1-3. (a) Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo? (b) Yiziphi izinto ezine ezibalulekile esizoxoxa ngazo ezenza uNkulunkulu ayamukele indlela esimkhonza ngayo? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

U-ABELA uhlolisisa umhlambi wakhe. Lezi zilwane uzikhulise kusukela zisezincane futhi uyazithanda. Manje ukhetha ezinye zazo azihlabe, bese eziletha kuNkulunkulu njengesipho. Ingabe uJehova uzosamukela lesi senzo sokumkhonza esenziwa umuntu onesono?

² Umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba abhale lokhu ngo-Abela: “UNkulunkulu wazamukela izipho zakhe.” Nokho, uJehova wawenqaba umnikelo kaKhayini. (Funda eyamaHebheru 11:4.) Lokhu kuphakamisa imibuzo okufanele sicabange ngayo. Kungani uNkulunkulu amamukela u-Abela lapho enza isenzo sokumkhonza kodwa wangamamukela uKhayini? Yini esiyifundayo ezibonelweni zikaKhayini no-Abela nezabanye okukhulunywa ngabo encwadini yamaHebheru isahluko 11? Izimpendulo zizosisiza siqonde nakakhulu ukuthi yini ehilelekile ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa.

³ Njengoba sixoxa kafushane ngezenzakalo zangosuku luka-Abela kuze kube usuku lukaHezekeli, phawula izinto ezine ezibalulekile, okuthi uma zikhona zonke, zenze uNkulunkulu  ayamukele indlela esimkhonza ngayo: Umuntu okhonzwayo kumelwe kube uJehova, izinga lokumkhonza kumelwe libe eliphezulu kakhulu, indlela esimkhonza ngayo kumelwe ibe eyamukelekayo kuye, izisusa zomuntu omkhonzayo kumelwe zibe msulwa.

4, 5. Yini eyenza uKhayini waphetha ngokuthi nguJehova owayezokwamukela isipho sakhe?

⁴ Funda uGenesise 4:2-5. UKhayini wayazi ukuthi nguJehova ozokwamukela isipho sakhe. Ayemaningi amathuba okuba uKhayini afunde ngoJehova futhi wayenesikhathi esiningi sokwenza kanjalo. Kungenzeka ukuthi yena nomfowabo base beneminyaka esondela kweyikhulu ngesikhathi benikela ngezipho zabo. * Bobabili laba bafana bakhula beyazi ingadi yase-Edene, nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi leyo ngadi evundile yayikude, kodwa mhlawumbe babekwazi ukuyibona. Ngokuqinisekile babewabona amakherubi evimbe indlela eya khona. (Gen. 3:24) Kufanele ukuba abazali babo babebatshelile ukuthi nguJehova owadala zonke izinto eziphilayo nokuthi inhloso yakhe yasekuqaleni ngabantu yayihlukile kulokho okwakwenzeka kubo manje—okuwukuthi kancane kancane base bewohloka futhi sebezofa. (Gen. 1:24-28) Kungenzeka ukuthi ukwazi lezi zinto kwabangela uKhayini ukuba aphethe ngokuthi kufanele anikele isipho sakhe kuNkulunkulu.

⁵ Yini enye okungenzeka yenza uKhayini wanikela umnikelo wakhe? UJehova wayebikezele ukuthi kuyovela ‘inzalo,’ othile owayeyochoboza ikhanda ‘lenyoka’ eyayiyenge u-Eva ukuba enze isinqumo esibi. (Gen. 3:4-6, 14, 15) Njengoba uKhayini ayeyizibulo, kungenzeka wayecabanga ukuthi uyena owayeyileyo “nzalo” ethenjisiwe. (Gen. 4:1) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova wayengayekile ngokuphelele ukuxhumana nabantu abanesono; ngisho nangemva kokuba u-Adamu onile, uNkulunkulu wakhuluma naye, ngokusobala esebenzisa ingelosi. (Gen. 3:8-10) Kanti futhi uJehova wakhuluma noKhayini ngemva kokuba elethe umnikelo wakhe. (Gen. 4:6) UKhayini wayazi ukuthi nguJehova okufanele akhonzwe.

6, 7. Ingabe kukhona okwakungalungile ngezinga lomnikelo kaKhayini noma indlela awenza ngayo? Chaza.

⁶ Pho kungani uJehova engawamukelanga umnikelo kaKhayini? Ingabe wawungekho ezingeni elifanele? IBhayibheli alisho. Limane lithi uKhayini waletha ezinye “zezithelo zomhlaba.” Kamuva eMthethweni awunikeza uMose, uJehova wabonisa ukuthi uyalwamukela lolu hlobo lomhlatshelo. (Num. 15:8, 9) Cabanga nangesimo sangaleso sikhathi. Ngaleso sikhathi abantu babedla izitshalo kuphela. (Gen. 1:29) Kanti futhi ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayewuqalekisile umhlabathi ongaphandle kwe-Edene, uKhayini wayesebenze kanzima ukuze athole izitshalo ayezozinikela. (Gen. 3:17-19) Wanikela ngokudla kokusekela ukuphila ayekusebenzele kanzima! Noma kunjalo, uJehova akazange awamukele umnikelo kaKhayini.

 ⁷ Ingabe-ke kwakukhona okungalungile ngendlela anikela ngayo isipho sakhe? Ingabe uKhayini wahluleka ukusinikela ngendlela eyamukelekayo? Akubonakali kanjalo. Kungani? Kungoba lapho uJehova enqaba umnikelo kaKhayini, akazange athi wawenziwe ngendlela engafanele. Eqinisweni, akukho lapho kuchazwa khona ukuthi uKhayini no-Abela bawenza kanjani umnikelo wabo. Pho, yayiyini inkinga?

8, 9. (a) Kungani uJehova engamamukelanga uKhayini noma umnikelo wakhe? (b) Kuwe, yini ephawulekayo ngalokho iBhayibheli elisitshela kona ngoKhayini no-Abela?

⁸ Amazwi aphefumulelwe uPawulu awabhalela amaHebheru abonisa ukuthi uKhayini wayengenazo izisusa ezimsulwa lapho enza umnikelo. UKhayini wayengenalo ukholo. (Heb. 11:4; 1 Joh. 3:11, 12) Yingakho uJehova engazange amamukele uKhayini—yena uqobo lwakhe—hhayi umnikelo wakhe nje kuphela. (Gen. 4:5-8) UJehova unguBaba onothando, ngakho wazama ukulungisa indodana yakhe ngomusa. Kodwa uKhayini walwenqaba usizo lukaJehova. Inhliziyo kaKhayini yagcwala imisebenzi yenyama enesono—“ubutha, ukuxabana, umhawu.” (Gal. 5:19, 20) Inhliziyo kaKhayini embi yavele yagqiba noma yiziphi ezinye izinto ezazizinhle endleleni ayekhonza ngayo uJehova. Isibonelo sakhe sisifundisa ukuthi ukuze sikhonze uJehova ngendlela emsulwa, kudingeka okungaphezu kwezenzo ezibonisa ukuzinikela kuJehova.

⁹ IBhayibheli lisitshela okuningi ngoKhayini—siyamuzwa uJehova ekhuluma naye, sifunde izimpendulo zikaKhayini, size sifunde nangamagama ezingane zakhe nangezinye zezinto ezazenza. (Gen. 4:17-24) Kodwa u-Abela yena, akukho lapho sifunda khona ukuthi waba nezingane futhi akukho akusho okubhalwe eBhayibhelini. Noma kunjalo, izenzo zika-Abela zisakhuluma nathi namuhla. Kanjani?

10. U-Abela wasibekela kanjani isibonelo sokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa?

¹⁰ U-Abela wenza umnikelo wakhe kuJehova, azi ukuthi kufanele awuqondise kuye kuphela. Umnikelo ka-Abela wawungowezinga eliphezulu—wakhetha “amazibulo athile omhlambi wakhe.” Nakuba kungashiwo ukuthi wawanikela e-altare noma cha, kusobala ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayamukela indlela anikela ngayo isipho sakhe. Kodwa okuphawulekayo ngesipho sika-Abela yisisusa sakhe sokusinikela, okuyisibonelo esisafunda kuso namanje, nakuba sekwadlula iminyaka engu-6 000. U-Abela washukunyiswa ukuba nokholo kuNkulunkulu nokuthanda imithetho kaJehova elungile. Sazi kanjani?

11. Kungani uJesu athi u-Abela wayelungile?

¹¹ Cabanga ngalokho uJesu akusho ngo-Abela, indoda ayeyazi kahle. UJesu wayephila ezulwini lapho u-Abela esemhlabeni. Wayeyithanda le ndodana ka-Adamu. (IzAga 8:22, 30, 31; Joh. 8:58; Kol. 1:15, 16) Ngakho wayesho into azibonela yona ngawakhe lapho ethi u-Abela wayeyindoda elungile. (Math. 23:35) Umuntu olungile ngumuntu ovumayo ukuthi uJehova nguye okufanele  asho ukuthi yini elungile nengalungile. Kodwa wenza okungaphezu kwalokho—ubonisa ngamazwi nangezenzo ukuthi uyavumelana naleyo mithetho kaNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa noLuka 1:5, 6.) Kuthatha isikhathi ukuzakhela idumela lokuba umuntu olungile. Ngakho, ngisho nangaphambi kokuba u-Abela anikele isipho sakhe kuNkulunkulu, kumelwe ukuba wayengumuntu owaziwa ngokuphila ngemithetho kaJehova. Kufanele ukuba kwakungelula lokho. Mancane amathuba okuthi umfowabo omdala wayeyisibonelo esihle kuye—uKhayini wayenenhliziyo embi. (1 Joh. 3:12) Umama ka-Abela akawulalelanga umthetho oqondile kaNkulunkulu, kanti uyise wamvukela uJehova, efuna ukuzinqumela yena ukuthi yini elungile nengalungile. (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:6) U-Abela wabonisa isibindi ngempela ngokukhetha ukuphila ngendlela ehlukile kuneyomndeni wakhe!

12. U-Abela wayehluke kanjani kuKhayini?

¹² Manje, phawula indlela umphostoli uPawulu ahlobanisa ngayo ukholo nokulunga. UPawulu wabhala: “Ngokholo u-Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo ongcono kunokaKhayini, futhi ngalolo kholo wafakazelwa ukuthi wayelungile.” (Heb. 11:4) Amazwi kaPawulu abonisa ukuthi, ngokungafani noKhayini, u-Abela washukunyiswa ukholo lwakhe kuJehova nasendleleni yaKhe yokwenza izinto, okuwukholo aba nalo ukuphila kwakhe konke futhi olwalusuka enhliziyweni.

13. Isibonelo sika-Abela sisifundisani?

¹³ Isibonelo sika-Abela sisifundisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu singamkhonza ngendlela emsulwa kuphela uma sinezisusa ezimsulwa ezinhliziyweni zethu—sinokholo kuJehova futhi sivumelana ngokuphelele nemithetho yakhe elungile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sifunda ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa kudinga okungaphezu kwesenzo esisodwa sokubonisa ukuzinikela. Kuhilela ukuphila kwethu konke nendlela esiziphatha ngayo.

14. Kungani uJehova azamukela izipho ezanikelwa uNowa, u-Abrahama noJakobe?

¹⁴ U-Abela waba umuntu wokuqala onesono owakhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa, kodwa akabanga owokugcina. Umphostoli uPawulu ubala nabanye abakhonza uJehova ngendlela eyamukelekayo—njengoNowa, u-Abrahama noJakobe. (Funda eyamaHebheru 11:7, 8, 17-21.) Ngayinye yalezi zinhloko zemindeni yanikela umhlatshelo kuJehova, futhi uNkulunkulu wazamukela izipho zazo. Kungani? Kungoba ngayinye yala madoda ayizange nje yenze isenzo sokubonisa ukuzinikela—ngayinye yawo yayenze konke okwakudingeka ukuze indlela yayo yokukhonza uNkulunkulu ibe msulwa. Cabanga ngezibonelo zawo.

15, 16. Kungani singathi uNowa wayenazo zozine izinto ezazidingeka ukuze indlela yakhe yokukhonza ibe msulwa?

¹⁵ UNowa wazalwa ngemva kweminyaka engu-126 nje u-Adamu eshonile; noma kunjalo, wakhulela ezweni elalingamkhonzi uNkulunkulu ngendlela efanele. * (Gen. 6:11) Kuyo yonke imindeni eyayiphila emhlabeni ngaphambi nje kukaZamcolo, nguNowa  nomndeni wakhe kuphela abakhonza uJehova ngendlela eyamukelekayo. (2 Pet. 2:5) Ngemva kokusinda kuZamcolo, uNowa wakha i-altare, elingelokuqala okukhulunywa ngalo eBhayibhelini wayesenikela imihlatshelo kuJehova. Ngalesi senzo esisuka enhliziyweni, uNowa wakwenza kwacaca emndenini wakhe nakubo bonke abantu ababeyophila ngemva kwakhe ukuthi nguJehova kuphela okufanele akhonzwe. Kuzo zonke izilwane ayengakhetha kuzo ukuze enze umhlatshelo, uNowa wakhetha “ezinye zezilwane ezihlanzekile nezinye kuzo zonke izilwane ezindizayo ezihlanzekile.” (Gen. 8:20) Lena kwakuyiminikelo esezingeni eliphezulu ngoba uJehova uyena owathi lezi zilwane zihlanzekile.—Gen. 7:2.

¹⁶ UNowa wanikela le mihlatshelo ngokuyishisa e-altare ayelakhile. Ingabe le ndlela yokukhonza yayamukeleka? Yebo. Ukulandisa kuthi umnikelo wawunuka kamnandi kuJehova, wabe esebusisa uNowa namadodana akhe. (Gen. 8:21; 9:1) Nokho, isizathu esiyinhloko esenza ukuba uJehova awamukele umnikelo kaNowa, yizisusa zakhe zokuwunikela. Imihlatshelo yayingenye indlela uNowa abonisa ngayo ukholo oluqinile kuJehova nasendleleni yaKhe yokwenza izinto. Ngenxa yokuthi uNowa wayehlale emlalela uJehova nemithetho yakhe, iBhayibheli lithi “wahamba noNkulunkulu weqiniso.” Ngenxa yalokho, uNowa wazakhela idumela lokuba indoda elungile.—Gen. 6:9; Hez. 14:14; Heb. 11:7.

17, 18. Kungani singathi u-Abrahama wayenazo zozine izinto ezazidingeka ukuze indlela yakhe yokukhonza ibe msulwa?

¹⁷ U-Abrahama wayezungezwe abantu ababekhonza ngendlela engafanele. Edolobheni i-Uri, lapho u-Abrahama ayehlala khona, kwakunethempeli lokudumisa unkulunkulu wenyanga uNanna. * Ngisho noyise ka-Abrahama wayeke wakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. (Josh. 24:2) Noma kunjalo, u-Abrahama wakhetha ukukhonza uJehova. Cishe wafunda ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso kukhokho wakhe uShemi, enye yamadodana kaNowa. Baphila iminyaka engu-150 ndawonye.

¹⁸ Kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe, u-Abrahama wanikela imihlatshelo eminingi. Kodwa zonke lezi zenzo zokukhonza zazihlale ziqondiswe kuJehova, okunguyena okufanele akhonzwe. (Gen. 12:8; 13:18; 15:8-10) Ingabe u-Abrahama wayezimisele ukunikela kuJehova umnikelo osezingeni eliphezulu? Ngokuqinisekile lowo mbuzo waphenduleka lapho u-Abrahama ezimisele ukunikela ngendodana yakhe okuwukuphela kwayo, u-Isaka. Ngaleso sikhathi, uJehova watshela u-Abrahama yonke imininingwane ephathelene nendlela okwakufanele awenze ngayo umhlatshelo. (Gen. 22:1, 2) U-Abrahama wayezimisele ukuzilandela njengoba zinjalo lezo ziqondiso. NguJehova owanqanda u-Abrahama ukuba angayibulali indodana yakhe. (Gen. 22:9-12) UJehova wazamukela izenzo zika-Abrahama zokumkhonza, ngoba le ndoda yayinezisusa ezimsulwa. UPawulu wabhala: “U-Abrahama waba nokholo kuJehova, wabhekwa njengolungile.”—Roma 4:3.

19, 20. Kungani singathi uJakobe wayenazo zozine izinto ezazidingeka ukuze indlela yakhe yokukhonza ibe msulwa?

 ¹⁹ UJakobe wahlala isikhathi eside eKhanani, izwe uJehova ayelithembise u-Abrahama nenzalo yakhe. (Gen. 17:1, 8) Abantu bakulelo zwe babekhonza ngendlela engafanele kangangokuba uJehova wathi ‘izwe laliyobahlanza abakhe kulo.’ (Lev. 18:24, 25) Lapho eseneminyaka engu-77, uJakobe wahamba eKhanani, washada, kamuva wabuyela khona esenomndeni omkhulu. (Gen. 28:1, 2; 33:18) Nokho, abanye emndenini wakhe babekade bekhonza abanye onkulunkulu. Noma kunjalo, lapho uJehova ethi makaye eBhethele afike akhe i-altare, uJakobe wenza kanjalo nje. Waqale wathi emndenini wakhe: “Lahlani onkulunkulu bezizwe abaphakathi kwenu nizihlanze.” Ngemva kwalokho, wazilandela ngokwethembeka iziqondiso ayezinikiwe.—Gen. 35:1-7.

²⁰ UJakobe wakha ama-altare amaningi eZweni Lesithembiso, kodwa kwakunguJehova ayehlale emkhonza. (Gen. 35:14; 46:1) Ngenxa yezinga lemihlatshelo yakhe, indlela ayekhonza ngayo uNkulunkulu nezisusa zakhe, iBhayibheli lithi uJakobe ‘wayengasoleki,’ okuyinkulumo echaza labo abamukelwa uNkulunkulu. (Gen. 25:27) Ngendlela uJakobe aphila ngayo, wasibekela isibonelo esihle kakhulu isizwe sakwa-Israyeli, esasizoba inzalo yakhe.—Gen. 35:9-12.

21. Yini esingayifunda ezibonelweni zezinhloko zemindeni mayelana nokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa?

²¹ Yini esingayifunda ezibonelweni zezinhloko zemindeni mayelana nokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa? Njengazo, sizungezwe abantu, okungenzeka amalungu emindeni yethu, abangasiphazamisa ekuzinikeleni kuJehova kuphela. Ukuze bangasithonyi, kumelwe sakhe ukholo oluqinile kuJehova futhi singangabazi ukuthi imithetho yakhe elungile ingcono kakhulu. Lolo kholo silubonisa ngokulalela uJehova ngokunikela ngesikhathi sethu, amandla ethu nezinto zethu ekumkhonzeni. (Math. 22:37-40; 1 Kor. 10:31) Ave kukhuthaza ukwazi ukuthi uma senza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze sikhonze uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo, nangezisusa ezimsulwa, usibheka njengabalungile!—Funda uJakobe 2:18-24.

22-24. UMthetho wawukugcizelela kanjani ukuthi ubani ama-Israyeli ayemenzela imihlatshelo, izinga layo ngendlela eyayenziwa ngayo?

²² UJehova wanikeza inzalo kaJakobe uMthetho owawuyenza iqiniseke ngalokho ayekulindele kuyo. Uma yayizomlalela uJehova, yayizoba ‘impahla yakhe ekhethekile nesizwe esingcwele.’ (Eks. 19:5, 6) Phawula indlela uMthetho owawugcizelela ngayo izinto ezine ezibalulekile ezenza ukukhonza kwethu uNkulunkulu kube msulwa.

²³ UJehova wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi ubani ama-Israyeli okwakufanele amkhonze. UJehova wathi: “Akumelwe ube nabanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami.” (Eks. 20:3-5) Imihlatshelo ababezoyinikela kuye kwakufanele ibe sezingeni eliphezulu.  Ngokwesibonelo, imihlatshelo yezilwane kwakufanele kube ephile kahle, engenasici. (Lev. 1:3; Dut. 15:21; qhathanisa noMalaki 1:6-8.) AmaLevi ayezuza eziphweni ezazinikelwa kuJehova, kodwa nawo ayenikela ngezawo izipho. Lokho ayekunikela, kwakufanele kuphume eziphweni ‘ezinhle kunazo zonke ayenikwe zona.’ (Num. 18:29) Mayelana nendlela okwakufanele anikele ngayo, ama-Israyeli anikezwa iziqondiso mayelana nokuthi yini okufanele ayinikele kuJehova, kuphi futhi kanjani. Anikwa imithetho engaphezu kuka-600 eyayizowaqondisa, futhi atshelwa: “Niqikelele ukuthi nenza njengoba nje uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu eniyalile. Akumelwe niphendukele kwesokudla noma kwesobunxele.”—Dut. 5:32.

²⁴ Kwakubalulekile yini ukuthi ama-Israyeli ayinikelaphi imihlatshelo yawo? Yebo. UJehova wayala abantu bakhe ukuba bakhe itabernakele futhi laba yindawo lapho babemkhonza khona ngendlela emsulwa. (Eks. 40:1-3, 29, 34) Ngaleso sikhathi, uma ama-Israyeli ayefuna ukuba iminikelo yawo yamukelwe uNkulunkulu, kwakufanele ayilethe etabernakele. *​—Dut. 12:17, 18.

25. Ngokuphathelene nemihlatshelo, yini eyayibaluleke kakhulu? Chaza.

²⁵ Nokho, okwakubaluleke nakakhulu, kwakuyisisusa somIsrayeli sokuletha isipho sakhe! Kwakumelwe ashukunyiswe uthando  olusuka enhliziyweni ngoJehova nemithetho yakhe. (Funda uDuteronomi 6:4-6.) Lapho ama-Israyeli ekhonza uJehova ukuze nje agcine icala, uJehova wayeyinqaba imihlatshelo yawo. (Isaya 1:10-13) Ngomprofethi u-Isaya, uJehova waveza ukuthi akakhohliswa ukuzinikela kokuzenzisa, wathi: “Lesi sizwe . . . singidumisa ngezindebe zaso, kodwa inhliziyo yaso ikude nami.”—Isaya 29:13.

26. Ekuqaleni, ithempeli elakhiwa uSolomoni laba nayiphi indima ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa?

²⁶ Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka u-Israyeli ezinze eZweni Lesithembiso, iNkosi uSolomoni yakha indawo yokukhonzela uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa, eyayiyinhle kakhulu kunetabernakele. (1 AmaKh. 7:51; 2 IziKr. 3:1, 6, 7) Ekuqaleni, nguJehova kuphela okwakuqondiswe kuye imihlatshelo eyayenziwa kuleli thempeli. USolomoni nabantu bakhe banikela imihlatshelo eminingi kakhulu eyayisezingeni eliphakeme, ngendlela eyayichazwe eMthethweni kaNkulunkulu. (1 AmaKh. 8:63) Ukuthi ithempeli lalibiza malini nobuningi bemihlatshelo akukona okwenza ukukhonza ethempelini kwamukeleka kuJehova. Okwakubalulekile kwakuyizisusa zalabo ababenikela ngezipho zabo. USolomoni waligcizelela lelo phuzu lapho kunikezelwa ithempeli. Wathi: “Izinhliziyo zenu maziphelele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ngokuhamba eziqondisweni zakhe nangokugcina imiyalo yakhe njenganamuhla.”—1 AmaKh. 8:57-61.

27. Yini eyenziwa amakhosi akwa-Israyeli nabantu bawo, futhi yini uJehova ayenza ngalokho?

²⁷ Kuyadabukisa ukuthi ama-Israyeli awazange aqhubeke esilandela iseluleko senkosi esihlakaniphile. Ahluleka ukuzenza zonke izinto ezazidingeka ukuze indlela akhonza ngayo ibe msulwa. Amakhosi akwa-Israyeli nabantu bawo bavumela ukuba izinhliziyo zabo zonakaliswe, baphelelwa ukholo kuJehova, bashiya nemithetho yakhe elungile. Ngothando, uJehova wayebathumela kaningi abaprofethi kubo ukuze babaqondise, babaxwayise nangemiphumela yezenzo zabo. (Jer. 7:13-15, 23-26) Ophawulekayo phakathi kwalabo baprofethi, nguHezekeli, owayephila ngezikhathi ezibucayi emlandweni wokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa.

28, 29. Yini esiyaziyo ngoHezekeli? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “UHezekeli—Ukuphila Kwakhe Nesikhathi Aphila Ngaso.”)

²⁸ UHezekeli wayekujwayele ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ethempelini elalakhiwe uSolomoni. Uyise wayengumpristi futhi kufanele ukuba wayeba nethuba lokuyokhonza ethempelini. (Hez. 1:3) Kufanele ukuba uHezekeli wayejabule lapho esakhula. Akungabazeki ukuthi uyise wamfundisa ngoJehova nangoMthetho. Empeleni, cishe ngesikhathi uHezekeli ezalwa, kwatholakala “incwadi yoMthetho” ethempelini. * Inkosi eyayibusa, inkosi enhle uJosiya, kwayithinta kakhulu lokho eyakuzwa kangangokuthi yenza  imizamo emikhulu yokukhuthaza abantu ukuba bakhonze ngendlela emsulwa.—2 AmaKh. 22:8-13.

²⁹ Njengamadoda athembekile ayephambi kwakhe, uHezekeli, wayenazo zozine izinto ezidingekayo ukuze ukukhonza kwakhe kube msulwa. Njengoba sitadisha incwadi kaHezekeli, sifunda ukuthi wakhonza uJehova kuphela, waqhubeka enikela ngokungcono kakhulu ayenakho, walalela wenza lokho uJehova ayethi akakwenze nangendlela ayethi akakwenze ngayo. UHezekeli wakwenza konke lokhu ngoba wayeshukunyiswa ukholo olusuka enhliziyweni. Abenzanga kanjalo abantu abaningi ayephila nabo. UHezekeli wayekhule elalela iziprofetho zikaJeremiya, owayeqale umsebenzi wakhe ngo-647 B.C.E., exwayisa ngentshiseko ngesahlulelo sikaJehova esizayo.

30. Zivezani iziprofetho ezabhalwa uHezekeli? (b) Siyini isiprofetho, futhi kufanele siziqonde kanjani ezikaHezekeli? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Indlela Yokuqonda Iziprofetho ZikaHezekeli.”)

³⁰ Imibhalo kaHezekeli ephefumulelwe iveza indlela abantu bakaNkulunkulu abase beqhele ngayo ekumkhonzeni. (Funda uHezekeli 8:6.) Lapho uJehova eqala ukujezisa uJuda, uHezekeli wayephakathi kwalabo abathunjelwa eBhabhiloni. (2 AmaKh. 24:11-17) Nakuba uHezekeli athunjwa, akukona ukuthi wayejeziswa. UJehova wayenomsebenzi ayefuna awenze kubantu bakhe abathunjiwe. Imibono neziprofetho ezimangalisayo okwabhalwa uHezekeli kubonisa ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa kwakuyobuyiselwa kanjani eJerusalema. Kodwa kwenza okungaphezu kwalokho—kubonisa nokuthi bonke abantu abathanda uJehova bayophinde bamkhonze kanjani ngendlela emsulwa.

31. Le ncwadi izosisiza senzeni?

³¹ Ezingxenyeni ezilandelayo zale ncwadi, sizofunda ngendawo uJehova ahlala kuyo, sibone ukuthi ukumkhonza ngendlela emsulwa kwase kungcoliswe kangakanani, sifunde ngendlela uJehova avuselela futhi avikele ngayo abantu bakhe, bese sibheka esikhathini esizayo lapho bonke abantu beyobe sebemkhonza. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizofunda ngombono wokuqala owabhalwa uHezekeli. Usenza simbone ngeso lengqondo uJehova nengxenye esezulwini yenhlangano yakhe, ugcizelele nokuthi kungani kunguyena yedwa ofanelwe ukukhonzwa ngendlela emsulwa.