Dumisa UJehova Ngokuziphatha Ngendlela Enesithunzi

“Umsebenzi [kaJehova] uyisithunzi nobukhazikhazi.”—IHU. 111:3.

1, 2. (a) Ungalichaza kanjani igama elithi “isithunzi”? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sihloko?

LAPHO uMadison oneminyaka eyishumi ebuzwa ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukuba “nesithunzi,” waphendula ngokushesha, “Kusho ukugqoka kahle.” Kungenzeka ukuthi leyo ntombazanyana yayingazi ukuthi iBhayibheli likhuluma ngoNkulunkulu ‘njengowembethé isithunzi.’ (IHu. 104:1) Kubantu, ukuba nesithunzi ngezinye izikhathi kungase kuhilele ukugqoka kahle. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uPawulu wayefisa ukuba abesifazane abangamaKristu “bazihlobise ngezingubo ezilungiswe kahle, ngesizotha nangokuhluzeka kwengqondo, hhayi ngezitayela zokwaluka izinwele nangegolide noma amapharele noma ngemvunulo ebiza kakhulu.” (1 Thim. 2:9) Kodwa ukuziphatha ngendlela ehloniphekile edumisa “isithunzi nobukhazikhazi” bukaJehova kuhilela okungaphezu kwalokho.—IHu. 111:3.

² EBhayibhelini, igama lesiHebheru elihunyushwe ngokuthi “isithunzi” lingahunyushwa nangokuthi “ubukhazikhazi,” “ubukhosi,” “inkazimulo,” “nodumo.” Elithi “isithunzi” lingachazwa nangokuthi ukufaneleka, ukuhlonipheka, noma ukuba nodumo. Akekho omunye okufanelekelayo ukuhlonishwa noma ukudunyiswa ngaphezu kukaJehova. Ngakho, njengezinceku zakhe ezizinikezele, inkulumo nezenzo zethu kufanele kube okuhloniphekile. Nokho, kungani abantu bekwazi ukuziphatha ngendlela ebenza babe nesithunzi? Isithunzi nobukhazikhazi kukaJehova kubonakala kanjani? Kufanele sisithinte kanjani isithunzi sikaNkulunkulu? Singafundani kuJesu Kristu mayelana nale mfanelo? Singaziphatha kanjani ngendlela enesithunzi lapho sikhulekela uNkulunkulu?

Okwenza Sikwazi Ukuziphatha Ngendlela Enesithunzi

3, 4. (a) Isithunzi esisinikiwe kufanele sisenze sisabele kanjani? (b) IHubo 8:5-9 libhekisele kubani ngokwesiprofetho? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) (c) Esikhathini esidlule obani uJehova abanika isithunzi?

³ Ngenxa yokuthi benziwe ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, bonke abantu bangakwazi ukuziphatha ngendlela enesithunzi. UJehova wenza umuntu wokuqala waba nesithunzi ngokumenza umnakekeli womhlaba. (Gen. 1:26, 27) Ngisho nangemva kokuba umuntu onile, uJehova wawusho futhi umthwalo wemfanelo ayewunikeze umuntu maqondana nomhlaba. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu usaqhubeka ‘ethwesa abantu umqhele’ wesithunzi. (Funda iHubo 8:5-9.) * Isithunzi esisinikiwe sifuna ukuba siziphathe ngendlela ehloniphekile edumisa igama likaJehova elibabazekayo.

⁴ UJehova uye wabenza baba nesithunzi ngokukhethekile  labo abanikela kuye inkonzo engcwele. UNkulunkulu wenza u-Abela waba nesithunzi ngokwamukela umhlatshelo wakhe, enqaba lowo owawunikelwe umfowabo uKhayini. (Gen. 4:4, 5) UMose wayalwa ukuba ‘abeke esinye sesithunzi sakhe’ kuJoshuwa, umuntu owayezoba umholi wama-Israyeli ngemva kwakhe. (Num. 27:20) Ngokuqondene nendodana kaDavide, uSolomoni, iBhayibheli lithi: “UJehova wayelokhu enza uSolomoni eba mkhulu ngokudlulele phambi kwamehlo ka-Israyeli wonke futhi emnika isithunzi sobukhosi esingakaze sibe khona esinjengaso phezu kwanoma iyiphi inkosi yangaphambi kwakhe phezu kuka-Israyeli.” (1 IziKr. 29:25) UJehova uyowanika isithunzi ngendlela evelele amaKristu avusiwe agcotshiwe, aye amemezela ngokwethembeka ‘inkazimulo yobukhazikhazi bobukhosi bakhe.’ (IHu. 145:11-13) Ngenxa yokudumisa uJehova ngale ndlela, isixuku esandayo ‘sezinye izimvu’ zikaJesu naso sinendima ebusisekile nesenza sibe nesithunzi.—Joh. 10:16.

Isithunzi Nobukhazikhazi BukaJehova Kuyabonakala

5. UJehova unesithunzi kangakanani?

⁵ Engomeni eqhathanisa ubukhulu bukaNkulunkulu nobuncane bomuntu, umhubi uDavide wahlabelela: “O Jehova Nkosi yethu, yeka ukuthi igama lakho likhulu ngendlela ebabazeka kangakanani emhlabeni wonke, wena osithunzi sakho kulandiswa ngaso ngaphezu kwamazulu!” (IHu. 8:1) Kusukela ngaphambi kokudalwa ‘kwamazulu nomhlaba’ ngisho nangalé kokugcwaliseka okukhulu kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokwenza umhlaba ube ipharadesi futhi abuyisele umkhaya wesintu ekupheleleni—kusukela phakade kuze kube phakade—uJehova uNkulunkulu uyolokhu enguMuntu ophakeme kunabo bonke nonesithunzi kunabo bonke endaweni yonke.—Gen. 1:1; 1 Kor. 15:24-28; IsAm. 21:1-5.

6. Kungani umhubi athi uJehova wembethe isithunzi?

⁶ Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba wathinteka ngayo umhubi owesaba uNkulunkulu lapho ebuka ubuhle besibhakabhaka esikhulukazi esigcwele izinkanyezi ngobusuku obucwathile, esihlotshiswe “ngamagugu” abenyezelayo! Emangaliswe indlela uNkulunkulu ‘elule ngayo amazulu njengendwangu yetende,’ umhubi wachaza uJehova njengowembethe isithunzi ngenxa yekhono laKhe lokudala elimangalisayo. (Funda iHubo 104:1, 2.) Isithunzi nobukhazikhazi boMdali ongabonakali nonguMninimandla onke kubonakala emisebenzini yakhe ebonakalayo.

7, 8. Ibuphi ubufakazi ngobukhulu nobukhazikhazi bukaJehova esibubonayo emazulwini?

⁷ Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngomthala i-Milky Way. Kulo mthala onenqwaba yezinkanyezi, amaplanethi nezimiso zonozungezilanga, uMhlaba ubonakala umncane njengenhlayiya yesihlabathi sasolwandle ogwini oluwudedangendlale. Phela lo mthala owodwa nje unezinkanyezi ezingaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu! Uma ungabala inkanyezi eyodwa umzuzwana ngamunye amahora angu-24 ngosuku, bekungakuthatha iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-3 000 ukubala izinkanyezi eziyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu.

⁸ Uma umthala i-Milky Way uwodwa unezinkanyezi eziyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu, zingaki-ke izinkanyezi ezisendaweni yonke? Izazi zezinkanyezi zilinganisela ukuthi i-Milky Way kungenzeka ingomunye wemithala engaba yizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-50 kuya kweyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-125. Zingaki izinkanyezi ezikhona endaweni yonke? Ngokuqinisekile, inani lazo likhulu kakhulu ukuba siliqonde. Noma kunjalo, uJehova “ubala izinkanyezi; zonke uzibiza ngamagama azo.” (IHu. 147:4) Njengoba usuqonda ukuthi uJehova wembethe isithunzi nobukhazikhazi obunjalo, awushukumiseleki yini ukuba udumise igama lakhe elikhulu?

9, 10. Ilungiselelo lesinkwa libubonisa kanjani ubukhulu bokuhlakanipha koMdali?

⁹ Manje ake sithi ukususa izingqondo zethu emazulwini amangalisayo siye entweni ejwayelekile njengesinkwa. UJehova akayena nje “uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba” kodwa futhi ‘unika abalambile isinkwa.’ (IHu. 146:6, 7) “Isithunzi nobukhazikhazi” bukaJehova kubonakala emisebenzini yakhe emikhulu, ehlanganisa nelungiselelo lakhe lezitshalo okwenziwa ngazo isinkwa. (Funda iHubo 111:1-5.) UJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandaze: “Siphe namuhla isinkwa sethu salolu suku.” (Math.  6:11) Isinkwa sasiwukudla okuyisisekelo kubantu abaningi basendulo, kuhlanganise nama-Israyeli. Nakuba kulula ukwenza isinkwa, ayive iyinkimbinkimbi inqubo yamakhemikhali aguqula izithako ezimbalwa eziyisisekelo zibe isinkwa esehla esiphundu.

¹⁰ Ngesikhathi sokulotshwa kweBhayibheli, ama-Israyeli ayesebenzisa ufulawa kakolweni noma webhali namanzi ukuze enze isinkwa. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakusetshenziswa imvubelo lapho kwenziwa isinkwa. Lezi zithako ezivamile ziyahlangana zenze inhlanganisela emangalisayo yamakhemikhali asebenzelanayo. Ukusebenzelana kwalezi zithako akwaziwa ngokuphelele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, indlela umzimba osigaya ngayo isinkwa ingenye inqubo emangalisayo. Akumangalisi ukuthi umhubi wahlabelela: “O Jehova, yeka ukuthi miningi kangakanani imisebenzi yakho! Yonke uyenzé ngokuhlakanipha”! (IHu. 104:24) Ingabe nawe ushukumiseleka ngendlela efanayo ukuba udumise uJehova?

Sikuthinta Kanjani Isithunzi Nobukhazikhazi BukaNkulunkulu?

11, 12. Ukuzindla ngendalo kaNkulunkulu kungasithinta kanjani?

¹¹ Akudingeki ukuba sibe izazi zezinkanyezi ukuze simangaliswe isibhakabhaka ebusuku noma sibe izazi zamakhemikhali ukuze sijabulele isinkwa. Nokho, ukuze sazise ubukhulu boMdali wethu, kudingeka sizinike isikhathi sokuzindla ngemisebenzi yezandla zakhe. Kungasizuzisa kanjani lokho kuzindla? Kungasithinta ngendlela esithinteka ngayo lapho sizindla ngemisebenzi kaJehova yolunye uhlobo.

¹² Mayelana nezenzo ezinkulu uJehova azenzela abantu baKhe, uDavide wahlabelela: “Ubukhazikhazi obukhazimulayo besithunzi sakho nezindaba zemisebenzi yakho emangalisayo ngizozikhathaza ngakho.” (IHu. 145:5) Sibonisa ukuthi siyazikhathaza ngale misebenzi ngokutadisha iBhayibheli nangokuzinika isikhathi sokuzindla ngalokho esikufunda kulo. Kusithinta kanjani lokhu kuzindla? Ukwazisa kwethu isithunzi nobukhazikhazi bukaJehova kuyakhula. Ngokuqinisekile, siyoshukumiseleka ukuba sihlanganyele noDavide ekudumiseni uJehova sithi: “Ubukhulu bakho bona, ngiyobumemezela.” (IHu. 145:6) Ukuzindla ngemisebenzi kaJehova emangalisayo kufanele kuqinise ubuhlobo bethu naye futhi kusishukumisele ukuba sitshele abanye ngaye ngentshiseko nangokuzimisela. Ingabe uzimemezela ngentshiseko izindaba ezinhle futhi usize abanye ukuba bazise isithunzi, ubukhazikhazi nokuphakama kukaJehova uNkulunkulu?

UJesu Usibonakalisa Ngokuphelele Isithunzi SikaNkulunkulu

13. (a) NgokukaDaniyeli 7:13, 14, uJehova uye wayihlonipha kanjani iNdodana yakhe? (b) Njengoba eyiNkosi, uJesu uziphatha kanjani izikhonzi zakhe?

¹³ INdodana kaNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, yamemezela izindaba ezinhle ngentshiseko futhi yakhazimulisa uYise osezulwini onesithunzi nobabazekayo. UJehova wayihlonipha ngokukhethekile iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ngokuyinika ‘ububusi nombuso.’ (Funda uDaniyeli 7:13, 14.) Kodwa uJesu akaqhoshi futhi akayena  ongangeneki. Kunalokho, unguMbusi onesihawu okuqondayo ukulinganiselwa kwezikhonzi zakhe futhi ozibheka njengezinesithunzi. Cabanga ngesibonelo esisodwa sendlela uJesu njengeNkosi emisiwe ayebaphatha ngayo abantu ayehlangana nabo, ikakhulu labo ababengafunwa.

14. Abantu abanochoko babebhekwa kanjani kwa-Israyeli wasendulo?

¹⁴ Ezikhathini zasendulo, kwakudabukisa ukubona abantu abanochoko befa kancane kancane. Kancane kancane, lesi sifo sasisakazeka kuzo zonke izingxenye zomzimba. Ukwelapha umuntu onochoko kwakubhekwa njengento engenakwenzeka, kunjengokuvusa umuntu kwabafileyo. (Num. 12:12; 2 AmaKh. 5:7, 14) Abanochoko kwakuthiwa bangcolile, benyanywa futhi bexoshwa emphakathini. Lapho bezohlangana nabantu, kwakumelwe bamemeze, babaxwayise: “Ngingcolile, ngingcolile!” (Lev. 13:43-46) Onochoko wayefana nomuntu ofile. Ngokwemibhalo yorabi, umuntu onochoko wayevunyelwa ukuba asondele ngamamitha angu-1,7 kuphela komunye umuntu. Kubikwa ukuthi umholi othile wenkolo wayethi angabona umuntu onochoko amjikijele ngamatshe ukuze angasondeli kuye ngisho noma ebuqamama.

15. UJesu wamphatha kanjani umuntu othile owayenochoko?

¹⁵ Nokho, iyaphawuleka indlela uJesu asabela ngayo lapho umuntu onochoko eza kuye futhi emncenga ukuba amphulukise. (Funda uMarku 1:40-42.) Kunokuba amxoshe, uJesu wamphatha ngesihawu nangendlela enesithunzi lo muntu owayexwaywa. UJesu wayebona umuntu odabukisayo owayedinga impumuzo. Ethinteke inhliziyo, imizwa yakhe yesihawu yamshukumisela esenzweni. Welula isandla, wathinta onochoko, wamphulukisa.

16. Ufundeni endleleni uJesu ayephatha ngayo abanye?

¹⁶ Njengabalandeli bakaJesu, singayilingisa kanjani indlela abonisa ngayo isithunzi esifana nesikaYise? Enye indlela iwukuqaphela ukuthi bonke abantu—kungakhathaliseki isikhundla sabo, impilo, noma ubudala—kufanele banikezwe udumo nenhlonipho. (1 Pet. 2:17) Ikakhulu labo abasezikhundleni zokwengamela, njengabayeni, abazali nabadala abangamaKristu, kudingeka babaphathe ngendlela enesithunzi labo abangaphansi kwabo futhi babasize ukuba bahlale bezihlonipha. Ligcizelela ukuthi lokhu kuyimfuneko yawo wonke amaKristu, iBhayibheli lithi: “Othandweni lobuzalwane thandanani omunye nomunye. Ekubonisaneni udumo nihole.”—Roma 12:10.

Ukuziphatha Ngendlela Enesithunzi Lapho Sikhulekela

17. Yini esingayifunda emiBhalweni ngokuziphatha ngendlela enesithunzi lapho sikhulekela uJehova?

¹⁷ Kufanele siqikelele ngokukhethekile ukuthi siziphatha ngendlela enesithunzi lapho sikhulekela uJehova. UmShumayeli 5:1 uthi: “Qapha izinyawo zakho noma nini lapho uya endlini kaNkulunkulu weqiniso.” UMose noJoshuwa bayalwa ukuba bakhumule izimbadada zabo lapho besendaweni engcwele. (Eks. 3:5; Josh. 5:15) Lokhu kwakumelwe bakwenze njengophawu lwenhlonipho ejulile. Abapristi abangama-Israyeli babebophekile ukuba bagqoke izikhindi zangaphansi  zelineni “ukuze bamboze ubunqunu babo.” (Eks. 28:42, 43) Lokhu kwakuvimbela ukuba kungenzeki kwembuleke ubunqunu babo lapho bekhonza e-altare. Wonke amalungu omkhaya wompristi kwakufanele anamathele endinganisweni kaNkulunkulu yokuhlonipheka.

18. Sisibonisa kanjani isithunzi ekukhulekeleni kwethu uJehova?

¹⁸ Isithunzi ekukhulekeleni kwethu sihilela ukubonisana udumo nenhlonipho. Ukuze sifanelekele udumo nokuhlonishwa, kumelwe siziphathe ngendlela ehloniphekile. Inhlonipho esiyibonisayo kumelwe ingabi ukuzenzisa noma ukubonakala nje kwangaphandle. Kufanele isuke ngaphakathi lapho kungaboni muntu khona kodwa lapho kubona khona uNkulunkulu—enhliziyweni yethu. (1 Sam. 16:7; IzAga 21:2) Inhlonipho kufanele ibe ingxenye yokuphila kwethu futhi ithinte ukuziphatha kwethu, isimo sengqondo nobuhlobo bethu nabanye, ithinte ngisho nendlela thina esizibheka futhi sizizwe ngayo. Ngempela, kufanele sibonise inhlonipho ngazo zonke izikhathi nakuzo zonke izinto esizishoyo nesizenzayo. Endabeni yokuziphatha, yokugqoka nokuzilungisa, silalela amazwi omphostoli uPawulu: “Asinikezi sizathu sokukhubeka nangayiphi indlela, ukuze inkonzo yethu ingatholakali inephutha; kodwa ngazo zonke izindlela sizitusa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu.” (2 Kor. 6:3, 4) ‘Sihlobisa imfundiso yoMsindisi wethu, uNkulunkulu, ezintweni zonke.’—Thithu 2:10.

Qhubeka Uziphatha Ngendlela Enesithunzi Ekukhulekeleni UNkulunkulu

19, 20. (a) Iyiphi indlela enhle yokubonisa ukuthi siyabahlonipha abanye? (b) Mayelana nenhlonipho, kufanele sizimisele ukwenzani?

¹⁹ AmaKristu agcotshiwe, ‘angamanxusa abambele uKristu,’ aziphatha ngendlela enesithunzi. (2 Kor. 5:20) “Ezinye izimvu,” eziwasekela ngobuqotho, ziyizithunywa zoMbuso kaMesiya eziziphatha ngendlela enesithunzi. Inxusa noma isithunywa sikhuluma ngesibindi nangendlela enesithunzi ngohulumeni waso. Ngakho, kufanele sikhulume ngendlela enesithunzi nangesibindi ekusekeleni uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Efe. 6:19, 20) Lapho sixoxela abanye “izindaba ezinhle zokuthile okungcono,” akubonisi yini ukuthi siyabahlonipha?—Isaya 52:7.

²⁰ Kufanele sizimisele ukukhazimulisa uNkulunkulu ngokuziphatha ngokuvumelana nesithunzi sakhe. (1 Pet. 2:12) Masiyibonise njalo inhlonipho ejulile ngoJehova, ngokukhulekelwa kwakhe nangabakhulekeli bakhe. Kwangathi uJehova, ozembathise isithunzi nobukhazikhazi, angajatshuliswa indlela yethu enesithunzi yokumkhulekela.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• Ukuqaphela ubukhazikhazi besithunzi sikaJehova kufanele kusithinte kanjani?

• Yini esingayifunda ngesithunzi endleleni uJesu asabela ngayo kumuntu othile owayenochoko?

• Singaziphatha kanjani ngendlela enesithunzi edumisa uJehova?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

UJehova wamenza kanjani u-Abela waba nesithunzi?

[Isithombe ekhasini 14]

Imisebenzi emikhulu kaJehova ibonakala ngisho naselungiselelweni lesinkwa

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Ufundeni ngesithunzi endleleni uJesu aphatha ngayo umuntu othile owayenochoko?

[Isithombe ekhasini 16]

Ukukhulekela okunesithunzi kuhilela ukudumisa uJehova