Isahluko Seshumi Elinesibini

Musani Ukuyoyika IAsiriya

Isaya 10:5-34

1, 2. (a) Ngokwembono yabantu, kutheni uYona wayebonakala enesizathu esivakalayo sokuba mathidala ukwamkela uthumo lwakhe lokushumayela kuma-Asiriya? (b) Abemi baseNineve basabela njani kwisigidimi sikaYona?

 PHAKATHI kwinkulungwane yesithoba ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, umprofeti ongumHebhere uYona, unyana ka-Amitayi, waba nobuganga bokuya eNineve, elikomkhulu loBukhosi baseAsiriya. Wayephethe isigidimi esinamandla. UYehova wayethe kuye: “Sukuma, uye eNineve isixeko esikhulu, uze ubhengeze nxamnye nayo ukuba ububi babo bunyuke beza kufika phambi kwam.”—Yona 1:2, 3.

² Ukuqala kwakhe ukufumana olu thumo, uYona wabalekela kwelinye icala, ngaseTarshishe. Ngokwembono yabantu, uYona wayenesizathu sokuba mathidala. Ama-Asiriya ayesisizwe esikhohlakeleyo. Phawula indlela omnye umlawuli waseAsiriya awaziphatha ngayo iintshaba zakhe: “Amagosa ndawanqumla amalungu awo omzimba . . . Inkoliso yabo bathinjiweyo ndayitshisa emlilweni, ndaza abanye ndabaphosa ngaphaya kwezitshixo. Abanye ndabanqumla izandla neminwe, ndaza abanye ndabanqumla iimpumlo.” Sekunjalo, xa uYona ekugqibeleni wasidluliselayo isigidimi sikaYehova, abemi baseNineve baguquka kwizono zabo waza uYehova wasisindisa eso sixeko ngeso sihlandlo.—Yona 3:3-10; Mateyu 12:41.

UYehova Uthabatha “Intonga”

 3. Indlela asabela ngayo amaSirayeli kwizilumkiso ezadluliselwa ngabaprofeti bakaYehova yahluke njani kuleyo yabemi baseNineve?

³ AmaSirayeli ashumayela nakuwo uYona, ngaba ayasabela? (2 Kumkani 14:25) Akunjalo. Alunikel’ umva unqulo olunyulu.  Eneneni, agabadele ngokokude aqalise “ukuqubuda kuwo wonke umkhosi wamazulu nokukhonza uBhahali.” Okubi nangakumbi kukuba, “baqhubeka bedlulisa oonyana babo neentombi zabo emlilweni, bevumisa, behlaba izihlabo, yaye baqhubeka bezithengisela ukwenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova, ukuze bamcaphukise.” (2 Kumkani 17:16, 17) Ngokungafaniyo nabemi baseNineve, uSirayeli akasabeli xa uYehova ethumela abaprofeti bokumlumkisa. Ngoko uYehova uzimisele ukuthabatha amanyathelo aqatha.

4, 5. (a) Kuthethwa ukuthiwani ngokuthi “umAsiriya,” kwaye uYehova uza kumsebenzisa njani ‘njengentonga’? (b) Iwa nini iSamariya?

⁴ Kangangethuba elide emva kokuba uYona etyelele eNineve, lwadamba uhlaselo lweAsiriya. a Kodwa ke, ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, iAsiriya iphindile yazibonakalisa ubunto ngobunto bayo kwezomkhosi, waza ke uYehova wayisebenzisa ngendlela ekhwankqisayo. Kungako nje umprofeti uIsaya edlulisela isilumkiso sikaYehova kubukhosi basentla bukaSirayeli, esithi: “Heke, umAsiriya yena uyintonga yomsindo wam, induku esesandleni sam yesiqalekiso! Ndiya kumthumela nxamnye nohlanga oluwexukileyo, yaye ndiya kukhupha umyalelo kuye nxamnye nabantu bokuvutha komsindo wam, ukuze athabathe amaxhoba amaninzi, abaphange, abanyathele njengodongwe lwezitrato.”—Isaya 10:5, 6.

⁵ Okunjani kona ukuhlaziswa kwamaSirayeli! UThixo usebenzisa uhlanga lwabahedeni—“umAsiriya”—‘njengentonga’ yokuwohlwaya. Kuthe ngowama-742 B.C.E., uKumkani uShalmaneser V waseAsiriya wayingqinga iSamariya, elikomkhulu lohlanga oluwexukileyo lukaSirayeli. Ngenxa yecebo layo lokuthi ngcu endulini engama-90 eemitha ukuphakama, iSamariya ikwazile ukuthintela utshaba lwayo kangangeminyaka ephantse ibe mithathu. Kodwa akukho cebo labantu linokuyithintela injongo kaThixo. Ngowama-740 B.C.E., iSamariya yawa, yaxangxathwa yiAsiriya. —2 Kumkani 18:10.

 6. UAsiriya ugabadela ngayiphi indlela koko uYehova anako engqondweni ngaye?

 ⁶ Nangona ama-Asiriya esetyenziswa nguYehova ukufundisa abantu bakhe isifundo, kodwa wona akamgqali uYehova. Kungako nje ehlabela mgama esithi: “Nakuba [uAsiriya] esenokuba akanjalo, uya kuziva enotyekelo; nakuba intliziyo yakhe isenokungabi ngaloo ndlela, uya kuceba, ngenxa yokuba ukubhubhisa kusentliziyweni yakhe, nokunqumla iintlanga ezingembalwa.” (Isaya 10:7) UYehova uzimisele ukumsebenzisa uAsiriya njengesixhobo sakhe. Kodwa yena uAsiriya unanjongo zimbi. Entliziyweni yakhe uceba amabhongo amakhulu—uceba ukoyisa ihlabathi langoko liphela!

 7. (a) Chaza ibinzana elithi “Iinkosana zam azingabo ookumkani na kwangaxeshanye?” (b) Yintoni abo bamtyeshelayo uYehova namhlanje abafanele bayiphaphele?

⁷ Izixeko ezininzi ezingezizo ezamaSirayeli ezoyiswa yiAsiriya zazikade zilawulwa ngookumkani. Ngoku abo kumkani kufuneka bathobele ukumkani waseAsiriya njengeenkosana ezikhonza phantsi kwakhe, ukuze akwazi ukuqhayisa ngokwenene athi: “Iinkosana zam azingabo ookumkani na kwangaxeshanye?” (Isaya 10:8) Oothixo bobuxoki bezixeko ezidumileyo zeentlanga abakwazanga kubakhusela abanquli babo ekutshatyalalisweni. Oothixo ababenqulwa ngabemi baseSamariya, abanjengoBhahali, uMoleki, namathole egolide, abayi kusikhusela eso sixeko. Ekubeni iSamariya imtyeshele uYehova, ngoko ayinasizathu sakulindela ukuba angenelele. Kwanga ke bonke abo bamtyeshelayo uYehova namhlanje bangafunda okuthile kweli shwangusha lafikela iSamariya! IAsiriya iyaqhayisa ngokoyisa kwayo iSamariya nezinye izixeko, isithi: “IKaleno ayinjengeKarkemishe na? IHamati ayinjengeArpadi na? ISamariya ayinjengeDamasko na?” (Isaya 10:9) Zonke zingumgubo wengxow’ enye kwiAsiriya—zingamaxhoba ayo.

8, 9. Kutheni kugqalwa njengokugabadela nje ukuzimisela kweAsiriya ukuhlasela iYerusalem?

⁸ Noko ke, iAsiriya le ide yagabadela ngokuqhayisa. Ithi: “Xa sukuba isandla sam sifikile kwizikumkani zoothixo abangenaxabiso  abamifanekiso yabo eqingqiweyo ingaphezulu kwaleyo iseYerusalem naseSamariya, akuyi kuba kanye njengoko ndenzile na eSamariya nakoothixo bayo abangenaxabiso, endiya kuthi ndenjenjalo kwiYerusalem nakoothixo bayo?” (Isaya 10:10, 11) Ubukhosi obusele boyisiwe yiAsiriya babunezithixo ezininzi lee kuneYerusalem neSamariya. Ngoko iqiqa ngelithi, ‘Ndikwazile nje ukuyoyisa iSamariya, ingandixaka ngantoni yona iYerusalem?’

⁹ Okunjani kona ukuqhayisa! Kodwa uYehova akazukumvumela ukuba athabathe iYerusalem. Kuyavunywa ukuba, uYuda akazange abe nangxelo intle yokuxhasa unqulo lokwenyaniso. (2 Kumkani 16:7-9; 2 Kronike 28:24) Kwaye uYehova umlumkisile uYuda lowo ukuba ngenxa yokungathembeki kwakhe, uza kubandezeleka kanobom ngexesha lokuhlasela kweAsiriya. Kodwa yona iYerusalem iza kusinda. (Isaya 1:7, 8) Ngethuba lokuhlasela kweAsiriya, nguHezekiya obengukumkani eYerusalem. Kwaye yena uHezekiya ebengafani noyise, uAhazi. Kaloku yena  uHezekiya, wathi kwakwinyanga nje yokuqala yokulawula kwakhe, wazivula kwakhona iingcango zetempile waza walubuyisela kwakhona unqulo olunyulu!—2 Kronike 29:3-5.

10. Yintoni ayithembisayo uYehova ngokuphathelele iAsiriya?

¹⁰ Ngoko ngokuzimisela kweAsiriya ukuhlasela iYerusalem, imphath’ esweni uYehova. Kungako nje uYehova esithi uza kuliphendulisa elo gunya liqaqadekileyo lehlabathi: “Kuya kuthi xa uYehova enqumla wonke umsebenzi wakhe eNtabeni yeZiyon naseYerusalem, ndenze kuphendulwe ngesiqhamo sokusa kwentliziyo kakumkani waseAsiriya nokuzigwagwisa ngokuphakama kwamehlo akhe.”—Isaya 10:12.

KwaYuda NaseYerusalem!

11. Kutheni iAsiriya icinga ukuba iza kuyithi qwaka-qwaka nje ngokulula iYerusalem?

¹¹ Kwiminyaka esibhozo emva kokuwa kobukhosi basentla ngowama-740 B.C.E., umlawuli omtsha wama-Asiriya, uSenaribhe, waqula waza wonda ngeYerusalem. Esebenzisa intetho ebumbongo uIsaya usithela gqaba-gqaba ngokuzigwagwisa kukaSaneribhe, esithi: “Ndiya kuyishenxisa imida yezizwana, nengqwebo yazo ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kuyiphanga, ndibehlise abemi kanye njengalowo unamandla. Isandla sam siya kubufumana ubuncwane bezizwana njengendlwane; yaye kanye njengaxa ubani ehlanganisa amaqanda ashiyiweyo, mna ndiza kuhlanganisa kwanawo wonke umhlaba, kwaye ngokuqinisekileyo akuyi kubakho namnye ophaphazelisa amaphiko akhe okanye ovula umlomo wakhe okanye otswitswizayo.” (Isaya 10:13, 14) USaneribhe uqiqa ngelithi, njengokuba ezinye izixeko bezoyisile neSamariya ingasekho, ngoko kuya kuba lula ngeYerusalem! Isengazama yona ukuphakamis’ izigalo, kodwa iza kuthiwa qwaka-qwaka nje ngokulula, nobuncwane bayo buxhwilwe njengamaqanda endlwaneni eshiywe yodwa.

12. Uthini uYehova ngokuqhayisa kweAsiriya?

¹² Noko ke, uSaneribhe lo unentw’ ayilibalayo. ISamariya  ewexukileyo besiyifanele isohlwayo esifumeneyo. Noko ke, yona iYerusalem, elawulwa nguKumkani uHezekiya, iphinde yalumela ngokuqinileyo unqulo olunyulu. Nabani na ofuna ukuchukumisa iYerusalem uya kugagana noYehova! Ngoko, ecaphukile uIsaya, ubuza athi: “Izembe liya kuzikhukhumalisa na ngaphezu kogawulayo, okanye isarha iya kuzenza nkulu na ngaphezu kwalowo uyishukushukumisayo, ngokungathi umsimelelo ushukushukumisa abo bawuphakamisela phezulu, ngokungathi intonga iphakamisela phezulu lowo ungengomthi?” (Isaya 10:15) UBukhosi baseAsiriya bufana nje nesixhobo esisesandleni sikaYehova, nqwa nezembe esandleni somgawuli, isarha esandleni somchweli okanye intonga esandleni somalusi. Xa ibingubani yona intonga ukuba ingade iziphakamise kumniniyo!

13. Nikela inkcazelo noko kwenzekayo (a) kwabo “batyebileyo.” (b) ‘kukhula namatyholo anameva.’ (c) ‘kuzuko lwehlathi lakhe.’

¹³ Yintoni eza kwenzeka kwiAsiriya? “INkosi yokwenyaniso, uYehova wemikhosi, iya kuthumela kwabo batyebileyo bakhe isifo esiqhenqethayo, naphantsi kozuko lwakhe ukuvutha kuya kuvutha njengokuvutha komlilo. UKhanyiso lwakwaSirayeli lumele lube ngumlilo, naLowo Ungcwele wakhe abe lidangatye; yaye limele litshise lize liludle lilugqibe ukhula namatyholo anameva ngamini-nye. Kwaye Yena uya kuluphelisa uzuko lwehlathi lakhe nolwebhoma lakhe, ukususela emphefumlweni ukuya kufikelela enyameni, yaye kumele kube njengokuphela kwalowo ugulayo. Eminye imithi yehlathi lakhe—iya kuba ngangenani elingabhalwa phantsi nayinkwenkwe.” (Isaya 10:16-19) Ewe, uYehova uza kuyivikiva “intonga” yeAsiriya! Abo “batyebileyo” kumkhosi wama-Asiriya, oko kukuthi izigantsontso zamajoni ayo, baya kubethwa ‘ngesifo esiqhenqethayo.’ Baya kuphel’ amandla! Abaphumi-mkhosi bayo baza kutshiswa luKhanyiso lwakwaSirayeli, olunguYehova uThixo, njengokutshiswa kokhula nemithana enameva. Kwaye luza kuphela “uzuko lwehlathi lakhe,” olungamagosa ayo asemkhosini. Akuba uYehova egqibile ngeAsiriya,  kuya kusala nje igcuntswana lamagosa ayo elingabalwa nayinkwenkwana ngeminwe yayo!—Bona kwanoIsaya 10:33, 34.

14. Chaza umkhamo esele ihlasele ngawo iAsiriya emhlabeni wakwaYuda ngowama-732 B.C.E.

¹⁴ Sekunjalo, kumel’ ukuba kusenzima ngamaYuda awayehlala eYerusalem ngowama-732 B.C.E. ukukholelwa ukuba iAsiriya iza koyiswa. Kuba nakubeni umkhulu unjalo umkhosi wama-Asiriya, usaqhubeka usanda. Khawuve nje xa kuchazwa uludwe lwezixeko zakwaYuda esele zoyisiwe: ‘Ufikile eAyati, eMigron, eMikimashe, eGebha, eRama, eGibheya kaSawule, eGalim, eLayisha, eAnatoti, eMademena, eGebhim naseNobhi.’ (Isaya 10:28-32a) b Ekugqibeleni aba bahlaseli bafikelela eLakishe, ekumgama nje weekhilomitha ezingama-50 ukusuka eYerusalem. Kungabanga thuba lide, lo mkhosi omkhulu wama-Asiriya uyasisongela esi sixeko. “Ulingisa ngesandla ngokusongelayo entabeni yentombi yaseZiyon, induli yaseYerusalem.” (Isaya 10:32b) Yintoni enokuwathintela la ma-Asiriya?

15, 16. (a) Kutheni kufuneka uKumkani uHezekiya abe nokholo olomeleleyo? (b) Sisiphi isizathu sokuba uHezekiya abe nokholo lokuba uYehova uza kumnceda?

¹⁵ Esebhotwe lakhe esixekweni eso, uKumkani uHezekiya uqalisa ukunxuba. Ukrazula izambatho zakhe aze azigqubuthele ngamarhonya. (Isaya 37:1) Uthumela amadoda kumprofeti uIsaya ukuba abuzise kuYehova ngoYuda. Ngokukhawuleza abuya nempendulo evela kuYehova, ethi: “Ningoyiki . . . Ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kusikhusela esi sixeko.” (Isaya 37:6, 35) Sekunjalo, ama-Asiriya asaqhubeka ebasongela kwaye ezigwagwisa.

¹⁶ Ukholo—lulo oluya kumzimasa uKumkani uHezekiya kule meko imaxongo. Ukholo ‘lububungqina obucacileyo bezinto zokwenene nangona zingabonwa.’ (Hebhere 11:1) Luquka ukukhangela ngaphaya kwemeko ojamelene nayo. Kodwa  ukholo lusekelwe elwazini. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uHezekiya ukhumbula ukuba ngaphambilana uYehova wayethethe la mazwi athuthuzelayo, athi: “Musani ukoyika, bantu bam abahlala eZiyon, ngenxa yomAsiriya . . . Kuba kuseza kuba lithuba elincinane kakhulu—yaye isiqalekiso siya kufikelela esiphelweni, nomsindo wam, ekonakaleni kwabo. Kwaye uYehova wemikhosi ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuvonyavonya isabhokhwe nxamnye naye njengasekoyisweni kukaMidiyan ngakwiliwa laseOrebhi; nomsimelelo wakhe uya kuba selwandle, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuwuphakamisa ngendlela awenza ngayo kwiYiputa.” (Isaya 10:24-26) c Ewe, abantu bakaThixo babekhe bajamelana neemeko ezinzima ngaphambili. Ookhokho bakaHezekiya babebonakala bephelelwe lithemba bakonganyelwa ngumkhosi omkhulu wamaYiputa kuLwandle Olubomvu. Kwiinkulungwane ngaphambili, uGidiyon wayebonakala engeyonto xa ethelekiswa namaMidiyan kwanama-Amaleki awahlasela uSirayeli. Kodwa, uYehova wabahlangula abantu bakhe ngazo zozibini ezo zohlandlo.—Eksodus 14:7-9, 13, 28; ABagwebi 6:33; 7:21, 22.

17. ‘Yaphuke’ njani idyokhwe yeAsiriya, yaye ngoba?

¹⁷ Ngaba uYehova uza kuphinda enze oko wayekwenzile ngezo zihlandlo zangaphambili? Ewe. UYehova uthembisa ngokuthi: “Kothi ke ngaloo mini umthwalo wakhe usuke egxalabeni lakho, nedyokhwe yakhe entanyeni yakho, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo idyokhwe leyo iya kwaphuka ngenxa yeoli.” (Isaya 10:27) Idyokhwe yama-Asiriya iza kususwa egxalabeni nasentanyeni yabantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso. Eneneni, loo dyokhwe iya “kwaphuka”—kwaye yaphukile! Ngabusuku bunye, ingelosi kaYehova ibulala ama-Asiriya ali-185 000. Ngoko ama-Asiriya athabatha konk’ okwawo aza aphuma umphelo emhlabeni wakwaYuda. (2 Kumkani 19:35, 36) Ngoba? “Ngenxa yeoli.” Oku kusenokuba kubhekisela kwioli eyasetyenziswayo ekuthambiseni uHezekiya njengokumkani womnombo  kaDavide. Ngaloo ndlela, uYehova usizalisekisile isithembiso sakhe esithi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kusikhusela esi sixeko ukuze ndisisindise ngenxa yam nangenxa kaDavide umkhonzi wam.”—2 Kumkani 19:34.

18. (a) Ngaba isiprofeto sikaIsaya sinayo enye inzaliseko? Cacisa. (b) Yiyiphi intlangano namhlanje efana neSamariya yamandulo?

¹⁸ Le ngxelo asityebisela ngayo uIsaya kwesi sahluko yeyeziganeko ezenzeka kwaYuda kwiminyaka engama-2 700 eyadlulayo. Kodwa ezo ziganeko zinentsingiselo ekhethekileyo namhlanje. (Roma 15:4) Ngaba oku kutheth’ ukuthi amalungu aphambili kule mbali ebangel’ imincili—oko kukuthi abemi baseSamariya nabaseYerusalem kwanama-Asiriya—abhekisela kule mihla? Ewe, kunjalo. NjengeSamariya eyayinqul’ izithixo, nayo iNgqobhoko ezibanga inqula uYehova, ingene zwabha kuwexuko. KwiAn Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, uJohn Henry Cardinal Newman wamaRoma uyavuma ukuba izinto ebezisetyenziswa yiNgqobhoko kangangeenkulungwane, njengeziqhumiso, amakhandlela, amanzi angcwele, izambatho zabefundisi, nemifanekiso, “konke kunemvelaphi yobuhedeni.” UYehova akakholiswa lunqulo lweNgqobhoko lobuhedeni kanye njengokuba wayengakholiswa nalunqulo-zithixo lweSamariya.

19. Yintoni elunyukiswe ngayo iNgqobhoko, yaye ngubani?

¹⁹ Kangangeminyaka, amaNgqina kaYehova ebeyilumkisa iNgqobhoko ngokungakholiswa kukaYehova yiyo. Ngokomzekelo, ngowe-1955 kwanikelwa ehlabathini lonke intetho yesidlangalala enomxholo othi “INgqobhoko Okanye UbuKristu—Yiyiphi ‘Elukhanyiselo Lwehlabathi’?” Le ntetho yayibhenca elubala indlela iNgqobhoko ephambuke ngayo kwimfundiso nakuqheliselo lobuKristu bokwenene. Emva koko, imibhalo yale ntetho enamandla kangaka yathunyelwa ngeposi kubefundisi abakumazwe amaninzi. Kodwa njengentlangano, iNgqobhoko ayikhange isithobele eso silumkiso. Ngoko uYehova akanandlela-mbini ngaphandle kokuyohlwaya ‘ngentonga.’

20. (a) Iyintoni iAsiriya yale mihla, yaye iza kusetyenziswa njani njengentonga? (b) INgqobhoko iza kohlwaywa ukusa kuwuphi umkhamo?

 ²⁰ Ngubani uYehova aza kumsebenzisela ukohlwaya iNgqobhoko evukelayo? Impendulo siyifumana kwisahluko 17 seSityhilelo. Apho sichazelwa ngehenyukazi, ‘eliyiBhabhiloni Enkulu,’ elifanekisela lonke unqulo lobuxoki lwehlabathi, kuquka iNgqobhoko. Eli henyukazi likhwele kwirhamncwa elimbala ungqombela elineentloko ezisixhenxe neempondo ezilishumi. (ISityhilelo 17:3, 5, 7-12) Eli rhamncwa lifanekisela intlangano yeZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. d Kanye njengokuba iAsiriya yamandulo yayitshabalalisayo iSamariya, nalo eli rhamncwa limbala ungqombela ‘liza kulithiya ihenyukazi, liliphanzise, lilihlube libe ze, lizidle iinxalenye zenyama yalo lize lilitshise ngokupheleleyo ngomlilo.’ (ISityhilelo 17:16) Ngoko iAsiriya yale mihla (eziintlanga ezinabameli abakwiZizwe Ezimanyeneyo) iya kuyigqebha olungophiyo iNgqobhoko ize iyityumze iyicim’ igama.

21, 22. Ngubani oza kuxhokonxa irhamncwa ukuba lihlasele abantu bakaThixo?

²¹ Ngaba amaNgqina kaYehova athembekileyo nawo aza kutshabalala kunye neBhabhiloni Enkulu? Akunjalo. Wona ayamkholisa uThixo. Unqulo olunyulu luza kusinda. Noko ke, liza kusuka ela rhamncwa elitshabalalisa iBhabhiloni Enkulu, londe ngabantu bakaYehova. Ngokwenjenjalo, eli rhamncwa liya kube lingasaphumezi iingcinga zikaThixo, kodwa iingcinga zamntu wumbi. Ngubani loo mntu? NguSathana uMtyholi.

²² UYehova uyalibhenca icebo likaSathana lokuzigwagwisa, esithi: “Ngaloo mini kumele kunyuke izinto entliziyweni yakho [Sathana], kwaye ngokuqinisekileyo uya kucinga icebo lenkohlakalo; uthi: ‘Ndiya . . . kubafikela abo  bangenasiphazamiso, abahleli ngonqabiseko, bonke behleli bengenaludonga [lokubakhusela] . . . ’ Oku uya kukwenza ngenjongo yokuthimba, uphange amaxhoba amaninzi.” (Hezekile 38:10-12) USathana uya kuqiqa ngelithi, ‘Kutheni kakade ndingaxhokonxi iintlanga ukuba zihlasele amaNgqina kaYehova? Azizisulu nje ezingakhuselekanga, nezingaxhaswayo zezobupolitika. Akasayi kuzilwela. Hayi indlela ekuya kuba lula ngayo ukuwaxhwila njengamaqanda asendlwaneni engakhuselekanga!’

23. Kutheni iAsiriya yale mihla ingayi kukwazi ukwenza kubantu bakaThixo oko iya kukwenza kwiNgqobhoko?

²³ Kodwa ze nilumke, zintlanga! Mayinganisitheli into yokuba, ngokuchukumisa kwenu abantu bakaYehova, niya kuba nimphath’ esweni uThixo! UYehova uyabathanda abantu bakhe, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo uza kubalwela kanye njengokuba wayilwelayo neYerusalem ngemihla kaHezekiya. Xa iAsiriya yale mihla izama ukubhangisa abakhonzi bakaYehova, ngokwenene iya kuba ilwa noYehova uThixo kunye neMvana, uYesu Kristu. Lidabi elo iAsiriya engenakuze yoyise kulo. IBhayibhile ithi, ‘IMvana iya kuboyisa, ngenxa yokuba iyiNkosi yeenkosi noKumkani wookumkani.’ (ISityhilelo 17:14; thelekisa uMateyu 25:40.) Ngokufanayo neAsiriya yamandulo, nalo irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela liya ‘kumka liye entshabalalweni.’ Alisayi kuze liphinde loyikwe.—ISityhilelo 17:11.

24. (a) Yintoni amaKristu okwenyaniso azimisele ukuyenza ukulungiselela ikamva? (b) UIsaya ukhangela njani phambili? (Bona ibhokisi ekwiphepha 155.)

²⁴ AmaKristu okwenyaniso anokujamelana nekamva ngokungenaloyiko ukuba alugcina luqinile ulwalamano lwawo noYehova kwanokuba akubeka kuqala ebomini bawo ukwenza ukuthanda kwakhe. (Mateyu 6:33) Ngoko akanasizathu ‘sakoyika nto imbi.’ (INdumiso 23:4) Ngamehlo awo okholo, aya kuyibona ingalo kaThixo eyomeleleyo iphakanyiselwe phezulu, kungekhona ngenjongo yokuwohlwaya, kodwa ngenjongo yokuwakhusela kwiintshaba zakhe. Kwaye iindlebe zawo ziya kuva la mazwi omelezayo, athi: “Musani ukoyika.”—Isaya 10:24.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Imibuzo YeSifundo]

 [Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 155, 156]

UISAYA UKHANGELA PHAMBILI

Isaya 10:20-23

Isahluko 10 sikaIsaya sixubusha ubukhulu becala ngendlela uYehova aza kuyisebenzisa ngayo iAsiriya ukugweba uSirayeli nangesithembiso sakhe sokukhusela iYerusalem. Ekubeni indinyana 20 ukusa kweyama-23 zisembindini wesi siprofeto, zisenokugqalwa njengezizaliseka ebudeni belo xesha. (Thelekisa uIsaya 1:7-9.) Noko ke, umongo ubonisa ukuba ezi ndinyana zibhekisela ngokukhethekileyo kwixesha elizayo xa kwanayo iYerusalem kuya kufuneka iphendulile ngezono zabemi bayo.

Ukuze akhuseleke, uKumkani uAhazi ulufuna kwiAsiriya uncedo. Umprofeti uIsaya uxela kwangaphambili ukuba kwixesha elizayo, abo basindileyo kwindlu kaSirayeli abasayi kuze balithabathe kwakhona elo khondo lobudenge. UIsaya 10:20 uthi “baya kuzixhasa ngoYehova, Lowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli, benyanisile.” Noko ke, indinyana 21 ibonisa ukuba libathwana kuphela eliya kwenjenjalo, isithi: “Intsalela iya kubuya.” Oku kusikhumbuza ngonyana kaIsaya onguShehare-yashubhi, ongumqondiso kwaSirayeli nogama lakhe lithetha ukuthi “Intsalela Iya Kubuya.” (Isaya 7:3) Indinyana 22 yesahluko 10 ilumkisa ‘ngentshabalaliso’ ekugqitywe kuyo. Loo ntshabalaliso iya kube iyeyobulungisa kuba ingumgwebo osesikweni wabantu abavukelayo. Ngenxa yoko, kolo hlanga lunabemi abaninzi ‘abangangentlabathi yolwandle,’ yintsalela kuphela eya kubuya. Indinyana 23 ilumkisa ngelithi le ntshabalaliso iya kuchaphazela ilizwe liphela. IYerusalem ayisayi kusinda ngesi sihlandlo.

Ezi ndinyana zichaza ngqo oko kwenzeka ngowama-607 B.C.E. xa uYehova wasebenzisa uBukhosi baseBhabhiloni ‘njengentonga’ yakhe. Ilizwe liphela, kuquka neYerusalem, lawela ezandleni zomhlaseli. AmaYuda athinjelwa eBhabhiloni  kangangama-70 eminyaka. Kodwa ke, emva koko, abathile—nakuba ‘babeyintsalela’ nje kuphela—babuya ukuze balumisele kwakhona unqulo lokwenyaniso eYerusalem.

Esi siprofeto sikaIsaya 10:20-23 sazaliseka ngakumbi ngenkulungwane yokuqala, njengokuba kuboniswe kumaRoma 9:27, 28. (Thelekisa uIsaya 1:9; Roma 9:29.) UPawulos ucacisa ukuba ngengqiqo yokomoya, “intsalela” yamaYuda ‘yabuyela’ kuYehova ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, kangangokuba amaYuda ambalwa athembekileyo aba ngabalandeli bakaYesu Kristu aza aqalisa ukunqula uYehova “ngomoya nenyaniso.” (Yohane 4:24) Kamva athelelwa ngabeeNtlanga abakholwayo, baza babumba uhlanga lokomoya, “uSirayeli kaThixo.” (Galati 6:16) Ngesi sihlandlo azaliseka amazwi kaIsaya 10:20, kuba: ‘Aluzange kwakhona’ olo hlanga oluzahlulele kuYehova luphambuke kuye luye kufuna inkxaso yabantu.

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 147]

USenaribhe uqiqa ngelithi ukubutha iintlanga kulula njengokubutha amaqanda endlwaneni