1-3. (a) Kungani singaciniseka kutsi singaba bangani baNkulunkulu? (b) Bobani lesitawufundza ngabo kulesihloko?

EBHAYIBHELINI Abrahama ubitwa ngekutsi ngumngani waNkulunkulu tikhatsi letintsatfu. (2 Tikhronike 20:7; Isaya 41:8; Jakobe 2:23) Nguye kuphela eBhayibhelini umuntfu lobitwa ngalokucondzile ngekutsi ngumngani waNkulunkulu. Loko kusho kutsi ngu-Abrahama kuphela yini umuntfu lowaba ngumngani waJehova? Cha. LiBhayibheli litsi sonkhe singaba bangani baNkulunkulu.

² LiVi laNkulunkulu linetindzaba letinyenti temadvodza nebafati labetsembekile lebebesaba Jehova, banekukholwa kuye futsi lababa bangani labakhulu naye. (Fundza Tihlabelelo 25:14.) Bayincenye ‘yelifu lelikhulu labofakazi’ Pawula lakhuluma ngalo. Bonkhe bebabangani baNkulunkulu.​—Hebheru 12:1.

³ Ase sicoce nganaba bangani baJehova labatsatfu lokukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhelini: (1) Ruthe, umfelokati lowetsembekile losemusha wakaMowabi, (2) Hezekiya, inkhosi leyetsembekile yakaJuda, kanye (3) naMariya  lotfobekile, unina waJesu. Yini lesingayifundza endleleni ngamunye wabo laba ngayo ngumngani waNkulunkulu?

4, 5. Ngusiphi sincumo lesimatima lobekufanele sitsatfwe nguRuthe, futsi kungani bekumatima kusitsatsa? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

⁴ Nawomi kanye nabomalukatana bakhe boRuthe na-Opha, bebahamba luhambo loludze besuka kaMowabi baya ka-Israyeli. Njengobe bahamba, Opha wancuma kuncandzeka abuyele kaMowabi. Kodvwa Nawomi abetimisele kubuyela ka-Israyeli eveni lakubo. Ruthe wancuma kwenta njani? Bekufanele atsatse sincumo lesimatima. Abetawubuyela kaMowabi yini kute abe nemndeni wakhe, nobe abetawuhlala naNawomi, uninatala wakhe futsi ahambe naye eBhetlehema?​—Ruthe 1:1-8, 14.

⁵ Umndeni waRuthe bewuhlala kaMowabi. Ruthe abengabuyela ekhaya, futsi kungenteka bebangamnakekela. Abebati bantfu bakaMowabi, lulwimi lolukhulunywa khona kanye nemasiko akhona. Kungenteka Nawomi akazange etsembise Ruthe kutsi utakutfola konkhe loko eBhetlehema. Nawomi abesaba nekutsi angeke amtfolele indvodza nobe indzawo latawuhlala kuyo. Ngako wamtjela kutsi ancandzeke abuyele kaMowabi, njengobe na-Opha ‘abuyela kubantfu bakubo nakubonkulunkulu bakhe.’ (Ruthe 1:9-15, NW.) Kodvwa Ruthe wancuma kungabuyeli kubantfu bakubo nakubonkulunkulu babo bemanga.

6. (a) Ngusiphi sincumo lesihlakaniphile Ruthe lasitsatsa? (b) Kungani Bowazi akhuluma ngaRuthe njengaloyo lofuna sivikelo ngaphansi kwemaphiko aJehova?

⁶ Kubonakala shengatsi Ruthe wafundza ngaJehova endvodzeni yakhe nobe kuNawomi. Wafundza kutsi Jehova akafanani nabonkulunkulu bakaMowabi. Abemtsandza Jehova futsi bekati kutsi kufanele amkhonte. Ngako Ruthe watsatsa sincumo lesihlakaniphile. Watjela Nawomi watsi: “Sive sakini, kuyawuba sive sami; naNkulunkulu wakho kube nguNkulunkulu wami.” (Ruthe 1:16) Siyajabula nasicabanga ngendlela Ruthe labekamtsandza ngayo Nawomi. Kodvwa lokusijabulisa kakhulu yindlela Ruthe labekamtsandza ngayo Jehova. Loko kwajabulisa ngisho naBowazi, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi lowadvumisa Ruthe ngekutsi ‘ukhosele ngaphansi kwaJehova.’ (Fundza Ruthe 2:12.) Emavi lasetjentiswa nguBowazi asikhumbuta indlela lizini lelifuna ngayo sivikelo ngaphansi kwemaphiko enina. (Tihlabelelo 36:7; 91:1-4) Ngendlela lefanako, Jehova wamvikela Ruthe futsi wambusisa ngenca yekukholwa kwakhe. Ruthe akazange atisole ngesincumo lasitsatsa.

7. Yini lengasita labo labamadvolomatima ekunikeleni kuphila kwabo kuJehova?

⁷ Bantfu bayafundza ngaJehova kodvwa abamenti abe sivikelo sabo. Bamadvolomatima kunikela kuphila kwabo kuye futsi babhajatiswe. Nangabe utiva ngaleyo ndlela, tibute kutsi kungani. Wonkhe umuntfu ukhonta nkulunkulu wakhe. (Joshuwa 24:15) Sincumo lesikahle lesingasitsatsa kutsi sikhonte Nkulunkulu weliciniso. Nawunikela kuphila kwakho kuJehova, usuke ukhombisa kutsi uyetsemba kutsi utakuvikela. Utakusita kutsi uchubeke umkhonta ngisho nobe ubhekana nayiphi inkinga. Nguloko kanye Nkulunkulu lakwentela Ruthe.

8. Chaza indlela Hezekiya lakhula ngayo.

⁸ Lokwenteka kuHezekiya kwehluke kakhulu kuloko lokwenteka kuRuthe. Abewasesiveni lesitinikele kuNkulunkulu. Kodvwa akusiwo onkhe ema-Israyeli lachubeka etsembekile. INkhosi Ahazi lebeyinguyise waHezekiya, beyenta tintfo letimbi. Ayizange ilihloniphe lithempeli laNkulunkulu futsi yakhutsata bantfu kutsi bakhonte labanye bonkulunkulu. Ahazi wadzimate washisa labanye banakabo Hezekiya, wenta ngabo umnikelo kubonkulunkulu bemanga. Hezekiya wakhula kamatima.​—2 Emakhosi 16:2-4, 10-17; 2 Tikhronike 28:1-3.

9, 10. (a) Yini lebeyingenta Hezekiya kutsi atfukutsele? (b) Kungani kungakafaneli sitfukutselele Nkulunkulu? (c) Kungani kungakafaneli sicabange kutsi indlela lesikhule ngayo iveta kutsi sitawuba bantfu labanjani?

⁹ Sibonelo lesibi sa-Ahazi besingenta kutsi indvodzana yakhe Hezekiya itfukutselele Jehova. Lamuhla, labanye bantfu lababhekene netimo letincono kunetaHezekiya bacabanga kutsi banetizatfu letivakalako ‘tekutfukutselela Jehova’ nobe inhlangano yakhe. (Taga 19:3, NW.) Labanye bacabanga kutsi indlela lebuhlungu labakhule ngayo ingase ibabangele kutsi babe nelikusasa lelibi nobe bente emaphutsa lentiwa batali babo. (Hezekeli 18:2, 3) Kodvwa kuliciniso yini loku?

¹⁰ Loko lokwenteka ekuphileni kwaHezekiya kufakazela kutsi imphendvulo yalombuto ingucha! Asikho sizatfu lesivakalako sekutfukutselela Jehova. Akabangeli kutsi tintfo letimbi tenteke kubantfu. (Jobe 34:10) Kuliciniso kutsi batali bangabafundzisa bantfwana babo kutsi bente tintfo letinhle nobe letimbi. (Taga 22:6; Kholose 3:21) Kodvwa loko akusho kutsi indlela lesikhule ngayo ngiyo letawuncuma kutsi sitawuba bantfu labanjani. Kungani kunjalo? Kungobe Jehova usinikete inkhululeko yekutikhetsela, lokusho kutsi singakhetsa kwenta lokulungile nobe lokungakalungi. (Dutheronomi 30:19) Hezekiya wasisebentisa njani lesipho lesiligugu?

11. Yini leyenta Hezekiya waba ngulenye yemakhosi akaJuda lakahle kakhulu?

¹¹ Ngisho nobe uyise abengulenye yemakhosi labekenta tintfo letimbi kaJuda, kodvwa Hezekiya waba yinkhosi lekahle  kakhulu. (Fundza 2 Emakhosi 18:5, 6.) Akazange alandzele sibonelo lesibi seyise. Esikhundleni saloko, wakhetsa kulalela baphrofethi baJehova labafaka ekhatsi Isaya, Mikha naHoseya. Walalelisisa tiyalo neticondziso tabo. Loko kwamenta walungisa tinkinga letinyenti lebetibangelwe nguyise. Wahlanta lithempeli, wacela Nkulunkulu kutsi acolele bantfu tono tabo futsi wabhidlita tithico kuyo yonkhe indzawo. (2 Tikhronike 29:1-11, 18-24; 31:1) Kamuva, ngesikhatsi inkhosi yase-Asiriya Senaheribi isongela kuhlasela liJerusalema, Hezekiya wakhombisa kuba nesibindzi lesikhulu nekukholwa. Wetsembela esivikelweni saJehova futsi wacinisa bantfu bakhe. (2 Tikhronike 32:7, 8) Ngalesinye sikhatsi, Hezekiya watikhukhumeta kodvwa ngesikhatsi Jehova amekhuta, watitfoba. (2 Tikhronike 32:24-26) Kuyacaca-ke kutsi Hezekiya usibonelo lesihle kakhulu sekulingiswa. Akazange avumele indlela lakhula ngayo kutsi yone kuphila kwakhe. Esikhundleni saloko, wakhombisa kutsi ungumngani waJehova.

12. NjengaHezekiya, labanyenti lamuhla bakhombise njani kutsi babangani baJehova?

¹² Live lesiphila kulo libi, linebantfu labete lutsandvo futsi bantfwana labanyenti abakhuliswa batali labanelutsandvo nalababanakekelako. (2 Thimothi 3:1-5) Ngisho nobe emaKhristu lamanyenti lamuhla akhuliswe kamatima, akhetse kwakha bungani naJehova. NjengaHezekiya, ayakhombisa kutsi indlela lakhuliswe ngayo angeke ivete loko latawuba ngiko esikhatsini lesitako. Nkulunkulu usinike inkhululeko yekutikhetsela, futsi singakhetsa kumkhonta siphindze simdvumise njengobe kwenta Hezekiya.

13, 14. Kungani umsebenti lobewuniketwe Mariya wawubonakala shengatsi umatima, kodvwa yini layenta ngemuva kwekukhuluma naGabriyeli?

¹³ Eminyakeni leminyenti ngemuva kwekuphila kwaHezekiya, intfombi lebeyitfobekile lebekutsiwa nguMariya yaba ngumngani lomkhulu waJehova futsi yatfola nesabelo lesikhetsekile. Beyitawukhulelwa, ibeleke iNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu futsi iyikhulise. Kufanele kube Jehova bekametsemba futsi amtsandza Mariya njengobe amniketa lelilungelo lelimangalisako. Kodvwa Mariya wenta njani nakeva ngalesabelo kwekucala?

¹⁴ Sivame kukhuluma ngelilungelo lelikhulu Mariya laniketwa lona. Kodvwa ngutiphi letinye tintfo lokungenteka abetesaba? Nasi sibonelo: Ingilosi Gabriyeli yatsi utawukhulelwa angakalali nendvodza. Kodvwa Gabriyeli akazange awuchazele umndeni waMariya nabomakhelwane bakhe kutsi utawukhulelwa njani. Bebatawucabangani? Yini labekatawuyenta  kute Josefa amkholwe kutsi wetsembekile kuye? Ngetulu kwaloko, abenemsebenti lomkhulu wekukhulisa iNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu. Asikwati konkhe lobekukhatsata Mariya, kodvwa siyakwati lakwenta ngemuva kwekutsi Gabriyeli akhulume naye. Watsi: “Mine ngiyincekukati yaJehova! Shengatsi kungenteka njengobe ushito.”​—Lukha 1:26-38.

15. Kungani Mariya abenekukholwa lokucinile?

¹⁵ Mariya abenekukholwa lokucinile! Njengencekukati, bekalungele kwenta nobe yini labekacelwa kutsi ayente. Beketsemba kutsi Jehova utamnakekela futsi amvikele. Yini leyasita Mariya kutsi abe nekukholwa lokucine kangaka? Umuntfu akatalwa anekukholwa. Kodvwa singaba nako nangabe sikwakha futsi sicela Nkulunkulu kutsi abusise imetamo yetfu. (Galathiya 5:22; Efesu 2:8) Mariya wasebenta kamatima kute acinise kukholwa kwakhe. Sikwati njani loko? Asesihlole indlela lebekalalela ngayo kanye naloko bekakukhuluma.

16. Yini lekhombisa kutsi Mariya abelalelisisa?

¹⁶ Indlela Mariya labelalela ngayo. LiBhayibheli litsi ‘kufanele sisheshe kulalela, sephute kukhuluma.’ (Jakobe 1:19) Mariya abelalelisisa. LiBhayibheli likhombisa kutsi abetilalelisisa tintfo labekativa, ikakhulukati leto labetifundza ngaJehova. Abetinika sikhatsi kute azindle ngaletintfo letibalulekile. Sibonelo saloko kutsi wawulalelisisa umlayeto wengilosi lawutjelwa belusi ngesikhatsi kutalwa Jesu. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jesu nakaneminyaka lengu-12 budzala, washo intfo letsite leyammangalisa Mariya. Kuto totimbili letimo, Mariya walalelisisa, wakhumbula futsi wacabangisisa ngaloko lakuvile.​—Fundza Lukha 2:16-19, 49, 51.

17. Yini lesingayifundza ngaMariya kuloko lakukhuluma?

¹⁷ Loko Mariya labekukhuluma. LiBhayibheli alikhulumi kangako ngetintfo Mariya labekatisho. Inkhulumo yakhe lendze itfolakala kuLukha 1:46-55. Lamavi akhombisa kutsi Mariya abeyati kahle imiBhalo yesiHebheru. Kungani sisho njalo? Emavi akhe ayafana nemavi lakhulunywa nguHana, unina waSamuweli ngesikhatsi athantaza. (1 Samuweli 2:1-10) Kubonakala shengatsi Mariya wacaphuna imiBhalo tikhatsi letingaba ngu-20 ngalesikhatsi akhuluma. Kuyacaca-ke kutsi bekakutsandza kukhuluma ngeliciniso labekalifundziswe nguMngani wakhe lomkhulu Jehova.

18. Singamlingisa ngatiphi tindlela Mariya?

¹⁸ NjengaMariya, ngaletinye tikhatsi singase sitfole tabelo letivela kuJehova lesicabanga kutsi kulukhuni kutenta. Asilingise sibonelo sakhe, ngekutfobeka sisemukele lesabelo futsi setsembe kutsi Jehova utasisita. Singaphindze silingise kukholwa kwaMariya nasimlalelisisa Jehova siphindze sizindle ngaloko lesikufundzile ngaye netinjongo takhe. Singabese sicocela labanye loko lesikufundzile.​—Tihlabelelo 77:11, 12; Lukha 8:18; Roma 10:15.

19. Njengobe silingisa tibonelo letihamba phambili letiseBhayibhelini tebantfu lababa nekukholwa, yini lisingaciniseka ngayo?

¹⁹ Kuyacaca kutsi Ruthe, Hezekiya naMariya bebabangani baJehova njenga-Abrahama. Bebayincenye ‘yelifu lelikhulu labofakazi’ lelaba nelilungelo lekuba bangani baNkulunkulu. Shengatsi singachubeka silingisa tibonelo letinjengaleti. (Hebheru 6:11, 12) Nasenta njalo, singawubuka ngalabovu umvuzo wekuba bangani baNkulunkulu kuze kube phakadze!