1. UJehova usikhuthaza ukuba senzeni?

UTHANDO oluqotho lumjabulisa kakhulu uJehova. (Hos. 6:6) Ukhuthaza izikhonzi zakhe ukuba nazo zizizwe ngendlela efanayo. Esebenzisa umprofethi uMika, uNkulunkulu wethu usinxusa ukuba ‘sithande uthando oluqotho.’ (Mika 6:8, mbhw.) Ngaphambi kokuba sikwenze lokho, sidinga ukwazi ukuthi luyini uthando oluqotho.

2. Luyini uthando oluqotho?

² Luyini uthando oluqotho? Inkulumo ethi “uthando oluqotho” ivela izikhathi ezingaba ngu-230 eBhayibhelini elithi IBhayibheli—ImiBhalo Engcwele. Luyini? Ngokwalokho okushiwo “uHlu Lwezincazelo Zamagama AseBhayibhelini” olutholakala kulelo Bhayibheli, uthando oluqotho lubhekisela “othandweni olushukunyiswa isibopho, ukwethembeka, ubuqotho, nokunamathela ngokuqinile entweni. [Le nkulumo] ivame ukusetshenziswa ihlotshaniswa nothando lukaNkulunkulu ngabantu, kodwa iphinde ibe uthando abantu ababonisana lona.” UJehova uyisibonelo esivelele sokubonisa uthando oluqotho. Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngokuthi uJehova ulubonisa kanjani uthando oluqotho kubantu. Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokuthi njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu, singamlingisa kanjani uJehova ngokubonisana uthando oluqotho.

3. UJehova wazembula kanjani kuMose?

³ Esikhathini esingeside ngemva kokuFuduka kwama-Israyeli ephuma eGibhithe, uJehova wazembula kuMose ngokumtshela igama laKhe nezimfanelo zaKhe. Wathi: “NguJehova, nguJehova,  uNkulunkulu onesihe nozwela, owephuza ukuthukuthela nochichima uthando oluqotho neqiniso, obonisa abayizinkulungwane uthando oluqotho, oxolela isiphambeko nesono.” (Eks. 34:6, 7) Ngala mazwi athinta inhliziyo akhuluma ngezimfanelo zaKhe, uJehova wembulela uMose into ekhethekile ngothando lwaKhe oluqotho. Yini leyo?

4-5. (a) UJehova wazichaza kanjani? (b) Sizoxoxa ngamiphi imibuzo?

⁴ UJehova akazichazanga ngokuthi unothando oluqotho, kodwa wathi ‘uchichima uthando oluqotho.’ Kunamanye amavesi ayisithupha eBhayibhelini asebenzisa amazwi afanayo. (Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; IHu. 86:15; 103:8; Joweli 2:13; Jona 4:2) Evesini ngalinye, lawo mazwi ahlale ebhekisela kuJehova hhayi kubantu. Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi uJehova uyiqokomisa kakhulu le mfanelo yakhe yothando oluqotho. Kusobala ukuthi uthando oluqotho lubalulekile kuye. * Shono nje iNkosi uDavide yababaza: “O Jehova, uthando lwakho oluqotho lufinyelela emazulwini . . . Nkulunkulu, yeka ukuthi uthando lwakho oluqotho luyigugu kangakanani! Abantwana babantu babalekela emthunzini wamaphiko akho.” (IHu. 36:5, 7) Ingabe nathi silwazisa kakhulu njengoDavide uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho?

⁵ Ukuze siluqonde kangcono uthando oluqotho, ake sixoxe ngemibuzo emibili: Obani uJehova ababonisa uthando oluqotho? Singazuza kanjani ezenzweni zikaJehova ezibonisa uthando oluqotho?

6. Obani uJehova ababonisa uthando oluqotho?

⁶ Obani uJehova ababonisa uthando oluqotho? IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi singathanda izinto eziningi, ‘njengezolimo,’ “iwayini namafutha,” “isiyalo,” “ulwazi,” “ukuhlakanipha”​—uma nje sibala ezimbalwa. (2 IziKr. 26:10; IzAga 12:1; 21:17; 29:3) Nokho, uthando oluqotho aluboniswa ezintweni ezithile; luboniswa kubantu kuphela. Kodwa uJehova akamane nje abonise uthando oluqotho kunoma ubani. Ulubonisa labo abanobungane obukhethekile naye. UNkulunkulu wethu uqotho kubangane bakhe. Uhlose okuhle ngabo futhi ngeke ayeke ukubathanda.

7. UJehova uye walubonisa kanjani uthando kubo bonke abantu?

⁷ UJehova uye wabonisa uthando kubo bonke abantu. UJesu wathi kuNikhodemu: “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe [okuyibo bonke abantu] kangangokuba waze wanikela  ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhubhi kodwa athole ukuphila okuphakade.”​—Joh. 3:1, 16; Math. 5:44, 45.

8-9. (a) Kungani uJehova ezibonisa uthando oluqotho izinceku zakhe? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani manje?

⁸ Njengoba kuboniswe ekuqaleni, uJehova ubonisa uthando lwakhe oluqotho kulabo abanobungane obukhethekile naye kuphela—izinceku zakhe. Ubufakazi balokhu bubonakala kulokho okwashiwo iNkosi uDavide nomprofethi uDaniyeli. Ngokwesibonelo, uDavide wathi: “Qhubeka ubonisa uthando lwakho oluqotho kulabo abakwaziyo.” “Uthando lukaJehova oluqotho kulabo abamesabayo luhlala kuze kube phakade.” UDaniyeli yena wathi: ‘Jehova Nkulunkulu weqiniso, obonisa uthando oluqotho kulabo abamthandayo nabagcina imiyalo yakhe.’ (IHu. 36:10; 103:17; Dan. 9:4) Ngokwala mazwi aphefumulelwe, uJehova ubonisa izinceku zakhe uthando oluqotho ngoba ziyamazi, ziyamesaba, ziyamthanda futhi zigcina imiyalo yakhe. UJehova ubonisa uthando lwakhe oluqotho kubantu bakhe kuphela, labo abamkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo.

⁹ Ngesikhathi singakamkhonzi uJehova, sasithola uthando ayelubonisa bonke abantu. (IHu. 104:14) Kodwa njengezikhonzi zakhe, sesithola nothando lwakhe oluqotho. Empeleni, uJehova uziqinisekisa ngalokhu izinceku zakhe: “Uthando lwami oluqotho ngeke lususwe kuwe.” (Isaya 54:10) Kunjengoba nje noDavide azibonela ngokwakhe, “uJehova uyomphatha ngendlela ekhethekile oqotho wakhe.” (IHu. 4:3) Kufanele sisabele kanjani kule ndlela ekhethekile uJehova asiphatha ngayo? Umhubi wathi: “Noma ubani ohlakaniphile uyozibona lezi zinto uyocabangisisa ngezenzo zikaJehova zothando oluqotho.” (IHu. 107:43) Sicabanga ngalesi seluleko, ake sixoxe ngezindlela ezintathu ezibonisa ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova zizuza kanjani othandweni lwakhe oluqotho.

10. Lusisiza kanjani uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho oluhlala kuze kube phakade? (IHubo 31:7)

¹⁰ Uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho luhlala kuze kube phakade. Lesi sici esibalulekile sothando oluqotho sivela izikhathi ezingu-26  kumaHubo 136. Ivesi lokuqala lithi: “Bongani uJehova, ngoba muhle; uthando lwakhe oluqotho luhlala kuze kube phakade.” (IHu. 136:1) Emavesini 2 kuya ku-26, amagama athi “ngoba uthando lwakhe oluqotho luhlala kuze kube phakade” ayaphindaphindwa. Njengoba sifunda leli hubo, zisithinta inhliziyo izindlela eziningi uJehova abonisa ngazo uthando lwakhe oluqotho, akayeki ukulubonisa. Ukuphindaphindwa kwamazwi athi “ngoba uthando lwakhe oluqotho luhlala kuze kube phakade” kusiqinisekisa ngokuthi uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngabantu bakhe alushintshashintshi. Kukhuthaza ngempela ukwazi ukuthi uJehova akasheshi ukulahla izinceku zakhe! Kunalokho, uyazisondeza kulabo abamkhonzayo, anamathele kubo, ikakhulu ngezikhathi zokucindezeleka. Indlela esizuza ngayo: Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova unamathela kithi kusinika injabulo namandla esiwadingayo ukuze sibhekane nokucindezeleka futhi siqhubeke simkhonza.—Funda iHubo 31:7.

11. NgokweHubo 86:5, yini eyenza uJehova athethelele?

¹¹ Uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho lumenza athethelele. Lapho uJehova ebona isoni esiphendukayo, esiyeka nenkambo yesono, uthando oluqotho lumenza athethelele. Umhubi uDavide wathi ngoJehova: “Akenzanga kithi ngokwezono zethu, akasilethelanga lokho okusifanele ngokweziphambeko zethu.” (IHu. 103:8-11) Kulokho okwenzeka kuye, uDavide wafunda ukuthi kubuhlungu kangakanani ukuhlushwa unembeza onecala. Kodwa wafunda nokuthi uJehova ‘uhlale ekulungele ukuthethelela.’ Yini eyenza uJehova athethelele? Impendulo itholakala emBhalweni weHubo 86:5. (Yifunde.) Yebo, njengoba uDavide asho lapho ethandaza, uJehova uyathethelela ngoba ubabonisa uthando oluqotho bonke abambizayo.

12-13. Yini engasisiza uma sihlushwa umuzwa wecala ngenxa yamaphutha esawenza esikhathini esidlule?

¹² Lapho sona, kuhle ukuba sizisole. Kungasenza siphenduke futhi sithathe izinyathelo zokulungisa amaphutha ethu. Nokho, ezinye izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziye zakhungathwa umuzwa wecala ngenxa yamaphutha ezawenza esikhathini esidlule. Inhliziyo yazo ezilahlayo izenza zizitshele ukuthi uJehova akasoze azithethelela​—ngisho noma seziphenduke  ngempela. Uma nawe uzizwa ngaleyo ndlela, ukufunda ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uzimisele ukubonisa izinceku zakhe uthando oluqotho kuzokusiza.

¹³ Indlela esizuza ngayo: Naphezu kokuba nesono, singakwazi ukukhonza uJehova ngenjabulo sinonembeza ohlanzekile. Lokhu kwenzeka ngenxa yokuthi “igazi likaJesu, iNdodana yakhe, lisihlanza kuso sonke isono.” (1 Joh. 1:7) Lapho udikibele ngenxa yokushiyeka okuthile, khumbula ukuthi uJehova uzimisele futhi uyakulangazelela ukuthethelela isoni esiphendukayo. Phawula indlela uDavide aveza ngayo ukuhlobana okukhona phakathi kothando oluqotho nokuthethelela. Wabhala: “Njengoba amazulu ephakeme kunomhlaba, kanjalo uthando lwakhe oluqotho lukhulu kulabo abamesabayo. Njengokuqhelelana kwempumalanga nentshonalanga, uzibeke kude kangako izono zethu.” (IHu. 103:11, 12) Ngempela, uJehova uzimisele ‘ukuthethelela ngokukhululekile.’​—Isaya 55:7, mbhw.

14. UDavide wayichaza kanjani indlela uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho olusivikela ngayo?

¹⁴ Uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho luyasivikela ngokomoya. Ethandaza kuJehova, uDavide wathi: “Uyindawo yami yokucasha; uyongivikela ngezikhathi ezinzima. Uyongihaqa ngokumemeza kwenjabulo lapho ungikhulula. . . . Othembela kuJehova uvikelwe uthando lwaKhe oluqotho.” (IHu. 32:7, 10) Njengoba nje izindonga zamadolobha akudala zazivikela izakhamuzi zawo, nezenzo zikaJehova ezibonisa uthando oluqotho zifana nodonga olusivikela ezingozini ezingavivinya ubuqotho bethu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uthando lukaJehova oluqotho lumenza asidonsele kuye.​—Jer. 31:3.

15. Yikuphi ukuhlobana okukhona phakathi kothando lukaJehova oluqotho nendawo yokuphephela?

¹⁵ UDavide wasebenzisa enye inkulumo ewumfanekiso ukuze achaze isivikelo abantu bakaNkulunkulu abasitholayo. Wabhala: “UNkulunkulu uyindawo yami yokuphephela elondekile, uNkulunkulu ongibonisa uthando oluqotho.” UDavide waphinde wathi ngoJehova: “Ungibonisa uthando oluqotho futhi uyisiphephelo sami, indawo yami yokuphephela elondekile nomkhululi wami, ihawu lami naLowo engiphephele kuye.” (IHu. 59:17; 144:2) Kungani uDavide ahlobanisa uthando lukaJehova oluqotho nendawo yokuphephela? Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihlala kuphi, uma nje siyizikhonzi zakhe, uJehova uyosinika konke esikudingayo ukuze sivikele ubuhlobo bethu naye obuyigugu. IHubo 91 lisiqinisekisa ngento efanayo. Umbhali walelo hubo wathi: “Ngizothi kuJehova: ‘Wena uyisiphephelo sami nenqaba yami.’” (IHu. 91:1-3, 9, 14) UMose wasebenzisa umfanekiso wesiphephelo othi awufane. (IHu. 90:1, mbhw.) Lapho esezoshona, uMose wabhekisela kokunye okuthinta inhliziyo. Wabhala: “UNkulunkulu uyindawo yesiphephelo kusukela endulo, izingalo zakhe zaphakade ziyakusekela.” (Dut. 33:27) Inkulumo ethi “izingalo zakhe zaphakade ziyakusekela” isitshelani ngoJehova?

16. UJehova usibusisa ngaziphi izindlela ezimbili? (IHubo 136:23)

¹⁶ Lapho uJehova eyiSiphephelo sethu, sizizwa silondekile. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi singase sidangale futhi kube nzima ukulwa naleyo mizwa. Ngezikhathi ezinjalo, uJehova uzosisiza kanjani? (Funda iHubo 136:23.) Uzosisekela, asifukule ngezandla zakhe futhi asisize silwe nemizwa yokudangala. (IHu. 28:9; 94:18) Indlela esizuza ngayo: Ukwazi ukuthi singathembela kuNkulunkulu ngaso sonke isikhathi kusisiza sikhumbule ukuthi sibusiseke ngezindlela ezimbili. Eyokuqala, sinendawo  esingaphephela kuyo kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihlalaphi. Eyesibili, uBaba wethu osezulwini onothando usikhathalela kakhulu.

17. Ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu unothando oluqotho, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo? (IHubo 33:18-22)

¹⁷ Njengoba sifundile, lapho sibhekene novivinyo, singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uzosisiza, asisekele sikwazi ukuhlala siqotho. (2 Kor. 4:7-9) Umprofethi uJeremiya wathi: “Ngenxa yothando lukaJehova oluqotho asizange sishabalale, ngoba isihe sakhe asisoze saphela.” (IsiL. 3:22) Singaqiniseka ngempela ukuthi uJehova uyoqhubeka esibonisa uthando oluqotho ngoba umhubi wathi “iso likaJehova liqapha abamesabayo, labo abalinde uthando lwakhe oluqotho.”—Funda iHubo 33:18-22.

18-19. (a) Yini okumelwe siyikhumbule? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Yini okumelwe siyikhumbule? Ngesikhathi singakamkhonzi uJehova, sasithola uthando uNkulunkulu alubonisa bonke abantu. Kodwa njengezikhonzi zakhe, sesithola nothando lwakhe oluqotho. Lolo thando lwenza uJehova asivikele. Uyohlala eseduze nathi, afeze nezithembiso zakhe. Ufuna siphumelele! (IHu. 46:1, 2, 7) Ngakho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibhekana naluphi uvivinyo, uJehova uzosinika amandla esiwadingayo ukuze sihlale siqotho.

¹⁹ Sesibonile ukuthi uJehova ulubonisa kanjani uthando oluqotho ezincekwini zakhe. Ulindele ukuba nathi sibonisane uthando oluqotho. Singakwenza kanjani lokho? Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngaleyo ndaba ebalulekile.