UJehova—Isibonelo Sobuhle Esizidlula Zonke

“Bongani uJehova Sebawoti, ngokuba uJehova muhle.”—JEREMIYA 33:11.

1. Kungani sishukumiseleka ukuba sidumise uNkulunkulu ngenxa yobuhle bakhe?

UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU muhle ngomqondo ophelele. Umprofethi uZakariya wathi: “Yeka ubuhle [bakhe]!” (Zakariya 9:17) Yebo, ubuhle bubonakala kukho konke uNkulunkulu akwenza lapho elungiselela umhlaba ukuze siwujabulele. (Genesise 1:31) Asisoze sakwazi ukuyiqonda yonke imithetho eyinkimbinkimbi uNkulunkulu ayibeka lapho edala umhlaba namazulu. (UmShumayeli 3:11; 8:17) Kodwa lokho okuncane esikwaziyo kusishukumisela ukuba simdumise uNkulunkulu ngenxa yobuhle bakhe.

2. Ungabuchaza kanjani ubuhle?

² Buyini ubuhle? Buyizinga eliphakeme lokuziphatha. Nokho, bungaphezu nje kokungabi nabo nhlobo ububi. Ubuhle, obungesinye sezithelo zomoya, buyimfanelo ebonakala ngokuthathwa kwesinyathelo. (Galathiya 5:22, 23) Sibonisa ubuhle lapho senzela abanye izinto ezinhle nezizuzisayo. Kulesi simiso sezinto, into ebhekwa njengenhle kwabathile ingase ibhekwe njengembi kwabanye. Nokho, ukuze sibe nokuthula nenjabulo, kumelwe kube nendinganiso eyodwa yobuhle. Ubani ongabeka le ndinganiso ngokufanelekile?

3. UGenesise 2:16, 17 ubonisani ngendinganiso yobuhle?

³ NguNkulunkulu obeka indinganiso yobuhle. Kwasekuqaleni komlando wesintu, nguJehova owayala umuntu wokuqala: “Ungadla kuyo yonke imithi yensimu ngokuthanda kwakho, kepha ungadli kuwo umuthi wokwazi okuhle  nokubi, ngokuba mhla udla kuwo uyakufa nokufa.” (Genesise 2:16, 17) Yebo, abantu kudingeka babheke kuMdali wabo ukuze bakwazi okuhle nokubi.

Ukubonakaliswa Kobuhle Obungafanelwe

4. Yini uNkulunkulu aye wayenzela isintu kusukela u-Adamu ona?

⁴ Amathemba esintu okuthola injabulo yaphakade ekupheleleni aba sengozini lapho u-Adamu ona futhi enqaba ukuvuma ukuthi uNkulunkulu unelungelo lokubeka izindinganiso zobuhle. (Genesise 3:1-6) Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba inzalo ka-Adamu izalwe seyizuze isono nokufa, uNkulunkulu wabikezela ukufika kweNzalo ephelele. Ebhekise ‘enyokeni yokuqala,’ uSathane uDeveli, uJehova wathi: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” (IsAmbulo 12:9; Genesise 3:15) Kwakuyinjongo kaJehova ukuhlenga isintu esinesono. Ebonisa ubuhle obungafanelwe, uJehova uye walenza ngempela ilungiselelo elinjalo lokusindisa labo ababonisa ukholo emhlatshelweni wesihlengo weNdodana yakhe ethandekayo.—Mathewu 20:28; Roma 5:8, 12.

5. Nakuba sathola ufuzo oluwukuthambekela okubi kwenhliziyo, kungani sikwazi ukubonisa isilinganiso esithile sobuhle?

⁵ Yebo, ngenxa yesono sika-Adamu, siye sazuza njengefa ukuthambekela okubi kwenhliziyo. (Genesise 8:21) Nokho, ngokujabulisayo, uJehova uyasisiza ukuba sibonise isilinganiso esithile sobuhle. Ukuqhubeka ezintweni esizifunda emibhalweni yakhe engcwele neyigugu akugcini ‘ngokusihlakaniphisela insindiso’ ‘nokusihlomisela yonke imisebenzi emihle’ kodwa futhi kusenza sikwazi ukwenza okuhle emehlweni akhe. (2 Thimothewu 3:14-17) Nokho, ukuze sizuze emfundweni engokomBhalo futhi sibonise ubuhle, kumelwe sibe nesimo sengqondo somhubi, owahlabelela: “Umuhle wena [Jehova], futhi wenza okuhle; ngifundise izimiso zakho.”—IHubo 119:68.

Ubuhle BukaJehova Buyabatshazwa

6. Ngemva kokuba iNkosi uDavide ilethe umphongolo wesivumelwano eJerusalema, amaLevi ahlabelela ingoma enamazwi athini?

⁶ Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli wasendulo uDavide yabuvuma ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu futhi yafuna isiqondiso sakhe. UDavide wathi: “UJehova muhle, ulungile; ngalokho ufundisa izoni indlela.” (IHubo 25:8) Imfundo yaphezulu eyanikwa ama-Israyeli yayihlanganisa imithetho eyishumi ebalulekile—iMiyalo Eyishumi—eyabhalwa ezibhebheni ezimbili zamatshe yagcinwa ebhokisini elingcwele elalibizwa ngokuthi umphongolo wesivumelwano. Ngemva kokuba uDavide elethe uMphongolo enhlokodolobha yakwa-Israyeli, eJerusalema, amaLevi ahlabelela ingoma eyayihlanganisa la mazwi: “Bongani uJehova, ngokuba muhle, ngokuba umusa wakhe [“wothando,” NW] umi phakade.” (1 IziKronike 16:34, 37-41) Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kwakumnandi kanjani ukuzwa amaLevi ehlabelela lawo mazwi!

7. Kwenzekani ngemva kokuba uMphongolo ufakwe eNgcwelengcwele nangemva komthandazo kaSolomoni wokunikezela ithempeli?

⁷ La mazwi okudumisa agcizeleleka lapho kunikezelwa ithempeli likaJehova elalakhiwe yindodana kaDavide, uSolomoni. Ngemva kokuba umphongolo wesivumelwano ubekwe eNgcwelengcwele yethempeli elalisanda kwakhiwa, amaLevi aqala ukudumisa uJehova, “ngokuba muhle nangokuba umusa wakhe  [“wothando,” NW] umi phakade.” Kuleso senzakalo, ithempeli lagcwala ngokuyisimangaliso ifu elifanekisela ukuba khona kukaJehova okukhazimulayo. (2 IziKronike 5:13, 14) Ngemva komthandazo kaSolomoni wokulinikezela, “kwehla umlilo ezulwini, wadla umnikelo wokushiswa nemihlatshelo.” Lapho bebona lokhu, bonke “abantwana bakwa-Israyeli . . . bakhothama phansi ngobuso phezu kwendawo egandaywe ngamatshe, bakhuleka, babonga uJehova, ngokuba muhle nangokuba umusa wakhe [“wothando,” NW] umi phakade.” (2 IziKronike 7:1-3) Ngemva komkhosi wezinsuku ezingu-14, ama-Israyeli aphindela emakhaya awo ‘ethokoza enezinhliziyo ezenamileyo ngobuhle uJehova abenzele oDavide noSolomoni no-Israyeli abantu bakhe.’—2 IziKronike 7:10.

8, 9. (a) Nakuba ama-Israyeli amdumisa uJehova ngobuhle bakhe, agcina ethathe yiphi inkambo? (b) Kwabikezelwani mayelana neJerusalema ngoJeremiya, futhi leso siprofetho sagcwaliseka kanjani?

⁸ Ngokudabukisayo, ama-Israyeli awaqhubekanga ephila ngokuvumelana nezingoma zawo zokudumisa uNkulunkulu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abantu bakwaJuda ‘bamdumisa ngezindebe’ nje uJehova. (Isaya 29:13) Kunokuba bavumelane nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zobuhle, baqala ukwenza okubi. Babuhilelani ububi babo? Phela, baba namacala okukhonza izithombe, ukuziphatha okubi, ukucindezela abampofu nezinye izono ezimbi! Ngenxa yalokho, iJerusalema labhujiswa, izakhamuzi zakwaJuda zathunjelwa eBabiloni ngo-607 B.C.E.

⁹ Kanjalo uNkulunkulu wabajezisa abantu bakhe. Nokho, ngomprofethi uJeremiya, wabikezela ukuthi eJerusalema kwakusayozwakala amazwi alabo abathi: “Bongani uJehova Sebawoti, ngokuba uJehova muhle, ngokuba umusa wakhe [“wothando,” NW] umi phakade.” (Jeremiya 33:10, 11) Kwaba njalo ngempela. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 izwe liyincithakalo, insali yamaJuda yabuyela eJerusalema ngo-537 B.C.E. (Jeremiya 25:11; Daniyeli 9:1, 2) Yakha kabusha  i-altare endaweni yethempeli eNtabeni YaseMoriya, yaqala ukunikela ngemihlatshelo lapho. Ngonyaka wesibili ibuyile kwabekwa isisekelo sethempeli. Yeka isikhathi esijabulisayo! U-Ezra wathi: “Lapho abakhi sebebeka isisekelo sethempeli likaJehova, bamisa abapristi begqokile benamacilongo kanye namaLevi, amadodana ka-Asafa, enamasimbali ukuba badumise uJehova njengehlelo likaDavide inkosi yakwa-Israyeli. Baphendulana ngokumdumisa nangokumbonga uJehova, bathi: ‘Ngokuba muhle, ngokuba umusa wakhe [“wothando,” NW] umi phakade.’”—Ezra 3:1-11.

10. IHubo 118 liqala futhi liphethe ngamaphi amazwi aphawulekayo?

¹⁰ Amahubo amaningana anamazwi okudumisa aphathelene nobuhle bukaJehova afana nalawa. Elinye lawo yiHubo 118, elalihlatshelelwa yimikhaya yama-Israyeli lapho iphetha umkhosi wePhasika. Lelo hubo liqala futhi liphethe ngamazwi athi: “Bongani uJehova, ngokuba muhle, ngokuba umusa wakhe [“wothando,” NW] umi phakade.” (IHubo 118:1, 29) Kungenzeka ukuthi lawa kwakungamazwi okugcina okudumisa ahlatshelelwa nguJesu Kristu nabaphostoli bakhe abathembekile ngobusuku obandulela ukufa kwakhe ngo-33 C.E.—Mathewu 26:30.

“Ake Ngibone Inkazimulo Yakho”

11, 12. Lapho uMose ebona inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu, wezwa amazwi athini?

¹¹ Ubuhle bukaJehova bahlotshaniswa okokuqala nomusa wakhe wothando emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambi kwesikhathi sika-Ezra. Ngemva nje kokuba ama-Israyeli ekhulekele ithole legolide ehlane kwabulawa nabenzi bokubi, uMose wanxusa uJehova: “Ake ngibone inkazimulo yakho.” Azi ukuthi uMose wayengenakubona ubuso baKhe aphile, uJehova wathi: “Ngiyakudlulisa phambi kwakho ubuhle bami.”—Eksodusi 33:13-20.

¹² Ngakusasa, ubuhle bukaJehova badlula phambi kukaMose eNtabeni YaseSinayi. Ngaleso sikhathi, uMose wayithi shazí inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu wayesezwa lesi simemezelo: “NguJehova, nguJehova, uNkulunkulu onesihe nomusa, owephuza ukuthukuthela nochichima umusa wothando neqiniso, olondolozela abayizinkulungwane umusa wothando, oxolela isiphambeko neseqo nesono, kodwa ongeke neze akhulula esijezisweni, oletha isijeziso ngenxa yesiphambeko soyise phezu kwamadodana naphezu kwabazukulu, phezu kwesizukulwane sesithathu naphezu kwesizukulwane sesine.” (Eksodusi 34:6, 7, NW) La mazwi abonisa ukuthi ubuhle bukaJehova buhlobene nomusa wakhe wothando nezinye izici zobuntu bakhe. Ukucabanga ngalokhu kuzosisiza ukuba sibonise ubuhle. Ake siqale sihlole imfanelo ethintwe kabili kula mazwi amahle amemezela ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu.

“UNkulunkulu . . . Ochichima Umusa Wothando”

13. Emazwini amemezela ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu, iyiphi imfanelo eshiwo kabili, futhi kungani lokhu kufaneleka?

¹³ ‘UJehova unguNkulunkulu ochichima umusa wothando nolondolozela abayizinkulungwane umusa wothando.’ Igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwe ngokuthi “umusa wothando” lisho futhi “uthando oluqotho.” Lena iyona yodwa imfanelo ebalwe kabili kula mazwi uNkulunkulu awasho kuMose. Yeka ukuthi kufaneleka kangakanani, njengoba imfanelo kaJehova evelele kuwuthando! (1 Johane 4:8) Amazwi okudumisa  uJehova esesiwazi kahle athi “ngokuba muhle, ngokuba umusa wakhe [“wothando,” NW] umi phakade” agcizelela le mfanelo.

14. Obani ngokukhethekile abajabulela ubuhle nomusa wothando kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁴ Enye yezindlela ubuhle bukaJehova obubonakala ngazo ukuthi ‘uchichima umusa wothando.’ Lokhu kubonakala ngokukhethekile endleleni azinakekela ngesisa ngayo izinceku zakhe ezingabantu ezizinikezele nezithembekile. (1 Petru 5:6, 7) Njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova bengakufakazela, ‘ubalondolozela umusa wothando’ labo abamthandayo nabamkhonzayo. (Eksodusi 20:6) Isizwe sama-Israyeli angokwemvelo sayeka ukuthola umusa kaJehova wothando, noma uthando lwakhe oluqotho, ngoba salahla iNdodana yakhe. Kodwa ubuhle nothando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho kumaKristu athembekile azo zonke izizwe kuyoqhubeka phakade.—Johane 3:36.

UJehova—Unesihe Futhi Unomusa

15. (a) Amazwi azwiwa nguMose eNtabeni YaseSinayi aqala ngokuthini? (b) Sihilelani isihe?

¹⁵ Amazwi uMose awezwa eNtabeni YaseSinayi aqala ngokuthi: “NguJehova, nguJehova, uNkulunkulu onesihe nomusa.” Igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwe ngokuthi “isihe” lingase libhekisele ‘emathunjini’ futhi lihlobene eduze negama elisho “isibeletho.” Ngakho-ke, isihe sihilela imizwa yobubele besisa esekujuleni ngaphakathi kumuntu. Kodwa isihe sihilela okungaphezu nje kwesihawu esiqotho. Kufanele sisishukumisele ukuba senze okuthile ukuze sinciphise ukuhlupheka kwabanye. Ngokwesibonelo, abadala abanothando abangamaKristu bayasibona isidingo sokuba nesihe kwabakholwa nabo, ‘babonise isihe ngokwenama’ lapho lokhu kufaneleka.—Roma 12:8; Jakobe 2:13; Jude 22, 23.

16. Kungani sithi uJehova unomusa?

¹⁶ Ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu bubonakala nasemuseni wakhe. Umuntu onomusa “uyaphawuleka ngokucabangela kwakhe imizwa yomunye” futhi ubonisa ‘isisa esimenza athandeke ikakhulu kwabangaphansi kwakhe.’ UJehova uyisibonelo somusa esihle kunazo zonke ekusebenzelaneni kwakhe nezinceku zakhe ezithembekile. Ngokwesibonelo, ngezingelosi uNkulunkulu waqinisa ngomusa umprofethi uDaniyeli owayesegugile futhi wazisa incasakazi uMariya ngelungelo eyayizoba nalo lokuzala uJesu. (Daniyeli 10:19; Luka 1:26-38) Njengabantu bakaJehova, ngokuqinisekile siyayazisa indlela enomusa asinxusa ngayo ngeBhayibheli. Siyamdumisa ngalokhu kubonakaliswa kobuhle bakhe futhi sifuna ukuba nomusa ekusebenzelaneni kwethu nabanye. Lapho labo abanezimfanelo ezingokomoya belungisa abakholwa naye “ngomoya wobumnene,” bazama ukuba mnene, babe nomusa.—Galathiya 6:1.

UNkulunkulu Owephuza Ukuthukuthela

17. Kungani sibonga ngokuthi uJehova ‘uyephuza ukuthukuthela’?

¹⁷ “UNkulunkulu . . . owephuza ukuthukuthela.” Lawo mazwi agcizelela okunye futhi ukubonakaliswa kobuhle bukaJehova. Ngesineke, uJehova uyakubekezelela ukushiyeka kwethu asinike isikhathi sokunqoba ubuthakathaka obungathi sína futhi sithuthuke ngokomoya. (Heberu 5:12–6:3; Jakobe 5:14, 15) Isineke sikaNkulunkulu sizuzisa nalabo abangakabi ngabakhulekeli bakhe. Basenesikhathi sokusabela esigijimini soMbuso baphenduke. (Roma 2:4) Nokho, nakuba uJehova enesineke, ngezinye izikhathi ubuhle bakhe bumshukumisela ukuba aveze ulaka lwakhe, njengoba enza lapho ama-Israyeli ekhulekela ithole legolide eNtabeni YaseSinayi. Maduze nje, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luzobonakala nakakhulu lapho ebhubhisa isimiso esibi sikaSathane.—Hezekeli 38:19, 21-23.

18. Mayelana neqiniso, uJehova uhluke kanjani kubaholi abangabantu?

¹⁸ ‘UJehova unguNkulunkulu ochichima iqiniso.’ Yeka indlela uJehova ahluke ngayo kubaholi abangabantu, abenza izithembiso ezinkulu bese behluleka ukuzifeza! Ngokuhlukile, abakhulekeli bakaJehova bangathembela kukho konke okushiwo eZwini lakhe eliphefumulelwe. Njengoba uNkulunkulu echichima iqiniso, singazethemba njalo izithembiso zakhe. Ngobuhle bakhe, uBaba wethu osezulwini uyayiphendula  njalo imithandazo yethu yokucela iqiniso elingokomoya, asinike lona ngobuningi.—IHubo 43:3; 65:2.

19. Iyiphi indlela evelele uJehova aye wabonisa ngayo ubuhle ezonini eziphendukayo?

¹⁹ ‘UJehova unguNkulunkulu oxolela isiphambeko neseqo nesono.’ Ngenxa yobuhle bakhe, uJehova ukulungele ukuthethelela izoni eziphendukayo. Ngokuqinisekile siyabonga kakhulu ngokuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini onothando uye wenza ilungiselelo lokuthethelelwa ngomhlatshelo kaJesu. (1 Johane 2:1, 2) Siyajabula ngempela ngokuthi bonke ababonisa ukholo esihlengweni bayakwazi ukuba nobuhlobo obuhle noJehova, benethemba lokuphila phakade ezweni lakhe elisha elithenjisiwe. Yeka izizathu ezivelele zokudumisa uJehova ngokubonisa kwakhe ubuhle esintwini!—2 Petru 3:13.

20. Sinabuphi ubufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu akabushalazeli ububi?

²⁰ “[UJehova] ngeke neze akhulula esijezisweni.” Empeleni lesi ngesinye futhi isizathu sokudumisa uJehova ngobuhle bakhe. Ngani? Ngoba isici esibalulekile sobuhle ukuthi abubushalazeli neze ububi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, “ekwambulweni kweNkosi uJesu ivela ezulwini ikanye nezingelosi zayo ezinamandla,” kuyolethwa impindiselo “phezu kwalabo abangamazi uNkulunkulu nakulabo abangazilaleli izindaba ezinhle.” “Bayothola isijeziso sokwahlulelwa esiwukubhujiswa okumi phakade.” (2 Thesalonika 1:6-9) Abakhulekeli bakaJehova abasindile bayobe sebejabulela ukuphila ngokugcwele, bengaphazanyiswa abantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu, “abangenalo uthando ngobuhle.”—2 Thimothewu 3:1-3.

Lingisa Ubuhle BukaJehova

21. Kungani kufanele sibonise ubuhle?

²¹ Akungabazeki ukuthi sinezizathu eziningi zokudumisa nokubonga uJehova ngobuhle bakhe. Njengezinceku zakhe, akufanele yini senze konke okusemandleni ukuze sibonise le mfanelo? Yebo, ngoba umphostoli uPawulu wanxusa amaKristu ayekanye nawo: “Yibani ngabalingisi bakaNkulunkulu, njengabantwana abathandekayo.” (Efesu 5:1) UBaba wethu osezulwini ubonisa ubuhle njalo, futhi nathi kufanele senze kanjalo.

22. Yini esizoxoxa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²² Uma sizinikezele ngenhliziyo yonke kuJehova, ngokungangabazeki sifisa kakhulu ukulingisa ubuhle bakhe. Ngenxa yokuthi siyinzalo ka-Adamu owayenesono, akulula kithi ukwenza okuhle. Nokho, esihlokweni esilandelayo sizobona ukuthi kungani kungenzeka ukuba sibonise ubuhle. Sizohlola nezindlela ezihlukahlukene esingamlingisa, futhi okufanele simlingise, ngazo uJehova—isibonelo sobuhle esizidlula zonke.

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• Buyini ubuhle?

• Yimaphi amazwi angokomBhalo agcizelela ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu?

• Yiziphi ezinye zezindlela ubuhle bukaJehova obubonakala ngazo?

• Kungani kufanele silingise isibonelo sikaJehova sobuhle?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

UJehova wasijezisa isizwe sakhe sasendulo ngoba asiphilanga ngokuvumelana namazwi aso okudumisa

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

Insali ethembekile yabuyela eJerusalema

[Isithombe ekhasini 13]

UMose wezwa amazwi amahle kakhulu amemezela ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Ubuhle bukaJehova bubonakala endleleni asinxusa ngayo ngeBhayibheli