1, 2. (a) Sifunde ntoni ngombono kaHezekile wetempile kwisahluko esingaphambi kwesi? (b) Yeyiphi imibuzo emibini esiza kuthetha ngayo kwesi sahluko?

KWISAHLUKO esingaphambi kwesi, sifundile ukuba uHezekile akazange abone itempile enkulu kaYehova embonweni wakhe, eyayifana naleyo wathetha ngayo umpostile uPawulos kumakhulu eminyaka kamva. Sifundile nokuba lo mbono wawufundisa abantu bakaThixo ukubaluleka kokumkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo. Kukumkhonza ngaloo ndlela kuphela okwakunokubenza bahlale bengabahlobo bakhe. Yiloo nto eyamenza uYehova wawaphinda kwada kwakabini kwivesi enye amazwi athi: “Lo ngumthetho wetempile.”​—Funda uHezekile 43:12.

² Ngoku makhe sithethe ngale mibuzo mibini. Owokuqala uthi: Kulo mbono wetempile, yintoni emele ukuba yafundwa ngamaYuda omhla kaHezekile ngendlela amele akhonzwe ngayo uYehova? Impendulo yalo mbuzo iza kusinceda sikwazi ukuphendula nowesibini umbuzo othi: Kulo mbono, yintoni esiyifundayo thina baphila kule mihla yokugqibela?

3. Ukuva ukuba indlu kaYehova yayisentabeni ephakame kakhulu kwabafundisa ntoni abantu bakhe?

³ Ukuze siphendule lo mbuzo wokuqala, makhe sithethe ngezinto ezimbalwa ezibalulekileyo kulo mbono wetempile. Intaba ephakamileyo. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abantu babewufanisa lo mbono kaHezekile nesiprofeto sikaIsaya sokukhonzwa kukaYehova kwakhona. (Isa. 2:2) Kodwa ukuva kwabo ukuba indlu kaYehova yayisentabeni ephakame ngaloo ndlela kwabafundisa ntoni? Kwabafundisa ukuba umgangatho wokukhonzwa kukaYehova wawumele uphakame ngaphezu kwayo yonke enye into. Nyhani ke, wawumele uphakame, kuba uYehova “uphakame ngaphezulu lee kwabanye oothixo.” (INdu. 97:9) Kodwa bona abantu babengamkhonzi kakuhle. Kangangamakhulu eminyaka abazange bakuhoye ukukhonza kwabo uYehova, baza bakuyeka kwangcoliswa kukukhonza izithixo. Ngokuqinisekileyo baziva behlazekile abo babeneentliziyo ezilungileyo, xa besiva ngendlu kaThixo eyayimi kwindawo ephakamileyo nezukileyo.

4, 5. Yintoni emele ukuba yafundwa ngabantu ababemamele uHezekile ngobude beegeyithi?

⁴ Iigeyithi ezinde kakhulu. Ekuqaleni kwalo mbono, uHezekile wayebukele ingelosi imeta iigeyithi. Ezo geyithi zazimalunga neemitha eziyi-30 ubude! (Hez. 40:14) Kwakukho amagumbi oonogada kwezo geyithi. Yayithetha ntoni yonke le nto kwabo babechazelwa ngalo mbono? UYehova wathi kuHezekile: “Uze uyiqaphele igeyithi yetempile.” Ngoba? Kaloku abantu babesiya nabantu “abangalukanga entliziyweni nasenyameni” kwindlu kaThixo engcwele. Kwenzeka ntoni ngenxa yaloo nto? UYehova wathi: “Bangcolisa itempile yam.”​—Hez. 44:5, 7.

⁵ Abantu ‘ababengalukanga enyameni’ zange bawuthobele umyalelo kaThixo ocacileyo owawukho kwangexesha lika-Abraham. (Gen. 17:9, 10; Lev. 12:1-3) Babeqatsele ke bona aba ‘babengalukanga entliziyweni.’ Babemjikele uYehova, bengayihoyi nemiyalelo yakhe. Abantu abanjalo babengamele bavunyelwe bangene kwindlu kaThixo engcwele! UYehova uyamcaphukela umntu ozenza ngathi uyamthanda, ibe bona abantu bakhe bavumela abantu abanjalo ukuba bangene endlini yakhe. Iigeyithi namagumbi oonogada akulo mbono zazibonisa ukuba babemele bayiyeke loo nto. Endlini kaThixo kwakumele kungene abantu abamkhonza kakuhle. UYehova wayeza kubasikelela kuphela xa besenza loo nto.

6, 7. (a) UYehova walusebenzisa njani udonga olwalujikeleze itempile ukuze afundise abantu bakhe isifundo? (b) Abantu bakaYehova babeyiphethe njani indlu yakhe? (Jonga umbhalo osemazantsi.)

⁶ Udonga olwalujikeleze itempile. Enye into ebalulekileyo kulo mbono lolu donga. UHezekile wathi icala ngalinye lolu donga laliziingcongolo eziyi-500 okanye iimitha eziyi-1 555, into esondele kwiikhilomitha eziyi-1.6. (Hez. 42:15-20) Yona itempile  neyadi yayo esisikwere, yayiziikubhite eziyi-500 okanye iimitha eziyi-259 kuphela, macala onke. Ngoko kwakukho umhlaba omkhulu owawungenanto ojikeleze itempile nowawuphela kolu donga. * Ngenxa yantoni?

⁷ UYehova wathi ngendlu kaSirayeli: “Mayikususele kude lee kum ukuthengisa kwayo ngomzimba nezidumbu zookumkani bayo, ibe mna ndiza kuhlala phakathi kwayo ngonaphakade.” (Hez. 43:9) Xa kusithiwa ‘izidumbu zookumkani bayo,’ kusenokwenzeka kuthethwa ngezithixo. Ngoko xa uYehova wasebenzisa olu donga lukumbono kaHezekile, kufana ngathi wayesithi: “Izinto ezimdaka ngolo hlobo mazibe kude lee. Ningazisondezi nokuzisondeza.” Ukuba babemkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo uYehova, wayeza kubasikelela ngokubakho phakathi kwabo.

8, 9. Yintoni ekusenokwenzeka ukuba abantu bayifunda kwindlela uYehova awawaluleka ngayo amadoda awayenikwe umsebenzi?

⁸ Ukululekwa kwamadoda awayenikwe umsebenzi. UYehova wawaluleka amadoda awayewanike umsebenzi. Waluleka abaLevi abamshiya kanye xa abanye abantu babekhonza izithixo, waza wancoma oonyana bakaTsadoki ‘ababesebenza kwindawo yakhe engcwele xa amaSirayeli amshiyayo.’ Wabagweba bonke ngobulungisa, ngokwezinto abazenzileyo. (Hez. 44:10, 12-16) Kwenzeka into efanayo nakwiinkosi zakwaSirayeli.​—Hez. 45:9.

⁹ UYehova wayenza yacaca into yokuba amadoda awanike umsebenzi wokugada abantu bakhe kwakufuneka aphendule ngendlela awenza ngayo lo msebenzi. Nawo ayekudinga ukucetyiswa, ukulungiswa nokuqeqeshwa. Ngoko ayemele abe ngumzekelo wokuthobela uYehova ngokulamkela icebiso elivela kuye!

10, 11. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba abanye babantu ababuya ekuthinjweni bazisebenzisa izinto esizifunda kumbono kaHezekile?

¹⁰ Ngaba abantu ababebuya ekuthinjweni bazisebenzisa izifundo ezikulo mbono kaHezekile? Asinakuqiniseka ngento eyayicingwa ngabantu abathembekileyo belo xesha ngalo mbono. Kodwa iLizwi LikaThixo liyasichazela ngezinto ababezenza nangendlela ababekujonga ngayo ukumkhonza kakuhle uYehova. Ngaba bayisebenzisa ke imigaqo efumaneka kulo mbono kaHezekile? Singathi bazama, ingakumbi xa bethelekiswa nookhokho babo ababemjikele uYehova ngaphambi kokuthinjelwa kwabo eBhabhiloni.

¹¹ Amadoda athembekileyo anjengomprofeti uHagayi noZekariya, umbingeleli nombhali uEzra, nomlawuli wephondo uNehemiya, asebenza nzima efundisa abantu imigaqo enjengaleyo ichazwe kumbono kaHezekile wetempile. (Ezra 5:1, 2) Abafundisa abantu ukuba ukukhonza uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo  kumele kube yeyona nto ibaluleke ngaphezu kwezinto zeli hlabathi. (Hag. 1:3, 4) Ababonisa nokuba kwakubalulekile ukuba bayihloniphe indlela yokukhonza uYehova kakuhle. Ngokomzekelo, uEzra noNehemiya babanyanzela abantu ukuba bagxothe abafazi basemzini, ababebenza bangamkhonzi kakuhle uThixo. (Funda uEzra 10:10, 11; Neh. 13:23-27, 30) Yayiza kuthiwani yona into yezithixo? Kubonakala ukuba emva kokuba luthinjiwe olu hlanga, lwakucaphukela ukukhonza izithixo, okwakusoloko kuyingxaki yalo enkulu. Kwathiwani ke ngababingeleli, iinkosi neenkosana? Njengokuba sibonile kumbono kaHezekile, bonke babephakathi kwabantu abalulekwa nguYehova. (Neh. 13:22, 28) Abaninzi babo bazithoba baza basamkela eso siluleko.​—Ezra 10:7-9, 12-14; Neh. 9:1-3, 38.

12. UYehova wabasikelela njani abantu bakhe ababebuye ekuthinjweni?

¹² UYehova wabasikelela abantu bakhe. Basondela kuye, baba sempilweni, kwabakho nocwangco elizweni, nto leyo eyayingekho kangangexesha elide. (Ezra 6:19-22; Neh. 8:9-12; 12:27-30, 43) Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba ekugqibeleni abantu baqalisa ukumkhonza kakuhle uYehova. Izinto abazifunda kumbono wetempile, zachukumisa iintliziyo zabo. Ngoko singathi umbono kaHezekile wetempile wabanceda abantu ngeendlela ezimbini ezibalulekileyo. (1) Wabafundisa ukuba bangamkhonza njani  uYehova. (2) Wabaqinisekisa nokuba uYehova wayeza kuphinda akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo, ibe wayeza kubasikelela abantu bakhe, ukuba nje babemkhonza kakuhle. Kodwa sinomdla wokwazi le nto: Ngaba ikhona into esiyifundayo kulo mbono namhlanje?

13, 14. (a) Sazi njani ukuba umbono kaHezekile wetempile uyasebenza nakuthi namhlanje? (b) Zeziphi iindlela ezimbini osinceda ngazo lo mbono namhlanje? (Jonga nebhokisi 13A ethi, “Iitempile Azifani, Nezinto Esizifundayo Azifani.”)

¹³ Singaqiniseka na ukuba umbono kaHezekile wetempile uyasebenza nakuthi namhlanje? Ewe! Khumbula ukuba umbono kaHezekile wendlu engcwele kaThixo eyayimi “entabeni ephakame kakhulu,” wawufana nesiprofeto sikaIsaya esithi “intaba yendlu kaYehova” yayiza “kuzinza izivelele iincopho zeentaba.” UIsaya uthi esi siprofeto siza kwenzeka “ekupheleni kwemihla,” okanye “ngemihla yokugqibela.” (Hez. 40:2; Isa. 2:2-4; umbhalo osemazantsi; jonga noMika 4:1-4.) Ezi ziprofeto zaqala ngemihla yokugqibela ukusebenza ukususela ngo-1919, xa uYehova waphinda wakhonzwa ngendlela ayifunayo, ngokungathi ukhonzelwa entabeni ephakamileyo. *

¹⁴ Ngokuqinisekileyo ke, umbono kaHezekile uyasebenza nakuthi namhlanje kwindlela esimkhonza ngayo uYehova. Nathi njengamaYuda akudala, lo mbono usinceda ngeendlela ezimbini. (1) Usifundisa ukuba singamkhonza njani uYehova. (2) Usiqinisekisa nokuba uYehova uza kuphinda akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo, ibe uza kusisikelela.

15. Yintoni esimele siyikhumbule njengoko sijonga izinto esinokuzifunda kumbono kaHezekile wetempile?

¹⁵ Ngoku makhe sithethe ngezinye izinto ezikulo mbono wetempile. Khawube ngathi uyasibona nathi sikunye noHezekile xa ebona lo mbono wetempile. Ukhumbule ukuba asiboni itempile enkulu kaYehova, kodwa sizama ukubona izinto esinokuzifunda nesinokuzisebenzisa ekukhonzeni kwethu uYehova. Zeziphi ezinye izinto esinokuzifunda?

16. Yintoni esinokuyifunda ngokumetwa kwetempile ekumbono kaHezekile? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

¹⁶ Kwakutheni ukuze kumetwe kangaka? UHezekile ubukele njengoko ingelosi ebonakala ngathi yikopolo imeta itempile, kuquka iindonga, iigeyithi, amagumbi oonogada, iiyadi nesibingelelo. Ubukhulu bayo bumangalisa ngeyona ndlela. (Hez. 40:1–42:20; 43:13, 14) Kodwa khawukhe ucinge ngezinto esinokuzifunda kwezi nkcukacha zingaka. UYehova ubethelela indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukumkhonza kakuhle. Akekho omnye umntu oza kusichazela ukuba simkhonze njani ngaphandle kwakhe. Abo bathi ayibalulekanga indlela esimkhonza ngayo uYehova, baphazama kakhulu. Enye into, xa esenza kumetwe yonke itempile, uYehova usenza siqiniseke ukuba useza kukhonzwa  kanye ngendlela ayifunayo. Ukumeta kuyenza ingathandabuzeki into yokuba ziza kwenzeka izinto azithembisileyo uYehova. Ngoko uHezekile ungqina ukuba uYehova useza kukhonzwa kakuhle ngemihla yokugqibela.

17. Udonga olwalujikeleze itempile lunokusikhumbuza ntoni namhlanje?

¹⁷ Udonga olwalujikeleze itempile. Njengokuba besesitshilo, uHezekile wabona udonga olwalujikeleze itempile. Olo donga lwalukhumbuza abantu bakaThixo ukuba bazigcine zikude lee izinto ezimdaka ezidibene nokukhonza izithixo, zingangcolisi indlu yakhe. (Funda uHezekile 43:7-9.) Nathi namhlanje siyalidinga elo cebiso. Emva kokuba abantu bakaThixo bekhululwe ekuthinjweni kangangamakhulu eminyaka kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu, uKristu wamisela ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi ngo-1919. Ukususela ngoko, abantu bakaThixo bazama kangangoko banako ukwahlukana neemfundiso zobuxoki kunye nokukhonza izithixo. Sizimisele ukuhlala sicocekile njengoko sikhonza uYehova. Ngaphezu koko, asifuni nokushishina kwiiHolo ZoBukumkani. Asifuni kuvumela izinto ezinjalo zingcolise ukukhonza kwethu uYehova.​—Marko 11:15, 16.

18, 19. (a) Sinokufunda ntoni kwiigeyithi ezinde ezabonwa nguHezekile? (b) Siza kuthini xa abanye abantu befuna ukusilahlekisa? Yenza umzekelo.

¹⁸ Iigeyithi ezinde. Sinokufunda ntoni xa sicinga ngeegeyithi ezinde ezabonwa nguHezekile? Ezi geyithi zinde zawafundisa amaYuda awayethinjiwe ukuba uYehova wayefuna aziphathe kakuhle. Zisifundisa ntoni thina namhlanje? Sikhonza kwitempile enkulu kaYehova. Ngoko ukuziphatha kakuhle singazenzisi, kubaluleke kakhulu ngoku. (Roma 12:9; 1 Pet. 1:14, 15) Kule mihla yokugqibela, uYehova uye wabanceda abantu bakhe ukuba baziphathe kakuhle. * Ngokomzekelo, aboni abangaguqukiyo bayasuswa ebandleni. (1 Kor. 5:11-13) Ngaphezu koko, amagumbi oonogada asezigeyithini, asenokusikhumbuza ukuba namhlanje, umntu ongamvuyisiyo uYehova akavumelekanga ukuba akhonze kwitempile yakhe enkulu. Ngokomzekelo, umntu ongaziphethanga kakuhle usenokungena kwiHolo YoBukumkani, kodwa akanakumvuyisa uYehova de alungise ubuhlobo bakhe kunye naye. (Yak. 4:8) Le nto inceda ukuba indlela uYehova akhonzwa ngayo ihlale icocekile kweli hlabathi liziphethe kakubi.

¹⁹ IBhayibhile yayichaze kwakudala ukuba eli hlabathi laliza kuziphatha kakubi ngaphambi kokuba kufike isiphelo. Ithi: “Abantu abenza izinto ezimbi nabazenza amalungisa baza kuhambela phambili ebubini, belahlekisa yaye belahlekiswa.” (2 Tim. 3:13) Abantu abaninzi namhlanje bayalahlekiswa, benziwa bacinge ukuba indlela uYehova afuna siziphathe ngayo ayikho ngqiqweni, ibe iphelelwe lixesha. Ngaba nawe uza  kulahlekiswa? Ngokomzekelo, ukuba kukho umntu othi kuwe uThixo uyaphazama xa esithi akulunganga ukuba indoda ilale nenye indoda, okanye umfazi alale nomnye umfazi, ngaba uza kuvumelana naye? Okanye ngaba uza kuvumelana noYehova uThixo, oyenze yacaca eLizwini lakhe into yokuba abantu abenza izinto ezinjalo ‘benza amanyala’? UThixo usilumkisa ukuba singavumelani nokuziphatha okubi. (Roma 1:24-27, 32) Xa kuvela imeko enjengale, simele sicinge ngombono kaHezekile wetempile eneegeyithi ezinde, size sikhumbule ukuba uYehova akayitshintshi indlela afuna siziphathe ngayo, nokuba lithini na lona eli hlabathi liziphethe kakubi. Ngaba uyavumelana noTata wethu wasezulwini, uze ukumele oko kulungileyo?

20. Umbono kaHezekile usikhuthaza njani “isihlwele esikhulu”?

²⁰ Iiyadi. Xa uHezekile wabona iyadi enkulu yetempile, imele ukuba yamvuyisa nyhani into yokucinga ukuba babebaninzi abantu abonwabileyo abakhonza uYehova ababenokungena kuyo. Namhlanje, amaKristu akhonza kwitempile enkulu kunaleyo. Umbono kaHezekile uyasikhuthaza “isihlwele esikhulu” esikhonza kwiyadi engaphandle yetempile enkulu kaYehova. (ISityhi. 7:9, 10, 14, 15) UHezekile wabona ukuba iiyadi zazikufutshane namagumbi okutyela, apho abantu babenokutyela khona imibingelelo yobuhlobo ababeyenzile. (Hez. 40: 17) Singathi babesitya noYehova uThixo, nto leyo eyayibonisa ukuba babeseluxolweni kunye naye. Namhlanje asibingeleli njengokuba ayesenza amaYuda awayethobela uMthetho KaMoses. Kodwa senza ‘umbingelelo wokudumisa,’ xa sikhonza uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. Lo mbingelelo siwenza ngokuphendula kwiintlanganiso, okanye ngokushumayela. (Heb. 13:15) Sondliwa nangokutya okuqinisa ukholo okuvela kuYehova. Yiloo nto nathi siziva ngendlela abaziva ngayo oonyana bakaKora, abaculela uYehova bathi: “Usuku eyadini yakho lubhetele kuneentsuku eziliwaka kwenye indawo!”​—INdu. 84:10.

21. AmaKristu athanjisiweyo anokufunda ntoni kumbono kaHezekile?

²¹ Ababingeleli. UHezekile wabona ukuba iigeyithi ababengena kuzo ababingeleli nabaLevi xa besiya kwiyadi engaphakathi, zazifana nezo babengena kuzo abanye abantu ababengengobabingeleli. Le yayiyindlela entle yokukhumbuza ababingeleli ukuba nabo babefanele bamkhonze uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. Namhlanje? Abekho namhlanje abakhonzi bakaThixo abazalwa kwiintsapho zababingeleli, kodwa iBhayibhile ithi kumaKristu athanjisiweyo: “Niluhlanga olukhethiweyo, ababingeleli basebukhosini.” (1 Pet. 2:9) Ababingeleli bexesha lamaSirayeli babekhonza kwiyadi eyahlukileyo. Namhlanje, amaKristu athanjisiweyo awamkhonzi kwindawo eyahlukileyo uYehova. Amkhonza kunye nabanye abakhonzi bakhe. Kodwa wona, ekubeni enziwe oonyana, anobuhlobo obukhetheke kakhulu noYehova. (Gal. 4:4-6) Nawo la maKristu athanjisiweyo anokukhuthazwa ngumbono kaHezekile. Ngokomzekelo, ayaqonda ukuba ababingeleli bakudala babelulekwa yaye belungiswa. Onke amaKristu amele akhumbule ukuba ‘singumhlambi omnye onomalusi omnye.’​—Funda uYohane 10:16.

22, 23. (a) Yintoni abadala abanokuyifunda kwinkosi echazwe kumbono kaHezekile? (b) Yintoni esenokwenzeka kwixesha elizayo?

²² Inkosi. Embonweni kaHezekile inkosi yayingumntu obalulekileyo. Yayingaphumi kumnombo wababingeleli, ibe etempileni yayimele ithobele ababingeleli. Kodwa yayisiba ngumveleli wabantu, ibanceda xa besenza imibingelelo. (Hez. 44:2, 3; 45:16, 17; 46:2) Ngoko ingumzekelo omhle kumadoda angamaKristu anomsebenzi wokunceda ibandla. Ngapha koko, abadala abangamaKristu, kuquka abaveleli abahamba-hambayo, bamele bathobele ikhoboka elithembekileyo. (Heb. 13:17) Basebenza nzima benceda abantu bakaThixo benze imibingelelo yendumiso kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu nasentsimini. (Efe. 4:11, 12) Bamele baqaphele nendlela uYehova awaziluleka ngayo iinkosi zamaSirayeli ezazilisebenzisa kakubi igunya lazo. (Hez. 45:9) Abadala abamele bacinge ukuba abakudingi ukululekwa nokulungiswa.  Endaweni yoko, bamele bakuvuyele ukulungiswa nguYehova, ukuze babe ngabalusi nabaveleli abafanelekileyo.​—Funda eyoku-1 kaPetros 5:1-3.

²³ UYehova uza kuqhubeka esebenzisa abaveleli abanothando kwiParadesi yasemhlabeni ezayo. Namhlanje abadala bayaqeqeshwa ukuze babe ngabalusi abaluncedo nabafanelekayo. Abaninzi babo basenokusetyenziswa eParadesi. (INdu. 45:16) Iyavuyisa into yokwazi ukuba amadoda anjalo aza kuba yintsikelelo nyhani kwihlabathi elitsha. Ngexesha elifanelekileyo, uYehova usenokusenza sicacelwe ngakumbi ngumbono kaHezekile, njengezinye iziprofeto ezithi uThixo uza kuphinda akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo. Mhlawumbi iza kusimangalisa kakhulu indlela eziza kwenzeka ngayo ezinye izinto ezikulo mbono kwixesha elizayo. Siza kuyibona xa isenzeka.

24, 25. Umbono kaHezekile uyichaza njani indlela uYehova aza kubasikelela ngayo abantu bakhe xa bemkhonza kakuhle?

²⁴ Masigqibelise ngokujonga eyona nto ibalulekileyo eyenzeka kulo mbono kaHezekile. UYehova ufika kule tempile aze athembise abantu bakhe ukuba uza kuqhubeka ehleli kuyo, ukuba nje bamkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo. (Hez. 43:4-9) Loo nto iza kubanceda njani abantu bakaYehova kunye nelizwe labo?

²⁵ Lo mbono uchaza indlela uYehova aza kubasikelela ngayo abantu, usebenzisa iziprofeto ezibini: (1) Kuphuma umlambo kwingcwele yetempile, uze ubangele ukuba izinto ziphile nomhlaba utyebe; yaye (2) umhlaba wahlulwa kakuhle, ibe itempile nomhlaba wayo zingasesiphakathini selizwe. Ithetha ntoni le nto namhlanje? Kaloku uYehova uye wangena kwitempile yakhe enkulu, wayihlaziya, waza waqinisekisa ukuba ukhonzwa kakuhle. (Mal. 3:1-4) Siza kuthetha ngezo ziprofeto zibini kwiSahluko 19 ukuya ku-21 zale ncwadi.