Kungani Kumelwe Uxwaye Ukukhonza Izithombe?
Kungani Kumelwe Uxwaye Ukukhonza Izithombe?
“Bantwanyana, zilindeni ezithombeni.”—1 JOHANE 5:21.
1. Kungani ukukhulekela uJehova kungahlangani nokukhonza izithombe?
UJEHOVA akasona isithombe sensimbi, sokhuni, noma setshe. Akanakuhlala ethempelini lasemhlabeni. Njengoba ewuMoya onamandla, ongabonakali kubantu, akunakwenzeka ukwenza umfanekiso wakhe. Ngakho, ukukhulekela uJehova okuhlanzekile kumelwe kungahlangani nhlobo nokukhonza izithombe.—Eksodusi 33:20; IzEnzo 17:24; 2 Korinte 3:17.
2. Yimiphi imibuzo okufanelekile ukuba siyicabangele?
2 Khona-ke uma ungumkhulekeli kaJehova, ungase ubuze ngokufanelekile, ‘Kuyini ukukhonza izithombe? Izinceku zikaJehova ziye zakwazi kanjani ukukugwema esikhathini esidlule? Futhi kungani kumelwe ngixwaye ukukhonza izithombe namuhla?’
Lokho Ukukhonza Izithombe Okuyikho
3, 4. Kungachazwa kanjani ukukhonza izithombe?
3 Ngokuvamile, ukukhonza izithombe kuhilela umkhosi noma umkhuba ongokwenkolo. Ukukhonza izithombe kuwukuhlonipha, ukuthanda, ukukhulekela, noma ukudumisa, isithombe. Futhi siyini isithombe? Siwumfanekiso, into emelela okuthile, noma uphawu, okhulekelwayo. Ngokuvamile, okukhonzwa njengesithombe amandla aphakeme angokoqobo noma acatshangelwayo okunenkolelo yokuthi ayaphila (umuntu, isilwane, noma inhlangano). Kodwa nezinto ezingaphili (amandla athile noma into yemvelo engaphili) zingakhonzwa njengesithombe.
4 EmiBhalweni, amagama esiHeberu abhekisela ezithombeni ngokuvamile agcizelela ukuba yize kwento, noma angamagama endelelo. Phakathi kwalawa kunamagama ahunyushwe ngokuthi “umfanekiso obaziweyo noma oqoshiwe” (ngokwezwi nezwi, okuthile okubaziweyo); “umfanekiso oncibilikisiwe, noma isithombe” (okuthile okubunjiwe noma okuthululiwe); “isithombe esesabisayo”; “isithombe esiyize” (ngokwezwi nezwi, ubuze); nokuthi “isithombe esiyindle.” Igama lesiGreki elithi eiʹdo·lon lihunyushwa ngokuthi “isithombe.”
5. Kungani kungase kuthiwe akuyona yonke imifanekiso eyizithombe?
5 Akuyona yonke imifanekiso eyizithombe. UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe watshela amaIsrayeli ukuba enze amakherubi amabili egolide azoba semphongolweni wesivumelwano futhi ahlobise ngemifanekiso yalezozidalwa zomoya esembozweni sangaphakathi sezindwangu eziyishumi zetende letabernakele nasesihenqweni esihlukanisa iNgcwele neNgcwelengcwele. (Eksodusi 25:1, 18; 26:1, 31-33) Ngabapristi abagunyaziwe kuphela ababona lemifanekiso eyayisebenza ngokuyinhloko njengophawu lwamakherubi asezulwini. (Qhathanisa namaHeberu 9:24, 25.) Kusobala ukuthi imifanekiso yamakherubi yasetabernakele kwakungamelwe ihlonishwe, njengoba nezingelosi ezilungile ngokwazo zazingenakukwamukela ukukhulekelwa.—Kolose 2:18; IsAmbulo 19:10; 22:8, 9.
Umbono KaJehova Ngokukhonza Izithombe
6. Uyini umbono kaJehova ngokukhonza izithombe?
6 Izinceku zikaJehova ziyakuxwaya ukukhonza izithombe ngoba umelene nayo yonke imikhuba yokukhonza izithombe. UNkulunkulu wayala amaIsrayeli ukuba angayenzi imifanekiso ibe yizinto zokuhlonishwa nokukhulekelwa. Phakathi kweMiyalo Eyishumi kukhona lamazwi: “Ungazenzeli izithombe ezibaziweyo, namfanekiso wokusezulwini ngaphezulu, nowokusemhlabeni phansi, nowokusemanzini phansi komhlaba; ungazikhothameli, ungazikhonzi, ngokuba mina-Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu onomhawu, ngihambela ububi bawoyise kubantwana kuso isizukulwane sesithathu nesesine sabangizondayo, kepha ngibenzela umusa abayizinkulungwane abangithandayo, bagcine imiyalelo yami.”—Eksodusi 20:4-6.
7. Kungani uJehova emelene nakho konke ukukhonza izithombe?
7 Kungani uJehova emelene nakho konke ukukhonza izithombe? Ngokuyinhloko kungenxa yokuthi ufuna ukuzinikela okukhethekile, njengoba kuboniswe ngenhla kowesibili eMiyalweni Eyishumi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wathi ngomprofethi wakhe uIsaya: “NginguJehova; yilo igama lami; angiyikunika omunye inkazimulo yami, nezithombe ezibaziweyo udumo lwami.” (Isaya 42:8) Ngesinye isikhathi, ukukhonza izithombe kwafaka ama-Israyeli ogibeni kangangokuba ‘amadodana namadodakazi awo awahlabela amademoni.’ (IHubo 106:36, 37) Abantu abakhonza izithombe abaphiki nje kuphela ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso kodwa futhi bafeza izithakazelo zeSitha sakhe esikhulu, uSathane, kanye namademoni.
Ukuthembeka Ngaphansi Kovivinyo
8. Yiluphi uvivinyo amaHeberu amathathu uShadiraki, uMeshaki, noAbedi-Nego abhekana nalo?
8 Ukuthembeka kuJehova nakho kusenza sixwaye ukukhonza izithombe. Lokhu kuboniswa yisenzakalo esilotshwe kuDaniyeli isahluko sesithathu. Ukuze imise ngokomthetho umfanekiso omkhulu wegolide eyayiwakhile, inkosi yaseBabiloni uNebukadinesari yahlanganisa izikhulu zombuso wayo. Umyalo wayo wahlanganisa noShadiraki, uMeshaki, noAbedi-Nego—abaphathi abathathu abangamaHeberu ababephethe isifundazwe saseBabiloni. Bonke ababekhona kwakumelwe bakhothame phambi kwalomfanekiso lapho kukhala izinsimbi ezithile zomculo. Lona kwakuwumzamo kankulunkulu wangempela waseBabiloni, uSathane, wokwenza ukuba lamaHeberu amathathu akhothame phambi komfanekiso owawumelela uMbuso waseBabiloni. Ake uzicabange ulapho.
9, 10. (a) Yikuphi ukuma okwathathwa amaHeberu amathathu, futhi avuzwa kanjani? (b) Yisiphi isikhuthazo oFakazi BakaJehova abangasithola enkambweni yamaHeberu amathathu?
9 Bheka! AmaHeberu amathathu amile. Ayawukhumbula umthetho kaNkulunkulu omelene nokwenza nokukhonza izithombe noma imifanekiso ebaziweyo. UNebukadinesari uwanqumela ugwayi katiki—akhothame noma afe! Kodwa ngokwethembeka kuJehova, athi: “Uma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo unamandla okusikhulula esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo; yebo, uyakusikhulula esandleni sakho, nkosi. Kepha noma kungenjalo, makwazeke kuwe-nkosi ukuthi asiyikukhonza onkulunkulu bakho, singakhuleki esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.”—Daniyeli 3:16-18.
10 Lezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile ziphonswa esithandweni somlilo esishisa kakhulu. Emangazwe ukubona abantu abane behamba elangabini, uNebukadinesari utshela lamaHeberu amathathu ukuba aphume, futhi ayaphuma engenamyocu. Kulokho inkosi iyababaza: “Makabongwe uNkulunkulu wawoShadiraki, noMeshaki, noAbedi-Nego, othumile ingelosi yakhe, wakhulula izinceku zakhe ebezimethemba, zaze zaguqula izwi lenkosi, zanikela imizimba yazo ukuba zingakhonzi, zingakhuleki kunkulunkulu noyedwa, uNkulunkulu wabo kuphela. . . . Akakho omunye unkulunkulu ongophula ngalendlela.” (Daniyeli 3:28, 29) Ukugcina ubuqotho kwalawomaHeberu amathathu kunikeza isikhuthazo koFakazi BakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla ukuba bathembeke kuNkulunkulu, balondoloze ukungathathi-hlangothi ezweni, futhi bagweme ukukhonza izithombe.—Johane 17:16.
Izithombe Ziyehluleka Enkantolo
11, 12. (a) Yimuphi umbhalo ogciniwe owalotshwa uIsaya ohilela uJehova nonkulunkulu bezithombe? (b) Onkulunkulu bezizwe babekwaphi lapho uJehova ebabekela inselele?
11 Esinye isizathu sokuba sixwaye ukukhonza izithombe siwukuthi ukuhlonipha izithombe akunalusizo. Nakuba ezinye izithombe ezenziwe abantu zingase zibonakale sengathi ziyaphila—ngokuvamile zinomlomo, amehlo, nezindlebe—azikwazi ukukhuluma, ukubona, noma ukuzwa, futhi akukho ezingakwenzela abakhulekeli bazo abashisekayo. (IHubo 135:15-18) Lokhu kwaboniswa ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili leminyaka B.C.E., lapho umprofethi kaNkulunkulu ebhala kuIsaya 43:8-28 lokho, empeleni, okwakuwukuthethwa kwecala phakathi kukaJehova nonkulunkulu bezithombe. Kulo abantu bakaNkulunkulu uIsrayeli babengasohlangothini olulodwa, futhi izizwe zezwe zingakolunye. UJehova wabekela onkulunkulu bamanga bezizwe inselele yokuba basho “izinto zakuqala,” ukuba baprofethe ngokunembile. Akukho noyedwa owayengakwenza lokho. Ephendukela kubantu bakhe, uJehova wathi: “Ningofakazi bami . . . mina nginguNkulunkulu.” Izizwe azikwazanga ukubonisa ukuthi onkulunkulu bazo babekhona ngaphambi kukaJehova noma ukuthi bangaprofetha. Kodwa uJehova wabikezela ukubhujiswa kweBabiloni nokukhululwa kwabantu bakhe ababethunjiwe.
12 Ngaphezu kwalokho, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezikhululiwe zazingase zithi, njengoba kuchazwe kuIsaya 44:1-8, ‘zingezikaJehova.’ Yena ngokwakhe wathi: “Ngingowokuqala, ngingowokugcina, ngaphandle kwami akakho uNkulunkulu.” Onkulunkulu bezithombe abaphiki. “Nina ningofakazi bami,” uJehova waphinde washo ngabantu bakhe, enezela: “Kukhona uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami na? Cha, alikho iDwala.”
13. Yini ukukhonza izithombe okuyembulayo ngomuntu okhonza izithombe?
13 Siyakuxwaya futhi ukukhonza izithombe ngoba ukuhileleka kukho kubonisa ukuntula ukuhlakanipha. Ngengxenye yomuthi ayikhethayo, umuntu okhonza izithombe wenza unkulunkulu azomkhulekela, futhi ngenye ingxenye ubasa umlilo ukuze apheke ukudla kwakhe. (Isaya 44:9-17) Yeka indlela okuwubuwula ngayo! Umenzi nomkhulekeli oshisekayo wonkulunkulu bezithombe uyahlazeka futhi ngenxa yokungakwazi ukunikeza ubufakazi obuqinisekisayo obubonisa ukuba kwabo onkulunkulu. Kodwa ukuba uNkulunkulu kukaJehova akungabazeki, ngoba akazange nje abikezele ukukhululwa kwabantu bakhe eBabiloni kuphela kodwa futhi wabangela ukuba lokhu kwenzeke. IJerusalema laphinde lahlalwa, imizi yakwaJuda yakhiwa kabusha, futhi “umsinga” waseBabiloni—uMfula i-Ewufrathe—washa wangabe usaba umthombo wesivikelo. (Isaya 44:18-27) Futhi njengoba uNkulunkulu ayebikezele, uKoresi umPheresiya walinqoba iBabiloni.—Isaya 44:28–45:6.
14. ENkantolo Ephakeme Yendawo Yonke, yini eyofakazelwa phakade?
14 Onkulunkulu bezithombe bahluleka kulelocala eliphathelene nobunkulunkulu. Futhi lokho okwehlela iBabiloni ngokuqinisekile kuyokwehlela umfuziselo walo wanamuhla, iBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Lona nabo bonke onkulunkulu balo, impahla yalo engokwenkolo, nezinto ezikhonzwa njengezithombe ngokushesha kuyobe kungasekho phakade. (IsAmbulo 17:12–18:8) ENkantolo Ephakeme Yendawo Yonke, ngalesosikhathi kuyofakazelwa phakade ukuthi uJehova kuphela onguNkulunkulu ophilayo noweqiniso nokuthi uyaligcwalisa iZwi lakhe elingokwesiprofetho.
Imihlatshelo Eyenzelwa Amademoni
15. Yini umoya ongcwele nendikimba ebusayo yekhulu lokuqala abayibonisa ngokuphathelene nabantu bakaJehova nokukhonza izithombe?
15 Abantu bakaJehova bayakuxwaya futhi ukukhonza izithombe ngoba baqondiswa umoya kaNkulunkulu nenhlangano yakhe. Indikimba ebusayo yekhulu lokuqala yezinceku zikaJehova yatshela amaKristu ayekanye nayo: “Kwaba-kuhle kuMoya oNgcwele nakithi ukuba singanithwesi umthwalo omkhulu ngaphandle kwalezizinto ezifunekayo zokuthi niyeke okuhlatshelwe izithombe, negazi, nokuqumbeleneyo, nobufebe; uma nizilinda kulezozinto, noba nenza kahle. Salani kahle.”—IzEnzo 15:28, 29.
16. Ubungakubeka kanjani ngamazwi akho lokho uPawulu akusho ngezinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe?
16 Esinye isizathu sokuba sixwaye ukukhonza izithombe siwukuba sigweme ubudemoni. Ngokuphathelene neSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa, umphostoli uPawulu watshela amaKristu aseKorinte: “Kubalekeleni ukukhonza izithombe. . . . Isitsha sesibusiso esisibusisayo asiyiyo inhlanganyelo yegazi likaKristu na? Isinkwa esisihlephulayo asiyiyo inhlanganyelo yomzimba kaKristu na? Ngokuba isinkwa sisinye, thina esibaningi singumzimba munye, lokhu thina sonke sihlanganyela lesosinkwa sinye. Bhekani uIsrayeli ngokwenyama. Abadla imihlatshelo abasibo abahlanganyela nealtare na? Ngakho ngithini pho? Ngithi okuhlatshelwe isithombe kuyinto na? nokuthi isithombe siyinto na? Kodwa ngithi: Lokho okuhlatshwa ngabezizwe bakuhlabela amademoni, kabakuhlabeli uNkulunkulu. Kepha angithandi ukuba nibe-nehlanganyelo namademoni. Ningesiphuze isitsha seNkosi kanye nesitsha samademoni; ningelihlanganyele itafula leNkosi kanye netafula lamadenomi. Kumbe siyayivusela iNkosi ulaka na? Kanti sinamandla kunayo na?”—1 Korinte 10:14-22.
17. Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., kungaphansi kwaziphi izimo umKristu ayengadla kuzo inyama ehlatshelwe izithombe, futhi ngani?
17 Ingxenye yesilwane yayinikelwa esithombeni njengomhlatshelo, ingxenye iye kubapristi, umkhulekeli athole enye ukuze enze idili. Nokho, ingxenye yenyama yayingase ithengiswe emakethe. Kwakungatuswa ukuba umKristu aye ethempelini lezithombe ayodla inyama ngisho nakuba ayengadli njengengxenye yesiko lenkolo, ngoba lokhu kwakungakhuba abanye noma kumdonsele ekukhulekeleni kwamanga. (1 Korinte 8:1-13; IsAmbulo 2:12, 14, 18, 20) Ukunikela ngesilwane esithombeni kwakungayishintshi inyama, ngakho umKristu wayengayithenga inyama emakethe. Futhi kwakungadingekile ukuba abuze ukuthi ivelaphi inyama ephekwe ekhaya lothile. Kodwa uma othile ethi ‘yayihlatshelwe izithombe,’ wayengeke ayidle, ukuze agweme ukukhuba abanye.—1 Korinte 10:25-29.
18. Labo ababedla okuthile okuhlatshelwe izithombe babengahlanganyela kanjani namademoni?
18 Ngokuvamile kwakucatshangwa ukuthi ngemva kwesiko lenkolo lokwenza umhlatshelo, unkulunkulu wayeba senyameni futhi angene emzimbeni walabo abayidlayo edilini labakhulekeli. Njengoba abantu ababedla ndawonye babakha isibopho phakathi kwabo, ngakho labo ababehlanganyela ezilwaneni ezenziwe umhlatshelo babehlanganyela e-altare futhi babenenhlanganyelo nonkulunkulu wamademoni owayemelelwa isithombe. Ngokukhonza izithombe okunjalo, amademoni avimbela abantu ekukhulekeleni okuwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso. (Jeremiya 10:1-15) Kungakho abantu bakaJehova kwakumelwe bagweme izinto ezazihlatshelwe izithombe! Ukuthembeka kuNkulunkulu, ukwamukela ukuqondiswa umoya wakhe ongcwele nenhlangano yakhe, nokuzimisela ukugwema ukuhileleka ekukhonzeni amademoni nakho kuba isisusa esinamandla sokuxwaya ukukhonza izithombe namuhla.
Kungani Kunesidingo Sokuqapha?
19. Luhlobo luni lokukhonza izithombe olwalukhona e-Efesu lasendulo?
19 AmaKristu akuxwaya ngenkuthalo ukukhonza izithombe ngoba kuyizinhlobo eziningi, futhi ngisho nesenzo esisodwa sokukhonza izithombe singenza ukuba ahlehle okholweni lwawo. Umphostoli uJohane watshela ayekholwa nabo: “Zilindeni ezithombeni.” (1 Johane 5:21) Leseluleko sasidingeka ngoba babezungezwe yizinhlobo eziningi zokukhonza izithombe. UJohane wabhala ese-Efesu, umuzi owawucwile emikhubeni yemilingo nezinganekwane eziphathelene nonkulunkulu bamanga. I-Efesu lalinesinye sezimangaliso zezwe eziyisikhombisa—ithempeli lika-Artemis, indawo yesiphephelo sezigebengu nesikhungo samasiko enkolo okuziphatha okubi. Isazi sefilosofi uHeracleitus wase-Efesu safanisa indlela emnyama eya e-altare lalelothempeli nobumnyama bokungcola, futhi sabheka ukuziphatha kwabantu bakulelothempeli njengokubi kakhulu kunokwezilo. Ngakho, amaKristu ase-Efesu kwakudingeka amelane ngokuqinile nokukhonza amademoni, ukuziphatha okubi, nokukhonza izithombe.
20. Kungani kwakudingekile ukugwema ukukhonza izithombe ngisho nangezinga elincane kakhulu?
20 AmaKristu kudingeka azimisele ngokuqinile ukugwema ngisho nokukhonza izithombe ngezinga elincane kakhulu ngoba isenzo nje esisodwa sokukhulekela uDeveli singasekela inselele yakhe yokuthi abantu ngeke bahlale bethembekile kuNkulunkulu ngaphansi kovivinyo. (Jobe 1:8-12) Lapho ebonisa uJesu “imibuso yonke yezwe nenkazimulo yayo,” uSathane wathi: “Konke lokhu ngizakukunika khona, uma uziwisa phansi, ukhuleke kimi.” Ukwenqaba kukaKristu kwasekela uhlangothi lukaJehova lwempikiswano yobukhosi bendawo yonke futhi kwabonisa uDeveli engumqambimanga.—Mathewu 4:8-11; IzAga 27:11.
21. Ngokuphathelene nombusi waseRoma, yini amaKristu athembekile enqaba ukuyenza?
21 Abalandeli bakaJesu bokuqala babengeke benze isenzo sokukhulekela esisekela uhlangothi lukaSathane lwempikiswano. Nakuba babenokwazisa okufanele ‘ngamandla ombuso’ kahulumeni, babengeke bashise impepho behlonipha umbusi waseRoma, ngisho nakuba kwakusho ukulahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo. (Roma 13:1-7) Ngokuphathelene nalokhu uDaniel P. Mannix wabhala: “Ambalwa kakhulu kumaKristu ahoxa, nakuba ngokuvamile i-altare elalinomlilo ovuthayo lalihlala lisenkundleni ukuze kube lula ngawo. Isiboshwa kwakumelwe nje sisakaze ingcosana yempepho kuphela emlilweni bese sinikezwa iSitifiketi Somhlatshelo futhi sikhululwe. Futhi sasichazelwa kahle ukuthi sasingakhulekeli umbusi; sasimane nje sivuma ukuba nobuntu baphezulu kombusi njengenhloko yombuso waseRoma. Nakuba kunjalo, cishe awekho amaKristu avuma ukuba asebenzise lelithuba lokukhululeka.” (Those About to Die, ikhasi 137) Ukuba wavivinywa ngendlela efanayo, ingabe wawuyomelana ngokuphelele nakho konke ukukhonza izithombe?
Ingabe Uyokuxwaya Ukukhonza Izithombe?
22, 23. Kungani kufanele uxwaye ukukhonza izithombe?
22 Ngokucacile, amaKristu kumelwe axwaye lonke uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe. UJehova ufuna ukuzinikela okuphelele. AmaHeberu amathathu athembekile anikeza isibonelo esihle ngokwenqaba ukukhonza umfanekiso omkhulu owawumiswe inkosi yaseBabiloni uNebukadinesari. Ecaleni lenkantolo lendawo yonke elalotshwa umprofethi uIsaya, uJehova waboniswa njengowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso nophilayo. Ofakazi bakhe bokuqala abangamaKristu kwakudingeka bagweme izinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe. Abaningi abathembekile phakathi kwabo abazange bavumele ukunqotshwa ukucindezela kokwenza ngisho nesenzo esisodwa sokukhonza izithombe esasiyosho ukuphika uJehova.
23 Ngakho-ke, ingabe wena ngokomuntu siqu uyakuxwaya ukukhonza izithombe? Ingabe unikeza uNkulunkulu ukuzinikela okukhethekile? Ingabe uyabusekela ubukhosi bukaJehova futhi umdumise njengoNkulunkulu weqiniso nophilayo? Uma kunjalo, kufanele uzimisele ukuqhubeka umelena ngokuqinile nemikhuba yokukhonza izithombe. Kodwa yimaphi amaphuzu engeziwe angokomBhalo angakusiza ukuba uxwaye zonke izinhlobo zokukhonza izithombe?
Uyini Umbono Wakho?
□ Kuyini ukukhonza izithombe?
□ Kungani uJehova emelene nakho konke ukukhonza izithombe?
□ Yikuphi ukuma amaHeberu amathathu akuthatha ngokuphathelene nokukhonza izithombe?
□ Labo ababedla izinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe babengahlanganyela kanjani namademoni?
□ Kungani kufanele sixwaye ukukhonza izithombe?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Nakuba ukuphila kwawo kwakusongelwa, amaHeberu amathathu ayengenakuhlanganyela ekukhonzeni izithombe