1, 2. INguqulo Yezwe Elisha iliphakamisa kanjani igama likaNkulunkulu?

KWAKUNGULWESIBILI ekuseni ngo-December 2, 1947, lipholile izulu ngesikhathi iqembu labazalwane abagcotshiwe baseBethel eBrooklyn, eNew York, libhukulela ukwenza umsebenzi omkhulukazi. Kwakuwumsebenzi okhandlayo kodwa babekezela bawenza iminyaka engu-12. Ekugcineni, ngeSonto ngo-March 13, 1960, baphothula ivesi lokugcina lenguqulo entsha yeBhayibheli. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu, ngo-June 18, 1960, uMfoweth’ uNathan Knorr wakhulula umqulu wokugcina we-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo Engcwele ephelele eManchester, eNgilandi, izilaleli zajabula zafa. Isikhulumi saveza imizwa yababekhona lapho sithi: ‘Namuhla usuku lokwethaba koFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni jikelele!’ Isici esivelele esasiyisizathu esikhethekile sentokozo ukusetshenziswa kaningi kwegama likaNkulunkulu.

² Izinguqulo eziningi zeBhayibheli ziyalikhipha igama likaNkulunkulu. Kepha izinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe zamelana neqhinga likaSathane lokwesula igama likaNkulunkulu ezingqondweni zabantu. Isethulo se-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha eyayikhululwe ngalelo langa sithi: “Isici esivelele sale nguqulo ukubuyiselwa kwegama likaNkulunkulu endaweni yalo efanele.” Ngempela INguqulo Yezwe Elisha isebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu elithi Jehova izikhathi ezingaphezu kuka-7 000. Yeka indlela le nguqulo eliphakamise ngendlela evelele ngayo igama likaBaba wethu wasezulwini—uJehova!

3. (a) Yini abafowethu abayiqonda ngencazelo yegama likaNkulunkulu? (b) Kufanele siwuqonde kanjani u-Eksodusi 3:13, 14? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Incazelo Yegama LikaNkulunkulu.”)

³ Eminyakeni yakudala, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babeqonda ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu lisho ukuthi “Nginguye enginguye.” (Eks. 3:14, iBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile) Ngakho, INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-January 1, 1926, yaphawula: “Igama elithi Jehova libhekisela kuLowo ozenza abe khona, . . . Lowo ongabanga nasiqalo nasiphetho.” Kepha ngesikhathi abahumushi be-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha beqala umsebenzi wabo, uJehova wayesesize abantu bakhe baqonda ukuthi igama lakhe alisho nje ukuthi uzenza abe khona, kodwa okubaluleke nakakhulu, lisho ukuthi unguNkulunkulu wenjongo nomsebenzi. Bafunda ukuthi ngokwezwi nezwi, igama elithi Jehova lisho ukuthi  “Ubangela Ukuba Kube Khona.” Yebo, wenza kwaba khona izulu nomhlaba nezidalwa ezihlakaniphile, futhi usaqhubeka enza ukuba intando nenjongo yakhe kufezeke. Nokho, kungani kubaluleke kangaka ukuba igama likaNkulunkulu liphakanyiswe, futhi singahlanganyela kanjani ekuliphakamiseni?

4, 5. (a) Sisuke sicelani uma sithandaza sithi: “Malingcweliswe igama lakho”? (b) UNkulunkulu uyolingcwelisa kanjani futhi nini igama lakhe?

⁴ UJehova ufuna ukuba igama lakhe liphakanyiswe. Empeleni, injongo yakhe eyinhloko ukuba alingcwelise njengoba kubonakala esicelweni sokuqala somthandazo kaJesu oyisibonelo: “Malingcweliswe igama lakho.” (Math. 6:9) Lapho sisho leso sicelo, sisuke sithandazela ini?

⁵ Njengoba sifundile eSahlukweni 1 sale ncwadi, isicelo esithi “Malingcweliswe igama lakho” singesinye sezicelo ezintathu eziphathelene nenjongo kaJehova ezisemthandazweni kaJesu oyisibonelo. Nazi ezinye ezimbili: “Umbuso wakho mawuze. Intando yakho mayenzeke.” (Math. 6:10) Ngakho, njengoba nje sicela uJehova ukuba athathe isinyathelo sokuba uMbuso wakhe uze nentando yakhe yenzeke, siyamcela nokuba athathe isinyathelo sokungcwelisa igama lakhe. Ngamanye amazwi, sicela uJehova ukuba athathe isinyathelo sokususa sonke isihlamba ebesilokhu siphonswa egameni lakhe kusukela ekuhlubukeni kwase-Edene. UJehova uzowuphendula kanjani umthandazo onjalo? Uthi: “Ngokuqinisekile ngizolingcwelisa igama lami elikhulu, elalingcoliswa phakathi kwezizwe.” (Hez. 36:23; 38:23) E-Armagedoni, lapho uJehova esusa ububi, uyobe engcwelisa igama lakhe phambi kwayo yonke indalo.

6. Singahlanganyela kanjani ekungcweliseni igama likaNkulunkulu?

⁶ Kuwo wonke umlando, uJehova uvumele izinceku zakhe ukuba zihlanganyele ekungcweliseni igama lakhe. Yiqiniso, asinakulenza igama likaNkulunkulu libe ngcwele ngaphezu kokuba lingcwele. Lingcwele ngomqondo ophelele. Pho singalingcwelisa kanjani? U-Isaya uthi: “UJehova wamabutho—nguYe okufanele nimphathe njengongcwele.” Futhi ngokuqondene nabantu bakhe, uJehova wathi: “Bayongcwelisa igama lami . . . , futhi uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli bayombheka ngokuthuthumela.” (Isaya 8:13; 29:23) Ngakho, igama likaNkulunkulu silingcwelisa ngokulibheka njengelihlukile neliphakeme kunawo wonke amanye, ngokuhlonipha lokho elikumelele nangokusiza abanye ukuba balibheke njengelingcwele. Inhlonipho esinayo ngegama likaNkulunkulu siyibonisa ikakhulukazi lapho siqaphela uJehova njengoMbusi wethu futhi simlalela ngenhliziyo yethu yonke.—IzAga 3:1; IsAm. 4:11.

7, 8. (a) Kungani kwathatha isikhathi ngaphambi kokuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu baphathe igama lakhe? (b) Yini esizofunda ngayo?

⁷ Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezikhathini zamanje zisebenzise igama lakhe ezincwadini zazo kusukela ngawo-1870.  Ngokwesibonelo, i-Zion’s Watch Tower ka-August 1879 neculo elakhululwa ngalowo nyaka elithi Songs of the Bride, kunalo igama elithi Jehova. Noma kunjalo, kubonakala sengathi ngaphambi kokuba uJehova avumele abantu bakhe ukuba bazibize obala ngegama lakhe elingcwele, waqikelela ukuthi bayahlangabezana nezimfuneko zokuthola lelo lungelo elikhulu. UJehova wabalungiselela kanjani labo baFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala ukuba baphathe igama lakhe?

⁸ Uma sibheka emuva ekupheleni kwawo-1800 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1900, sibona indlela uJehova abanika ngayo abantu bakhe ukuqonda okucace kakhudlwana amaqiniso abalulekile ngegama lakhe. Ake sifunde ngamathathu awo.

9, 10. (a) Kungani izihloko zokuqala ze-Nqabayokulinda zazikhuluma kakhulu ngoJesu? (b) Yiluphi ushintsho olwenzeka kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke, futhi kwaba namiphi imiphumela? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “ Indlela INqabayokulinda Ephakamise Ngayo Igama LikaNkulunkulu.”)

⁹ Elokuqala, izinceku zikaJehova zakuqonda ngendlela efanele ukubaluleka kwegama likaNkulunkulu. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala abathembekile babheka ilungiselelo lesihlengo njengeliyimfundiso eyinhloko yeBhayibheli. Yingakho INqabayokulinda yayivame ukukhuluma ngoJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngonyaka eyakhishwa ngawo, yakhuluma ngegama likaJesu izikhathi eziyishumi ukwedlula elikaJehova. Mayelana neminyaka yokuqala yabaFundi BeBhayibheli, INqabayokulinda ka-March 15, 1976, yathi babebheka uJesu “njengobaluleke ngaphezu kwalokho okufanele.” Kepha ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wabasiza baqaphela ukuthi iBhayibheli liveza igama likaNkulunkulu njengelivelele. Kwaba namuphi umthelela lokho kubaFundi BeBhayibheli? Sona lesi sihloko se-Nqabayokulinda sathi kusukela ikakhulu ngo-1919 kuqhubeke, “baqala ukwazisa ngokwengeziwe uYise wasezulwini kaMesiya, uJehova.” Eqinisweni, phakathi namashumi eminyaka ngemva kuka-1919, INqabayokulinda yakhuluma ngegama likaNkulunkulu izikhathi ezingaphezu kuka-6 500!

¹⁰ Ngokuqaphela igama elithi Jehova ngendlela elifanele, abafowethu babonisa uthando lwabo ngegama likaNkulunkulu. NjengoMose wasendulo, baqala ‘ukumemezela igama likaJehova.’ (Dut. 32:3; IHu. 34:3) Ngenxa yalokho, njengoba uJehova athembisa emiBhalweni, walubona uthando lwabo ngegama lakhe, wayesebabonisa umusa.—IHu. 119:132; Heb. 6:10.

11, 12. (a) Yiluphi ushintsho olwenzeka ezincwadini zethu ngemva nje kuka-1919? (b) Yini uJehova ayefuna izinceku zakhe ziyiqaphele, futhi ngani?

¹¹ Elesibili, amaKristu eqiniso athola ukuqonda okuyikona kona ngomsebenzi awabelwe uNkulunkulu. Ngemva nje kuka-1919, abazalwane abagcotshiwe ababehola bashukumiseleka ukuba bahlole isiprofetho sika-Isaya. Ngemva kwalokho, okwakuqukethwe izincwadi zethu kwashintsha kwangabe kusagxila lapho kwakugxile khona. Kungani lolo shintsho ‘lwaluwukudla okufike ngesikhathi’?—Math. 24:45.

¹² Ngaphambi kuka-1919, INqabayokulinda yayingakaze ikhulume ngokuningiliziwe ngala mazwi ka-Isaya: “‘Ningofakazi bami,’ usho uJehova, ‘yebo inceku yami engiyikhethile.’” (Funda u-Isaya 43:10-12.) Kodwa ngokushesha ngemva  kuka-1919, izincwadi zethu zaqala ukukhuluma ngalawo mavesi eBhayibheli, zikhuthaza bonke abagcotshiwe ukuba bahlanganyele emsebenzini uJehova ayebabele wona—wokufakaza ngaye. Empeleni, kusukela ngo-1925 kuya ku-1931 kuphela, kwakhulunywa ngo-Isaya isahluko 43 komagazini abangu-57 be-Nqabayokulinda, futhi umagazini ngamunye wawuchaza ukuthi la mazwi ka-Isaya asebenza kumaKristu eqiniso. Kuyakhanya ukuthi kuleyo minyaka uJehova wayenza izinceku zakhe ziqaphele umsebenzi okwakumelwe ziwenze. Ngani? Phakathi kokunye, ukuze ‘zivivinywe ukuthi ziyafaneleka yini.’ (1 Thim. 3:10) Ngaphambi kokuba abaFundi BeBhayibheli baphathe igama likaNkulunkulu, kwadingeka bakufakazele ngemisebenzi kuJehova ukuthi ngempela bangofakazi bakhe.—Luka 24:47, 48.

13. IZwi likaNkulunkulu liyembula kanjani impikiswano esemqoka okumelwe ilungiswe?

¹³ Elesithathu, abantu bakaJehova bakuqonda ukubaluleka kokungcweliswa kwegama likaNkulunkulu. Ngawo-1920 baqonda ukuthi ukungcweliswa kwegama likaNkulunkulu kuyimpikiswano ebaluleke kunakho konke okumelwe ilungiswe. IZwi likaNkulunkulu lilembula kanjani lelo qiniso elisemqoka? Cabanga ngezibonelo ezimbili. Yisiphi isizathu esiyinhloko esenza uNkulunkulu wophula u-Israyeli eGibhithe? UJehova wathi: “Ukuba igama lami limenyezelwe emhlabeni wonke.” (Eks. 9:16) Kungani futhi uJehova ambonisa isihe u-Israyeli lapho umhlubuka? Nakulokhu uJehova wathi: “Ngathatha isinyathelo ngenxa yegama lami ukuze lingangcoliswa phambi kwamehlo ezizwe.” (Hez. 20:8-10) AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bafundani kulokhu kulandisa kweBhayibheli kanye nokunye?

14. (a) Ekupheleni kwawo-1920, yini eyaqondwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu? (b) Ukuqonda okujulile okwatholwa abaFundi BeBhayibheli kwawuthinta kanjani umsebenzi wokushumayela? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Isizathu Esinamandla Sokushumayela.”)

¹⁴ Ekupheleni kwawo-1920, abantu bakaNkulunkulu baqonda ukubaluleka kwalokho u-Isaya ayekusho eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 700 ngaphambili. Mayelana noJehova, wayethe: “Wabahola kanjalo abantu bakho ukuze uzenzele igama elihle.” (Isaya 63:14) AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baqonda ukuthi okwakubalulekile kwakuwukungcweliswa kwegama likaNkulunkulu, hhayi ukusindiswa kwabantu. (Isaya 37:20; Hez. 38:23) Ngo-1929, incwadi ethi Prophecy yalifingqa kanje lelo qiniso: “Igama likaJehova liyinto esemqoka kunazo zonke ephambi kwendalo.” Lokhu kuqonda okulungisiwe kwazishukumisa ngokwengeziwe izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ukuba zifakaze ngaye, zisuse nesihlamba egameni lakhe.

15. (a) Ngawo-1930, yini abafowethu abase benayo? (b) Yisikhathi sani esase sifikile?

¹⁵ Ekuqaleni kwawo-1930, abafowethu base benombono ofanele ngokubaluleka kwegama likaNkulunkulu, sebewuqonda ngokucacile umsebenzi uNkulunkulu ayebanike wona ukuba bawenze futhi sebeyiqonda ngokujulile impikiswano okwakumelwe ilungiswe. Manje sase sifikile isikhathi sokuba uJehova anike izinceku zakhe ilungelo lokuphatha igama lakhe obala. Ukuze sibone ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani lokho, ake sifunde ngezinye izinto ezenzeka endulo.

16. (a) Iyiphi indlela evelele uJehova aphakamisa ngayo igama lakhe? (b) Endulo, obani abaqala ukuba abantu begama likaNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Indlela evelele uJehova aphakamisa ngayo igama lakhe iwukuba nabantu abaphethe igama lakhe emhlabeni. Kusukela ngo-1513 B.C.E. kuqhubeke, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sasimelele uJehova njengabantu bakhe. (Isaya 43:12) Kepha sahluleka ukugcina ingxenye yaso yesivumelwano noNkulunkulu, kwathi ngo-33 C.E. salahlekelwa ubuhlobo obukhethekile naye. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uJehova ‘wanaka izizwe ukuze athathe kuzo isizwe segama lakhe.’ (IzE. 15:14) Labo bantu ababesanda kukhethwa babizwa ngokuthi “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,” owakhiwa abalandeli bakaKristu abagcotshiwe abavela ezizweni ezihlukahlukene.—Gal. 6:16.

17. Yiliphi icebo uSathane aphumelela kulo?

 ¹⁷ Cishe ngo-44 C.E., “ngokwelungiselelo laphezulu” abafundi bakaKristu “babizwa ngokuthi amaKristu.” (IzE. 11:26) Ekuqaleni, lelo gama lalibehlukanisa ngoba lalisebenza kumaKristu eqiniso kuphela. (1 Pet. 4:16) Kodwa njengoba kuboniswe emfanekisweni kaJesu kakolweni nokhula, uSathane waphumelela ecebweni lakhe lokubiza zonke izinhlobo zamaKristu mbumbulu ngaleli gama elithi amaKristu. Ngenxa yalokho, kwaba amakhulu eminyaka kungacacile kahle ukwehluka kwamaKristu eqiniso kumaKristu mbumbulu. Lokho kwaqala ukushintsha “ngenkathi yokuvuna” eyaqala ngo-1914. Ngani? Ngoba izingelosi zaqala ukuhlukanisa amaKristu mbumbulu kwaweqiniso.—Math. 13:30, 39-41.

18. Yini eyasiza abafowethu babona ukuthi igama elisha lalidingeka?

¹⁸ Ngemva kokumiswa kwenceku ethembekile ngo-1919, uJehova wasiza abantu bakhe ukuba baqonde umsebenzi ayebanike wona. Basheshe babona ukuthi ukushumayela endlini ngendlu kwakubehlukanisa kumaKristu mbumbulu. Lapho sebeliqonda lelo qiniso, akuthathanga sikhathi ngaphambi kokuba baqonde ukuthi igama elithi “abaFundi BeBhayibheli” lalingabachazi kahle. Injongo yabo eyinhloko ekuphileni kwakungekona ukumane batadishe iBhayibheli kodwa kwakuwukufakazela uNkulunkulu, ukudumisa nokuphakamisa igama lakhe. Yiliphi-ke igama elalizofanelana nomsebenzi ababewenza? Lowo mbuzo waphendulwa ngo-1931.

19, 20. (a) Yiliphi izwi lesinqumo elijabulisayo elenziwa ngo-1931? (b) Abafowethu basabela kanjani kuleli gama elisha?

¹⁹ Ngo-July 1931, kwafika abaFundi BeBhayibheli abangaba ngu-15 000 eColumbus, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A., beze emhlanganweni. Lapho bebona isimiso somhlangano, badidwa izinhlamvu zamagama ezimbili ezinkulu u-J no-W ezazibhalwe esembozweni esingaphambili. Bazibuza: ‘Kazi zimeleleni lezi zinhlamvu’? Abanye babecabanga ukuthi zimelele ukuthi, ‘Just Watch’; abanye bethi zimelele ukuthi, ‘Just Wait.’ Kwathi ngeSonto, ngo-July 26, uMfoweth’ uJoseph Rutherford wethula izwi lesinqumo elalinala mazwi anamandla: “Sifisa ukwaziwa nangokubizwa ngegama elithi Jehovah’s witnesses [oFakazi BakaJehova].” Ngalowo mzuzu, bonke ababekhona baqonda ukuthi zisho ukuthini izinhlamvu ezazibadida—zazimelele ukuthi Jehovah’s Witnesses [oFakazi BakaJehova], igama elisekelwe emBhalweni ka-Isaya 43:10.

²⁰ Izilaleli zenanela lelo zwi lesinqumo ngokumemeza nangehlombe eladonsa isikhathi. Lokho kusabela okunomfutho eColombus kwezwakala emazweni amaningi ngomsakazo! U-Ernest noNaomi Barber base-Australia bayakhumbula: “Ngesikhathi kushaywa ihlombe eMelika, abafowethu eMelbourne bagxuma bama ngezinyawo baqhubeka nokushaya ihlombe. Asisoze sasilibala leso senzakalo!” *

21. Igama elisha lawuthinta kanjani umsebenzi wokushumayela?

²¹ Ukuba negama elingokomBhalo elithi oFakazi BakaJehova kwanika izinceku zikaNkulunkulu amandla engeziwe  okuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela. U-Edward noJessie Grimes, abangamaphayona e-United States ababekhona emhlanganweni wango-1931 eColombus, bayakhumbula: “Sasuka ekhaya singabaFundi BeBhayibheli, sagoduka sesingoFakazi BakaJehova. Kwasijabulisa ukuthi sase sinegama elalisisiza sidumise igama likaNkulunkulu wethu.” Ngemva kwalowo mhlangano, abanye oFakazi basebenzisa indlela entsha yokulidumisa. Babezethula kubaninikhaya ngokubanikeza ikhadi elinalo myalezo: “Ngingomunye wofakazi BAKAJEHOVA ngishumayela ngoMbuso KAJEHOVA uNkulunkulu wethu.” Yebo, abantu bakaNkulunkulu babeziqhayisa ngokuphatha igama lakhe futhi babekulungele ukumemezela ukubaluleka kwalo kude naseduze.—Isaya 12:4.

22. Yini efakazela ukuthi abantu bakaJehova bahlukile?

²² Sekudlule iminyaka eminingi kusukela uJehova ashukumisa abafowethu abagcotshiwe ukuba bamukele igama elibahlukanisayo. Phakathi neminyaka eyalandela, ingabe uSathane ukwazile ukwenza abantu bakaNkulunkulu bangaziwa ukuthi bangobani? Uphumelele yini ukusenza sibe mdibimunye nezinye izinkolo zezwe? Lutho neze! Kunalokho, ukwehluka kwethu njengofakazi bakaNkulunkulu kucace kunanini ngaphambili. (Funda uMika 4:5; Malaki 3:18.) Empeleni, sesaziwa kakhulu ngegama likaNkulunkulu kangangokuthi noma ubani olisebenzisa ngokukhululekile kuvele kuthiwe unguFakazi KaJehova. Esikhundleni sokuba ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kweqiniso kusithwe uhide lwezinkolo zamanga ezinjengezintaba, ‘kumiswe kwaqina kwaba ngaphezu kwesiqongo sezintaba.’ (Isaya 2:2) Namuhla, ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova negama lakhe elingcwele kuphakanyiswe ngempela, kwaba le phezulu.

23. NgokweHubo 121:5, yiliphi iqiniso elibalulekile ngoJehova elisiqinisayo?

²³ Yeka indlela okusiqinisa ngayo ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uzosivikela ekuhlaseleni kukaSathane kwamanje nokuzayo! (IHu. 121:5) Siwenanela kufanele amazwi omhubi owaloba: “Siyajabula isizwe esiNkulunkulu waso nguJehova, isizwe asikhethile ukuba sibe yifa lakhe.”—IHu. 33:12.