Ukuhlangabezana Nezimfuneko Zaphezulu Kudumisa UJehova

‘Ngiyakumphakamisa ngokubonga.’—IHUBO 69:30.

1. (a) Kungani uJehova efanelwe ukudunyiswa? (b) Simdumisa kanjani ngokubonga?

UJEHOVA unguNkulunkulu ongumninimandla onke, uMbusi Wendawo Yonke, uMdali. Ngakho, igama nezinjongo zakhe kufanelwe ukudunyiswa. Ukudumisa uJehova kusho ukumhlonipha kakhulu, ukumphakamisa nokumkhulisa ngamazwi nangezenzo. Ukwenza kanjalo “ngokubonga” kudinga ukuba ngaso sonke isikhathi simbonge ngalokho asenzela kona manje nasazosenzela kona esikhathini esizayo. Isimo sengqondo okudingeka sibe naso siboniswe kusAmbulo 4:11, lapho izidalwa zomoya ezithembekile ezisezulwini zithi khona: “Uyakufanelekela, Jehova, yebo Nkulunkulu wethu, ukwamukela inkazimulo nodumo namandla, ngoba wadala zonke izinto, nangenxa yentando yakho zaba khona futhi zadalwa.” Simdumisa kanjani uJehova? Ngokufunda ngaye bese senza lokho akufunayo kithi. Kufanele sizizwe ngendlela umhubi ayezizwa ngayo lapho ethi: “Ngifundise ukwenza intando yakho, ngokuba wena unguNkulunkulu wami.”—IHubo 143:10.

2. UJehova ubaphatha kanjani labo abamphakamisayo nalabo abangamphakamisi?

² UJehova uyabazisa labo abamphakamisayo. Yingakho ‘engumvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.’ (Heberu 11:6) Uyini lowo mvuzo? Lapho ethandaza kuYise wasezulwini, uJesu wathi: “Lokhu kusho ukuphila okumi phakade, ukungenisa kwabo ulwazi ngawe, owukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, nangalowo owamthuma, uJesu Kristu.” (Johane 17:3) Yebo, labo ‘abaphakamisa uJehova ngokubonga’ “bazakudla ifa lomhlaba, bahlale kuwo njalonjalo.” (IHubo 37:29) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, “omubi akayikuba namvuzo.” (IzAga 24:20) Futhi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, isidingo sokuphakamisa uJehova siyaphuthuma ngoba ngokushesha uzobhubhisa ababi alondoloze abalungile. “Izwe liyadlula kanjalo nesifiso salo, kodwa lowo owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube phakade.”—1 Johane 2:17; IzAga 2:21, 22.

3. Kungani kufanele siyinake incwadi kaMalaki?

³ Intando kaJehova itholakala eBhayibhelini, ngoba “yonke imiBhalo iphefumulelwe uNkulunkulu.” (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Lelo Zwi likaNkulunkulu linokulandisa okuningi okubonisa izindlela uJehova ababusisa ngazo labo abamphakamisayo nalokho okwenzeka kulabo abangamphakamisi. Okunye kwalokho kulandisa kuhlobene nalokho okwenzeka kwa-Israyeli ngesikhathi somprofethi uMalaki. Cishe ngonyaka ka-443 B.C.E., lapho uNehemiya engumbusi kwaJuda, uMalaki wabhala incwadi ebizwa ngegama lakhe. Le  ncwadi enamandla nevusa amadlingozi inemininingwane neziprofetho ‘ezalotshelwa ukuba zibe isixwayiso kithi esesifikelwe ukuphela kwezimiso zezinto.’ (1 Korinte 10:11) Ukunaka amazwi kaMalaki kungasisiza ukuba silungele “usuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo,” lapho eyobhubhisa khona lesi simiso esibi.—Malaki 4:5.

4. Yimaphi amaphuzu ayisithupha esiqasheliswa wona kuMalaki isahluko 1?

⁴ Incwadi kaMalaki, eyabhalwa eminyakeni engu-2 400 edlule, isisiza kanjani kuleli khulu lama-21 ekusihlomiseleni lolo suku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo? Isahluko sokuqala sisiqaphelisa okungenani amaphuzu ayisithupha abalulekile ekuphakamiseni kwethu uJehova ngokubonga ukuze sithole umusa wakhe nokuphila okuphakade: (1) UJehova uyabathanda abantu bakhe. (2) Kumelwe sibonise ukwazisa izinto ezingcwele. (3) UJehova ulindele ukuba simnike okungcono kakhulu esinakho. (4) Ukukhulekela kweqiniso kushukunyiswa uthando olungenabugovu, hhayi ukuhaha. (5) Inkonzo eyamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu ayiwona umkhuba nje owumthwalo. (6) Ngamunye wethu kumelwe alandise kuNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke, kulesi sihloko sokuqala kwezintathu eziphathelene nencwadi kaMalaki, ake sihlole ngalinye lalawo maphuzu njengoba sihlolisisa isahluko sokuqala sikaMalaki.

UJehova Uyabathanda Abantu Bakhe

5, 6. (a) Kungani uJehova ayemthanda uJakobe? (b) Uma silingisa ukwethembeka kukaJakobe, yini esingayilindela?

⁵ Uthando lukaJehova lucaciswa kahle emavesini okuqala kaMalaki. Le ncwadi iqala ngala mazwi: “Isiprofetho. Izwi likaJehova ku-Israyeli.” UNkulunkulu uqhubeka athi: “Nginithandile.” Ecaphuna isibonelo, kulo leli vesi, uJehova uthi: “Ngamthanda uJakobe.” UJakobe wayeyindoda enokholo kuJehova. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova washintsha igama likaJakobe wamqamba ngokuthi u-Israyeli, futhi waba ukhokho wesizwe sakwa-Israyeli. UJehova wamthanda uJakobe ngoba eyindoda yokholo. Phakathi kwesizwe, labo ababebonisa isimo sengqondo sikaJakobe kuJehova nabo wayebathanda.—Malaki 1:1, 2.

⁶ Uma simthanda uJehova futhi sinamathela ngobuqotho kubantu bakhe, singathola induduzo kula mazwi akweyesi-2 Samuweli 12:22: “UJehova akayikushiya abantu bakhe ngenxa yegama lakhe elikhulu.” UJehova uyabathanda abantu bakhe futhi ubanika umvuzo, omkhulu kuwo okuwukuphila phakade. Ngakho siyafunda: “Themba kuJehova, wenze okulungileyo; hlala ezweni, uzondle ngokukholeka; zithokozise ngoJehova, yikhona ezakukunika okufiswa yinhliziyo yakho.” (IHubo 37:3, 4) Ukuthanda kwethu uJehova kuhilela iphuzu lesibili esiqasheliswa lona kuMalaki isahluko 1.

Bonisa Ukwazisa Izinto Ezingcwele

7. Kungani uJehova ayemzonda u-Esawu?

⁷ Njengoba sifunda uMalaki 1:2, 3, ngemva kokuba uJehova ethé, “Ngamthanda uJakobe,” ube esethi, “U-Esawu ngamzonda.” Kungani kwakuhlukile ngaye? UJakobe wamphakamisa uJehova, kodwa umfowabo oyiwele lakhe, u-Esawu, akazange. U-Esawu wayebizwa nangokuthi u-Edomi. KuMalaki 1:4, izwe lakwa-Edomi libizwa ngendawo yobubi, futhi izakhamuzi zalo ziyalahlwa. Igama elithi Edomi (elisho  “Okubomvu”) lanikezwa u-Esawu ngemva kokuba edayisele uJakobe ilungelo lakhe lobuzibulo eliyigugu ngesitshulu esibomvu. UGenesise 25:34 uthi ‘u-Esawu wadelela ubuzibulo bakhe.’ Umphostoli uPawulu wanxusa ayekholwa nabo ukuba baqaphele ukuba “kungabikho sifebe nanoma ubani ongazazisi izinto ezingcwele, njengo-Esawu owenana isidlo esisodwa ngokuphisana ngamalungelo akhe njengezibulo.”—Heberu 12:14-16.

8. Yini eyenza uPawulu afanise u-Esawu nesifebe?

⁸ Kungani uPawulu azihlobanisa nobufebe izenzo zika-Esawu? Ngoba ukuba nomqondo ka-Esawu kungaholela umuntu ekubeni angazazisi izinto ezingcwele. Lokhu kungaholela ezonweni ezinkulu, njengobufebe. Ngakho, ngamunye wethu angase azibuze: ‘Ingabe ngezinye izikhathi ngiyalingeka ukuba ngenanise ngefa lami lobuKristu—ukuphila okuphakade—ngokuthile okuwubala njengesitsha sesitshulu? Kungenzeka yini ukuthi ngiyazidelela izinto ezingcwele kodwa ngibe ngingaqapheli?’ U-Esawu wayenesifiso esingalawuleki sokwanelisa ukunxanela okungokwenyama. Wathi kuJakobe: “Ngicela usheshise ungiphe umthamo walokho okubomvu.” (Genesise 25:30, NW) Ngokudabukisayo, ezinye zezinceku zikaNkulunkulu kuye kwaba njengokungathi zithi: “Shesha! Kungani kufanele ngilinde umshado ohloniphekayo?” Isifiso sokuzanelisa ngokobulili kungakhathaliseki ukuthi iyini imiphumela siye saba yisitsha sazo sesitshulu.

9. Singakulondoloza kanjani ukwesaba uJehova okunenhlonipho?

⁹ Kwangathi singelokothe sidelele izinto ezingcwele ngokungabi nandaba nobumsulwa, ubuqotho nefa lethu elingokomoya. Esikhundleni sokuba njengo-Esawu, masibe njengoJakobe owayethembekile, silondoloze ukwesaba okunenhlonipho ngoNkulunkulu ngokubonisa njalo ukwazisa okujulile ngezinto ezingcwele. Singakwenza kanjani lokhu? Ngokuqaphela ukuthi siyahlangabezana nezimfuneko zikaJehova. Lokhu-ke kusiholela ephuzwini lesithathu elivezwa uMalaki isahluko 1. Yiliphi lelo phuzu?

Ukupha UJehova Okungcono Kakhulu Esinakho

10. Abapristi babelidelela kanjani itafula likaJehova?

¹⁰ Abapristi bakwaJuda ababekhonza ethempelini eJerusalema ngesikhathi sikaMalaki babenganikeli imihlatshelo engcono kunayo yonke kuJehova. UMalaki 1:6-8 uthi: “‘Indodana idumisa uyise, nenceku inkosi yayo; uma nginguyise, kuphi ukudunyiswa kwami? Uma ngiyinkosi, kuphi ukwesatshwa kwami?’ usho uJehova Sebawoti, ‘kinina bapristi enilidelela igama lami.’” Abapristi bábuza: “Silidelele kanjani igama lakho na?” “Ngokunikela ngesinkwa esingcolileyo e-altare lami,” kuphendula uJehova. Abapristi báphinda babuza: “Sikungcolise ngani na?” UJehova wabe esethi kubo: “Ngokusho kwenu ukuthi: ‘Itafula likaJehova lidelelekile.’” Labo bapristi babebonisa ukuthi bayalidelela itafula likaJehova njalo lapho beletha umhlatshelo onesici, bethi: “Akukubi.”

11. (a) UJehova wathini ngemihlatshelo engamukeleki? (b) Abantu bebonke babenecala ngandlelani?

¹¹ UJehova wabe esekhuluma ngale mihlatshelo engamukeleki ethi: “Mawusisondeze kumbusi wakho; uyakuba nomusa kuwe na? Uyakukwamukela na?” Cha, umbusi  wabo wayengeke asijabulele isipho esinjalo. Kangakanani-ke ngoMbusi Wendawo Yonke, naye wayengenakuyamukela iminikelo enezici! Futhi kwakungebona abapristi kuphela ababesephutheni. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi babebonisa ukumeya uJehova ngokunikela leyo mihlatshelo. Kodwa ingabe abantu bebonke bona babengenacala? Lutho neze! Yibona ababekhethe lezo zilwane eziyizimpumputhe, eziqhugayo nezigulayo baziletha kubapristi ukuze zinikelwe. Awubheke isono esingaka!

12. Yiluphi usizo esilutholayo ukuze siphe uJehova okungcono kakhulu esinakho?

¹² Ukupha uJehova okungcono kakhulu esinakho kuyindlela yokubonisa ukuthi siyamthanda ngempela. (Mathewu 22:37, 38) Ngokungafani nabapristi abanhlanhlathayo besikhathi sikaMalaki, inhlangano kaJehova namuhla inikeza inala yemfundo enhle engokomBhalo esisiza ukuba sidumise uJehova ngokubonga ngokuhlangabezana nezimfuneko zaphezulu. Okuhlobene nalokhu yiphuzu lesine elibalulekile elivela kuMalaki isahluko 1.

Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Kushukunyiswa Uthando, Hhayi Ukuhaha

13. Abapristi babenzani eyayibonisa ukuthi babeshukunyiswa ukuhaha?

¹³ Abapristi bosuku lukaMalaki babenobugovu, bengenaluthando, futhi behahela imali. Sazi kanjani? UMalaki 1:10 (NW) uthi: “‘Ngubani phakathi kwenu oyovala iminyango? Nina ngeke nikhanyise i-altare lami—ngesihle. Angijabuli ngani,’ kusho uJehova wamabutho, ‘futhi angiwujabuleli umnikelo wesipho ovela esandleni senu.’” Yebo, labo bapristi abahahayo babefuna inkokhelo yokwenza ngisho nezinkonzo ezivamile zethempeli, befuna ukukhokhelwa ngokuvala iminyango nokokhela imililo ye-altare! Yingakho uJehova engayijabulelanga iminikelo evela ezandleni zabo!

14. Kungani sithi oFakazi BakaJehova bashukunyiswa uthando?

¹⁴ Ukuhaha nobugovu babapristi abanesono baseJerusalema lasendulo kungase kusikhumbuze ukuthi, ngokweZwi likaNkulunkulu, abantu abahahayo ngeke bawuzuze njengefa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 6:9, 10) Ukucabanga ngezindlela zokuzifunela okwabo zalabo bapristi kusenza siwazise nakakhulu umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke owenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Wenziwa ngokuzithandela; asilokothi sikhokhise ngesici esithile senkonzo yethu. Cha, “asibona abathengisi bezwi likaNkulunkulu.” (2 Korinte 2:17) NjengoPawulu, ngamunye wethu angasho ngobuqotho ukuthi: “Ngazimemezela ngentokozo izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu kini ngaphandle kwenkokhiso.” (2 Korinte 11:7) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu ‘wazimemezela ngentokozo izindaba ezinhle.’ Lokho kusikisela iphuzu lesihlanu esiqasheliswa lona kuMalaki isahluko 1.

Inkonzo Eya KuNkulunkulu Ayiwona Umkhuba Owumthwalo

15, 16. (a) Abapristi babenasiphi isimo sengqondo ngokunikela imihlatshelo? (b) OFakazi BakaJehova bayinikela kanjani eyabo imihlatshelo?

¹⁵ Abapristi abangenalukholo baseJerusalema lasendulo babebheka ukunikela imihlatshelo njengomkhuba okhathazayo. Kwakuwumthwalo kubona. Njengoba kuphawulwa kuMalaki 1:13, uNkulunkulu wabatshela: “Nisho futhi ukuthi: ‘Bheka, ukuhlupheka!’ bese nilincimfela.” Labo bapristi babencimfela noma bedelela izinto  ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu. Masithandazele ukuba thina ngabanye singafani nabo. Kunalokho, ngaso sonke isikhathi masibonise umoya ovezwa amazwi akweyoku-1 Johane 5:3: “Yilokhu okushiwo uthando ngoNkulunkulu, ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe; futhi imiyalo yakhe ayiwona umthwalo osindayo.”

¹⁶ Masikujabulele ukunikela kuNkulunkulu imihlatshelo engokomoya, singalokothi sibheke lokhu njengomthwalo osindayo. Kwangathi singalalela la mazwi esiprofetho: “Nithi [kuJehova]: ‘Susa konke okubi, wamukele okuhle, sinikele ngemilomo yethu njengangezinkunzi.’” (Hoseya 14:2) Inkulumo ethi “ngemilomo yethu njengangezinkunzi” ibhekisela emihlatshelweni engokomoya, amazwi esiwakhulumayo sidumisa uJehova nezinjongo zakhe. AmaHeberu 13:15 athi: “Ngaye [uJesu Kristu] masinikeleni ngaso sonke isikhathi kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokudumisa, okuwukuthi, isithelo sezindebe ezivuma obala igama lakhe.” Yeka indlela esijabula ngayo ngokuthi imihlatshelo yethu engokomoya ayiwona nje umkhuba, kodwa iyizibonakaliso zenhliziyo yonke zokuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu! Lokhu kuholela ephuzwini lesithupha esingalithola kuMalaki isahluko 1.

Ngamunye Kumelwe Alandise

17, 18. (a) Kungani uJehova amqalekisa “okhohlisayo”? (b) Yini ababengacabanganga ngayo labo ababekhohlisa?

¹⁷ Abantu ababephila ngosuku lukaMalaki babenomthwalo wokulandisa ngezenzo zabo, kunjalo nangathi. (Roma 14:12; Galathiya 6:5) Ngenxa yalokho, uMalaki 1:14 uthi: “Makaqalekiswe okhohlisayo, okukhona emhlambini wakhe iduna [elingenasici], kanti athembise, ahlabele iNkosi okonakeleyo.” Umuntu owayenomhlambi wayengenaso isilwane esisodwa—mhlawumbe imvu nje eyodwa—okwakungase kungamniki thuba lokukhetha. Lapho ekhetha isilwane somhlatshelo, sasingekho isidingo sokukhetha isilwane esiyimpumputhe, esiqhugayo, noma esigulayo. Uma ekhetha isilwane esinjalo esiqhugayo, lokho kwakuyobonisa ukuthi wayedelela ilungiselelo lemihlatshelo likaJehova, ngoba umuntu onomhlambi wezilwane wayengasithola nakanjani esingenaso isici!

¹⁸ Yingakho-ke uJehova amqalekisa okhohlisayo owayenesilwane esifanelekayo seduna kodwa alethe—mhlawumbe esihudula—isilwane esiyimpumputhe, esiqhugayo noma esigulayo kumpristi ukuze enze umhlatshelo. Kodwa akukho nenkomba yokuthi omunye wabapristi wayecaphuna umthetho kaNkulunkulu achaze ukuthi izilwane ezinesici azamukeleki. (Levitikusi 22:17-20) Abantu abenengqondo babazi ukuthi kwakuyobahambela kabi uma babengazama ukuletha isipho esinjalo kumbusi wabo. Kodwa lapha babesebenzelana noMbusi Wendawo Yonke, uJehova, omkhulu kakhulu kunanoma yimuphi umbusi ongumuntu. UMalaki 1:14 ubeka izindaba ngale ndlela: “‘Ngiyinkosi enkulu,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti, ‘negama lami liyesabeka phakathi kwezizwe.’”

19. Yini esiyilangazelelayo, futhi yini okufanele siyenze manje?

¹⁹ Njengezinceku eziqotho zikaNkulunkulu, silangazelela usuku lapho iNkosi Enkulu, uJehova, iyohlonishwa khona yisintu sonke. Ngaleso sikhathi, “umhlaba uyakugcwala ukumazi uJehova njengamanzi asibekela ulwandle.” (Isaya 11:9) Okwamanje, masizame ukuhlangabezana nezimfuneko zikaJehova ngokulingisa umhubi owathi: ‘Ngiyakumphakamisa ngokubonga.’ (IHubo 69:30) Ukuze senze kanjalo, uMalaki uneseluleko esiqhubekayo esingazuzisa kakhulu. Ngakho-ke, ezihlokweni ezimbili ezilandelayo, masihlolisise ezinye izingxenye zencwadi kaMalaki.

Uyakhumbula?

• Kungani kufanele sidumise uJehova?

• Kungani imihlatshelo yabapristi bosuku lukaMalaki yayingamukeleki kuJehova?

• Siwunikela kanjani kuJehova umhlatshelo wokudumisa?

• Ukukhulekela kweqiniso kufanele kushukunyiswe yini?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 9]

Isiprofetho sikaMalaki sabhekisela osukwini lwethu

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

U-Esawu akazazisanga izinto ezingcwele

[Isithombe ekhasini 11]

Abapristi nabantu babenikela imihlatshelo engamukeleki

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

Emhlabeni wonke, oFakazi BakaJehova banikela imihlatshelo yokudumisa ngesihle