Isahluko Sesithoba

Kholosa NgoYehova Xa Ujamelene Nobunzima

Isaya 7:1–8:18

 1. Kutheni amaKristu namhlanje eya kungenelwa ngokuhlolisisa uIsaya isahluko 7 nesesi-8?

 ISAHLUKO 7 nesesi-8 sikaIsaya zisithela gqaba-gqaba ngabantu ababini abahlukileyo. Bobabini uIsaya noAhazi babengabohlanga oluzinikeleyo kuYehova; bobabini benezabelo abazinikwe nguThixo, omnye engumprofeti, omnye engukumkani wakwaYuda; yaye bobabini babejamelene nesisongelo esifanayo—ukuhlaselwa kukaYuda yimikhosi enamandla yeentshaba zabo. Noko ke, yena uIsaya wangqiyama ngoYehova njengentonga yakhe esekhosi, ngoxa yena uAhazi waba nentaka. Kutheni besabela ngeendlela ezahlukeneyo nje? Ekubeni namaKristu namhlanje engqingwe yimikhosi enengcwangu, kungakuhle ukuba ahlolisise ezi zahluko zibini zikaIsaya ukuze abone ukuba sifundo siphi angasifunda kuzo.

Ukujamelana Nokwenza Isigqibo

2, 3. Luluphi ushwankathelo alwenzayo uIsaya kwintshayelelo yakhe?

² Kanye oku komzobi oqala umzobo wakhe omtsha ngokunyhibhela imigca embalwa engqindilili apha naphaya, naye uIsaya uyiqala ingxelo yakhe ngokuphosa amabinzana apha naphaya asithela thsuphe ngesiqalo nesiphetho seziganeko aza kusibalisela ngazo, esithi: “Kwathi ngemihla ka-Ahazi unyana kaYotham unyana kaUziya, ukumkani wakwaYuda, uRetsin ukumkani waseSiriya noPeka unyana kaRemaliya, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, weza eYerusalem ukuba alwe nayo, kodwa akakwazanga ukulwa nayo.”—Isaya 7:1.

³ Kungenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha  Eliqhelekileyo. UAhazi ungene ezihlangwini zikayise, uYotham, njengokumkani wakwaYuda. Ilizwe labo lihlaselwa nguRetsin, ukumkani waseSiriya, noPeka, ukumkani wobukumkani bangasentla bakwaSirayeli, kwaye imikhosi yabo imtywatyusha kanobom uYuda. Ukusuk’ apho, iza kujolis’ iintolo zayo kwiYerusalem ngokwayo. Kodwa, iza kutsho phantsi. (2 Kumkani 16:5, 6; 2 Kronike 28:5-8) Ngoba? Oko siza kukuva kamva.

 4. Kutheni intliziyo ka-Ahazi neyabantu bakhe zizaliswe luloyiko?

⁴ Ekuqaleni kwemfazwe, “kwanikelwa ingxelo endlwini kaDavide, kusithiwa: ‘ISiriya yayame ngoEfrayim.’ Yaza intliziyo yakhe nentliziyo yabantu bakhe yaqalisa ukugubha, njengokushukunyiswa kwemithi yehlathi ngumoya.” (Isaya 7:2) Ewe, bathi nyoxo luloyiko uAhazi nabantu bakhe yakufika ezindlebeni zabo into yokuba amaSiriya namaSirayeli ayimbumba yamanyama kwaye sithethanje imikhosi yawo ingxangile kwaEfrayim (engumhlaba kaSirayeli). Kungawathabatha iintsuku nje ezimbini okanye ezintathu ukuya eYerusalem!

 5. Abantu bakaThixo namhlanje bamfanekisela njani uIsaya?

⁵ Ngoko uYehova uthi kuIsaya: “Khawuhambe, nceda, uhlangabeze uAhazi, wena noShehare-yashubhi unyana wakho, ekupheleni komsele wechibi eliphezulu ngakuhola wendlela ongasentsimini yomcoci weempahla.” (Isaya 7:3) Khawufan’ ucinge! Ngexesha kanye ukumkani abemele ukuba umaxhaphetshu efuna umprofeti kaYehova aze acele ulwalathiso, ngumprofeti ekufuneka esukile aye kufuna ukumkani! Sekunjalo, uIsaya akaphozisi maseko ekumthobeleni uYehova. Ngokufanayo, abantu bakaThixo namhlanje abaphozisi maseko ukuya kufuna abantu abagubhayo ngenxa yeengcinezelo zeli hlabathi. (Mateyu 24:6, 14) Asikuko nokuba kuyachulumancisa ukubona abangamakhulu amawaka nyaka ngamnye besabela kwisigidimi seendaba ezilungileyo saba bashumayeli baze banamathele kuYehova njengekhusi labo!

 6. (a) Sisiphi isigidimi esifudumez’ intliziyo lo mprofeti asidluliselayo kuKumkani uAhazi? (b) Injani imeko namhlanje?

 ⁶ UIsaya umfumana uAhazi engaphandle kweendonga zeYerusalem, ehlola amanzi eso sixeko, ezam’ ukuqinisekisa ukuba bakuxhobele ngokwaneleyo na ukungqingwa kwabo. UIsaya umchazela ngesigidimi sikaYehova, esithi: “Zilinde uze uhlale ungaphazamiseki. Musa ukoyika, nentliziyo yakho mayingaphakuzeli ngenxa yeencam ezimbini zezi zikhuni ziqhumayo, ngenxa yokuvutha komsindo kaRetsin neSiriya nonyana kaRemaliya.” (Isaya 7:4) Xa abahlaseli bamphakamisel’ izigalo uYuda ngaphambilana, umsindo wabo wawuvutha njengamadangatye. Ngoku bafana nje ‘neencam ezimbini zezikhuni eziqhumayo.’ Ngoko uAhazi akanasizathu sakuba nedyudyu ngoKumkani uRetsin waseSiriya nangoKumkani uPeka wakwaSirayeli, unyana kaRemaliya. Kuyafana ke nanamhlanje. Sekuqengqeleke iinkulungwane eziliqela iinkokeli zeNgqobhoko zibasela amaKristu okwenyaniso ngentshutshiso ebumlilorha. Noko ke, ngoku iNgqobhoko ifana nje nesikhuni esitshe saphantse saphela. Iintsuku zayo zibaliwe.

 7. Kutheni igama likaIsaya nelonyana wakhe linika isizathu sokuba nethemba?

⁷ Ngomhla ka-Ahazi, ayisosigidimi sikaIsaya kuphela kodwa kwanentsingiselo yegama lakhe nelonyana wakhe inik’ ithemba kwabo bakholose ngoYehova. Liyinyaniso elokuba, uYuda usengozini, kodwa igama likaIsaya, elithetha ukuthi “Usindiso LukaYehova,” libonisa ukuba uYehova uza kubahlangula. UYehova uthi uIsaya makahambe nonyana wakhe uShehare-yashubhi, ogama lithetha ukuthi “Intsalela Iya Kubuya.” Nokuba ubukumkani bakwaYuda bungatshatyalaliswa ekugqibeleni, uThixo uya kuthi ngenceba abuyisele intsalela elizweni elo.

Asiyomfazwe Nje Yeentlanga

 8. Kutheni ukuhlaselwa kweYerusalem kungaphezu kokuba yimfazwe nje yeentlanga?

⁸ UYehova usebenzisa uIsaya ukudiza icebo leentshaba zikaYuda. Naku ezikucebayo: “Masinyuke nxamnye nelakwaYuda size silahlukanise, sizithabathele lona ngokutyhoboza;  yaye masimisele omnye ukumkani njengomlawuli ngaphakathi kwalo, unyana kaTabheheli.” (Isaya 7:5, 6) Le mbumba yamaSiriya namaSirayeli iceba ukumoyisa uYuda, imshenxise esihlalweni uAhazi, unyana kaDavide, ize izikhethele umntu wayo. Kucacile ukuba, oku kuhlaselwa kweYerusalem kungaphezu kokuba yimfazwe nje yeentlanga. Lusukuzwano phakathi kukaSathana noYehova. Njani? Kaloku uYehova uThixo wenze umnqophiso noKumkani uDavide, ngaloo ndlela emqinisekisa ukuba oonyana bakhe babeya kulawula abantu bakaYehova. (2 Samuweli 7:11, 16) Olunjani ke uloyiso ebekuya kuba lulo ngoSathana ukuba ebenokumisela omnye umnombo wasebukhosini etroneni yaseYerusalem! Ngaloo ndlela ebengakwazi nokuphazamisa injongo kaYehova yokuba umnombo kaDavide uvelise indlalifa engunaphakade, “iNkosana yoXolo.”—Isaya 9:6, 7.

Isiqinisekiso SikaYehova Sothando

 9. Ziziphi iziqinisekiso ezifanele zimomeleze uAhazi kwanamaKristu namhlanje?

⁹ Ngaba icebo leSiriya noSirayeli liza kuphumelela? Unotshe. UYehova uthi: “Oko akuyi kuma, kungayi kubakho.” (Isaya 7:7) UYehova akaneli nje kukuchaza ngoIsaya ukuba ukungqingwa kweYerusalem akusayi kuphumelela kodwa ukwathi “kwisithuba nje seminyaka engamashumi amathandathu anesihlanu uEfrayim uya kwaphulwa angabi sisizwana.” (Isaya 7:8) Ewe, kwisithuba nje sama-65 eminyaka isizwana sikaSirayeli siya kuba singasekho. a Esi siqinisekiso, sexesha eliqingqiweyo, sifanel’ ukuba simkhuthazile uAhazi. Ngokufanayo, abantu bakaThixo namhlanje bayomelezwa kukwaz’ ukuba ixesha leli hlabathi likaSathana lixhatshwe yinja.

10. (a) AmaKristu okwenyaniso namhlanje angamxelisa njani uYehova? (b) Liliphi ithuba uYehova alivulela uAhazi?

¹⁰ Kubonakala ngathi uAhazi akakukholelwa oku, ekubeni  uYehova, ngoIsaya, esithi: “Ukuba aninalukholo, aniyi kuhlala ixesha elide.” Kodwa uYehova, ngenxa yokuba nomonde kwakhe, ‘wahlabela mgama ethetha kuAhazi.’ (Isaya 7:9, 10) Onjani wona ukuba mhle umzekelo! Namhlanje, nangona abaninzi bengasabeli ngokukhawuleza kwisigidimi soBukumkani, siya kuba senza kakuhle ukuxelisa uYehova ‘ngokuhlabela mgama sithetha’ njengoko sibatyelela ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Wandula uYehova aqhubeke athi kuAhazi: “Zicelele umqondiso kuYehova uThixo wakho, uwenze nzulu njengeShiyol okanye uwenze uphakame njengemimandla ephezulu.” (Isaya 7:11) UYehova uvulela uAhazi ithuba lokuba acele umqondiso, aze yena awenze njengesiqinisekiso sokuba uza kuyikhusela indlu kaDavide.

11. Kunasiphi isiqinisekiso ukuthi kukaYehova “uThixo wakho”?

¹¹ Phawula ukuba uYehova uthi: ‘Cela umqondiso kuThixo wakho.’ Ngokwenene uYehova unobubele. Sele zivakala iingxelo zokuba uAhazi unqula oothixo bobuxoki nezokuba ulandela uqheliselo olunezothe lobuhedeni. (2 Kumkani 16:3, 4) Phezu kwako nje konke oko naphezu kokuba ebonakalise isimo sengqondo sokoyika, kodwa uYehova usazibiza ngokuthi unguThixo ka-Ahazi. Oku kusiqinisekisa ukuba uYehova akangxami ukubagatya abantu. Ukulungele ukubanceda abo banxaxhayo nababuthathaka elukholweni. Ngaba oku kuqinisekiswa kuka-Ahazi ngothando lukaThixo kuza kumshukumisela ekubeni akholose ngoYehova?

Uqale Ngokuthandabuza Wagqibela Ngokungathobeli

12. (a) Sisiphi isimo sengqondo sekratshi asibonakalisayo uAhazi? (b) Kunokuba aphethukele kuYehova, uAhazi ulufuna kubani uncedo?

¹² UAhazi uphendula ngendelelo, athi: “Andiyi kuwucela, ndingayi kumvavanya uYehova.” (Isaya 7:12) Apha uAhazi akathobeli amazwi omthetho athi: “Nize ningamvavanyi uYehova uThixo wenu.” (Duteronomi 6:16) La mazwi acatshulwa nguYesu, kwiinkulungwane eziliqela kamva, xa wayehendwa nguSathana. (Mateyu 4:7) Noko ke, kwimeko ka-Ahazi, uYehova  ummema ukuba abuyele kunqulo lokwenyaniso yaye uthembisa ukuqinisa ukholo lwakhe ngokumenzela umqondiso. Kodwa, uAhazi ukhetha ukufuna inkuselo ndaweni yimbi. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba kusebudeni beli thuba ukuthumela kwalo kumkani isityhwentywe semali eAsiriya, ecela ukuba imncede nxamnye neentshaba zakhe ezisemntla. (2 Kumkani 16:7, 8) Kuthi kusenjalo, ugaleleke umkhosi wamaSiriya namaSirayeli, ungqinge iYerusalem.

13. Luluphi utshintsho esiluphawulayo kwindinyana 13, kwaye lubonisa ntoni?

¹³ Ecinga ngoku kuswel’ ukholo kwalo kumkani, uIsaya uthi: “Khanincede, niphulaphule, ndlu kaDavide. Kuyinto encinane na kuni ukudinisa abantu, ukude nidinise noThixo wam?” (Isaya 7:13) Ewe, uYehova uyadinwa kukusoloko enyamezele imvukelo yendelelo. Kwakhona, phawula ukuba lo mprofeti ngoku uthi ‘uThixo wam,’ akathi “uThixo wakho.” Nantso ke into yakho! Kaloku ngokugatya kuka-Ahazi uYehova aze aphethukele kwiAsiriya, uye waphulukana nethuba elihle lokuhlaziya ulwalamano lwakhe noThixo. Ngamana ke thina singangaze siziphulukanise nolwalamano lwethu noThixo ngokuthi sityeshele iinkolelo zethu ezingokweZibhalo ukuze nje sizuze iingenelo zokwexeshana.

Umqondiso KaImanuweli

14. UYehova ukubonisa njani ukuthembeka kwakhe kumnqophiso wakhe noDavide?

¹⁴ UYehova usoloko ethembekile kumnqophiso wakhe noDavide. Uthembise ukunikela umqondiso, yaye uza kuwunikela! UIsaya uhlabela mgama esithi: “UYehova ngokwakhe uya kuninika umqondiso: Khangela! Intombi okunene iya kumitha, izale unyana, ize imbize ngegama elinguImanuweli. Uya kudla ibhotolo nobusi ngexesha lokwazi kwakhe indlela yokugatya okubi nokunyula okulungileyo. Kothi ngaphambi kokuba inkwenkwe leyo iyazi indlela yokugatya okubi nokunyula okulungileyo, ube umhlaba waba kumkani babini bankwantyisayo ushiywe ngokupheleleyo.”—Isaya 7:14-16.

15. Yiyiphi imibuzo emibini ephendulwa sisiprofeto esingoImanuweli?

 ¹⁵ Zivakala zimnandi ezi ndaba kuye nabani na owoyika ukuba abahlaseli baza kubaphelisa ookumkani bomnombo kaDavide. Igama elithi “Imanuweli” lithetha ukuthi “UThixo Unathi.” UThixo unoYuda kwaye akasayi kuze avumele ukuba umnqophiso wakhe noDavide utshitshiswe. Ukongezelela, uAhazi nabantu bakhe abapheleli nje ngokuchazelwa oko uYehova aza kukwenza kodwa bakwaxelelwa nexesha aza kukwenza ngalo. Ngaphambi kokuba inkwenkwe uImanuweli ibe ndala ngokwaneleyo ukuba ingahlukanisa phakathi kokulungileyo nokubi, iintlanga ezinobutshaba ziya kube zitshatyalalisiwe. Yaye kuba njalo kanye!

16. Sisenokuba siyintoni isizathu sokuba uYehova angachazi anabe ngoImanuweli ngomhla ka-Ahazi?

¹⁶ IBhayibhile ayichazi ukuba uImanuweli lo ngumntwana kabani. Kodwa ekubeni lo Imanuweli oselula eza kuba ngumqondiso yaye uIsaya kamva uchaz’ ukuba yena nabantwana bakhe ‘banjengemiqondiso,’ ngoko kusenokwenzeka ukuba uImanuweli ngunyana walo mprofeti. (Isaya 8:18) Mhlawumbi isizathu sokuba uYehova angachazi anabe ngalo Imanuweli womhla ka-Ahazi sikukuze izizukulwana zakamva zingambhidanisi noImanuweli Omkhulu. Ungubani yena?

17. (a) Ngubani uImanuweli Omkhulu, yaye ukuzalwa kwakhe kwakufanekisela ntoni? (b) Kutheni abantu bakaThixo benokudanduluka namhlanje bathi, “UThixo unathi”?

¹⁷ Ngaphandle kwakwincwadi kaIsaya, igama likaImanuweli livela kanye kuphela eBhayibhileni, kuMateyu 1:23. UYehova waphefumlela uMateyu ukuba asisebenzise isiprofeto sokuzalwa kukaImanuweli ekuzalweni kukaYesu, owayeyiNdlalifa engokwasemthethweni yetrone kaDavide. (Mateyu 1:18-23) Ukuzalwa kukaImanuweli wokuqala kwakungumqondiso wokuba uThixo wayengayityeshelanga indlu kaDavide. Ngokukwanjalo, ukuzalwa kukaYesu, onguImanuweli Omkhulu, kwakungumqondiso wokuba uThixo wayengalutyeshelanga uluntu okanye umnqophiso wakhe woBukumkani awawenza nendlu kaDavide. (Luka 1:31-33) Ekubeni ngoku ummeli oyintloko  kaYehova ephakathi koluntu, uMateyu ebechan’ ucwethe ngokuthi, ‘UThixo unathi.’ Namhlanje, uYesu ulawula njengoKumkani wasezulwini yaye unebandla lakhe lasemhlabeni. (Mateyu 28:20) Ngokuqinisekileyo, abantu bakaThixo banesizathu esingakumbi sokudanduluka ngenkalipho bathi: “UThixo unathi!”

Imiphumo Engakumbi Yokungathembeki

18. (a) Kutheni amazwi kaIsaya alandelayo ebatyhwatyhwisa abaphulaphuli bakhe? (b) Luluphi utshintsho lweziganeko oluza kwenzeka kamsinya?

¹⁸ Nangona la mazwi okugqibela kaIsaya ethuthuzela, kodwa amazwi akhe alandelayo ayabatyhwatyhwisa abaphulaphuli bakhe: “UYehova uya kukuzisela wena nabantu bakho nendlu kayihlo imihla ekungazange kubekho injengayo ukususela kumhla wokumka kukaEfrayim ecaleni kukaYuda, oko kukuthi, ukumkani waseAsiriya.” (Isaya 7:17) Lilonke, udiza ukuza kwentlekele, eza kubangelwa ngukumkani waseAsiriya. Olu daba lokuba baza kuwela ezandleni zeziya zikhohlakali zama-Asiriya lumel’ ukuba lumtsho aphelelwe bubuthongo uAhazi nabantu bakhe. Ngelakhe uAhazi ebecing’ ukuba uza kwakha ubuhlobo neAsiriya ukuze imkhusele kuSirayeli neSiriya. Kona kuza kuba njalo, kuba ngemva kokucengwa nguAhazi, ukumkani waseAsiriya uza kude amhlasele uSirayeli neSiriya. (2 Kumkani 16:9) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba seso isizathu esiya kubangela ukuba uPeka noRetsin barhoxe ekuyingqingeni kwabo iYerusalem. Ngaloo ndlela, imbumba yamaSiriya namaSirayeli ayiyi kukwazi ukuyithimba iYerusalem. (Isaya 7:1) Kodwa ke ngoku, uIsaya ubanyusel’ izibilini abaphulaphuli bakhe ngokubachazela ukuba, kwale Asiriya abacing’ ukuba iza kuba yintonga yabo esekhosi, iza kubajikela ibacinezele!—Thelekisa IMizekeliso 29:25.

19. Esi siganeko sembali sinasiphi isilumkiso kumaKristu namhlanje?

¹⁹ Le ngxelo eyinyaniso engokwembali, inesilumkiso esiphethele amaKristu namhlanje. Xa sijamelene nobunzima sisenokuhendeka ukuba silalanise kwimilinganiselo yobuKristu, size siyigatye inkuselo kaYehova. Oko kubonisa ukungabi nangqiqo  iphangaleleyo, yaye kuyabulala, njengokuba siza kubona kumazwi kaIsaya alandelayo. Apho lo mprofeti uchaza umonakalo oza kubangelwa kukuhlasela kweAsiriya ilizwe kunye nabantu balo.

20. Ngoobani “iimpukane” “neenyosi,” yaye ziza kwenza ntoni?

²⁰ UIsaya ulwahlukanisa udaba lwakhe lube ziinxalenye ezine, nganye ichaza oko kuza kwenzeka “ngaloo mini”—oko kukuthi, ngemini yokuhlasela kweAsiriya uYuda. “Kuya kuthi ngaloo mini uYehova azibethele umlozi iimpukane ezikwisiphelo semijelo yomNayile waseYiputa neenyosi ezikwilizwe laseAsiriya, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo ziya kungena zize zihlale, zonke, ezintlanjeni ezisengxondorheni nasezimfanteni zeengxondorha nakwiintshinyela zameva zonke neendawo zonke ezinamanzi.” (Isaya 7:18, 19) Imikhosi yaseYiputa neyaseAsiriya, iza kuliphumel’ iphulo iLizwe Ledinga, njengebubu leempukane neenyosi. Azizukuthi qu nje zidlule. Ezi “mpukane” nezi “nyosi” ziza kuhlala, zikhucule ezingontsini zonke zelo lizwe.

21. Ukumkani wama-Asiriya uza kuba njengencakuba ngayiphi indlela?

²¹ UIsaya uhlabela mgama esithi: “Ngaloo mini, ngencakuba eqeshiweyo kummandla woMlambo, ngokumkani waseAsiriya kanye, uYehova uya kuyicheba intloko noboya beenyawo, kwaye iya kutshayela kwaneendevu ezo.” (Isaya 7:20) Nanko ephinda ekhankanywa kwakhona uAsiriya, esona sisongelo sabo sikhulu. UAhazi umqeshele ukumkani waseAsiriya ukuba ‘achebe’ iSiriya noSirayeli. Kodwa ke, iya kusuka kwayona le “ncakuba eqeshiweyo” yakummandla wase-Efrate imjikele uYuda, yonde ‘ngentloko’ yakhe, iyichebe ibe yinkqayi, ide imgugule neendevu ezi zakhe!

22. Yiyiphi imizekelo ayisebenzisayo uIsaya ukubonisa imiphumo yokuhlasela kweAsiriya okusemnyango?

²² Uya kuba yintoni umphumo woko? “Kuya kuthi ke ngaloo mini umntu asindise ithokazi lenkomo nezimvu ezimbini. Kuya kuthi ke, ngenxa yentabalala yemveliso yobisi, adle ibhotolo; ngokuba baya kudla ibhotolo nobusi bonke abaseleyo phakathi kwelizwe.” (Isaya 7:21, 22) Yakuba iAsiriya ‘ilichebile’ ilizwe,  kuya kubakho imbinana nje yabantu abaseleyo, kangangokuba kuya kufuneka izilwanyana nje ezimbalwa zokubondla. Baya kutya “ibhotolo nobusi”—kuphela, bangabi nayo iwayini, nesonka, nokunye ukutya okuqhelekileyo. Enga ugxininisa ubunzulu bolu phanziso, uIsaya uliphinda kathathu isolotya lokuba, eli lizwe ebelikade lixabisekile kwaye lichumile, ngoku liya kuhluma amatyholo anameva nokhula. Abo bathwantulayo baye emaphandleni kuya kufuneka baphathe ‘iintolo nezaphetha’ zokuzikhusela kwizilwanyana zasendle ezincathame ematyholweni. Namasimi abo akhuculiweyo aya kuqushwa ziinkomo nezimvu. (Isaya 7:23-25) Esi siprofeto siqalisa ukuzaliseka kwangawo umhla ka-Ahazi.—2 Kronike 28:20.

 Iziganeko Ezichazwe Ngokungqalileyo

23. (a) Yintoni ngoku uIsaya ayalelwa ukuba ayenze? (b) Uqinisekiswa njani umqondiso wecwecwe?

²³ Ngoku uIsaya uphethulela ingqalelo kwisiganeko esiza kwenzeka kwakamsinya. Ngoxa iYerusalem isangqingwe yimikhosi yamaSiriya namaSirayeli, uIsaya unikela le ngxelo: “Waza uYehova wathi kum: ‘Thabatha icwecwe elikhulu, ubhale kulo ngosiba lomntu ofayo, uthi, “Mahere-shalali-hashe-bhazi.” Yaye mandingqinelwe ngamangqina athembekileyo, u-Uriya umbingeleli, noZekariya unyana kaYerebhekiya.’” (Isaya 8:1, 2) Igama elithi Mahere-shalali-hashe-bhazi lithetha ukuthi “Khawulezani, Maxhoba! Ugalelekile Eze Kuphanga.” UIsaya ucela amadoda amabini ahlonelwayo ekuhlaleni ukuba abe ngamangqina okubhala kwakhe eli gama kwicwecwe elikhulu, ukuze kamva aqinisekise ubunyaniso beli cwecwe. Noko ke, lo mqondiso uza kungqinelwa ngowesibini umqondiso.

24. Umqondiso kaMahere-shalali-hashe-bhazi ufanele ube nawuphi umphumo kubantu bakwaYuda?

²⁴ UIsaya uthi: “Ndandula ke ndasondela kumprofetikazi, wamitha, wazala unyana. Ke kaloku wathi uYehova kum: ‘Mbize ngokuba nguMahere-shalali-hashe-bhazi igama lakhe, kuba phambi kokuba inkwenkwe leyo ikwazi ukumemeza ithi, “Tata!” nokuthi “Mama!” ubuncwane baseDamasko namaxhoba aseSamariya aya kuthwalelwa phambi kokumkani waseAsiriya.’” (Isaya 8:3, 4) Ngoko ukubhalwa kweli cwecwe likhulu nokuzalwa kwale nkwenkwe kuza kuba yimiqondiso yokuba sele kukufuphi ukuba iAsiriya ibaphange abo bacinezela uYuda, abayiSiriya noSirayeli. Kukufuphi kangakanani? Kuya kwenzeka ngaphambi kokuba inkwenkwe leyo ikwazi ukuteketa ithi—“Tata,” “Mama.” Ukuchazwa ngokungqalileyo kwesi siganeko kufanele kuyiqinise intembelo yabantu kuYehova. Kungenjalo kwenze ukuba abanye bamgculele uIsaya noonyana bakhe. Enoba intsabelo ibe njani na, kodwa wona amazwi esiprofeto kaIsaya aye azaliseka.—2 Kumkani 17:1-6.

25. Imihla kaIsaya ifana njani nexesha lethu?

 ²⁵ AmaKristu anokufunda okuthile kwezi zilumkiso zikaIsaya ziphindaphindiweyo. Umpostile uPawulos usityhilela ukuba kwesi siganeko sembali, uIsaya ufanekisela uYesu Kristu baze bona oonyana bakhe bafanekisele abafundi bakaYesu abathanjisiweyo. (Hebhere 2:10-13) UYesu, esebenzisa abalandeli bakhe abathanjisiweyo abasemhlabeni, ubesoloko ewakhumbuza amaKristu enyaniso ngemfuneko ‘yokuhlala ephaphile’ kula maxesha anzima. (Luka 21:34-36) Kwangaxeshanye, abachasi abangaguqukiyo balunyukiswa ngentshabalalo yabo ezayo, nangona bedla ngokuzikhaba ngawo omane ezo zilumkiso. (2 Petros 3:3, 4) Ukuzaliseka ngokuthe ngqo kweziprofeto zomhla kaIsaya ngexesha lazo elimiselweyo kusisiqinisekiso sokuba nakwixesha lethu umhla kaThixo “uya kuba yinyaniso nakanjani na. Awuyi kufika emva kwexesha.”—Habhakuki 2:3.

“Amanzi” Atshabalalisayo

26, 27. (a) Ziziphi iziganeko azixela kwangaphambili uIsaya? (b) Amazwi kaIsaya abonisa ntoni ngabakhonzi bakaYehova namhlanje?

²⁶ UIsaya uhlabela mgama nezilumkiso zakhe, esithi: “Ngenxa yokuba esi sizwana siwagatyile amanzi aseShilowa ahamba kuhle, yaye kukho ukugcoba ngenxa kaRetsin unyana kaRemaliya; ngoko ke, khangela! uYehova unyusa nxamnye nabo amanzi anamandla namaninzi oMlambo, ukumkani waseAsiriya nozuko lwakhe lonke. Kwaye ngokuqinisekileyo uya kunyuka ube ngaphezu kwayo yonke imisinga yakhe aye naphezu kwalo lonke udonga lwakhe aze adlulele kwaYuda. Okunene uya kukhukula adlule. Uya kufikelela phezulu entanyeni. Nokunaba kwamaphiko akhe kumele kuzalise ububanzi belizwe lakho, Imanuweli!”—Isaya 8:5-8.

²⁷ “Esi sizwana,” esibubukhosi basentla bakwaSirayeli, siyasigatya isivumelwano sikaYehova noDavide. (2 Kumkani 17:16-18) Kuso, sibonakala sibuthathaka njengamanzi aqukuqela kancinane aseShilowa, apho asuka khona amanzi aseYerusalam. Siyakuvuyela ukulwa kwaso noYuda. Kodwa siza kohlwaywa  ngoku kudelela kwaso. UYehova uza kuvumela ama-Asiriya ukuba ‘ayikhukulise,’ okanye ayibhukuqe, iSiriya noSirayeli, kanye njengokuba nangoku uYehova eza kuthi kwakamsinya avumele ezobupolitika ukuba zikhukulise unqulo lobuxoki. (ISityhilelo 17:16; thelekisa uDaniyeli 9:26.) UIsaya uthi, emva koko la “manzi” akhukulisayo aza ‘kudlulela kwaYuda,’ aye “kufikelela phezulu entanyeni,” eyiYerusalem, apho intloko (engukumkani) kaYuda ilawula khona. b Ngokufanayo ke, nakwixesha lethu abezobupolitika abaza kutshabalalisa unqulo lobuxoki baza kubajikela abakhonzi bakaYehova, babathi xhakamfu “entanyeni.” (Hezekile 38:2, 10-16) Uza kuba yintoni umphumo? Ube yintoni ngexesha likaIsaya? Ngaba ama-Asiriya agqobhozela ngaphaya kweendonga zeso sixeko aze abatshayele bonke abantu bakaThixo? Akunjalo. UThixo unabo.

Ningoyiki—“UThixo Unathi!”

28. Phezu kwayo nje imigudu yamandla yeentshaba zabo, yintoni uYehova amqinisekisa ngayo uYuda?

²⁸ UIsaya ulumkisa ngelithi: “Hlaban’ umkhosi, nina zizwana [ezibachasileyo abantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso], niqotywe; bekani indlebe, nonke nina nikwiinxalenye ezikude zomhlaba! Bhinqani, niqotywe! Bhinqani, niqotywe! Cebani icebo, lotshitsha! Thethani naliphi na ilizwi, aliyi kuma, ngokuba uThixo unathi!” (Isaya 8:9, 10) Emva kweminyaka ethile, ebudeni bokulawula konyana othembekileyo ka-Ahazi onguHezekiya, la mazwi azaliseka. Ngethuba lokusongela kwama-Asiriya iYerusalem, ingelosi kaYehova ixabela ali-185 000 kuwo. Licacile elokuba, uThixo unabantu bakhe kunye nomnombo wasebukhosini kaDavide. (Isaya 37:33-37) Ngokukwanjalo, ebudeni bedabi elizayo leArmagedon, uYehova uza kuthumela uImanuweli Omkhulu ukuba ahlekeze iintshaba Zakhe aze ahlangule bonke abakholose Ngaye.—INdumiso 2:2, 9, 12.

29. (a) AmaYuda omhla ka-Ahazi ahluke njani kulawo emihla kaHezekiya? (b) Kutheni abakhonzi bakaYehova namhlanje bekuphepha ukuzimanyanisa nonqulo nezobupolitika?

 ²⁹ Ngokungafaniyo namaYuda exesha likaHezekiya, abantu bexesha lika-Ahazi abakholelwa kwinkuselo kaYehova. Bakhetha ukwenza igqugula, okanye “iyelenqe,” kunye nama-Asiriya ukuze abakhusele kwimbumba yamaSiriya namaSirayeli. Kodwa ke, ‘isandla’ sikaYehova sishukumisela uIsaya ukuba athethe nxamnye ‘nendlela yesi sizwana,’ okanye utyekelo lwaso oluqhelekileyo. Ulumkisa athi: “Nento eyoyikwa siso ningayoyiki, ningangcangcazeliswa yiyo. UYehova wemikhosi—Nguye enifanele nimngcwalise, nimoyike, yaye Nguye enifanele nimngcangcazelele.” (Isaya 8:11-13) Becinga ngako oku, abakhonzi bakaYehova namhlanje bayakuphepha ukwenza iyelenqe nemibutho yezonqulo neyezobupolitika okanye ukukholosa ngayo. Abakhonzi bakaYehova bakholose ngokupheleleyo emandleni kaThixo akhuselayo. Ngapha koko, ukuba ‘uYehova usecaleni lethu, angasenza ntoni na umntu wasemhlabeni?’—INdumiso 118:6.

30. Liliphi ishwangusha eliza kufikela abo bangakholosanga ngoYehova?

³⁰ UIsaya uhlabela mgama egxininisa ukuba uYehova uza kuba “njengendawo engcwele,” isikhuselo, kwabo bakholose ngaye. Kodwa bona abo bamgatyayo “baya kukhubeka bawe baze baphuke, barhintyelwe babanjwe”—izenzi ezihlanu ezicacileyo ezilikhanyisa gca ishwangusha eliza kwehlela abo bangakholosanga ngoYehova. (Isaya 8:14, 15) Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, abo bamgatyayo uYesu nabo bakhubeka bawa. (Luka 20:17, 18) Nanamhlanje balindelwe lishwangusha elifanayo abo bangamhloneliyo uKumkani omiselweyo wasezulwini, uYesu.—INdumiso 2:5-9.

31. AmaKristu enyaniso namhlanje awulandela njani umzekelo kaIsaya nowabo baphulaphula imfundiso yakhe?

³¹ Ngomhla kaIsaya, asingabo bonke abakhubekayo. UIsaya uthi: “Busonge ubungqina, uwutywine umthetho phakathi kwabafundi bam! Yaye ndiza kuhlala ndilindele kuYehova, obufihlayo ubuso bakhe endlwini kaYakobi, ndithembele  kuye.” (Isaya 8:16, 17) UIsaya kunye nabo bayithobelayo imfundiso yakhe abayi kuwutyeshela uMthetho kaThixo. Baqhubeka bekholosa ngoYehova, nakuba abantu abawexukileyo bomhla wabo besala ukwenjenjalo aze ngenxa yoko uYehova abufihle ubuso bakhe kubo. Ngamana singaxelisa umzekelo wabo bakholose ngoYehova size sizimisele njengabo ukunamathela kunqulo olunyulu!—Daniyeli 12:4, 9; Mateyu 24:45; thelekisa amaHebhere 6:11, 12.

‘Imiqondiso Nemimangaliso’

32. (a) Ngoobani namhlanje ‘abayimiqondiso nemimangaliso’? (b) Kutheni amaKristu efanele ahluke ehlabathini?

³² Ngoku uIsaya uvakalisa athi: “Khangela! Mna nabantwana andinikileyo uYehova sinjengemiqondiso nemimangaliso kwaSirayeli evela kuYehova wemikhosi, ohlala eNtabeni yeZiyon.” (Isaya 8:18) Ewe, uIsaya, uShehare-yashubhi, noMahere-shalali-hashe-bhazi bayimiqondiso yeenjongo zikaYehova kuYuda. Namhlanje, uYesu nabantakwabo abathanjisiweyo nabo bayimiqondiso. (Hebhere 2:11-13) Yaye bathelelwa emsebenzini wabo ‘sisihlwele esikhulu’ ‘sezinye izimvu.’ (ISityhilelo 7:9, 14; Yohane 10:16) Kambe ke, umqondiso uba luncedo kuphela xa wahlukile kwizinto eziwungqongileyo. Ngokukwanjalo, amaKristu aluphumeza uthumo lwawo njengemiqondiso kuphela ukuba ayahluka kweli hlabathi, akholose ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova aze azivakalise ngenkalipho iinjongo zakhe.

33. (a) Yintoni amaKristu enyaniso azimisele ukuyenza? (b) Yintoni eya kwenza ukuba amaKristu enyaniso akwazi ukuma eqinile?

³³ Kwanga ke sonke, singathobela imilinganiselo kaThixo, kungekhona eyeli hlabathi. Masiqhubeke sahlukile ngokungenaloyiko—njengemiqondiso—silufeze uthumo olunikwe uIsaya Omkhulu, uYesu Kristu, oluthi: “Bhengeza unyaka wenkoliseko . . . nomhla wempindezelo kaThixo wethu.” (Isaya 61:1, 2; Luka 4:17-21) Eneneni, xa umlambo wama-Asiriya ugaleleka emhlabeni uphela—kwanokuba ufikelela ezintanyeni zethu—amaKristu enyaniso akayi kukhukuliswa. Siya kuma siqinile kuba “uThixo unathi.”

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Imibuzo YeSifundo]

 [Umfanekiso okwiphepha 103]

UIsaya wathabatha uShehare-yashubhi xa wayeye kudlulisela isigidimi sikaYehova kuAhazi

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 111]

Kwakutheni ukuze uIsaya abhale athi “Mahere-shalali-hashe-bhazi” ecwecweni elikhulu?