1, 2. Bukhulu kangakanani ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu, futhi iBhayibheli liyigcizelela kanjani le mfanelo?

 BETHAMELE ilanga lantambama elifudumele, abantu abayidlanzana osekunesikhathi eside bengabangani bajabulela ukudla ndawonye, bayahleka, badla nengevu njengoba bebuka indawo enhle abakuyo. Le kude umlimi ubuka amasimu akhe abese ehleka yedwa ngoba izulu selihlomile futhi liqala ukuna linisele izitshalo ezomile. Kwenye indawo indoda nomkayo bajabulela ukubona ingane yabo iqala ukucathula.

² Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bayazi noma cha, bonke labo bantu bazuza entweni eyodwa—ubuhle bukaJehova uNkulunkulu. Abantu abasontayo bavame ukuthi “uNkulunkulu muhle.” IBhayibheli lona likugcizelela nakakhulu. Lithi: “Yeka ukuthi bukhulu kangakanani ubuhle bakhe!” (Zakariya 9:17) Kodwa kubonakala sengathi namuhla bambalwa abaziyo ngempela ukuthi lawo mazwi asho ukuthini. Buhilelani ngempela ubuhle bukaJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi le mfanelo kaNkulunkulu imthinta kanjani umuntu ngamunye kithi?

3, 4. Buyini ubuhle, futhi kungani ubuhle bukaJehova bungachazwa kahle kakhulu ngokuthi buyindlela uNkulunkulu abonisa ngayo uthando?

³ Ezilimini eziningi zanamuhla, igama elithi “ubuhle” liyigama eliphuphile. Kodwa njengoba lisetshenziswa eBhayibhelini, igama elithi ubuhle aliphuphile nakancane. Ngokuyinhloko libhekisela ezingeni eliphakeme lokuziphatha. Khona-ke, ngomqondo othile singase sithi uJehova ugcwele ubuhle. Zonke izimfanelo zakhe—kuhlanganise amandla akhe, ubulungisa bakhe, nokuhlakanipha kwakhe—zinhle ngokuphelele.  Noma kunjalo, ubuhle bungachazwa kahle kakhulu ngokuthi buyindlela uJehova abonisa ngayo uthando lwakhe. Kungani?

⁴ Ubuhle buyimfanelo eboniswa ngokwenzela abanye izinto. Umphostoli uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi buthandeka kakhudlwana kubantu kunokulunga. (Roma 5:7) Umuntu olungile kungathenjelwa kuye ukuthi uzowugcina ngokwethembeka umthetho, kodwa umuntu omuhle wenza okungaphezu kwalokho. Akalindi aze atshelwe, usukumela phezulu afune izindlela zokusiza abanye. Njengoba sizobona, uJehova muhle ngempela ngalowo mqondo. Kusobala ukuthi lobu buhle busuka othandweni lukaJehova olungenamkhawulo.

5-7. UJesu wenqabelani ukubizwa ngokuthi “Mfundisi Omuhle,” futhi yiliphi iqiniso elijulile aligcizelela ngalokho?

⁵ Ubuhle bukaJehova abunakulinganiswa nobamuntu. Lapho uJesu esezofa, indoda ethile yeza kuye izombuza umbuzo, yambiza ngokuthi “Mfundisi Omuhle.” UJesu waphendula: “Kungani uthi ngimuhle? Akekho omuhle ngaphandle koyedwa, uNkulunkulu.” (Marku 10:17, 18) Ingase ikudide-ke manje leyo mpendulo. Wayeyikhuzelani uJesu le ndoda? Kanti uJesu wayengeyena yini ‘uMfundisi Omuhle’?

⁶ Kusobala ukuthi le ndoda yayimthopha lapho isebenzisa amazwi athi “Mfundisi Omuhle.” Ngesizotha uJesu wayisa leyo nkazimulo kuYise wasezulwini, okunguyena omuhle ngomqondo ophelele. (IzAga 11:2) Kodwa futhi uJesu wayegcizelela iqiniso elijulile. NguJehova kuphela obeka imithetho yokuthi yikuphi okuhle. Nguye kuphela onelungelo eliphakeme lokunquma okuhle nokubi. Ngokuhlubuka badle esihlahleni sokwazi okuhle nokubi, u-Adamu no-Eva babefuna ukuzithathela lelo lungelo. Ngokungafani nabo, uJesu uyazithoba ashiyele kuYise ukuba kube nguyena obeka imithetho.

⁷ Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu wayazi ukuthi uJehova unguMthombo wakho konke okuhle ngempela. UnguMuphi wazo “zonke izipho ezinhle nazo zonke izipho eziphelele.” (Jakobe 1:17) Ake sihlole ukuthi ubuhle bukaJehova bubonakala kanjani ekupheni kwakhe.

8. UJehova ububonise kanjani ubuhle kuso sonke isintu?

⁸ Bonke abantu abake baphila baye bazuza ebuhleni bukaJehova. IHubo 145:9 lithi: “UJehova muhle kubo bonke.” Yiziphi ezinye izibonelo zobuhle bakhe obuphelele? IBhayibheli lithi: “Ngokwenza izinto ezinhle wanibonisa ukuthi ungubani, eninika izimvula ezivela ezulwini nezinkathi ezinezithelo, enanelisa ngokudla, egcwalisa izinhliziyo zenu ngokwenama okukhulu.” (IzEnzo 14:17) Wake wawuzwa yini umoya wakho wenama lapho udla ukudla okwehla esiphundu? Ukube bekungengenxa yobuhle bukaJehova obamshukumisela ukuba aklame lo mhlaba ube nomjikelezo wamanzi “nezinkathi ezinezithelo” ukuze ukhiqize inala yokudla, besingeke sidle. UJehova akabubonisi lobo buhle kulabo abamthandayo kuphela, kodwa kubo bonke abantu. UJesu wathi: ‘Wenza ukuba ilanga lakhe liphumele abantu ababi nabahle futhi wenza ukuba  imvula ine phezu kwabalungile nabangalungile.’—Mathewu 5:45.

9. I-apula libubonisa kanjani ubuhle bukaJehova?

⁹ Abantu abaningi bazithatha kalula izinto abazithola ngobuningi ngenxa yokuba khona kwelanga, imvula, nezinkathi ezinezithelo. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga nge-apula. Livamile kuzo zonke izindawo ezinesimo sezulu esikahle. Kodwa lihle, limnandi, ligcwele namanzi aqabulayo nezakhi ezibalulekile. Ubuwazi nje ukuthi kunezinhlobo ezingu-7 500 zama-apula emhlabeni, anombala osuka kobomvu uye kosagolide, osuka kophuzi uye koluhlaza okotshani, kanti asuka kwangaphezudlwana kwejikijolo kuya kwangangopapamusi? Uma uphethe inhlamvu encanyana ye-apula, ungase ungayinaki. Kodwa  ikhula ibe esinye sezihlahla ezinhle kakhulu. (IsiHlabelelo Sezihlabelelo 2:3) Njalo entwasahlobo isihlahla sama-apula siqhakaza izimbali ezinhle; njalo ekwindla siyathela. Njalo ngonyaka—kuze kuphele iminyaka engu-75—isihlahla sama-apula sithela izithelo ezingagcwala amabhokisi angu-20 anesisindo esingamakhilogremu angu-19 lilinye!

10, 11. Izinzwa zibubonisa kanjani ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu?

¹⁰ Ngenxa yobuhle bakhe obungapheli, uJehova usinike umzimba ‘owenziwe ngendlela emangalisayo,’ onezinzwa eziklanyelwe ukusisiza siqonde imisebenzi yakhe futhi siyijabulele. (IHubo 139:14) Ake uphinde ucabange ngalezo zibonelo ezichazwe ekuqaleni kwalesi sahluko. Yiziphi izinto abazibonayo ezibajabulisayo ngalezo zikhathi? Yizihlashana ezibomvana zengane ejabulile. Imvula ena emasimini. Imibala ebomvana nesagolide yokushona kwelanga. Iso lomuntu lenziwe ngendlela yokuba libone amakhulu ezinkulungwane zemibala, mhlawumbe ngisho nezigidi zemibala! Kanti inzwa yethu yokuzwa ikwazi ukuzwa ukuhlukahluka kwephimbo lomuntu esimthandayo, ukuzwa ukuheleza komoya wezihlahla, nokuzwa uhleko olumnandi lwengane ecathulayo. Kungani sikwazi ukubona lezo zinto nokuzwa leyo misindo? IBhayibheli lithi: “Indlebe ezwayo neso elibonayo—kokubili kwenziwe uJehova.” (IzAga 20:12) Kodwa yizinzwa ezimbili nje kuphela lezo.

¹¹ Inzwa yokuhogela ingobunye ubufakazi bobuhle bukaJehova. Ikhala lomuntu lingahlukanisa amaphunga amaningi—kulinganiselwa ukuthi asuka ezinkulungwaneni aye ezigidini eziningi. Cabanga ngambalwa: elokudla okuphekwayo okuthandayo, elezimbali, elamahlamvu, elentuthu yomlilo ofudumele. Kanti inzwa yakho yokuthinta yenza ukwazi ukuzwa umoya ukuphephetha ebusweni, ukuzwa ukwangiwa okuqinisekisayo komuntu omthandayo, ukuzwa ukuthamba okugculisayo kwesithelo. Lapho usiluma, kube sekusebenza inzwa yakho yokunambitha. Kuvele kuconse amathe njengoba usihlafuna lesi sithelo. Yebo, sinezizathu ezinhle zokubabaza uJehova sithi: “Yeka ukuthi buchichima kangakanani ubuhle bakho! Ubulondele labo abakwesabayo.” (IHubo 31: 19) Nokho, uJehova ‘ubalondele’ kanjani ubuhle labo abamesabayo?

12. Yimaphi amalungiselelo avela kuJehova abaluleke kakhulu, futhi kungani?

¹² UJesu wathi: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Umuntu akumele aphile ngesinkwa sodwa kodwa nangawo wonke amazwi aphuma emlonyeni kaJehova.’” (Mathewu 4:4) Ngempela, amalungiselelo kaJehova angokomoya angasenzela okuhle nakakhulu kunalawo angokwenyama, ngoba wona aholela ekuphileni okuphakade. ESahlukweni 8 sale ncwadi, sifunde ukuthi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina uJehova uye wasebenzisa amandla akhe okubuyisela ukuze alethe ipharadesi elingokomoya. Isici esiyinhloko salelo pharadesi inala yokudla okungokomoya.

13, 14. (a) Umprofethi uHezekeli wabonani embonweni, futhi lokho kusho ukuthini kithi namuhla? (b) Yimaphi amalungiselelo angokomoya anikeza ukuphila uJehova awenzela izinceku zakhe ezithembekile?

¹³ Kwesinye seziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezibalulekile zokubuyiselwa, umprofethi uHezekeli wanikwa umbono wethempeli elibuyiselwe nelikhazinyulisiwe. Kwakunomfula ogelezayo usuka kulelo thempeli, owawulokhu uvuleka futhi uya ujula njengoba wehla, kwaze kwaba yilapho uba “umfula” omkhulu. Nomaphi lapho wawugelezela khona, lo mfula wawufika nezibusiso. Osebeni lwawo kwakumila inqwaba yezihlahla zokudla nezokwelapha. Lo mfula welapha noLwandle Olufile olwalunosawoti futhi lungenazo izinto eziphilayo, lwaba nokudla okuningi! (Hezekeli 47:1-12) Kodwa kwakusho ukuthini konke lokho?

¹⁴ Lo mbono wethempeli wawusho ukuthi uJehova uzobuyisela ukukhonzwa kwakhe ngendlela emsulwa. Wayezophinde akhonzwe ngendlela evumelana nemithetho yakhe. Njengalowo mfula osembonweni, amalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu okuphila ayeyogelezela kubantu bakhe ngobuningi. Selokhu ukukhulekela okumsulwa kwabuyiselwa ngo-1919, uJehova uye wabusisa abantu bakhe ngamalungiselelo anikeza  ukuphila. Kanjani? AmaBhayibheli, izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, imihlangano yebandla, nemihlangano emikhulu konke kuye kwasiza kwanikeza izigidi amaqiniso abalulekile. Ngalezi zindlela uJehova uye wafundisa abantu ngelungiselelo lakhe lokuphila elibaluleke kunawo wonke—umhlatshelo kaKristu wesihlengo, owenza bonke abathanda uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso nabamesabayo babe nokuma okuhlanzekile phambi kwakhe nethemba lokuphila okuphakade. a Ngakho, kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, izwe liye lathi lapho libulawa indlala engokomoya, abantu bakaJehova babe bejabulela idili elingokomoya.—Isaya 65:13.

15. Ubuhle bukaJehova buyogelezela kubantu abathembekile ngamuphi umqondo phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane?

¹⁵ Kodwa umfula owawusembonweni kaHezekeli awuyeki ukugeleza lapho lesi simiso sezinto esidala siphela. Kunalokho, uyogeleza ngisho nakakhulu phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Khona-ke ngoMbuso KaMesiya, uJehova uyobe esesebenzisa inani eligcwele lomhlatshelo kaJesu, kancane kancane asuse isono kubantu abathembekile. Asive siyokwethaba ngaleso sikhathi ngobuhle bukaJehova!

16. IBhayibheli libonisa kanjani ukuthi ubuhle bukaJehova buhlanganisa nezinye izimfanelo, futhi yiziphi ezinye zazo?

¹⁶ Ubuhle bukaJehova buhilela okungaphezu nje kokupha. UNkulunkulu wathi kuMose: “Ngizokwenza ubone bonke ubuhle bami, ngimemezele igama likaJehova phambi kwakho.” Kamuva lokhu kulandisa kuthi: “UJehova wayedlula phambi kwakhe ememeza ethi: ‘NguJehova, nguJehova, uNkulunkulu onesihe nomusa, owephuza ukuthukuthela nochichima uthando oluqotho neqiniso.’” (Eksodusi 33: 19; 34:6, umbhalo waphansi) Ngakho ubuhle bukaJehova buhlanganisa izimfanelo eziningana ezinhle. Ake sixoxe ngezimbili zazo.

17. Uyini umusa, futhi uJehova uwubonise kanjani kubantu abanesono nabangelutho?

¹⁷ ‘Unomusa.’ Le mfanelo, evela egameni elihunyushwa nangokuthi ‘uzwela,’ isitshela lukhulu ngendlela uJehova aphatha ngayo izidalwa zakhe. Kunokuba angabi namusa, abe nonya noma abe umashiqela, njengoba bevame ukuba njalo abantu abanegunya, uJehova umnene futhi unomusa. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wathi ku-Abrama: “Ngicela uphakamise amehlo akho ukuleyo ndawo okuyo, ubheke enyakatho naseningizimu, empumalanga nasentshonalanga.” (Genesise 13:14) Izinguqulo eziningi zilikhiphile igama elithi “ngicela.” Kodwa izazi zeBhayibheli zithi amazwi esiHebheru sokuqala anegama elishintsha umusho ungabe usaba umyalo kodwa ube isicelo esinenhlonipho. Zikhona nezinye izibonelo ezinjalo. (Genesise 31:12; Hezekeli 8:5) Cabanga nje, uMbusi wendawo yonke uthi ‘ngiyacela’ kubantu abangelutho! Ezweni eligcwele ukhahlo, ukuchwensa nokwedelela, akusenzi yini siqabuleke ukucabanga ngomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu uJehova?

18. UJehova ‘uchichima iqiniso’ ngamuphi umqondo, futhi kungani lawo mazwi eqinisekisa?

¹⁸ ‘Uchichima iqiniso.’ Ukungethembeki sekwandile ezweni namuhla. Kodwa iBhayibheli liyasikhumbuza: “UNkulunkulu akayena umuntu yena oqamba amanga.” (Numeri 23:19) Eqinisweni, uThithu 1:2 uthi ‘uNkulunkulu akanakuqamba amanga.’ Muhle kakhulu ukuba angenza lokho. Ngaleso sizathu, izithembiso zikaJehova zithembeke ngokuphelele; ngaso sonke isikhathi lokho akushoyo kuyagcwaliseka. UJehova uze abizwe nangokuthi ‘uNkulunkulu weqiniso.’ (IHubo 31:5) Akagcini nje ngokungawakhulumi amanga kodwa ukhipha namaqiniso amaningi. Akasebenzi yedwa ngasese noma agodle ukwaziswa; kunalokho upha izinceku zakhe ezithembekile ulwazi oluvela enqolobaneni yokuhlakanipha  kwakhe okungenamkhawulo. b Uze azifundise nendlela yokuphila ngamaqiniso awakhiphayo ukuze ‘ziqhubeke zihamba eqinisweni.’ (3 Johane 3) Ubuhle bukaJehova kufanele busithinte kanjani thina ngabanye?

19, 20. (a) USathane wazama kanjani ukwenza u-Eva angabe esabethemba ubuhle bukaJehova, futhi waba yini umphumela? (b) Kufanele busithinte kanjani ubuhle bukaJehova, futhi kungani?

¹⁹ Ngenkathi uSathane elinga u-Eva ensimini yase-Edene, waqala ngokumenza ngeziphansi ukuba angabe esabethemba ubuhle bukaJehova. UJehova wayekade ethe ku-Adamu: “Kuzo zonke izihlahla ezisensimini ungadla usuthe.” Kulezo zihlahla eziningi ezazihlobise leyo ngadi, sinye vo esasenqatshelwe nguJehova. Kodwa ake uzwe ukuthi uSathane wawubeka kanjani umbuzo wakhe wokuqala awubuza u-Eva: “Ingabe uNkulunkulu ushilo ngempela ukuthi akumele nidle kuzo zonke izihlahla ezisensimini?” (Genesise 2:9, 16; 3:1) USathane wasonta amazwi kaJehova ukuze enze u-Eva acabange ukuthi uJehova wayebagodlela okuthile okuhle. Kuyadabukisa ukuthi lelo qhinga lasebenza. U-Eva waqala ukungabaza ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu, lowo ayezinikwe nguye zonke izinto ayenazo, njengoba nje kwenza abesilisa nabesifazane abaningi abamlandela.

²⁰ Siyazi ukuthi lokho kungabaza kwaletha ukudabuka nosizi olukhulu kangakanani. Ngakho masilalele amazwi kaJeremiya 31:12: “Bayojabula ngenxa yobuhle bukaJehova.” Ngempela ubuhle bukaJehova kufanele busenze siqhakaze ngenjabulo. Akufanele neze singabaze izisusa zikaNkulunkulu wethu, ogcwele ubuhle kangaka. Singathembela ngokuphelele kuye ngoba ubafunela okuhle kodwa labo abamthandayo.

21, 22. (a) Yiziphi ezinye zezindlela ongathanda ukusabela ngazo ebuhleni bukaJehova? (b) Iyiphi imfanelo esizoxoxa ngayo esahlukweni esilandelayo, futhi ihluke kanjani ebuhleni?

 ²¹ Ngaphezu kwalokho, siyathokoza lapho sithola ithuba lokuxoxela abanye ngobuhle bukaNkulunkulu. Ngokuqondene nabantu bakaJehova, iHubo 145:7 lithi: “Ngeke siwuvale umlomo lapho sikhumbula ubukhulu bobuhle bakho.” Usuku ngalunye esiluphilayo, siyazuza ngandlela-thile ebuhleni bukaJehova. Kungani ungakwenzi umkhuba ukubonga uJehova ngobuhle bakhe usuku nosuku, ubugagule lobo buhle? Ukucabanga ngaleyo mfanelo, ukubonga uJehova mihla yonke ngayo, nokuxoxela abanye ngayo kuyosisiza silingise uNkulunkulu wethu omuhle. Futhi lapho sifuna izindlela zokwenza okuhle, njengoba noJehova enza, siyosondela nakakhulu kuye. Umphostoli uJohane owayesekhulile wathi: “Mfowethu othandekayo, ungalingisi okubi kodwa lingisa okuhle. Lowo owenza okuhle uvela kuNkulunkulu.”—3 Johane 11.

²² Ubuhle bukaJehova buhlobene futhi nezinye izimfanelo. Ngokwesibonelo, uNkulunkulu ‘uchichima uthando oluqotho.’ (Eksodusi 34:6) Le mfanelo yona igxile kwabathile ngokungefani nobuhle, ngoba uJehova uyibonisa ngokukhethekile ezincekwini zakhe ezithembekile. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizobona ukuthi ukwenza kanjani lokho.