamo bethu, kuyaduduza ukukhumbula bona uJehova unjengombana azihlathulula kuMosisi—“nguZimu onomusa nesirhawu, othathela kude ukukwata nozele ithando neqiniso, obulungela abaziinkulungwana umusa wethando, olibalela imitjhapho neseqo nesono.” UJehova akakatjhuguluki.—Eks. 34:6, 7.

¹⁸ Asebenzisa isifaniso esinamandla, uJehova wathembisa ama-Israyeli aphendukako bona uzozisula ngokupheleleko izono zawo, enze ‘ebekubomvu be’ kube mhlophe “njengegabhogo.” (Funda u-Isaya 1:18.) Ngalokho, kutjho ukuthini ukulibalela kwakaJehova kithi? Ukulibalelwa ngokupheleleko izono nemitjhaphwethu, kutjho bona sitjengise ukuthokoza okukhulu nokuphenduka.

19. Khuyini esizokucoca ngayo esihlokweni esilandelako?

¹⁹ Njengombana uJehova asilibalela, singamlingisa njani ekusebenzelaneni kwethu nabanye? Singakubalekela njani ukuba nomoya wokungabalibaleli labo abenze isono esikhulu kodwana babonisa ukuphenduka kwamambala? Isihloko esilandelako sizosisiza sihlole iinhliziyo zethu bona sikghone ukufana noBabethu uJehova, ‘omuhle nokulungeleko ukulibalela.’—Rha. 86:5.