UJehova Ngeke Abashiye Abaqotho Bakhe

“[UJehova] ngeke abashiye abaqotho bakhe. Ngokuqinisekile bayoqashwa kuze kube nini nanini.”—IHU. 37:28.

1, 2. (a) Iziphi izenzakalo ekhulwini leshumi leminyaka B.C.E. ezavivinya ubuqotho bezinceku zikaNkulunkulu? (b) Iziphi izimo ezintathu uJehova aqapha abaqotho bakhe kuzo?

YIKHULU leshumi leminyaka B.C.E. futhi kumelwe kwenziwe isinqumo. Kusale kancane ukuba kube nempi yombango futhi iye yagwenywa ngokunikeza izizwe eziyishumi zakwa-Israyeli ezinothuthuva uzibuse. Inkosi yazo esanda kumiswa, uJerobowamu, ithatha isinyathelo ngokushesha sokuqinisa umbuso wayo ngokusungula inkolo entsha yoMbuso. Ifuna abantu bayo bathembeke kuyo ngokuphelele. Zizokwenzenjani izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile? Ingabe zizohlala ziqotho kuNkulunkulu ezimkhulekelayo? Izinkulungwane zenza kanjalo futhi uJehova uyaziqapha njengoba zilondoloza ubuqotho bazo.—1 AmaKh. 12:1-33; 2 IziKr. 11:13, 14.

² Nanamuhla ubuqotho bezinceku zikaNkulunkulu buyavivinywa. IBhayibheli liyaxwayisa: “Hlalani nisangulukile, qaphani. Isitha senu, uDeveli, sihambahamba njengengonyama ebhongayo, efuna engamshwabadela.” Singaphumelela yini ‘ekumelaneni naye, siqinile okholweni’? (1 Pet. 5:8, 9) Ake sihlole izenzakalo ezithile ezenzeka ngaphambi nangemva kokumiswa kukaJerobowamu njengenkosi ngo-997 B.C.E. bese sibona ukuthi singafundani kuzo. Phakathi nalezo zikhathi ezibucayi, izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile zacindezelwa. Zazichayeke nasemathonyeni ezihlubuki kuyilapho zifeza izabelo eziyinselele. Esimweni ngasinye, uJehova akazange abashiye abaqotho bakhe futhi ngeke abashiye nanamuhla.—IHu. 37:28.

Lapho Becindezelwa

3. Kungani ukubusa kweNkosi uDavide kwakungacindezeli?

³ Ake siqale ngokuhlola izenzakalo ezaholela ekubeni uJerobowamu abe yinkosi. IzAga 29:2 zithi: “Lapho omubi ebusa, abantu bayabubula.” Abantu abazange babubule lapho kubusa inkosi yakwa-Israyeli wasendulo, uDavide. UDavide wayengaphelele, kodwa wayeqotho kuNkulunkulu futhi ethembela kuye. Ukubusa kwakhe kwakungacindezeli. UJehova wenza isivumelwano naye: “Ngokuqinisekile, indlu yakho nombuso wakho kuyoma kugxile phambi kwakho kuze kube nini nanini; sona kanye isihlalo sakho sobukhosi siyoma siqine kuze kube nini nanini.”—2 Sam. 7:16.

4. Izibusiso ezajatshulelwa ngesikhathi kubusa uSolomoni zazinamuphi umbandela?

⁴ Ukubusa kwendodana kaDavide, uSolomoni, kwaqale kwaba nokuthula nokuchuma okukhulu kangangokuthi kukufanekisela kahle ukuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kukaKristu Jesu kwesikhathi esizayo. (IHu. 72:1, 17) Asikho nesisodwa isizwe kwezingu-12 zakwa-Israyeli esaba nesizathu sokuvukela ngaleso sikhathi. Nokho, izibusiso uSolomoni nabantu bakhe ababezijabulela zazinombandela. UJehova wayetshele uSolomoni: “Uma uzohamba ezimisweni zami wenze izinqumo zami zokwahlulela futhi empeleni ugcine yonke imiyalo  yami ngokuhamba kuyo, ngokuqinisekile nami ngizolifeza izwi lami kuwe engalikhuluma kuDavide uyihlo; impela ngizohlala phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, futhi ngeke ngisishiye isizwe sami u-Israyeli.”—1 AmaKh. 6:11-13.

5, 6. Waba yini umphumela wokungathembeki kukaSolomoni kuNkulunkulu?

⁵ Eminyakeni yakhe yokuguga, uSolomoni akazange athembeke kuJehova futhi waqala ukuhileleka ekukhulekeleni kwamanga. (1 AmaKh. 11:4-6) Kancane kancane, wayeka ukulalela imithetho kaJehova futhi waya ngokuya ecindezela abantu bakhe. Wabacindezela kakhulu kangangokuthi ngemva kokufa kwakhe abantu bakhononda ngaye endodaneni yakhe eyamlandela esikhundleni, uRehobowamu, futhi bacela impumuzo. (1 AmaKh. 12:4) UJehova wasabela kanjani lapho uSolomoni engathembeki?

⁶ IBhayibheli liyasitshela: “UJehova wamvuthela ngolaka uSolomoni, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe yayichezukile [kuNkulunkulu] ka-Israyeli, owayebonakalé kabili kuye.” UJehova wathi kuSolomoni: “Ngenxa yokuthi . . . awusigcinanga isivumelwano sami nezimiso zami engazibeka njengomyalo kuwe, nakanjani ngizowuhlwitha umbuso kuwe, futhi ngokuqinisekile ngizowunika inceku yakho.”—1 AmaKh. 11:9-11.

7. Nakuba uSolomoni alahlwa, uJehova wabanakekela kanjani abaqotho baKhe?

⁷ UJehova wabe esethuma umprofethi u-Ahiya ukuba ayogcoba umkhululi. Wagcoba uJerobowamu, indoda efanelekayo eyayisebenzela uSolomoni ngesikhathi esabusa. Nakuba uJehova ahlala eqotho esivumelwaneni soMbuso asenza noDavide, wakwamukela ukuba umbuso wezizwe ezingu-12 uhlukane. UJerobowamu wanikwa izizwe eziyishumi; kwathi ezimbili zaqhubeka zisekela uhlu lozalo lukaDavide, olwase lumelelwa iNkosi uRehobowamu. (1 AmaKh. 11:29-37; 12:16, 17, 21) UJehova wathi kuJerobowamu: “Kuyothi uma ukulalela konke engizokuyala ngakho, uhambe ezindleleni zami futhi empeleni wenze okulungile emehlweni ami ngokugcina izimiso zami nemiyalo yami, njengoba nje uDavide inceku yami enza, nami ngiyoba nawe, futhi ngiyokwakhela indlu emiyo njalo, njengoba nje ngiyakhele uDavide, futhi ngiyokunika u-Israyeli.” (1 AmaKh. 11:38) UJehova wangenela ngenxa yabantu bakhe wenza indlela yokubaphumuza ekucindezelweni.

8. Ibuphi ubunzima obucindezela abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla?

⁸ Namuhla ukucindezela nokungabi nabulungisa kudlangile. UmShumayeli 8:9 uthi: ‘Umuntu uye wabusa umuntu kwaba ukulimala kwakhe.’ Abezentengiselwano abahahayo nababusi abakhohlakele bangase babangele izimo zezomnotho ezimbi. Ngokuvamile, abaholi bezombusazwe, bezamabhizinisi nabenkolo ababeki isibonelo esihle sokuziphatha. Ngenxa yalokho, njengoLoti olungileyo, abaqotho bakaNkulunkulu namuhla ‘bacindezeleke kakhulu ngokuzitika kwabantu abadelela umthetho ekuziphatheni okubi.’ (2 Pet. 2:7) Ngaphezu kwalokho, nakuba sizama ukuphila ngezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokuphazamisa abanye, sivame ukuba izisulu zokushushiswa ababusi abaqhoshayo.—2 Thim. 3:1-5, 12.

9. (a) Yini uJehova aseyenzile kakade ukuze akhulule abantu bakhe? (b) Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uJesu uyohlale eqotho kuNkulunkulu?

⁹ Nokho, singaqiniseka ngaleli qiniso eliyisisekelo: UJehova ngeke abashiye abaqotho bakhe! Cabanga nje ngezinyathelo asezithathile kakade ukuze kube noMbuso ozobusa esikhundleni sababusi bezwe abakhohlakele. UMbuso kaNkulunkulu ophethwe uKristu Jesu usumisiwe kakade. Sekucishe kube iminyaka eyikhulu uJesu Kristu ebusa ezulwini. Maduze uzolethela abantu abesaba igama likaNkulunkulu impumuzo ephelele. (Funda isAmbulo 11:15-18.) Kakade uJesu useye wabonakalisa ubuqotho bakhe kuNkulunkulu kwaze kwaba sekufeni. Ngokungafani noSolomoni akasoze azidumaza izikhonzi zakhe.—Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:6.

10. (a) Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyawazisa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu? (b) Lapho sibhekene nezimo ezinzima, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo?

¹⁰ UMbuso kaNkulunkulu uwuhulumeni ongokoqobo oyoqeda konke ukucindezeleka. Kumelwe sithembeke kuJehova uNkulunkulu naseMbusweni wakhe. Sithembele ngokugcwele eMbusweni, siyakulahla ukuziphatha kwezwe kokungamesabi uNkulunkulu futhi siphishekele  imisebenzi emihle ngentshiseko. (Thithu 2:12-14) Silwela ukuhlale singenabala lezwe. (2 Pet. 3:14) Noma ngabe sibhekene naziphi izimo ezinzima, singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzosivikela ekulimaleni okungokomoya. (Funda iHubo 97:10.) Ngaphezu kwalokho, iHubo 116:15 liyasiqinisekisa: “Kuyigugu emehlweni kaJehova ukufa kwabaqotho bakhe.” Izinceku zikaJehova ziyigugu kakhulu kuye kangangokuthi akasoze avumele ukuba zibhuqwe njengeqembu.

Lapho Bechayeke Emathonyeni Ezihlubuki

11. UJerobowamu wabonisa ukungathembeki ngaziphi izindlela?

¹¹ Ukubusa kweNkosi uJerobowamu kwakufanele kulethele abantu bakaNkulunkulu impumuzo ethile. Kunalokho, izenzo zayo zabuvivinya nakakhulu ubuqotho babo kuNkulunkulu. Enganelisekile udumo nelungelo ayesekunikeziwe, uJerobowamu waqala ukufuna izindlela zokuqinisa isikhundla sakhe. Wazindla: “Uma lesi sizwe siqhubeka sikhuphuka siyonikela imihlatshelo endlini kaJehova eJerusalema, inhliziyo yalesi sizwe iyobopheka ukuba ibuyele enkosini yaso, uRehobowamu inkosi yakwaJuda; futhi nakanjani siyongibulala sibuyele kuRehobowamu inkosi yakwaJuda.” Ngakho wasungula inkolo entsha yokukhulekela amathole amabili egolide. “Khona-ke wabeka elinye eBhethele, elinye walibeka kwaDani. Le nto yaba yimbangela yesono, futhi abantu bahamba baze bafika naphambi kwalelo elalikwaDani. Futhi wakha indlu yezindawo eziphakeme nokuthatha abanye kubantu abavamile nje wabenza abapristi, ababengebona abamadodana kaLevi.” Waze wasungula nolwakhe usuku ‘lomkhosi wabantwana bakwa-Israyeli’ wabe ‘esenza iminikelo phezu kwe-altare ukuze ashunqise umhlatshelo.’—1 AmaKh. 12:26-33.

12. Abaqotho bakaNkulunkulu abasembusweni wasenyakatho benzani lapho uJerobowamu esungula ukukhulekelwa kwethole kwa-Israyeli?

¹² Abaqotho bakaNkulunkulu abasembusweni wasenyakatho babezokwenzenjani manje? Njengokhokho bawo abathembekile, amaLevi ayehlala emizini ayenikezwe yona esembusweni wasenyakatho awazange achithe sikhathi. (Eks. 32:26-28; Num. 35:6-8; Dut. 33:8, 9) Ashiya amafa awo, athutha nemikhaya yawo aya eningizimu kwaJuda, lapho ayezokwazi khona ukuqhubeka ekhulekela uJehova ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa. (2 IziKr. 11:13, 14) Amanye ama-Israyeli ayegogobele kwaJuda akhetha ukuqhubeka ehlala khona kunokugoduka. (2 IziKr. 10:17) UJehova waqinisekisa ukuthi indlela yokubuyela ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso ihlale ivulekile, okwenza abanye ezizukulwaneni ezilandelayo abasembusweni wasenyakatho bakwazi ukulahla ukukhulekela ithole babuyela kwaJuda.—2 IziKr. 15:9-15.

13. Ezikhathini zanamuhla, amathonya ezihlubuki aye abavivinya kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu?

 ¹³ Namuhla izihlubuki namathonya azo kusongela abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Abanye ababusi baye bazama ukusungula inkolo yabo yoMbuso, bacindezela abantu babo ukuba bayamukele. Abefundisi beLobukholwa nabanye abantu abagabadelayo baye bazama ukuzithathela “ubupristi bobukhosi” obabikezelwa. Nokho, abagcotshwe ngeqiniso batholakala phakathi kwamaKristu eqiniso kuphela, futhi yibo abakha “ubupristi bobukhosi.”—1 Pet. 2:9; IsAm. 14:1-5.

14. Kufanele sisabele kanjani emibonweni yezihlubuki?

¹⁴ NjengamaLevi athembekile emuva ekhulwini leshumi leminyaka B.C.E., abaqotho bakaNkulunkulu namuhla abakhohliswa imibono yezihlubuki. Abagcotshiweyo nabangane babo abangamaKristu bayigwema ngokushesha imibono yezihlubuki futhi bayenqabe. (Funda amaRoma 16:17.) Nakuba sizithoba ngokuzithandela eziphathimandleni zikahulumeni ezindabeni zezwe futhi singathathi hlangothi ezingxabanweni zezwe, nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu esithembeka kuwo. (Joh. 18:36; Roma 13:1-8) Siyakulahla ukuzisholo kwalabo abathi bakhonza uNkulunkulu bebe bemhlambalaza ngokuziphatha kwabo.—Thithu 1:16.

15. Kungani kufaneleka ukuba sibe qotho ‘encekwini ethembekileyo neqondayo’?

¹⁵ Cabanga nangeqiniso lokuthi uJehova uye wanikeza abanhliziyo ziqotho ithuba lokuphuma ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso kuleli zwe elibi, bangene epharadesi elingokomoya alidalile. (2 Kor. 12:1-4) Ngezinhliziyo ezichichima ukubonga, sihlale siseduze ‘nenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo emiswe inkosi yayo phezu kwabendlu yayo, ukuze ibanike ukudla kwabo ngesikhathi esifanele.’ UKristu uye wamisa le nceku ‘phezu kwakho konke okungokwakhe.’ (Math. 24:45-47) Ngakho-ke, ngisho noma thina ngabanye singawuqondi ngokugcwele umbono othile wesigaba senceku, lokhu akusona isizathu sokuba siwenqabe noma sibuyele ezweni likaSathane. Kunalokho, ubuqotho buyosishukumisela ukuba sithobeke futhi silindele uJehova acacise izinto.

Lapho Befeza Izabelo Abazinikwe UNkulunkulu

16. Umprofethi wakwaJuda wanikezwa siphi isabelo?

¹⁶ UJehova wamlahla uJerobowamu ngenxa yokuhlubuka kwakhe. Wathuma umprofethi wakwaJuda ukuba aye eBhethele esembusweni osenyakatho kuJerobowamu ngesikhathi enza umhlatshelo e-altare lakhe. Lo mprofethi kwakufanele amtshele isigijimi sesahlulelo esiyincithakalo. Akungabazeki ukuthi kwakuyisabelo esiyinselele.—1 AmaKh. 13:1-3.

17. UJehova wasivikela kanjani isithunywa sakhe?

¹⁷ UJerobowamu wathukuthela wathelwa ngamanzi lapho ezwa isahlulelo sikaJehova. Welulela isandla sakhe kummeleli kaNkulunkulu wamemeza amadoda ayebuqamama: “Nina madoda, mbambeni!” Kodwa khona manjalo, ngaphambi kokuba noma ubani enze okuthile, “isandla sakhe ayeselulele kuye soma, futhi wayengasakwazi ukusibuyisela kuye. I-altare lahlukana phakathi kangangokuba umlotha onamafutha wachitheka e-altare.” UJerobowamu waphoqeleka ukuba acele umprofethi amncengele kuJehova futhi athandazele ukuba isandla sakhe esasomile siphulukiswe. Umprofethi wenza kanjalo, futhi saphulukiswa isandla sakhe. Ngale ndlela uJehova wasivikela isithunywa sakhe ekulinyazweni.—1 AmaKh. 13:4-6.

18. UJehova usiqapha kanjani njengoba sinikela kuye inkonzo engcwele ngesibindi?

¹⁸ Njengoba sihlanganyela ngokwethembeka emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza  abafundi, ngezinye izikhathi sihlangabezana nezimo ezingezinhle noma ngisho nokuzondwa. (Math. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Kodwa akumelwe nanini sivumele ukwesaba ukungemukelwa kudambise intshiseko yethu enkonzweni. Njengaloya mprofethi wosuku lukaJerobowamu ogama lakhe lingashiwongo, nathi ‘sinelungelo lokunikela kuJehova inkonzo engcwele ngesibindi nangokwethembeka.’ * (Luka 1:74, 75) Nakuba singalindeli ukuba uJehova angenele ngokuyisimangaliso namuhla, usalokhu ebaqaphile futhi ebasekela oFakazi bakhe ngomoya wakhe ongcwele nangezingelosi. (Funda uJohane 14:15-17; isAmbulo 14:6.) UNkulunkulu akasoze abashiya labo abaqhubeka bekhuluma izwi lakhe ngesibindi.—Fil. 1:14, 28.

UJehova Uyobaqapha Abaqotho Bakhe

19, 20. (a) Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova akasoze asishiya? (b) Kuzoxoxwa ngamiphi imibuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁹ UJehova unguNkulunkulu wethu oqotho. (IsAm. 15:4; 16:5) “Uqotho kuyo yonke imisebenzi yakhe.” (IHu. 145:17) IBhayibheli liphinde lisiqinisekise: “Uyoyiqapha indlela yabathembekileyo bakhe.” (IzAga 2:8) Lapho bebhekene nezimo ezinzima noma imibono yezihlubuki noma befeza isabelo esithile esiyinselele, abaqotho bakaNkulunkulu bangaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyobaqondisa futhi abasekele.

²⁰ Nakhu thina ngabanye okudingeka sizindle ngakho: Yini eyongisiza ukuba ngilondoloze ubuqotho bami kuJehova kungakhathaliseki izimo ezinzima noma izilingo engingase ngibhekane nazo? Ngamanye amazwi, ngingabuqinisa kanjani ubuqotho bami kuNkulunkulu?

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• UJehova uye wabonisa kanjani ukuthi akabashiyi abaqotho bakhe lapho becindezelwa?

• Kufanele sisabele kanjani ezihlubukini nasemibonweni yazo?

• UJehova ubaqapha kanjani abaqotho bakhe lapho besenkonzweni yobuKristu?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Ibalazwe/Isithombe ekhasini 5]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

UMBUSO WASENYAKATHO (UJerobowamu)

KwaDani

ISHEKEMI

IBhethele

UMBUSO WASENINGIZIMU (URehobowamu)

IJERUSALEMA

[Isithombe]

UJehova akazange abashiye abaqotho bakhe lapho uJerobowamu esungula ukukhulekelwa kwethole

[Isithombe ekhasini 3]

Izibusiso uSolomoni nabantu bakhe abazijabulela zazinombandela