1-2. Bewuyini umehluko emkhatsini walamakhosi lamabili, futsi ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

SITAWUCOCA ngemakhosi lamabili lebekaphila kadzeni. Lenye beyibusa umbuso waka-Israyeli wetive letilishumi, kantsi lelenye beyibusa umbuso wakaJuda wetive letimbili. Nanobe aphila ngetikhatsi letingafani, kodvwa enta tintfo letinyenti letifanako. Omabili avukela Jehova futsi abangela bantfu bakhe kutsi bone. Omabili akhonta tithico futsi abulala. Kodvwa bekunemehluko lokhona emkhatsini walamadvodza lamabili. Lenye yawo yachubeka yenta tintfo letimbi yaze yafa, kodvwa lelenye yaphendvuka futsi yatsetselelwa tono tayo letimbi lebeyitentile. Bekabobani lamadvodza?

² Ngu-Ahabi, inkhosi yaka-Israyeli, naManase, inkhosi yakaJuda. Umehluko lokhona emkhatsini walamadvodza ungasifundzisa lokunyenti ngendzaba yekuphendvuka. (Imis. 17:30; Rom. 3:23) Kuyini kuphendvuka futsi sikhombisa njani kutsi siphendvukile? Sifuna kwati ngako ngobe sifuna Jehova asicolele nasente sono. Kuze sitfole timphendvulo talemibuto, sitawucoca ngekuphila kwalamakhosi lamabili futsi sibone kutsi yini lesingayifundza kuloko lakwenta. Sitawubese sicoca ngaloko Jesu lakufundzisa mayelana nekuphendvuka.

3. Bekayinkhosi lenjani Ahabi?

³ Ahabi bekayinkhosi yesikhombisa embusweni waka-Israyeli wetive letilishumi. Washada naJezebeli, lebekayindvodzakati yenkhosi yaseSidoni, lebekusive lesinjingile sasenyakatfo. Kungenteka lomshado wenta kutsi sive saka-Israyeli sibe nemali  kodvwa walimata nebuhlobo lesive besinabo naJehova. Jezebeli bekakhonta Bhali, futsi wenta Ahabi wakhutsata lokukhonta lokwenyanyekako lebekufaka ekhatsi bugwadla nekunikela ngebantfwana. Ngesikhatsi Jezebeli ayindlovukazi, bonkhe baphrofethi baJehova bebasengotini. Wabulala labanyenti babo. (1 Khos. 18:13) Ahabi “wenta lokubi kakhulu emehlweni aJehova kubendlula bonkhe lababusa ngaphambi kwakhe.” (1 Khos. 16:30) Jehova bekakubona loko lobekwentiwa ngu-Ahabi naJezebeli. Bekakwati loko lebebakwenta. Ngenca yekutsi Jehova unemusa, watfumela umphrofethi Elija kutsi ecwayise bantfu bakhe kutsi bashintje tindlela tabo letimbi kusengakephuti. Kodvwa bo-Ahabi naJezebeli abazange balalele.

4. Jehova watsi utamjezisa njani Ahabi, futsi yini Ahabi layenta?

⁴ Ekugcineni, kubeketela kwaJehova kwaphela. Watfumela Elija kutsi ayotjela Ahabi naJezebeli kutsi bekatawubajezisa. Bekatawucotfula wonkhe umndeni wabo. Emavi a-Elija amtsintsa kakhulu Ahabi! Lokumangalisako kutsi lendvodza lebeyitigcabha ‘yatitfoba.’—1 Khos. 21:19-29.

5-6. Yini lekhombisa kutsi Ahabi bekangakaphendvuki mbamba?

⁵ Nanobe Ahabi atitfoba ngaleso sikhatsi, kodvwa ngemuva kwaloko wakhombisa kutsi bekangakaphendvuki mbamba. Akazange etame kucedza kukhontwa kwaBhali embusweni wakhe. Ngetulu kwaloko, akazange akhutsate bantfu kutsi bakhonte Jehova. Ahabi wakhombisa nangaletinye tindlela kutsi akaphendvuki mbamba.

⁶ Ngesikhatsi Ahabi acele iNkhosi Jehoshafati yakaJuda lebeyilungile kutsi itomsita nakalwa nemaSiriya, Jehoshafati watsi abacale babute kumphrofethi waJehova. Ahabi bekangafuni kukwenta loko, watsi: “Kukhona indvodza yinye lesele lengasibutela kuJehova; kodvwa ngiyayitondza ngobe ayikaze iphrofethe tintfo letinhle ngami, iphrofetha letimbi todvwa.” Nanobe kunjalo, bagcine babutile kumphrofethi Mikhaya. Kwavele kwenteka njengekusho kwa-Ahabi, lomphrofethi wamtjela tindzaba letibuhlungu. Kunekutsi Ahabi aphendvuke futsi acele Jehova amcolele, wavalela lomphrofethi ejele. (1 Khos. 22:7-9, 23, 27) Nanobe Ahabi amvalela lomprofethi waJehova, kodvwa bekangeke avimbe lesiphrofetho kutsi sigcwaliseke. Ahabi wabulawa kulemphi.—1 Khos. 22:34-38.

7. Yini Jehova layisho nga-Ahabi ngemuva kwekutsi sekafile?

⁷ Ngemuva kwekufa kwa-Ahabi, Jehova wayiveta indlela lebekativa ngayo ngalendvodza. Ngesikhatsi iNkhosi Jehoshafati lebeyilungile seyibuyele ekhaya, Jehova watfumela umphrofethi Jehu kutsi ayoyitjela kutsi beyente kabi ngekuyosita Ahabi. Lomprofethi waJehova watsi: “Kungiko yini lokutsi usite lababi futsi utsandze labo labatondza Jehova?” (2 Khr. 19:1, 2) Cabanga nganaku: Kube Ahabi bekaphendvuke mbamba, lomphrofethi bekangeke asho kutsi bekayindvodza lembi leyenyanya Jehova. Kuyacaca kutsi nanobe Ahabi akhombisa kutisola, kodvwa bekangakaphendvuki mbamba.

8. Yini lesingayifundza ku-Ahabi mayelana nekuphendvuka?

⁸ Yini lesingayifundza ku-Ahabi? Ahabi wacale watisola ngesikhatsi eva umlayeto lomubi wa-Elija lobewumelene nemndeni wakhe. Leyo bekuyintfo lenhle. Kodvwa loko lakwenta ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi kwakhombisa kutsi bekangakaphendvuki ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni. Ngako kuphendvuka kusho lokungetulu nje kwekumane sitisole ngalesikwentile. Asesicoce ngalesinye sibonelo lesitasisita sibone kutsi kusho kutsini kuphendvuka mbamba.

9. Bekayinkhosi lenjani Manase?

⁹ Ngemuva kweminyaka lengaba ngu-200, Manase waba yinkhosi yakaJuda. Kungenteka bekenta tintfo letimbi kakhulu kuna-Ahabi. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Wenta lokubi emehlweni aJehova ngelizinga lelikhulu kuze amvise buhlungu.” (2 Khr. 33:1-9) Manase wakha ema-al’thare abonkulunkulu bemanga futsi wamisa sithico lesibatiwe sensika lengcwele ethempelini laJehova, lokungenteka besimelela nkulunkulukati wentalo. Wenta imilingo, waphengula wenta nebutsakatsi. Ngetulu kwaloko, “wacitsa ingati lengenacala ngelizinga lelikhulu kakhulu.” Wabulala bantfu labanyenti, waze washisa “emadvodzana akhe emlilweni,” enta iminikelo kubonkulunkulu bemanga.—2 Khos. 21:6, 7, 10, 11, 16.

10. Jehova wamjezisa njani Manase, futsi yini leyentiwa ngulenkhosi?

¹⁰ Njenga-Ahabi, Manase akazange asilalele seluleko lebekasinikwa nguJehova ngebaphrofethi bakhe. Ekugcineni, “Jehova [waletsela live lakaJuda] tindvuna telibutfo lemphi tenkhosi yase-Asiriya kutsi titobahlasela. Tabamba Manase ngemahhuka tase timkhunga ngetinketane letimbili telitfusi, tahamba naye taya eBhabhulona.” Ngesikhatsi aboshiwe eBhabhulona, kungenteka Manase wacabangisisa ngaloko bekakwentile. “Wachubeka atitfoba kakhulu kuNkulunkulu wabokhokho bakhe.” Akagcinanga ngaloko. “Wamncenga Jehova Nkulunkulu wakhe.” Ecinisweni, Manase “abesolo athantaza kuNkulunkulu.” Lendvodza lembi beyishintja. Yacala kutsatsa Jehova ‘njengaNkulunkulu wayo,’ futsi beyichubeka ithantaza kuye.—2 Khr. 33:10-13.

11. Ngekusho kwa-2 Tikhronike 33:15, 16, Manase wakhombisa njani kutsi bekaphendvuke mbamba?

¹¹ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jehova wayiphendvula imithantazo yaManase. Wabona kutsi besekashintje mbamba njengobe loko kwavela emithantazweni yakhe. Ngako Jehova wamlalela Manase ngesikhatsi acela kutsi amcolele, futsi wamvumela kutsi aphindze abe yinkhosi. Manase wenta konkhe lokusemandleni akhe kuze akhombise kutsi bekaphendvuke mbamba. Wenta loko Ahabi langazange sekakwente. Wayishintja indlela lebekenta ngayo tintfo. Wamelana nekukhonta kwemanga futsi wakhutsata bantfu kutsi bakhonte Jehova. (Fundza 2 Tikhronike 33:15, 16.) Bekudzingeka kutsi Manase abe nesibindzi futsi abe nekukholwa kuze ente loko, ngobe ngaphambi kwekutsi aphendvuke besekuphele iminyaka leminyenti asibonelo lesibi emndenini wakhe, etindvuneni takhe nasesiveni sakhe. Kodvwa ngesikhatsi sekakhulile, wetama kulungisa letinye taletinkinga lebekatibangele. Kungenteka waba sibonelo lesihle kumtukulu wakhe Josaya lowaba yinkhosi lekahle kakhulu.—2 Khos. 22:1, 2.

12. Yini lesingayifundza kuManase mayelana nekuphendvuka?

 ¹² Yini lesingayifundza kuManase? Watitfoba futsi wenta nalokungetulu kwaloko. Wathantaza, ancenga kukhonjiswa umusa. Washintja nendlela bekenta ngayo tintfo. Wenta konkhe lokusemandleni akhe kuze alungise letinkinga bekatibangele futsi wenta konkhe langakwenta kuze akhonte Jehova aphindze asite nalabanye kutsi bente lokufanako. Sibonelo saManase sibanika litsemba labo labente tono letinkhulu kakhulu. Sibona bufakazi bekutsi Jehova Nkulunkulu ‘muhle futsi uhlale akulungele kutsetselela.’ (Hla. 86:5) Labo labaphendvuka mbamba bangatsetselelwa.

13. Shano umfanekiso losisita sicondze liphuzu lelibalulekile mayelana nekuphendvuka.

¹³ Manase akagcinanga nje ngekutisola ngetono takhe. Loko kusifundzisa sifundvo lesibalulekile mayelana nekuphendvuka mbamba. Cabanga nganangu umfanekiso: Ase sitsi uya esitolo ufike utsi utotsenga likhekhe. Kodvwa kunekutsi lolotsengisako akunike likhekhe, ukunika licandza. Bewungajabula yini? Cha! Bekungaba ncono yini nasekakuchazele kutsi lelicandza libalulekile kuze kwentiwe lelikhekhe? Cha bekungeke! Ngendlela lefanako, Jehova ufuna kutsi loyo lowonile aphendvuke mbamba. Nangabe lona lowonile atisola ngesono sakhe, loko kuhle. Kutisola kubalulekile kuze umuntfu aphendvuke, kodvwa akukeneli. Yini lokunye lokufanele akwente? Kunyenti lesikufundza emfanekisweni lowashiwo nguJesu.

14. Kulendzaba leyashiwo nguJesu, lendvodzana leyahamba ekhaya yakhombisa njani kutsi seyicale kuphendvuka?

¹⁴ Jesu wacoca indzaba lekhutsatako lemayelana nendvodzana leyahamba ekhaya lebhalwe kuLukha 15:11-32. Lelijaha lavukela babe walo, lahamba ekhaya laya “eveni lelikhashane.” Nalilapho, latiphatsa kabi. Kodvwa kwatsi nasekumatima kuphila, lacabangisisa ngaloko belikwentile. Labona kutsi beliphila kahle ngesikhatsi lisahlala ekhaya. Njengobe Jesu asho, lelijaha ‘lasanguluka.’ Lancuma kubuyela ekhaya futsi licele kutsi babe walo alicolele. Bekubalulekile kutsi libone kutsi belente tincumo letinyenti letimbi. Kodvwa bekwenele yini loko? Cha. Bekufanele lishintje indlela lelenta ngayo tintfo!

15. Lendvodzana leyahamba ekhaya yakhombisa njani kutsi beyiphendvuke mbamba?

¹⁵ Lendvodzana yakhombisa kutsi beyiphendvuke mbamba ngaloko beyikwentile. Yatsatsa luhambo loludze lolubuyela ekhaya. Ngesikhatsi ikhuluma nababe wayo, yatsi: “Ngonile kuNkulunkulu ezulwini nakuwe. Akusangifaneli ngisho nekubitwa ngekutsi ngiyindvodzana yakho.” (Luk. 15:21) Lelijaha lavuma ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni kutsi lonile futsi loko kwakhombisa kutsi belifuna  kulungisa buhlobo balo naJehova. Labona nekutsi belimvise buhlungu kakhulu babe walo. Belitimisele kusebenta kamatima kuze liphindze libe nebuhlobo lobuhle naye, futsi belikulungele nekuba sisebenti sakhe. (Luk. 15:19) Lendzaba ayigcini nje ngekusikhutsata. Ingabasita labadzala belibandla nangabe bafuna kubona kutsi umuntfu lowente sono lesikhulu uphendvuke mbamba yini.

16. Yini lengahle yente kube matima ngalabadzala belibandla kutsi babone kutsi umuntfu uphendvuke mbamba?

¹⁶ Akusilula ngalabadzala belibandla kubona kutsi umuntfu lowente sono lesikhulu uphendvuke mbamba. Kungani? Labadzala belibandla abakhoni kufundza tinhlitiyo, ngako betama kutfola bufakazi bekutsi umzalwane wabo sewushintje mbamba futsi sewuyakwenyanya loko lakwentile. Kuletinye timo, kungenteka umuntfu wente sono lesikhulu kakhulu kangangekutsi labadzala belibandla baze bangaciniseki kutsi uphendvuke mbamba.

17. (a) Ngusiphi sibonelo lesikhombisa kutsi kungenteka umuntfu akaphendvuki mbamba ngisho nobe atisola? (b) Yini lokufanele yentiwe ngumuntfu lophendvuke mbamba njengobe kuchazwe ku-2 KubaseKhorinte 7:11?

¹⁷ Cabanga nganasi sibonelo. Asesitsi umzalwane kuphela iminyaka aphinga tikhatsi letinyenti. Kunekutsi acele lusito, uyamfihlela umfati wakhe, bangani bakhe, nalabadzala belibandla. Ekugcineni, lomkhuba wakhe uphumela ebaleni. Labadzala belibandla nabamtjela kutsi banebufakazi bekutsi uphingile, lomzalwane uyasivuma sono sakhe, futsi ubonakala shengatsi uyatisola. Kodvwa loko kukhombisa kutsi uphendvukile yini? Cha! Bazalwane labasebenta lendzaba kutawudzingeka babone lokungetulu kwekutisola. Lomzalwane akasenti kanye lesono lesikhulu ngobe ente sincumo lesibi, kodvwa usente iminyaka leminyenti. Akayi kuyotivumela kulabadzala lesono sakhe, kodvwa kunalotsite lotjele labadzala ngaso. Ngako labadzala belibandla kufanele babone kutsi lomzalwane ushintje mbamba endleleni lacabanga ngayo, lativa ngayo nalenta ngayo tintfo. (Fundza 2 KubaseKhorinte 7:11.) Kungahle kutsatse sikhatsi lesidze kutsi ente lushintjo loluveta kutsi uphendvuke mbamba. Manyenti ematfuba ekutsi ayekeliswe kuba nguFakazi sikhatsi lesitsite.—1 Khor. 5:11-13; 6:9, 10.

18. Yini lengentiwa ngumuntfu loyekelisiwe kuba nguFakazi kuze akhombise kutsi uphendvuke mbamba, futsi ungaba yini umphumela?

¹⁸ Kuze umuntfu loyekelisiwe kuba nguFakazi akhombise kutsi uphendvuke mbamba, utawuba khona njalo emihlanganweni yelibandla, futsi utawulalela seluleko salabadzala sekuba neluhlelo loluhle lwekuthantaza nekudadisha liBhayibheli. Utawuphindze ente konkhe lokusemandleni akhe kuze agweme timo letingamenta  kutsi aphindze one. Nangabe enta konkhe lokusemandleni akhe kuze alungise buhlobo bakhe naJehova, angaciniseka kutsi Jehova utamcolela nekutsi labadzala belibandla batamsita kuze aphindze abe yincenye yelibandla. Nabetama kutfola kutsi umuntfu uphendvuke mbamba yini, labadzala belibandla bayati kutsi emacala akafanani. Ngako bayalihlosisa licala ngalinye futsi bayakugwema kukhipha sehlulelo lesingahambisani nelicala lelentiwe.

19. Kusho kutsini kuphendvuka mbamba? (Hezekeli 33:14-16)

¹⁹ Sesifundzile kutsi akukeneli kutsi umuntfu lowente sono atsi uyatisola ngesono lesikhulu lasentile. Kufanele ashintje indlela lacabanga ngayo, lativa ngayo nalenta ngayo tintfo kuze akhombise kutsi uphendvuke mbamba. Kufanele ayekele kwenta lokubi futsi alalele timiso taJehova. (Fundza Hezekeli 33:14-16.) Lokubaluleke kakhulu kumuntfu lowonile kutsi alungise buhlobo bakhe naJehova.

20-21. Singamsita njani lotsite nangabe ente sono lesikhulu?

²⁰ Jesu wakhuluma ngencenye lebalulekile yemsebenti wakhe wekushumayela nakatsi: “Ngitobita toni kuze tiphendvuke.” (Luk. 5:32) Natsi kufanele sibe nesifiso lesifana nesaJesu. Asesitsi umngani wakho lomkhulu wente sono lesikhulu. Yini lokufanele uyente?

²¹ Nangabe wetama kusifihla sono sakhe lesikhulu utawube uyamlimata. Loko angeke kuphumelele ngoba Jehova uyabona. (Taga 5:21, 22; 28:13) Ungamsita umngani wakho ngekutsi umkhumbute kutsi labadzala belibandla bafuna kumsita. Nangabe angafuni kutjela labadzala ngesono sakhe, kufanele ubatjele ngobe nawenta njalo usuke ukhombisa kutsi ufuna kumsita mbamba. Buhlobo bakhe naJehova busengotini!

22. Sitawucoca ngani esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

²² Kodvwa kutsiwani nangabe umuntfu ente sono lesikhulu futsi asente sikhatsi lesidze kangangekutsi labadzala belibandla bancume kumyekelisa kuba nguFakazi? Loko kusho kutsi abakamkhombisi yini umusa? Esihlokweni lesilandzelako, sitawucoca ngendlela Jehova labajezisa ngayo ngemusa labo labonile nekutsi singamlingisa njani.