1-3. Yini uJehova ayefuna uHezekeli ayibone ethempelini eliseJerusalema, futhi kungani? (Bheka amazwi ayisethulo seNgxenye 2 nesithombe.)

NJENGENDODANA yompristi, umprofethi uHezekeli uwazi kahle uMthetho KaMose. Ngakho ujwayelene nethempeli eliseJerusalema, futhi uyayazi indlela emsulwa okufanele uJehova akhonzwe ngayo lapho. (Hez. 1:3; Mal. 2:7) Kodwa manje ngo-612 B.C.E., okwenzeka ethempelini likaJehova kungashaqisa noma yimuphi umJuda othembekile, kuhlanganise noHezekeli.

² UJehova ufuna uHezekeli abone ukuthi izimo sezizimbi kangakanani ethempelini, bese lokho akubonayo akutshele “amadoda amadala akwaJuda” adingiswe naye aqoqene endlini yakhe. (Funda uHezekeli 8:1-4; Hez. 11:24, 25; 20:1-3) Esebenzisa umoya ongcwele, uJehova ususa uHezekeli (ngombono) endlini yakhe eTel-abib, eduze komfula iKhebari eBhabhiloni. Uyamthatha amhambise amakhilomitha amaningi amyise eJerusalema elisentshonalanga. UJehova ubeka lo mprofethi ethempelini, esangweni elisenyakatho legceke eliphakathi. Eqala khona lapho, uJehova uyamthatha ngombono ambonise ithempeli.

³ Manje uHezekeli ubona izimo ezine ezithusayo eziveza indlela isizwe esase siyingcolise ngayo indlela emsulwa yokukhonza  uNkulunkulu. Sekwenzekeni endleleni emsulwa yokukhonza uJehova? Usho ukuthini kithi lo mbono namuhla? Ake sihambe noHezekeli njengoba ebuka ithempeli. Nokho, okokuqala kumelwe sazi ukuthi yini uJehova ayilindele kulabo abamkhonzayo futhi kube kufanele.

4. Yini uJehova ayifunayo kubantu abamkhonzayo?

⁴ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-900 ngaphambi kosuku lukaHezekeli, uJehova wayesho ngokucacile ukuthi yini ayilindele kulabo abamkhonzayo. Emyalweni wesibili eMiyalweni Eyishumi, watshela ama-Israyeli: * “Mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho, nginguNkulunkulu ofuna abantu bazinikele kuye kuphela.” (Eks. 20:5) Ngokusebenzisa inkulumo ethi, “bazinikele kuye kuphela” uJehova wayebonisa ukuthi wayengeke akwamukele ukuba abantu bakhe bakhonze abanye onkulunkulu. Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 2 sale ncwadi, into yokuqala efunekayo ukuze indlela esikhonza ngayo ibe msulwa, ukuthi kumelwe kube uJehova esinikela kuye inkonzo yethu. Kumelwe kube uyena obaluleke kunakho konke ekuphileni kwezikhonzi zakhe. (Eks. 20:3) Kalula nje, uJehova ulindele ukuba abamkhonzayo bazigcine behlanzekile ngokungaxubi indlela yeqiniso yokumkhonza neyamanga. Ngo-1513 B.C.E., ngokuzithandela ama-Israyeli angena esivumelwaneni soMthetho. Ngokwenza kanjalo, ayevuma ukuthi azozinikela kuJehova kuphela. (Eks. 24:3-8) UJehova uqotho ezivumelwaneni zakhe, wayelindele ukuba abantu ayenze nabo isivumelwano babe qotho nabo.—Dut. 7:9, 10; 2 Sam. 22:26.

5, 6. Kungani kwakufanele ama-Israyeli azinikele kuJehova kuphela?

⁵ Kwakufaneleka yini ukuba uJehova athi ama-Israyeli mawazinikele kuye kuphela? Yebo! UnguNkulunkulu uMninimandla Onke, uMbusi Wamazulu Nomhlaba, uMthombo wokuphila noMlondolozi wako. (IHu. 36:9; IzE. 17:28) UJehova wayephinde abe uMkhululi wama-Israyeli. Lapho enika abantu iMiyalo Eyishumi, wabakhumbuza: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, owakukhipha ezweni laseGibhithe, endlini yobugqila.” (Eks. 20:2) Kuyacaca ukuthi ama-Israyeli kwakufanele azinikele kuJehova kuphela.

⁶ UJehova akashintshi. (Mal. 3:6) Ubelokhu efuna ukuba abantu bazinikele kuye kuphela. Cabanga ukuthi kumelwe ukuba wayezizwa kanjani ngezimo ezine eziphazamisayo manje azitshengisa uHezekeli embonweni.

7. (a) AmaJuda ayizihlubuki ayenzani esangweni elisenyakatho yethempeli, okwenza uJehova wazizwa kanjani? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Kungayiphi indlela uJehova aba nesikhwele? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi 2.)

⁷ Funda uHezekeli 8:5, 6. Kumelwe ukuba uHezekeli washaqeka! Esangweni elisenyakatho yethempeli izihlubuki ezingamaJuda zazikhonza isithombe noma umfanekiso. Kungenzeka ukuthi  kwakuyisigxobo esingcwele esasimelela u-Ashera unkulunkulukazi wamanga wabaseKhanani owayebhekwa njengomkaBhali. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwakuyini, lawo ma-Israyeli ayekhonza izithombe asephula isivumelwano sawo noJehova. Ngokuzinikela ezithombeni kunokuzinikela kuJehova, enza uNkulunkulu waba nesikhwele, amthukuthelisa kube kufanele. * (Dut. 32:16; Hez. 5:13) Cabanga nje: Kwase kuphele iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-400 ithempeli liyindlu kaJehova, lihlotshaniswa nokuba khona kwakhe. (1 AmaKh. 8:10-13) Kodwa manje ngokukhonza izithombe khona lapho ethempelini, labo bantu benza uJehova ‘wadedela kude nendlu yakhe engcwele.’

8. Umbono kaHezekeli womfanekiso othukuthelisa uNkulunkulu wokukhonza izithombe usho ukuthini kithi namuhla?

⁸ Umbono kaHezekeli womfanekiso othukuthelisa uNkulunkulu wokukhonza izithombe usho ukuthini kithi namuhla? AmaJuda ayehlubukile asikhumbuza eLobukholwa. Amasonto eLobukholwa athi akhonza uNkulunkulu, kodwa uNkulunkulu akawamukeli ngoba akhonza izithombe. Njengoba uJehova engashintshi singaqiniseka ukuthi eLobukholwa, njengoJuda oyisihlubuki, liyamthukuthelisa uJehova. (Jak. 1:17) Ngokuqinisekile, uJehova uqhelelene neLobukholwa!

9, 10. Yisiphi isifundo esiyisixwayiso esingasifunda kubantu abakhonza izithombe ethempelini?

⁹ Yisiphi isifundo esiyisixwayiso esingasifunda kulabo ababekhonza izithombe ethempelini? Ukuze sizinikele kuJehova kuphela, kufanele ‘sikubalekele ukukhonza izithixo.’ (1 Kor. 10:14) Singase sizitshele ukuthi, ‘Angisoze ngasebenzisa izithombe lapho ngikhonza uJehova!’ Kodwa ukukhonza izithombe kungenziwa ngezindlela eziningi, ezinye zazo zicashe kakhulu. Enye incwadi yokuhlaziya iBhayibheli ikubeka kanje: “Uma noma yini ibaluleka kakhulu kithi ngaphezu kokukhonza uNkulunkulu, lokho kufana nokukhonza izithombe.” Ngakho uma imali, ucansi, ezokuzijabulisa, nanoma yini enye, kubaluleka kakhulu ekuphileni kwethu kuze kuthathe indawo yokuzinikela okufanele sikunike uJehova, lokho kuwukukhonza izithombe. (Math. 6:19-21, 24; Efe. 5:5; Kol. 3:5) Ngakho kufanele siqaphele lonke uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe ngoba nguJehova kuphela okufanele simthande futhi simkhonze!—1 Joh. 5:21.

¹⁰ Isimo sokuqala uJehova asibonisa uHezekeli sasihilela “izinto ezishaqisayo nezinengekayo.” Noma kunjalo, uJehova watshela umprofethi wakhe othembekile: “Uzobona izinto ezinengekayo ezishaqisa nakakhulu.” Yini engaba yimbi yedlule ukukhonza umfanekiso othukuthelisa uNkulunkulu ethempelini?

11. Yiziphi izinto eziphazamisayo uHezekeli azibona ngemva kokungena egcekeni elingaphakathi eduze kwe-altare elisethempelini?

¹¹ Funda uHezekeli 8:7-12. Ngemva kokubhoboza udonga nokungena egcekeni elingaphakathi eduze kwe-altare lethempeli, uHezekeli ube esebona izithombe eziphazamisayo eziqoshwe  odongeni “zezinto ezinwabuzelayo nezilwane ezinyanyekayo nazo zonke izithixo ezinyanyekayo.” * Lezo zithombe ezaziqoshwe odongeni, zazimelela onkulunkulu bamanga. UHezekeli wabona okuphazamisa ngisho nakakhulu: “Amadoda amadala angu-70 endlu ka-Israyeli” ayemi “ebumnyameni,” enikela impepho konkulunkulu bamanga. Ngaphansi koMthetho, ukushiswa kwempepho enuka kamnandi kwakumelela imithandazo eyamukelekayo yabantu abathembekile abakhonza uNkulunkulu. (IHu. 141:2) Nokho, impepho lawo madoda amadala angu-70 ayeyinikela konkulunkulu bamanga yayingengcwele kuJehova. Imithandazo yawo yayinjengephunga elibi kuye. (IzAga 15:8) Labo badala babezikhohlisa bethi: “UJehova akasiboni.” Kodwa uJehova wayebabona, wabonisa noHezekeli kona kanye ababekwenza ethempelini laKhe!

12. Kungani kumelwe sihlale sithembekile ngisho ebumnyameni, futhi obani ngokukhethekile okufanele babeke isibonelo esihle kulokhu?

¹² Yini esingayifunda kulokho uHezekeli asitshela kona ngamadoda amadala angu-70 akwa-Israyeli ayenikela impepho konkulunkulu bamanga? Ukuze uNkulunkulu ayizwe imithandazo yethu—nendlela yethu yokumkhonza ihlale imsulwa kuye—kumelwe sihlale sithembekile ngisho ‘nasebumnyameni.’ (IzAga 15:29)  Kumelwe sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova ubona yonke into esiyenzayo. Uma engokoqobo kithi, ngeke senze lutho oluzomcasula ngisho noma singabonwa muntu. (Heb. 4:13) Abadala bebandla kumelwe baqiniseke ngokukhethekile ukuthi babeka isibonelo esihle sokuphila ngendlela evumelana neBhayibheli. (1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Lapho umdala ema phambi kwebandla elifundisa, kuyafaneleka ukuba ibandla lilindele ukuba aphile ngokuvumelana nezimiso zeBhayibheli ngisho “ebumnyameni,” okusho ukuthi, lapho abanye bengamboni.—IHu. 101:2, 3.

13. UHezekeli wabona abesifazane abayizihlubuki benzani kwelinye lamasango asethempelini?

¹³ Funda uHezekeli 8:13, 14. Ngemva kwezimo zokuqala ezimbili zezenzo ezinyanyisayo, uJehova uphinde athi kuHezekeli: ‘Uzobona izinto ezinengekayo ezishaqisa nakakhulu abazenzayo.’ Yini umprofethi abe eseyibona ngokulandelayo? “Esangweni elingasenyakatho lendlu kaJehova,” wabona “abesifazane behlezi bekhalela unkulunkulu uTamuzi.” UTamuzi, unkulunkulu waseMesophothamiya, ubizwa ngokuthi uDumuzi emibhalweni yamaSumeri futhi kucatshangwa ukuthi wayethandana nonkulunkulukazi wenzalo u-Ishtar. * Kubonakala sengathi ukukhala kwalaba besifazane abangama-Israyeli kwakuhlobene nesiko elithile lokulilela uTamuzi. Ngokukhalela uTamuzi ethempelini likaJehova, babenza isiko lobuqaba endaweni yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Ukukhonza onkulunkulu bamanga ethempelini likaJehova kwakungakwenzi kwamukeleke. NgokukaJehova, labo besifazane abayizihlubuki babenza “izinto ezinengekayo”!

14. Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda endleleni uJehova ayebheka ngayo okwakwenziwa abesifazane abayizihlubuki?

¹⁴ Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda endleleni uJehova ayebheka ngayo lokho okwakwenziwa yilabo besifazane? Ukuze ukukhonza kwethu uNkulunkulu sikugcine kumsulwa, akumelwe nanini sikuxube nemikhuba engcolile yamaqaba. Ngenxa yalokho, akumelwe sizihlanganise nokugujwa kwezenzakalo ezisuka enkolweni yamanga. Kubaluleke ngempela yini ukuthi ukugujwa kwesenzakalo esithile kwaqala kanjani? Yebo! Namuhla izinto ezenziwayo lapho kugujwa imikhosi enjengoKhisimusi nama-Easter, zingase zibonakale zingenankinga. Nokho, masingakhohlwa ukuthi uJehova wazibonela ngokwakhe ukuqala kwemikhuba engokwenkolo yamaqaba, egcine isiyimikhosi egujwayo namuhla. Ukuthi imikhuba yobuqaba isinesikhathi eside yenziwa noma isixutshwe nendlela yokukhonza uJehova emsulwa, akuyenzi yamukeleke kuJehova.—2 Kor. 6:17; IsAm. 18:2, 4.

15, 16. Amadoda angu-25 ayenzani egcekeni elingaphakathi lethempeli, futhi kungani lokho kwamcasula kakhulu uJehova?

¹⁵ Funda uHezekeli 8:15-18. Lapho uJehova ethula isimo sesine nesingesokugcina, usebenzisa wona la mazwi: “Uzobona izinto ezinengekayo ezishaqisa nakakhulu kunalezi.” Mhlawumbe lo  mprofethi wazibuza: ‘Yini nje engashiqisa idlule lezi zinto esengizibonile?’ Manje uHezekeli wayesegcekeni elingaphakathi lethempeli. Laphaya emnyango wethempeli wabona amadoda angu-25 ekhotheme ukuze akhonze “ilanga empumalanga.” Lena kwakuyindlela embi nakakhulu la madoda ayengathukuthelisa ngayo uJehova. Kungani kushiwo kanjalo?

¹⁶ Cabanga ngalokhu: Ithempeli likaNkulunkulu lakhiwa laba nomnyango obheke empumalanga. Abantu ababengena ethempelini bezokhonza uNkulunkulu babesuke bebheke entshonalanga befulathele impumalanga. Kodwa amadoda angu-25 asembonweni ‘afulathela ithempeli’ abheka empumalanga ukuze akhonze ilanga. Ngokwenza kanjalo, afulathela uJehova ngoba ithempeli ‘laliyindlu kaJehova.’ (1 AmaKh. 8:10-13) Lawo madoda angu-25 ayeyizihlubuki. Amshiya uJehova, eqa umyalo wakhe osencwadini kaDuteronomi 4:15-19. Yeka indlela amcasula ngayo uNkulunkulu ofanelwe ukuba sizinikele kuye kuphela!

17, 18. (a) Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda endabeni yalabo ababekhonza ilanga ethempelini? (b) Ama-Israyeli ayizihlubuki alimaza ubuhlobo bawo nobani futhi kanjani?

¹⁷ Yini esingayifunda kule ndaba yabantu ababekhonza ilanga? Ukuze indlela esikhonza ngayo ibe msulwa, kumelwe sincike kuJehova ukuze sithole ukuqonda nokuhlakanipha. Khumbula, “uJehova uNkulunkulu uyilanga,” futhi iZwi lakhe ‘liwukukhanya’ endleleni yethu. (IHu. 84:11; 119:105) NgeZwi lakhe nangezincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini ezivela enhlanganweni yakhe, usinikeza ukuhlakanipha, asibonise indlela okufanele sihambe ngayo eholela ekuphileni okwanelisayo manje, nasekuphileni okuphakade esikhathini esizayo. Uma besingancika kuleli zwe ukuze sithole indlela okufanele siphile ngayo, besiyobe sifulathela uJehova. Ukwenza kanjalo bekuyomcasula kakhulu, kumzwise ubuhlungu obujulile. Asifuni ukwenza kanjalo kuNkulunkulu wethu! Umbono kaHezekeli uphinde usixwayise nangokuba sigweme labo abashiya iqiniso, okuwukuthi, izihlubuki.—IzAga 11:9.

¹⁸ Njengoba sesibonile kuze kube manje, uHezekeli wabona izimo ezishaqisayo zabantu abakhonza izithombe nonkulunkulu bamanga, ezibonisa indlela uJuda oyisihlubuki ayesebungcolise ngayo ubuhlobo bakhe noNkulunkulu. Ngokukhonza onkulunkulu bamanga, lawo ma-Israyeli alimaza ubuhlobo bawo noNkulunkulu. Kodwa ukungakhonzi uNkulunkulu ngendlela efanele kuhlale kuhambisana nokuziphatha okubi. Yingakho kungamangazi ukuthi ama-Israyeli ayizihlubuki enza zonke izinhlobo zezinto ezimbi ezagcina sezilimaze ubuhlobo bawo noNkulunkulu nobuhlobo bawo nabanye abantu. Manje ake sibone indlela umprofethi uHezekeli aphefumulelwa ukuba achaze ngayo ukonakala kokuziphatha kukaJuda oyisihlubuki.

19. UHezekeli wakuchaza kanjani ukuziphatha kabi kwabantu uJehova ayenze nabo isivumelwano?

¹⁹ Funda uHezekeli 22:3-12. Sonke isizwe sasiziphatha kabi,  kusukela kubabusi kuye kubantu abavamile. “Izikhulu,” noma abaholi, zazisebenzisa igunya lazo ukuze zichithe igazi elingenacala. Kubonakala sengathi nabantu abavamile babelandela isibonelo sabaholi babo sokungawulaleli uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Emndenini, izingane ‘zazidelela’ abazali nokulalana kwezihlobo kwakuyinto evamile. Kule ndawo, ama-Israyeli ayizihlubuki ayeqola izifiki, ahlukumeze izintandane nabafelokazi. Amadoda angama-Israyeli ayelala namakhosikazi omakhelwane bawo. Abantu babengamagovu, befumbathisa, befuna imali ngenkani futhi bebolekisa ngenzalo enkulu. Kumelwe ukuba kwamzwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu uJehova ukubona abantu bakhe bengawulaleli uMthetho wakhe, bengenandaba nokuthi wayewubeke ngoba ebathanda! Ukuhluleka kwabo ukuziphatha ngendlela efanele kwamlimaza kakhulu uJehova. Wayala uHezekeli ukuba athi kubantu ababeziphatha kabi: ‘Ningikhohlwe nya.’

20. Kungani amazwi kaHezekeli mayelana nokuziphatha kabi kukaJuda esithinta nathi namuhla?

²⁰ Kungani amazwi kaHezekeli aphathelene nokuziphatha kabi kukaJuda esithinta nathi namuhla? Ukonakala kukaJuda oyisihlubuki kusikhumbuza indlela izwe esiphila kulo eselingcole ngayo namuhla. Abaholi bezepolitiki bawasebenzisa kabi amandla abo ukuze bacindezele abantu abavamile. Abaholi benkolo—ngokukhethekile abefundisi beLobukholwa—bathandazela izimpi zezizwe, esezibulale izigidi zabantu. Abefundisi baye bangazinaka  iziqondiso zeBhayibheli ezicacile nezimsulwa mayelana nokuziphatha ngokocansi. Ngenxa yalokho, isimilo siya ngokuya siphela ezweni esiphila kulo. Ngempela, uJehova ubengatshela eLobukholwa amazwi awatshela uJuda oyisihlubuki: ‘Ningikhohlwe nya.’

21. Yini esingayifunda ekuziphatheni kabi kukaJuda wasendulo?

²¹ Yini thina bantu bakaJehova esingayifunda ekuziphatheni kabi kukaJuda wasendulo? Ukuze sikhonze uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo, kufanele ukuziphatha kwethu kube okuhlanzekile ngazo zonke izindlela. Kunzima ukukwenza lokho kuleli zwe elonakele. (2 Thim. 3:1-5) Nokho, siyazi ukuthi uJehova uzizwa kanjani ngazo zonke izinhlobo zokuziphatha okubi. (1 Kor. 6:9, 10) Silalela iziqondiso zikaJehova zokuziphatha ngoba siyamthanda, sithanda nemithetho yakhe. (IHu. 119:97; 1 Joh. 5:3) Ukungaziphathi ngendlela ehlanzekile kuyobonisa ukuthi asimthandi uNkulunkulu wethu ohlanzekile nongcwele. Asisoze safisa ukunikeza uJehova isizathu sokuba athi kithi: ‘Ningikhohlwe nya.’

22. (a) Ngemva kokufunda lokho uJehova akwambula ngoJuda wasendulo, yini ozimisele ukuyenza? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²² Sifunde izifundo ezibalulekile ngokubheka lokho uJehova akwembula ngokungcolisa kukaJuda ubuhlobo bakhe naYe, nokuziphatha kwakhe kabi. Ngempela, kusenze sazimisela nakakhulu ukuzinikela kuJehova kuphela ngoba uyakufanelekela ukuba senze kanjalo. Ukuze sikwenze lokho, kufanele siqaphele zonke izinhlobo zokukhonza izithombe futhi sigcine ukuziphatha kwethu kuhlanzekile. Kodwa yini uJehova ayenza ngabantu bakhe abangathembekile? Lapho uHezekeli eseqedile ukubuka konke okwakwenzeka ethempelini, uJehova watshela umprofethi wakhe: “Ngizobonisa ulaka lwami.” (Hez. 8:17, 18) Sifuna ukwazi ukuthi yini uJehova ayenza ngoJuda ongathembekile ngoba leli zwe elingathembekile lizothola isahlulelo esifanayo. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngokuthi izahlulelo zikaJehova ngokumelene noJuda zagcwaliseka kanjani.