1-2. UJehova ubanika siphi isimemo abakhulekeli bakhe abaqotho?

 UJEHOVA udlala yiphi indima ekuphileni kwakho? Ungase uthi, ‘UJehova unguBaba wami, unguNkulunkulu wami noMngani wami.’ Zikhona nezinye iziqu, noma amagama achaza uJehova. Nokho, uyambheka yini nanjengoMuntu okumemile?

² INkosi uDavide yafanisa ubungani uJehova anabo nabakhulekeli baKhe abaqotho nobuhlobo obuphakathi kwezimenywa nomuntu ozimemile. Yabuza: “O Jehova, ngubani ongaba yisimenywa etendeni lakho? Ngubani ongahlala entabeni yakho engcwele?” (IHu. 15:1) Kula mazwi aphefumulelwe, sifunda ukuthi singaba izimenywa zikaJehova—abangani bakhe. Akusona yini lesi isimemo esikhulu esivela kuJehova?

UJEHOVA UFUNA SIBE YIZIMENYWA ZAKHE

3. Sasingubani isimenywa sikaJehova sokuqala, futhi uJehova nesimenywa sakhe babezizwa kanjani ngomunye nomunye?

³ Ngaphambi kokuba adale zonke izinto, uJehova wayeyedwa. Kodwa wabe esamukela iNdodana yakhe eyizibulo etendeni lakhe elingokomfanekiso. UJehova wayijabulela kakhulu indima yaKhe entsha yokwamukela isimenywa. IBhayibheli lithi uJehova ‘wayeyithanda ngokukhethekile’ iNdodana yakhe. Isimenywa sakhe sokuqala, naso, ‘sasijabula phambi [kukaJehova] ngaso sonke isikhathi.’—IzAga 8:30.

4. Kamuva obani uJehova abamemela etendeni lakhe?

 ⁴ UJehova wabe esedala nezinye izidalwa zomoya, nazo wazimema ukuba zibe izimenywa zakhe. Izingelosi zakhe zibizwa ngokuthi “amadodana kaNkulunkulu” futhi zichazwa ngokuthi ziyakujabulela ukuba noJehova. (Jobe 38:7; Dan. 7:10) Okwesikhathi esithile, abangani bakaNkulunkulu babesezulwini kuphela, lapho ehlala khona. Kamuva, walinweba itende lakhe ukuze kube khona nabantu abahlala emhlabeni kulo. Ezinye zalezo zimenywa kwakungu-Enoke, uNowa, u-Abrahama noJobe. Labo bakhulekeli beqiniso bachazwa ngokuthi bangabangani bakaNkulunkulu, noma bahamba “noNkulunkulu weqiniso.”—Gen. 5:24; 6:9; Jobe 29:4; Isaya 41:8.

5. Yini esingayifunda esiprofethweni esikuHezekeli 37:​26, 27?

⁵ Phakathi nawo wonke la makhulu eminyaka, uJehova ubelokhu eqhubeka emema abangani bakhe ukuba babe yizimenywa zakhe. (Funda uHezekeli 37:​26, 27.) Ngokwesibonelo, esiprofethweni sikaHezekeli sifunda ukuthi uNkulunkulu ufuna ngempela ukuba abakhulekeli bakhe abaqotho babe nobuhlobo obuseduze naye. Uthembisa ukwenza nabo “isivumelwano sokuthula.” Leso siprofetho sibhekisela esikhathini lapho labo abanethemba lasezulwini nalabo abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni beyoba ndawonye etendeni likaJehova elingokomfanekiso babe “mhlambi munye.” (Joh. 10:16) Yilokho kanye okwenzeka njengamanje!

UNKULUNKULU UYASIKHATHALELA NOMA NGABE SIKUPHI

6. Umuntu uba kanjani isimenywa etendeni likaJehova, futhi lingatholakala kuphi itende laKhe?

⁶ Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, itende laliyindawo umuntu aphumula kuyo navikeleka kuyo esimweni sezulu. Umuntu oyisimenywa kulelo tende wayengalindela ukuba anakekelwe kahle. Lapho sinikezela ukuphila kwethu kuJehova, siba yizimenywa etendeni lakhe elingokomfanekiso. (IHu. 61:4) Sijabulela intilibathwa yokudla okungokomoya nobungani nabanye abayizimenywa zikaJehova. Itende lakhe elingokomfanekiso alikho endaweni eyodwa. Kungenzeka uye wavakashela kwelinye izwe, mhlawumbe uya emhlanganweni okhethekile, wafike wahlangana nabanye ababusiswe ngokuba setendeni likaNkulunkulu. Lingatholakala nomaphi lapho kunabakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu abalalelayo.—IsAm. 21:3.

7. Kungani singathi abantu abathembekile asebashona baseyizimenywa etendeni likaJehova? (Bheka nesithombe.)

 ⁷ Kuthiwani ngabantu abathembekile asebashona? Kunengqondo yini ukuphetha ngokuthi baseyizimenywa etendeni likaJehova? Yebo! Kungani sisho kanjalo? Kungenxa yokuthi bayaphila enkumbulweni kaJehova. UJesu wachaza: “Ukuthi abafile bayavuswa, ngisho noMose wakwenza kwaziwa endabeni ephathelene nesihlahla sameva, lapho ebiza uJehova ngokuthi ‘uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu ka-Isaka noNkulunkulu kaJakobe.’ UnguNkulunkulu wabaphilayo, akayena owabafile, ngoba bonke bayaphila kuye.”—Luka 20:​37, 38.

KUNEZINTO ESIZIZUZAYO NEZINTO OKUMELE SIZENZE

8. Izimenywa zikaJehova zizuza kanjani ngokuba setendeni lakhe?

⁸ Njengoba nje itende elingokoqobo liyindawo yokuphumula nendawo yokuthola isivikelo esimweni sezulu, itende likaJehova livikela izimenywa zakhe ekulimaleni ngokomoya nasekuphelelweni ithemba. Uma sihlala sisondelene noJehova, uSathane ngeke enze into eyosilimaza phakade. (IHu. 31:23; 1 Joh. 3:8) Ezweni elisha, uJehova uyoqhubeka evikela abangani bakhe abathembekile, hhayi nje ekulimaleni ngokomoya kodwa nasekufeni.—IsAm. 21:4.

9. UJehova ulindele ukuba izimenywa zakhe ziziphathe kanjani?

⁹ Kuyilungelo elikhulu ngempela ukuba yisimenywa etendeni likaJehova—ukuba nobuhlobo obuseduze naye nobungahlala njalo. Kufanele siziphathe kanjani uma sifuna ukuqhubeka siyizimenywa zakhe? Uma othile ekumema emzini wakhe, ungathanda ukwazi ukuthi yini ayilindele kuwe. Ngokwesibonelo, angase alindele ukuba ukhumule izicathulo ngaphambi kokuba ungene endlini, futhi ubungeke ube nenkinga yokukwenza lokho. Ngendlela efanayo, siyafuna ngempela ukwazi ukuthi yini uJehova ayifunayo kulabo abafuna ukuqhubeka beyizimenywa etendeni lakhe. Uthando esinalo ngoJehova lusenza sifune ukwenza konke esingakwenza ‘ukuze simjabulise ngokugcwele.’ (Kol. 1:10) Nakuba uJehova simbheka njengoMngani wethu, siyaqaphela nokuthi unguNkulunkulu wethu noBaba wethu, okufanelekelayo ukuba simhloniphe. (IHu. 25:14) Sinalokho engqondweni, kufanele sihlale sinenhlonipho ejulile ngaye, singalokothi sikhohlwe ukuthi ungubani. Leyo nhlonipho ejulile izosisiza sigweme ukwenza izinto ezizomphatha kabi. Sifuna ngempela ‘ukuhamba ngesizotha’ noNkulunkulu wethu.—Mika 6:8.

UJEHOVA AKAZANGE AKHETHE EHLANE

10-11. Indlela uJehova ayesebenzelana ngayo nama-Israyeli ehlane laseSinayi ibonisa kanjani ukuthi akakhethi?

¹⁰ UJehova akakhethi lapho esebenzelana nezimenywa zakhe. (Roma 2:11) Singakwazi ukuqonda ukungakhethi kukaJehova endleleni ayesebenzelana ngayo nama-Israyeli ehlane laseSinayi.

¹¹ Ngemva kokukhulula abantu bakhe ebugqilini baseGibhithe, uJehova wamisa abapristi ukuba bakhonze etabernakele. AmaLevi ayabelwe ukuba enze imisebenzi ehlobene nalelo tende elingcwele. Ingabe uJehova wayebanakekela kangcono kunabanye labo ababekhonza etabernakele noma labo ababehlala eduze kwalo? Cha! UJehova akakhethi.

12. Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo ama-Israyeli ehlane ibonisa kanjani ukuthi akakhethi? (Eksodusi 40:38) (Bheka nesithombe.)

¹² Wonke ama-Israyeli ayenethuba elifanayo lokujabulela ubungani noJehova, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ayenaziphi izabelo ezikhethekile  noma ukuthi ayehlala eduze kwetabernakele noma cha. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova waqikelela ukuthi sonke isizwe sasikwazi ukubona isimangaliso sensika yefu nensika yomlilo okwakuphezu kwetabernakele. (Funda u-Eksodusi 40:38.) Lapho ifu seliya kwenye indawo, ngisho nalabo amatende abo ayekude kakhulu netabernakele babekwazi ukukubona lokho, baqoqe izinto zabo, badilize amatende abo, bahambe kanye nabo bonke abantu. (Num. 9:​15-23) Bonke babewuzwa umsindo omkhulu wamacilongo amabili esiliva owawutshela wonke umuntu ukuthi sekudingeka kuhanjwe. (Num. 10:2) Kusobala ukuthi ukuhlala eduze kwetabernakele nje kukodwa kwakungebona ubufakazi bokuba nobungani obuseduze noJehova. Kunalokho, wonke umIsrayeli wayengaba isimenywa saKhe, athembele esiqondisweni sikaJehova nasesivikelweni saKhe. Ngokufanayo nanamuhla, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihlala kuphi, singazuza othandweni lukaJehova, ekusinakekeleni kwakhe nasesivikelweni sakhe.

IZIBONELO ZANAMUHLA EZIBONISA UKUTHI UJEHOVA AKAKHETHI

13. Namuhla, iyiphi enye indlela uJehova abonisa ngayo ukuthi akakhethi?

¹³ Abanye abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla bahlala eduze kwendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke noma eduze kwehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova. Empeleni abanye bakhonza kuzo lezi zakhiwo. Ngenxa yalokho, labo bantu bayakwazi ukuba nengxenye ezintweni eziningi ezenziwa kulezi zindawo, basebenzelane eduze nalabo abaholayo. Abanye bakhonza njengababonisi abajikelezayo noma kweminye imikhakha yenkonzo ekhethekile yesikhathi esigcwele. Uma uphakathi kwabantu abaningi abangakhonzi ngaphansi kwalezi zimo okwamanje, qiniseka ngokuthi lowo osimemile, uJehova, uzithanda zonke izimenywa zakhe azamukelayo. Zonke uyazinakekela. (1 Pet. 5:7) Bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayondliwa ngokomoya, bathola isiqondiso nesivikelo abasidingayo.

14. Iyiphi enye indlela uJehova abonisa ngayo ukuthi akakhethi?

 ¹⁴ Enye indlela uJehova abonisa ngayo ukuthi akakhethi ukwenza abantu bakwazi ukuthola iBhayibheli emhlabeni wonke namuhla. Ekuqaleni imiBhalo Engcwele yayibhalwe ngezilimi ezintathu: IsiHebheru, isi-Aramu nesiGreki. Ingabe labo abakwazi ukufunda iBhayibheli elibhalwe ngalezo zilimi banobuhlobo obuseduze nakakhulu noJehova kunalabo abangakwazi ukuzifunda? Cha, akunjalo neze.—Math. 11:25.

15. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova akakhethi? (Bheka nesithombe.)

¹⁵ Ukwamukelwa uJehova akuncikile ekutheni sifunde kangakanani noma ekutheni sizazi kangakanani izilimi. Kunokuba ukuhlakanipha kwakhe akunike abantu abafunde kakhulu kuphela, uJehova ukwenza kutholwe yibo bonke abantu emhlabeni jikelele, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bafunde kakhulu noma abafundile kangako. IZwi lakhe eliphefumulelwe, iBhayibheli, lihunyushwe ngezinkulungwane zezilimi; ngakho, abantu emhlabeni wonke bangakwazi ukuzuza kulokho elikufundisayo bafunde nokuthi bangaba kanjani abangani bakhe.—2 Thim. 3:​16, 17.

HLALE ‘WAMUKELEKA’ KUJEHOVA

16. NgokwezEnzo 10:​34, 35, singahlala kanjani samukeleka kuJehova?

¹⁶ Kuyilungelo elikhulu ukwamukelwa uJehova njengezimenywa etendeni lakhe elingokomfanekiso. Unomusa omkhulu, uthando olukhulu futhi akekho omedlulayo ngokwamukela izimenywa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akakhethi, usamukela sonke kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihlala kuphi, sikhule kanjani, sifunde kangakanani, ubuzwe bethu, ubuhlanga, iminyaka noma ukuthi singabesilisa noma singabesifazane. Nokho, abantu abamukela njengezimenywa zakhe yilabo kuphela abalalela imithetho yakhe.—Funda izEnzo 10:​34, 35.

17. Sizokuthola kuphi ukwaziswa okwengeziwe mayelana nokuba isimenywa etendeni likaJehova?

¹⁷ Njengoba kubhalwe kumaHubo 15:​1, uDavide wabuza le mibuzo: “O Jehova, ngubani ongaba yisimenywa etendeni lakho? Ngubani ongahlala entabeni yakho engcwele?” Umhubi waphefumulelwa ukuba aphendule leyo mibuzo. Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngezinye izinto okumele sizenze ukuze sihlale samukelwa uJehova.