1, 2. (a) Ngutiphi tintfo letibalulekile ekubeni nebuhlobo lobuhle naJehova? (b) Sitawuzuza njani ngekuhlola kulandzisa lokusemiBhalweni ngendlela bantfu labasebentisa ngayo seluleko saNkulunkulu?

‘MINE kungilungele kusondzela kuNkulunkulu. Simakadze, iNkhosi, ngimente waba siphephelo sami.’ (Hla. 73:28) Ngalamavi, umhlabeli wakhombisa kwetsembela kuNkulunkulu. Ngutiphi timo letamenta wefika kulesiphetfo lesibalulekile? Ngesikhatsi abona kuchuma kwalababi, umhlabeli wacale weva buhlungu enhlitiyweni yakhe. Wakhuluma kabuhlungu watsi: “Ngiyihlantele lite inhlitiyo yami, ngageza tandla tami njengalote licala.” (Hla. 73:2, 3, 13, 21) Nobe kunjalo, ngesikhatsi angena “endlini lengcwele yaNkulunkulu,” waba sendzaweni leyamsita walungisa kucabanga kwakhe futsi walondvolota buhlobo bakhe naNkulunkulu. (Hla. 73:16-18) Loko kwafundzisa lendvodza leyesaba Nkulunkulu sifundvo lesibalulekile: Kute ube nebuhlobo lobusedvute naJehova, kubalulekile kuba semkhatsini webantfu baNkulunkulu nekwemukela seluleko futsi usisebentise.—Hla. 73:24.

² Natsi siyafisa kuba nebuhlobo lobusedvute naNkulunkulu lophilako weliciniso. Kute sikwente loko, kubalulekile kutsi sivumele seluleko nobe siyalo sakhe sisibumbe sibe bantfu labamjabulisako. Etikhatsini tasendvulo, Nkulunkulu abenika bantfu netive ematfuba ekwemukela seluleko sakhe. Kulandzisa kwendlela labasisebentisa ngayo kubhalwe eBhayibhelini kute ‘kufundzise tsine’ futsi kube “njengesecwayiso kitsi tsine lesesifikelwe sikhatsi sekugcina.” (Rom. 15:4; 1 Khor. 10:11) Kukuhlolisisa ngekucophelela lokulandzisa kutawusenta sicondze bunguye baJehova kuphindze kusikhombise kutsi singazuza njani ekusibumbeni kwakhe.

3. Ku-Isaya 64:8 nakuJeremiya 18:1-6, emandla Jehova lanawo kubantfu afanekiswa njani? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni.)

³ Umbhalo wa-Isaya 64:8 uchaza emandla Jehova lanawo  kubantfu netive ngendlela lengumfanekiso, utsi: “Wena Simakadze, unguBabe wetfu. Tsine silibumba, wena ungumbumbi, sonkhe singumsebenti wetandla takho.” Umbumbi unawo onkhe emandla ekubumba lubumba lube ngunobe ngusiphi sitja lasifunako. Lolubumba lute emandla ekutikhetsela kulendzaba. Kunjalo nangebantfu naNkulunkulu. Umuntfu angeke aphikisane naNkulunkulu njengobe nelubumba lungeke luphikise umbumbi lolubumbako.—Fundza Jeremiya 18:1-6.

4. Jehova ubabumba ngekukhetsa yini bantfu nobe tive? Chaza.

⁴ Jehova wakhombisa kuma-Israyeli asendvulo likhono lakhe lekwenta lokwentiwa ngumbumbi. Kodvwa kunemehluko lomkhulu. Umbumbi angenta nobe ngusiphi sitja lakhona kusenta ngelubumba. Jehova ubabumba ngekukhetsa yini bantfu nobe tive, ente labanye babe kahle futsi labanye babe babi? Imphendvulo leseBhayibhelini ingucha. Jehova unike bantfu sipho lesiligugu—sipho sekutikhetsela. Akawasebentisi emandla akhe ekubusa ngendlela letawenta lesipho sakhe singasasebenti. Bantfu kufanele bakhetse kubunjwa nguMdali, longuJehova.—Fundza Jeremiya 18:7-10.

5. Jehova uwasebentisa njani emandla akhe kubantfu nangabe bala kubunjwa nguye?

⁵ Kutsiwani-ke nangabe bantfu bala ngenkhani kubunjwa nguMbumbi Lomkhulu? Kuleso simo, Nkulunkulu uwasebentisa njani emandla akhe? Cabanga ngaloko lokwenteka ngelubumba nangabe lungasakulungeli kusetjentiselwa injongo yalo. Umbumbi angavele ente lolunye luhlobo lwesitja nobe alulahle. Nobe kunjalo, nangabe lolubumba lungasasebenti, ngalokuvamile liphutsa lisuke likumbumbi. Akusinjalo ngeMbumbi wetfu. (Dut. 32:4) Nangabe umuntfu angavumi kubunjwa nguJehova, liphutsa liba kuloyo muntfu. Jehova usebentisa emandla akhe lafana newembumbi ngekuphatsa bantfu ngekuvumelana nendlela labakusebentisa ngayo kubumba kwakhe. Labo labakusebentisa kahle babunjwa ngendlela lezuzisako. Nasi sibonelo: EmaKhristu lagcotjiwe ‘atitja temusa’ letibunjwe taba ‘titja teludvumo, letisetjentiswa ngetikhatsi letitsite.’ Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, labo labaphikisa Nkulunkulu ngenkhani bagcine ‘batitja telulaka lwakhe letimiselwe kubhujiswa.’—Rom. 9:19-23.

6, 7. INkhosi Davide neNkhosi Sawula behluka njani ekwemukeleni siyalo saJehova?

 ⁶ Lenye indlela Jehova labumba ngayo bantfu kusebentisa seluleko nobe siyalo. Singayibona indlela lasebentisa ngayo emandla akhe kulabo lababumbako ngekucabanga ngemakhosi ekucala lamabili aka-Israyeli—Sawula naDavide. Ngesikhatsi iNkhosi Davide iphinga naBhatisheba, leso sento sakhe samtsintsa kakhulu yena nalabanye. Ngisho nobe Davide abeyinkhosi, Jehova akazange amyekele angamniki siyalo lesicinile. Nkulunkulu watfumela umphrofethi wakhe Nathani kuDavide kute amtjele umlayeto lobalulekile. (2 Sam. 12:1-12) Wenta njani Davide? Watsintseka kakhulu enhlitiyweni futsi waphendvuka. Davide wawutfola umusa waNkulunkulu.—Fundza 2 Samuweli 12:13.

 ⁷ Ngalokwehlukile, iNkhosi Sawula leyalandzelwa nguDavide, ayizange isemukele kahle seluleko. Jehova abenike Sawula sicondziso lesicacile ngemphrofethi Samuweli: Bhubhisa onkhe ema-Amaleki nemfuyo yawo. Sawula akazange asilalele lesicondziso lesivela kuNkulunkulu. Wasindzisa Agagi, inkhosi, nalenye imfuyo. Wakwentelani loko? Lokunye lokwambangela wenta loko kutsi abetifunela ludvumo. (1 Sam. 15:1-3, 7-9, 12) Ngesikhatsi ayalwa, Sawula bekufanele atsambise inhlitiyo yakhe, avumele kubunjwa nguMbumbi Lomkhulu. Esikhundleni sekwenta njalo, Sawula wala kubunjwa. Wasitsetselela sento sakhe. Wativuna watsi loko labekwentile bekuvumelekile ngobe  lemfuyo beyingasetjentiselwa iminikelo, ngako wasitsatsela phansi seluleko saSamuweli. Jehova wamala Sawula kutsi achubeke ayinkhosi, futsi Sawula akazange aphindze abulungise buhlobo bakhe naNkulunkulu weliciniso.—Fundza 1 Samuweli 15:13-15, 20-23.

8. Singafundza siphi sifundvo endleleni ema-Israyeli lakwemukela ngayo kubunjwa nguJehova?

⁸ Jehova akaniki bantfu kuphela litfuba lekwemukela kubunjwa nguye, kodvwa netive uyatinika lelitfuba. Nga-1513 B.C.E., ema-Israyeli akhululwa ebugcilini baseGibhithe, enta sivumelwane sekuba nebuhlobo naNkulunkulu. Israyeli abesive sakhe lesikhetsiwe futsi anelilungelo lekubunjwa nguye, kube shengatsi usesondvweni leMbumbi Lomkhulu. Nobe kunjalo, bantfu bachubeka benta lokubi emehlweni aJehova, baze bacala kukhonta bonkulunkulu baletinye tive. Jehova abetfumela baphrofethi kanyenti kute balungise tindlela tabo, kodvwa Israyeli akazange alalele. (Jer. 35:12-15) Ngesizatfu sekutsi waba nenkhani, Israyeli bekufanele ayalwe kamatima. Njengesitja lesimiselwe kubhujiswa, umbuso wasenyakatfo wetive letilishumi wancontjwa ngema-Asiriya futsi kwenteka lokufanako embusweni waseningizimu wetive letimbili nawehlulwa baseBhabhulona. Loku kufanele kusifundzise sifundvo lesibalulekile. Kubunjwa nguJehova kungasisita nangabe sikwemukela kahle.

9, 10. Bantfu baseNineve basemukela njani secwayiso lesivela kuNkulunkulu?

⁹ Jehova waphindze wanika labantfu baseNineve leyinhlokodolobha yase-Asiriya  litfuba lekwemukela secwayiso sakhe. Livi lakhe lefika kuJona, litsi: “Hamba uye eNineve, lidolobha lelikhulukati, ufike umemetele kubantfu balo utsi bubi babo sebenyukele kimi.” INineve beyibonakala ifanele kubhujiswa.—Jona 1:1, 2; 3:1-4.

¹⁰ Nobe kunjalo, ngesikhatsi Jona amemetela umlayeto wekubhujiswa, “bantfu baseNineve balikholwa lelivi laNkulunkulu. Ngako base bamemetela kutsi bonkhe bantfu abazile, kusukela kulomkhulu kuze kube ngukulomncane, bembatse emasaka, bakhombise kutsi baphendvukile.” INkhosi yabo “yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sebukhosi, yakhumula ingubo yayo yebukhosi, yatembonya ngendvwangu yemasaka, yahlala phansi emlotseni.” Bantfu baseNineve bakwemukela kubunjwa nguJehova futsi baphendvuka. Ngako-ke, Jehova akazange asabaletsela inhlekelele.—Jona 3:5-10.

11. Ngubuphi bunguye baJehova lobubonakala endleleni laphatsa ngayo ema-Israyeli nebaseNineve?

¹¹ Kuba sive lesikhetsiwe bekungasho kutsi ema-Israyeli angeke asayalwa. Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, bantfu baseNineve bebete sivumelwane sekuba nebuhlobo naNkulunkulu. Nobe kunjalo, Jehova wenta kutsi umlayeto wesehlulelo sakhe umenyetelwe kubo futsi wabakhombisa umusa ngesikhatsi baba njengelubumba etandleni takhe. Letibonelo letimbili tikhombisa ngalokucacile kutsi Nkulunkulu wetfu Jehova “akakhetsi.”—Dut. 10:17.

12, 13. (a) Yini lebangela kutsi Nkulunkulu ashintje indlela yakhe nangabe bantfu bemukela kubunjwa nguye? (b) ‘Kutisola’ kwaJehova kwakusho kutsini endzabeni yaSawula? endzabeni yebantfu baseNineve?

¹² Sifiso saNkulunkulu sekusibumba sikhombisa kutsi uyacabangela futsi uvumelana netimo. Loko kuyabonakala etimeni lapho Jehova abetawutsatsa khona sinyatselo sekwehlulela bantfu kodvwa bese ushintja ingcondvo kuye ngendlela labenta ngayo labo bantfu. Mayelana nenkhosi yekucala yaka-Israyeli, imiBhalo itsi Jehova ‘watisola ngekutsi wenta Sawula waba yinkhosi.’ (1 Sam. 15:11) Ngesikhatsi bantfu baseNineve baphendvuka futsi bagucuka etindleleni tabo letimbi, liBhayibheli litsi: “[Nkulunkulu weliciniso] watisola ngalokubi labeshito kutsi utabehlisela kona. Akazange abajezise.”—Jona 3:10.

¹³ Ligama lesiHebheru lelihunyushwe ngekutsi “watisola” lisho kushintja simo sengcondvo nobe inhloso. Simo sengcondvo saJehova ngekukhetsa Sawula kutsi abeyinkhosi sashintja, wase uyamala. Lolushintjo lolwenteka belungasho kutsi Jehova wenta liphutsa ngekukhetsa Sawula, kodvwa lwabangelwa kutsi Sawula akazange akhombise kukholwa futsi wacala kungalaleli. Endzabeni yebantfu baseNineve, Nkulunkulu weliciniso watisola; lokusho kutsi, washintja inhloso yakhe ngabo. Kuyasidvudvuta kwati kutsi uMbumbi wetfu longuJehova uyacabangela futsi uvumelane netimo, unemusa futsi ukulungele kushintja indlela yakhe nangabe bantfu labente sono benta tingucuko letinhle.

14. (a) Jehova usibumba njani lamuhla? (b) Kufanele sikwemukele njani kubunjwa nguNkulunkulu?

¹⁴ Nalamuhla Jehova uyasibumba ngeliVi lakhe liBhayibheli nangenhlangano yakhe. (2 Thim. 3:16, 17) Akukafaneli yini semukele seluleko nobe siyalo lesisitfola ngalamalungiselelo? Ngisho nobe sinesikhatsi lesingakanani sibhajatisiwe nobe sinikwe imisebenti lengakanani enhlanganweni, kufanele sichubeke silalela nangabe Jehova asinika seluleko, sisivumele kutsi sisibumbe kute sibe titja teludvumo.

15, 16. (a) Ngumiphi imiva lemibi lengase ibe khona nangabe siyalo sihlanganisa kulahlekelwa ngemalungelo? Fanekisa. (b) Yini lengasisita kutsi sibeketelele imiva lemibi lehambisana nesiyalo lesisitfolile?

 ¹⁵ Lesinye siyalo kungenteka siniketwe sona sisicondziso nobe siseluleko. Ngaletinye tikhatsi, kungenteka kudzingeke kutsi siyalwe ngobe singakenti lokulungile. Siyalo lesinjalo, singase sifake ekhatsi kutsi silahlekelwe ngemalungelo. Cabanga ngesibonelo saDennis * lobekangulomdzala welibandla. Wenta sono ngesizatfu sekungatenti tincumo letihlakaniphile etindzabeni telibhizinisi futsi wasolwa. Wativa njani Dennis ngelilanga kukhishwa simemetelo sekutsi akasasiye lomdzala welibandla? Utsi: “Ngativa ngisehluleki. Kuyo yonkhe leminyaka lengu-30, benginemalungelo lamanyenti. Bengibe lihlahlandlela lelivamile, ngakhonta eBethel, ngabekwa kutsi ngibe yinceku lesebentako futsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ngaba ngulomdzala welibandla. Bengisandza nje kwetfula inkhulumo yami yekucala emhlanganweni wesigodzi. Ngekucwabita kweliso, konkhe loko bekungasekho. Ngaphandle nje kwekutsi bengitiva ngisehluleki futsi ngihlazekile, bengicabanga kutsi sengite indzawo enhlanganweni.”

¹⁶ Dennis bekufanele ashintje indlela labephila ngayo, akushiye lokubi lokwamenta watfola seluleko. Kodvwa yini leyamsita wakwati kubeketelela lesimo labebhekene naso? Uyachaza: “Bengitimisele kuchubeka ngakha budlelwane lobuhle naNkulunkulu. Lokubaluleke kakhulu kusekelwa lebengikutfola kumaKhristu, netikhutsato lengatitfola etincwadzini tetfu. Sihloko lesitsi ‘Ingabe Wake Wakhonza? Ungaphinde Yini Ukhonze?’ lesiku-Sicongosekulindza sa-August 15, 2009, (ngesiZulu) sasifanana nencwadzi lecondziswe ngco kimi lephendvula imithantazo yami. Sicondziso lengasijabulela kakhulu ngulesi lesitsi: ‘Nawusete imisebenti leminyenti lonikwe yona ebandleni, naka kakhulu kucinisa buhlobo bakho naNkulunkulu.’” Dennis uzuze njani kulesiyalo? Ngemuva kweminyaka letsite, utsi: “Jehova uphindze wangibusisa ngekutsi ngibe nelilungelo lekuba yinceku lesebentako.”

17. Kuyekeliswa kuba nguFakazi kungaba nayiphi indzima ekwelulameni kwesoni? Fanekisa.

¹⁷ Kuyekeliswa kuba nguFakazi ngulesinye siyalo lesisitfola kuJehova. Sivikela libandla emkhubeni lomubi futsi singasisita soni kutsi selulame. (1 Khor. 5:6, 7, 11) Robert wayekeliswa kuba nguFakazi cishe iminyaka lengu-16, ngaleso sikhatsi batali bakhe nebantfwana bakubo ngekwetsembeka basebentisa sicondziso seliVi laNkulunkulu sekungatihlanganisi netoni ngisho nekungatibingeleli imbala. Nyalo sekuphele iminyaka letsite Robert abuyiselwe futsi utfutfuka kahle. Nakabutwa kutsi yini lembangele wabuyela kuJehova nakubantfu baKhe ngemuva kwesikhatsi lesidze kangaka, watsi loko lokwentiwa ngemalunga emndeni wakubo kwamsita kakhulu. Utsi: “Kube emalunga emndeni wakitsi atihlanganisa nami, mhlawumbe angivakashela, loko nje bekungangenetisa mhlawumbe kungibangele ngibebete sifiso sekukhutsateka kutsi ngiphindze ngibuyele kuNkulunkulu.”

18. Kufanele sitivete silubumba lolunjani etandleni teMbumbi Lomkhulu?

¹⁸ Kungenteka singadzingi siyalo lesinjalo, kodvwa sitativeta silubumba lolunjani etandleni teMbumbi Lomkhulu? Sitawenta njani nasitfola siyalo? Sitawulingisa Davide yini nobe Sawula? UMbumbi wetfu Lomkhulu nguBabe wetfu. Ungakhohlwa kutsi “Simakadze uyamtsetsisa amcondzise lowo lamtsandzako, njengobe neyise enta endvodzaneni yakhe lajabula ngayo.” Ngako-ke, “ungakwedzeleli kucondziswa nguSimakadze, ungadzinwa kutsetsiswa nguye.”—Taga 3:11, 12.