Isahluko Seshumi Elinesibini

Ukuthuthuzelwa Kwabantu BakaThixo

Isaya 51:1-23

 1. Liliphi ikamva elimfiliba enalo iYerusalem nabemi bayo, kodwa liliphi ithemba elikhoyo?

 UHLANGA lukaYuda luza kuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni kangangeminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe—thuba elo elilingana nobude bobomi bomntu oqhelekileyo. (INdumiso 90:10; Yeremiya 25:11; 29:10) Inkoliso yamaSirayeli asekuthinjweni aza kwaluphala aze afele eBhabhiloni. Khawucinge nje ngendlela aza kuhlaziswa ngayo zizigculelo zeentshaba zawo. Khawucinge kwanangokugculelwa koThixo wawo, uYehova, xa isixeko ekubizwa kuso igama lakhe siza kuhlala siyinkangala ithuba elide kangako. (Nehemiya 1:9; INdumiso 132:13; 137:1-3) Itempile ethandekayo, eyayizaliswe luzuko lukaThixo ngethuba lokunikezelwa kwayo nguSolomon, iya kube ingasekho. (2 Kronike 7:1-3) Elinjani lona ukuba mfiliba ikamva! Kodwa uYehova usebenzisa uIsaya ukuba aprofete ngokubakho kohlaziyo. (Isaya 43:14; 44:26-28) Kwisahluko 51 sencwadi kaIsaya, sifumana iziprofeto ezingakumbi eziqinisekisa ngokuthuthuzelwa kwabantu bakhe.

 2. (a) UYehova usebenzisa uIsaya ukuba asibhekise koobani isigidimi sakhe esithuthuzelayo? (b) AmaYuda athembekileyo ‘abusukela njani ubulungisa’?

² Ebhekisa kumaYuda aneentliziyo ezityekele kuye, uYehova uthi: “Phulaphulani kum, nina basukela ubulungisa, nina nifuna ukufumana uYehova.” (Isaya 51:1a) ‘Ukusukela ubulungisa’ kuthetha isenzo. Abo “basukela ubulungisa”  abasayi kuphelela nje ngokuthi bangabantu bakaThixo. Baza kuzama ngenzondelelo ukuba ngamalungisa nokuphila ngokuvisisana nokuthanda kukaThixo. (INdumiso 34:15; IMizekeliso 21:21) Baza kukhangela kuYehova njengokuphela koMthombo wobulungisa, yaye baza kufuna ‘ukumfumana uYehova.’ (INdumiso 11:7; 145:17) Oku akuthethi kuthi baya kube bengamazi uYehova okanye bengakwazi ukuthandaza kuye. Kunoko, baya kuzabalazela ukusondela ngakumbi kuye, bamnqule, bathandaze kuye, baze bafune ulwalathiso lwakhe kwinto yonke abayenzayo.

3, 4. (a) Ngubani “iliwa” awambiwa kulo amaYuda, yaye ngubani ‘ongumgongxo womhadi’ awambiwa kuwo? (b) Kutheni ukukhumbula imvelaphi yawo kuya kuwathuthuzela nje amaYuda?

³ Noko ke, baligcuntswana kuphela abo babusukela ngokwenyaniso ubulungisa kwaYuda, yaye oku kusenokubenza batyhafe baze baphelelwe lithemba. Ngoko esebenzisa umzekeliso wokumbiwa kweliwa, uYehova ubakhuthaza esithi: “Khangelani kwiliwa enimbiwe kulo, nakumgongxo womhadi enimbiwe kuwo. Khangelani kuAbraham uyihlo nakuSara owanizala enenimba. Kuba wayemnye ukumbiza kwam, ndamsikelela ndaza ndamenza waba mninzi.” (Isaya 51:1b, 2) “Iliwa” ambiwe kulo amaYuda nguAbraham wamandulo, oluneqhayiya ngaye uhlanga lwakwaSirayeli. (Mateyu 3:9; Yohane 8:33, 39) Ungusolusapho, unozala, wolo hlanga. “Umgongxo womhadi” nguSara, ekuphume esibelekweni sakhe ukhokho kaSirayeli uIsake.

⁴ UAbraham noSara babesele bedlulile kwiminyaka yabo yokuvelisa inzala yaye babengenamntwana. Kodwa, uYehova wathembisa ukumsikelela uAbraham ‘nokumenza abe mninzi.’ (Genesis 17:1-6, 15-17) Ngokubuyisela kukaThixo amandla abo okuvelisa inzala, uAbraham noSara bazala umntwana ebudaleni babo, kwaza kuye kwavela uhlanga lukaThixo lomnqophiso. Ngaloo ndlela uYehova wayenza  loo ndoda inye yaba nguyise wohlanga olukhulu olungenakubalwa njengeenkwenkwezi ezisemazulwini. (Genesis 15:5; IZenzo 7:5) Ngoko, ukuba uYehova wayenokuthabatha uAbraham ezweni elikude aze amenze abe luhlanga olukhulu, ngokuqinisekileyo unako ukusiphumeza isithembiso sakhe sokukhulula intsalela ethembekileyo ebukhobokeni eBhabhiloni, ayibuyisele ezweni layo, aze ayenze ibe luhlanga olukhulu kwakhona. Isithembiso sikaThixo kuAbraham sazaliseka; nesithembiso sakhe kuloo maYuda asekuthinjweni siza kuzaliseka.

 5. (a) Bafanekisela bani uAbraham noSara? Chaza. (b) Ekuzalisekeni kokugqibela kwesi siprofeto, ngoobani abaphuma “kwiliwa”?

⁵ Kubonakala ukuba ukumbiwa kweliwa kokomfuziselo okuchazwe kuIsaya 51:1, 2 kunenzaliseko engakumbi. IDuteronomi 32:18 imchaza uYehova ‘njengeLiwa’ elazala  uSirayeli ‘naLowo wazala uSirayeli enenimba.’ Kweli binzana lesibini, kusetyenziswe isenzi sesiHebhere esifanayo neso sisetyenziswe kuIsaya 51:2 esibhekisela ekuzaleni kukaSara uSirayeli. Ngoko ke, uAbraham ngokwesiprofeto ufuzisela uYehova, onguAbraham Omkhulu. Umfazi ka-Abraham, uSara, uyifanekisela kakuhle intlangano kaYehova yasezulwini yezidalwa zomoya, ezichazwa kwiZibhalo Ezingcwele njengomfazi kaThixo. (Genesis 3:15; ISityhilelo 12:1, 5) Ekuzalisekeni kokugqibela kwala mazwi esiprofeto sikaIsaya, uhlanga oluphuma “kwiliwa” ‘nguSirayeli kaThixo,’ ibandla lamaKristu athanjiswe ngomoya, elasekwa ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E. Njengoko kuxutyushiwe kwizahluko ezingaphambilana zale ncwadi, olo hlanga lwathinjelwa eBhabhiloni ngowe-1918 kodwa lwabuyiselwa kwimeko yokuchuma ngokomoya ngowe-1919.—Galati 3:26-29; 4:28; 6:16.

 6. (a) Yintoni eza kwenzeka kwilizwe lakwaYuda, yaye liza kubuyiselwa njani? (b) UIsaya 51:3 usikhumbuza ngakuphi ukubuyiselwa kwanamhlanje?

⁶ Ukuthuthuzela kukaYehova iZiyon, okanye iYerusalem, kubandakanya okungakumbi kunesithembiso nje sokuvelisa uhlanga olukhulu. Sifunda oku: “Ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova uya kuyithuthuzela iZiyon. Ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuzithuthuzela zonke iindawo zayo eziphanzileyo, ayenze intlango yayo ibe njenge-Eden, nethafa layo eliyinkqantosi libe njengomyezo kaYehova. Kuya kufumaneka kuyo imigcobo nemihlali, umbulelo nelizwi loncuthu lwengoma.” (Isaya 51:3) Ebudeni beminyaka engama-70 yokuphanziswa, ilizwe lakwaYuda liza kuba yintlango enemithi enameva nezinye izityalo zasendle. (Isaya 64:10; Yeremiya 4:26; 9:10-12) Ngoko ukubuyiselwa kukaYuda kuza kuquka ukuhlaziywa kwelizwe, eliza kuguqulwa libe ngumyezo wase-Eden onamasimi nemithi yeziqhamo echumileyo. Umhlaba uza kubonakala unemihlali. Ngokungafaniyo nexesha lokuphanziswa  kwawo ngethuba besekuthinjweni, ilizwe labo liza kuba yiparadesi. Intsalela ethanjisiweyo yoSirayeli kaThixo ingene kanye kwiparadesi elolo hlobo ngengqiqo yokomoya ngowe-1919.—Isaya 11:6-9; 35:1-7.

Izizathu Zokuba Nentembelo KuYehova

7, 8. (a) Sithetha ukuthini isibongozo sikaYehova sokuba abekelwe indlebe? (b) Kutheni kubalulekile ukuba uYuda amthobele uYehova?

⁷ Ephinda ecela ingqalelo yabo, uYehova uthi: “Nikelani ingqalelo kum, bantu bam; nawe qela lohlanga lwam, ndibekele indlebe. Ndiya kumisela umthetho, ndiwuzinzise umgwebo wam ube sisikhanyiso sezizwana. Ubulungisa bam busondele. Ngokuqinisekileyo luya kuphuma usindiso lwam, neengalo zam ziya kugweba izizwana. Iziqithi ziya kuthembela kum, zilindele kwingalo yam.”—Isaya 51:4, 5.

⁸ Isibongozo sikaYehova sokuba babeke indlebe sithetha okungakumbi kunokuva nje isigidimi sakhe. Sithetha ukunikela ingqalelo ngenjongo yokwenza oko bakuvayo. (INdumiso 49:1; 78:1) Olu hlanga lumele luyiqonde into yokuba uYehova unguMthombo wemiyalelo, okusesikweni nosindiso. Nguye kuphela onguMthombo wokhanyiselo lokomoya. (2 Korinte 4:6) Ungoyena Mgwebi mkhulu woluntu. Imithetho nezigwebo zikaYehova zikukukhanya kwabo bavumayo ukwalathiswa zizo.—INdumiso 43:3; 119:105; IMizekeliso 6:23.

 9. Ngaphandle kwabantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso, ngoobani abanye abaza kungenelwa zizenzo zikaYehova zokusindisa?

⁹ Kukonke nje oku, akubhekiseli nje kuphela kubantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso kodwa kwanakubo bonke abantu abatyekele ebulungiseni kuyo yonke indawo, kwanakwiziqithi ezikude zolwandle. Ukuthembela kwabo kuThixo nakumandla akhe okusindisa abantu bakhe akusayi kuba lilize. Amandla akhe, afanekiselwa yingalo yakhe, aqinisekile; akanakuthintelwa nangubani na. (Isaya 40:10;  Luka 1:51, 52) Ngokufanayo namhlanje, umsebenzi wokushumayela owenziwa ngenzondelelo ngamalungu aseleyo oSirayeli kaThixo uye wakhokelela izigidi zabantu, kwanabaninzi abakwiziqithi zolwandle, ukuba baphethukele kuYehova baze bakholwe kuye.

10. (a) Yiyiphi inyaniso ekuza kunyanzeleka ukuba uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare ayifunde? (b) Ngawaphi “amazulu” “nomhlaba” oza kupheliswa?

¹⁰ Wandula uYehova abhekisele kwinyaniso ekuza kufuneka uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare waseBhabhiloni ayifunde. Akukho nantoni na ezulwini okanye emhlabeni enokuthintela uYehova ekuphumezeni ukuthanda kwakhe. (Daniyeli 4:34, 35) Siyafunda: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu emazulwini, nize nikhangele ngaphantsi emhlabeni. Kuba wona kanye amazulu aya kubhangazeka abe ngamaqhekeza kanye njengomsi, nomhlaba uya kuguga njengesambatho, yaye abemi bawo baya kufa njengembuzane nje. Kodwa lona ke usindiso lwam, luya kubakho ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo, nobulungisa bam abuyi kuqotywa.” (Isaya 51:6) Nangona kuchasene nenkqubo yabalawuli baseBhabhiloni ukuvumela abathinjwa ukuba babuyele ekhaya, uYehova akasayi kuthintelwa ekusindiseni abantu bakhe. (Isaya 14:16, 17) “Amazulu,” okanye abalawuli, baseBhabhiloni, baza koyiswa. ‘Umhlaba,’ okanye abalawulwa, baseBhabhiloni, baza kutshayelwa baphele ngokuthe ngcembe.  Ewe, kwanawona mandla makhulu emini akanakumelana namandla kaYehova okanye athintele ukusindisa kwakhe.

11. Kutheni ukuzaliseka ngokupheleleyo kwesiprofeto sokuba “amazulu” “nomhlaba” weBhabhiloni wawuza kupheliswa kukhuthaza nje kumaKristu namhlanje?

¹¹ Hayi indlela ekuwakhuthaza ngayo amaKristu namhlanje ukwazi ukuba la mazwi esiprofeto azaliseka ngokupheleleyo! Ngoba? Kaloku umpostile uPetros wasebenzisa amabinzana afanayo ekuchazeni iziganeko zexesha elizayo. Wathetha ngemini kaYehova esondela ngokukhawuleza, “ekuya kuthi ngayo amazulu atshe ngumlilo achithakale, neziqalelo ezishushu kakhulu zinyibilike!” Wandula ke wathi: “Thina ke silindele amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha, ngokwesithembiso sakhe, apho kumi ubulungisa.” (2 Petros 3:12, 13; Isaya 34:4; ISityhilelo 6:12-14) Nangona iintlanga ezinamandla nabalawuli bazo abaphakamileyo njengeenkwenkwezi bemdelela uYehova, ngexesha lakhe elifanelekileyo baza kutshatyalaliswa—bacunyuzwe lula nje njengembuzane. (INdumiso 2:1-9) Ngurhulumente kaThixo wobulungisa kuphela oza kulawula ngonaphakade, kwibutho labantu abangamalungisa.—Daniyeli 2:44; ISityhilelo 21:1-4.

12. Kutheni abakhonzi bakaThixo bengafanele koyika xa begculelwa ziintshaba ezingabantu?

¹² Ebhekisa kubantu ‘abasukela ubulungisa,’ uYehova uthi ngoku: “Phulaphulani kum, nina nibaziyo ubulungisa, abantu osentliziyweni yabo umthetho wam. Musani ukuloyika ungcikivo lwabantu abafayo, yaye musani ukungenwa lunkwantyo ngenxa nje yamazwi abo okutshabhisa. Kuba inundu liya kubadla libagqibe ngokungathi sisambatho, nenundu elitya impahla liya kubadla libagqibe kanye ngokungathi buboya. Kodwa bona ubulungisa bam, buya kubakho kude kuse kwixesha elingenammiselo, nosindiso lwam  kwizizukulwana ezingenakubalwa.” (Isaya 51:7, 8) Abo bakholose ngoYehova baza kugculelwa ngenxa yenkalipho yabo, kodwa abamele boyike. Abo bagculeli bangabantu nje abafayo abaza ‘kudliwa’ linundu, ngokungathi sisambatho soboya. a NjengamaYuda athembekileyo amandulo, amaKristu okwenyaniso namhlanje akanasizathu sakoyika nabani na owachasayo. UYehova, uThixo ongunaphakade, ulusindiso lwawo. (INdumiso 37:1, 2) Ukugculelwa ziintshaba zikaThixo kububungqina bokuba abantu bakaYehova banomoya wakhe.—Mateyu 5:11, 12; 10:24-31.

13, 14. Lifanekisela ntoni ibinzana elithi “Rahabhi” nelithi “isilo esikhulu saselwandle,” yaye ‘sitshitshiswa’ size ‘sihlatywe’ njani?

¹³ Ngokungathi ubongoza uYehova ukuba ahlangule abantu Bakhe abathinjiweyo, uIsaya uthi: “Vuka, vuka, yambatha amandla, ngalo kaYehova! Vuka njengakwimihla yakudala, njengasebudeni bezizukulwana zamaxesha akudala. Asinguwe na lowo watshitshisa uRahabhi, owahlaba isilo esikhulu saselwandle? Asinguwe na owomisa ulwandle, amanzi enzulu enkulu? Lowo wenza iinzulu zolwandle zaba yindlela yokuba abo bahlawulelweyo baye ngaphesheya?”—Isaya 51:9, 10.

¹⁴ Iziganeko zembali azekelisa ngazo uIsaya apha zikhethwe kakuhle. Onke amaSirayeli ayayazi indlela olwasindiswa ngayo uhlanga lwawo eYiputa nokuwela kwalo uLwandle Olubomvu. (Eksodus 12:24-27; 14:26-31) Ibinzana elithi “Rahabhi” nelithi “isilo esikhulu saselwandle” abhekisela kwiYiputa ngethuba lokulawulwa kwayo nguFaro owayemelene nokuFuduka kukaSirayeli eYiputa. (INdumiso 74:13; 87:4; Isaya 30:7) Njengoko iYiputa yamandulo yayisisithabazi samakhulukhulu eekhilomitha ukususela kwiNtili yoMnayile ukusa kwiNtlambo echumileyo yoMnayile,  ngoko yayifanekisela inyoka enkulu yaselwandle. (Hezekile 29:3) Kodwa esi silo sikhulu sanqunqwa satshitshiswa xa uYehova wathulula iZibetho Ezilishumi phezu kwaso. Sahlatywa, sangxwelerheka, saza saphelelwa ngamandla xa umkhosi waso watshatyalaliswayo kumanzi oLwandle Olubomvu. Ewe, uYehova wabonisa amandla engalo yakhe ngendlela awaqhubana ngayo neYiputa. Ngaba uza kwenza nganeno ekulweleni abantu bakhe abasekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni?

15. (a) Intlungu nokuncwina kweZiyon kuza kusaba nini yaye njani? (b) Isabe njani intlungu nokuncwina kuSirayeli kaThixo kumaxesha anamhlanje?

¹⁵ Ngoku isiprofeto sihlabela mgama sikhankanya ukuhlangulwa kukaSirayeli eBhabhiloni, sisithi: “Ngoko abo bahlawulelweyo bakaYehova baya kubuya beze eZiyon bememelela ngovuyo, babe nemihlali ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo. Baya kufumana imigcobo nemihlali. Ngokuqinisekileyo iya kusaba intlungu nokuncwina.” (Isaya 51:11) Nokuba imbi kangakanani na imeko yabo eBhabhiloni, abo bafuna ubulungisa bukaYehova banamathemba aqaqambileyo. Kuza kufika ixesha lokuphela kwentlungu nokuncwina. Iya kumemelela ngovuyo, ibe nemihlali, ize ivuye imilebe yabo bahlawulelweyo. Ekuzalisekeni kwale mihla kwaloo mazwi esiprofeto, uSirayeli kaThixo wakhululwa kubukhoboka baseBhabhiloni ngowe-1919. Wabuyela kwimeko yakhe yokomoya enemihlali emikhulu—mihlali leyo asenayo nanamhlanje.

16. Liliphi ixabiso elihlawulwayo ukuze kuhlawulelwe amaYuda?

¹⁶ Liya kuba yintoni ixabiso lokuhlawulelwa kwamaYuda? Isiprofeto sikaIsaya sele sichazile ukuba uYehova unikela “ngeYiputa ukuba ibe yintlawulelo yakho, iTiyopiya neSebha esikhundleni sakho.” (Isaya 43:1-4) Oku kuza kwenzeka kamva. Emva kokoyisa iBhabhiloni nokukhulula amaYuda ekuthinjweni, uBukhosi basePersi buza koyisa iYiputa,  iTiyopiya neSebha. Loo mazwe aza kunikelwa esikhundleni semiphefumlo yamaSirayeli. Oku kuvisisana nomgaqo ochazwe kwiMizekeliso 21:18, othi: “Ongendawo uyintlawulelo yelungisa; yaye owenza ngobuqhophololo uthabatha indawo yabathe tye.”

Isiqinisekiso Esingakumbi

17. Kutheni kungeyomfuneko ukuba amaYuda oyike umsindo weBhabhiloni?

¹⁷ UYehova ubaqinisekisa ngakumbi abantu bakhe, esithi: “Mna—mna ndinguLowo unithuthuzelayo. Kutheni na ke usoyika umntu ofayo nje, unyana womntu oya kwenziwa abe njengengca eluhlaza? Ngaba umlibele na uYehova uMenzi wakho, Lowo waneka amazulu nobeka isiseko somhlaba, ukuze woyike rhoqo imini iphela ngenxa yomsindo walowo ukurhangqileyo, ngokungathi wayebekelwe ukukonakalisa? Yaye uphi na umsindo walowo ukurhangqileyo?” (Isaya 51:12, 13) Iminyaka yokuthinjwa kwabo iseza. Sekunjalo, akukho sizathu sakoyika umsindo weBhabhiloni. Nangona olo hlanga, oluligunya lehlabathi lesithathu lengxelo yeBhayibhile, luza kuboyisa abantu bakaThixo luze lufune ‘ukubarhangqa,’ okanye ukubathintela bangagoduki, amaYuda athembekileyo ayazi ukuba uYehova ukuxele kwangaphambili ukutshatyalaliswa kweBhabhiloni nguKoreshi. (Isaya 44:8, 24-28) Ngokungafaniyo noMdali—uThixo ongunaphakade, uYehova—abemi baseBhabhiloni baza kutshabalala njengengca ebuniswa yingqatsini yelanga xa kubalele. Ngoko ke siphi isisongelo nomsindo wabo? Hayi indlela ekungebobulumko ngayo ukoyika abantu uze umlibale uYehova, lowo wenze izulu nomhlaba!

18. Nangona abantu bakaYehova beza kuba ngamabanjwa okwethuba elithile, sisiphi isiqinisekiso abanika sona?

¹⁸ Nangona abantu bakaYehova beza kuthinjwa okwethutyana, ngokungathi ‘bagobe besemixokelelwaneni,’ baza  kukhululwa ngequbuliso. Abasayi kutshatyalaliswa eBhabhiloni okanye bafe yindlala njengamabanjwa—baze baphoswe emhadini weShiyol. (INdumiso 30:3; 88:3-5) UYehova ubaqinisekisa, esithi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo lowo ugoba esemixokelelwaneni uya kukhululwa ngokukhawuleza, ukuze angayi ekufeni emhadini nokuze angasweli isonka sakhe.”—Isaya 51:14.

19. Kutheni amaYuda athembekileyo enokuba nentembelo epheleleyo emazwini kaYehova?

¹⁹ Kwakhona uYehova uhlabela mgama ethuthuzela iZiyon, esithi: “Kodwa mna, Yehova, ndinguThixo wakho, Lowo uzamazamisa ulwandle ukuze amaza alo agqume. Igama lakhe nguYehova wemikhosi. Kwaye ndiya kuwabeka amazwi am emlonyeni wakho, ndikugubungele ngokuqinisekileyo ngesithunzi sesandla sam, ukuze ndityale amazulu ndize ndibeke isiseko somhlaba nakwiZiyon ndithi, ‘Ningabantu bam.’” (Isaya 51:15, 16) IBhayibhile iwakhankanya ngokuphindaphindiweyo amandla kaThixo okulawula ulwandle. (Yobhi 26:12; INdumiso 89:9; Yeremiya 31:35) Uyakwazi ukuwalawula ngokupheleleyo amandla endalo, njengoko wakubonisayo oko ekuhlanguleni kwakhe abantu bakhe eYiputa. Ngubani onokuthelekiswa, nakancinane nje, ‘noYehova wemikhosi’?—INdumiso 24:10.

20. Ngawaphi “amazulu” ‘nomhlaba’ oza kubakho xa uYehova ebuyisela iZiyon, yaye ngawaphi amazwi athuthuzelayo aza kuwathetha?

²⁰ AmaYuda asengabantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso, yaye uYehova uyawaqinisekisa ukuba aza kubuyela elizweni lawo, ukuze aphile kwakhona phantsi koMthetho wakhe. Apho aza kuyakha kwakhona iYerusalem netempile aze aqhubeke kwakhona neembopheleleko zawo zomnqophiso awawenza nawo ngoMoses. Xa eli lizwe liphinda limiwe ngamaSirayeli abuyileyo nemfuyo yawo, liya kuba ‘ngumhlaba omtsha.’ Kuya kumiselwa kuwo “amazulu amatsha,” ulawulo olutsha. (Isaya 65:17-19; Hagayi 1:1, 14) Uya  kwandula ke uYehova ayibize kwakhona iZiyon ngokuthi: “Ningabantu bam.”

Isibongozo Sokuthabatha Inyathelo

21. Sisiphi isibongozo asenzayo uYehova?

²¹ Akuba eyiqinisekisile iZiyon, uYehova uyayibongoza ukuba ithabathe inyathelo. Ethetha ngokungathi sele ifikelele ekupheleni kokubandezeleka kwayo, uthi: “Vuka, vuka, sukuma Yerusalem, wena uyiseleyo esandleni sikaYehova indebe yomsindo wakhe. Usele indebe engenamqheba, indebe ebangela ukuhexa, uyifincile.” (Isaya 51:17) Ewe, iYerusalem imele ivuke kwimeko yayo eyintlekele ize ibuyele kwimeko yayo yobuqaqawuli yangaphambili. Liza kufika ixesha lokuyifinca kwayo indebe yokomfuziselo yempindezelo kaThixo. Kuya kube kungasekho nentwana yomsindo kaThixo eseleyo nxamnye nayo.

22, 23. Yintoni eza kwehlela iYerusalem xa isela indebe yomsindo kaYehova?

²² Noko ke, ebudeni bokohlwaywa kweYerusalem, akukho  namnye kubemi bayo, “oonyana” bayo, oya kukwazi ukukuthintela oko kwenzekayo. (Isaya 43:5-7; Yeremiya 3:14) Isiprofeto sithi: “Akukho namnye omkhaphileyo kubo bonke oonyana abazeleyo, kungekho namnye ombambe ngesandla kubo bonke oonyana abakhulisileyo.” (Isaya 51:18) Hayi indlela eza kubandezeleka ngayo ezandleni zamaBhabhiloni! “Uya kwehlelwa zizinto ezimbini. Ngubani na oya kuvelana nawe? Ukuphangwa nokuwa, nokulamba nekrele! Ngubani na oya kukuthuthuzela? Oonyana bakho bawe isiduli. Balele phantsi emantloko ezitrato zonke njengezimvu zasendle ezisemnatheni, njengabo bonganyelwe ngumsindo kaYehova, kukukhalima koThixo wakho.”—Isaya 51:19, 20.

²³ Kwowu, iYerusalem! Iza kufumana “ukuphangwa nokuwa” kwakunye “nokulamba nekrele.” Bengakwazi ukuyalathisa nokuyixhasa, “oonyana” bayo baza kumela ecaleni bengeloncedo, bebuthathaka, bengenamandla okuphekuza abahlaseli baseBhabhiloni. Ngokucacileyo, baza kuthi tywelele emantloko, okanye kwiimbombo zezitrato, betyhafile yaye bediniwe. (IZililo 2:19; 4:1, 2) Baya kube besele indebe  yomsindo kaThixo yaye baya kube bengenamandla njengezilwanyana ezibanjwe ngumnatha.

24, 25. (a) Yintoni engazi kuphinda yenzeke kwiYerusalem? (b) Emva kweYerusalem, liliphi elinye ilizwe eliza kusela indebe yomsindo kaYehova?

²⁴ Kodwa le meko ilusizi iza kufikelela esiphelweni. UIsaya uthetha amazwi athuthuzelayo, esithi: “Ngoko ke khawuncede uphulaphule oku, mfazi uxhwalekileyo nonxilileyo, kodwa kungengayo iwayini. Itsho iNkosi, uYehova, uThixo wakho kanye, osukuzana nabantu bakhe, ukuthi: ‘Khangela! Ndiza kuyithabatha esandleni sakho indebe ebangela ukuhexa. Indebe engenamqheba, indebe yam yomsindo—akuyi kuphinda usele kuyo kwakhona. Yaye ndiza kuyibeka esandleni sabo bakucaphukisayo, abo bathe emphefumlweni wakho, “Qubuda ukuze siwele,” waza wena wawenza umhlana wakho waba njengomhlaba, nanjengesitrato sabo bawelayo.’” (Isaya 51:21-23) Emva kokohlwaya iYerusalem, uYehova uyayisizela aze ayixolele.

²⁵ Ngoku uYehova uza kuwususa umsindo wakhe kwiYerusalem aze awujolise kwiBhabhiloni. IBhabhiloni iza kube iyiphanzisile iYerusalem yaza yayihlazisa. (INdumiso 137:7-9) Kodwa iYerusalem ayisayi kuphinda isezwe kuloo ndebe kwakhona yiBhabhiloni okanye ngamazwe amanyene nayo. Kunoko, le ndebe iza kuthatyathwa esandleni seYerusalem ize inikwe abo babekuvuyela ukuhlaziswa kwayo. (IZililo 4:21, 22) IBhabhiloni iza kuwa, iyobe kukunxila. (Yeremiya 51:6-8) Kanti yona iZiyon iza kuphakama! Enjani yona inguqu! Ngokwenene, iZiyon inokuthuthuzelwa lithemba elinjalo. Yaye abakhonzi bakaYehova banokuqiniseka ukuba igama lakhe liza kungcwaliswa ngezenzo zakhe zokusindisa.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Imibuzo YeSifundo]

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 167]

UYehova, uAbraham Omkhulu, ‘uliliwa’ ‘abambiwe kulo’ abantu bakhe

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 170]

Iintshaba zabantu bakaThixo ziza kuthi shwaka, njengesambatho esidliwe linundu

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 176, 177]

UYehova uwabonakalisile amandla akhe okulawula iziqalelo zendalo

 [Umfanekiso okwiphepha 178]

Indebe eza kube isele kuyo iYerusalem iza kudluliselwa kwiBhabhiloni nakumazwe amanyene nayo