1-3. UYehova wayefuna abone ntoni uHezekile kwitempile eyayiseYerusalem, ibe ngoba? (Jonga amazwi okuvula kunye nomfanekiso okwiCandelo 2.)

UHEZEKILE wayewazi kakuhle uMthetho KaMoses, kuba wayengunyana wombingeleli. Ngoko wayeqhelene netempile eseYerusalem kunye nendlela amele akhonzwe ngayo uYehova kuyo. (Hez. 1:3; Mal. 2:7) Kodwa into eyenzeka etempileni kaYehova ngo-612 B.C.E., yamothusa uHezekile nawo onke amaYuda athembekileyo.

² UYehova ufuna uHezekile abone izinto ezicekisekayo ezenziwa etempileni, aze axelele “abadala bakwaYuda” ahleli nabo endlini yakhe. (Funda uHezekile 8:1-4; Hez. 11:24, 25; 20:1-3) Uthi ehleli endlini yakhe eTele-abhibhi, engakumlambo iKebhare eBhabhiloni, uYehova ngomoya wakhe oyingcwele, ambonise umbono wezinto ezenzekayo eYerusalem ekumakhulu-khulu eekhilomitha ukusuka apho. Kulo mbono uYehova umisa uHezekile etempileni, kwigeyithi engaphakathi ejonge ngasemntla. Ukusuka apho umbonisa yonke into eyenzeka etempileni.

 ³ UHezekile ubona izinto ezine ezibonisa indlela abantu ababemlahle ngayo uYehova. Babemlahle njani? Usinceda njani thina lo mbono namhlanje? Makhe sibone. Kodwa kuqala, kufuneka sibone ukuba yintoni uYehova ayilindeleyo kubakhonzi bakhe.

4. Yintoni uYehova ayifunayo kubakhonzi bakhe?

⁴ Kwiminyaka emalunga neyi-800 ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaHezekile, uYehova wayichaza into ayifunayo kubakhonzi bakhe. Umthetho wesibini kwiMithetho Elishumi awayinika amaSirayeli, wawusithi: * “Mna Yehova Thixo wakho, ndinguThixo ofuna umntu azinikele ngokupheleleyo.” (Eks. 20:5) Xa wathi ufuna umntu “azinikele ngokupheleleyo,” uYehova wayebonisa ukuba akafuni abantu bakhe bakhonze abanye oothixo. Njengoko sibonile kwiSahluko 2 sale ncwadi, ukuze sikhonze uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo, kufuneka ibe nguye esizinikela kuye. Kufuneka abe ngoyena mntu ubalulekileyo kubakhonzi bakhe. (Eks. 20:3) Ngamafutshane, uYehova ulindele ukuba abakhonzi bakhe bangakhonzi yena baphinde bakhonze nezithixo. Ngo-1513 B.C.E. amaSirayeli aba phantsi koMthetho wesivumelwano ngokuzithandela. Ngaloo ndlela, avuma ukuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kuYehova. (Eks. 24:3-8) UYehova uyazigcina izivumelwano zakhe, kwaye wayelindele ukuba benze loo nto nabantu bakhe.​—Dut. 7:9, 10; 2 Sam. 22:26.

5, 6. Kutheni amaSirayeli ayefanele azinikele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova?

⁵ Ngaba iyavakala into yokuba uYehova afune amaSirayeli azinikele ngokupheleleyo kuye? Iyavakala! UnguThixo uSomandla, uMongami Wendalo Iphela, uMthombo kunye noMxhasi wobomi. (INdu. 36:9; IZe. 17:28) UYehova wayekwanguMsindisi wamaSirayeli. Xa wayewanika iMithetho Elishumi, wawakhumbuza wathi: “NdinguYehova uThixo wakho, owakukhupha elizweni laseYiputa, kwindlu yobukhoboka.” (Eks. 20:2) Kucacile ke ukuba, nguYehova awayefanele azinikele ngokupheleleyo kuye.

⁶ UYehova akatshintshi. (Mal. 3:6) Usafuna abantu bazinikele ngokupheleleyo kuye. Ucinga ukuba wayeziva njani ke xa wayebona ezi zinto ziphazamisayo zine wayezibonisa uHezekile?

7. (a) Ayesenza ntoni amaYuda awayejikele uYehova kwigeyithi yetempile engasemntla, ibe uYehova waziva njani ngaloo nto? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.) (b) Kuthetha ukuthini ukuthi uYehova waba nekhwele? (Jonga umbhalo osemazantsi 2.)

⁷ Funda uHezekile 8:5, 6. Umele ukuba wayothuke nyhani uHezekile! Kwigeyithi yetempile engasemntla, amaYuda  awayejikele uYehova ayekhonza isithixo. Inoba sasiyipali engcwele emela uAshera, uthixokazi wobuxoki, amaKanan awayesithi ngumfazi kaBhahali. Noba ke sasiyintoni na, into esiyaziyo kukuba loo maSirayeli zange asigcine isivumelwano sawo noYehova. Amcaphukisa uYehova amenza wanekhwele, ibe wayefanele kuba akhonza isithixo, kodwa ayefanele akhonze yena kuphela. * (Dut. 32:16; Hez. 5:13) Khawuyicinge le nto: Itempile yayisaziwa njengendawo yokuhlala kaYehova kangangeminyaka engaphezu kweyi-400. (1 Kum. 8:10-13) Kodwa ‘amenza wayishiya ingcwele yakhe’ xa akhonza izithixo etempileni.

8. Uthetha ntoni umbono kaHezekile womfanekiso wekhwele namhlanje?

⁸ Uthetha ntoni umbono kaHezekile womfanekiso wekhwele namhlanje? AmaYuda awamjikelayo uYehova asikhumbuza iicawa zanamhlanje. Iicawa ezininzi zithi zikhonza uThixo, kodwa yena akazamkeli kuba zikhonza izithixo. Ekubeni uYehova engatshintshi, siqinisekile ukuba iicawa ziyamcaphukisa njengala maYuda ayemjikele. (Yak. 1:17) Ngokuqinisekileyo, akukho kwanto emdibanisa neecawa zobuxoki!

9, 10. Sifunda ntoni kula maYuda ayekhonza izithixo etempileni?

⁹ Sifunda ntoni kula maYuda ayekhonza izithixo etempileni? Sifunda ukuba, ukuze sizinikele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova, kufuneka ‘singaze sikhonze izithixo.’ (1 Kor. 10:14) Sisenokuthi, ‘Soze ndisebenzise imifanekiso xa ndikhonza uYehova!’ Kodwa zininzi iindlela zokukhonza izithixo, kwaye ezinye azikhawulezi zibonakale. Enye incwadi ithi: “Sifana nabakhonza izithixo xa sinezinto ezibaluleke kakhulu kuthi kunoThixo, njengezinto zexabiso okanye igunya.” Oku kuthetha izinto esinazo, nemali, isondo, ukuzonwabisa, phofu nantoni na eye ibaluleke kuthi ize isenze singazinikeli ngokupheleleyo kuYehova. (Mat. 6:19-21, 24; Efe. 5:5; Kol. 3:5) Simele siziphephe zonke iindlela zokukhonza izithixo, kuba uYehova ufuna simkhonze ngentliziyo yethu yonke!​—1 Yoh. 5:21.

¹⁰ UYehova waqala ngokubonisa uHezekile ‘izinto ezimbi nezenyanyekayo.’ Kodwa waphinda wathi kuye: “Useza kubona ezenyanyeka nezimbi nangakumbi.” Yintoni enokuba mbi ukogqitha ukukhonzwa kwesithixo sekhwele etempileni?

11. Wabona ntoni uHezekile emva kokungena kwigeyithi engakwisibingelelo?

¹¹ Funda uHezekile 8:7-12. Emva kokugqobhoza eludongeni aze angene kwiyadi engaphakathi ngakwisibingelelo setempile, uHezekile wabona imizobo yezinto ezimbi eludongeni. Wabona “iintlobo ngeentlobo zemifanekiso yezinto ezirhubuluzayo  neyezilwanyana ezicekisekayo, nazo zonke izithixo ezenyanyekayo.” * Loo mizobo yayimela oothixo bobuxoki. Into awayibona emva koku, yayimbi nakakhulu. Wabona ‘abadala bendlu kaSirayeli abayi-70 bemi ebumnyameni’ beqhumisa koothixo bobuxoki. KuMthetho KaMoses, ukutshiswa kwesiqhumiso esiqholiweyo kwakumela imithandazo ayamkelayo uYehova yabakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. (INdu. 141:2) Kodwa sona isiqhumiso esasinikelwa ngaba badala bayi-70 koothixo bobuxoki, sasilivumba elenyanyekayo kuYehova. Imithandazo yabo yayinjengevumba elibi kuye. (IMize. 15:8) Babeziqhatha besithi: “UYehova akasiboni.” Kodwa wayebabona, ibe wabonisa uHezekile izinto ababezenza etempileni yakhe!

12. Kutheni simele sihlale sithembekile ‘nasebumnyameni,’ ibe ngoobani abona bantu bamele babe ngumzekelo kule nto?

¹² Sifunda ntoni kwinto ebhalwe nguHezekile ngabadala abayi-70 bakwaSirayeli, ababeqhumisa koothixo bobuxoki? Sifunda ukuba, ukuze uThixo ayimamele imithandazo yethu, ayamkele nendlela esimkhonza ngayo, kufuneka sihlale sithembekile naxa ‘sisebumnyameni.’ (IMize. 15:29) Singaze  silibale ukuba uYehova ubona yonke into esiyenzayo. Ukuba simthanda nyhani, soze senze nantoni na angayithandiyo xa singabonwa. (Heb. 4:13) Ingakumbi abadala, ngabona bantu bamele babe ngumzekelo wendlela amele aphile ngayo amaKristu. (1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Abazalwana noodade ebandleni balindele ukuba umdala oma eqongeni aze abafundise ezintlanganisweni, umele ukuba uphila ngemigaqo yeBhayibhile naxa ‘esebumnyameni’ okanye engabonwa ngabanye.​—INdu. 101:2, 3.

13. UHezekile wababona besenza ntoni abafazi kwenye yeegeyithi zetempile?

¹³ Funda uHezekile 8:13, 14. Emva kwezinto ezimbini zokuqala ezenyanyekayo, uYehova uphinda athi kuHezekile: “Useza kubona izinto ezenyanyeka nezimbi nangakumbi abazenzayo.” Yintoni awaphinda wayibona lo mprofeti? “Egeyithini engasemntla yendlu kaYehova” wabona “abafazi abahleli apho belilela uthixo uTamuzi.” Abanye bacinga ukuba uTamuzi, osisithixo saseMesopotamiya, wayethandana nothixokazi uIshtar. * Ngoko kubonakala ukuba aba bafazi bakwaSirayeli babekhonza uTamuzi, ibe babelilela ukufa kwakhe. Ngokulilela kwabo esi sithixo etempileni, babekhonza izithixo phakathi kanye kwindawo akhonzwa kuyo uYehova. Kodwa wayengazukuyamkela loo nto kuba nje beyenzela etempileni yakhe. Kuye, abo bafazi babesenza ‘into eyenyanyekayo’!

14. Sifunda ntoni kwindlela uYehova awayijonga ngayo into eyayisenziwa ngabo bafazi?

¹⁴ Sifunda ntoni kwindlela uYehova awayijonga ngayo into eyayisenziwa ngabo bafazi? Sifunda ukuba, ukuze ayamkele indlela esimkhonza ngayo, kufuneka singenzi izinto ezidibene nokukhonza izithixo. Yiloo nto kufuneka sihambele kude kwiiholide ezisuka kubantu ababekhonza izithixo. Ngaba ibalulekile into yokuba zisuka phi? Ewe! Izinto ezenziwa ngeeholide zanamhlanje njengeKrismesi neIsta, zisenokubonakala zingeyongozi. Kodwa masikhumbule ukuba uYehova akaqali kuzibona ngoku ezi zinto zenziwa kwezi holide. Wayezibone zisenziwa kwakudala ngabantu ababekhonza izithixo. UYehova akazamkeli kuba nje sekudlule ixesha elide zisenziwa, okanye kuba abantu bezidibanisa nendlela akhonzwa ngayo.​—2 Kor. 6:17; ISityhi. 18:2, 4.

15, 16. Ayesenza ntoni amadoda ayi-25 kwiyadi engaphakathi yetempile, ibe kutheni le nto yamcaphukisa gqitha uYehova?

¹⁵ Funda uHezekile 8:15-18. Nale into uYehova uyiqala ngamazwi athi: “Useza kubona izinto ezenyanyeka nezimbi  ngaphezu kwezi.” Mhlawumbi lo mprofeti wayezibuza: ‘Yintoni enokuba mbi ukogqitha ezi zinto sendizibonile?’ Ngoku uHezekile wayekwiyadi engaphakathi yetempile. Egeyithini yetempile, wabona amadoda ayi-25 equbudile ukuze akhonze ‘ilanga elisempuma.’ La madoda ayesenza eyona nto yakha yambi. Njani?

¹⁶ Khawube ngathi uyayibona le nto: Igeyithi yetempile kaYehova yayijonge empuma. Abantu abazokukhonza etempileni babengena bejonge ngasentshona, belifulathele ilanga eliphuma empuma. Kodwa la madoda ayi-25 ‘ayefulathele itempile’ kwaye ejonge ngasempuma ukuze akhonze ilanga. Ngokwenza loo nto ayefulathela uYehova, kuba itempile ‘yindlu yakhe.’ (1 Kum. 8:10-13) Loo madoda ayemjikele. Zange amhoye uYehova, aza enza into awayethe azangayenzi kwiDuteronomi 4:15-19. Amcaphukisa nyhani, kuba nguye yedwa ofanele akhonzwe.

17, 18. (a) Sifunda ntoni kwinto eyenziwa ngabantu ababekhonza ilanga etempileni? (b) Bubuphi ubuhlobo obapheliswa ngamaYuda, ibe ngoba?

¹⁷ Sifunda ntoni kwinto eyenziwa ngaba bakhonzi belanga? Sifunda ukuba, ukuze sihlale sikhonza uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo, kufuneka sibucele kuye ubulumko nokuqonda. Khumbula kaloku ukuba, “uYehova uThixo ulilanga” kwaye iLizwi lakhe “lisisibane” endleleni yethu. (INdu. 84:11; 119:105) Usinika ubulumko esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe kunye neencwadi ezisuka kwintlangano yakhe. Le nto isinceda sikwazi ukwenza izigqibo eziza kusenza siphile kamnandi ngoku size sifumane nobomi obungunaphakade. Ukuba besinokufuna ukuboniswa lihlabathi ukuba siphile njani, besiya kuba siyamfulathela uYehova. Ibiya kumkhathaza kakhulu loo nto. Asifuni kumenza loo nto uThixo wethu. Lo mbono kaHezekile ukwasinceda ukuba sibaphephe abantu abamjikelayo uYehova.​—IMize. 11:9.

¹⁸ Njengoko sesibonile, uHezekile ubone imibono emine eyothusayo yokukhonzwa kwezithixo, eyayibonisa indlela ezazisenyanyeka ngayo izinto ezazisenziwa ngamaYuda ajikele uYehova. Ukukhonza kwawo izithixo kwabuphelisa ubuhlobo bawo noThixo. Ngokuqhelekileyo, xa abantu bemnikele umva uYehova, badla ngokwenza izinto ezimbi. Nala maYuda ke, enza izinto ezimbi ezaphelisa ubuhlobo bawo noYehova kunye nabanye abantu. Makhe sive ukuba umprofeti uHezekile uyichaza njani indlela embi awayeziphethe ngayo amaYuda.

19. UHezekile wayichaza njani indlela ababeziphethe ngayo abantu bakaThixo?

¹⁹ Funda uHezekile 22:3-12. Sonke isizwe sasonakele, ukuqala kubalawuli ukuya kutsho ebantwini. “Iinkosi” okanye iinkokheli, zasebenzisa igunya lazo ukuze zichithe igazi labantu abamsulwa. Nabantu zange bawuthobele uMthetho KaThixo njengeenkokheli zabo. Abantwana ‘babedelela’ abazali babo, kwaye kuxhaphakile nokwabelana ngesondo kwabantu bentsapho enye. AmaSirayeli aqaqadekileyo ayeqhatha abantu basemzini aze aphathe kakubi abantwana abangenatata nabahlolokazi. Amadoda ayexhaphaza ngokwesondo abafazi babamelwane bawo. Abantu babenyolukile, benyoba, begrogrisa abanye ukuze bafumane imali, kwaye bebiza inzala eninzi. Yayimkhathaza uYehova into yokubona abantu bakhe bengayithobeli imithetho yakhe. Babengayiqondi into yokuba wayebanike le mithetho kuba ebathanda. Waxelela uHezekile ukuba athi kubo: ‘Nindilibele shici.’

20. Kutheni amazwi kaHezekile athetha ngokuziphatha kakubi kwamaYuda esebenza nakwixesha lethu?

²⁰ Kutheni amazwi kaHezekile athetha ngokuziphatha kakubi kwamaYuda esebenza nakwixesha lethu? Kuba izinto ezazisenziwa ngamaYuda awayejikele uYehova, zisikhumbuza  ukuba nabantu bexesha lethu benza izinto ezimbi. Iinkokheli zeepolitiki zilisebenzisa kakubi igunya lazo ukuze zicinezele abantu. Bona abefundisi beecawa, ingakumbi abazibiza ngokuba bangamaKristu, baye bathandazela iimfazwe eziye zabulala iimiliyoni zabantu. Bayenze ayabaluleka imiyalelo ecacileyo yeBhayibhile ethetha ngesondo. Ngenxa yaloo nto, abantu baya bengakwazi ukuziphatha. Siqinisekile ukuba uYehova ebenokuthi nakubantu beecawa: ‘Nindilibele shici.’

21. Sifunda ntoni kwindlela awayeziphethe kakubi ngayo amaYuda?

²¹ Sifunda ntoni kwindlela awayeziphethe kakubi ngayo amaYuda? Sifunda ukuba, ukuze sikhonze uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo, kufuneka siziphathe kakuhle. Inzima ke loo nto kweli hlabathi siphila kulo. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Kodwa ke siyayazi ukuba uYehova uzijonga njani zonke iindlela zokuziphatha kakubi. (1 Kor. 6:9, 10) Siziphatha ngendlela ayifunayo kuba sithanda yena kunye nemithetho yakhe. (INdu. 119:97; 1 Yoh. 5:3) Siya kuba asimthandi uYehova xa sinokuziphatha kakubi. Asifuni athi kuthi: ‘Nindilibele shici.’

22. (a) Emva kokufunda ngombono kaHezekile wendlela awayeziphethe ngayo amaYuda, uzimisele ukwenza ntoni? (b) Isahluko esilandelayo siza kuthetha ngantoni?

²² Sifunde into eninzi kumbono kaHezekile wendlela awayeziphethe ngayo amaYuda. Sitsho sazimisela ngakumbi ukukhonza uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. Ngoko kufuneka silumke singakhonzi izithixo, kwaye siziphathe kakuhle. Kodwa ke, wabenza ntoni uYehova abantu bakhe abangathembekanga? Xa uphela lo mbono, uYehova wathi: “Ndiza kubohlwaya ndinomsindo.” (Hez. 8:17, 18) Sinomdla wokwazi into awayenzayo kula maYuda, kuba uza kwenza into efanayo nakweli hlabathi likhohlakeleyo. Isahluko esilandelayo siza kuthetha ngendlela awawohlwaya ngayo.