1, 2. Ngalokungafani nemasontfo eTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu, boFakazi BaJehova balitsatsa njani libito laNkulunkulu?

EMASONTFO eTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu ayekelile kusebentisa libito laNkulunkulu. Sibonelo saloko kutsi i-Revised Standard Version esihlokweni lesisetfulo itsi: “Kusetjentiswa kwanobe nguliphi libito nakukhulunywa ngaNkulunkulu . . . akukalungi kubo bonkhe bantfu labaseSontfweni lebuKhristu.”

² Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, boFakazi BaJehova bayatigcabha ngekufakaza ngelibito laNkulunkulu nangekulidvumisa. (Fundza Tihlabelelo 86:12; Isaya 43:10.) Ngetulu kwaloko, sikutsatsa njengelilungelo kwati inchazelo yalelibito nendzaba lehlanganisa kungcweliswa kwalo. (Mat. 6:9) Lelo lilungelo lokungakafaneli silitsatse melula. Asesicabangele imibuto lemitsatfu lebalulekile kulendzaba: Kusho kutsini kwati libito laNkulunkulu? Jehova ukhombise njani kutsi liyamfanela libito lakhe leliphakeme? Singahamba njani ngelibito laJehova?

3. Kusho kutsini kwati libito laNkulunkulu?

³ Kwati libito laNkulunkulu kuhlanganisa lokungetulu kunekumane nje wati leligama lelitsi “Jehova.” Kufaka ekhatsi kwati loko Jehova ladvume ngako, bunguye bakhe, tinjongo kanye nemisebenti yakhe njengobe yembulwe eBhayibhelini, ingafaka ekhatsi nendlela lasebentelana ngayo netinceku takhe. Kuliciniso kutsi kancane kancane Jehova usiniketa kucondza ngalokuphatselene nenjongo yakhe. (Taga 4:18) Jehova walembula libito lakhe kubantfu bakhe bekucala; kungako Eva alisebentisa ngemuva kwekubeleka Khayini. (Gen. 4:1) Tinceku takhe letetsembekile boNowa, Abrahama, Isaka naJakobe betilati libito laNkulunkulu. Ngetulu kwaloko, kwakhula kulijabulela kwato ngalesikhatsi Jehova atibusisa, atinakekela futsi atembulela tici letitsite  tenjongo yakhe. Mosi waniketwa kucondza lokukhetsekile ngelibito laNkulunkulu.

4. Yini leyabangela Mosi wabuta Nkulunkulu ngelibito lakhe, futsi yini lesenta sitsi kwakufanele ngaMosi kutsi akhatsateke?

⁴ Fundza Eksodusi 3:10-15. Ngesikhatsi Mosi aneminyaka lengu-80 budzala, Nkulunkulu wamniketa umyalo lobalulekile: ‘Khulula bantfu bami, emadvodzana a-Israyeli, ubakhiphe eveni laseGibhithe.’ Mosi waphendvula ngenhlonipho ngekutsi abute umbuto lobalulekile. Mosi wabuta watsi: ‘Ngubani libito lakho?’ Nasicabangela kutsi besekunesikhatsi lesidze latiwa libito laNkulunkulu, wawusho kutsini-ke lombuto waMosi? Kuyacaca kutsi abefuna kwati lokunyenti ngalomuntfu lomelelwa ngulelibito—emaciniso labetawucinisekisa bantfu baNkulunkulu kutsi Yena utabakhulula sibili. Ungabona-ke kutsi yini leyabangela Mosi wakhatsateka, kungobe ema-Israyeli abesabe tigcili sikhatsi lesidze. Abengatibuta kutsi Nkulunkulu waboyihlo kutawenteka yini awakhulule. Lamanye ema-Israyeli abesakhonta bonkulunkulu baseGibhithe.—Hez. 20:7, 8.

5. Jehova wayicacisa njani kakhudlwana inchazelo yelibito lakhe nakaphendvula Mosi?

⁵ Jehova wamphendvula njani Mosi? Watsi: “Nguloko loyawubatjela kona baka-Israyeli, utsi: ‘NGINGUYE ungitfumile.’” * Wachubeka watsi: “[Jehova], Nkulunkulu wabokhokho benu . . . ungitfume kini.” Nkulunkulu wembula kutsi utawuba ngunobe yini lakhetsa kuba ngiyo kute afeze injongo yakhe, nekutsi utawuchubeka akhombisa kutsi livi lakhe liliciniso. Kungako evesini laka-15 Jehova atsi: “Leli-ke libito lami phakadze naphakadze, tonkhe titukulwane tiyawungibita kanjalo.” Kufanele kutsi loko kwakucinisa kukholwa kwaMosi futsi kwammangalisa kakhulu.

6, 7. Jehova wakwenta njani loko labekutsembisile?

⁶ Ngemuva nje kwekukhuluma naMosi, Jehova wakhombisa kutsi kuyamfanela kubitwa ngelibito lakhe, ngekuba nguMkhululi wema-Israyeli. Wabulala baseGibhithe ngetishayo letilishumi, waphindze wembula nabonkulunkulu bemanga baseGibhithe—labafaka ekhatsi Faro—labebete emandla. (Eks. 12:12) Ngemuva kwaloko, Jehova wavula Lwandle Lolubovu, ema-Israyeli endlula kulo, kodvwa Faro nemabutfo akhe bamita. (Hla. 136:13-15) ‘Kulelihlane lelikhulu lelesabekako,’ Jehova wakhombisa kuba nguMlondvoloti wekuphila njengobe aniketa bantfu bakhe labebangaba  tigidzi letimbili kuya kuletintsatfu kudla nemanti. Waphindze wabangela kutsi timphahla tabo kanye netincabule tingagugi. (Dut. 1:19; 29:5) Kute lokungavimbela Jehova ekukhombiseni kutsi libito lakhe angeke lifane nalamanye. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi watsi ku-Isaya: ‘Mine, nginguye Jehova, ngaphandle kwami kute umsindzisi.’—Isa. 43:11.

⁷ Joshuwa lowalandzela Mosi, naye wayibona imisebenti lekhombisa kutsi Jehova unemandla, eGibhithe nasehlane. Ngako-ke, nasekatawufa Joshuwa abengasho ngesibindzi kuma-Israyeli kutsi: “Nani niyati ngenhlitiyo yenu yonkhe nangemphefumulo wenu wonkhe kutsi kute nome sinye setsembiso lesingazange sifezeke kuto tonkhe letetsembiso letinhle Simakadze Nkulunkulu wenu laninike tona. Tonkhe tetsembiso takhe tifezekile; kute nasinye lesingazange sifezeke.” (Josh. 23:14) Kuyacaca kutsi Jehova waligcwalisa livi lakhe, ngekutsi ente loko labekakutsembisile.

8. Lamuhla, Jehova ukwenta njani loko lakwetsembisile?

⁸ Ngendlela lefanako lamuhla, Jehova uyakwenta loko lakwetsembisile. NgeNdvodzana yakhe, watsi ngemalanga ekugcina umlayeto weMbuso utawushunyayelwa “emhlabeni wonkhe.” (Mat. 24:14) Akekho lomunye ngaphandle kwaNkulunkulu Somandla lobekangakhuluma ngalomsebenti, abone kutsi uyentiwa futsi asebentise ‘bantfukatana nje labangakafundzi’ kutsi bawente. (Imis. 4:13) Ngako-ke, nasenta lomsebenti, sisuke sifaka sandla ekugcwalisekeni kwesiphrofetho seliBhayibheli. Sidvumisa Babe wetfu futsi sikhombise kutsi sisuke sicinisile nasithantaza sitsi: “Alingcweliswe libito lakho. Umbuso wakho awute. Intsandvo yakho ayentiwe emhlabeni, njengobe yentiwa ezulwini.”—Mat. 6:9, 10.

9, 10. Ngendlela lasebentelana ngayo nema-Israyeli, Jehova wachubeka njani awaniketa inchazelo ngelibito lakhe, futsi loko kwaba namiphi imiphumela?

⁹ Ngemuva nje kwekutsi ema-Israyeli sekaphumile eGibhithe, Jehova wawembulela lokunyenti ngaye. Ngesivumelwane seMtsetfo, waba ‘yindvodza yawo,’ ngekutitsandzela wenta yonkhe imisebenti lehlobene naloko. (Jer. 3:14) Ema-Israyeli aba ngumfati wakhe longumfanekiso, abitwa ngelibito lakhe. (Isa. 54:5, 6) Atitfoba kuye ngekutitsandzela futsi agcina imiyalo yakhe, ngako naye wakhombisa kuba ‘yiNdvodza’ yawo lekahle. Abewabusisa, awavikela awenta abe nekuthula. (Num. 6:22-27) Libito laJehova leliphakeme belitawudvunyiswa kulesive. (Fundza Dutheronomi 4:5-8; Tihlabelelo 86:7-10.) Kuliciniso kutsi kuwo wonkhe umlandvo wema-Israyeli, bantfu labanyenti bakuletinye tive badvonseleka ekukhonteni kweliciniso. Basho loko lokwashiwo nguRuthe umMowabi kuNawomi nakatsi: “Sive sakini, kuyawuba  sive sami; naNkulunkulu wakho kube nguNkulunkulu wami.”—Rut. 1:16.

¹⁰ Eminyakeni lengaba ngu-1 500, indlela Jehova lasebentelana ngayo nema-Israyeli yembula tintfo letinyenti letinsha ngebunguye bakhe. Nanobe sive saka-Israyeli besingalaleli, Jehova wakhombisa tikhatsi letinyenti kutsi ‘unguNkulunkulu lonesihawu nalowephuta kutfukutsela.’ AbenguNkulunkulu lobeketela kakhulu futsi loneluvelo. (Eks. 34:5-7) Nobe kunjalo, kubeketela kwaJehova kuyaphela. Kwaphela ngalesikhatsi sive sakaJuda sala siphindze sibulala iNdvodzana yakhe. (Mat. 23:37, 38) Titukulwane tema-Israyeli kwatiphelela kubitwa ngelibito laNkulunkulu. Ngako-ke, budlelwane babo naNkulunkulu baphela bafanana nesihlahla lesomile. (Luk. 23:31) Loku kwabenta bativa njani ngelibito laNkulunkulu?

11. Sive sakaJuda sayekela njani kusebentisa libito laNkulunkulu?

¹¹ Umlandvo ukhombisa kutsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi emaJuda aba nembono longemanga ngelibito laNkulunkulu, alitsatsa njengalelo lokungakafaneli alibite. (Eks. 20:7) Kancane kancane emaJuda ayekela kusebentisa libito laNkulunkulu. Kwamjabhisa Jehova kubona libito lakhe liphatfwa ngekwedzelela. (Hla. 78:40, 41) Nanobe kunjalo, Nkulunkulu “lobitwa ngekutsi nguSikhwele” abengeke atihlanganise nebantfu labamshiyile naye labashiyile. (Eks. 34:14) Loku kufanele kusente sibone kubaluleka kwekuphatsa libito leMdali wetfu ngenhlonipho lenkhulu.

12. Jehova waba naso njani sive lesibitwa ngelibito lakhe?

¹² NgaJeremiya, Jehova wembula injongo yakhe yekusungula “sivumelwane lesisha” nesive lesisha, Israyeli waNkulunkulu. Onkhe emalunga akhe ‘kusukela kulomncane kuye kulomkhulu,’ Jeremiya watsi ‘ayawumati Jehova.’ (Jer. 31:31, 33, 34) Lesiphrofetho sacala kugcwaliseka ngeliPhentekhoste la-33 C.E. ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu asungula sivumelwane lesisha. Sive lesisha “ema-Israyeli aNkulunkulu,” lesifaka ekhatsi emaJuda nalabo labangesiwo emaJuda, saba “sive [selibito laNkulunkulu]” nobe “tive letibitwa ngelibito lami,” kusho Jehova.—Gal. 6:16; fundza Imisebenti 15:14-17; Mat. 21:43.

13. (a) EmaKhristu asendvulo abelisebentisa yini libito laNkulunkulu? Chaza. (b) Ulitsatsa njani lilungelo lekusebentisa libito laJehova emsebentini wekushumayela?

¹³ ‘Njengesive lesibitwa ngelibito laNkulunkulu,’ emalunga a-Israyeli waNkulunkulu abelisebentisa libito lakhe nakacaphuna emiBhalweni yesiHebheru. * Kungako ngesikhatsi umphostoli Phetro akhuluma nemaJuda nebetive lababephendvukele enkholweni yemaJuda ngeliPhentekhoste la-33 C.E., wasebentisa libito laNkulunkulu emahlandla lamanyenti. (Imis. 2:14, 20, 21, 25, 34) EmaKhristu asendvulo amdvumisa Jehova, naye wayibusisa imetamo yawo emsebentini wekushumayela. Nalamuhla, Jehova uyawubusisa umsebenti wetfu wekushumayela nasifakaza ngelibito lakhe futsi silikhombisa bantfu labatsandza kufundza emaBhayibhelini abo nakungenteka. Ngaleyondlela sisuke sibetfula kuNkulunkulu weliciniso. Lelo lilungelo lelikhulu lesinalo tsine kanye nabo. Kuletinye timo kwenta njalo kungase kube sicalo lesihle sebuhlobo lobuhle naJehova lobungakhula budzimate bucine futsi buhlale phakadze.

14, 15. Nanobe sekwandze kuhlubuka, yini Jehova layentile ngelibito lakhe?

¹⁴ Ngemuva kwesikhatsi kuhlubuka kwacala kungena ebandleni lebuKhristu lasendvulo, ikakhulukati ngemuva kwekufa kwebaphostoli. (2 Thes. 2:3-7) Bafundzisi bemanga badzimate basebentisa  umkhuba wemaJuda wekungalisebentisi libito laNkulunkulu. Kodvwa Jehova abengakuvumela yini kutsi libito lakhe lingasatiwa? Cha, abengeke! Kuliciniso kutsi angeke sati kutsi lalibitwa njani ekucaleni, kodvwa libito lakhe belisolo likhona. Sekuphele sikhatsi lesidze livela kulamanyenti emahumusho eliBhayibheli, liphindze livele ngisho nasetincwadzini tetati teliBhayibheli. Sibonelo saloko kutsi nga-1757, Charles Peters wabhala kutsi libito lelitsi “Jehova” “likuchaza kahle kakhulu loko langiko,” ngalokwehlukile kuneticu takhe letinyenti. Encwadzini lekhuluma ngekukhonta Nkulunkulu yanga-1797, Hopton Haynes ucala sehluko 7 sayo ngekutsi: “JEHOVA lokulibito LANKULUNKULU kumaJuda; lakhonta yena yedvwa; njengobe kwenta Khristu nebaPhostoli bakhe.” Henry Grew (1781-1862) akazange nje agcine ngekulisebentisa libito laNkulunkulu kodvwa waphindze wacaphela kutsi linyundzelwe nekutsi kufanele lingcweliswe. Ngendlela lefanako, George Storrs (1796-1879), lobekasondzelene naCharles T. Russell, walisebentisa libito laNkulunkulu njengobe kwenta Russell.

¹⁵ Umnyaka wanga-1931 wawubaluleke kakhulu, ngobe ngalowo mnyaka Bafundzi beliBhayibheli beMhlaba Wonkhe, njengobe bantfu baNkulunkulu bebabitwa njalo ngaleso sikhatsi, baniketwa ligama lelisekelwe eBhayibhelini lelitsi boFakazi BaJehova. (Isa. 43:10-12) Base bamemetela emhlabeni wonkhe kutsi bayatigcabha ngekuba tinceku taNkulunkulu weliciniso nangekuba ‘sive selibito lakhe’ futsi balidvumise. (Imis. 15:14) Loku kusikhumbuta ngemavi aJehova lakuMalakhi 1:11 latsi: “Libito lami liyawuba likhulu etiveni kusukela ekuphumeni kwelilanga kuze kube ngusekushoneni kwalo.”

16. Yini lesenta sikutsatse njengelilungelo kuhamba ngelibito laJehova?

¹⁶ Umphrofethi Mikha wabhala: “Tonkhe tive tiyohamba nguleso naleso ngelibito lankulunkulu waso, kodvwa tsine siyohamba ngelibito laJehova Nkulunkulu wetfu phakadze naphakadze.” (Mik. 4:5, NW.) Kuvumela kwaJehova kutsi Bafundzi beliBhayibheli basebentise libito lakhe kwakungetulu nje kwelilungelo lelikhulu. Kwakuphindze kubacinisekise kutsi bayemukeleka kuye. (Fundza Malakhi 3:16-18.) Kutsiwani-ke ngawe? Uyawenta yini umetamo ‘wekuhamba ngelibito laJehova’? Uyakujabulela yini kwati kutsi loko kuhlanganisani?

17. Kuhlanganisani kuhamba ngelibito laNkulunkulu?

¹⁷ Kuhamba ngelibito laNkulunkulu kuhlanganisa tintfo letintsatfu. Kwekucala, kufanele sitjele labanye ngalelibito sati kutsi ngulabo ‘lababita libito laJehova, labayawusindziswa.’ (Rom. 10:13) Kwesibili, kufanele sikhombise bunguye baJehova, ikakhulukati lutsandvo lwakhe. Kwesitsatfu, sihamba ngelibito laNkulunkulu nangabe ngenjabulo sititfoba etimisweni takhe tekulunga, sikubalekele kuhlambalata libito laBabe wetfu lelingcwele. (1 Joh. 4:8; 5:3) Utimisele yini ‘kuhamba ngelibito laJehova Nkulunkulu wetfu phakadze naphakadze’?

18. Yini leyenta bonkhe labadvumisa libito laJehova leliphakeme babuke likusasa ngekuciniseka?

¹⁸ Ngekushesha bonkhe labangamnaki Jehova batabubona bukhulu bakhe. (Hez. 38:23) Labo bafaka ekhatsi bantfu labafana naFaro lowatsi: “Ungubani yena lowo [Jehova], kutsi mine ngingalalela livi lakhe?” Ngekushesha wabona kutsi Nkulunkulu abengumuntfu lomkhulu. (Eks. 5:1, 2; 9:16; 12:29) Tsine ngekutitsandzela sesiyamati Jehova. Siyatigcabha ngekufakaza ngelibito lakhe nangekuba bantfu bakhe labalalelako. Kungako silibuke ngalabovu likusasa siciniseka ngesetsembiso lesikuTihlabelelo 9:10 lesitsi: “Labati libito lakho bayawukwetsembela kuwe, ngobe wena, [Jehova], awubafulatseli labakufunako.”