1, 2. Yini lesitayifundza ngemihlangano kulesihloko?

IMIHLANGANO yetive neyesigodzi ibe ngimibutsano lebalulekile emlandvweni waboFakazi BaJehova, kungako nje leminyenti yayo siyikhumbula ngisho nanyalo. Labanyenti betfu bake baya kuleminyenti yalemihlangano lejabulisako.

² Eminyakeni letinkhulungwane leyendlulile, bantfu baNkulunkulu bebaba nemihlangano lengcwele. Sitawufundza ngemihlangano yebantfu baNkulunkulu lokukhulunywa ngayo eBhayibhelini, sibone nekutsi ifanana njani naleyo lesiya kuyo lamuhla. Sitawuphindze sifundze nekutsi ngutiphi tinzuzo lesititfolako ngekuya kuyo.—Hla. 44:1; Rom. 15:4.

3. (a) Yini leyenteka emhlanganweni wekucala ngca webantfu baJehova lokukhulunywa ngawo eBhayibhelini? (b) Ema-Israyeli abebutselwa njani ndzawonye?

³ Umhlangano lowaba khona ngephansi kweNtsaba iSinayi, kwakungumhlangano wekucala ngca lomkhulu bantfu baNkulunkulu labaya kuwo kute batfole ticondziso letivela kuYe. Kwakungumhlangano lobalulekile emlandvweni wekukhonta kweliciniso. Kulombutsano lojabulisako, lowaba sematseni kulabebaye kuwo, Jehova wakhombisa emandla akhe nakaniketa ema-Israyeli uMtsetfo wakhe. (Eks. 19:2-9, 16-19; fundza Eksodusi 20:18; Dutheronomi 4:9, 10.) Lomhlangano wawubalulekile ebuhlotjeni baNkulunkulu nema-Israyeli. Ngemuva kwaloko, Jehova wasungula indlela lebeyitawusetjentiswa kute kubutselwe ndzawonye bantfu bakhe. Watjela Mosi kutsi akhe emacilongo lamabili esiliva, labekatawusetjentiswa kute kubitwe “sive sonkhe” sitewuhlangana “ekungeneni kwelithende lekuhlangana.” (Num. 10:1-4) Bona ngemehlo engcondvo injabulo lebeyiba khona kulemihlangano!

4, 5. Yini leyabangela kutsi imihlangano lebeyibanjwa nguMosi naJoshuwa ibaluleke?

 ⁴ Nasekutawuphela iminyaka lengu-40 ema-Israyeli asehlane, Mosi wawabutsela ndzawonye ngesikhatsi lesibaluleke kakhulu emlandvweni walesive lesisha. Besekusele kancane kutsi angene eVeni Lesetsembiso. Bekusikhatsi lesikahle kakhulu sekutsi Mosi awakhumbute konkhe Jehova lawentele kona naloko labetawentela kona.—Dut. 29:1-15; 30:15-20; 31:30.

⁵ Kungenteka kutsi kuloyo mhlangano, Mosi wakhuluma ngekutsi kutawuba nemihlangano lechubekako lapho Nkulunkulu atawufundzisa khona bantfu bakhe. Ngeminyaka yeliSabatha ngeMkhosi Wemadlangala, emadvodza, bafati, bantfwana nebetive labebahlala ka-Israyeli bebahlangana endzaweni lekhetfwe nguJehova ‘kute batewulalela bafundze nekwesaba Simakadze futsi bawalandzele ngekucophelela lokukhulu onkhe lamavi alomtsetfo.’ (Fundza Dutheronomi 31:1, 10-12.) Ngako-ke, ngaleso sikhatsi emlandvweni webantfu baNkulunkulu bekubacacela kutsi bebatawuhlangana ndzawonye kanyenti kute bafundze livi laJehova nangetinjongo takhe. Ngalesikhatsi ema-Israyeli sekangenile eVeni Lesetsembiso betisekhona tive letingamkhonti Nkulunkulu. Joshuwa wabutsela ndzawonye sonkhe sive saka-Israyeli kute asicinise sihlale setsembekile kuJehova. Ema-Israyeli enta sifungo sekutsi atawukhonta Nkulunkulu.—Josh. 23:1, 2; 24:1, 15, 21-24.

6, 7. Kungashiwo ngani kutsi imihlangano yebantfu baJehova lamuhla ibe ngulebalulekile?

⁶ Esikhatsini lesiphila kuso, bantfu baJehova babe nayo imihlangano lebalulekile—imibutsano lokumenyetelwa kuyo lushintjo endleleni lesenta ngayo tintfo enhlanganweni nendlela lokufanele sicondze ngayo imiBhalo. (Taga 4:18) Umhlangano wekucala lomkhulu Bafundzi beliBhayibheli lababa nawo ngemuva kweMphi Yelive Yekucala, waba nga-1919 eCedar Point, Ohio, eMelika. Lomhlangano lowawunebantfu labangu-7 000, wavelela ngekutsi kusungulwe umkhankhaso wemhlaba wonkhe wekushumayela. Nga-1922, emhlanganweni lowatsatsa emalanga layimfica endzaweni lefanako, uMzalwane Joseph F. Rutherford wetfula inkhulumo lebeyikhutsata lomsebenti wekushumayela, watsi etilalelini: “Banini bofakazi beNkhosi labetsembekile nalabaneliciniso. Chubekani nishumayela lidzimate libhujiswe liBhabhulona. Memetelani lomlayeto etindzaweni tonkhe. Umhlaba wonkhe kufanele wati kutsi Nkulunkulu nguJehova nekutsi Jesu Khristu uyiNkhosi yemakhosi neMbusi webabusi. Lamuhla ngilo lilanga, iNkhosi iyabusa! Nine nititfunywa tayo. Ngako-ke memetelani, memetelani, memetelani, iNkhosi nembuso wayo.” Labebakhona kulomhlangano kuhlanganise nebantfu baNkulunkulu labasemhlabeni wonkhe, basemukela ngenjabulo lesimemo.

⁷ Nga-1931, eColumbus, Ohio, Bafundzi beliBhayibheli balemukela ngenjabulo ligama lelitsi boFakazi BaJehova. Nga-1935, eWashington, D.C., uMzalwane Rutherford wachaza kutsi siyini “sicumbi lesikhulu,” lokutsiwa encwadzini yeSembulo ‘sime embikwesihlalo sebukhosi nasembikweliWundlu.’ (Semb. 7:9-17) Nga-1942, ekhatsi nekhatsi neMphi Yelive Yesibili, uMzalwane Nathan H. Knorr wetfula inkhulumo lenemandla lenesihloko lesitsi: “Kuthula—Kungahlala Njalo Yini?” Kulenkhulumo, wachaza ‘silo lesibovu’ lokukhulunywa ngaso kuSembulo 17 futsi waveta kutsi bekusetawushunyayelwa kakhulu ngemva kwalemphi.

8, 9. Yini leyente kutsi leminye imihlangano ijabulise kakhulu?

⁸ Nga-1946, eMhlanganweni webuKhristu, lowawunesihloko lesitsi: “Tive Letijabulako” lowawuseCleveland, e-Ohio, uMzalwane Knorr abenenkhulumo lenesihloko lesitsi “Tinkinga Tekwakha Nekukhulisa.” Lomunye lobekakhona nakwetfulwa lenkhulumo, wabhala: “Ngaba nelilungelo lekuba semvakwakhe  uMzalwane Knorr naketfula lenkhulumo, futsi ngalesikhatsi akhuluma ngemsebenti nangetinhlelo tekukhulisa iBethel yaseBrooklyn nefektri, lihlombe lelakhala lakhombisa kutsi labete kulomhlangano bajabule kakhulu kuva loko. Ngisho nobe ukhashane wawutivela kutsi bajabulile.” Labebete emhlanganweni wetive lowawuseNew York City nga-1950, bajabula kakhulu kutfola i-New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, lobekuliBhayibheli lekucala ngelulwimi lwamanje lelabuyisela libito laNkulunkulu etindzaweni letifanele eVini lakhe.—Jer. 16:21.

⁹ Imihlangano Jehova labutsela kuyo boFakazi bakhe labetsembekile ngemuva kwesikhatsi lesidze bashushiswa nobe umsebenti wabo uvinjelwe, nayo beyikhutsata kakhulu. Adolf Hitler abefungile kutsi utabacotfula boFakazi BaJehova eJalimane, kodvwa boFakazi labangu-107 000 bebagcwele enkhundleni yemidlalo lebeyiyakhe, eNuremberg emhlanganweni wanga-1955. Labanyenti labebakulomhlangano behluleka kutibamba badzimate bakhaliswa yinjabulo. Emkhatsini webantfu labangu-166 518 lebebete emhlanganweni lonesihloko lesitsi “Kutinikela KuNkulunkulu” lowawusePoland nga-1989, bekunelinani lelikhulu lalabo bebachamuka etindzaweni lebetatiwa ngekutsi yiSoviet Union naseCzechoslovakia, nakulamanye emave laseMphumalanga yeYurophu. Kulabanye, bekukwekucala ngca kutsi babe sembutsanweni lapho kunebantfu baNkulunkulu labangetulu kwa-15 nobe 20. Cabanga ngenjabulo leyaba khona nga-1993 eMhlanganweni Wetive lowawuseKiev, e-Ukraine, lowawunesihloko lesitsi “Kufundziswa NguNkulunkulu,” lapho kwabhajatiswa khona bantfu labangu-7 402. Kwakukwekucala ngca kutsi kubhajatiswe boFakazi BaJehova labanyenti kangaka emhlanganweni.—Isa. 60:22; Hag. 2:7.

10. Ngumuphi umhlangano longasuki engcondvweni yakho, futsi yini lebangela loko?

¹⁰ Kungenteka kutsi kunemihlangano yesigodzi nobe yetive lengasuki engcondvweni yakho. Usawukhumbula yini umhlangano wekucala lowaya kuwo nobe lowabhajatiswa kuwo? Lena bekungimihlangano lebalulekile leyakwenta wakha buhlobo naNkulunkulu. Kuhle kuhlale ucabanga ngayo.—Hla. 42:4.

11. Ngumiphi imikhosi Nkulunkulu labefuna kutsi ema-Israyeli aye kuyo umnyaka nemnyaka?

¹¹ Jehova abefuna kutsi ema-Israyeli ahlangane eJerusalema abambe imikhosi lemitsatfu ngemnyaka—uMkhosi Wesinkhwa Lesingenambiliso, uMkhosi Wemaviki (lowase ubitwa ngekutsi liPhentekhoste) neMkhosi Wemadlangala. Mayelana nalemikhosi, Nkulunkulu watsi: “Yonkhe iminyaka, katsatfu ngemnyaka, bonkhe labadvuna bafanele bete kutewukhonta mine, iNkhosi Simakadze.” (Eks. 23:14-17) Ngenca yekutsi betikubona kubaluleka kwalemikhosi, tinhloko temindeni letinyenti betiya kuyo nayo yonkhe imindeni yato.—1 Sam. 1:1-7; Luk. 2:41, 42.

12, 13. Kuma-Israyeli lamanyenti kwakusho kutsini kuya emikhosini yaminyaka yonkhe?

¹² Cabanga nje kutsi kwakubaluleke  njani ngemndeni wemIsrayeli kuhamba uye kulomkhosi. Nasi sibonelo: Josefa naMariya bebangahamba emakhilomitha langu-100 kusuka eNazaretha baye eJerusalema. Ucabanga kutsi wena bekungakutsatsa sikhatsi lesingakanani kuhamba libanga lelingako nebantfwana labancane? Kulandzisa lokumayelana nekuvakasha kwaJesu eJerusalema asemncane kwembula kutsi tihlobo nebangani ngaletinye tikhatsi bebahamba balicembu. Cabanga nje kutsi bekuba njani kubo kuhamba libanga lelidze kangaka balungise kudla nendzawo yekulala lekahle etindzaweni labangatati. Nobe kunjalo, loluhambo lwaluphephile njengobe batali baJesu bamvumela kutsi ahambe nobe abeneminyaka lengu-12 budzala. Cabanga nje kutsi loluhambo lwalujabulisa njani, ikakhulukati kubantfwana labasebancane!—Luk. 2:44-46.

¹³ Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli asakateke etindzaweni letinyenti letingephandle kwelive lakubo, labo labebeta kulemibutsano bebachamuka etiveni letinyenti. NgeliPhentekhoste, ngemnyaka wanga-33 C.E., emaJuda nebetive bahamba baya eJerusalema bavela emaveni lafaka ekhatsi i-Italy, iLibhiya, iCrete, i-Asia Minor, neMesophothamiya.—Imis. 2:5-11; 20:16.

14. Ema-Israyeli azuza njani ngekuya emikhosini yeminyaka yonkhe?

¹⁴ Umgomo loyinhloko wekuya kulemikhosi kuma-Israyeli letsembekile, bewukukhonta Jehova ngekutimisela akanye nebantfu labanyenti labamtsandzako. Bebativa njani labo labebaya kuyo? Imphendvulo singayitfola esicondzisweni Jehova lasinika bantfu bakhe mayelana neMkhosi Wemadlangala, watsi: “Niyawujabula eMkhosini wenu nine, nemadvodzana nemadvodzakati enu, netigcili kanye netigcilikati tenu, nemaLevi, nebetive, netintsandzane, nebafelokati labahlala emadolobheni enu. LoMkhosi niyakuwugubha emalanga lasikhombisa kuSimakadze Nkulunkulu wenu kuleyo ndzawo Simakadze layakuyikhetsa. Ngobe Simakadze Nkulunkulu wenu uyawunibusisa kuto tonkhe tivuno tenu nakuyo yonkhe imisebenti yetandla tenu, nekujabula kwenu kuyawuphelela.”—Dut. 16:14, 15; fundza Matewu 5:3.

15, 16. Ngutiphi tintfo lokudzingeke utibekele eceleni kute uye emihlanganweni? Kubaluleke ngani kwenta lemetamo?

¹⁵ Lemihlangano lebeyiba khona esikhatsini lesendlulile isibonelo lesihle kubantfu baNkulunkulu lamuhla. Nanobe tintfo letinyenti setishintjile, injongo leyinhloko yemihlangano ayikashintji. Esikhatsini sekubhalwa kweliBhayibheli, labo labebaya emihlanganweni kwakudzingeka kutsi babekele eceleni letinye tintfo kute babe khona kuyo. Nalamuhla kusenjalo. Kodvwa tinzuzo tekuba khona kuyo tinyenti kakhulu. Lemihlangano bekungimibutsano lebalulekile yekukhonta Jehova, nanyalo kusenjalo. Isiniketa kwatiswa nekucondza lokubalulekile kute silondvolote buhlobo lobusedvute naNkulunkulu. Lemihlangano iyasikhutsata kutsi sikusebentise loko lesikufundzako, isisite kutsi sibalekele tinkinga siphindze sinamatsele etintfweni letitasicabula hhayi kuleto letitasicedza emandla.—Hla. 122:1-4.

¹⁶ Labo labete emhlanganweni, bahlala bajabulile. Umbiko lobowumayelana nemhlangano lowabanjwa nga-1946 watsi: “Kwakujabulisa kakhulu kubona tinkhulungwane tabofakazi tihleli ngekuthula, kuphindze kujabulisa nekulalela umculo wetinsimbi lobewuhlangene nemavi alabo labebete kulomhlangano labebahlabela letingoma teMbuso badvumisa Jehova.” Lombiko uchubeka utsi: “LiHhovisi Letisebenti Tekutitsandzela labhalisa tisebenti kulabo labebete kulomhlangano kute tisebente ematikweni lehlukene, futsi kwatijabulisa kusita emaKhristu labekete kulomhlangano.” Uke wativa ujabule ngaleyo ndlela yini nawe nawuye emhlanganweni  wesigodzi nobe emhlanganweni wetive?—Hla. 110:3; Isa. 42:10-12.

17. Ilungiswe njani indlela imihlangano lehlelwa ngayo esikhatsini salamuhla?

¹⁷ Tintfo letitsite setishintjile endleleni imihlangano lehlelwa ngayo. Nasi sibonelo: Letinye tinceku taNkulunkulu tiyakhumbula kutsi imihlangano beyihle iba ngemalanga lasiphohlongo. Bekuba neluhlelo lwasekuseni, lwantsambama nelwasebusuku. Kuya emsebentini wekushumayela, bekuyincenye yeluhlelo. Letinye tincenye beticala ngensimbi yemfica ekuseni, futsi bekuba naletinye tincenye letichubeka kudzimate kushaye insimbi yemfica ebusuku. Emavolontiya abesebenta matima sikhatsi lesidze alungisela labete emhlanganweni kudla kwasekuseni, kwasemini nekwantsambama. Nyalo umhlangano uba ngemalanga lambalwa, futsi umuntfu nemuntfu nemindeni batilungisela kudla kwabo kusenesikhatsi futsi loko kwenta kutsi balalelisise emhlanganweni nabafundziswa nguJehova.

18, 19. Ngutiphi tincenye temihlangano lotijabulelako, futsi yini lebangela kutsi utijabulele?

¹⁸ Kunetintfo letitsite eluhlelweni lwemhlangano lesihlale sifisa kutibona. Sibonelo saloko kutsi sitfola “kudla ngesikhatsi lesifanele,” lokusenta siticondze kahle tiprofetho netimfundziso teliBhayibheli. Lokudla asikutfoli kuphela etinkhulumweni kodvwa siphindze sikutfole etincwadzini letinsha letikhululwa emihlanganweni. (Mat. 24:45) Letincwadzi letinsha letikhululwako tingemathulusi lamahle lasita umuntfu ngamunye kutsi ajabulele emaciniso emiBhalo. Ema-drama lasekelwe eBhayibhelini akhutsata labasebasha nalabadzala kutsi bahlole tifiso tabo futsi bativikele ekucindzetelweni ngulelive lelibi. Inkhulumo yelubhabhatiso isisita sonkhe kutsi sicabange ngaloko lokuta kucala ekuphileni kwetfu futsi siphindze sijabule ngekubona labanye bakhombisa kutsi sebatinikele kuJehova.

¹⁹ Imihlangano ibe yincenye yekukhonta lokuhlantekile, futsi isita bantfu baJehova kutsi bachubeke bamkhonta kuletikhatsi letimatima. Lemibutsano iyasikhutsata, isivulele nematfuba ekutsi sakhe bangani labasha, isisite kutsi sijabulele buzalwane bemhlaba wonkhe futsi iyindlela leyinhloko Jehova layisebentisako kute abusise futsi anakekele bantfu bakhe. Ngako-ke, ngamunye wetfu utawuhlela kahle timo takhe kute akwati kuba khona aphindze azuze kulo lonkhe luhlelo lwemhlangano.—Taga 10:22.