KuHezekheli isahluko 23 uNkulunkulu wakhuluma amazwi abuhlungu esola abantu bakhe ababengathembekanga kuye. Isahluko lesi siyahambelana kakhulu lesahluko 16. Zombili izahluko lezi zikhuluma ngezifebe. Kuthiwa iSamariya ingudadewabo weJerusalema. Izahluko lezi zitshengisa ukuthi iJerusalema yalandela udadewabo yaqalisa ukuwula futhi yenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu ukwedlula udadewabo. Kusahluko 23 sithola amabizo uJehova awanika izelamani lezi. Omdala wambiza ngokuthi ngu-Ohola, omncane wambiza ngokuthi ngu-Oholibha. U-Ohola kwakuyiSamariya eyayisigodlo sombuso wako-Israyeli wezizwana ezilitshumi. U-Oholibha yena kwakuyiJerusalema, eyayisigodlo sombuso wakoJuda. a—Hez. 23:1-4.

Kulokunye futhi izahluko lezi ezimbili ezihambelana ngakho. Okuhle kucace nxa sizibala yikuthi ekuqaliseni izifebe lezi zazingamakhosikazi kaJehova kodwa zazingathembekanga kuye. Kanti njalo zombili izahluko lezi zazinika abantu bakaNkulunkulu ithemba. Kusahluko 23 uJehova kakubekanga bhadla ukuthi wayezabakhulula abantu bakhe, kodwa wakhuluma amazwi ahambelana lokusesahlukweni 16, wathi: ‘Ngizaqeda ukuziphatha kwakho okulihlazo kanye lobuwule bakho.’—Hez. 16:16, 20, 21, 37, 38, 41, 42; 23:4, 11, 22, 23, 27, 37.

Kudala amabhuku ethu ayesithi izelamani lezi, u-Ohola lo-Oholibha, zimela amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu. Ayesithi omunye umela isonto yamaKatolika besekusithi omunye amele amasonto abhazuka esontweni yamaKatolika. Kodwa ukuthandaza ngendaba le lokuchwayisisa ngayo kwenze sazibuza imibuzo elandelayo. Kambe amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu ake aba yinkosikazi kaJehova yini? Ake aba sesivumelwaneni laye yini? Hatshi. Phela amasonto la ayengakabi khona ngesikhathi kusenziwa “isivumelwano esitsha” lo-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, okutsho amaKhristu agcotshiweyo. UJesu ungummeli wesivumelwano leso. Kanti njalo amasonto amanga awazange abe ngu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. (Jer. 31:31; Luk. 22:20) Amasonto la aqalisa ukuba khona ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli. Aba khona ngemva kuka-300 C.E. ebunjwa ngamaKhristu amanga ayehlamukile. AmaKhristu la yiwo ‘alukhula’ uJesu akhuluma ngalo emzekelisweni wakhe wengqoloyi lokhula.—Mat. 13:24-30.

Okunye okwenza sithi izelamani lezi azimeli amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu yikuthi uJehova wathembisa ukuthi uzabakhulula abantu beJerusalema labeSamariya nxa bangaphenduka. (Hez. 16:41, 42, 53-55) Kodwa eBhayibhilini akulandawo lapho okukhulunywa ngokuthi amasonto amanga azaxolelwa. Lawo azatshabalala layo yonke iBhabhiloni Enkulu.

Konke lokho kwenza siphethe ngokuthi u-Ohola lo-Oholibha abameli amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu. Isiphrofetho lesi sisinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova uzwa njani ngabantu abathi bayamkhonza ngapha bengcolisa ibizo lakhe futhi bengalandeli imithetho yakhe. Amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu alingcolisa kakhulu ibizo likaNkulunkulu ngoba wona athi afundisa abantu ngoJehova uNkulunkulu futhi athi umkhokheli wawo nguJesu Khristu iNdodana yakhe. Kodwa alamanga ngoba afundisa abantu ukuthi uJesu unguNkulunkulu futhi ayangena kwezombusazwe, okutshengisa ukuthi kawawalaleli amazwi akhe athi: “Alisibo bomhlaba.” (Joh. 15:19) Amasonto la ayazisebenzisa kakhulu izithombe futhi athanda ezombusazwe. Lokhu kwenza kucace ukuthi lawo ayingxenye yeBhabhiloni Enkulu, ‘isifebe esikhulu.’ (Isam. 17:1) Yikho lawo azajeziswa nxa sekutshabalaliswa yonke inkolo yamanga!