1. Chaza ukuthi yini abalindi bakaJehova abebelokhu beyenza nezenzakalo ezibe sezilandela.

UMLINDI umi phezu kwezindonga zaseJerusalema, uzisithe amehlo njengoba ebheke ilanga lishona. Ubuka kude le ebhekisisa. Ngokushesha, uthatha icilongo, adonse umoya, alishaye, axwayise abantu—naliya ibutho laseBhabhiloni liqhamuka! Kodwa asisekho isikhathi sokuba izakhamuzi ezingenandaba zakuleli dolobha zenze okuthile ngalokho ezikuzwayo. Sekuphele amashumi eminyaka abalindi, noma abaprofethi abamiswe uJehova, bexwayisa ngokuthi lolu suku luzofika, kodwa abantu abalalelanga. Manje, nali ibutho laseBhabhiloni selizungeze idolobha. Ngemva kwezinyanga eziningi livinjezelwe, amasosha abhodloza izindonga zalo, acekele phansi ithempeli, abulale noma athumbe abantu baseJerusalema abangenalukholo nabakhonza izithombe.

2, 3. (a) Abantu babhekene nasiphi isimo namuhla? (b) Sizophendula miphi imibuzo?

² Namuhla, amabutho kaJehova akhipha isahlulelo alungela ukulwa nabantu abangenalukholo. (IsAm. 17:12-14) Le mpi iyoba umvuthwandaba wosizi olukhulu kunalo lonke olwake lwaba khona emlandweni wesintu. (Math. 24:21) Kodwa akukephuzi kakhulu ukuba abaningi balalele isixwayiso salabo uJehova ababeke ukuba benze umsebenzi womlindi.

 ³ Yini eyenza uJehova wabeka abalindi? Hlobo luni lomyalezo umlindi awumemezelayo? Obani abaye benza lo msebenzi futhi thina sinayiphi ingxenye kuwo? Ake siphendule le mibuzo.

4. Kungani uJehova abeka abalindi? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁴ Funda uHezekeli 33:7. Abalindi ngokuvamile babema ezindongeni zedolobha ukuze baqaphe izakhamuzi ukuthi ziphephile yini. Babeba ubufakazi bokuthi umbusi wedolobha unendaba nabantu bakhe. Nakuba ukukhala kwecilongo lomlindi kwakungase kuvuse izakhamuzi ezilele, umsindo walo wawungabasindisa labo abawulalelayo. Ngokufanayo, uJehova wabeka abalindi, hhayi ngoba efuna ukwesabisa ama-Israyeli ngemiyalezo yenhlekelele, kodwa ngoba ebakhathalela abantu bakhe futhi efuna ukubasindisa.

5, 6. Ubulungisa bukaJehova bubonakala kanjani?

⁵ Lapho uJehova ebeka uHezekeli ukuba abe umlindi, wasivezela izinto ezisiduduzayo ngobuntu baKhe. Ake sixoxe ngezimbili zazo.

⁶ Ubulungisa: Ubulungisa bukaJehova buyabonakala lapho esebenzelana nomuntu ngamunye ngokungakhethi. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba abantu abaningi bawuzwa umyalezo kaHezekeli kodwa bangawunaka, uJehova akazange ababophe ngabhande linye athi bonke bayavukela; kunalokho, wayefuna ukubona ukuthi yini umuntu ngamunye ayezoyenza. Kaningi usitshela ukuthi wayekhuluma ‘nomubi’ kanye ‘nolungile.’ Ngakho-ke, ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kanjani, kuya ngokuthi umuntu ngamunye wenzani ngomyalezo awuzwayo.—Hez. 33:8, 18-20.

7. Yini uJehova ayibhekayo lapho ahlulela abantu?

⁷ Ubulungisa bukaJehova bubonakala nasendleleni ahlulela ngayo abantu. Abantu akabahluleli ngokwalokho abakwenza esikhathini esidlule, kodwa ubahlulela ngokwalokho abakwenzayo manje ngesixwayiso abasitholayo. UJehova wathi kuHezekeli: “Lapho ngithi komubi: ‘Nakanjani uzofa,’ bese ephenduka esonweni sakhe enze ubulungisa nokulunga, . . . nakanjani uyoqhubeka ephila.” UJehova ube esesho la mazwi aphawulekayo: “Asikho nesisodwa isono ezonweni azenzile ayobalelwa sona.” (Hez. 33:14-16) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, labo ababekade belungile ngeke balindele ukuthi lokho kuzomboza izono abazenza manje. UJehova wathi uma umuntu ‘ethembela ekulungeni kwakhe enze okungalungile, asikho nesisodwa isenzo ezenzweni zakhe ezilungile esiyokhunjulwa, kodwa uyofa ngenxa yokungalungile akwenzile.’—Hez. 33:13.

8. Izixwayiso eziyisiprofetho zisifundisani ngobulungisa bukaJehova?

⁸ Ukuthi uJehova unobulungisa kuphinde kubonakale ngokuthi akhiphe isixwayiso kusenesikhathi ngaphambi kokuba athathe isinyathelo. UHezekeli waqala umsebenzi wakhe kusasele iminyaka engaba yisithupha ibutho laseBhabhiloni libhubhise iJerusalema.  Kodwa wayengeyena owokuqala owaxwayisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi babezojeziswa ngokwezenzo zabo. Eminyakeni engaphezu kweyikhulu ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, uJehova wathuma abaprofethi uHoseya, u-Isaya, uMika, u-Odedi noJeremiya ukuba babe abalindi. UJehova watshela uJeremiya ukuba akhumbuze ama-Israyeli: “Ngamisa abalindi abathi, ‘Qaphelani umsindo wophondo!’” (Jer. 6:17) UJehova nalabo balindi babengeke basolwe ngokufa kwabantu lapho abaseBhabhiloni ekugcineni bekhipha isahlulelo sikaJehova.

9. UJehova walubonisa kanjani uthando oluqotho?

⁹ Uthando: UJehova wabonisa uthando oluqotho ngokuthumela abalindi ukuba bangaxwayisi abalungile nje kuphela kodwa nababi—bona kanye abantu ababemzwise ubuhlungu bangcolisa nedumela lakhe. Cabanga nje—ama-Israyeli ayaziwa ngokuthi angabantu bakaJehova, kodwa amfulathela izikhathi eziningi agijimela konkulunkulu bamanga! UJehova wabonisa indlela lokhu okwakumphathe kabi ngayo ngokufanisa lesi sizwe nomfazi ophingayo. (Hez. 16:32) Noma kunjalo, uJehova akasheshanga ukubadela. Kunokuba aziphindiselele kubo, wafuna izindlela zokubuyisana nabo. Isahlulelo wayesikhipha ekugcineni, wayengaqali ngaso. Kungani? Wathi kuHezekeli: “Angijabuli ngokufa komuntu omubi, kodwa ngijatshuliswa ukuba omubi ashintshe indlela yakhe, aqhubeke ephila.” (Hez. 33:11) Yileyo ndlela uJehova ayezizwa ngayo ngaleso sikhathi, futhi usazizwa kanjalo nanamuhla.—Mal. 3:6.

10, 11. Iziphi izifundo esingazifunda endleleni uJehova asebenzelana ngayo nabantu bakhe?

 ¹⁰ Yini esingayifunda endleleni ebonisa ubulungisa nothando uJehova asebenzelana ngayo nama-Israyeli? Esinye isifundo siwukuthi akumelwe abantu esibashumayezayo sibabophe ngabhande linye, kodwa kumelwe sigxile kumuntu ngamunye. Kungaba iphutha-ke ukwahlulela umuntu njengongakufanele ukuzwa umyalezo esiwushumayelayo ngenxa yendlela abeziphatha ngayo, uhlanga lwakhe noma ukuthi ungowasiphi isizwe, ucebile noma umpofu nokuthi ukhuluma luphi ulimi. UJehova wafundisa umphostoli uPetru isifundo esisasebenza namanje: “UNkulunkulu akakhethi, kodwa ezizweni zonke umuntu omesabayo nowenza okulungile uyamukeleka kuye.”—IzE. 10:34, 35.

¹¹ Esinye isifundo esibalulekile siwukuthi kudingeka sizibheke thina; imisebenzi emihle esayenza esikhathini esidlule ayizona izaba zokwenza ububi manje. Senza kahle ngokukhumbula ukuthi nathi sinemikhuba ebangelwa isono abanayo nalabo esibashumayezayo. Iseluleko umphostoli uPawulu asinikeza ibandla laseKorinte sisasebenza ngendlela efanayo nakithi: “Lowo ocabanga ukuthi umile makaqaphele ukuba angawi. Asikho isilingo esinifikele ngaphandle kwalokho okuvamile kubantu.” (1 Kor. 10:12, 13) Akufanele ‘sithembele ekulungeni kwethu,’ sicabange ukuthi ngeke sijeziswe uma senza okubi ngenxa yokuthi siyazenza nezenzo ezinhle. (Hez. 33:13) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinesikhathi eside kangakanani sikhonza uJehova, kubalulekile ukuba sihlale sithobekile futhi silalela.

12. Uma esikhathini esidlule senza izono ezimbi, yini okufanele siyikhumbule?

 ¹² Kodwa kuthiwani uma sizisola ngezono ezimbi esazenza kudala? Umyalezo kaHezekeli usifundisa ukuthi uJehova uyobajezisa abenzi bokubi abangaphenduki. Nokho, siphinde sifunde nokuthi uJehova ngokuyinhloko unguNkulunkulu wothando, hhayi wempindiselo. (1 Joh. 4:8) Uma sibonisa ngezenzo ukuthi siphendukile, akufanele nanini sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngeke asibonise isihe asithethelele izono zethu. (Jak. 5:14, 15) UJehova wayezimisele ukuthethelela ama-Israyeli ayekhonza abanye onkulunkulu, uzimisele ukusithethelela nathi.—IHu. 86:5.

13, 14. (a) Abalindi kwakumelwe bamemezele umyalezo onjani? (b) Yimuphi umyalezo owamenyezelwa u-Isaya?

¹³ Funda uHezekeli 33:2, 3. Abalindi ababebekwe uJehova kwakumelwe bamemezele imiyalezo enjani? Ingxenye ebalulekile yomsebenzi wabo yayiwukumemezela izixwayiso. Kodwa babezimemezela nezindaba ezinhle. Nazi ezinye izibonelo.

¹⁴ U-Isaya, owakhonza kusukela cishe ngo-778 kuya ku-732 B.C.E., waxwayisa ngokuthi abaseBhabhiloni babeyonqoba iJerusalema badingise abantu abahlala khona. (Isaya 39:5-7) Kodwa waphefumulelwa nokuba abhale, athi: “Lalela! Abalindi bakho bayamemeza. Bamemeza ngenjabulo kanyekanye, ngoba bayobona ngokucacile lapho uJehova eqoqa iZiyoni elibuyisa.” (Isaya 52:8) U-Isaya wamemezela izindaba ezimnandi kakhulu—ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso kwakuyobuyiselwa!

15. Yimuphi umyalezo owamenyezelwa uJeremiya?

¹⁵ UJeremiya, owakhonza kusukela ngo-647 kuya ku-580 B.C.E., uvame ukubizwa ngokungafanele ngokuthi “ungumuntu omemezela izinhlekelele kuphela.” Kuyavunywa ukuthi wenza umsebenzi omuhle kakhulu ekuxwayiseni ama-Israyeli onakele ngezinhlekelele uJehova ayezoziletha kuwo. * Kodwa wabikezela nezindaba ezinhle, ezithi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babeyobuyela ezweni labo, nokuthi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu yayiyobuyiselwa khona.—Jer. 29:10-14; 33:10, 11.

16. Umyalezo kaHezekeli wabasiza kanjani ababethunjelwe eBhabhiloni?

¹⁶ UHezekeli wabekwa ukuba abe umlindi ngo-613 B.C.E., waqhubeka ekuleso sabelo kwaze kwaba cishe ngo-591 B.C.E. Njengoba iZahluko 5 no-6 zale ncwadi zibonisile, ngentshiseko uHezekeli waxwayisa abantu bakwa-Israyeli ngokuthi babezobhujiswa, ngokwenza kanjalo wazikhulula ecaleni legazi ayengaba nalo ngabantu ababezofa. Akagcinanga ngokuxwayisa ababedingisiwe ukuthi uJehova wayeyozahlulela izihlubuki ezaziseJerusalema, kodwa futhi wasiza nababethunjwe eBhabhiloni ukuba babe nobuhlobo obuqinile noJehova ukuze balungele umsebenzi owawuseza. Lapho iminyaka engu-70 yokudingiswa iphela, abasele uJehova wayeyobabuyisela ezweni lakwa-Israyeli. (Hez. 36:7-11) Labo abasele ngokuyinhloko kwakuyoba izingane nabazukulu balabo ababelalele uHezekeli. Njengoba nezinye izahluko eNgxenyeni 3 yale ncwadi zibonisa, uHezekeli wayenezindaba eziningi  ezimnandi ayezozitshela abantu, eqinisekisa ukuthi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu yayizobuyiselwa eJerusalema.

17. UJehova ubelokhu ebabeka nini abalindi?

¹⁷ Ingabe laba baprofethi abakhuluma nabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngenkathi yangaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. yibona kuphela uJehova abasebenzisile ukuba babe abalindi? Impendulo ithi cha. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho kwenzeka isenzakalo esibalulekile esihlobene nokufezeka kwenjongo yakhe, uJehova ubebeka abalindi ukuba baxwayise ababi futhi bamemezele izindaba ezinhle.

18. Yimuphi umsebenzi uJohane uMbhapathizi awenza?

¹⁸ Ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., uJohane uMbhapathizi wenza umsebenzi wokuba umlindi. Waxwayisa amaJuda ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wayesezowalahla. (Math. 3:1, 2, 9-11) Kodwa wenza okungaphezu kwalokho. UJesu wathi uJohane ‘wayeyisithunywa’ esasibikezelwe esasilungiselele uMesiya indlela. (Mal. 3:1; Math. 11:7-10) Lowo msebenzi wawuhlanganisa nokumemezela izindaba ezinhle ezithi “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu,” uJesu, lase lifikile lizosusa “isono sezwe.”—Joh. 1:29, 30.

19, 20. UJesu nabafundi bakhe bawenza kanjani umsebenzi wokuba abalindi?

¹⁹ UJesu wayengumlindi ovelele ngaphezu kwabo bonke abanye. NjengoHezekeli, uJehova wamthuma “endlini ka-Israyeli.” (Hez. 3:17; Math. 15:24) UJesu waxwayisa ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wayesezowalahla amaJuda nokuthi iJerusalema lalizobhujiswa. (Math. 23:37, 38; 24:1, 2; Luka 21:20-24) Kodwa umsebenzi wakhe oyinhloko wawuwukumemezela izindaba ezinhle.—Luka 4:17-21.

²⁰ Ngesikhathi esemhlabeni, uJesu wanikeza abafundi bakhe umyalo oqondile othi: “Hlalani nilindile.” (Math. 24:42) Bawulalela umyalo wakhe basebenza njengabalindi, bexwayisa ngokuthi uJehova wayewalahlile amaJuda nedolobha laseJerusalema elisemhlabeni. (Roma 9:6-8; Gal. 4:25, 26) Njengabalindi ababengaphambi kwabo, nabo babememezela izindaba ezinhle. Umyalezo wabo wawuhlanganisa nesimemezelo esimangalisayo esithi abeZizwe manje base bezoba ingxenye ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ogcotshwe ngomoya futhi babenelungelo lokusiza uKristu abuyisele indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu emhlabeni.—IzE. 15:14; Gal. 6:15, 16; IsAm. 5:9, 10.

21. Yisiphi isibonelo esabekwa uPawulu?

²¹ Phakathi kwabalindi bangekhulu lokuqala, umphostoli uPawulu waba isibonelo esihle kakhulu. Umsebenzi wakhe wayewubheka njengobaluleke ngempela. NjengoHezekeli, wayazi ukuthi wayezoba necala legazi uma ehluleka ukwenza isabelo sakhe. (IzE. 20:26, 27) Elandela isibonelo sabanye abalindi, uPawulu akagcinanga ngokuxwayisa abanye kodwa wamemezela nezindaba ezinhle. (IzE. 15:35; Roma 1:1-4) Eqondiswa umoya ongcwele, wacaphuna isiprofetho esabhalwa u-Isaya, esithi: “Ave zizinhle  ezintabeni izinyawo zalowo oletha izindaba ezinhle,” wathi sisebenza emsebenzini owenziwa abalandeli bakaKristu lapho beshumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Isaya 52:7, 8; Roma 10:13-15.

22. Kwenzekani ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli?

²² Ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, izihlubuki ezazibikezelwe zaba ziningi kakhulu ebandleni lobuKristu. (IzE. 20:29, 30; 2 Thes. 2:3-8) Phakathi nenkathi ende yokukhula kokhula nokolweni, abantu ababethi bangamaKristu abafana nokhula baba baningi badlula abalandeli bakaKristu abaqotho ababefana nokolweni. Umyalezo ocacile ophathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu wabe usumbozwa izimfundiso zamanga. (Math. 13:36-43) Nokho, lapho kusondela isikhathi sokuba uJehova alungise izinto, waphinde wabonisa uthando lwakhe nobulungisa ngokubeka abalindi ukuba baxwayise abantu ngokucacile futhi bamemezele izindaba ezinhle. Obani ababa yilabo balindi?

23. UC. T. Russell nabangane bakhe benza muphi umsebenzi?

²³ Eminyakeni engaphambi nje kuka-1914, uCharles Taze Russell nabangane bakhe baba ‘isithunywa esasizolungisa indlela’ ngaphambi kokumiswa koMbuso kaMesiya. * (Mal. 3:1) Baphinde benza nomsebenzi wokuba umlindi, besebenzisa umagazini i-Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence ukuze baxwayise  abantu ngesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu basakaze nezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

24. (a) Inceku ethembekile iwenze kanjani umsebenzi wokuba umlindi? (b) Yini oyifundile esibonelweni sabalindi bangesikhathi esidlule? (Bheka ishadi elithi “Abanye Babalindi Abayisibonelo.”)

²⁴ Ngemva kokumiswa koMbuso, uJesu wabeka iqembu elincane lamadoda ukuba libe inceku ethembekile. (Math. 24:45-47) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, le nceku ethembekile, manje eyaziwa ngokuthi iNdikimba Ebusayo, ibilokhu yenza umsebenzi wokuba umlindi. Ayigcini nje ngokuhola ekuxwayiseni ‘ngosuku lwempindiselo’ kuphela, kodwa nasekumemezeleni “unyaka womusa kaJehova.”—Isaya 61:2; bheka neyesi-2 Korinte 6:1, 2.

25, 26. (a) Yimuphi umsebenzi okumelwe abalandeli bakaKristu bawenze, futhi bawenza kanjani? (b) Sizokhuluma ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²⁵ Nakuba kuyinceku ethembekile eholayo ekwenzeni umsebenzi womlindi, uJesu wathi “bonke” abalandeli bakhe kumelwe ‘bahlale belindile.’ (Marku 13:33-37) Silalela lowo myalo ngokugcina ubuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu bubuhle nangokusekela ngobuqotho umlindi wosuku lwethu. Sibonisa ukuthi sinobuhlobo obuhle noNkulunkulu ngokwenza umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. (2 Thim. 4:2) Yini esikhuthazayo? Okunye kwako, ukuthi sinesifiso sokusindisa abantu. (1 Thim. 4:16) Maduze abaningi bazofa ngoba abasilalelanga isixwayiso somlindi wosuku lwethu. (Hez. 3:19) Kodwa ngokuyinhloko, into esikhuthaza kakhulu ukuthi silangazelela ukutshela abantu izindaba ezimnandi ezithi indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu isibuyiselwe! Njengamanje, phakathi ‘nalo nyaka womusa kaJehova,’ lisekhona ithuba lokuba abaningi beze bazokhonza nathi uNkulunkulu wethu onobulungisa nothando, uJehova. Maduze bonke abazosinda emhlabeni lapho leli zwe elibi liqedwa bazozuza ekubuseni okunomusa kweNdodana yakhe, uKristu Jesu. Singayeka kanjani nje ukusiza umlindi wosuku lwethu lapho etshela abantu izindaba ezimnandi kangaka!—Math. 24:14.

²⁶ Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba leli zwe elibi liqedwe, uJehova wenze abantu bakhe baba nobunye ngendlela emangalisayo. Isahluko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngesiprofetho esikhuluma ngezinduku ezimbili ezisetshenziselwa ukubonisa ukuthi kwenzeke kanjani lokhu.