1. Yini esingayilindela futhi yini esingaqiniseka ngayo?

 SINGAKULINDELA ukuphikiswa njengoba senza umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Singase siphikiswe nakakhulu esikhathini esizayo. (Dan. 11:44; 2 Thim. 3:12; IsAm. 16:21) Noma kunjalo, singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzosinika usizo esiludingayo. Kungani? UJehova uhlale ezisiza izinceku zakhe ukuze zifeze izabelo zazo​—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zinzima kangakanani. Ngokwesibonelo, ake sixoxe ngezinto ezenzeka kumprofethi uHezekeli, owashumayela kumaJuda ayedingiselwe eBhabhiloni.

2. UJehova wabachaza kanjani abantu uHezekeli ayebashumayeza futhi sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko? (Hezekeli 2:3-6)

² Kwakunabantu abanjani lapho uHezekeli ayeshumayela khona? UJehova wabachaza njengabantu “abadelelayo,” ‘abanezinhliziyo ezilukhuni’ ‘nabadlubulundayo.’ Babehlaba njengameva, beyingozi njengofezela. Yingakho uJehova amtshela ngokuphindaphindiwe uHezekeli, wathi: ‘Ungesabi’! (Funda uHezekeli 2:3-6.) UHezekeli wakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela ngenxa yokuthi (1) wayethunywe uJehova, (2) umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu wamnika amandla futhi (3) amazwi kaNkulunkulu amqinisa ukholo. Lezi zinto ezintathu zamsiza kanjani uHezekeli? Zisisiza kanjani thina namuhla?

3. Yimaphi amazwi okumelwe ukuba amqinisa uHezekeli, futhi uJehova wamqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi uzomsekela?

³ UJehova wathi kuHezekeli: ‘Ngiyakuthuma.’ (Hez. 2:3, 4) Lawo mazwi kumelwe ukuba amqinisa uHezekeli. Kungani? Akungabazeki ukuthi wakhumbula ukuthi uJehova wayesebenzise amazwi afanayo lapho ethuma abaprofethi baKhe, uMose  no-Isaya. (Eks. 3:10; Isaya 6:8) UHezekeli wayazi nokuthi uJehova wayebasize kanjani labo baprofethi banqoba izinselele. Ngakho, lapho uJehova emtshela izikhathi ezimbili ukuthi ‘uyamthuma,’ uHezekeli wayenesizathu esihle sokwethemba ukuthi uJehova uzomsekela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, encwadini kaHezekeli kuphindaphindwe amazwi athi: “Izwi likaJehova lafika kimi.” (Hez. 3:16) Kanti amazwi athi: “Izwi likaJehova laphinde lafika kimi,” avela ngokuphindaphindiwe. (Hez. 6:1) Akungabazeki ukuthi uHezekeli wayeqiniseka ngokuthi nguJehova owayemthumile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba ayeyindodana yompristi, cishe uyise wayemfundisile ukuthi kusukela endulo uJehova wayelokhu ebasekela abaprofethi bakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wayetshele u-Isaka, uJakobe noJeremiya la mazwi: “Nginawe.”—Gen. 26:24; 28:15; Jer. 1:8.

4. Yimaphi amazwi aduduzayo aqinisa uHezekeli?

⁴ Ama-Israyeli ayezosabela kanjani emyalezweni owawushunyayelwa uHezekeli? UJehova wathi: “Indlu ka-Israyeli yona ngeke ikulalele, ngoba ayifuni ukungilalela.” (Hez. 3:7) Ngokungamlaleli uHezekeli, abantu babengalaleli uJehova. Lawo mazwi amqinisekisa uHezekeli ukuthi ukungalaleli kwabo kwakungasho ukuthi uhlulekile ukwenza umsebenzi wakhe. UJehova waqinisekisa uHezekeli nangokuthi lapho izahlulelo ayezimemezela zigcwaliseka, abantu “bayokwazi ukuthi umprofethi ubephakathi kwabo.” (Hez. 2:5; 33:33) Akungabazeki ukuthi lawo mazwi aduduzayo anikeza uHezekeli amandla ayewadinga ukuze afeze inkonzo yakhe.

5. Ngokuka-Isaya 44:8 yini esiqinisayo?

⁵ Kuyasiqinisa nathi ukwazi ukuthi sithunywe uJehova. Usibonisa udumo ngokusibiza  “ngofakazi” bakhe. (Isaya 43:10) Yilungelo elikhulu lelo! UJehova usinxusa ukuba ‘singesabi,’ njengoba nje anxusa noHezekeli ukuba ‘angesabi.’ Kungani kungafanele sibesabe abaphikisi? NjengoHezekeli, sithunywe uJehova futhi uyasisekela.​—Funda u-Isaya 44:8.

6. (a) Yimaphi amazwi asiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova uzosisekela? (b) Yini esiduduzayo nesiqinisayo?

⁶ UJehova usiqinisekisa ngokuthi uzosisekela. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphambi kokuba uJehova athi: “Ningofakazi bami,” wathi: “Uma udabula emanzini, ngizoba nawe, lapho unqamula emifuleni, ngeke ikukhukhule. Uma udabula emlilweni, ngeke ushe, nelangabi alisoze lakuhangula.” (Isaya 43:2) Njengoba senza inkonzo yethu, ngezinye izikhathi sihlangabezana neziphazamiso ezifana nezikhukhula novivinyo olufana nomlilo. Noma kunjalo, ngosizo lukaJehova siyaqhubeka sishumayela. (Isaya 41:13) Njengasosukwini lukaHezekeli, iningi labantu namuhla aliwamukeli umyalezo esiwushumayelayo. Siyakhumbula ukuthi ukungalaleli kwabo akusho ukuthi sihlulekile ukufakaza. Kuyasiduduza futhi kusiqinise ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza lapho siqhubeka simemezela umyalezo wakhe ngokwethembeka. Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Umuntu ngamunye uyokwamukela umvuzo wakhe ngokomsebenzi wakhe.” (1 Kor. 3:8; 4:1, 2) Omunye udade osenesikhathi eside ephayona uthi: “Kuyangijabulisa ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyayibusisa imizamo yethu.”

7. Umbono uHezekeli awubona kumelwe ukuba wamqinisekisa ngani? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

⁷ UHezekeli wabona ukuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu unamandla kangakanani. Embonweni, wabona umoya ongcwele usebenza ezidalweni zomoya ezinamandla nasemasondweni amakhulu enqola yasezulwini. (Hez. 1:20, 21) Wenzenjani uHezekeli? Wakubhala okwenzeka. “Lapho ngikubona, ngaguqa ngakhothama.” Emangele, uHezekeli wawa phansi. (Hez. 1:28) Kamuva, noma nini lapho ecabanga ngalowo mbono omangalisayo, kumelwe ukuba waqiniseka nakakhulu ukuthi ngosizo lomoya kaNkulunkulu, wayengayifeza inkonzo yakhe.

8-9. (a) Yini eyenzeka kuHezekeli lapho uJehova emcela ukuba asukume? (b) UJehova waphinde wamqinisa kanjani uHezekeli ukuze ashumayele endaweni enabantu abalukhuni?

⁸ UJehova wayala uHezekeli wathi: “Ndodana yomuntu, sukuma ume ngezinyawo ukuze ngikhulume nawe.” Lowo myalo wanikeza uHezekeli amandla ayewadinga, noma “umoya,” ukuze asukume. UHezekeli wabhala: “Umoya wangena kimi wangenza ngama ngezinyawo.” (Hez. 2:1, 2) Kamuva, nakuyo yonke inkonzo yakhe, uHezekeli waqondiswa “isandla” sikaNkulunkulu​—okungukuthi umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. (Hez. 3:22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1) Umoya kaNkulunkulu wanikeza uHezekeli amandla okwenza umsebenzi ayewunikiwe​—wokushumayeza abantu ‘abanamakhanda alukhuni nezinhliziyo ezilukhuni’ endaweni ayeshumayela kuyo. (Hez. 3:7) UJehova watshela uHezekeli: “Ngenze ubuso bakho baqina bafana ncamashi nobuso babo nesiphongo sakho saqina safana ncamashi neziphongo zabo. Ngenze isiphongo sakho safana nedayimane, saba lukhuni kunetshe elicijile. Ungabesabi noma wethuswe ubuso babo.” (Hez. 3:8, 9) Kwakufana nokuthi uJehova uthi kuHezekeli: ‘Ungavumeli inkani yabo ikuqede amandla. Ngizokuqinisa.’

⁹ Ngemva kwalokho, umoya kaNkulunkulu wamsekela uHezekeli endaweni ayeshumayela  kuyo. UHezekeli wabhala: ‘Amandla kaJehova asebenza kakhulu kimi.’ Kwamthatha iviki lo mprofethi ukuba awuqonde umyalezo okwakumelwe awumemezele ukuze akhulume ngokuqiniseka. (Hez. 3:14, 15) UJehova wabe esethi akaye esigodini esithile futhi elapho “umoya wangena [kuye].” (Hez. 3:23, 24) UHezekeli wayesekulungele ukuqala inkonzo yakhe.

10. Yiluphi usizo esiludingayo ukuze senze umsebenzi wokushumayela, futhi kungani?

¹⁰ Yiluphi usizo esiludingayo ukuze senze umsebenzi wokushumayela? Ukuze uthole impendulo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kuHezekeli. Ngaphambi kokuba aqale umsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela, umoya kaNkulunkulu wamnika amandla ayewadinga. Njengoba kwakunjalo nakuHezekeli, nathi namuhla singakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu kuphela. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi uSathane ulwa nathi ukuze avimbe umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. (IsAm. 12:17) Ngokombono womuntu, kubukeka sengathi asisoze samnqoba uSathane. Kodwa siyamnqoba njengoba senza umsebenzi wokushumayela! (IsAm. 12:9-11) Kanjani? Lapho sishumayela, sibonisa ukuthi asimesabi uSathane. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho sishumayela, uSathane uyanqotshwa. Ngakho, ukuthi siyakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela naphezu kokuphikiswa kusenza sifinyelele siphi isiphetho? Singaphetha ngokuthi umoya ongcwele usinika amandla nangokuthi uJehova uyasamukela.​—Math. 5:10-12; 1 Pet. 4:14.

11. Yini umoya kaNkulunkulu ozosisiza sikwazi ukuyenza, futhi yini esingayenza ukuze siqhubeke siwuthola?

¹¹ Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova waqinisa ubuso nesiphongo sikaHezekeli ngokomfanekiso kuphinde kusiqinisekise ngani? Kusiqinisekisa nangokuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu ungasisiza sikwazi ukunqoba noma iyiphi inselele enkonzweni yethu. (2 Kor. 4:7-9) Yini-ke  esingayenza ukuze siqiniseke ukuthi siyaqhubeka siwuthola umoya kaNkulunkulu? Kudingeka siwuthandazele njalo, siqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uzoyizwa imithandazo yethu. UJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe: “Qhubekani nicela, . . . qhubekani nifuna, . . . qhubekani ningqongqoza.” UJehova uyophendula ngokuba ‘abaphe umoya ongcwele labo abawucela kuye.’​—Luka 11:9, 13; IzE. 1:14; 2:4.

12. NgokukaHezekeli 2:9–3:3, wawuvelaphi umqulu futhi kwakubhalweni kuwo?

¹² Umoya kaNkulunkulu wanika uHezekeli amandla. Kodwa akugcinanga lapho. Amazwi kaNkulunkulu nawo aqinisa ukholo lwakhe. Embonweni, uHezekeli wabona isandla siphethe umqulu. (Funda uHezekeli 2:9–3:3.) Wawuvelaphi lowo mqulu? Wawubhalweni? Waluqinisa kanjani ukholo lukaHezekeli? Ake sibone. Wawuvela esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu. Kungenzeka ukuthi uJehova wasebenzisa enye yezingelosi ezine uHezekeli ayezibone ekuqaleni ukuba imnikeze umqulu. (Hez. 1:8; 10:7, 20) Lo mqulu wawunamazwi kaNkulunkulu​—umyalezo wesahlulelo omude okwakufanele uHezekeli awudlulisele ezithunjweni ezazihlubukile. (Hez. 2:7) Lo myalezo wawubhalwe ngapha nangapha komqulu.

13. UJehova wathi uHezekeli akawenzeni umqulu, futhi kungani wawumnandi?

¹³ UJehova watshela umprofethi wakhe ukuba ‘agcwalise isisu sakhe ngawo.’ UHezekeli walalela wawudla wonke umqulu. Le ngxenye yalo mbono yayisho ukuthini? Kwakudingeka uHezekeli awuqonde kahle hle umyalezo okwakufanele awumemezele. Kwakufanele kube sengathi uyingxenye yakhe, awuzwe ngaphakathi, ugijime egazini. Kwabe sekwenzeka into eyammangaza. UHezekeli wathola ukuthi umqulu “wawumnandi njengoju.” (Hez. 3:3) Kungani? Kungoba kuHezekeli, ilungelo lokumelela uJehova lalimnandi noma limjabulisa. (IHu. 19:8-11) Wayejabula ngokuthi uJehova wayemamukele ukuba akhonze njengomprofethi wakhe.

14. Yini eyasiza uHezekeli ukuba enze inkonzo yakhe?

¹⁴ Kamuva, uJehova wathi kuHezekeli: “Lalela wonke amazwi engiwasho kuwe, uwafake enhliziyweni.” (Hez. 3:10) Ngalezo ziqondiso, uJehova wayetshela uHezekeli ukuba akhumbule amazwi ayebhalwe emqulwini, azindle ngawo. Ukwenza kanjalo kwaqinisa ukholo lukaHezekeli. Kwaphinde kwamsiza lapho efika kubantu, wabanikeza umyalezo onesisindo. (Hez. 3:11) Njengoba uHezekeli ayesewuqonda futhi ewukholelwa umyalezo kaNkulunkulu, wayesekulungele ukushumayela aze asiqede isabelo sakhe.​—Qhathanisa neHubo 19:14.

15. Yini okudingeka ‘siyifake enhliziyweni’ yethu ukuze sikhuthazele?

¹⁵ Ukuze sikhuthazele enkonzweni, nathi kudingeka siqhubeke siqiniswa amazwi kaNkulunkulu. Kudingeka ‘sikufake enhliziyweni’ konke okushiwo uJehova. Namuhla uJehova usebenzisa iZwi lakhe iBhayibheli ukuze akhulume nathi. Yini esingayenza ukuze siqiniseke ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu liyaqhubeka lithonya indlela esicabanga ngayo, esizizwa ngayo nezisusa zethu?

16. Yini okumelwe siyenze ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi singaligxilisa kanjani ezinhliziyweni zethu?

¹⁶ Njengoba nje ukudla kuqinisa umzimba lapho sikudla futhi imizimba yethu ikugaya, ukholo lwethu luyaqina lapho sitadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi sizindla ngalo. Asisikhohlwa isifundo esiphathelene nomqulu.  Uma kuziwa eZwini likaNkulunkulu, uJehova ufuna ‘sigcwalise isisu [sethu]’ ngalo, okusho ukuthi, siliqonde kahle. Lokhu singakwenza ngokuthandaza, ngokufunda nangokuzindla. Siqala ngomthandazo ukuze silungise izinhliziyo zethu zikwazi ukwamukela imicabango kaNkulunkulu. Sibe sesifunda amavesi athile eBhayibhelini. Ngemva kwalokho, siyama kancane sizindle, sicabangisise ngalokho esikufundile. Uzoba yini umphumela? Lapho sizindla ngokwengeziwe, inhliziyo yethu engokomfanekiso iyoliqonda kahle nakakhulu iZwi likaNkulunkulu.

17. Kungani kubalulekile ukuzindla ngalokho esikufunda eBhayibhelini?

¹⁷ Kungani kubalulekile ukufunda iBhayibheli bese siyazindla ngalo? Ukwenza kanjalo kusinikeza amandla okushumayela umyalezo woMbuso manje nawokushumayela umyalezo ontinyelayo wesahlulelo esikhathini esiseduze esizayo. Kanti lapho sizindla ngezimfanelo zikaJehova ezikhangayo, ubungane bethu naye buqina nakakhulu. Ngenxa yalokho, siyothola into emnandi noma ejabulisayo​—ukuthula kwangaphakathi nokwaneliseka.​—IHu. 119:103.

18. Yini okuyomelwe bayiqaphele abantu esishumayela kubo, futhi kungani?

¹⁸ Ngokungefani noHezekeli, thina asiphefumulelwe ukuba siprofethe kubantu. Noma kunjalo, sizimisele ukuqhubeka sishumayela umyalezo kaJehova ophefumulelwe, aye wawulondoloza eZwini lakhe, kuze kube yilapho umsebenzi wokushumayela sewenziwe ngezinga elimanelisayo. Lapho isikhathi sokwahlulelwa sifika, abantu esishumayela kubo ngeke babe nazaba, bathi abazange basithole isixwayiso noma bathi uNkulunkulu akazange abanake. (Hez. 3:19; 18:23) Kunalokho, kuyomelwe baqaphele ukuthi umyalezo ebesiwushumayela ubuvela kuNkulunkulu.

19. Yini ezosinika amandla okwenza inkonzo yethu?

¹⁹ Yini ezosinika amandla okwenza inkonzo yethu? Yizinto ezintathu ezanika uHezekeli amandla. Siyaqhubeka sishumayela ngoba siyazi ukuthi sithunywe uJehova, umoya kaNkulunkulu usinika amandla futhi amazwi kaNkulunkulu aqinisa ukholo lwethu. Ngosizo lukaJehova, sizimisele ukufeza inkonzo yethu nokukhuthazela ‘kuze kube sekupheleni.’​—Math. 24:13.