1, 2. (a) Iyini “indlu kaDavidi,” begodu yakhiwa njani kabutjha? (b) Bobani abakhonza ngobunye njengeenceku zakaJehova namhlanjesi?

EMHLANGANWENI wesihlopha esibusako owaqopha umlando eJerusalema ngo-49 C.E., umfundi uJakobosi wathi: “USimoni usand’ ukusihlathululela bona uZimu watjengisa njani qangi umusa wakhe kwabatjhili ngokuthatha hlangana nabo itjhaba elibizwa ngebizo lakhe. Amezwi wabaporofidi avumelana poro nalokhu, njengombana imitlolo isithi: ‘Emva kwalokhu ngizabuya, kutjho uZimu, ngizavusa indlu kaDavidi ewileko, ngivuselele okubhidlike kiyo, ngiyakhe godu kabutjha. Yeke boke abantu bazafuna iKosi, boke abatjhili engibabiza bona bangebami. Itjho njalo iKosi eyazisa lokhu emandulo.’”—IzE. 15:13-18.

² “Indlu kaDavidi [namkha isigodlo]” yabhidlika iKosi uZedekiya neyimukwa ubukhosi. (Amo. 9:11) Nokho, “indlu” leyo beyizokwakhiwa kabutjha sizukulwana sakaDavidi uJesu njengeKosi yasafuthi. (Eze. 21:27; IzE. 2:29-36) Njengombana uJakobosi atjengisa emhlanganweni owaqopha umlando loya, isiporofido saka-Amosi besizaliseka ngokubuthwa kweendlalifa zomBuso kokubili ezimaJuda nabatjhili. Namhlanjesi, abaseleko bamaKrestu azesiweko bakhonza begodu iingidi ‘zezinye izimvu’ zakaJesu zimunye ekutjhumayeleni iqiniso leBhayibhili njengeenceku zakaJehova.—Jwa. 10:16.

3, 4. Abantu bakaJehova bahlala njani baphilile ngokomoya eBhabhiloni?

³ AmaJuda nekathunjelwa eBhabhiloni, kwaba semtarini ukuthi “indlu kaDavidi” ibhurukile. Njengombana ikolo yamala beyirhagele kangaka eBhabhiloni, abantu bakaZimu bahlala njani baphilile ngokomoya hlangana nokudingiswa kwabo kweminyaka ema-70 kusukela ngo-607 B.C.E. ukuya ku-537 B.C.E.? Basizwa  ngilokho okusisizako nathi njengabantu bakaJehova abaphila ephasini elibuswa nguSathana. (1 Jwa. 5:19) Ilifa elingokomoya elinothileko libe nesandla ekwenzeni lokho kukghonakale.

⁴ ILizwi lakaZimu elitloliweko liyingcenye yelifa lethu elingokomoya. AmaJuda ebekadingiselwe eBhabhiloni bekanganayo imiTlolo eCwengileko epheleleko, kodwana bekawazi umThetho kaMosisi, obandakanya nemiThetho eliTjhumi. Bekazazi “iingoma zeZiyoni,” azikhumbula nezaga ezinengi, begodu bekajayelene nezenzo zeenceku zakaJehova zekadeni. Kwamambala, amaJuda lawo bekalila nekakhumbula iZiyoni, begodu azange amkhohlwe uJehova. (Funda IRhalani 137:1-6.) Lokho kwawabulunga aphilile ngokomoya ngitjho nanyana bekaseBhabhiloni, ikaba yeemfundiso nokuziphatha kwekolo yamala.

5. Ngibuphi ubufakazi baboziquntathu abangokwekolo esibufumana eBhabhiloni neGibhide yamandulo?

⁵ Uziquntathu ongokwekolo bekayingcenye eveleleko yokukhulekela kweBhabhiloni. Omunye uziquntathu weBhabhiloni bekabandakanya uSin (uzimu wenyanga), uShamash (uzimu welanga), no-Ishtar (uzimukazi wenzalo nepi). EGibhide yamandulo, bekukholelwa ukuthi uzimu utjhade nozimukazi ombelethele indodana, “bese lokho kwenze uziquntathu obandakanya ubaba, kanti-ke, ubaba loyo bakangabi yikosi ngaso soke isikhathi, ngasikhathi bekaneliswa kukuba yikosana, kukulapho uzimu oveleleko kungilowo omsikazi.” (New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology) Omunye uziquntathu weGibhide bekahlanganisa uzimu u-Osiris, uzimukazi u-Isis, nendodana yabo uHorus.

6. Ungamhlathulula njani uZiquntathu, begodu sivikelwe njani ekukholelweni amala anjalo?

⁶ NeSingabukrestu inoZiquntathu wayo. Abafundisi bathi uBaba, iNdodana, nomoya ocwengileko banguZimu munye. Kodwana lokho kusahlela ubukhosi bakaJehova, kwenze kubonakale ngasuthi mthathu amunye—okutjho ukuthi, uyingcenye yinye kaZimu okathathu. Abantu bakaZimu bavikelekile ekukholelweni amalakazi angaka ngombana bavumelana namezwi aphefumulelweko la: “Lalela Israyeli: UJehova uZimu wethu nguJehova munye.” (Dut. 6:4) UJesu wawadzubhula amezwi lawo, begodu ngimuphi umKrestu weqiniso ongaphikisana naye?—Mar. 12:29.

7. Kubayini kungakghoneki ukuthi umuntu okholelwa kuZiquntathu abhabhadiswe atjengisa ukuzinikela kuZimu okwamukelekako?

⁷ Ifundiso kaZiquntathu iphikisana nomlayo uJesu awunikela abalandeli bakhe wokuthi ‘benze abantu bazo zoke iintjhaba babe bafundi, bababhabhadise ebizweni lakaBaba, neNdodana, nomoya ocwengileko. (Mat. 28:19) Bona abhabhadiswe njengomKrestu wamambala nanjengomunye waboFakazi bakaJehova, umuntu kufuze amukele ubukhulu bakaBaba, uJehova, nesikhundla negunya leNdodana kaZimu, uJesu. Umuntu ozokubhabhadiswa kufuze akholelwe nokuthi umoya ocwengileko umamandla kaZimu asebenzako, ingasi ingcenye kaZiquntathu. (Gen. 1:2) Umuntu oragela phambili akholelwa kuZiquntathu angekhe abhabhadiswa njengetshwayo lokuzinikela kuJehova uZimu okwamukelekako. Qala bona sithokoza kangangani ngokuthi ilifa lethu elingokomoya lisivikele ekukholelweni ifundiso ehlambalaza uZimu le!

8. Bewuyini umbono wabantu beBhabhiloni ngabozimu namadimoni?

⁸ Ukucabanga okungokwekolo eBhabhiloni kwaba yikundla okutjhagala kiyo iimfundiso zamala, abosingazimu, amadimoni, nokusebenzelana nemimoya. I-The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia ithi: “Ebebalama abozimu bekolo  yeBhabhiloni ngokuqakatheka, madimoni ebekanamandla wokuhlunguphaza abantu ngemihlobohlobo yamagulo womzimba nengqondo. Ingcenye ekulu yokukhulekela kwabo beyidzimelele epini ehlahlathelisako yokulwa namadimoni la, begodu kiyo yoke indawo bekukhonjelwa abozimu bona basize ekulwisaneni nawo ngomthandazo.”

9. (a) Ngemva kokudingiselwa eBhabhiloni, amanye amaJuda aba njani bongazimbi beemfundiso zekolo yamala? (b) Sivikelwe njani eengozini zokutjhebisana namadimoni ngokuzithandela?

⁹ Ngemva kokudingiselwa kwawo eBhabhiloni, amaJuda amanengi aba bongazimbi beemfundiso ezingavumelani nemitlolo. Njengombana amukela iimfundiso zamaGirigi, amaJuda amanengi azibeka elawulweni lamadimoni ngombana amukela ikolelo yokuthi amadimoni angawenzela okuhle namkha okumbi. Ilifa lethu elingokomoya lisivikela engozini yokutjhebisana namadimoni ngokuzithandela, ngombana siyazi ukuthi uZimu wazilahla izenzo zeBhabhiloni zokusebenzelana nemimoya. (Isa. 47:1, 12-15) Ngaphezu kwalokho, sinqotjhiswa mbono kaZimu ngokusebenzelana nemimoya.—Funda uDuteronomi 18:10-12; IsAmbulo 21:8.

10. Kungathiwani ngezenzo neenkolelo zeBhabhiloni Ledumo?

¹⁰ Ukusebenzelana nemimoya azange kwenziwe babantu beBhabhiloni kwaphela kodwana kwenziwa nabasekeli beBhabhiloni Ledumo, umbuso wephasi wekolo yamala. (IsAm. 18:21-24) I-The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible ithi: “IBhabhiloni [Ledumo] lihlanganisa okungaphezu kombuso wephasi munye namkha isiko. Lihlathululwa ngokurhagala kokukhulekela iinthombe kunokuba yindawo ethileko namkha imikhawulo yesikhatjhana.” (Vol. 1, k. 338) IBhabhiloni Ledumo lisesekhona, begodu lizele ukusebenzelana nemimoya, ukukhulekela iinthombe, nezinye izono—kodwana amalanga walo abaliwe.—Funda IsAmbulo 18:1-5.

11. Ngiziphi iinyeleliso ekhesazigadangisa malungana nokusebenzelana nemimoya?

¹¹ UJehova wathi: “Angekhe ngikukghodlhelelele ukusetjenziswa kwamandla angazwisisekiko.” (Isa. 1:13) Ukusebenzelana nemimoya kwadlala indima ebonakalako ekucabangeni kwangekhulu le-19 leminyaka. Ngalokho i-Zion’s Watch Tower kaMeyi 1885 yathi: “Ikolelo yokuthi abahlongakeleko bayaphila kwenye indawo namkha kobunye ubujamo ayisiyitja. Beyiyingcenye yeenkolelo zabantu bemandulo, begodu imrabho wazo zoke iinolwana.” Isihlokwesi saveza nokuthi ikolelo engavumelani nomtlolo yokuthi abahlongakeleko bangakhuluma nabaphilako “ibe sigubuzeso nesihlohlomezelo sokukhohlisa okwenziwa ‘madimoni’ azenza ngasuthi amimoya yabantu abahlongakeleko. Ayiraga ngetjiseko indlela yawo le yokuzifihla, ngokwenza njalo andisa ukulawula kwawo iingqondo namaphilo wabantu abanengi.” Incwajana yakade ethi What Say the Scriptures About Spiritism? yanikela iinyeleliso ezifanako, njengombana kunjalo nangeencwadi zethu zamva nje.

12. Wathini uSolomoni ngobujamo babahlongakeleko?

¹² “Boke abalaziko iqiniso” bangawuphendula umbuzo loyo. (2 Jwa. 1) Ngaphandle kokunanaza sivumelana namezwi kaSolomoni athi: “Inja ephilako ingcono kunebhubezi elifileko. Ngombana abaphilako bayazi bonyana bazokuhlongakala, kodwana abahlongakeleko, abazi litho . . . Koke isandla sakho esikufumanako bona sikwenze, kwenze ngawo woke amandla wakho, ngombana akunamsebenzi nakwazi nakuhlakanipha eTjhiyoli [ethuneni], indawo oya kiyo.”—Mtj. 9:4, 5, 10.

13. Isiko nekolo yamaGirigi yaba namuphi umphumela emaJudeni?

¹³ AmaJuda bekasebujamweni bokuba nelwazi ngobujamo babahlongakeleko. Nokho,  iGrisi neyihlukaniselwa abojenerali baka-Alexander omKhulu, kwenziwa imizamo yokubumbanisa uJuda neSiriya ngezinto ezinjengekolo nesiko lamaGirigi. Ngebanga lalokho, amaJuda amukela iimfundiso zamala zokuthi umphefumulo womuntu awufi nokuthi kunendawo yokuhlunguphazwa ngaphasi kwephasi. AkusimaGirigi eze nekolelo yokuthi kunendawo ngaphasi kwephasi ezele imiphefumulo etlhagako, ngombana amaBhabhiloni bekakholelwa ukuthi “iphasi elingaphasi kwephasi . . . liyindawo ezele izinto ezithusako, . . . libuswa bozimu namadimoni aziinkakaramba nanelunya.” (The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria) Liqiniso, abantu beBhabhiloni bebakholelwa ukuthi umphefumulo awufi.

14. UJobhi no-Abrahama bebanaliphi ilwazi ngokufa nevuko?

¹⁴ Ngitjho nanyana indoda elungileko uJobhi gade inganayo imiTlolo, beyilazi iqiniso ngokufa. Godu wayelela ukuthi uJehova unguZimu onethando olulukela ukumvusa. (Job. 14:13-15) No-Abrahama bekakholelwa evukweni. (Funda uHebheru 11:17-19.) Njengombana kungeze kwenzeka ukuvusa umuntu ongahlongakali, amadoda asaba uZimu lawo bekangakholelwa ukuthi umuntu unomphefumulo ongafiko. Kusepakameni ukuthi umoya ocwengileko wasiza uJobhi no-Abrahama bona bazwisise ubujamo babantu abahlongakeleko batjengise nekholo evukweni. Amaqiniso la nawo ayingcenye yelifa lethu.

15, 16. Sitjhatjhululwe njani esonweni nekufeni?

¹⁵ Siyathokoza nangokuthi uZimu wembule iqiniso ngendlela yakhe yokusitjhaphulula elifeni lesono nokufa esilizuze ku-Adamu. (Rom. 5:12) Siyalemuka ukuthi uJesu ‘bekangakazeli ukuzokwenzelwa, kodwana ukuzokwenzela, anikele ipilo yakhe ibe yihlawulo yabanengi.’ (Mar. 10:45) Kuthabisa kwamambala ukwazi ‘ngokuhlengwa ngoKrestu Jesu osikhululako’!—Rom. 3:22-24.

 ¹⁶ AmaJuda nabatjhili bangekhulu lokuthoma bekutlhogeka bona batjhuguluke ezonweni zabo begodu batjengise ikholo emhlatjelweni kaJesu wesihlengo. Ngaphandle kwalokho bebangeze balibalelwe izono zabo. Kusesenjalo nanamhlanjesi. (Jwa. 3:16, 36) Nengabe umuntu ukakarela eemfundisweni zamala, njengoZiquntathu nokungafi komphefumulo, angekhe azuze esihlengweni. Kodwana thina singazuza. Sazi iqiniso ‘ngeNdodana [kaZimu] ethandekako, ngayo esinokuhlengwa nokulitjalelwa kwezono zethu.’—Khol. 1:13, 14.

17, 18. Sikufumanaphi ukwaziswa okulisizo ngomlando wethu, begodu singazuza njani ekufundeni ngawo?

¹⁷ Kusesekunengi esingakutjho ngeemfundiso zeqiniso esinazo, okuhlangabezanwe nakho kwethu njengeenceku zakaZimu, neembusiso ezingokomoya nezingokwenyama esizithabelako. Sekudlule amatjhumi weminyaka IziNcwadi Zonyaka zineendaba ezithabisako zomsebenzethu ephasini loke. Umlando wethu udenjwa emavidiyweni athi Izenzo Ezibonisa Ukholo, Ingxenye 1 no-2, neencwadini ezinjengethi OFakazi BakaJehova—Abamemezeli BoMbuso KaNkulunkulu. Godu abomagazini bethu banokulandisa komuntu mathupha okukhuthazako kwabakhulekeli abathandekako esikunye nabo.

¹⁸ Siyazuza ngokufunda umlando wehlangano kaJehova ngombono olinganiselweko, njengombana nama-Israyeli azuza ngokucabanga ngendlela uZimu awatjhaphulula ngayo ebukghobeni beGibhide. (Eks. 12:26, 27) Njengeqhegu ebelingafakaza ngezenzo zakaZimu ezimangalisako, uMosisi wakhuthaza ama-Israyeli: “Khumbulani amalanga wakade, nicabangele iminyaka edlulileko esizukulwaneni ngesizukulwana; buza uyihlo, uzokutjela; amaqhegu wenu, azokutjho kini.” (Dut. 32:7) ‘Njengabantu bakaJehova nomhlambi wedlelo lakhe,’ soke sirhuwelela idumo lakhe ngethabo begodu sitjele abanye ngezenzo zakhe zamandla. (Rha. 79:13) Ngaphezu kwalokho, senza kuhle ngokuhlahluba umlando wethu, sifunde kiwo, sibhincele nengomuso.

19. Njengombana sinokukhanya okungokomoya, kufuze senzeni?

¹⁹ Siyathokoza ngokuthi asizuli ebumnyameni kodwana sinokukhanya okungokomoya okuvela kuZimu. (IzA. 4:18, 19) Ngalokho asitaditjheni iLizwi lakaZimu ngekuthalo begodu sihlanganyele iqiniso nabanye ngetjiseko ngomoya womthandazo womrhalani owadumisa umBusi weNdawo Yoke uJehova ngamezwi athi: “Ngizokukhuluma ngokulunga kwakho, wena wedwa. Zimu, ungifundisile kusukela ebutjheni bami, begodu bekube nje ngiragela phambili ngikhuluma ngemisebenzi yakho emangalisako. Maye Zimu, ngitjho nanyana sengimdala namkha ngineenhluthu ezimhlophe, ungangitjhiyi, bekube kulapho ngilandisa ngesandla sakho eenzukulwaneni, kibo boke abasezako, ngamandla wakho.”—Rha. 71:16-18.

20. Ngiziphi iimpikiswano eembili ezihlobeneko ezikhona nje, begodu wena uzizwa njani ngazo?

²⁰ Njengabantu bakaJehova abazinikeleko, siyazilemuka iimpikiswano ezihlobeneko ezimalungana nobukhosi bakaZimu nokuthembeka kwabantu. Kwamambala, sitjhumayela iqiniso elingeze laphikiswa lokuthi uJehova mBusi weNdawo Yoke, ofanelwe kuzinikela kwethu ngehliziyo yoke. (IsAm. 4:11) Sinomoya wakhe ocwengileko, sitjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi kwabathobekileko, sithobe abaneenhliziyo eziphukileko, sitjhiriye nabalilako. (Isa. 61:1, 2) Naphezu kwemizamo kaSathana elilize yokubusa abantu, silithokozela khulu ilifa lethu elingokomoya begodu sizimisele ukuhlala sithembekile kuZimu sidumise umBusi weNdawo Yoke uJehova nje bekube phakade.—Funda IRhalani 26:11; 86:12.