Isahluko Sesithathu

‘Masilungelelanise Imicimbi’

Isaya 1:10-31

1, 2. UYehova ubafanisa nantoni abalawuli nabantu baseYerusalem nabakwaYuda, yaye kutheni oku kubalulekile nje?

 BAMELE ukuba abemi baseYerusalem banayo noko indawo yokufun’ ukuzithethelela emva kokugxijwa kwabo kuIsaya 1:1-9. Ngokuqinisekileyo bebengathanda ukuzingomb’ isifuba ngayo yonke imibingelelo abayinikela kuYehova. Noko ke, khawuve xa uYehova ebakhalimela kabukhali kwindinyana ye-10 ukusa kweye-15. Utshayelela ngokuthi: “Liveni ilizwi likaYehova, nina bozwilakhe baseSodom. Wubekeleni indlebe umthetho kaThixo wethu, nina bantu baseGomora.”—Isaya 1:10.

² Intsusa-mabandla yokutshatyalaliswa kweSodom neGomora yayingekokundlandlathekiswa nje kwazo kuphela yinkanuko yesini esigqwethekileyo kodwa yayikwaquka nobuntamo-lukhuni kwanokuba nekratshi kwazo. (Genesis 18:20, 21; 19:4, 5, 23-25; Hezekile 16:49, 50) Imele ukuba noko yabothusa into yokuva uIsaya ebasengela thungeni linye nezo zixeko ziqalekisiweyo. a Kaloku akukho nto ifihlakeleyo emehlweni kaYehova, yaye noIsaya akasiwalazi isigidimi sikaThixo ukuze ‘abanyumbaze iindlebe.’—2 Timoti 4:3.

 3. Utheth’ ukuthini uYehova xa esithi ‘wanele’ yimibingelelo yabantu, yaye kubangelwa yintoni oko?

³ Phawula indlela avakalelwa ngayo uYehova ngokulukha phezulu kwabantu bakhe unqulo lwakhe. “‘Kunangenelo ngantoni  na kum ukuba mininzi kwemibingelelo yenu?’ utsho uYehova. ‘Ndanele yimibingelelo etshiswa kuphele yeenkunzi zeegusha namanqatha ezilwanyana ezondlekileyo; yaye andiyoliswa naligazi lamathole eenkomo aziinkunzi neenkunzi zeemvana neenkunzi zeebhokhwe.’” (Isaya 1:11) Aba bantu bayilibele into yokuba uYehova akaxhomekekanga kwimibingelelo yabo. (INdumiso 50:8-13) Akakuswelanga nakuphi na oko abantu banikela ngako kuye. Ngoko ke ukuba bacing’ ukuba bamenzela inceba uYehova ngokunikela kwabo ngokukrikriza, bayaphazama. UYehova usebenzisa isigaba sentetho esinamandla. Ngokuthi “ndanele” utheth’ ukuthi “ndidikiwe.” Ngaba wakha wambona umntu odikwe yeyokosa? Yayimdike ngaloo ndlela ke noYehova loo minikelo—wayeyenyanya!

 4. UIsaya 1:12 ukubhenca njani ukuba lilize kokuya kwabantu etempileni eYerusalem?

⁴ UYehova uhlabela mgama esithi: “Xa nisiza kubonakala ebusweni bam, ngubani na okufunileyo oko esandleni senu, ukuba ninyathele iintendelezo zam?” (Isaya 1:12) Kanti asingomthetho kaYehova na othi abantu ‘mabaye kubona ubuso bakhe,’ oko kukuthi, baye etempileni yakhe eYerusalem? (Eksodus 34:23, 24) Kunjalo, kodwa bona benza nje uphela-sonwabe, bezalisa nje idinga kunqulo olunyulu, bengaluthabathi nzulu kwaphela. Kungako nje kuYehova befana nabantu ‘abanyathela’ iintendelezo zakhe, kungekho nto kubhetele ngayo ukuquqa kwabo kuzo ngaphandle nje kokukhuthula umgangatho.

 5. Ziziphi ezinye zezenzo zonqulo lwamaYuda, kwaye yintoni ebangele ukuba zibe ‘luxanduva’ kuYehova?

⁵ Akufane nje uYehova ethetha ngqwabalala ngakumbi ngoku! “Yekani ukuzisa nayiphi na iminikelo engakumbi yokudla okuziinkozo engenaxabiso. Isiqhumiso—siyinto ecekisekayo kum. Ukuthwasa kwenyanga nesabatha, ukubizwa kwendibano—andinakukunyamezela ukusetyenziswa kwamandla angaqhelekanga kunye nendibano engcwele. Umphefumlo wam ukuthiyile ukuthwasa kweenyanga zenu namaxesha enu emisitho. Kuye kwaluxanduva kum; ndidiniwe kukukuthwala.” (Isaya 1:13, 14) Iminikelo yokudla okuziinkozo, iziqhumiso, iiSabatha,  neendibano ezingcwele zonke zaziyinxalenye yoMthetho kaThixo kuSirayeli. UMthetho uyalela nje kuphela ukugcinwa ‘kokuthwasa kwenyanga,’ kodwa bona bakuxube bakuvanga nezithethe. (Numeri 10:10; 28:11) Ukuthwasa kwenyanga kwakugqalwa njengesabatha yenyanga nenyanga, ekwakuthi ngayo abantu bayeke ukusebenza baze bahlanganisane ukuze bafumane imiyalelo evela kubaprofeti nababingeleli. (2 Kumkani 4:23; Hezekile 46:3; Amosi 8:5) Intle loo nto. Ingxaki nje isekubeni kubo ibisele ikukuzalisa nje idinga. Ngapha koko, la maYuda sele engenwe ngumkhwa ‘wokusebenzisa amandla angaqhelekanga,’ oko kukuthi, uqheliselo lokusebenzelana nemimoya, ekugcineni kwawo uMthetho kaThixo. b Ngenxa yoko, unqulo lwawo ‘luluxanduva’ kuYehova.

 6. UYehova ‘udinwe’ ngayiphi ingqiqo?

⁶ Makube bethu, utheth’ ukuthini uYehova xa esithi “ndidiniwe”? Kaloku, simazi ‘enamandla amakhulu, yaye akadinwa okanye atyhafe.’ (Isaya 40:26, 28) Apha uYehova usebenzisa isigaba sentetho esenza sikhanyelwe yindlela avakalelwa ngayo. Ngaba wakha wasindwa yinto ethile eluxanduva ithuba elide kangangokuba ungabi safuna nokuv’ oku ngayo? Yiloo ndlela ke kanye uYehova avakalelwa ngayo kukuhanahanisa kwabantu bakhe ekumnquleni.

 7. Kutheni uYehova eyekile ukuphulaphula imithandazo yabantu bakhe?

⁷ Ngoku bagabadele elunqulweni lwabo ngokokude babe ngathi bamphath’ esweni uYehova. “Naxa nisolula izandla zenu, ndiyawafihla amehlo am kuni. Nakubeni nisenza imithandazo emininzi, andiphulaphulanga; zona kanye izandla zenu zizaliswe luphalazo-gazi.” (Isaya 1:15) Ukolula iintende zezandla zijonge phezulu, kubonisa ukubongoza. Nako oku akusenantsingiselo kuYehova, kuba izandla zaba bantu zizaliswe luphalazo-gazi. Ugonyamelo lwandile ezweni. Ukucinezelwa kwababuthathaka  kusisonka semihla ngemihla. Banezothe kakubi, ukuba bangathi emva kokuxhaphaza nokuzingca kwabo, babe nobuganga bokuthandaza kuYehova becela iintsikelelo. Akufane nje uYehova esithi, “andiphulaphulanga”!

 8. Iyintoni impazamo yeNgqobhoko namhlanje, yaye amanye amaKristu awela njani kumgibe ofanayo?

⁸ Nqwa ke neNgqobhoko namhlanje, eyenza imilembelele yemithandazo elilize neminye “imisebenzi” yonqulo, iba yona ngelayo iyamkholisa uThixo. (Mateyu 7:21-23) Kubalulekile ke ukuba nathi silumkele ukuwela kumgibe ofanayo. Maxa wambi, umKristu uye awele esonweni esinzulu, aze aqiqe ngelithi ukuba uyakufihla oko akwenzayo aze azibhokoxe ngokuthe chatha ebandleni lobuKristu, oko kuya kusithethelela isono sakhe. Oko kuzibhokoxa kwakhe kwenkwalambisa akumkholisi uYehova. Inye kuphela indlela yokunyanga ukugula kokomoya, njengokuba ichazwe kwiindinyana ezilandelayo zikaIsaya.

 Indlela Yokunyanga Ukugula Kokomoya

9, 10. Ukuhlambuluka kubaluleke kangakanani ekunquleni kwethu uYehova?

⁹ UYehova, uThixo onemfesane, ngoku uyabacenga, ebabongoza. “Zihlambeni; zihlambululeni; shenxisani ububi benu phambi kwamehlo am; yekani ukwenza okubi. Fundani ukwenza okulungileyo; funani okusesikweni; lungisani umcinezeli; yigwebeni inkwenkwe engenayise; gwebani ityala lomhlolokazi.” (Isaya 1:16, 17) Apha utsho ngothotho lwemiyalelo esithoba. Eyokuqala emine ibalaselisa ukushenxisa kwabo isono; ize emihlanu yokugqibela ibakhuthazele ekuthabatheni amanyathelo aya kubazisela intsikelelo kaYehova.

¹⁰ Ukuhlamba nokuhlambulula bekusoloko kuyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yonqulo olunyulu. (Eksodus 19:10, 11; 30:20; 2 Korinte 7:1) Kodwa uYehova ufuna ukuba abanquli bakhe bazihlambulule ngokunzulu, bade bafikelel’ intliziyo. Okona kubalulekileyo kukuhlambuluka ngokokuziphatha nangokomoya, yaye kuko kanye oko uYehova abhekisela kuko apha. Imiyalelo emibini yokuqala kwindinyana 16 ayikokuphindwa nje kwentw’ enye. Enye ingcali ngemigaqo-ntetho yesiHebhere ibonisa ukuba ibinzana lokuqala elithi “zihlambeni,” libhekisela kwinyathelo lokuqala lokuzihlambulula, lize elesibini elithi “zihlambululeni,” libhekisele ekuqhubekeni usenza umzamo wokuzigcina uhlambulukile.

11. Ukuze silwe nesono, yintoni esifanele siyenze, kwaye yintoni esingafanele siyenze?

¹¹ Asinakumfihlela nto uYehova. (Yobhi 34:22; IMizekeliso 15:3; Hebhere 4:13) Ngoko umyalelo wakhe othi, “Shenxisani ububi benu phambi kwamehlo am,” unokuthetha into enye nje kuphela—ukuba bayeke ukwenza ububi. Oko kuthetha ukuba mabangazami ukuzifihla izono ezinzulu, kuba ukwenjenjalo kona ngokwako kusisono. IMizekeliso 28:13 ilumkisa ngelithi: “Okugubungelayo ukunxaxha kwakhe akayi kuphumelela, kodwa okuvumayo aze akushiye uya kwenzelwa inceba.”

12. (a) Kutheni kubalulekile ‘ukufunda ukwenza okulungileyo’? (b) Abadala ngokukhethekileyo bangawusebenzisa njani umyalelo othi “funani okusesikweni” nothi “lungisani umcinezeli”?

 ¹² Singafunda lukhulu kumanyathelo uYehova akhuthaza ukuba athatyathwe kwindinyana 17 kaIsaya isahluko 1. Phawula ukuba akaneli nje ngokuthi “yenzani okulungileyo” kodwa “fundani ukwenza okulungileyo.” Kufuneka sibe nofundisiso lobuqu lweLizwi likaThixo ukuze sikuqonde oko kulungileyo emehlweni kaThixo nokuze sifune ukukwenza. Kwakhona, uYehova akaneli nje ngokuthi “yenzani okusesikweni” kodwa “funani okusesikweni.” Kwanabadala abanamava kufuneka bafunisise ngokuthi baphande ngokucokisekileyo eLizwini likaThixo ukuze benze isigqibo esichanileyo kwimibandela entsonkothileyo. Ikwayimbopheleleko yabo ‘ukulungisa umcinezeli,’ njengoko uYehova eyalela ngokulandelayo. Le miyalelo ibalulekile kubalusi abangamaKristu namhlanje, kuba bafuna ukukhusela umhlambi ‘kwiingcuka ezicinezelayo.’—IZenzo 20:28-30.

13. Thina namhlanje sinokuyisebenzisa njani imiyalelo ephathelele inkwenkwe engenayise nomhlolokazi?

¹³ Imiyalelo emibini yokugqibela ibandakanya abantu bakaThixo abasesichengeni ngakumbi—iinkedama nabahlolokazi. Bazizisulu zokuxhatshazwa lihlabathi; kodwa akumele kube njalo kubantu bakaThixo. Abadala abanothando ‘bayawagwebela’ amakhwenkwe namantombazana angenayise ebandleni, bewanceda ukuba afumane okusesikweni yaye akhuseleke kweli hlabathi lifuna ukuwaxhaphaza nokuwonakalisa. Abadala ‘bakwagweba netyala’ lomhlolokazi, okanye “bayamlwela,” njengoko likwathetha oko eli binzana ngesiHebhere. Eneneni, onke amaKristu afuna ukuba yindawo yokubalekela, umthombo wentuthuzelo, nowokusesikweni kwabo basweleyo phakathi kwethu kuba baxabisekile kuYehova.—Mika 6:8; Yakobi 1:27.

14. Sisiphi isigidimi esinamandla esidluliselwa kuIsaya 1:16, 17?

¹⁴ Esinjani sona ukuba namandla, nokukhuthaza isigidimi asidluliselayo uYehova ngale miyalelo isithoba! Maxa wambi abo babandakanyeka esonweni bazixelel’ ukuba kungaphezu kwamandla abo ukwenza okulungileyo. Ingcamango enjalo iyadimaza. Ngaphezu koko, iphosakele. UYehova uyazi—kwaye  ufuna nathi sazi—ukuba ngoncedo Lwakhe, namphi na umoni angakwazi ukuliyeka ikhondo lakhe lesono, aguquke, aze enze okulungileyo.

Isibongozo Semfesane Nesokusesikweni

15. Maxa wambi liye liqondwe njani phosakaleyo ibinzana elithi ‘masilungelelanise imicimbi phakathi kwethu,’ ibe kanye kanye lithetha ukuthini?

¹⁵ Ngoku isimbo sikaYehova sokuthetha sibonisa ukubongoza ngemfesane engakumbi. “‘Yizani, ke, silungelelanise imicimbi phakathi kwethu,’ utsho uYehova. ‘Nangona izono zenu zingqombela, ziya kwenziwa mhlophe njengekhephu; nangona zibomvu njengelaphu elibomvu ngokungqombela, ziya kuba njengoboya.’” (Isaya 1:18) Isimemo esitshayelela le ndinyana enamazwi amnandi kangaka sidla ngokungaqondwa ncam. Ngokomzekelo, iThe New English Bible ithi, “Yizani sixoxe”—ngokungathi omabini la maqela amele aphakelane izimvo de afikelele kwisivumelwano esithile. Kanti ke akunjalo! UYehova akanakumangalelwa nganto, ingakumbi ngokubhekisele kwindlela aqhubene ngayo naba bantu bavukelayo, nabahanahanisayo. (Duteronomi 32:4, 5) Le ndinyana ayithethi ngengxoxo phakathi kwababini abalinganayo, kodwa ibhekisela kummangalelwa osenkundleni yamatyala ngenjongo yokumiselwa kokusesikweni. Kufana ngathi uYehova apha ubizela uSirayeli enkundleni yamatyala.

16, 17. Sazi njani ukuba uYehova ukulungele ukuxolela kwanezono ezinzulu?

¹⁶ Kumele ukuba oku kubangel’ idyudyu, kodwa uYehova ungoyena Mgwebi unenceba nemfesane. Umkhamo axolela ngawo awunakulinganiswa nanto. (INdumiso 86:5) Nguye kuphela onokuzihlamba izono zikaSirayeli ‘ezingqombela,’ azenze zibe “mhlophe njengekhephu.” Awukho umgudu womntu, kungekho nawuphi na umsebenzi, imibingelelo, okanye imithandazo enokususa isono. Kukuxolelwa nguYehova kuphela okunokushenxisa isono. Yaye ukuxolelwa okunjalo kuxhomekeke ekufikeleleni imilinganiselo emiselwe nguThixo, equka ukuguquka ngokwenene nangokusuk’ entliziyweni.

 ¹⁷ Ukugxininisa ubunyaniso bala mazwi, uYehova ude awaphinde ngokuthi—izono ezinjengelaphu “elibomvu ngokungqombela” ziya kuba njengoboya obumhlophe obungajikwanga bala. UYehova ufuna sazi ukuba eneneni unguMxoleli wezono, kwanezona zinzulu kakhulu, ukuba nje siguquka ngokwenene. Abo bakufumanisa kunzima ukukholelwa ukuba ezabo izono zingaxolelwa mabakhe baqwalasele imizekelo enjengalowo kaManase. Wenza izono ezibi kakhulu—kangangeminyaka. Ukanti, waguquka waza waxolelwa. (2 Kronike 33:9-16) UYehova ufuna sonke thina, kuquka nabo benze izono ezinzulu, sazi ukuba alikasipheleli ixesha ‘lokulungelelanisa imicimbi’ kunye naye.

18. Luluphi ukhetho uYehova alubeka phambi kwabantu bakhe abavukelayo?

¹⁸ UYehova ukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuba banokhetho ekufuneka belwenzile. “Ukuba nithe navuma naphulaphula, niya kudla okulungileyo kwelizwe. Kodwa ukuba nithe nala naba nemvukelo, niya kudliwa nigqitywe likrele; kuba wona kanye umlomo kaYehova ukuthethile oko.” (Isaya 1:19, 20) Apha uYehova ugxininisa isimo sengqondo, yaye kwakhona usebenzisa isigaba sentetho ukukhanyisa ingongoma yakhe. Nalu ukhetho uYuda amele alwenze: Kukudla okanye ukudliwa. Ukuba banesimo sengqondo sokumphulaphula nokumthobela uYehova, baya kudla imveliso elungileyo yelizwe. Kodwa ukuba bayazingisa nesimo sabo sengqondo sokuvukela, baya kudliwa—likrele leentshaba zabo! Ubungenakuyithelekelela into yokuba kungakho abantu abanokukhetha ukudliwa likrele leentshaba zabo kunokwenzelwa inceba baze banikwe intabalala nguThixo oxolelayo. Kodwa ke, koko kanye okwakhethwa yiYerusalem, njengokuba iindinyana ezilandelayo zikaIsaya zibonisa.

Isimbonono Ngenxa Yesixeko Esithandekayo

19, 20. (a) UYehova ukuvakalisa njani ukuziva kwakhe engcatshiwe? (b) Kungayiphi indlela obuthe ‘ubulungisa bahlala eYerusalem’?

¹⁹ KuIsaya 1:21-23, sibubona ngokupheleleyo ubungendawo beYerusalem ngesi sihlandlo. Ngoku uIsaya wenza isimbonono  okanye isililo sombongo ophefumlelweyo, esithi: “Owu hayi indlela idolophu ethembekileyo eye yaba ngunongogo ngayo! Yayizaliswe kokusesikweni; ubulungisa babudla ngokuhlala kuyo, kodwa ngoku ngababulali.”—Isaya 1:21.

²⁰ Esinjani sona ukuba sikhulu isithonga sokuwa kwesixeko saseYerusalem! Yayikade ingumfazi othembekileyo, ngoku ingunongogo. Yiyiphi enye indlela uYehova abengakuchaza ngayo ukungcatshwa nokuphoxeka kwakhe okungaka? Esi sixeko sasikade ‘sizaliswe kokusesikweni.’ Kwakunini ngoko? Kaloku, kude kudala ngomhla ka-Abraham, engekabikho nokubakho uSirayeli lo, esi sixeko sasibizwa ngokuba yiSalem. Sasilawulwa yindoda eyayingukumkani ikwangumbingeleli. Igama layo, elinguMelkitsedeki, lithetha “uKumkani woBulungisa,” yaye lalimfanela kakuhle. (Hebhere 7:2; Genesis 14:18-20) Malunga neminyaka eli-1 000 ukusuka kuMelkitsedeki, iYerusalem  yayikwimeko entle ngokusemagqabini, ngexesha lokulawula kukaDavide noSolomon. “Ubulungisa babudla ngokuhlala kuyo,” ingakumbi xa ookumkani bayo babebamisela umzekelo omhle abantu ngokuhamba ngeendlela zikaYehova. Kodwa ngomhla kaIsaya, iimeko zazitshintshile.

21, 22. Yintoni efanekiselwa yintlenge nabutywala obungxengwe ngamanzi, yaye kutheni iinkokeli zakwaYuda zikufanelekele nje ukuchazwa ngaloo ndlela?

²¹ Kubonakala ukuba eyona ngxaki iphaya kanye entloko kwiinkokeli ngokwazo. UIsaya uhlabela mgama nesililo sakhe esithi: “Isilivere yakho iye yaba yintlenge. Utywala bengqolowa bungxengwe ngamanzi. Iinkosana zakho zineenkani yaye zingamaqabane amasela. Zonke zithanda isinyobo, zikwasukela nezipho. Aziligwebi ityala lenkwenkwe engenayise; kwanetyala lomhlolokazi abazikhathazi ngalo.” (Isaya 1:22, 23) Apha usebenzisa imizekelo emibini ecacileyo ukuxhokonx’ iingqondo zabo ngoko kumele kulandele. Ubanika umfanekiso-ngqondweni wengcibi yeentsimbi eyongula intlenge kwisilivere enyibilikisiweyo ize iyilahle. Iinkosana nabagwebi bakwaSirayeli bafana naloo ntlenge, kungekhona isilivere. Bafanelwe kukulahlwa. Bafana nqwa notywala obujavujavu obungxengwe ngamanzi. Ivanya enjalo ifanelwe kukuchithwa!

²² Indinyana 23 ikhanyisa isizathu sokuba le nkcazelo izifanele ezo nkokeli. UMthetho kaMoses wabaphakamisa abantu bakaThixo, bahluka kwezinye iintlanga. Ngokomzekelo, wagunyazisa ukukhuselwa kweenkedama nabahlolokazi. (Eksodus 22:22-24) Kodwa ngomhla kaIsaya, inkwenkwe engenayise yayingenathemba lingako lakufumana isigwebo esikholekileyo. Yena umhlolokazi, kwakungekho bani wayezikhathaza kwaukuzikhathaza ngokuphulaphula isikhalazo sakhe, kungasathethwa ke ngokumthethelela. Kaloku, aba bagwebi nezi nkokeli zazithe phithi zezazo izilangazelelo—njengokufuna isinyobo, ukusukela izipho, nokuba ngamahlakani amasela, zikhusela izaphuli-mthetho ngoxa ziyeka amaxhoba azo ebandezeleka. Okubi nangakumbi kukuba, “zineenkani,” kunjalo nje zityhala ngesifuba ekwenzeni ububi. Obunjani bona ubugxwayiba!

 UYehova Uza Kubasulungekisa Abantu Bakhe

23. UYehova uyichaza njani indlela avakalelwa ngayo ngeentshaba zakhe?

²³ UYehova akayi kukunyamezela ngonaphakade oku kusetyenziswa kakubi kwegunya. UIsaya uhlabela mgama esithi: “Ngoko ke lilo eli ilizwi leNkosi eyinyaniso, uYehova wemikhosi, Lowo unaMandla kaSirayeli: ‘Heke! Ndiya kuzikhulula kwiintshaba zam, ndiziphindezelele ezintshabeni zam.’” (Isaya 1:24) Apha uYehova ubizwa ngeendlela ezintathu, ukugxininisa ulongamo lwakhe nobukhulu bamandla akhe. Isikhuzo esithi “Heke!” sisenokuba sibonisa ukuba nakuba uYehova enovelwano kodwa uzimisele ukuwuphumeza umsindo wakhe. Ngokuqinisekileyo unesizathu sokwenjenjalo.

24. Yiyiphi inkqubo yokusulungekisa uYehova anenjongo yokuyisebenzisa kubantu bakhe?

²⁴ Abantu bakaYehova bazenze iintshaba zakhe. Ngoko ibafanele ngokupheleleyo impindezelo kaThixo. UYehova uza “kuzikhulula” kubo, okutheth’ ukuthi uza kubashenxisa ebusweni bakhe. Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba uza kubacim’ igama ngokupheleleyo abantu begama lakhe? Akunjalo, kuba uYehova uqhubeka esithi: “Ndiya kusibuyisela phezu kwakho isandla sam, ndiyinyibilikise intlenge yakho ngokungathi kungesoda, ndiyishenxise yonke intsila yakho.” (Isaya 1:25) Ngoku uYehova ubazekelisela ngenkqubo yokusulungekisa. Mandulo umsulungekisi wayedla ngokugalela isoda ukuze ahlukanise intlenge kwisinyithi esixabisekileyo. Ngokufanayo, njengokuba naye uYehova engabajongi abantu bakhe njengabangendawo ngokupheleleyo, uza ‘kubabetha nje ngomlinganiselo ofanelekileyo.’ Uza kushenxisa nje kuphela “intsila” kubo—engabo balukhuni nabangafanelekanga, abafana nenkomo enotshobo. c (Yeremiya 46:28) Apha uIsaya uvavwa ngelungelo lokubhala imbali ngaphambi kokwenzeka kwayo.

25. (a) UYehova wabasulungekisa njani abantu bakhe ngowama-607 B.C.E.? (b) Wabasulungekisa nini uYehova abantu bakhe ngexesha lethu?

 ²⁵ Eneneni uYehova wabasulungekisa abantu bakhe, wayongula intlenge eziinkokeli ezonakeleyo nabanye abavukeli. Ngowama-607 B.C.E., emva kwethuba elide ukususela kwixesha likaIsaya, iYerusalem yatshatyalaliswa baza abemi bayo bathinjelwa eBhabhiloni iminyaka engama-70. Oku ngandlel’ ithile kuyafana noko uThixo wakwenzayo kamva. Isiprofeto esikuMalaki 3:1-5, esabhalwa kwithuba elide emva kokuthinjelwa kwabo eBhabhiloni, sabonisa ukuba uThixo wayeza kuphinda awenze umsebenzi wokusulungekisa. Salatha kwixesha lokuza kukaYehova uThixo kwitempile yakhe yokomoya ephelekwa ‘ngumthunywa wakhe womnqophiso,’ uYesu Kristu. Kubonakala ukuba oku kwenzeka ekupheleni kweMfazwe Yehlabathi I. UYehova wabahlola bonke abo bazibanga bengamaKristu, ehluza awokwenyaniso kwawobuxoki. Waba yintoni umphumo?

26-28. (a) Yiyiphi inzaliseko yokuqala awaba nayo uIsaya 1:26? (b) Esi siprofeto sizaliseke njani kwixesha lethu? (c) Esi siprofeto sinokuba yingenelo njani kubadala namhlanje?

²⁶ UYehova uphendula ngokuthi: “Ndiya kukubuyisela abagwebi kwakhona njengasekuqaleni, nabacebisi bakho njengakuqala. Emva koko uya kubizwa ngokuba usisiXeko Sobulungisa, iDolophu Ethembekileyo. IZiyon iya kukhululwa ngokusesikweni, nabo babuyileyo bayo, ngobulungisa.” (Isaya 1:26, 27) Inzaliseko yokuqala yesi siprofeto yenzeka kwiYerusalem yamandulo. Emva kokuba abathinjwa bebuyele kwisixeko sabo esithandekayo ngowama-537 B.C.E., baphinda baba nabagwebi kunye nabacebisi abathembekileyo njengakuqala. Umprofeti uHagayi noZekariya, umbingeleli uYoshuwa, umbhali uEzra, nerhuluneli uZerubhabheli, bonke bayikhokelela ezindleleni zikaThixo le ntsalela ithembekileyo ibuyileyo. Noko ke, sibe nenzaliseko ebaluleke ngakumbi ngenkulungwane yama-20.

²⁷ Ngowe-1919, abantu bakaYehova bale mihla bakhululeka kwixesha lovavanyo. Bahlangulwa ekukhotyokisweni ngokomoya yiBhabhiloni Enkulu, ubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo  lobuxoki. Watsho wacaca gca umahluko phakathi kwaloo ntsalela ithembekileyo nethanjisiweyo kunye nabefundisi abawexukileyo beNgqobhoko. UThixo wabasikelela kwakhona abantu bakhe, ‘wababuyisela abagwebi nabacebisi’—amadoda athembekileyo aluleka abantu bakaThixo ngokweLizwi lakhe kungekhona ngokwezithethe zabantu. Namhlanje kukho amawakawaka amadoda anjalo, phakathi ‘komhlambi omncinane’ oya uncipha ngokuncipha nakumaqabane awo azizigidi ezandayo ‘zezinye izimvu.’—Luka 12:32; Yohane 10:16; Isaya 32:1, 2; 60:17; 61:3, 4.

²⁸ Abadala bayaqonda ukuba, maxa wambi kuye kufuneke babe ‘njengabagwebi’ ebandleni, ukuze baligcine licocekile ngokokuziphatha nangokomoya nokuze balungise abenzi-bubi. Bakuxhalabele ngokunzulu ukwenza izinto ngendlela kaThixo, bexelisa inceba nokuba sesikweni kwakhe okulungeleleneyo. Noko ke, ubukhulu becala bakhonza ‘njengabacebisi.’ Kodwa ke abazenzi iinkosana okanye iingqwayingqwayi ezithile, yaye benza konke okusemandleni abo ukuba kungabikho nantoni na ebenza babe ngathi “ziinkosi phezu kwabo balilifa likaThixo.”—1 Petros 5:3.

29, 30. (a) Uthini uYehova ngabo bangavumiyo ukusulungekiswa? (b) Abantu baba “neentloni” ngemithi nangemiyezo yabo ngayiphi ingqiqo?

²⁹ Kuthekani ‘ngentlenge’ ekhankanywe kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya? Yintoni eyenzekayo kwabo bangavumiyo ukusulungekiswa nguThixo? UIsaya uhlabela mgama esithi: “Ukuwa kwabo bavukelayo nokwabo banesono  kuya kuba ngaxeshanye, nabo bamshiyayo uYehova baya kupheliswa. Kuba baya kuba neentloni ngemithi emikhulu kakhulu leyo nayinqwenelayo, yaye niya kudana ngenxa yemiyezo eniyinyulileyo.” (Isaya 1:28, 29) Eneneni abo bavukelayo baze bone kuYehova, beqhubeka bezibetha ngoyaba izigidimi zabaprofeti bakhe de baphelelwe lixesha, ‘bayawa’ baze ‘bapheliswe.’ Oku kwenzeka ngowama-607 B.C.E. Kodwa yona imithi nemiyezo ekuthethwe ngayo apha, itheth’ ukuthini?

³⁰ La maYuda anengxaki yonqulo-zithixo esisinama ndokunamathela. Yaye ubukhulu becala, amahlazo awenzayo ayenokuthanani nemithi, imiyezo namatyholo. Ngokomzekelo, abo banqula uBhahali kunye neqabane lakhe uAshtorete, bakholelwa ukuba xa kukho imbalela, sukuba abo thixo babini befile baza bangcwatywa. Ngoko babavuselela ukuba bavuke baze babe neentlobano zesini, ukuze umhlaba uchume, ngokuthi bahlanganisane baze bazityikile kwizenzo zesini esigqwethekileyo ngaphantsi kwemithi “engcwele” ematyholweni okanye emiyezweni. Ithi yakuna imvula uze uchume umhlaba, badunyiswe oothixo bobuxoki; yaye aba banquli-zithixo bazifake zatshona iinzipho kule nkolelo. Kodwa xa uYehova ebatshabalalisa abo banquli-zithixo banemvukelo, akukho nokuba abe mnye uthixo obakhuselayo. Nto leyo ebenza aba bavukeli babe “neentloni” ngaloo mithi nemiyezo yabo engenamveliso.

31. Yintoni embi nangaphezu kwehlazo abajamelene nayo abanquli-zithixo?

³¹ Noko ke, aba banquli-zithixo bamaYuda bafane bangxama ngokuba neentloni, kanti ke abakeva nto. Usuka ngoku uYehova awubhekise kubo uqobo lo mzekeliso, efanisa bona kanye abo banquli-zithixo kunye nemithi. “Niya kuba njengomthi omkhulu onamahlamvu abunayo, nanjengomyezo ongenamanzi.” (Isaya 1:30) Lo mzekeliso uyifanela ncam imeko yakuMbindi Mpuma onemozulu eshushu neyomileyo. Akukho mthi namyezo unokuhlala ithuba elide apho ngaphandle kokufumana amanzi rhoqo. Izityalo apho ziyoma zize zibe sisisulu somlilo. Nqwa ke nakubo, njengokuba lo mzekeliso uqhubeka ubonisa kwindinyana 31.

32. (a) Ngubani le “ndoda enamandla” ekubhekiselwe kuyo kwindinyana 31? (b) Iya kuba “yintambo yeflakisi” ngayiphi ingqiqo, kwaye iyintoni “intlantsi” eya kuyintumeka, uze ube yintoni umphumo?

 ³² “Ngokuqinisekileyo nendoda enamandla iya kuba yintambo yeflakisi, nemveliso yomsebenzi wayo ube yintlantsi; yaye ngokuqinisekileyo zombini ziya kudangazela ngaxeshanye, kungekho bani ucimayo.” (Isaya 1:31) Ngubani le “ndoda enamandla”? Eli gama ngesiHebhere lithetha ukuba namandla nobutyebi. Lisenokuba libhekisela kubalandeli boothixo bobuxoki ababechumile nababezidla. Ngomhla kaIsaya, njengokuba kunjalo nakowethu, bakho abantu abamgatyayo uYehova nonqulo lwakhe olunyulu. Ukanti izinto zibonakala zibahambela kakuhle abanye babo. Kodwa ke uYehova ulumkisa ngelithi abo bantu baya kuba ‘njengentambo yeflakisi,’ usinga okanye umcu ontlakantlaka nowomileyo, osuk’ uqhawuke ungekafiki nokufik’ oku emlilweni. (ABagwebi 16:8, 9) Yona imveliso yomsebenzi waba banquli-zithixo—enoba zizithixo zabo, ubutyebi babo, okanye nantoni na enye abayinqulayo kunokunqula uYehova—iya kuba ‘njengentlantsi’ entumeka umlilo. Apho uvuthe khona umlilo lowo uya kudangazela ngokungacimekiyo, udle kwantlantsi leyo kunye neflakisi ngokwayo. Kwaye akukho naliphi na igunya kwindalo iphela elinokuyitshitshisa imigwebo egqibeleleyo kaYehova.

33. (a) Zona izilumkiso zikaThixo ezingokuza komgwebo wakhe zikubonisa njani ukuba nenceba kwakhe? (b) Liliphi ithuba ngoku uYehova alivulele uluntu, yaye oku kumchaphazela njani ngamnye wethu?

³³ Ngaba esi sigidimi sokugqibela siyavumelana nesigidimi senceba nesokuxolela esikwindinyana 18? Sivumelana ngqo! UYehova wenze ukuba ezi zilumkiso zibhalwe zize zidluliselwe kubakhonzi bakhe ngenxa yokuba enenceba. Ngapha koko, “akanqweneli ukuba kutshabalale nabani na kodwa unqwenela ukuba bonke bafikelele enguqukweni.” (2 Petros 3:9) MKristu ngamnye wokwenyaniso namhlanje unelungelo lokuvakalisa izigidimi zesilumkiso sikaThixo eluntwini ukuze abo baguqukayo bangenelwe kukuxolela kwakhe ngesisa baze baphile ngonaphakade. Obunjani bona ububele abubonakalisileyo uYehova ngokunika uluntu ithuba ‘lokulungelelanisa imicimbi’ kunye naye ngaphambi kokuba lushiywe lixesha!

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