1. Yiyiphi indibano yabantu bakaThixo esiza kuyiqwalasela, ibe yiyiphi imibuzo ephakamayo?

“SUKUMANI, nimbonge uYehova uThixo wenu ukususela kwixesha elingenammiselo kuse kwixesha elingenammiselo.” Xa kwakuthethwa la mazwi achukumisayo, abantu bakaThixo babehlanganisene kowona mthandazo mde kuleyo iseBhayibhileni. (Neh. 9:4, 5) Le ndibano yayiseYerusalem ngomhla we-24 kwinyanga yesixhenxe yamaYuda, uTishri, ngo-455 B.C.E. Njengokuba siqwalasela iziganeko zolo suku lukhethekileyo, zibuze oku: ‘Yintoni eyaba negalelo elihle ukuze siphumelele eso sihlandlo? Ziziphi izinto endinokuzifunda kulo mthandazo ucingisisiweyo?’—INdu. 141:2.

2. Nguwuphi umzekelo omhle owamiselwa ngamaSirayeli njengoko ayehlanganisene emva kokuvusa iindonga zeYerusalem?

² Kwinyanga engaphambi kwale sithetha ngayo, amaYuda ayesandul’ ukugqiba ukwakha iindonga zeYerusalem. (Neh. 6:15) Abantu bakaThixo bawugqiba ngeentsuku nje eziyi-52 loo msebenzi, baza ke baqhubeka benikela ingqalelo ekhethekileyo kwiinkalo ababemele baphucule kuzo kulwalamano lwabo noThixo. Ngomhla wokuqala wenyanga uTishri, bahlanganisana kwindawo yembutho ukuze baphulaphule uEzra nabanye abaLevi njengoko babefunda ngokuvakalayo yaye becacisa uMthetho kaThixo. Zonke iintsapho, kuquka bonke abo “banengqiqo ngokwaneleyo yokuphulaphula,” bema baza baphulaphula “ukususela ekuthini qheke kwemini kwada kwasemini emaqanda.” Lo ngumzekelo omhle ngokwenene kuthi thina bahlanganisana kwiiHolo zoBukumkani ezitofotofo namhlanje! Ngaba kwizihlandlo ezinjalo ukhe ufumane ingqondo yakho sele ibhadula icinga ngezinto ezingabalulekanga? Ukuba kunjalo, phinda ucinge ngomzekelo wamaSirayeli amandulo angazange anele nje ukuphulaphula kodwa akufaka entliziyweni oko ayekuva de alila ebuhlungu  ­kukusilela kwawo njengohlanga ukuthobela uMthetho kaThixo.—Neh. 8:1-9.

3. Nguwuphi umyalelo owathotyelwa ngamaSirayeli?

³ Noko ke, eli yayingeloxesha lokuvuma izono esidlangalaleni. Ekubeni olo yayilusuku lombhiyozo, yayilusuku lokuvuya njengoko kwakunqulwa uYehova. (Num. 29:1) Ngoko ke, uNehemiya wayalela abantu wathi: “Hambani, nidle izinto ezinamanqatha nize nisele izinto ezimnandi, nithumele izabelo kwabo bebengalungiselelwanga nto; kuba olu suku lungcwele kwiNkosi yethu, ningabi buhlungu, kuba uvuyo lukaYehova ligwiba lenu.” Okuvuyisayo kukuba, abantu bathobela baza ngolo suku baba “nemihlali kakhulu.”—Neh. 8:10-12.

4. Yintoni ezayenzayo iintloko-ntsapho zakwaSirayeli, ibe yintoni ezayifumanisayo neyayiyeyona ibalulekileyo ngalo Mthendeleko Weminquba?

⁴ Kusuku olulandelayo, iintloko-ntsapho zahlanganisana ukuze zikhangele into eyayinokwenziwa lolo hlanga ukuze luwuthobele ngokupheleleyo uMthetho kaThixo. Njengoko zazifundisisa iZibhalo, zafumanisa ukuba kwinyanga yesixhenxe kwakumele kwenziwe noMthendeleko Weminquba uze uqukunjelwe ngendibano ukususela ngomhla we-15 ukusa kowe-22 kwinyanga uTishri, zaza zaqalisa ukwenza amalungiselelo. Izinto zahamba kakuhle gqitha kuloo Mthendeleko Weminquba into eyayigqityelwe ngemihla kaYoshuwa kangangokuba abantu “baba nemihlali kakhulu.” Eyona nto ibalulekileyo ngaloo mthendeleko yaba kukufundwa koMthetho kaThixo esidlangalaleni, “usuku nosuku, ukususela ngosuku lokuqala de kube lusuku lokugqibela.”—Neh. 8:13-18.

5. Yintoni abaqala bayenza abantu ngaphambi nje kokuba abaLevi bathandaze ngenxa yabo?

⁵ Kwiintsuku ezimbini kamva, lade lafika ixesha elifanelekileyo lokuba uSirayeli avume izono esidlangalaleni ngokusilela kwakhe ukugcina uMthetho kaThixo. Olu yayingelosuku lomthendeleko wokudla, kunoko abantu bakaThixo bazila ukutya benxiba amarhonya. Kwaphindwa kwafundelwa abantu uMthetho kaThixo kangangeeyure ezintathu kusasa. Emva kwemini, “babesenza uvumo kwaye bequbuda kuYehova uThixo wabo.” Bandula ke abaLevi bathandaza ngenxa yabantu. —Neh. 9:1-4.

6. Yintoni eyanceda abaLevi bakwazi ukwenza umthandazo onentsingiselo, ibe sifunda ntoni thina koku?

⁶ Akuthandabuzeki ukuba, ngokusoloko befunda uMthetho kaThixo abaLevi batsho bakwazi ukwenza umthandazo onentsingiselo. Iivesi ezilishumi zokuqala zinikela ingqalelo kwimisebenzi neempawu zikaYehova. Emva koko, lo mthandazo ugxininisa ‘kubuninzi benceba’ kaThixo kunye nokuvuma phandle kwamaSirayeli ukuba ayengakufanele ukuphathwa ngobubele obunjalo. (Neh. 9:19, 27, 28, 31) Neyethu  imithandazo iya kuba mnandi ize ibe nentsingiselo ukuba sixelisa abo baLevi, sicamngce mihla le ngeLizwi likaThixo, sive oko akutshoyo kuthi.—INdu. 1:1, 2.

7. Yintoni abayicelayo kuThixo abaLevi, ibe yintoni esiyifundayo koko?

⁷ Kulo mthandazo sifumana isicelo esinye. Singasekupheleni kwevesi 32, yaye sithi: “Ke kaloku, Thixo wethu, Thixo omkhulu, onamandla nowoyikekayo, owugcinayo umnqophiso nobubele bothando, mabungabi buncinane phambi kwakho bonke ubunzima obusifumeneyo thina, ookumkani bethu, iinkosana zethu nababingeleli bethu nabaprofeti bethu nookhokho bethu nabo bonke abantu bakho ukususela kwimihla yookumkani baseAsiriya kude kube ngulo mhla.” Ngala mazwi, abaLevi basimisela umzekelo omhle wokudumisa nokubulela kuYehova ngaphambi kokuba sithandazele iziqu zethu.

8, 9. (a) Yiyiphi indlela ethobekileyo abawuqalisa ngayo abaLevi umthandazo wabo? (b) Yiyiphi imikhosi emibini yasezulwini ekubonakala ukuba babebhekisela kuyo abaLevi?

⁸ Nakuba imithandazo yabo yayicingisisiwe, abo baLevi babethobekile bevakalelwa ukuba amazwi abo akanakuze akwazi kakuhle ukumdumisa ngendlela efanelekileyo uYehova. Ngenxa yoko, umthandazo wabo uqala ngala mazwi okuthobeka nangena kamnandi kubantu bakaThixo: “Mabalibonge igama lakho elizukileyo, elikuphakameleyo konke ukubonga nokudumisa.”—Neh. 9:5.

⁹ Lo mthandazo uqhubeka uthi: “Wena unguYehova wedwa; wena wenze amazulu, kwanezulu lamazulu, nawo wonke umkhosi wawo, umhlaba nako konke okuphezu kwawo, iilwandle nako konke okukuzo; yaye zonke uzigcine ziphila; kwaye umkhosi wamazulu uqubuda kuwe.” (Neh. 9:6) Enyanisweni, nguYehova uThixo odale yonke le ndalo iqulethe inyambalala yeminyele enyakazela ziinkwenkwezi. Enye into emangalisayo kukuba, wadala yonk’ into ekhoyo kulo mhlaba wethu mhle kangaka nonamandla amangalisayo okulondoloza intlaninge yezinto eziphila kuwo—izinto eziphilayo eziqhubeka zivelisa ezinye ngokohlobo lwazo. Izidalwa ezakubonayo konke oku kusenzeka ziingelosi ezingcwele zikaThixo, ezikwabizwa ngokuba ‘ngumkhosi wamazulu.’ (1 Kum. 22:19; Yobhi 38:4, 7) Ukongezelela koko, ngokuthobeka iingelosi zenza ukuthanda kukaThixo zilungiselela abantu abanesono ‘abaza kuzuz’ ilifa usindiso.’ (Heb. 1:14) Onjani umzekelo omhle esiwumiselwa zezi ngelosi njengoko sikhonza uYehova ngomanyano kanye njengomkhosi oqeqeshwe kakuhle!—1 Kor. 14:33, 40.

10. Sifunda ntoni kwindlela uThixo awamphatha ngayo uAbraham?

¹⁰ Into elandelayo, abaLevi banikela ingqalelo kwindlela uThixo awamphatha ngayo uAbram, owagqiba iminyaka eyi-99 engazange wazala mntwana nomfazi wakhe owayelidlolo uSarayi. Yaba lelo xesha kanye awathi uYehova ­wamthiya igama  ­elitsha ­wathi nguAbraham, elithetha ‘uyise wabaninzi.’ (Gen. 17:1-6, 15, 16) Enye into eyathenjiswa uAbraham nguThixo kukuba imbewu yakhe yayiza kulidla ilifa ilizwe lakwaKanan. Abantu basoloko bezilibala izithembiso abazenzileyo; kodwa akunjalo ngoYehova. Kanye njengokuba lo mthandazo wabaLevi usitsho, usithi: “Wena unguYehova uThixo oyinyaniso, owakhetha uAbram waza wamkhupha eUre yamaKhaledi wamisela ukuba igama lakhe libe nguAbraham. Kwaye wayifumana ithembekile intliziyo yakhe phambi kwakho; ngoko wenza isivumelwano somnqophiso naye ukuba womnika ilizwe lamaKanan, . . . ukuba ulinike imbewu yakhe; yaye wawaphumeza amazwi akho, ngenxa yokuba ulilungisa.” (Neh. 9:7, 8) Ngamana nathi singaxelisa uThixo wethu olungileyo ngokusoloko sizimisela ukufezekisa izithembiso esizenzileyo.—Mat. 5:37.

11, 12. Chaza oko kuthethwa ligama likaYehova nendlela eyacaca ngayo intsingiselo yalo kwindlela awayiphatha ngayo inzala ka-Abraham.

¹¹ Igama likaYehova elithetha ukuba “Ubangela Kubekho,” libonisa ukuba uThixo akaphumli de azizalisekise izithembiso zakhe. Oku kubonakala kakuhle kwindlela uThixo awayiphatha ngayo inzala ka-Abraham xa yayingamakhoboka eYiputa. Ngelo xesha, yayibonakala ingenakwenzeka into yokuba eso sizwe sikhululeke siye kuhlala kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Noko ke, ngenxa yezinto eziliqela awazenzayo, uThixo wasizalisekisa isithembiso sakhe, ngaloo ndlela engqina ukuba ulifanele elo gama likhethekileyo nelikhulu, uYehova.

¹² Umthandazo owabhalwa nguNehemiya uthi ngoYehova: “Wayibona inkxwaleko yookhokho bethu eYiputa, wasiva nesikhalo sabo kuLwandle Olubomvu. Waza wenza imiqondiso nemimangaliso nxamnye noFaro nabo bonke abakhonzi bakhe nabo bonke abantu belizwe lakhe, kuba wawusazi ukuba babebakhukhumalele; yaye wazenzela igama njenganamhla. Wahlukanisa ulwandle phambi kwabo, kangangokuba bawela phakathi elwandle kumhlaba owomileyo; yaye abo babebasukela wabaphosa enzulwini njengelitye emanzini anamandla.” Emva koko, lo mthandazo utyatyadula ngenye into uYehova awayenzela abantu bakhe uthi: “Waboyisa phambi kwabo abemi belizwe, amaKanan . . . Kwaye bathimba izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo nomhlaba otyebileyo bazidla ilifa izindlu ezazizaliswe zizo zonke izinto ezilungileyo, amaqula embiweyo, izidiliya negcume lomnquma nemithi yokudla eyintabalala, yaye baqalisa ukudla nokwanela batyeba baziyolisa ngokulunga kwakho okukhulu.”—Neh. 9:9-11, 24, 25.

13. UYehova wawanika ntoni amaSirayeli, kodwa wona akhetha ukwenza ntoni?

¹³ Zikho nezinye izinto eziliqela awazenzayo uThixo ukuze afeze injongo yakhe. Ngokomzekelo, ngokukhawuleza emva kokuba amaSirayeli ephume eYiputa, uYehova wawanika imithetho ewafundisa indlela yokumkhonza. Kumthandazo wabo abaLevi babalisa into awayenzayo uThixo besithi: “Wehla eNtabeni yeSinayi wathetha nabo usezulwini, wahlabela mgama wabanika izigwebo ezithe tye nemithetho yenyaniso, imimiselo elungileyo nemiyalelo.” (Neh. 9:13) UYehova wazama ukufundisa abantu bakhe ukuze bakufanelekele ukuthwala igama lakhe njengabo babeza kulidla ilifa iLizwe Lesithembiso, kodwa bona bazinikel’ umva izinto ezilungileyo awayebafundise zona.—Funda uNehemiya 9:16-18.

14, 15. (a) UYehova wabenzela njani inceba abantu bakhe abanesono? (b) Sifunda ntoni kwindlela uThixo awaluphatha ngayo uhlanga lwakhe awayelukhethile?

¹⁴ Umthandazo wabaLevi uthetha ngezono ezibini ezikhethekileyo awazenzayo amaSirayeli emva nje kokuba ethembise uThixo ukuba ayeza kuwugcina uMthetho wakhe kwiNtaba yeSinayi. Ngenxa yezi zono, ayefanelwe kukushiywa apho aze afe.  Kodwa lo mthandazo udumisa uYehova ngokuthi: “Ngobuninzi benceba yakho akuzange ubashiye entlango. . . . Wabalungiselela ukutya entlango iminyaka engamashumi amane. Abazange baswele nto. Izambatho zabo azizange ziphele, neenyawo zabo azizange zidumbe.” (Neh. 9:19, 21) Nanamhlanje uYehova usilungiselela yonke into esiyidingayo ukuze simkhonze ngokuthembeka. Ngamana singangaze sifane namawaka amaSirayeli awafela entlango ngenxa yokungathobeli nokuswela kwawo ukholo. Enyanisweni, ezo zinto “zabhalelwa ukulumkisa thina bafikelwe ziziphelo zeenkqubo zezinto.”—1 Kor. 10:1-11.

¹⁵ Okubuhlungu kukuba, emva kokuba elifumene njengelifa iLizwe Lesithembiso, amaSirayeli awela kunqulo loothixo bamaKanan awayeziphethe kakubi ebulala. Ngenxa yoku, uYehova wavumela olo hlanga wayelukhethile ukuba lucinezelwe zezinye iintlanga. Bathi bakuguquka abantu bakhe, uYehova wabenzela inceba, wabaxolela waza wabasindisa kwiintshaba zabo. Le nto yenzeka “amaxesha amaninzi.” (Funda uNehemiya 9:26-28, 31.) AbaLevi bavuma bathi: “Wabanyamezela iminyaka emininzi waza waqhubeka unikela ubungqina nxamnye nabo ngomoya wakho usebenzisa abaprofeti bakho, kwaye abazange bakubekele ndlebe. Ekugqibeleni wabanikela esandleni sezizwana zelo lizwe.”—Neh. 9:30.

16, 17. (a) Kwaphumela entweni ukungathobeli kwamaSirayeli emva kokubuya kwawo ekuthinjweni? (b) Yintoni eyavunywa ngamaSirayeli, ibe athembisa ukuba aza kwenzani?

¹⁶ Nasemva kokubuya kwawo ekuthinjweni, amaSirayeli aphinda akamthobela uYehova. Kwaphumela entweni oko? AbaLevi baqhubeka besithi kulo mthandazo wabo: “Khangela! Namhlanje singamakhoboka; lona ke ilizwe owalinika ookhokho bethu ukuba badle isiqhamo salo nezinto zalo ezilungileyo, khangela! singamakhoboka kulo, yaye imveliso yalo iphuphumela ookumkani obabekileyo phezu kwethu ngenxa yezono zethu, . . . kwaye sibandezelekile kakhulu.”—Neh. 9:36, 37.

¹⁷ Ngaba abaLevi babezama ukuthi uThixo wayengafanele ayivumele le ntlungu? Nakanye! Bavuma besithi: “Ulilungisa ngokubhekisele kuko konke okusifikeleyo, kuba wena wenze ngokuthembeka, kodwa sithi abenze ngokungendawo.” (Neh. 9:33) Emva koko, lo mthandazo uqukumbela ngesithembiso sokuba olo hlanga lwaluza kuzama ukuthobela uMthetho kaThixo. (Funda uNehemiya 9:38; 10:29) Kwaba sele kubhalwa uxwebhu lwaza lwatyobelwa ziinkokeli zamaYuda eziyi-84.—Neh. 10:1-27.

18, 19. (a) Yintoni ekufuneka siyenze ukuze sikufanelekele ukusinda size siphile kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo? (b) Yintoni esimele sihlale siyithandazela yaye ngoba?

¹⁸ Kufuneka siqeqeshwe nguYehova ukuze sikufanelekele ukusinda size siphile kwihlabathi elitsha lobulungisa. Umpostile uPawulos wabuza oku, “Nguwuphi na unyana ongaqeqeshwayo nguyise?” (Heb. 12:7) Indlela esibonisa ngayo ukuba siyakwamkela ukukhokelwa nguThixo kubomi bethu kukunyamezela ngokuthembeka ngoxa simkhonza yaye sivumela ukuba asisulungekise ngomoya wakhe. Ukuba siwela kwisono esinzulu, sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova uya kusixolela xa siguquka ngokwenene size siluthobele uqeqesho lwakhe.

¹⁹ Sekumbovu ukuba uYehova alizukise ngakumbi igama lakhe elikhulu kunokuba wenzayo xa wayehlangula amaSirayeli eYiputa. (Hez. 38:23) Kanye njengokuba abantu bakhe bamandulo balidla ilifa iLizwe Lesithembiso, onke amaKristu anyamezelayo ekumnquleni ngokuthembeka uYehova aza kulidla ilifa ihlabathi elitsha elinobulungisa likaThixo. (2 Pet. 3:13) Ekubeni sinelo themba, ngamana singahlala sithandazela ukungcwaliswa kwegama elizukileyo likaThixo. Inqaku elilandelayo liza kuxubusha ngomnye umthandazo esimele senze ngokuvisisana nawo ukuze sixhamle iintsikelelo zikaThixo ngoku nangonaphakade.