1-3. Yini Jehova lebekafuna Hezekeli ayibone ethempelini lebeliseJerusalema, futsi kungani? (Buka emavi nesitfombe lesiseNcenyeni 2.)

NJENGOBE ayindvodzana yemphristi, umphrofethi Hezekeli uwati kahle uMtsetfo waMosi, futsi wetayelene nelithempeli leliseJerusalema kanye nekukhonta lokuhlantekile kwaJehova lobekufanele kwentiwe kulo. (Hez. 1:3; Mal. 2:7) Kodvwa nyalo nga-612 B.C.E., lokwentekako ethempelini laJehova bekutawetfusa wonkhe umJuda lowetsembekile, kuhlanganise naHezekeli.

² Jehova ufuna kutsi Hezekeli atibone letintfo letenyanyekako letenteka ethempelini bese utjela ‘emadvodza lamadzala akaJuda’ loko lakubonako lokungemadvodza labutsene endlini yakhe. (Fundza Hezekeli 8:1-4; Hez. 11:24, 25; 20:1-3) Ngemoya longcwele, Jehova ususa Hezekeli (ngembono) endlini yakhe leseTheli-abibi eceleni kwemfula iKhebhari eBhabhulona, umyisa eJerusalema lebeyingasenshonalanga nawusuka eTheli-abibi futsi beyikhashane ngemakhilomitha lamanyenti kakhulu. Jehova ubeka lomphrofethi ethempelini, egedeni lelingasenyakatfo lelibala lelingekhatsi. Kusuka lapho, Jehova umtsatsa ngembono, umhambisa kulo lonkhe lelithempeli umkhombisa lona.

 ³ Nyalo, Hezekeli ubona tintfo letine letetfusako letikhombisa indlela kukhonta lokuhlantekile lobesekugcoliswe ngayo kulelive. Besekwentekeni ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile kwaJehova? Lombono usho kutsini kitsi lamuhla? Asihambisane naHezekeli njengobe ahambahamba kulelithempeli. Kepha kwekucala, kufanele sicoce ngaloko Jehova lakulindzele etikhontini takhe.

4. Yini Jehova layilindzele etikhontini takhe?

⁴ Eminyakeni lengaba ngu-900 ngaphambi kwekutsi kutalwe Hezekeli, Jehova wakusho ngalokucacile loko lakulindzele etikhontini takhe. Emtsetfweni wesibili loseMitsetfweni Lelishumi, Jehova watsi kuma-Israyeli: * “Mine Jehova Nkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu lofuna kutsi ukhonte yena yedvwa.” (Eks. 20:5) Ngalamavi latsi “ukhonte yena yedvwa,” Jehova bekaveta kutsi angeke avume kutsi bantfu bakhonte labanye bonkulunkulu. Njengobe sibonile eSehlukweni 2 salencwadzi, intfo yekucala ledzingekako ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile, kutsi kube nguJehova lowemukela kutinikela kwetfu. Tikhonti takhe kufanele timente ete kucala ekuphileni kwato. (Eks. 20:3) Kalula nje, Jehova ulindzele kutsi tikhonti takhe timkhonte ngendlela lehlantekile, ngekutsi tingahlanganisi kukhonta kweliciniso nekwemanga. Nga-1513 B.C.E., ema-Israyeli angena ngekutitsandzela esivumelwaneni seMtsetfo. Ngekwenta njalo, bekavuma kutsi atawukhonta Jehova kuphela. (Eks. 24:3-8) Jehova ucotfo etivumelwaneni takhe futsi ulindzele nekutsi bantfu lente nabo tivumelwane betsembeke.—Dut. 7:9, 10; 2 Sam. 22:26.

5, 6. Kungani ema-Israyeli bekufanele akhonte Jehova kuphela?

⁵ Bekunengcondvo yini kutsi Jehova afune ema-Israyeli akhonte yena yedvwa? Yebo! UnguNkulunkulu Somandla, unguMbusi Wendzawo Yonkhe futsi unguMtfombo nemnakekeli wekuphila. (Hla. 36:9; Imis. 17:28) Jehova bekaphindze abe nguMkhululi wema-Israyeli. Ngesikhatsi abaniketa iMitsetfo Lelishumi, wakhumbuta labantfu watsi: “Mine nginguJehova Nkulunkulu wakho, lowakukhipha eveni laseGibhithe, live lebewugcilatwa kulo.” (Eks. 20:2) Kuyacaca kutsi ema-Israyeli bekufanele akhonte Jehova kuphela.

⁶ Jehova akashintji. (Mal. 3:6) Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi uhlale afuna kutsi kukhontwe yena yedvwa. Cabanga ngendlela lokungenteka wativa ngayo ngaletintfo lebetenteka ethempelini latikhombisa Hezekeli embonweni.

7. (a) Yini emaJuda latihlubuki lebekayenta egedeni lelithempeli lelisenyakatfo, futsi loko kwenta Jehova wativa njani? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesehluko.) (b) Kushiwo ngamuphi umcondvo kutsi Jehova watfukutsela? (Buka umbhalo longentasi 2.)

⁷ Fundza Hezekeli 8:5, 6. Kungenteka Hezekeli wetfuka nakabona loko. Egedeni lelisenyakatfo yelithempeli, emaJuda latihlubuki bekakhotsamela sitfombe nobe sithico lesitsite. Kungenteka lena bekuyinsika lengcwele lebeyimelela Ashera, longunkulunkulukati wemanga, loyo emakhenani lebekatsi ungumfati waBhali. Kunome ngukuphi, lama-Israyeli lebekakhonta lesithico awazange atigcine tetsembiso  lebekatente kuJehova. Ngekutsatsa kukhonta kwawo akunikete sithico kunekutsi akunikete Jehova kuphela, amtfukutselisa kakhulu Nkulunkulu futsi kube kufanele. * (Dut. 32:16; Hez. 5:13) Cabanga nganaku: Besekwendlule iminyaka lengetulu kwalengu-400 solo indzawo lengcwele yelithempeli ihlotjaniswa nekuba khona kwaJehova. (1 Khos. 8:10-13) Kodvwa nyalo njengobe labantfu besebaletsa letithico endzaweni yelithempeli, Jehova wabese ‘uhambela khashane nendzawo yakhe lengcwele.’

8. Umbono waHezekeli wesithico lesitfukutselisa Nkulunkulu usho kutsini kitsi lamuhla?

⁸ Umbono waHezekeli wesithico lesitfukutselisa Nkulunkulu usho kutsini kitsi lamuhla? EmaJuda latihlubuki asikhumbuta ngeTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu. Kukhonta tithico kugcwele emasontfweni lamuhla, futsi loko kwenta kutinikela kwawo kungemukeleki kuNkulunkulu. Njengobe Jehova angashintji, singaciniseka kutsi njengemaJuda, neTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu tiyamtfukutselisa Jehova. (Jak. 1:17) Ngako siyaciniseka kutsi Jehova ukhashane naleTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu.

9, 10. Ngusiphi sifundvo lesisecwayiso lesisifundza kulabantfu lebebakhonta tithico ethempelini?

⁹ Ngusiphi sifundvo lesisecwayiso lesingasifundza kulabantfu lebebakhonta tithico ethempelini? Kuze sitinikele kuJehova kuphela, kufanele ‘sikubalekele kukhonta tithico.’ (1 Khor. 10:14) Ungahle utsi: ‘Mine angiyuze ngisebentise tithico nobe titfombe kute ngikhonte Jehova!’ Kodvwa kukhonta tithico kuta ngetindlela letehlukahlukene, letinye tibhacile kunaletinye. Lenye incwadzi lechaza liBhayibheli iyibeka ngalendlela lendzaba, itsi: “Umuntfu angacabanga ngekukhonta tithico njengesifananiso ngco saletinye tintfo, lokungunobe yini leligugu, lenelinani lelisetulu, nobe lenemandla latsite legcine seyibaluleka kakhulu kwendlula kukhonta kwetfu Nkulunkulu.” Ngako, kukhonta tithico kungafaka ekhatsi kutsandza kakhulu tintfo lesinato, imali, kuya ecansini, kutijabulisa—ecinisweni nobe yini nje lengeta kucala ekuphileni bese itsatsa sikhundla sekutsi sitinikele kuJehova kuphela. (Mat. 6:19-21, 24; Ef. 5:5; Khol. 3:5) Kufanele siticaphele tonkhe tinhlobo tekukhonta tithico ngobe nguJehova kuphela lokufanele sitinikele kuye futsi simkhonte.—1 Joh. 5:21.

¹⁰ Intfo yekucala Jehova layikhombisa Hezekeli beyifaka ekhatsi ‘tintfo letimbi naletenyanyekako.’ Nanobe kunjalo, Jehova watjela lomphrofetho wakhe lowetsembekile watsi: “Usetawubona tintfo letenyanyeka kakhulu kunaleti.” Yini lebeyingenyanyeka kakhulu kwendlula kukhonta lesithico lesitfukutselisa Nkulunkulu lebesisendzaweni yelithempeli?

11. Ngutiphi tintfo letetfusako Hezekeli latibona nakefika ebaleni lelingekhatsi eceleni kweli-al’thare lelithempeli?

¹¹ Fundza Hezekeli 8:7-12. Hezekeli ubhobosa lubondza futsi ungena ebaleni lelingekhatsi eceleni kweli-al’thare lelithempeli. Nakefika lapho, ubona ‘tilwane letihamba ngesisu, netilwane tesiganga  letenyanyekako kanye nato tonkhe tithico letenyanyekako,’ tidvwetjwe elubondzeni. * Letitfombe lebetidvwetjwe kulolubondza betimelela bonkulunkulu bemanga. Kodvwa lokumangalisa kakhulu nguloko Hezekeli lakubona ngemuva kwaloko: Wabona “emadvodza lamadzala langu-70 esive saka-Israyeli” eme “ebumnyameni” futsi anikela imphepho kubonkulunkulu bemanga. Ngephansi kweMtsetfo, kushisa imphepho lenuka kamnandzi bekumelela imithantazo leyemukelekako leyentiwa tikhonti letetsembekile. (Hla. 141:2) Ngako, lemphepho lamadvodza lamadzala langu-70 lebekayinikela kubonkulunkulu bemanga, beyingasingcwele futsi beyiliphunga lelibi kuJehova. Imithantazo yabo beyifana neliphunga lelitfukutselisa Jehova. (Taga 15:8) Lamadvodza lamadzala atikhohlisa atsi: “Jehova akasiboni.” Kodvwa Jehova bekawabona, futsi wakhombisa Hezekeli loko bekakwenta ethempelini lakhe.

12. Kungani kufanele sihlale setsembekile ngisho nalapho ‘sisebumnyameni,’ futsi bobani ngalokukhetsekile lokufanele babeke sibonelo lesihle kulendzaba?

¹² Yini lesiyifundza kulendzaba yaHezekeli lekhuluma ngalamadvodza lamadzala aka-Israyeli langu-70, lebekanikela imphepho kubonkulunkulu bemanga? Kuze imithantazo yetfu yemukeleke kuNkulunkulu, futsi nekukhonta kwetfu kuhlale kuhlantekile emehlweni akhe, kufanele sihlale setsembekile ngisho ‘nasebumnyameni.’ (Taga 15:29)  Kufanele sihlale sikhumbula nekutsi Jehova ubona konkhe lesikwentako. Nangabe Jehova angumuntfu mbamba kitsi, angeke sente tintfo ngasense lesati kahle kutsi atimjabulisi. (Heb. 4:13) Emadvodza lamadzala elibandla ngiwo lokufanele abeke sibonelo lesihle ekulandzeleni timiso teliBhayibheli. (1 Phet. 5:2, 3) Emalunga elibandla alindzele kutsi lomdzala welibandla njengobe ema embikwabo futsi achuba imihlangano, aphile ngetimiso teliBhayibheli ngisho ‘nasebumnyameni’ lapho kungenteka abamboni khona labanye.—Hla. 101:2, 3.

13. Yini Hezekeli labona bafati labatihlubuki bayenta kulelinye lemagede asethempelini?

¹³ Fundza Hezekeli 8:13, 14. Ngemuva kwaletintfo letimbili tekucala letenyanyekako, Jehova uphindze utsi kuHezekeli: “Usetawubona tintfo labatentako, letenyanyekako naletimbi kakhulu-ke kunaleti.” Yini-ke lomphrofethi layibona ngemuva kwaloko? “Egedeni lelisenyakatfo yendlu yaJehova,” wabona “bafati bahleti bakhalela nkulunkulu lobitwa ngekutsi nguThamuzi.” Lonkulunkulu waseMesophothamiya lokutsiwa nguThamuzi uphindze abitwe nangekutsi nguDumuzi emibhalweni yesiSumeri futsi kukholelwa kutsi usingani sa-Ishtar nkulunkulukati wentalo. * Labafati labangema-Israyeli lebebakhala bebenta sento lesilisiko lenkholo lebesihlobene nekukhalela kufa kwaThamuzi. Ngekukhalela Thamuzi ethempelini laJehova, labafati bebenta lisiko lemacaba endzaweni yekukhonta lokuhlantekile. Kepha ngisho nobe lokukhonta kwemanga bekwentelwa ethempelini laNkulunkulu, loko bekungeke kukwente kwemukeleke kuye. Kungani? Kungobe emehlweni aJehova, labafati labatihlubuki bebenta ‘tintfo letenyanyekako.’

14. Ngusiphi sifundvo lesingasifundza mayelana nendlela Jehova bekakutsatsa ngayo loko labafati labatihlubuki bebakwenta?

¹⁴ Ngusiphi sifundvo lesingasifundza mayelana nendlela Jehova bekakutsatsa ngayo loko labafati bebakwenta? Kuze kukhonta kwetfu kuhlale kuhlantekile, akukafaneli sikuhlanganise nemikhuba yemacaba lengcolile. Ngako, akukafaneli sigubhe noma ngumiphi imikhosi lenemisuka yenkholo yemanga. Kodvwa kunendzaba yini kutsi intfo inamuphi umsuka? Yebo! Lamuhla imikhuba lehlobene nekugujwa kwaKhisimusi nema-Easter, ingase ibonakale ingenankinga. Kepha akukafaneli sikhohlwe kutsi nguJehova matfupha lowabona lemikhuba lehlobene nenkholo yemacaba, lokungiyo imikhosi legujwako nalamuhla. Jehova akayemukeli imikhuba lenjalo ngenca nje yekutsi bantfu sebayigubhe sikhatsi lesidze nobe ngenca yekutsi sebayihlanganisa nekukhonta lokuhlantekile.—2 Khor. 6:17; Semb. 18:2, 4.

15, 16. Emadvodza langu-25 bekentani ebaleni lelingakhatsi lelithempeli, futsi kungani letento tawo tamtfukutselisa Jehova?

¹⁵ Fundza Hezekeli 8:15-18. Jehova wetfula sento sesine ngemavi lesesiwetayele latsi: “Utawubona tintfo letenyanyeka kakhulu kunaleti.” Kungenteka lomphrofethi watibuta: ‘Kungaba yini nje leyenyanyeka  kakhulu kwendlula letintfo lesengitibonile?’ Nyalo Hezekeli besekasebaleni lelingekhatsi lelithempeli. Khona lapho ekungeneni kwelithempeli, wabona emadvodza langu-25 akhotsamela “lilanga emphumalanga.” Lamadvodza amtfuka kakhulu Jehova. Ngayiphi indlela?

¹⁶ Cabanga nganaku: Ligede lelithempeli laNkulunkulu belibuke emphumalanga. Tikhonti betitsi natingena ethempelini tibuke enshonalanga, tifulatsele imphumalanga. Kodvwa lamadvodza langu-25 labonwa nguHezekeli embonweni, ‘abefulatsele lithempeli’ abuke ngasemphumalanga kuze akhotsamele lilanga. Ngekwenta kwawo kanjalo, bewafulatsela Jehova, ngobe lithempeli ‘beliyindlu yaJehova.’ (1 Khos. 8:10-13) Lamadvodza langu-25 abetihlubuki. Aphula umtsetfo waJehova lebewubhalwe kuDutheronomi 4:15-19. Amvisa buhlungu kakhulu Nkulunkulu ngobe bekufanele akhonte yena kuphela.

17, 18. (a) Yini lesingayifundza endzabeni yalabantfu lebebakhonta lilanga ethempelini? (b) Ngubuphi buhlobo ema-Israyeli latihlubuki lalahlekelwa ngibo, futsi loko kwenteka kanjani?

¹⁷ Yini lesingayifundza endzabeni yalabantfu lebebakhonta lilanga? Kuze kukhonta kwetfu kuhlale kuhlantekile, kufanele setsembele kuJehova kute asinikete kucondza kanye nekuhlakanipha. Khumbula kutsi “Jehova Nkulunkulu ulilanga,” futsi liVi lakhe “lisibane” lesicondzisa tinyawo tetfu. (Tihlabelelo 84:11; 119:105) Asebentisa liVi lakhe kanye netincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini letivela enhlanganweni yakhe, ukhanyisa tinhlitiyo netingcondvo tetfu, asikhombise indlela leholela ekuphileni lokwenetisako nyalo kanye nasekuphileni lokuphakadze esikhatsini lesitako. Nangabe sibuka lelive kutsi kube ngilo lelisikhanyiselako mayelana nendlela yekuphila, sitawube sifulatsela Jehova. Kwenta kanjalo kungamvisa buhlungu kakhulu. Asifuni kwenta intfo lenjalo kuNkulunkulu wetfu! Umbono waHezekeli uphindze usecwayise kutsi singatihlanganisi nalabo labafulatsela liciniso, lokutihlubuki.—Taga 11:9.

¹⁸ Kuze kube ngunyalo, sesibonile kutsi Hezekeli wabona tintfo letine letetfusako letimayelana nekukhonta tithico kanye nekukhonta kwemanga, lebekukhombisa indlela tihlubuki letingemaJuda lebetingcole ngayo. Ngekwenta kwawo kanjalo, lama-Israyeli abulimata buhlobo bawo naNkulunkulu. Ngako, kukhonta lokungakahlanteki kuyahambisana nekutiphatsa lokuhlazisako. Akumangalisi-ke kutsi lama-Israyeli enta tonkhe tinhlobo tetintfo letimbi letalimata buhlobo bawo naNkulunkulu kanye nebuhlobo bawo nalabanye bantfu. Nyalo asesibone indlela umphrofethi Hezekeli laphefumulelwa kutsi achaze ngayo kungcola lebekwentiwa tihlubuki letingemaJuda.

19. Hezekeli wakuchaza njani kutiphatsa lokuhlazisako kwebantfu lebebente sivumelwane naJehova?

¹⁹ Fundza Hezekeli 22:3-12. Lesive besikhohlakele kakhulu kusukela emakhosini aso kuya phansi. ‘Baholi’ bebasebentisa ligunya labo kuze bacitse ingati lengenacala. Kubonakala shengatsi nebantfu  bebalandzela baholi babo kute bangawuhloniphi umtsetfo waNkulunkulu. Emndenini, bantfwana ‘bebedzelela’ batali babo, kantsi nekulala nesihlobo besekuyintfo levamile nje. Tihlubuki letingema-Israyeli betiphindze timuke bantfu bakuletinye tive tintfo tabo ngebucili futsi betitiphatsa kabi tintsandzane nebafelokati. Emadvodza langema-Israyeli besewalala nebafati babomakhelwane babo. Labantfu bebanebugovu, bafuna kudizelwa, bemuka bantfu tintfo tabo futsi bafuna nentalo lemba ecolo. Kwamvisa buhlungu kakhulu Jehova kubona ema-Israyeli angayinaki ngemabomu iMitsetfo yakhe futsi ehluleka nekubona kutsi Jehova wawaniketa lemitsetfo ngobe bekawatsandza. Kutiphatsa kwawo lokuhlazisako kwamdvumata Jehova. Wayala Hezekeli kutsi atsi kulabantfu: ‘Seningikhohlwe mbamba mine.’

20. Emavi aHezekeli lamayelana nekutiphatsa kwemaJuda lokuhlazisako, asho kutsini kitsi lamuhla?

²⁰ Emavi aHezekeli lamayelana nekutiphatsa kwemaJuda lokuhlazisako, asho kutsini kitsi lamuhla? Kukhohlakala lobekwentiwa tihlubuki letingemaJuda, kusikhumbuta kutsi natsi lamuhla siphila eveni lelite kutiphatsa lokuhlantekile. Babusi betepolitiki basebentisa kabi ligunya labo kuze bacindzetele bantfu. Baholi benkholo, ikakhulukati bafundisi beTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu, babusise timphi letibulele tigidzigidzi tebantfu. Bafundisi bente kutsi tinganakwa timiso letihlantekile naleticacile letiseBhayibhelini letimayelana nekutiphatsa lokumsulwa nakutiwa etindzabeni tekuya ecansini. Umphumela ube  kutsi lizinga lekutiphatsa lokuhlantekile emhlabeni lamuhla, lehle kakhulu. Ecinisweni, emavi Jehova lawasho kumaJuda latihlubuki, latsi: ‘Seningikhohlwe mbamba mine,’ angawasho naseTinkholweni Letitsi TebuKhristu.

21. Yini lesiyifundzako mayelana nekutiphatsa lokuhlazisako kwemaJuda asendvulo?

²¹ Njengobe sibantfu baJehova, yini lesiyifundzako mayelana nekutiphatsa lokuhlazisako kwemaJuda asendvulo? Kuze kukhonta kwetfu kwemukeleke Jehova, kufanele sigcine kutiphatsa kwetfu kuhlantekile kuto tonkhe tici tekuphila. Loku akusimelula kulelive leligcwele kutiphatsa lokubi. (2 Thim. 3:1-5) Nanobe kunjalo, siyati kutsi Jehova utiva njani ngato tonkhe tinhlobo tekutiphatsa lokubi. (1 Khor. 6:9, 10) Ngenca yekutsi siyamtsandza Jehova kanye nemitsetfo yakhe, siyatihlonipha timiso takhe letimayelana nekutiphatsa. (Hla. 119:97; 1 Joh. 5:3) Nasitiphatsa kabi, sitawube sikhombisa kutsi asimtsandzi Nkulunkulu wetfu longcwele nalohlantekile. Asifuni kuniketa Jehova sizatfu sekutsi atsi: ‘Seningikhohlwe mbamba mine.’

22. (a) Ngemuva kwekubuketa indlela Jehova lakuvete ngayo ebaleni kungcola kwemaJuda asendvulo, yini lotimisele kuyenta? (b) Sitawucoca ngani esehlukweni lesilandzelako?

²² Sifundze tifundvo letibalulekile njengobe besibuketa indlela Jehova lakuvete ngayo ebaleni kungcola kwemaJuda asendvulo. Loku kusenta sitimisele kukhonta Jehova kuphela njengobe kunguloko lakulindzele kitsi. Loku kusenta siticaphele kunoma nguluphi luhlobo lwekukhonta tithico, futsi sichubeke sitiphatsa ngendlela lehlantekile. Kodvwa yini Jehova layenta ngebantfu bakhe lebebangaketsembeki? Hezekeli nakacedza kuhambahamba kulelithempeli, Jehova watsi kuye: “Ngitawutfululela intfukutselo etikwabo.” (Hez. 8:17, 18) Sifuna kwati kutsi ngusiphi sinyatselo Jehova lasitsatsa mayelana nemaJuda langaketsembeki, ngobe utawuphindze akhiphe sehlulelo lesifanako nakulelive lelibi. Sehluko lesilandzelako sitawucoca ngekutsi tehlulelo taJehova tagcwaliseka njani kumaJuda.