1-3. (a) Yiwuphi umthwalo onzima umhubi uDavida awuthwalayo, futhi kuyini okwaduduza inhliziyo yakhe? (b) Kuyini okungasihlupha nxa singona, kodwa uJehova usiqinisekisa ngani?

UMHUBI uDavida wabhala wathi: “Ukona kwami sekungisinda njengomthwalo onzima ongathwalekiyo. Sengibuthakathaka sengicubuzekile.” (IHubo. 38:4, 8) UDavida wayekwazi ukuthi umzwangedwa olecala ungumthwalo onzima kakhulu. Kodwa inhliziyo yakhe eyayikhathazekile yaduduzeka. Wayezwisisa ukuthi lanxa uJehova esizonda isono, kasizondi isoni esiphenduka ngeqiniso futhi sitshiye indlela yaso embi. Eqiniseka ngokupheleleyo ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ukutshengisa isihawu emuntwini ophendukayo, uDavida wathi: ‘Uyathethelela O Jehova.’​—IHubo 86:5.

² Nxa lathi singona, umzwangedwa obuhlungu ungasihlupha. Umuzwa onjalo wokuzisola uyanceda kakhulu. Ungasenza sithathe inyathelo lokulungisa lokho esikuphambanisileyo. Kodwa kulengozi yokuthi singacina sizisola ngokwedlulisileyo. Inhliziyo yethu esilahlayo ingaqhubeka isitshela ukuthi uJehova kasoze asithethelele lanxa singaze siphenduke njani. Nxa ‘singagajelwa’ yikuzisola, uSathane angazama ukusenza sikhalale, sesicabanga ukuthi uJehova usibona singasibantu balutho, futhi abangasafanelanga ukumkhonza.​—2 KwabaseKhorinte 2:5-11.

³ Le yiyo yini indlela uJehova asibona ngayo? Hatshi! Ukuthethelela kuyingxenye yothando lukaJehova olukhulu. ELizwini lakhe, usiqinisekisa ukuthi uzimisele ukusithethelela nxa siphenduka ngeqiniso langenhliziyo yonke. (IZaga 28:13) Kasihloleni ukuthi kungani uJehova ethethelela lokuthi uthethelela njani ukuze kusicacele ukuthi uzimisele ukusithethelela.

4. Kuyini uJehova akukhumbulayo ngendlela esibunjwe ngayo, futhi lokho kwenza asiphathe njani?

⁴ UJehova uyakwazi lokho esingenelisi ukukwenza. IHubo 103:14 lithi: “Ngokuba uyakwazi ukuthi sibunjwa njani, uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.” Kakhohlwa ukuthi sibunjwe ngothuli, futhi siyaphambanisa ngenxa yokuthi silesono. Umutsho othi uyakwazi ukuthi ‘sibunjwe njani’ usikhumbuza ukuthi iBhayibhili lifananisa uJehova lombumbi futhi thina lisifananisa lembiza ebunjwa nguye. * (UJeremiya 18:2-6) UMbumbi oMkhulu usiphatha ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi uyazwisisa ukuthi siyaphambanisa ngenxa yokuthi silesono, aphinde akhangele indlela esilalela ngayo nxa esiqondisa.

5. Incwadi yabaseRoma ichasisa njani indlela esigagadlelwe ngayo yisono?

⁵ UJehova uyazwisisa ukuthi isono silamandla kangakanani. ILizwi lakhe lichaza isono njengamandla amakhulu asigagadleleyo. Isono sisigagadlele kangakanani? Encwadini yabaseRoma, umphostoli uPhawuli wachasisa wathi: ‘Singaphansi kwesono’ njengamasotsha angaphansi komkhokheli wawo (KwabaseRoma 3:9); isono ‘sibusa’ abantu njengenkosi (KwabaseRoma 5:21); ‘sihlala’ phakathi kwethu (KwabaseRoma 7:17, 20); “umthetho” waso uqhubeka usebenza kithi, futhi uhlose ukusilawula. (KwabaseRoma 7:23, 25) Isono silamandla amakhulu kakhulu emizimbeni yethu.​—KwabaseRoma 7:21, 24.

6, 7. (a) UJehova ubabona njani labo abadinga isihawu sakhe ngenhliziyo ezisolayo? (b) Kungani kungamelanga sone sikhululekile sizitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzakuba lesihawu kithi?

⁶ Yikho-ke, uJehova uyakwazi ukuthi noma singaze sizame njani ngeke senelise ukumlalela ngokupheleleyo. Usiqinisekisa ukuthi nxa sidinga isihawu sakhe ngenhliziyo ezisolayo,  uyasithethelela. IHubo 51:17 lithi: “Imihlatshelo kaNkulunkulu iyinhliziyo edabukileyo; inhliziyo edabukileyo, ezisolayo, hawu Nkulunkulu, kawuyikuyilahla.” UJehova kasoze ayilahle loba ayixotshe inhliziyo “edabukileyo, ezisolayo” ngenxa yomthwalo osindayo wokona.

⁷ Kodwa lokhu kutsho yini ukuthi sesingona sikhululekile sizitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzakuba lesihawu kithi ngoba esazi ukuthi silesono? Hatshi! UJehova kaqondiswa ngumuzwa nje. Isihawu sakhe silalapho esiphelela khona. Ngeke abathethelele labo abenza izono ngabomo bengatshengisi ukuphenduka. (KumaHebheru 10:26) Kodwa uzimisele ukuthethelela nxa ebona inhliziyo ezisolayo. Okwakhathesi kasixoxeni ngezinye izifenqo eziseBhayibhilini ezisetshenziswa ukuchasisa indlela uJehova atshengisa ngayo uthando.

8. Nxa uJehova esithethelela izono zethu kufanana lokuthi uyabe esenzani njalo lokhu kusenza simethembe kukuphi?

⁸ UDavida ezisola ngesono sakhe wathi: ‘Lapho-ke ngasengisivuma isono sami kuwe angabe ngisasibekela ububi bami. Walithethelela icala lesono sami.’ (IHubo 32:5) Ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘ukuthethelela’ lingatsho “ukuphakamisa” noma “ukuthwala.” Ukusetshenziswa kwalo lapha kutsho ukususa “isazela, isono, kumbe ukuphambanisa.” Ngakho singathi uJehova waphakamisa izono zikaDavida wahamba lazo. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lokhu kwehlisa imizwa yecala eyayisinda uDavida. (IHubo 32:3) Lathi singamethemba ngokupheleleyo uNkulunkulu osusa izono zalabo abakholwa emhlatshelweni kaJesu wenhlawulo njalo bacele ukuthethelelwa.​—UMathewu 20:28.

9. UJehova uzisa khatshana kangakanani lathi izono zethu?

⁹ UDavida waphinda wasebenzisa omunye umutsho ochaza indlela uJehova athethelela ngayo: “Njengobukhatshana bempumalanga kuyo intshonalanga, ususe iziphambeko zethu ngendlela enjalo kithi.” (IHubo 103:12, The Amplified Bible)  Impumalanga ikhatshana kangakanani lentshonalanga? Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi impumalanga yindawo ekhatshana kulazo zonke nxa usentshonalanga, akusoze kwahlangana loba sekutheni. Esinye isikhwicamfundo sithi umutsho lo utsho “indawo ekhatshana kakhulu esingeke siyifinyelele.” Amazwi kaDavida aphefumulelweyo asitshela ukuthi nxa uJehova angasithethelela, izono zethu ususa azise khatshana kakhulu lathi.

10. Nxa uJehova angasithethelela, kungani kungamelanga sisale sicabanga ukuthi sizahlala siletshatha lesono impilo yethu yonke?

¹⁰ Wake wazama yini ukukhipha itshatha esigqokweni esimhlophe? Kungenzeka ukuthi lanxa wazama ngazo zonke izindlela lasala lilokhu likhanya. Nanzelela ukuthi uJehova uchaza njani indlela enelisa ngayo ukuthethelela: “Loba izono zenu zibomvu gebhu, zizakuba mhlophe njengongqoqwane; loba zibomvu njengegazi, zizakuba mhlophe njengoboya bezimvu.” (U-Isaya 1:18, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Kasingeke senelise ukukhipha itshatha lesono ngamandla  ethu loba sekutheni. Kodwa uJehova uyenelisa ukwenza ukuthi izono ezibomvu gebhu njengegazi zibe mhlophe nke njengongqoqwane kumbe njeboya bezimvu. Nxa uJehova angasithethelela akumelanga sisale sicabanga ukuthi sizahlala siletshatha lesono impilo yethu yonke.

11. UJehova uzibeka njani izono zethu ngemva kwakhe?

¹¹ Engomeni ethintayo uHezekhiya ayibhala uJehova esemsilise emkhuhlaneni owaphosa wambulala, wathi kuye: “Izono zami zonke uzibeke ngemuva kwakho.” (U-Isaya 38:17) Lapha uJehova kukhulunywa ngaye njengothatha izono zesoni esiphendukileyo azijikele ngemva kwakhe lapho angasoze aphinde azibone kumbe azinanzelele khona. Esinye isichazamazwi sithi umcijo olapha ungabekwa kanje: “Wenze angani [izono zami] kazizange zenzakale.” Lokho kuyasiduduza kakhulu.

12. Umphrofethi uMikha wakutshengisa njani ukuthi nxa uJehova ethethelela, ususa izono zethu ngokupheleleyo?

¹² Esithembisweni sokubuyisela, umphrofethi uMikha watshengisa ukuthi uyakholwa ukuthi uJehova angabathethelela abantu bakhe abaphendukayo: ‘Ngubani onguNkulunkulu njengawe, othethelela iziphambeko zensalela zelifa lakhe na? Uphosele bonke ububi bethu ezinzikini zolwandle.’ (UMikha 7:18, 19) Cabanga ukuthi amazwi lawo ayesitshoni kulabo ababephila ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili. Kwakungeke kwenzeke ukuthi okuthile okujikelwe ‘ezinzikini zolwandle’ kuphinde kuyethathwa. Ngakho amazwi kaMikha ayetshengisa ukuthi nxa uJehova exolela, ususa izono zethu ngokupheleleyo.

13. Atshoni amazwi kaJesu athi “Sixolele imilandu yethu”?

¹³ UJesu wasebenzisa ubudlelwano obuphakathi kwabakweledayo labakweledisayo ukuze achaze intethelelo kaJehova. Wasikhuthaza ukuthi sithandaze sisithi: “Sixolele imilandu yethu [loba izikwelede zethu, NW ].” (UMathewu 6:12) Ngakho uJesu wafananisa isono lesikwelede. Nxa sisona, siba ‘lesikwelede’ kuJehova. Mayelana lokutshiwo libala lesiGiriki  elihunyutshwa ngokuthi ‘xolela,’ elinye ibhuku lithi: “Ukwekela kumbe ukutshiya isikwelede ungasasithonisi.” Ngokufananayo, nxa uJehova exolela, uyacitsha isikwelede obekufanele sisibhadale. Ngakho izoni eziphendukayo zingaduduzeka. UJehova kasoze athonise isikwelede asesicitshile!​—IHubo 32:1, 2.

14. Umutsho othi “izono zenu zesulwe” wenza sicabange wuphi umfanekiso?

¹⁴ Intethelelo kaJehova iyachasiswa futhi lakumiSebenzi 3:19: “Yikho, phendukani, libuyele kuNkulunkulu, ukuze izono zenu zesulwe.” Ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “zesulwe” lithethwe ebaleni lesiGiriki elingatsho “ukucitsha kumbe ukutshabalalisa.” Ezinye izikhwicamfundo zithi umfanekiso olapha ngowokucitsha okubhaliweyo. Lokhu kwakungenzakala njani? I-inki eyayisetshenziswa endulo yayenziwe ngelahle, inhlaka, kanye lamanzi. Ngemva kokubhala nge-inki enjalo, umuntu wayengathatha isipontshi esimanzi esule lokho akubhalileyo. Lokhu kungumfanekiso omuhle wesihawu sikaJehova. Nxa exolela izono zethu, kuba angani uthatha isipontshi esule ngaso izono zethu.

15. Kuyini uJehova afuna sikwazi ngaye?

¹⁵ Nxa sicabanga ngezifenqo lezi ezitshiyeneyo, kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova ufuna sazi ukuthi uzimisele sibili ukuxolela izono zethu, nxa nje ebona ukuthi siphenduke ngeqiniso. Kakulasidingo sokuthi sesabe ukuthi uzaphinda asithonisise ngezono lezo. Lokhu kutshengiswa ngokunye futhi iBhayibhili elikuvezayo ngomusa kaJehova omkhulu: Nxa angaxolela, uyakhohlwa.

16, 17. Litshoni iBhayibhili nxa lisithi uJehova uyakhohlwa izono zethu, futhi kungani uphendula njalo?

¹⁶ UJehova wathembisa labo abasesivumelwaneni esitsha, wathi: “Ngizabathethelela ububi babo, ngingazikhumbuli futhi izono zabo.” (UJeremiya 31:34) Lokhu kutsho yini ukuthi nxa uJehova esethethelele izono uyabe  engasenelisi ukuzikhumbula? Hatshi. IBhayibhili lisitshela ngezono zabanengi abathethelelwa nguJehova, kugoqela loDavida. (2 USamuyeli 11:1-17; 12:13) Kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova lokhu ezazi izono abazenzayo. Izono zabo, ukuphenduka kwabo kanye lokuxolelwa kwabo nguNkulunkulu kwagcinelwa ukuthi kuncede thina. (KwabaseRoma 15:4) Pho-ke iBhayibhili litshoni nxa lisithi uJehova ‘kakhumbuli’ izono zalabo asebaxolele?

¹⁷ Ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘khumbula’ kalitsho ukuphinda ucabange okwenzakala kudala kuphela. Isichazamazwi seBhayibhili okuthiwa yi-Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament sithi, ligoqela “lokuthatha inyathelo elifaneleyo.” Ngakho lapha ‘ukukhumbula’ isono  kugoqela ukuthatha inyathelo lokujezisa izoni. (UHoseya 9:9) Kodwa lapho uNkulunkulu esithi kangisoze ‘ngizikhumbule futhi izono zabo,’ usiqinisekisa ukuthi nxa angathethelela, kasoze aphinde asebenzise izono lezo ukuthi ajezise izoni eziphendukayo. (UHezekheli 18:21, 22) Yikho-ke uJehova uyakhohlwa, okutsho ukuthi kasasibaleli futhi izono zethu ukuze abe elokhu esisola kumbe esijezisa. Kakududuzi yini ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu uyasixolela futhi akhohlwe izono zethu?

18. Kungani ukuthethelelwa kungatsho ukuthi umuntu angaphenduka kasoze ahlutshwe yiloba yiphi impumela yesono asenzayo?

¹⁸ Njengoba uJehova ezimisele ukuthethelela sekusitsho yini ukuthi umuntu angaphenduka kasoze ahlutshwe yiloba yiphi impumela yesono asenzayo? Ngitsho lakancane. Kasingeke sone besesicabanga ukuthi akusoze kusihambele kubi. UPhawuli wathi: “Umuntu uvuna lokho akuhlanyelayo.” (KwabaseGalathiya 6:7) Esakwenzayo kungasilethela izinhlupho ezithile. Lokhu akutsho ukuthi ngemva kokusithethelela uJehova wenza sehlelwe yibunzima. Nxa sekuvele ubunzima, umKhristu akumelanga acabange ukuthi, ‘Mhlawumbe uJehova uyangijezisa ngezono engazenzayo.’ (UJakhobe 1:13) Kodwa uJehova kayivimbi eminye impumela yezenzo zethu ezimbi. Eminye impumela ebuhlungu njalo esingeke siyibalekele ihlanganisa ukuchitheka komtshado, ukuzithwala ungazimiselanga, imikhuhlane ethelelwana emacansini kanye lokucina abantu bengasakuthembi futhi bengasakuhloniphi. Khumbula ukuthi lanxa uDavida wathethelelwa izono azenza endabeni kaBhathisheba lo-Uriya, uJehova kazange amvikele uDavida ukuthi angehlelwa yimpumela ebuhlungu.​—2 USamuyeli 12:9-12.

19-21. (a) Umthetho okuLevi 6:1-7 wawunceda njani ophambanisileyo lalowo ophanjaniselweyo? (b) Nxa esikwenzileyo kuzwise abanye ubuhlungu, uJehova uyathokoza nxa singenzani?

¹⁹ Izono zethu zingaba leminye impumela emibi, ikakhulu  nxa esikwenzileyo kuzwise abanye ubuhlungu. Ngokwesibonelo cabanga ngendaba ekuLevi isahluko 6. UMthetho kaMosi ukhuluma ngodaba lapho umIsrayeli ethathela omunye impahla ngobuqili loba ngodlakela, abesephika ukuthi ulecala, aze abe lesibindi sokufunga amanga. Lanxa bengavumelani bobabili bayabe bengela bofakazi bokubasekela. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi, isoni sihlutshwa yisazela besesicina sivuma isono saso. Isoni lesi kumele senze izinto ezintathu ukuze uNkulunkulu asithethelele: kumele sibuyisele lokho esiyabe sikuntshontshile, sihlawule esikuthetheyo sekwengezwe ngokukodwa kokuhlanu futhi sihambise inqama njengomnikelo wokuhlawula icala. Umthetho ubususithi: “Umphristi uzamenzela indlela yokubuyisana phambi kukaJehova, njalo uzathethelelwa.”​—ULevi 6:1-7.

²⁰ Umthetho lo wawutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulesihawu. Wawunceda othathelwe impahla yakhe ngoba yayiphendukiswa futhi akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kwakumkhulula ukuzwa isoni sesivuma isono saso ekucineni. Umthetho wawunceda lalowo okhathazwe yisazela waze wavuma ukuthi ulecala futhi walungisa akuphambanisileyo. Kuliqiniso ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengeke amthethelele nxa wayengekela ukwenza njalo.

²¹ Lanxa singekho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMosi, uMthetho lo wenza sizwisise umbono kaJehova kanye lakucabangayo mayelana lokuthethelela. (KwabaseKholose 2:13, 14) UNkulunkulu uyathokoza nxa sisenza okusemandleni ethu ukuze silungisise esikuphambanisileyo okuzwise abanye ubuhlungu. (UMathewu 5:23, 24) Lokhu kungatsho ukuthi sivume isono sethu, sivume ukuthi silecala, besesixolisa kulowo esimoneleyo. Ngemva kwalokho sesingacela uxolo kuJehova ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu futhi besesisiba leqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu usesixolele.​—KumaHebheru 10:21, 22.

22. Kuyini uJehova angakwenza lanxa esesithethelele?

²² UJehova angasixolela futhi asikhuze ngokufaneleyo njengoba  nje umzali olothando engenza. (IZaga 3:11, 12) Lanxa kunjalo kungadingeka ukuthi umKhristu ophendukayo ame ukuba ngumdala, inceku ekhonzayo kumbe iphayona. Kungaba buhlungu ukuthi okwesikhathi esithile alahlekelwe yizibusiso lezi ebeziligugu kuye. Kodwa ukukhuzwa okunjalo kuyabe kungatsho ukuthi uJehova kamthethelelanga. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova usikhuza ngoba esithanda. Ukuvuma lokulalela kwethu kunceda thina.​—KumaHebheru 12:5-11.

23. Kungani kungamelanga sicabange ukuthi uJehova ngeke abe lesihawu kithi, futhi kungani kumele silingisele ukuthethelela kwakhe?

²³ Kuyathokozisa ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu uzimisele ‘ukuthethelela’! Lanxa singaze senze isono esinjani, kakumelanga sicabange ukuthi uJehova ngeke abe lesihawu kithi. Singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzasithethelela nxa singaphenduka ngeqiniso, sithathe amanyathelo okulungisa esikonileyo, futhi sikhuleke ngobuqotho sicela ukuthethelelwa ngesisekelo segazi likaJesu elachithekayo. (1 UJohane 1:9) Kasilingiseleni ukuthethelela kwakhe endleleni esiphathana ngayo. UJehova kasenzi isono kodwa uyasithethelela ngothando ngakho lathi abantu abalesono kumele sizame ngamandla ukuthethelelana.