1-3. (a) Sasinjani isimo ko-Israyeli ngesikhathi uZekhariya eqalisa ukuphrofetha? (b) Kungani uJehova watshela abantu bakhe ukuthi ‘babuyele kuye’?

IBHUKU likaZekhariya lisitshela ngemibono emangalisayo eyabonwa ngumphrofethi lo. Wabona umqulu wencwadi ondizayo, owesifazana ovalelwe phakathi kwesilulu loba ibhasikiti kanye labesifazana ababili abalempiko ezifana lezengabuzane. (Zek. 5:1, 7-9) Kungani uJehova watshengisa umphrofethi wakhe imibono le? Izimo zazinjani kuma-Israyeli ngalesosikhathi? Imibono le isifundisani thina lamuhla?

² Kwakungumnyaka ka-537 B.C.E. * futhi abako-Israyeli babethokoza ngoba basebekhululiwe elizweni leBhabhiloni abasebehlale kulo iminyaka engu-70 beyizigqili. Bathi befika eJerusalema bahle baqalisa umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli ukuze bavuselele  ukukhonza kweqiniso. Ngakho ngo-536 basebeqedile ukumisa isisekelo sethempeli. Ngemva kwalokho kwaba lokuthokoza okukhulu, abantu ‘benza umsindo omangalisayo njalo umsindo lowo wezwakala kude.’ (Ezra. 3:10-13) Kodwa kungakayi ngaphi izitha zaqalisa ukubethusela abako-Israyeli. Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi batshiye ukwakha ithempeli baqalise ukuzenzela eyabo imisebenzi. Yafuqana iminyaka yaze yaba ngu-16 umsebenzi ulokhu umile. Abako-Israyeli babekudinga sibili ukukhuthazwa ukuze babuyele kuJehova njalo baqakathekise ukumkhonza ukwedlula ezinye izinto. UJehova wayefuna batshiyane lokwesaba abantu njalo bamkhonze ngenhliziyo yonke.

³ Yikho ngo-520 B.C.E. wathuma umphrofethi uZekhariya ukuthi ayebakhumbuza isizatho sokukhululwa kwabo eBhabhiloni. Ibizo lomphrofethi lo litsho ukuthi “UJehova Usekhumbulile.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayelokhu ebakhumbula lanxa bona basemkhohliwe. (Bala uZekhariya 1:3, 4.) UJehova wabathembisa ukuthi wayezabancedisa ukuthi babuyisele ukukhonza kweqiniso njalo wabaxwayisa ukuthi wayengeke abamukele nxa bembaxambili ekukhonzeni. Ake sibone ukuthi umbono wesithupha lowesikhombisa owabonwa nguZekhariya wabanceda njani abako-Israyeli. Sizabona lokuthi kuyini esikufundayo emibonweni le.

4. UZekhariya wabonani embonweni wesithupha njalo kungani umqulu wawubhalwe amacele wonke? (Khangela umfanekiso 1 osekuqaliseni.)

⁴ Ivesi yokuqala kusahluko 5 sebhuku likaZekhariya isitshela ngombono wesithupha uZekhariya awubonayo. (Bala uZekhariya 5:1, 2.) Embonweni lo uZekhariya wabona umqulu wencwadi undiza emoyeni futhi wawungamamitha angu-9 ubude langu-4.5 ububanzi. Okwakujayelekile ngalesosikhathi yikuthi umqulu wawugoqwa njalo wawulotshwa icele elilodwa kuphela. Kodwa okumangalisayo yikuthi lo wawuvuliwe futhi ubhalwe amacele womabili. (Zek. 5:3) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi wawumumethe umlayezo oqakatheke kakhulu lokuthi wawusukulungele ukubalwa.

5, 6. UJehova uthini ngokuntshontsha?

⁵ Bala uZekhariya 5:3, 4. Bonke abantu bazakwahlulelwa ngenxa yalokho abakwenzayo. Kodwa isahlulelo sikaJehova sizakuba sikhulu kakhulu kithi esibizwa ngebizo lakhe. Ngakho siyakubalekela ukuntshontsha ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi ‘kuyaliyangisa ibizo’ likaNkulunkulu wethu. (Zaga. 30:8, 9) Abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi akukubi ukuntshontsha ikakhulu nxa ulesizathu esihle. Loba kunjalo umcabango wabo unxele ngoba ukuntshontsha kutshengisa ukuthi umuntu kalandaba loJehova lokuthi kalihloniphi ibizo lakhe kanye lemithetho yakhe.

⁶ Ubonile yini ukuthi uZekhariya 5:3, 4 uthi isithuko sizangena endlini yesela sihlale khona njalo siyichithize? Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi akulalutho esingalufihlela uJehova ngoba uyakubona konke esikwenzayo. Ngakho lanxa umuntu engafihlela amapholisa, abaqhatshi bakhe, abadala bebandla loba abazali bakhe ukuthi untshontshile, ngeke amfihlele uNkulunkulu futhi uzakuba leqiniso lokuthi lesosono siyavezwa obala. (Heb. 4:13) Siyambonga kakhulu uJehova ngokusidonsela enhlanganisweni yakhe elabantu abazimisele ukuhlala beqotho ‘ngezindlela zonke.’​—Heb. 13:18.

7. Singakubalekela njani ukubhujiswa ndawonye labantu ababi?

⁷ UJehova uyakuzonda ukuntshontsha, kalakuthi untshontshe into encane kumbe enkulu.  Ukwazi lokhu kuyasifuqa ukuthi silalele imithetho yakhe futhi siphile ngendlela engasoze yenze abantu bagcone ibizo lakhe. Singenza njalo siyabe sibalekela isithuko, okutsho ukubhujiswa okuzakwehlela abantu abephula imithetho kaJehova ngabomo.

8-10. (a) Kuyini isifungo? (b) Yisiphi isifungo iNkosi uZedekhiya eyehluleka ukusigcwalisa?

⁸ Okunye okutholakala emqulwini wencwadi ondizayo yisixwayiso esiqondane labantu ‘abafunga amanga ngebizo [likaNkulunkulu].’ (Zek. 5:4) Isifungo ngamazwi akhulunywa ngumuntu eqinisa ukuthi lokho akutshoyo kuliqiniso kumbe isithembiso asenzayo sokuthi uzakwenza okuthile loba hatshi.

⁹ Ukwenza isifungo ngebizo likaJehova yindaba eqakathekileyo okungamelanga siyithathe lula. Ngokwesibonelo uZedekhiya inkosi yokucina ukubusa eJerusalema yenza isifungo ngebizo likaNkulunkulu ithembisa ukuthi izazehlisa enkosini yaseBhabhiloni. Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi kazange asigcine lesosifungo ngakho uJehova wathi: “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngikhona, . . . [uZedekhiya] uzafela eBhabhiloni, elizweni lenkosi eyambeka esihlalweni sobukhosi, esifungo sayo wasidelela wephula lesivumelwano sayo.”​—Hez. 17:16.

¹⁰ UJehova wayekhangelele ukuthi uZedekhiya agcwalise isifungo lesi ngoba wayesenze ngebizo lakhe. (2 ImiLan. 36:13) Kodwa yena kazange akwenze lokho, wasuka wayacela uncedo enkosini yaseGibhithe ukuthi imkhulule kwabaseBhabhiloni.​—Hez. 17:11-15, 17, 18.

11, 12. (a) Yisiphi isifungo esiqakatheke kakhulu esasenzayo? (b) Kumele senzeni okutshengisa ukuthi siyasigcwalisa nsuku zonke isifungo lesi?

¹¹ UJehova uyabe elalele nxa sisenza izithembiso loba izifungo futhi uyathokoza  kakhulu nxa esibona sizigcwalisa. (Hubo. 76:11) Isifungo esiqakatheke kakhulu uJehova akhangelele ukuthi sisigcine yileso esasenza ngesikhathi sizinikela kuye. Nxa uzinikela kuJehova uyabe umthembisa ukuthi uzamkhonza okwempilo yakho yonke kumnyama kubomvu.

¹² Singasigcwalisa njani isifungo lesi ‘insuku ngensuku’? Enye indlela esingakwenza ngayo lokhu yikuqhubeka sithembekile kuye lanxa siphakathi kobunzima. (Hubo. 61:8) Ngokwesibonelo esikolo loba emsebenzini othile angazidlisa satshanyana kuwe edlala ngothando, uzatshengisa yini ukuthi uyayilalela imithetho kaJehova? (Zaga. 23:26) Nxa ngakini kunguwe wedwa uFakazi uyamcela yini uNkulunkulu ukuthi akuncedise ukuthi uqhubeke uphila ngendlela emthokozisayo? Kungelani lokuthi siphakathi kwasiphi isimo, kumele simbonge nsuku zonke uNkulunkulu ngokusithanda kwakhe lokusivumela ukuthi sibe senhlanganisweni yakhe. Okunye okumele sikwenze nsuku zonke yikubala iBhayibhili. Ngesikhathi sizinikela kuJehova kufanana lokuthi sasimthembisa ukuthi sizazenza zonke lezizinto. Ngakho nxa sikwenza konke lokhu siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda lokuthi siphilela yena. Kanti njalo ukukhonza kasikwenzeli umthetho nje kodwa kuyingxenye yokuphila kwethu eqakatheke kakhulu. Nxa singahlala sithembekile kuJehova uzasinika umvuzo wokuphila phakade.​—Dute. 10:12, 13.

13. Sifundeni embonweni wesithupha kaZekhariya?

¹³ Sifundeni embonweni wesithupha kaZekhariya? Umbono lo usenze sabona ukuthi uJehova uyakuzonda ukuntshontsha lokwenza izifungo ezingamanga. Sibonile lokuthi uJehova kazange abalahle abantu bakhe lanxa babephambanisa. Wayebuzwisisa ubunzima ababephakathi kwabo ngoba babegonjolozelwe yizitha. UJehova uyisibonelo esihle endabeni yokugcina izithembiso njalo uzasincedisa lathi ukuthi sigcine ezethu. Enye indlela asincedisa ngayo yikuqhubeka esikhumbuza ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi asuse bonke ububi emhlabeni. Umbono kaZekhariya olandelayo usenza sibe lethemba lokuthi uzakwenza lokhu.

14, 15. (a) UZekhariya wabonani embonweni wesikhombisa? (Khangela umfanekiso 2 osekuqaliseni.) (b) Umelani owesifazana osesilulwini njalo ukuvalelwa kwakhe kutshengisani?

¹⁴ Embonweni wesikhombisa ingilosi yatshela uZekhariya ukuthi ‘avuse amehlo.’ Wathi evusa amehlo wabona isilulu esasilesiciko. (Bala uZekhariya 5:5-8.) Sathi sivulwa isilulu leso uZekhariya wabona phakathi kwaso “kuhlezi owesifazana.” Ingilosi yamtshela yathi “Lobu yibubi.” Ngemva kwalokho uZekhariya wabona owesifazana lo esezama ukuphuma esilulwini kodwa khonokho nje ingilosi yamfuqela phakathi yasivala ngesiciko. Kutshoni lokhu?

¹⁵ Umbono lo utshengisa ukuthi uJehova kafuni lakancane ukubona ububi phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Nxa angabubona uhle abususe masinyane. (1 Khor. 5:13) Lokhu sikubona kulokho okwenziwa yingilosi ngesikhathi owesifazana ezama ukuphuma esilulwini, yaphanga yamfuqela phakathi yasivala ngci!

16. (a) Senziwani isilulu esabonwa nguZekhariya? (Khangela umfanekiso 3 osekuqaliseni.) (b) Abesifazana ababili basithatha basisa ngaphi isilulu?

¹⁶ UZekhariya uthe elokhu esakhangele kwathi thutshu abesifazana ababili ababelempiko eziqine njengezengabuzane. (Bala uZekhariya 5:9-11.) Abesifazana laba babetshiyene kakhulu lowesifazana ophakathi kwesilulu. Bafika bahwitha isilulu ‘esasilobubi’ phakathi basiphakamisa baphapha laso basisa  “elizweni laseBhabhiloni.” Kungani basisa eBhabhiloni?

17, 18. (a) Kungani kwakulengqondo ukuthi isilulu esasilobubi sihanjiswe eBhabhiloni? (b) Kumele sizimisele ukwenzani?

¹⁷ Ama-Israyeli aphila ngesikhathi sikaZekhariya ayekuzwisisa ukuthi kungani isilulu esasilobubi phakathi sihanjiswa eBhabhiloni. Ayekwazi ukuthi elizweni lelo kwakugcwele ububi obumangalisayo obabugoqela ukukhonza izithombe lokuziphatha okubi. Ngesikhathi uZekhariya lama-Israyeli beseBhabhiloni bazama ngamandla wonke ukuthi bangalandeli imikhuba engcolileyo eyayisenziwa elizweni lelo. Ngakho umbono lo wabenza babona ukuthi uJehova wayengasoze avumele loba yibuphi ububi ukuthi bubekhona phakathi kwabantu bakhe.

¹⁸ Wabakhumbuza lokuthi kwakumele basebenze gadalala ukuze bahlale bemsulwa ekukhonzeni. Lalamuhla uJehova kasoze avumele ukuthi ububi bungene futhi buhlale phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Ngakho njengoba uJehova esidonsele enhlanganisweni yakhe ehlanzekileyo, sonke silomsebenzi omkhulu wokuyigcina ihlanzekile. Akumelanga kutholakale ububi phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova.

19. Sifundeni embonweni wesithupha lowesikhombisa owabonwa nguZekhariya?

¹⁹ Umbono wesithupha lowesikhombisa owabonwa nguZekhariya utshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabuzonda ububi. Ngakho lokhu kuyisixwayiso kuloba ngubani oqhubeka esenza okubi phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Kumele sibuzonde ububi nxa sifuna ukuhlala simsulwa phambi kwakhe. Imibono le isifundisa lokuthi nxa singazimisela ukwenza izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu kasisoze sibhujiswe kodwa sizathola izibusiso. UJehova kasoze akukhohlwe konke esikwenzayo ukuze sihlale sihlanzekile ekukhonzeni futhi uzasincedisa ukuthi siphumelele. Kodwa kuyini okwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kuzaqhubeka kulokhu kukhona? Yibuphi ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uzaqhubeka eyivikela inhlanganiso yakhe kuze kudlule ukuhlupheka okukhulu? Imibuzo le izaphendulwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.