1, 2. (a) Iyiphi ingxenye yezwe okwakufanele ihlukaniselwe injongo ekhethekile? (Bheka isithombe esisesembozweni.) (b) Lo mbono ubaqinisekisa ngani abadingisiwe?

EMBONWENI wakhe wokugcina, uHezekeli utshelwa ngengxenye yezwe okumelwe ihlukaniselwe injongo ekhethekile. Le ngxenye inikelwa kuJehova, ayibi yifa lesizwe esithile sama-Israyeli. UHezekeli utshelwa nangedolobha eliphawulekayo elinegama eliyisimanga. Le ngxenye yombono iqinisekisa abadingisiwe ngento ebaluleke kakhulu: UJehova uyoba nabo lapho bebuyela ezweni labo abalithandayo.

² UHezekeli usinika imininingwane yalowo mnikelo. Ake sihlole le ndaba esifundisa okuningi njengezikhonzi zeqiniso zikaJehova.

3. Yiziphi izindawo ezinhlanu ezakha izwe uJehova alihlukanisela injongo ekhethekile futhi iyini injongo yalezo zindawo? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Umnikelo Okufanele Niwuhlukanisele UJehova.”)

³ Ingxenye ekhethekile yezwe yayiyizingalo ezingu-25 000 (okungamakhilomitha angu-13) kusukela enyakatho kuya eningizimu, ibe izingalo ezingu-25 000 kusukela empumalanga kuya entshonalanga. Le ndawo eyisikwele yayibizwa ngokuthi yiwo “wonke umnikelo.” Yayihlukaniswe yaba izingxenye ezintathu.  Ingxenye engenhla kwakungeyamaLevi, ingxenye ephakathi nendawo kwakungeyethempeli nabapristi. Lezo zingxenye zombili zazakha “umnikelo ongcwele.” Ingxenye encane engezansi noma “indawo esele” yayisetshenziswa “abantu abavamile.” Kwakungeyedolobha.—Hez. 48:15, 20.

4. Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda endabeni ephathelene nomnikelo oya kuJehova?

⁴ Isiphi isifundo esingasifunda kule ndaba ephathelene nomnikelo oya kuJehova? Ngokuqale athi akube nendawo yomnikelo okhethekile, ngemva kwalokho bese kuba yindawo yezizwe, uJehova wayebonisa ukuthi indawo yomnikelo kumelwe ibhekwe njengebaluleke kakhulu. (Hez. 45:1) Akungabazeki ukuthi abadingisiwe bafunda okuningi kule ndlela izwe elabiwa ngayo. Ukukhonza uJehova kwakumelwe kuze kuqala ekuphileni kwabo. Ngokufanayo nanamuhla, izinto ezinjengokutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu, ukuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu nokushumayela, sizibheka njengezibaluleke kakhulu. Lapho silingisa isibonelo sikaJehova sokubeka izinto ezibalulekile kuqala, sigcina ukuphila kwethu kugxile ekumkhonzeni.

5, 6. (a) Lalingelobani idolobha? (b) Yini idolobha elingabhekiseli kuyo, futhi kungani?

⁵ Funda uHezekeli 48:15. Yini eyayibalulekile ngaleli “dolobha” nendawo eyayilizungezile? (Hez. 48:16-18) Embonweni, uJehova watshela uHezekeli: ‘Indawo iyoba . . . eyayo yonke indlu ka-Israyeli.’ (Hez. 45:6, 7) Ngakho, idolobha nendawo eyayilizungezile kwakungekona ‘okomnikelo ongcwele’ okwakufanele ‘uhlukaniselwe uJehova.’ (Hez. 48:9) Sinalokho engqondweni, ake sihlole ukuthi ukuba khona kwaleli dolobha kungasifundisani namuhla.

⁶ Ukuze sibone ukuthi iziphi izifundo esingazifunda kuleli dolobha, okokuqala kudingeka sazi ukuthi yini leli dolobha elingabhekiseli kuyo. Lalingabhekiseli eJerusalema elalakhiwe kabusha nethempeli lalo. Kungani? Yingoba idolobha elabonwa uHezekeli embonweni lalingenalo ithempeli ngaphakathi kulo. Leli dolobha lalingabhekiseli nakunoma yiliphi idolobha elalisezweni lakwa-Israyeli elibuyiselwe. Kungani? Yingoba alikho idolobha elinezinto ezichazwe kulo mbono elake lakhiwa ababebuya ekudingisweni noma inzalo yabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, leli dolobha ngeke libhekisele edolobheni lasezulwini. Kungani? Kungoba lalakhiwe endaweni eyayizosetshenziswa “abantu abavamile [noma, eyayingengcwele]” ngokungafani nezakhiwo ezazakhiwe endaweni ehlukaniselwe ukukhonza uNkulunkulu.—Hez. 42:20.

7. Liyini idolobha uHezekeli alibona, futhi kubonakala sengathi limelelani? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁷ Liyini-ke idolobha uHezekeli alibona? Khumbula ukuthi leli dolobha walibona embonweni ofanayo abona kuwo izwe. (Hez. 40:2; 45:1, 6) IZwi likaNkulunkulu libonisa ukuthi izwe libhekisela ezweni elingokomfanekiso, ngakho idolobha kumelwe  ukuba libhekisela edolobheni elingokomfanekiso. Ngokuvamile, lisho ukuthini igama elithi “idolobha”? Leli gama lidlulisela umqondo wabantu abahlala ndawonye njengeqembu, abakha into ebumbene nehlelekile. Ngakho, idolobha elihleleke kahle uHezekeli alibona—eliyisikwele—kubonakala limelela ilungiselelo elihlelekile lokuqondisa.

8. Lisebenza kuphi leli lungiselelo lokuqondisa, futhi kungani kunjalo?

⁸ Leli lungiselelo lokuqondisa lisebenza kuphi? Umbono kaHezekeli ubonisa ukuthi leli dolobha lisebenza ngaphakathi ezweni elingokomfanekiso. Ngakho, leli lungiselelo lokuqondisa lisebenza phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Yini eboniswa ukuthi idolobha lakhiwe endaweni esetshenziswa abantu abavamile, noma endaweni engengcwele? Kusikhumbuza ukuthi leli dolobha alibhekiseli elungiselelweni lokuqondisa lasezulwini, kodwa kwelasemhlabeni, ebelilokhu lisebenza ukuze kuzuze bonke abahlala epharadesi elingokomfanekiso.

9. (a) Obani abakha leli lungiselelo lokuqondisa lasemhlabeni namuhla? (b) Yini uJesu azoyenza phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane?

⁹ Leli lungiselelo lokuqondisa lasemhlabeni lakhiwa obani? Embonweni kaHezekeli, umuntu owayehola kuhulumeni waleli dolobha wayebizwa ngokuthi “isikhulu.” (Hez. 45:7) Wayengamele abantu kodwa wayengeyena umpristi noma umLevi. Lesi sikhulu sisenza sicabange ngokukhethekile ngababonisi bamabandla banamuhla abangagcotshiwe ngomoya. Laba belusi abanothando abayingxenye “yezinye izimvu” bayizinceku ezithobekile zombuso kaKristu wasezulwini. (Joh. 10:16) Phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane ezayo, uJesu uyokhetha futhi abeke abadala abafanelekayo noma izikhulu “emhlabeni wonke.” (IHu. 45:16) Beqondiswa uMbuso wasezulwini, bayonakekela izidingo zabantu phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane.

10. Lithini igama laleli dolobha, futhi lokhu kuqinisekisa ukuthini?

¹⁰ Funda uHezekeli 48:35. Leli dolobha libizwa ngokuthi “uJehova Ulapho.” Leli gama liyaqinisekisa ukuthi uJehova ukhona kuleli dolobha. Ngokubonisa uHezekeli leli dolobha eliphakathi nendawo, kwakufana nokuthi uJehova uthi kubantu abadingisiwe: ‘Ngizophinde ngibe nani!’ Yeka isiqinisekiso esijabulisayo!

11. Yiziphi izifundo esingazifunda embonweni kaHezekeli mayelana nedolobha negama lalo elinencazelo?

¹¹ Yiziphi izifundo esingazithola kule ngxenye yesiprofetho sikaHezekeli? Igama laleli lungiselelo lokuqondisa elinjengedolobha liyasiqinisekisa njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu namuhla ukuthi uJehova ukanye nazo izinceku zakhe ezithembekile emhlabeni manje futhi uyohlale ekanye enazo. Leli gama elinencazelo ligcizelela neqiniso elibalulekile: Leli dolobha alenzelwe ukunika amadoda athile amandla kodwa likhona ukuze abantu baphile ngemithetho kaJehova enothando necabangelayo. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova akenzanga ukuba ilungiselelo  lokuqondisa libe negunya lokuhlukanisa izwe ngendlela abantu ababona ngayo. Kunalokho, uJehova ulindele ukuba abaqondisi bahloniphe ukwabiwa kwezwe, noma amalungelo yena ngokwakhe awanike izinceku zakhe kuhlanganise ‘nabaphansi.’—IzAga 19:17; Hez. 46:18; 48:29.

12. (a) Yini ephawulekayo ngaleli dolobha, futhi lokho kubonisani? (b) Le ngxenye yombono ibanikeza siphi isikhumbuzo esibalulekile ababonisi abangamaKristu?

¹² Yini enye ephawulekayo ngaleli dolobha elibizwa ngokuthi “uJehova Ulapho”? Njengoba amadolobha asendulo ayenezindonga eziwavikelayo ezinamasango ambalwa, leli dolobha lona linamasango angu-12! (Hez. 48:30-34) Ukuba kwaleli dolobha namasango amaningi (amathathu ohlangothini ngalunye lwaleli dolobha eliyisikwele) kubonisa ukuthi abaqondisi baleli dolobha bayangeneka futhi zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zikuthola kulula ukukhuluma nabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuba kwaleli dolobha namasango angu-12 kugcizelela ukuthi noma ubani angangena kuleli dolobha, “yonke indlu ka-Israyeli.” (Hez. 45:6) Ukuthi kungeneka kalula kuleli dolobha kuyisikhumbuzo esibalulekile kubabonisi abangamaKristu. UJehova ufuna ukuba bangeneke futhi labo abasepharadesi elingokomfanekiso babathole kalula uma bebadinga.

13. Yini uJehova ayisho mayelana nemisebenzi eyayiyokwenziwa abantu?

¹³ Ake sibuyele emuva esikhathini sikaHezekeli, sithole ukuthi yimiphi imininingwane ayibhala embonweni wokwabiwa kwezwe. UJehova ukhuluma ngabantu abenza imisebenzi ehlukahlukene. Abapristi—“izikhonzi zasendlini engcwele”—kwakumelwe banikele umhlatshelo futhi baye kuJehova ukuze bamkhonze. AmaLevi—“izikhonzi zasethempelini”—kwakufanele “anakekele yonke inkonzo eyenziwa kulo nazo zonke izinto okufanele zenziwe kulo.” (Hez. 44:14-16; 45:4, 5) Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunabantu ababezosebenza eduze kwedolobha. Zingobani lezi zisebenzi?

14. Abantu abasebenza eduze kwedolobha basikhumbuzani?

¹⁴ Abantu abasebenza eduze kwedolobha bavela “kuzo zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli.” Benza umsebenzi osekela labo abasebenza edolobheni. Umsebenzi wabo ukutshala izitshalo ‘eziyonika abasebenza edolobheni ukudla.’ (Hez. 48:18, 19) Ingabe leli lungiselelo lisikhumbuza ithuba esinalo nathi namuhla? Yebo. Namuhla, bonke abahlala epharadesi elingokomfanekiso banethuba lokusekela abafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe, nokusekela inkonzo yalabo uJehova ababeke ukuba bahole phakathi “kwesixuku esikhulu.” (IsAm. 7:9, 10) Indlela esibasekela ngayo ukulalela ngokuzithandela iziqondiso ezivela encekwini ethembekile.

15, 16. (a) Imuphi omunye umyalezo esingawuthola embonweni kaHezekeli? (b) Imiphi imisebenzi efanayo esinethuba lokuyenza?

¹⁵ Umbono kaHezekeli unomunye umniningwane esingafunda kuwo ngokuphathelene nenkonzo yethu. Yimuphi lowo mniningwane?  UJehova uthi amalungu ezizwe ezingu-12 ezingewona amaLevi ayeyosebenza ezindaweni ezimbili: egcekeni lethempeli nasedlelweni ledolobha. Enzani kulezo zindawo? Egcekeni lethempeli, zonke izizwe “ziyangena zizokhonza” uJehova ngokunikela imihlatshelo kuye. (Hez. 46:9, 24) Amalungu azo zonke izizwe ayafika ezosekela idolobha ngokutshala kulo. Yini esingayifunda esibonelweni salezi zisebenzi?

¹⁶ Namuhla, amalungu esixuku esikhulu anethuba lokwenza imisebenzi efana naleyo eyayenziwa embonweni kaHezekeli. Akhonza uJehova “ethempelini” lakhe ngokunikela imihlatshelo yokudumisa. (IsAm. 7:9-15) Lokho akwenza ngokushumayela nangokubonisa ukholo lwawo emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Le ndlela yokukhonza uJehova ayibheka njengomsebenzi obaluleke kunayo yonke. (1 IziKr. 16:29) Ngaphezu kwalokho, abaningi kubantu bakaNkulunkulu basekela inhlangano kaNkulunkulu ngezindlela eziningi eziwusizo. Ngokwesibonelo, bayasiza ekwakheni nasekulungiseni amaHholo OMbuso nezakhiwo zegatsha, basize nakweminye imisebenzi eminingi eyenziwa inhlangano kaJehova. Abanye basekela lo msebenzi ngeminikelo yezimali. Yonke leyo misebenzi yokulima izwe bayenzela “inkazimulo  kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Kor. 10:31) Imisebenzi yabo bayenza ngentshiseko nangenjabulo ngoba bayazi ukuthi uJehova “ujatshuliswa imihlatshelo enjalo.” (Heb. 13:16) Ingabe wena uwasebenzisa ngokugcwele la mathuba?

17. (a) Ikuphi ukugcwaliseka okukhulu kombono kaHezekeli esizokubona esikhathini esizayo? (b) Phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane, obani abayozuza elungiselelweni lokuqondisa elinjengedolobha?

¹⁷ Esikhathini esizayo, ingabe umbono kaHezekeli womnikelo sizowubona ugcwaliseka ngezinga elikhulu? Yebo! Cabanga ngalokhu: UHezekeli wabona ukuthi ingxenye yezwe ebizwa ngokuthi “umnikelo ongcwele” yayiphakathi nezwe. (Hez. 48:10) Ngokufanayo, ngemva kwe-Armagedoni, noma ngabe siyobe sihlala kuphi emhlabeni uJehova uyobe enathi. (IsAm. 21:3) Phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane, ilungiselelo lokuqondisa elinjengedolobha—okuwukuthi, labo abayobekwa ukuba banakekele izidingo zabantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni—liyofinyelela emhlabeni wonke ngokunikeza isiqondiso sothando kubo bonke abakha “umhlaba omusha,” umphakathi omusha wabantu.—2 Pet. 3:13.

18. (a) Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi ilungiselelo lokuqondisa elinjengedolobha liyovumelana nokubusa kukaNkulunkulu? (b) Igama ledolobha lisiqinisekisa ngani?

¹⁸ Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi ilungiselelo lokuqondisa liyohlale livumelana ngokuphelele nokubusa kukaNkulunkulu? Ngoba iZwi likaNkulunkulu likwenza kucace ukuthi idolobha elisemhlabeni elinamasango angu-12 lihambisana nedolobha elisezulwini elinamasango angu-12, iJerusalema Elisha, elakhiwa abangu-144 000 abayobusa noKristu. (IsAm. 21:2, 12, 21-27) Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi ilungiselelo lokuqondisa lasemhlabeni liyohambisana nazo zonke izinqumo ezenziwa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini liqikelele ukuthi zilandelwa ngokucophelela. Yebo, igama ledolobha elithi “uJehova Ulapho” liqinisekisa ngamunye wethu ukuthi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu iyohlale ikhona futhi iyoqhubekela phambili kuze kube phakade ePharadesi. Laze lalihle ikusasa elisilindele!