1-3. (a) Yimuphi umthwalo osindayo owawuthwelwe umhubi uDavide, futhi wayitholela kanjani induduzo inhliziyo yakhe eyayikhathazekile? (b) Uma sona, yimuphi umthwalo esingase siwuthwale ngenxa yokona kodwa uJehova usiqinisekisa ngani?

 UMHUBI uDavide wabhala: “Iziphambeko zami zinqwabelane zadlula ikhanda lami; njengomthwalo osindayo, ziyangisinda kakhulu. Sengindikindiki futhi ngidangele kakhulu.” (IHubo 38:4, 8) UDavide wayazi ukuthi isazela singaba umthwalo osinda kangakanani. Kodwa wayitholela induduzo inhliziyo yakhe eyayikhathazekile. Wayeqonda ukuthi nakuba uJehova esizonda isono, akasizondi isoni uma siphenduka ngempela futhi siyishiya inkambo yaso yokona. Eqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ukubabonisa isihe abaphendukayo, uDavide wathi: “Wena Jehova, . . . uhlale ukulungele ukuthethelela.”—IHubo 86:5.

² Uma sona, nathi singase sithwale umthwalo ocindezelayo kanembeza obuhlungu. Lo muzwa wokuzisola uyasiza. Ungasenza sithathe izinyathelo ezinhle zokulungisa amaphutha ethu. Nokho, kuyingozi ukunqotshwa umuzwa wecala. Inhliziyo yethu esilahla ngecala ingase isibelesele ngokuthi uJehova ngeke asithethelele kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siphenduka kangakanani. Uma ‘sinqotshwa ukudabuka ngokweqile,’ uSathane angase azame ukusenza sidikibale, sibe nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova usibheka njengabangelutho, abangakufanelekeli ukumkhonza.—2 Korinte 2:5-11.

³ Ingabe uJehova usibheka kanjalo? Phinde! Ukuthethelela kuyisici sothando lukaJehova olukhulu. EZwini lakhe usiqinisekisa ngokuthi uma sibonisa ukuphenduka okuqotho nokusuka enhliziyweni, uzimisele ukusithethelela. (IzAga 28:13) Ukuze singabi nomuzwa wokuthi asinakuyithola intethelelo  kaJehova, ake sihlole isizathu sokuba athethelele nokuthi uthethelela kanjani.

4. Yini uJehova ayikhumbulayo ngendlela esakheke ngayo, futhi lokhu kumenza asiphathe kanjani?

⁴ UJehova uyakwazi ukulinganiselwa kwethu. IHubo 103:14 lithi: “Yena uyakwazi ukwakheka kwethu, ekhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.” Akakhohlwa ukuthi siyizidalwa ezenziwe ngothuli, ukuthi sinobuthakathaka ngenxa yesono. Inkulumo ethi uyakwazi “ukwakheka kwethu” isikhumbuza ukuthi iBhayibheli lifanisa uJehova nombumbi, kanti thina lisifanisa nezitsha zobumba azibumbayo. (Jeremiya 18:2-6) UMbumbi Omkhulu usiphatha ngendlela evumelana nesimo sethu esibuthakathaka ngenxa yesono, kuye nangokuthi siyasamukela yini isiqondiso sakhe noma asisamukeli.

5. Incwadi yabaseRoma iwachaza kanjani amandla isono esibambe ngawo umuntu?

⁵ UJehova uyaqonda ukuthi isono sinamandla kangakanani. IZwi lakhe lichaza isono ngokuthi singamandla amakhulu abambe umuntu. Sinamandla kangakanani isono? Encwadini yabaseRoma, umphostoli uPawulu uyachaza: ‘Singaphansi kwesono’ kuhle kwamasosha angaphansi komkhuzi wawo (Roma 3:9); isono siye “sabusa” isintu njengenkosi (Roma 5:21); “sihlala” kithi (Roma 7:17, 20); “umthetho” waso uyaqhubeka usebenza kithi, empeleni uzama ukulawula ukuphila kwethu. (Roma 7:23, 25) Yeka amandla isono esinawo kubantu abanesono!—Roma 7:21, 24.

6, 7. (a) UJehova ubabheka kanjani labo abafuna isihe sakhe ngenhliziyo ephendukile? (b) Kungani kungafanele sidlale ngesihe sikaNkulunkulu?

⁶ Ngakho uJehova uyazi ukuthi ngeke sikwazi ukumlalela ngokuphelele, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sifisa kangakanani. Usiqinisekisa ngothando ukuthi uyosithethelela uma sifuna isihe sakhe ngenhliziyo ephendukile. IHubo 51:17 lithi: “Imihlatshelo ejabulisa uNkulunkulu iwumoya ophukile;  O Nkulunkulu, inhliziyo ephukile nedabukile uyoyamukela.” UJehova ngeke ayenqabe noma ayilahle inhliziyo “ephukile nedabukile” ngenxa yomuzwa wecala osindayo.

⁷ Ingabe-ke lokhu kusho ukuthi singadlala ngesihe sikaNkulunkulu, senze ukuba kwethu nesono kube izaba zokona? Cha! UJehova akabuswa imizwelo. Isihe sakhe sinemingcele. Ngeke neze abathethelela labo abanezinhliziyo ezimbi abasenza umkhuba ngamabomu isono, abangaphenduki. (Hebheru 10:26) Kanti uma ebona inhliziyo ephendukayo, ukulungele ukuthethelela. Manje ake sibheke ulimi olucacile olusetshenziswe eBhayibhelini oluchaza lesi sici sothando lukaJehova.

8. Kunjengokungathi uJehova wenzani lapho esixolela izono zethu, futhi lokhu kusinika liphi ithemba?

⁸ UDavide owayesephendukile wathi: “Ekugcineni ngasivuma isono sami kuwe; angizange ngisifihle isiphambeko sami. . . . Wena wasithethelela isono sami.” (IHubo 32:5) Igama elithi “thethelela” lihumusha igama lesiHebheru ngokwezwi nezwi elisho “ukufukula” noma “ukuthwala.” Lapha libhekisela ekususeni “icala, isono, nesiphambeko.” Ngakho kunjengokungathi uJehova wafukula izono zikaDavide wazithwala wahamba nazo. Akungabazeki ukuthi lokhu kwakhulula uDavide emizweni yecala ayeyithwele. (IHubo 32:3) Nathi singathembela ngokugcwele kuNkulunkulu othwala izono zalabo abafuna ukuba abathethelele ngesisekelo sokholo lwabo emhlatshelweni wesihlengo sikaJesu.—Mathewu 20:28.

9. UJehova uzibeka kude kangakanani nathi izono zethu?

⁹ UDavide wasebenzisa enye futhi inkulumo ecacile ukuze achaze ukuthethelela kukaJehova: “Njengokuqhelelana kwempumalanga nentshonalanga, uzibeke kude kangako izono zethu.” (IHubo 103:12) Ilanga liphuma empumalanga, lishone entshonalanga. Iqhelelene kangakanani impumalanga nentshonalanga? Impumalanga ihlale iqhelelene nentshonalanga  ngebanga esingeke sikwazi ukulicabanga; lezi zindawo zombili azisoze zahlangana. Esinye isazi sithi le nkulumo isho ukuthi “kude le; kude kakhulu.” Amazwi kaDavide aphefumulelwe asitshela ukuthi lapho uJehova ethethelela, ubeka izono zethu kude le nathi.

10. Lapho uJehova esithethelela izono zethu, kungani kungafanele sibe nomuzwa wokuthi siyoba nebala lalezo zono size sife?

¹⁰ Wake wazama yini ukususa ibala engutsheni enombala okhanyayo? Mhlawumbe ngisho usuzame konke, aliyanga ndawo lelo bala. Phawula indlela uJehova achaza ngayo ukuthi uthethelela kangakanani: “Nakuba izono zenu zibomvu klebhu, zizokwenziwa zibe mhlophe njengeqhwa; nakuba zibomvu njengendwangu ebomvu okwegazi, zizoba njengoboya bezimvu.” (Isaya 1:18) Igama elithi “klebhu” lichaza umbala obomvu. a Umbala ‘obomvu klebhu’ wawungeminye  yemibala okwakudaywa ngayo indwangu. (Nahume 2:3) Asisoze sakwazi ukususa ibala eliyisono ngemizamo yethu. Kodwa uJehova angathatha izono ezibomvu klebhu nezibomvu okwegazi azenze zibe mhlophe njengeqhwa noma njengoboya obungadayiwe. Lapho uJehova esithethelela izono zethu, akufanele sibe nomuzwa wokuthi siyoba nebala lalezo zono size sife.

11. UJehova uziphonsa ngamuphi umqondo izono zethu ngemva kwakhe?

¹¹ Engomeni yokubonga ethinta inhliziyo uHezekiya ayiqamba ngemva kokululama esifweni esibulalayo, wathi kuJehova: “Zonke izono zami uziphonse ngemva kwakho.” (Isaya 38:17) UJehova lapha uchazwa ngokuthi uthatha izono zomenzi wobubi ophendukayo aziphonse ngemva kwaKhe lapho engeke aphinde azibone khona noma aziqaphele. Ngokusho kwenye incwadi, nanku umqondo odluliselwayo: “Wenze [izono zami] kwaba sengathi azikaze zibe khona.” Akusiqinisi yini idolo lokho?

12. Umprofethi uMika ubonisa kanjani ukuthi uma uJehova esithethelela, uzisusa ngokuphelele izono zethu?

¹² Esithembisweni sokubuyisela, umprofethi uMika washo amazwi abonisa ukuqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyobathethelela abantu bakhe abaphendukayo: “Ubani onguNkulunkulu onjengawe, othethelela iphutha labasele befa lakhe kanye nesiphambeko sabo? . . . Wena uzoziphonsa ekujuleni kolwandle zonke izono zabo.” (Mika 7:18, 19) Cabanga lokho lawo mazwi akusho kulabo ababephila ezikhathini zeBhayibheli. Kwakungenzeka yini ukuba into eyayiphonswe “ekujuleni kolwandle” iphinde itholakale? Ngakho amazwi kaMika abonisa ukuthi uma uJehova esithethelela, uzisusa ngokuphelele izono zethu.

13. Asho ukuthini amazwi kaJesu athi “usithethelele amacala ethu”?

¹³ UJesu wasebenzisa ubudlelwane babantu abakweletwayo nababakweletayo ukuze abonise indlela uJehova athethelela ngayo. UJesu wasinxusa ukuba sithandaze sithi: “Usithethelele  amacala ethu [noma izikweletu].” (Mathewu 6:12) Ngaleyo ndlela uJesu wafanisa izono nezikweletu. (Luka 11:4) Lapho sona, siba ‘nesikweletu’ kuJehova. Enye incwadi ithi isenzo sesiGreki esihunyushwe ngokuthi “thethelela” singasho ukuthi: “Ukudela isikweletu, ukusiyeka ngokungabe usasibasela.” Ngomqondo othile, lapho uJehova ethethelela, usula isikweletu ebesingase sifakwe kuyi-akhawunti yethu. Ngalesi sizathu izoni eziphendukile zingathola induduzo. UJehova akasoze asibasela isikweletu asesisulile!—IHubo 32:1, 2.

14. Inkulumo ethi “kusulwe izono zenu” isenza sicabangeni?

¹⁴ Indlela uJehova athethelela ngayo ibuye ichazwe encwadini yezEnzo 3:19: “Ngakho phendukani futhi niguquke ukuze kusulwe izono zenu.” Igama elithi “kusulwe” lihumusha isenzo sesiGreki esisho “ukucisha, . . . ukususa noma ukuchitha.” Ngokusho kwezinye izazi, kuvezwa umqondo wokucisha into ebhaliwe. Kwakwenzeka kanjani lokhu? Uyinki owawuvame ukusetshenziswa endulo wawenziwa ngengxube ye-carbon, inhlaka, namanzi. Lapho nje umuntu eqeda ukubhala ngalowo yinki, wayengathatha isiponji esimanzi acishe akubhalile. Lokhu kusichaza kahle isihe sikaJehova. Lapho esithethelela izono zethu, kuba njengokungathi uthatha isiponji azicishe.

15. Yini uJehova afuna siyazi ngaye?

¹⁵ Uma sicabanga ngale mifanekiso ehlukahlukene, akusicaceli yini ukuthi uJehova ufuna sazi ukuthi ukulungele ngempela ukusithethelela izono zethu uma nje esibona siphenduka ngobuqotho? Akudingeki sesabe ukuthi uyosibalela lezo zono esikhathini esizayo. Lokhu kuboniswa enye into eyembulwa iBhayibheli ngesihe esikhulu sikaJehova: Lapho ethethelela, uyakhohlwa.

16, 17. Lisho ukuthini iBhayibheli uma lithi uJehova uyazikhohlwa izono zethu, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo?

¹⁶ Ngokuqondene nalabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha, uJehova wathembisa: “Ngiyosithethelela isiphambeko sabo,  nesono sabo ngeke ngisasikhumbula.” (Jeremiya 31:34) Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi uma uJehova ethethelela akabe esakwazi ukukhumbula izono? Akunjalo neze. IBhayibheli lisitshela ngezono zabantu abaningi uJehova abathethelela, kuhlanganise noDavide. (2 Samuweli 11:1-17; 12:13) Kusobala ukuthi uJehova usazazi iziphambeko abazenza. Umlando wezono zabo, ukuphenduka kwabo nokuthethelelwa kwabo nguNkulunkulu, uye walondolozwa ukuze sisizakale. (Roma 15:4) Pho lisho ukuthini iBhayibheli uma lithi uJehova ‘akazikhumbuli’ izono zalabo asebathethelele?

¹⁷ Isenzo sesiHebheru esihunyushwe ngokuthi “ngeke ngisasikhumbula” sisho okungaphezu nje kokukhumbula osekwenzekile. I-Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament ithi  “sisikisela nokuthatha isinyathelo esifanele.” Ngakho kulo mqondo, ‘ukukhumbula’ isono kuhilela ukujezisa izoni. (Hoseya 9:9) Kodwa uma uNkulunkulu ethi ‘isono sabo ngeke ngisasikhumbula,’ usiqinisekisa ngokuthi uma esezithethelele izoni eziphendukayo ngeke aphinde azijezisele lezo zono. (Hezekeli 18:21, 22) Ngakho uJehova ukhohlwa ngomqondo wokuthi akalokhu esibalela izono zethu ukuze asisole noma asijezise ngokuphindaphindiwe. Akududuzi yini ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu uyathethelela futhi akhohlwe?

18. Kungani ukuthethelelwa kungasho ukuthi isoni esiphendukayo asibe sisayithola yonke imiphumela yenkambo yaso embi?

¹⁸ Ingabe ukuthi uJehova uhlale ekulungele ukuthethelela kusho ukuthi isoni esiphendukayo asibe sisayithola yonke imiphumela yenkambo yaso embi? Cha. Ngeke sone kungabi ndaba zalutho. UPawulu wabhala: “Noma yini umuntu ayihlwanyelayo, uyovuna yona futhi.” (Galathiya 6:7) Singase sibhekane nemiphumela ethile yezenzo zethu. Lokho akusho ukuthi ngemva kokuba uJehova esesithethelele wenza ukuba sihlupheke. Lapho kuvela izinkinga, umKristu akufanele abe nomuzwa wokuthi, ‘Mhlawumbe uJehova ungijezisela izono ezidlule.’ (Jakobe 1:13) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJehova akasivikeli kuyo yonke imiphumela yezenzo zethu ezimbi. Idivosi, ukukhulelwa okungafunwa, izifo ezithathelwana ngocansi, ukungabe usathenjwa noma usahlonishwa—konke lokhu kungase kube imiphumela yesono edabukisayo nengenakuvinjelwa. Khumbula ukuthi ngisho nangemva kokuthethelela uDavide izono zakhe mayelana noBhati-sheba no-Uriya, uJehova akazange amvikele uDavide emiphumeleni emibi eyalandela.—2 Samuweli 12:9-12.

19-21. (a) Umthetho okuLevitikusi 6:1-7 wawumsiza kanjani owoniwe nowonile? (b) Uma izono zethu zibaphathe kabi abanye, uJehova ujabula uma senzani?

¹⁹ Izono zethu zingase zibe neminye futhi imiphumela, ikakhulukazi uma izenzo zethu ziye zaphatha kabi abanye.  Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokho okushiwo uLevitikusi isahluko 6. UMthetho KaMose lapha ukhuluma ngesimo lapho umuntu enza ububi obukhulu ngokuthatha izimpahla zomIsrayeli wakubo ngokumphanga, ngokumephuca, noma ngokumkhwabanisela. Isoni sibe sesiyaphika ukuthi sikwenzile lokho, size sibe nesibindi sokufunga amanga. Omunye ukhomba omunye, omunye uvikela iso lakhe. Kodwa kamuva isoni siyashayeka bese siyasivuma isono saso. Ukuze uNkulunkulu asithethelele, kumele senze ezinye izinto ezintathu: sibuyise ebesikuthathile, sikhokhele umnikazi inhlawulo engamaphesenti angu-20 enani lezimpahla ebesizebile, bese sikhipha inqama ibe umnikelo wecala. Umthetho ube usuthi: “Umpristi uzomenzela isihlawulelo phambi kukaJehova, bese ethethelelwa.”—Levitikusi 6:1-7.

²⁰ Lo mthetho wawuyilungiselelo lesihe elivela kuNkulunkulu. Wawumsiza umuntu othathelwe izimpahla ngoba zazibuyiswa futhi akungabazeki ukuthi wayethola impumuzo enkulu lapho isoni sisivuma isono saso ekugcineni. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, lo mthetho wawusiza nalowo onembeza wakhe ekugcineni wawumenze walivuma icala lakhe futhi walilungisa iphutha lakhe. Yebo, uma ayenqaba ukwenza lokho, uNkulunkulu wayengeke amthethelele.

²¹ Nakuba singekho ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, lowo Mthetho usenza siqonde umbono kaJehova, kuhlanganise nendlela akubheka ngayo ukuthethelela. (Kolose 2:13, 14) Uma izono zethu ziye zabaphatha kabi abanye, uNkulunkulu uyajabula uma senza esingakwenza ukuze silungise esikonile. (Mathewu 5:23, 24) Lokho kungase kuhilele ukuvuma isono sethu, ukuvuma ukuthi sinecala, size sixolise nokuxolisa kulowo esimonile. Singabe sesinxusa kuJehova ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu futhi siqiniseke ukuthi uNkulunkulu usithethelele.—Hebheru 10:21, 22.

22. Ingase ihambisane nani intethelelo kaJehova?

²² Njenganoma yimuphi umzali onothando, intethelelo kaJehova ingase ihambisane nesiyalo esithile. (IzAga 3:11, 12)  UmKristu ophendukile kungase kudingeke ayeke ilungelo lakhe lokuba umdala, inceku ekhonzayo, noma umshumayeli wesikhathi esigcwele. Kungase kumzwise ubuhlungu ukulahlekelwa okwesikhashana amalungelo abeyigugu kuye. Kodwa isiyalo esinjalo asisho ukuthi uJehova akamthethelelanga. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi isiyalo esivela kuJehova siwubufakazi bokuthi uyasithanda. Kuyasizuzisa kakhulu ukusamukela nokusisebenzisa.—Hebheru 12:5-11.

23. Kungani kungafanele siphethe ngokuthi ngeke sisithole isihe sikaJehova, futhi kungani kufanele silingise ukuthethelela kwakhe?

²³ Akuve kuqabula ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu ‘uhlale ekulungele ukuthethelela’! Naphezu kwamaphutha okungenzeka siwenzile, akufanele nanini siphethe ngokuthi ngeke sisithole isihe sikaJehova. Uma siphenduka ngeqiniso, sithatha izinyathelo zokulungisa esikonile, futhi ngobuqotho sithandazele intethelelo ngesisekelo segazi likaJesu elachitheka, singaqiniseka ngokuphelele ukuthi uJehova uyosithethelela. (1 Johane 1:9) Masilingise ukuthethelela kwakhe lapho sisebenzelana nabanye. Phela, uma uJehova ongasenzi isono esithethelela ngothando kangaka, thina bantu abanesono akufanele yini senze okusemandleni ethu ukuba sithethelelane?