1, 2. (a) Kodi Elifazi na Bilidade adalewa ciyani bza Mulungu? (b) N’ciyani comwe Yahova adalewambo pa nkhani imweyo?

MAGOLE mazinji m’mbuyomu, amuna atatu adayenda kukalewalewa na Djobi, omwe akhali mtumiki wakukhulupirika wa Mulungu. M’bodzi mwa amunawo akhali Elifazi wa ku Temani, ndipo iye adabvunza Djobi kuti: ‘Kodi munthu angakhale wakufunika kwa Mulungu? Kodi munthu wakuzindikira angakhale wa phindu liri-lense kwa iye? Kodi Wamphanvu-zense anako basa kulungama kwako? Kodi iye ambagumana phindu na kukhulupirika kwako?’ (Djobi 22:1-3) Elifazi akhakumbuka kuti mtawiro wa mibvunzo yenseneyi ngwakuti ne. Ndipo, Bilidadi wa ku dziko la Xuwa adalewambo kuti palibe munthu omwe angakhale wakulungama pamaso pa Mulungu.—Werengani Djobi 25:4.

² Wanthu awiriwa akhafuna kuti Djobi awone ninga kuti kutumikira kwace Mulungu kukhalibe na phindulo. Iwo akhafuna kuti Djobi akumbuke kuti ifepano ndife lini wakufunika kwa Mulungu, koma ndife wakusaya phindu ninga nkhonye. (Djobi 4:19; 25:6) Kodi iwo adalewa bzimwebzo thangwe rakuti akhali wanthu wakubzicepswa? (Djobi 22:29) N’cadidi kuti Yahova ni Mkululetu, ndipo  ifepano ndifedi lini cinthu tikafuna kubzindendemeza na iye. Ndipo, tikaima pa phiri litali kwene-kwene, ticinyang’anisa wanthu omwe ali pansi, timbazindikira kuti wanthufe ndifedi lini cinthu. Tsono, kodi ndimo momwe Yahova ambawonera nyongo yomwe timbacita kuti timutumikire na kuthandizira utongi bwace? Ne! Yahova adauza Elifazi, Bilidadi na Zofari kuti iwo akhanama, ndipo adalewambo kuti akhakomedwa na Djobi, acimucemera kuti ‘mtumiki wangu.’ (Djobi 42:7, 8) Tenepo, tingatsimikizire kuti napo ndife wanthu wakuperewera, ifepano ndife wakufunika kwene-kwene kwa Mulungu.

3. Kodi n’ciyani comwe Eliu adabvunza Djobi? Kodi iye akhafuna kubvekesa ciyani na mbvunzo umweyo?

³ Pomwe amuna atatu wale akhalewalewa na Djobi, Eliu akhatetekera, ndipo iye akhali mng’ono na atatuwo. Atamala kulewalewako, Eliu adabvunza Djobi bza Yahova kuti: ‘Kodi iwepo ucikhala wakulungama, un’dzamupasa ciyani [Mulunguyo]? N’ciyani comwe iye angatambire kwa iwepo?’ (Djobi 35:7) Kodi na mafalaya Eliu akhafunambo kulewa kuti nyongo yomwe timbacita kuti titumikire Yahova njakusaya phindu? Ne! Nfundo yomwe Eliu akhafuna kubvekesa ikhali yakusiyana na ya anzace wale. Iye akhafuna kulewa kuti Yahova ngwakukwana kale, ndipo napo timunamate ayai ne, ifepano tingamudaze lini ne kumuthumizira mphanvu. Ndipopa Yahova alibe kutsimula Eliuyo ninga momwe adacitira na amuna atatu wale. Tenepo, makhalidwe yabwino ayai luso liri-lense lomwe tingakhale nalo, timbapasidwa na Yahovayo, ndipo iye ambawona momwe timbaliphatisira basa.

4. Kodi Yahova ambabva tani tikambadekera mtima anzathu?

⁴ Tikambadekera mtima anzathu omwe ambatumikira Yahova, iye ambawona bzimwebzo, ndipo bzimbakhala ninga tinkucitira iye. Pa Mimwani 19:17 pambati: ‘Omwe anidekera mtima munthu wakusauka ankukumbiza Yahova, ndipo iye an’dzamubwezera bzomwe wacitabzo.’ Yahova ambawonadi tikambadekera mtima anzathu. Ndipo, napo Yahova ni Mulengi wa cirengedwe cense, iye ambawona bzabwino bzomwe timbacitira anzathu ninga tinkucitira iye, ndipo ambatisimba na bzinthu bzizinji bzabwino. Jezu, Mwana wa Mulungu, adatawirizambo nfundo imweyi.—Werengani Luka 14:13, 14.

5. Kodi tsapano tin’cezerana bza mibvunzo iponi?

⁵ Mu nthawe ya Ajirayeri, Yahova adauza mpolofeta Zaiya kuti amutumikire mu njira yakupambulika. (Zaiya 6:8-10) Zaiyayo adabvuma kutumikira Yahova na mtima wense, aciti: ‘Ndiri pano ine! Nditumizeni!’ Nsiku zinombo, Yahova ankupereka kwa wanthu wace mwayi wakumutumikira. Ndipo, atumiki wa Yahova azinjisa ankulatizambo kuti ankufunadi kumutumikira ninga momwe adacitira mpolofeta Zaiya. Iwo ambabvuma na mtima wense kumutumikira mu njira na ku mbuto zakusiyana-siyana, acimbalimbana na mphitca zizinji. Tsono, winango angalewe kuti: ‘Ndimbakomedwa  na nzeru yakuthumizira utumiki bwathu kwa Yahova, koma kodi iye anabzo basa bzimwebzo? Napo ndithumizire utumiki bwangu ayai ne, kodi basa la Yahova lingaime thangwe ra bzimwebzo?’ Kodi mudakumbukambo kale tenepoyo? Mbaticezeraneni bza Baraki na Debora, omwe akhali atumiki wakukhulupirika wakale-kale, ticigumana mitawiro ya mibvunzo imweyi.

6. Thangwe ranyi bzikhawoneka ninga kuti anyankhondo wa Jabini angadakwanisa kukunda Ajirayeri mwakusaya kunesa?

⁶ Baraki akhali mcikunda wamphanvu wa Ajirayeri, ndipo Debora akhali mpolofeta mkazi. Kwa magole 20, Ajirayeri akhaponderezedwa na Jabini, mambo wa ku Kanani. Anyankhondo wa Jabini akhali wakuipa na wamphanvu kwene-kwene mwakuti Ajirayeri akhabva mantha kubula panja m’nyumba zawo. Anyankhondo wa mambo Jabini akhana ngolo za nkhondo zakukwana 900 zomwe zikhana madjeko ya simbi. Tsono Ajirayeri akhalibe mphanga kuti ambamenyere nazo nkhondo ne mikhotco yakuti ambabzikhotcerere nayo.—Wayeruzi 4:1-3, 13; 5:6-8. * (Onani mafala ya m’nyansi.)

7, 8. (a) Kodi njaponi malango yakuyamba yomwe Yahova adauza Baraki? (b) Kodi Ajirayeri adakwanisa tani kukunda anyankhondo wa Jabini? (Onani cithunzi-thunzi pa tsamba 27.)

⁷ Pakundendemeza na anyankhondo wa Jabini, Ajirayeri akhawoneka ninga kuti angadakundidwa mwakusaya kunesa. Tsono, Yahova adaphatisa basa Debora mpolofeta mkazi kuti adziwise Baraki kuti: ‘Ndoko ku Phiri la Tabori, ndipo tenga amuna 10.000 wa Nafitali na Zabulani. Inepano ndin’dzacitisa kuti Sizera, mkulu wa anyankhondo wa Jabini, abwere kuna iwepo mu mkulo wa Kisomi. Ndipo iye an’dzabwera pabodzi na anyankhondo wace na ngolo zace za nkhondo, ndipo inepano ndin’dzawapereka m’manja mwako.’—Wayeruzi 4:4-7.

⁸ Baraki adacemeresa wanthu kuti ayende ku nkhondo, ndipo amuna 10.000 adabzipereka, acikatsonkhana naye pa phiri la Tabori. Baraki na acikunda wacewo adayenda kukamenya nkhondoyo ku Taanaki. (Werengani Wayeruzi 4:14-16.) Kodi Yahova adathandizadi Ajirayeri? Inde. Mwadzidzidzi kudagwa cinvula camphanvu, ndipo mbuto yenseneyo idadzala na matope. Bzimwebzi bzidapasa mpata Ajirayeriwo kuti akunde anyamadulanthaka wawo. Baraki adathamangisa anyankhondo wa Sizera kwa makilometro 24 mpaka kufika ku Haroseti. Pakuthawapo, ngolo ya Sizera idatcerera m’matope, ndipo iye adabuluka acithawira ku Zaanaimu, komwe pinango kukhali kufupi na ku Kedesi. Atafika kumweko, Sizera adathawira mu tendi la mkazi munango omwe dzina lace akhali Jayeri. Sizerayo akhadaneta, ndipo adagona. Pomwe akhali m’tulo, Jayeri mwakukhwimika adamupha. (Wayeruzi 4:17-21) Mwa njira imweyi Yahova adathandiza Ajirayeri kukunda anyamadulanthaka wawo! * (Onani mafala ya m’nyansi.)

9. Kodi tingapfunze ciyani na nkhondo ya Ajirayeri na Sizera yakufotokozedwa pa Wayeruzi 5:20, 21?

⁹ Tingapfunze bzizinji na bzomwe bzimbalewedwa m’kapitulo 4 ya m’bukhu la Wayeruzi mwa kuwerengambo kapitulo 5. Pa Wayeruzi 5:20, 21 pambati: ‘Nyenyezi zidamenyana kudzulu; zidamenyana na Sizera ziri m’njira zawo. Mkulo wa Kisomi udawakwekweta.’ Kodi bzimwebzi bzinkuthandauza kuti Ajirayeri  adathandizidwa na wanjo pa nkhondo ire ayai adathandizidwa na nvula yomwe idagwa ire? Bibliya limbalewa lini ciri-cense pa nkhaniyi. Koma tingalewe kuti Yahova adapulumusa wanthu wace mwakugwesa cinvula camphanvu cire pa nthawe yace, bzomwe bzidacitisa kuti ngolo za nkhondo zakukwana 900 zire zitazire kufamba. Ndipo pa Wayeruzi 4:14, 15 pambalewa katatu-kense kuti ni Yahova omwe adathandiza Ajirayeri kukunda. Pa anyankhondo 10.000 wa Ajirayeri omwe adabzipereka wale, palibe omwe angadalewa kuti akhadakunda mwa mphanvu zawo.

10, 11. Kodi Merozi akhali ciyani, ndipo thangwe ranyi adatembereredwa?

¹⁰ Tsapano, mbaticezeraneni nfundo inango yakufunika kwene-kwene. Pambuyo pa Ajirayeri kukunda, Debora na Baraki adaimba nyimbo yakutumbiza Yahova. Iwo adaimba kuti: ‘Anjo wa Yahova adati: “Tembererani Merozi, tembererani wanthu wace mwakusaya kulekeza, thangwe alibe kuthandiza Yahova, ndipo alibe kubwera kudzathandiza Yahova pabodzi na wanthu wace wamphanvu.”’—Wayeruzi 5:23.

¹¹ Kodi Merozi akhali ciyani? Bibliya limbalewa lini. Koma pinango Merozi ukhali mzinda omwe wanthu wace alibe kuyenda kathandiza Baraki pa nkhondo yomwe adamenya na Sizera. Ndipo, pinango tembererolo lidaphatadi basa, mwakuti mzindayo ulibe kudzawoneka pomwe. Pakuti amuna 10.000 omwe adayenda kukamenyana na Akanani wale akhadacita kubzipereka, bzingacitike kuti wanthu wa ku Meroziwo adakumbiridwambo kuti abzipereke. Ayai pinango mzinda wa Merozi ukhali mzinda omwe Sizera adathawira pakuthawa Baraki. Ayai, pinango wanthu wa ku Meroziko adakhala na mpata wakupha Sizera, koma iwo alibe kucita bzimwebzo. Yezezerani kuti iwo ankumuwona Sizerayo ankuthawa, ndipo iwo ne kucitambo cinthu ciri-cense kuti athandizire cakulinga ca Yahova. Iwo angadamupha, Yahova angadawasimba. Tsono, m’mbuto mwakuti athandize Yahova, iwo alibe kucita cinthu ciri-cense, koma adandokhala. Bzinkuwonekeratu kuti wanthu wa ku Meroziwo akhali wakusiyana kwene-kwene na Jayeri, omwe adacita bzinthu mwa kulimba mtima.—Wayeruzi 5:24-27.

12. Kodi wanthu omwe ambalewedwa pa Wayeruzi 5:9, 10 adasiyana tani na anzawo omwe adabzipereka? Kodi nfundo imweyi ingatitokonyembo tani?

¹² Pa Wayeruzi 5:9, 10 pambalatiza kuti bzomwe adacita anyankhondo 10.000 wakubzipereka wale bzidasiyana kwene-kwene na wale omwe alibe kubzipereka. Pakuimba nyimboyo, Debora na Baraki adatumbiza ‘atsogoleri wa acikunda wa Jirayeri, omwe adabzipereka mwaufulu pakati pa wanthu wawo.’ Iwo akhadasiyanambo na wale omwe ‘akhadapakira mabulu,’ omwe akhabziwona ninga wakufunika kwene-kwene ndipo alibe kufuna kubzipereka. Tsono Bibliya limbalewa bza wanthu amwewa kuti akhakhala pa ‘nguwo zakuumira,’ na kuti ‘akhafamba mu mseu’ ndipo akhafuna moyo wabwino. Mwakusiyana na wanthu amwewa, amuna 10.000 wale adabzipereka, aciyenda na Baraki kukamenya nkhondo ku phiri la Tabori lomwe likhana minyala mizinji na ku cigwa ca Kisomi comwe cikhadadzala na madzi. Tenepo, omwe adalamba kubziperekawo, adauzidwa kuti ‘akumbukire mabasa ya Mulungu!’ Kulewa kunango, wanthu wale akhafunikira kukumbukira mwayi omwe iwo akhadaluza thangwe ra kusaya kubzipereka kwawo kuti athandizire basa la Yahova. Ifembo nsiku zino, tin’funika  kupenda momwe timbawonera nkhani ya kutumikira Mulungu.

13. Kodi wanthu wa dzinza la Rubeni, Dani na Aseri akhadasiyana tani na wanthu wa dzinza la Zebulani na Nafitali?

¹³ Amuna 10.000 wakubzipereka wale, adakhala na mwayi wakuwona wokha momwe Yahova ambacitira bzinthu pakukhala Mtongi Mkululetu. Iwo adadzauza anzawo bza nkhaniyo aciwafotokozerambo bza ‘mabasa yakulungama ya Yahova.’ (Wayeruzi 5:11) Tsono, mwakusiyana na iwo, wanthu wa dzinza la Rubeni, Dani na Aseri, akhambacita thupo na cuma comwe akhanaco, mabira na ngalawa zawo, m’mbuto mwakucita thupo na mabasa ya Yahova. (Wayeruzi 5:15-17) Koma, si wanthu wa madzinza yense omwe adacita bzimwebzo. Mwa ciratizo, wanthu wa dzinza la Zebulani na Nafitali, ‘adaikha moyo wawo pa ngozi’ kuti athandize Debora na Baraki. (Wayeruzi 5:18) Kusiyana kwawoku kungatipfunzise nfundo yakufunika kwene-kwene ya momwe timbawonera nkhani ya kutumikira Mulungu mwa kubzipereka.

14. Kodi timbalatiza tani nsiku zino kuti tinkuthandizira utongi bwa Yahova?

¹⁴ Nsiku zino, ifepano timbathandizira lini utongi bwa Yahova mwa kucita kumenya nkhondo. Koma timbalatiza kuti timbathandizira utongi bwace mwa kucita basa lakupalizira mwakulimba mtima na nyongo. Ndipo, tsapano pankufunikira wanthu wakubzipereka kuti acite basa la Yahova kuposa kale. Abale, mpfumakazi pabodzi na maswaka mazinji, ankubzipereka kuti atumikire Yahova mwakusiyana-siyana mu utumiki bwa nthawe zense. Mwa ciratizo, azinji ankutumikira ninga apainiya, ankutumikira pa Beteli, ankumanga Nyumba za Umambo ndipo winango ambathandizira pa mitsonkhano mikulu-mikulu. Akulu winango ankutumikira mu Komiti Yakucezerana na Nyumba za Ulapi pabodzi na kukonzekera mitsonkhano ya cigawo. Tingakhulupire na mtima wense kuti Yahova ambatenda kwene-kwene kubzipereka kwathu kuti timutumikire, ndipo iye cipo acidzayebwa nyongo yomwe tinkucitayi.—Wahebereu 6:10.

15. Kodi tingazindikire tani penu tikadapitiriza kutumikira Yahova na mtima wense ayai ne?

 ¹⁵ Tin’funika kumbapenda mkhalidwe wathu pa nkhani ya kubzipereka pa basa la Yahova. Tingabzibvunze kuti: ‘Kodi inepano ndinkulekerera kuti anzangu acite basa lizinji? Kodi ndinkucita thupo kwene-kwene na kukhala na bzinthu bza kuthupi m’mbuto mwa kuthumizira utumiki bwangu? Kodi ndinkutewezera cikhulupiro na kulimba mtima kwa Baraki, Debora, Jayeri pabodzi na amuna 10.000 wale mwakuphatisa basa bzinthu bzomwe ndinabzo kuti nditumikire Yahova? Kodi ndinkukumbuka bza kuyenda ku dziko linango kuti ndikagumane kobiri zizinji na kukhala na moyo wabwino? Penu inde, kodi ndinkupemba kwa Yahova kuti andithandize kuwona momwe bzimwebzi bzingatokonyere banja langu pabodzi na gwere?’ * (Onani mafala ya m’nyansi.)

16. Napo Yahova anabzo kale bzinthu bzense, n’ciyani comwe ifepano tingamucitire basi?

¹⁶ Kuthandizira utongi bwa Yahova ni mwayi ukulu kwene-kwene omwe iye ambatipasa. Kuyambira m’nthawe za Adamu na Eva, Sathani ambafuna kuti wanthu aphatane naye pa kupandukira Yahova. Tsono tikambathandizira utongi bwa Yahova, ifepano timbalatiziratu kwa Sathani kuti tiri ku mbali ya Yahovayo. Cikhulupiro cathu cimbaticitisa kuti tibzipereke pa basa la Yahova, ndipo iye ambakondwa kwene-kwene na bzimwebzo. (Mimwani 23:15, 16) Ndipo Mulungu wathu, angaphatise basa kukhulupirika na kubvera kwathu kuti atawire Sathani omwe ambamunyoza. (Mimwani 27:11) Cinthu cakufunika kwene-kwene comwe tingapase Yahova ni kubvera kwathu, ndipo iye ambakomedwa nako kwene-kwene.

17. Kodi mafala ya pa Wayeruzi 5:31, yambatiuza ciyani pa nkhani ya bzomwe bzin’dzacitka kutsogoloku?

¹⁷ Tsapanopapa wanthu wense pansi pano an’dzafuna utongi bwa Yahova kuposa utongi bwa munthu ali-wense. Tinkuidikhirira na mtima wense nthawe imweyo! Ndipo ifepano timbabzibva ninga Debora na Baraki omwe adaimba kuti: ‘Apfudzidwembo anyamadulanthaka wanu wense, Imwe Yahova, tsono omwe ambakufunani akhale wamphanvu ninga momwe dzuwa limbakhalira.’ (Wayeruzi 5:31) Mafalaya yan’dzakwanisika Yahova akadzapfudza dziko lakuipa la Sathaniri. Nkhondo ya Armagedo ikadzayamba, Yahova an’dzafuna lini thandizo la wanthu kuti apfudze anyamadulanthaka wace. M’mbuto mwace, ifepano ‘tin’dzandoima ticiwona momwe Yahova an’dzatipulumusira.’ (2 Nkhani 20:17) Pomwe nthawe imweyi ikanati kufika, mbatilokotereni mipata yomwe tinayo kuti tithandizire utongi bwa Yahova na nyongo na mwakulimba mtima.

18. Kodi kubzipereka kwanu pa basa la Yahova kungathandize tani winango?

¹⁸ Nyimbo yakukunda ya Debora na Baraki idayamba na mafala yakutumbiza Yahova, sikuti kutumbiza wanthu. Iwo adaimba kuti: ‘Thangwe ra kubzipereka mwaufulu kwa wanthu, tumbizani Yahova!’ (Wayeruzi 5:1, 2) Tikambatumikira Yahova ninga momwe bzimbafunikira, wanthu winango angafunembo ‘kutumbiza Yahova!’