1-3. Kuhlanganisani ukulotjha uJehova “ngehliziyo epheleleko”? Yenza isibonelo.

NJENGOMBANA sinesono, siyayenza imitjhapho. Nokho, kuyathabisa ukuthi uJehova akasiphathi “njengokufanele izono zethu,” khulukhulu nasiphendukako begodu ngokukholwa sitjhidele kuye sizithobe emhlatjelweni kaJesu wesihlengo. (Rhu. 103:10) Njengombana uDavida atjela uSolomoni, nasifuna uJehova amukele ukumlotjha kwethu kwaqobe langa, kufanele ‘simlotjhe ngehliziyo epheleleko.’ (1 Kron. 28:9) Singakwenza njani lokho ngitjho nanyana sinesono?

² Into engasisiza endabeni le, kumadanisa ipilo yeKosi u-Asa neyeKosi u-Amaziya. Womabili amakhosi wakwaJuda la enza okulungileko emehlweni kaJehova, kodwana u-Asa wenza ngehliziyo epheleleko. (2 Kron. 15:16, 17; 25:1, 2; IzA. 17:3) Amakhosi la bewanesono begodu enza imitjhapho. Nokho, u-Asa azange asuke eendleleni zakaZimu, ngombana ‘bekazinikele ngehliziyo epheleleko’ kuye. (1 Kron. 28:9) Ngakelinye ihlangothi, u-Amaziya bekangakazinikeli ngehliziyo epheleleko kuJehova. Ngemva kokuhlula amanaba kaZimu, wathatha abosingazimu babo wabalotjha.—2 Kron. 25:11-16.

 ³ Ukulotjha uZimu “ngehliziyo epheleleko” kuhlanganisa ukuzinikela okunganasiphelo. EBhayibhelini, igama elithi “ihliziyo” ngokuvamileko liqalisela ingaphakathi lobuntu. Lokhu kuhlanganisa iimfiso zakhe, akucabangako, imikghwakhe, indlela aziphatha ngayo, amakghono nemigomwakhe. Ngalokho, umuntu olotjha uJehova ngehliziyo epheleleko angeze nanini enza imisebenzi kaJehova ngokuzenzisa namkha amane enze ngoba vele kufuze enze njalo. Kuthiwani ngathi? Ngitjho nanyana sinesono nje kodwana nasiragela phambili sizinikela kuZimu ngaphandle kokuzenzisa, sizabe simlotjha ngehliziyo epheleleko.—2 Kron. 19:9.

4. Khuyini esizokucoca ngayo nje?

⁴ Nasizakwazi ukuthi kutjho ukuthini ukulotjha uZimu ngehliziyo epheleleko, akhesicoce ngepilo ka-Asa namanye amakhosi wakwaJuda ebekazinikele kuZimu, wokuthoma nguJehotjhafathi, uHezekhiya, noJosiya. Boke benza imitjhapho, kodwana uJehova wabamukela. Kubayini uZimu athi bamlotjhe ngehliziyo epheleleko, begodu thina singabalingisa njani?

5. Ngimaphi amagadango u-Asa awathatha ngokurhabako?

⁵ U-Asa gade ayikosi yesithathu yesitjhaba sakwaJuda ngemva kobana kuhlukaniswe ama-Israyeli waba ziintjhaba ezilitjhumi zetlhagwini. Wasusa boke abosingazimu, waqotjha namadoda ebekaziingwadla ethempelini. Wabe wehlisa nogogwakhe uMakha “ekubeni yindlovukazi ngombana wenza umfanekiso onyenyisako.” (1 Kho. 15:11-13) Ngaphezu kwalokho, wabancenga abantu bakhe “bonyana bafune uJehova . . . begodu balalele umthetho nomyalwakhe.” U-Asa, wathuthukisa ukulotjha uZimu ngeqiniso.—2 Kron. 14:4.

6. U-Asa wenzani lokha ibutho leTopiya nalihlasela inarha?

⁶ Eminyakeni elitjhumi yokubusa kwaka-Asa uJehova wasibusisa ngokuthula isitjhaba sakwaJuda. Nakuya kuzakufika uZerarhi omTopiya azokulwa nabantu bakwaJuda, akhamba nebutho lamadoda asi-1 000 000 neenkarana ezima-300. (2 Kron. 14:1, 6, 9, 10) Alo, u-Asa bekazayithini naseyinje? Wathembela ngokupheleleko kuJehova. (Funda 2 IinKronike 14:11.) UZimu waphendula umthandazo ka-Asa awenza ngehliziyo epheleleko, ngokuthi abhubhise ibutho lamaTopiya. (2 Kron. 14:12, 13) Ngitjho nanyana amanye amakhosi bekangakathembeli kuJehova kodwana wawalwela ngebanga legama lakhe. (1 Kho. 20:13, 26-30) U-Asa wathembela kuZimu, begodu uJehova wawuphendula umthandazwakhe. Kodwana ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, wathoma ukwenza izinto ezibudlhayela. Ngokwesibonelo, wabawa isizo ekosini yeSiriya kunokobana alibawe kuJehova. (1 Kho. 15:16-22) Nanyana kunjalo, uZimu wahlolisisa ihliziyo ka-Asa wabona ukuthi ‘beyinamathele ngokupheleleko kuJehova.’ Singamlingisa njani u-Asa ngokwenza okulungileko?—1 Kho. 15:14.

7, 8. Ungamlingisa njani u-Asa ekulotjheni kwakho uJehova?

⁷ Ngamunye wethu kuhle ahlole ihliziywakhe abone ukuthi iphelele na kuZimu. Khewuzibuze, ‘Inga-kghani ngizimisele ukuthabisa uJehova, ngokuvikela indlelakhe yokumlotjha ngeqiniso, nokuvikela abantu bakhe kinanyana ngiyiphi ikohlakalo?’ U-Asa kwatlhogeka bona abe nesibindi bona ajamelane noMakha, obegade ‘ayindlovukazi’ enarheni leyo. Kungenzeka akekho umuntu omaziko onjengoMakha, nanyana kunjalo bungaba khona ubujamo obungakwenza bona ulingise  ukuzimisela kwaka-Asa ngekolo yeqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, ungenzani nange ilunga lomndeni namkha umnganakho omthanda khulu enze isono, angaphenduki begodu angasabi nguFakazi kaJehova? Uzokuba naso na isibindi sokuzihlukanisa naye? Ihlizywakho izokutjhukumisela bona wenzeni?

⁸ Njengo-Asa, ungatjengisa ukuthi uthembele kuZimu ngehliziyo epheleleko nawuqalene nobujamo obungaphezu kwamandlakho. Ngesinye isikhathi abantwana ofunda nabo esikolweni bangahlekisa ngawe ngebanga lokuthi unguFakazi kaJehova. Abantu osebenza nabo bangakunyefula ngombana uthethe amalanga waya emhlanganweni namkha ungafuni ukusebenza ama-awara angeziweko. Nange uqalene nobujamobu, thandaza kuZimu njengombana kwenza u-Asa. Ngesibindi thembela kuJehova, uhlale wazi ukuthi okwenzako kulungile begodu kukuhlakanipha. Khumbula ukuthi uZimu omlotjhako kusesenguye owasiza bewaqinisa u-Asa, begodu nawe uzokuqinisa.

9. Singatjengisa njani ukuthi silotjha uZimu ngehliziyo epheleleko nasitjhumayelako?

⁹ Abantu abalotjha uZimu abazicabangeli bona kwaphela. U-Asa wathuthukisela phambili ukulotjha uZimu ngeqiniso. Nathi singasiza abanye “bafune uJehova.” Uthaba kwamambala uJehova nakasibona sitjhumayeza abomakhelwana bethu nabanye abantu, lokho kutjengisa ukuthi siyamthanda begodu sinendaba nehlalakuhle yabanye abantu.

10, 11. Ungamlingisa njani uJehotjhafathi?

¹⁰ Indodana ka-Asa uJehotjhafathi ‘yakhamba eendleleni zakayise u-Asa.’ (2 Kron. 20:31, 32) Yakwenza njani lokho? Njengoyise, uJehotjhafathi wakhuthaza abantu ukuthi bafune uJehova. Wahlela ijima lokufundisa abantu asebenzisa “incwadi yomthetho [kaJehova].” (2 Kron. 17:7-10) Waya ngetlhagwini yombuso wakwa-Israyeli, neentabeni zakwa-Efrayimi, bona ‘abuyisele abantu kuJehova.’ (2 Kron. 19:4) UJehotjhafathi ‘wafuna uJehova ngehliziywakhe yoke.’—2 Kron. 22:9.

¹¹ Soke namhlanjesi singaba nengcenye ejimeni elikhulu lakaJehova lokufundisa abantu. Inga-kghani uzibekele umgomo wokufundisa abantu ngeliZwi lakaZimu qobe nyanga, ubasize ukuthi bamlotjhe ngehliziyo epheleleko? Ngokuzinikela kwakho nangesibusiso sakaZimu, ungakghona ukuthoma isifundo seBhayibheli. Kghani akusimgomo owuthandazelako loyo? Uzimisele na ukuqalana nobujamobu, ngitjho nanyana lokho kungatjho ukulahlekelwa sikhathi sokuphumula? Njengombana uJehotjhafathi asiza abantu bakwa-Efrayimi ukuthi babuyele kuZimu, nathi singasiza labo esele baphelelwe mamandla. Nabadala bangahlela ukuvakatjhela abantu abakhitjhiweko ebandleni khulukhulu labo abalinga ukubuyisana noZimu.

12, 13. (a) UJehotjhafathi wenzani nakaqalene nobujamo obubudisi? (b) Kubayini kufuze silingise uJehotjhafathi ngokuvuma ukuthi asinawo amandla?

¹² Njengoyise u-Asa, uJehotjhafathi wahlala athembekile kuZimu ngitjho nanyana aqalene nenaba elinamandla. (Funda 2 IinKronike 20:2-4.) Iye khona uJehotjhafathi bekathukiwe! Kodwana ‘wabona bonyana kungcono abuze kuJehova.’ Ngomthandazo, wavuma ukuthi abantu bakhe ‘abanamandla wokuqalana nepikazi engaka’ begodu besele bangasazi bonyana benzeni. Wathembela ngokupheleleko kuJehova, wathi: “Amehlwethu aqale kuwe.”—2 Kron. 20:12.

 ¹³ Nathi njengoJehotjhafathi, kungenzeka singazi ukuthi sithathe ini siyihlanganise nani, ngesinye isikhathi sizizwe sisaba. (2 Kor. 4:8, 9) Kodwana khumbula uJehotjhafathi wathandaza ebaleni avuma ukuthi yena nabantu bakhe abanawo amandla. (2 Kron. 20:5) Labo abadosa phambili emndenini bangalingisa uJehotjhafathi ngokuthi babawe isinqophiso sakaJehova namandla wokuqalana nemiraro abanayo. Ungabi neenhloni zokuthi abantwabakho bazokuzwa ubawa isizo kuZimu. Kuzobenza babone ukuthi uthembele ngokupheleleko kuJehova. UZimu wamsiza uJehotjhafathi, nawe uzokusiza.

14, 15. UHezekhiya watjengisa njani ukuthi uthembele kuZimu ngehliziyo epheleleko?

¹⁴ Bonyana uHezekhiya aziwe ukuthi uyikosi ‘eyabambelela kuJehova,’ ngokungafani noJehotjhafathi, kwatlhogeka ukuthi alwisane nemikghwa emimbi kayise yokulotjha iinthombe. UHezekhiya “wabhuruza iindunduma, waphihliza amatje akhethekileko kanye nemifanekiso yabo-Atjhera. Wafahlaza inyoka yekoporo uMosi agade ayenzile,” Okuzizinto ebezisetjenziselwa ukulotjha abosingazimu. Bekazinikele ngokupheleleko kuJehova, ngombana ‘walonda imiyalo uJehova ayinikela uMosi.’—2 Kho. 18:1-6.

¹⁵ Ngitjho nanyana i-Asiriya, bekuyinarha enamandla ngesikhatheso, yahlasela isitjhaba samaJuda beyathusela nangokuthumba i-Jerusalema, uHezekhiya wathembela kuJehova ngehliziyo epheleleko. IKosi ye-Asiriya uSanirheribu yanyaza uJehova beyalinga ukuthusela uHezekhiya ukuthi azinikele kuye angalingi nokulinga ukulwa naye. Nanyana kunjalo, uHezekhiya watjengisa emthandazweni ukuthi uthembele ngokupheleleko emandleni kaJehova wokubasindisa. (Funda u-Isaya 37:15-20.) UZimu waphendula umthandazwakhe ngokuthumela ingilozi, yabulala amadoda we-Asiriya azi-185 000.—Isa. 37:36, 37.

16, 17. Njengombana ulotjha uZimu ungamlingisa njani uHezekhiya?

¹⁶ Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uHezekhiya wagula wabangwa neenzibi. Wabawa uJehova ukuthi angakukhohlwa ukuthembeka kwakhe. (Funda 2 AmaKhosi 20:1-3.) Siyazi ukuthi imiTlolo ithi uZimu angeze asipholise ngokusimangaliso, nanyana angezelele amalangethu wokuphila esikhathini esiphilakiswesi. Nanyana kunjalo, njengombana kwenza uHezekhiya, ngamunye wethu angathandaza kuJehova athi: “Ngakhamba phambi kwakho ngokwethembeka nangehliziyo epheleleko.” Uyakholelwa na ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ukukusiza ngitjho nanyana ugula?—Rhu. 41:4, [41:3 NW].

¹⁷ Njengombana uzindla ngesibonelo sakaHezekhiya, uyakubona na ukuqakatheka kokususa nanyana yini engathikazisa isingani sakho noZimu, namkha engakudlela isikhathi sakho ekulotjheni uZimu? Iqiniso likukuthi, asifuni ukulingisa abantu abangalotjhi uJehova, abasebenzisa kumbi zokuthintana, abaphatha abantu kwangabosingazimu. Iye khona, namanye amaKrestu angakufumana kuthabisa ukuthintana neenhlobo namkha nabangani ngokusebenzisa izintwezo. Kodwana abantu abanengi namhlanjesi basebenzisa zokuthintana ngokudluleleko, balandele nabantu abangabaziko. Abanye basebenzisa isikhathi sabo esinengi babukela iinthombe namkha bafunda imininingwana yabantwabo. Kuyingozi ekulu ukudlala ngesikhathi sakho ngezinto  ezinganamsebenzi. UmKrestu angazikhakhazisa ngokuthi abantu bazithanda kangangani iinthombe namkha imilayezwakhe, aphatheke kumbi nange balisa ukumlandela. Bekungaba njani nange umpostoli uPowula, u-Akhwila noPrisila bahlala bamajadu ngokufaka iinthombe namkha balandela abantu abangamlotjhiko uZimu? Sifunda ukuthi uPowula “wazinikela ngokupheleleko ekutjhumayeleni.” Kanti u-Akhwila noPrisila bahlathulula ‘kuhle indlela kaZimu’ kwabanye. (IzE. 18:4, 5, 26) Khewuzibuze, ‘Inga-kghani ngiyakubalekela na ukulotjha abantu namkha ukusebenzisa isikhathi sami eentweni ezingakhiko?’—Funda yebe-Efesu 5:15, 16.

18, 19. Ungamlingisa njani uJosiya?

¹⁸ IKosi uJosiya, obekasizukulwana sakaHezekhiya waphila ngemithetho kaJehova ‘ngehliziywakhe yoke.’ (2 Kron. 34:31) Nakasakhulako, “wathoma ukufuna uZimu kayisemkhulu uDavida,” kwathi nakaneminyaka ema-20, wathoma ukuhlwengisa indawo yamaJuda ngokususa abosingazimu. (Funda 2 IinKronike 34:1-3.) UJosiya bekazimisele khulu ukuthabisa uZimu ukudlula amakhosi amanengi wakwaJuda. Ngemva kobana uJosiya afundelwe umThetho kaMosi, wabona ukuthi kufuze enze intando kaZimu ngokungeziweko. Wakhuthaza nabanye ukuthi balotjhe uJehova. Umphumela waba kukuthi abantu ‘azange bahluleke ukulandela uJehova’ emihleni yoke yokuphila kwakhe.—2 Kron. 34:27, 33.

¹⁹ NjengoJosiya, abantu abatjha kufuze bathome ukufuna uJehova basesebancani. IKosi uManase eyaphendukako kungenzeka ngiyo eyafundisa uJosiya ngoZimu. Bantu abatjha, jayelanani nabantu abakhulileko abathembekileko kuZimu abasemndenini namkha ebandleni, nifunde kibo ukuthi uJehova ubenzele izinto ezihle kangangani. Nikhumbule ukuthi ukufunda kwakaJosiya imiTlolo kwamthinta ihliziyo begodu kwamenza bona athathe igadango. Ukufunda kwakho iliZwi lakaZimu kuzokwenza ukuthi uthathe igandango elizokulethela ithabo, beliqinise nesingani sakho noZimu begodu ube nesifiso sokusiza abanye bafune uZimu. (Funda 2 IinKronike 34:18, 19.) Ukufunda iBhayibheli kungakusiza ukuthi utjheje lapho okufuze uthuthukise khona ekulotjheni kwakho uZimu. Nawe sebenzisa lokho okufundako, njengombana kwenza uJosiya.

20, 21. (a) Amakhosi amane la esicoce ngawo afana ngani? (b) Esihlokweni esilandelako sizokucoca ngani?

²⁰ Kukhona okufundileko na emakhosini amane wakwaJuda esicoce ngawo naziza endabeni yokulotjha uJehova ngehliziyo epheleleko? Bebakukhuthalele ukwenza intando kaZimu begodu bebazinikele ngokupheleleko, bazimisele nokuyifeza. Baragela phambili nokwenza intando kaZimu. Bayenza ngitjho nanyana baqalane neentjhijilo. Okuqakatheke khulu, umnqophwabo wokulotjha uJehova bewuhlanzekile.

²¹ Njengombana sizokucoca ngamakhosi amane la esihlokweni esilandelako, uzokutjheja bonyana nawo ayenza imitjhapho. Nanyana kunjalo, umHloli wehliziyo nakabaqalisisako, wabona ukuthi iinhliziyo zabo ziphelele kuye. Nathi sinesono. Njengombana uJehova asihlolisisa, kghani uphetha ngokuthi simlotjha ngehliziyo epheleleko? Akhesicoceni ngenda le esihlokweni esilandelako.