Amabhuku Asetshenziswe Ku-Gwalo Lwempilo Lenkonzo YamaKhristu
© 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
JULY 3-9
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | U-EZRA 4-6
“Lingawuphambanisi Umsebenzi”
Uyakubona Yini Okwabonwa NguZekhariya?
13 Umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli wawumisiwe. Lanxa kunjalo amadoda akhokhelayo, uMphristi Omkhulu uJeshuwa (uJoshuwa) loMbusi uZerubhabheli ‘aqalisa ukwakha kutsha indlu kaNkulunkulu.’ (Ezra. 5:1, 2) Amanye amaJuda ayengacabanga ukuthi lesi kwakuyisinqumo esibi. Phela izitha zawo zazizawabona esakha ithempeli besezisenza konke ezingakwenza ukuze ziwumise umsebenzi lo. Yikho uJoshuwa loZerubhabheli babedinga ukuqinisekiswa ukuthi uJehova wayebasekela. Lakanye uJehova wabaqinisekisa. Wakwenza njani lokho?
wp17.3, 9 ¶2-5
Obunye Ubufakazi
IJerusalema yake yaba ngaphansi koMbuso wePhesiya. Idolobho lelo lalakhelwe endaweni amaPhesiya ayeyibiza ngokuthi Ngaphetsheya koMfula, entshonalanga kweYufrathe. Ngemva kokunqoba iBhabhiloni, amaPhesiya akhulula amaJuda ayethunjiwe njalo awavumela ukuthi akhe kutsha ithempeli likaJehova eJerusalema. (U-Ezra 1:1-4) Kodwa izitha zamaJuda ezazingafuni ukuthi akhe kutsha ithempeli zawethesa icala lokuthi ahlamukela amaPhesiya. (U-Ezra 4:4-16) UDariyu Wokuqala wabusa ngo-522 kusiya ku-486 B.C.E., njalo ngalesosikhathi umbusi wasePhesiya okuthiwa nguThathenayi wadingisisa ukuthi amaJuda ayephiwe ngubani imvumo yokuthi akhe kutsha ithempeli. IBhayibhili limbiza ngokuthi ‘ngumbusi wangaphetsheya kweYufrathe.’—U-Ezra 5:3-7.
Kulamatshe amanengi atholwe ngabezembali alebizo elithi Thathenayi njalo kukhanya amatshe la ayebhalwe ezosendo lwemuli yakoThathenayi. Ilitshe elihlanganisa ilunga lemuli le loThathenayi yincwadi yesivumelwano eyayiphakathi kwabantu abathile eyabhalwa ngomnyaka wesi-20 wokubusa kukaDariyu Wokuqala, ngo-502 B.C.E. Incwadi le iqamba owayengufakazi esivumelwaneni lesi ngokuthi yisigqili ‘sikaTattannu, umbusi Waphetsheya KoMfula.’ UTattannu otshiwo lapha nguThathenayi okukhulunywa ngaye eBhayibhilini ku-Ezra.
Wenzani uThathenayi? Ngo-535 B.C.E., uKhurosi wahlukanisa umbuso wakhe waba yizabelo. Esinye sasithiwa yiBhabhiloni Laphetsheya KoMfula. Isabelo lesi saphinda sehlukaniswa saba yizabelo ezimbili, njalo esinye sasibizwa ngokuthi Ngaphetsheya koMfula. Sasigoqela iCoele-Syria, iFenike, iSamariya kanye lesizwe sakoJuda njalo kukhanya isigodlo saso sasiyiDamaseko. UThathenayi wayengumbusi wesabelo lesi kusukela ngabo-520 kusiya ku-502 B.C.E.
UThathenayi waya eJerusalema ukuze adingisise ukuthi amaJuda ayephiwe ngubani imvumo yokwakha kutsha iJerusalema. Esedingisisile wabhalela uDariyu incwadi emtshela ukuthi amaJuda ayesithi uKhurosi nguye owayewanike imvumo yokwakha. Ukuphenya okwenziwa ezincwadini zesikhosini ezaziqoqwe ndawonye kwakufakazela lokho. (U-Ezra 5:6, 7, 11-13; 6:1-3) Yikho uThathenayi watshelwa ukuthi angaphambanisi umsebenzi wokwakha njalo walalela.—U-Ezra 6:6, 7, 13.
Uyakubona Yini Okwabonwa NguZekhariya?
7 Ngemva kwesikhathi kwaba lotshintsho olwenza abakhi bethempeli bathokoza. Ngo-520 B.C.E., uDariyu nguye owaseyinkosi yasePhesiya. Ngomnyaka wakhe wesibili wokubusa wathola ukuthi umlayo owawuvimbela amaJuda ukuthi akhe ithempeli wawungekho emthethweni. Yikho wabanika imvumo yokuthi baqhubeke ngomsebenzi wokwakha. (Ezra. 6:1-3) Abantu bathi besamangaliswe yilokho, inkosi yatshela abantu ababakhelane lamaJuda ukuthi bangawuphambanisi umsebenzi wokwakha kodwa babanike imali lokunye ababezakudinga. (Ezra. 6:7-12) Yikho amaJuda aqeda ukwakha ithempeli ngo-515 B.C.E., ngemva kweminyaka emine lenyanga ezilutshwana.—Ezra. 6:15.
Uyakubona Yini Okwabonwa NguZekhariya?
16 UJehova uphinda asikhokhele esebenzisa ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’ (Mat. 24:45) Ngezinye izikhathi inceku le ingasitshela izinto esingazizwisisiyo. Ngokwesibonelo, singaphiwa iziqondiso zokuthi singazivikela njani nxa kungaba lomonakalo wemvelo. Kodwa singacabanga ukuthi umonakalo lo ngeke wenzakale endaweni esihlala kuyo. Kwesinye isikhathi singacabanga ukuthi inceku le ifaka imithetho eminenginengi nxa kube lomkhuhlane ohlasele umhlaba wonke. Kumele senzeni nxa sicabanga ukuthi iziqondiso esiziphiweyo azisebenzi kithi? Singacabanga ngokuthi amaJuda ancedakala njani eselalele lokho ayekutshelwa nguJoshuwa loZerubhabheli. Singacabanga langezinye indaba esizibala eBhayibhilini. Ngezinye izikhathi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babephiwa iziqondiso ezazikhanya zingasebenzi kodwa zasindisa ukuphila kwabantu.—Abahlu. 7:7; 8:10.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
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Ingabe Ungalethemba IBhayibheli?
Loluhlamvu lwemali lwenziwa eTarsu, idolobha elisengxenyeni engaseningizimu-mpumalanga yalokho namuhla okuthiwa iTurkey. Loluhlamvu lwenziwa ngesikhathi sokubusa kombusi wasePheresiya uMazaeus ngekhulu lesine B.C.E. Lumbonakalisa njengombusi wesifunda ‘esingaphesheya koMfula,’ okungukuthi, uMfula i-Ewufrathe.
Kodwa kungani leyonkulumo ithakazelisa? Kungenxa yokuthi uyothola isiqu esifanayo eBhayibhelini lakho. Incwadi ka-Ezra 5:6–6:13 iveza ukuvumelana phakathi kwenkosi yasePheresiya uDariyu nombusi okuthiwa uThathenayi. Impikiswano eyayihilelekile eyokwakha kabusha kwamaJuda ithempeli lawo eJerusalema. U-Ezra wayengumkopishi onekhono woMthetho kaNkulunkulu, futhi ungalindela ukuba ashaye emhloleni, abe ngonembile kulokho akubhala. Uyobona ku-Ezra 5:6 no–6:13 ukuthi wabiza uThathenayi ngokuthi “umbusi waphesheya koMfula.”
U-Ezra wakubhala lokho cishe ngo-460 B.C.E., eminyakeni engaba yikhulu ngaphambi kokwenziwa kwaloluhlamvu lwemali. Nokho, abanye abantu bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi isiqu somuntu wasendulo oyisikhulu siyinto encane. Kodwa uma ungathembela kuba lobi beBhayibheli ngisho nasezintweni ezincane kanjalo, ingabe lokho akufanele kwandise ukuthembela kwakho kokunye abakubhala?
JULY 10-16
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | U-EZRA 7-8
“Okwenziwa Ngu-Ezra Kwenza UJehova Wadunyiswa”
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Ukutadisha—Kuyavuza Futhi Kuyajabulisa
8 Yebo, uthando lwethu ngeZwi likaJehova kufanele lusuke enhliziyweni, isizinda semizwelo. Kufanele sikujabulele ukugxila ezindimeni ezithile esisanda kuzifunda. Kufanele sicabange ngemiqondo ejulile engokomoya, sigxile kuyo futhi sizindle ngayo. Lokhu kudinga ukucabangisisa buthule nomthandazo. Njengo-Ezra, kudingeka silungiselele izinhliziyo zethu ukufunda nokutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Kubhalwé lokhu ngaye: “U-Ezra [“wayelungiselelé,” NW] inhliziyo yakhe ukufuna umthetho kaJehova, nokwenza nokufundisa izimiso nezahlulelo kwa-Israyeli.” (Ezra 7:10) Phawula injongo ekathathu yokulungiselela kuka-Ezra inhliziyo yakhe: ukuze atadishe, akusebenzise kuye akufundile, futhi afundise. Kufanele silandele isibonelo sakhe.
si-ZU 75 ¶5
Incwadi YeBhayibheli Ye-13—1 IziKronike
5 Akekho owayekufanelekela kangcono kuno-Ezra ukuhlanganisa lomlando oyiqiniso nonembile. “Ngokuba u-Ezra wayebhekisé inhliziyo yakhe ukufuna umthetho kaJehova, nokwenza nokufundisa izimiso nezahlulelo kwa-Israyeli.” (Ezra 7:10) UJehova wamsiza ngomoya ongcwele. Umbusi wezwe wasePheresiya wakuqaphela ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okwakuku-Ezra wayesemnika isikhundla esiphakeme esifundeni sakwaJuda. (Ezra 7:12-26) Esehlome kanjalo ngegunya laphezulu nelombuso, uEzra wayengahlanganisa ukulandisa kwakhe ekuthatha ezincwadini ezingcono kakhulu ezazitholakala.
it-1-E 1158 ¶4
Ukuthobeka
Ukuthobeka Kwenza Umuntu Acele Ukukhokhelwa NguNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu uyamkhokhela umuntu ozehlisayo kuye. U-Ezra wayelomsebenzi omkhulu wokukhokhela abantu ababesuka eBhabhiloni besiya eJerusalema. Kwakulamadoda edlula 1 500, kungabalwa abaphristi lamaNethinimi labesifazana labantwana. Abantu laba bahamba bethwele igolide elinengi lesiliva ababezacecisa ngalo ethempelini laseJerusalema. Babekudinga sibili ukuvikelwa endleleni kodwa u-Ezra wayengafuni ukucela amabutho enkosini yePhesiya ngoba kwakuzakhanya angathi uthembele ebantwini. Kanti njalo wayeke watshela inkosi wathi: “Isandla sikaNkulunkulu siphezu kwabo bonke abamthembayo.” Wamemezela ukuthi kuzilwe ukudla ukuze abantu bazithobe phambi kukaJehova. Bacela ukuthi uNkulunkulu abakhokhele, wabezwa wasebavikela ezitheni ezazingabahlasela. Yikho bahamba baze bayafika kuhle bengazange bawelwe yingozi. (Ezr 8:1-14, 21-32) UNkulunkulu waba lomusa kumphrofethi uDanyeli owayethunjiwe eBhabhiloni, wathuma ingilosi yakhe ukuthi imtshengise umbono ngoba uDanyeli wayezithobile wacela ukuthi uNkulunkulu amkhokhele futhi amenze azwisise.—Dan 10:12.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
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Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi Ka-Ezra
7:28–8:20—Kungani amaJuda amaningi aseBhabhiloni ayemadolonzima ukukhuphukela eJerusalema no-Ezra? Ngisho noma kwase kudlule iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-60 kusukela iqembu lokuqala lamaJuda labuyela ezweni lawo, eJerusalema kwakusahlala abantu abayingcosana. Ukubuyela eJerusalema kwakusho ukuqala ukuphila okusha ezimweni ezinzima neziyingozi. IJerusalema langaleso sikhathi lalingenazo izinto ezibonakalayo ezikhangayo kumaJuda okungenzeka ayechuma eBhabhiloni. Okungafanele kunganakwa ukuthi uhambo lwaluyingozi. Ababuyela emuva kwakudingeka babe nokholo oluqinile kuJehova, intshiseko ngokukhulekela kweqiniso kanye nesibindi. Ngisho no-Ezra waziqinisa ngokwesandla sikaJehova esasiphezu kwakhe. Ngenxa yesikhuthazo sika-Ezra, kwasabela imikhaya engu-1 500—mhlawumbe abantu abangaba ngu-6 000. Ngemva kokuba u-Ezra enze eminye imizamo, kwasabela amaLevi angu-38 namaNethini angu-220.
JULY 17-23
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | U-EZRA 9-10
“Ukungalaleli Kusithela Emanyaleni”
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Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi Ka-Ezra
9:1, 2—Kwakuwusongo olungathí sina kangakanani ukuganiselana nabantu bezizwe? Isizwe esibuyiselwe kwakumelwe silondoloze ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuze kufike uMesiya. Ukuganiselana nezinye izizwe kwakuwusongo ngempela ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Ngenxa yokuthi abanye babeshade nabantu abakhulekela izithombe, ekugcineni sonke isizwe sasingase sixubane nezizwe ezingamaqaba. Ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile kwakungase kuphele ebusweni bomhlaba. Ngakho, uMesiya wayezofikela kobani? Akumangalisi ukuthi kwamshaqisa u-Ezra ukubona okwakwenzeka lapho!
w09-ZU 10/1 10 ¶6
Yini UJehova Ayicela Kithi?
Ukumlalela ngokuzithandela kuyosilethela izibusiso. UMose uyabhala: ‘Gcina imiyalo kaJehova nezimiso zakhe engikuyala ngazo namuhla, kube kuhle kuwe.’ (Ivesi 13) Yebo, yonke imiyalo kaJehova—konke asicela khona—kuzuzisa thina, futhi kuba njalo ngaso sonke isikhathi. IBhayibheli lithi: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.” (1 Johane 4:8) Yingakho esinikeze imiyalo eyosizuzisa phakade. (Isaya 48:17) Ukwenza konke lokho uJehova asicela ukuba sikwenze kuyosiphephisa ekukhungathekeni okuningi manje futhi kuyosilethela izibusiso ezingapheli lapho sekubusa uMbuso wakhe.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
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Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi Ka-Ezra
10:3, 44—Kungani abantwana balahlwa kanye nabafazi? Ukube abantwana basala, ayengaba maningi amathuba okuba laba bafazi ababexoshiwe babuye ngenxa yabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokuvamile abantwana badinga ukunakekelwa onina.
JULY 24-30
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | UNEHEMIYA 1-2
“Ngahle Ngathandaza”
w08-ZU 2/15 3 ¶5
Gcina UJehova Ephambi Kwakho Njalo
5 Ngezinye izikhathi, kungase kudingeke sithandazele usizo lukaNkulunkulu ngokushesha. Ngesinye isikhathi, inkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita yaphawula ukuthi umphathindebe wayo, uNehemiya, wayehwaqabele. Inkosi yambuza: “‘Yini le ofuna ukuyenza?’ Ngaso leso sikhathi [uNehemiya wathandaza] kuNkulunkulu wamazulu.” Kwadingeka enze umthandazo omfushane futhi kusobala ukuthi wathandaza ngenhliziyo. Noma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wawuphendula ngoba inkosi yamnikeza usizo ukuze ayokwakha kabusha izindonga zaseJerusalema. (Funda uNehemiya 2:1-8.) Yebo, ngisho nomthandazo omfushane, oshiwo ngenhliziyo ungasebenza.
be-ZU 178 ¶1
Ukukhuluma Ngamazwi Akho
Lapho ucelwa ukuba uchaze ngezinkolelo zakho ungalungiselelanga kusengaphambili, yini engakusiza ukuba izimpendulo zakho zizwakale? Lingisa uNehemiya owathandaza buthule ngaphambi kokuphendula umbuzo weNkosi u-Aritahishashita. (Neh. 2:4) Ngokushesha yibe sewakha uhlaka engqondweni. Izinyathelo eziyisisekelo zingase zihlelwe ngale ndlela: (1) Khetha iphuzu elilodwa noma amabili okumelwe avele encazelweni (ungase usebenzise amaphuzu atholakala kwethi Ukubonisana NgemiBhalo). (2) Nquma ukuthi imiphi imibhalo oyoyisebenzisa ukuze usekele lawo maphuzu. (3) Hlela ukuthi uyoyiqala kanjani incazelo yakho ngobunyoninco ukuze obuzile azimisele ukulalela. Yibe usukhuluma-ke.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
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Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Kuyanqoba
Cha, ngoba incithakalo eyayiseJerusalema kwase kunesikhathi eside uNehemiya eyithandazela “imini nobusuku.” (1:4, 6) Lapho enikezwa ithuba lokutshela iNkosi uAritahishashita ngesifiso sakhe sokwakha kabusha izindonga zeJerusalema, uNehemiya waphinde wathandaza, ngaleyondlela enza lokho kakade ayekwenza ngokuphindaphindiwe. Impendulo kaJehova yomusa yaphumela ekuthunyweni ukuyokwakha kabusha izindonga zomuzi.
Isifundo esisitholayo: UNehemiya wayebheka kuJehova ngokuqondiswa. Lapho sibhekene nesinqumo esingathi sína, nathi futhi, kumelwe ‘ekukhulekeni siqinisele njalo’ futhi senze ngokuvumelana nokuqondisa kukaJehova.—Roma 12:12.
JULY 31–AUGUST 6
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | UNEHEMIYA 3-4
“Uzibona Uqakatheke Okokuthi Ngeke Wenze Umsebenzi Wezandla Yini?”
w06-ZU 2/1 10 ¶2
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi KaNehemiya
3:5, 27. Akufanele sicabange ukuthi imisebenzi yezandla ethuthukisa ukukhulekela kweqiniso ayisifanele njengoba kwenza “abakhulu” baseThekhowa. Kunalokho, singabalingisa abantu baseThekhowa abavamile abazidela ngokuzithandela emsebenzini.
UJehova Uzakusebenzisa Ngayiphi Indlela?
11 Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi uJehova wasebenzisa amadodakazi kaShalumi ukuthi ancedise ekwakheni kutsha imiduli yeJerusalema. (Neh. 2:20; 3:12) Lanxa uyise wayengumbusi, ayezimisele ukwenza umsebenzi lo onzima futhi oyingozi. (Neh. 4:15-18) Ayengafanani ngitsho lezikhulu zeThekhowa ‘ezala ukusebenza.’ (Neh. 3:5) Kumele ukuthi amadodakazi kaShalumi athokoza kakhulu ebona umsebenzi wokwakha uphela ngemva kwamalanga angu-52 kuphela. (Neh. 6:15) Lamuhla odade abasukumela phezulu kuyabathokozisa ukwenzela uNkulunkulu inkonzo engcwele ngokuncedisa nxa kusakhiwa futhi kulungiswa izakhiwo ezinikelwe kuJehova. Siyabadinga odade laba abalolwazi, abakhutheleyo labaqotho ngoba benza umsebenzi lo uphumelele.
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Ukuhlakulela Umbono OnjengokaKristu Ngobukhulu
16 Wonke amaKristu, amancane namadala, kufanele afune ukuhlakulela umbono onjengokaKristu ngobukhulu. Miningi imisebenzi okumelwe yenziwe ebandleni. Ungalokothi ucasuke uma ucelwa ukuba wenze izinto ezingase zibonakale ziphansi. (1 Samuweli 25:41; 2 AmaKhosi 3:11) Bazali, niyazikhuthaza na izingane zenu ezincane nesezikhulile ukuba zisenze ngentokozo noma isiphi isabelo ezinikwa sona, kungaba seHholo LoMbuso, enkundleni yomhlangano omncane noma omkhulu? Ziyanibona yini nina nenza imisebenzi ephansi? Omunye umzalwane, manje okhonza endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova, usikhumbula kahle isibonelo sabazali bakhe. Wathi: “Indlela ababewenza ngayo umsebenzi wokuhlanza iHholo LoMbuso noma inkundla yomhlangano omkhulu yangitshela ukuthi babewubheka njengobalulekile. Babevame ukuvolontiyela ukwenza imisebenzi eyayizozuzisa ibandla noma abazalwane, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yayingase ibonakale ideleleke kangakanani. Leso simo sengqondo singisizile ekwamukeleni noma isiphi isabelo somsebenzi ngenhliziyo emhlophe lapha eBethel.”
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
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Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi KaNehemiya
4:17, 18—Umsebenzi wokwakha kabusha udonga wawungenziwa kanjani ngesandla esisodwa? Lokhu kwakungeke kube inkinga kubathwali bemithwalo. Lapho nje imithwalo isisemakhanda noma emahlombe abo, babengakwazi ukuyisekela kalula ngesinye isandla bebe ‘bephethe imicibisholo ngesinye.’ Abakhi ababezidinga zombili izandla ukuze benze umsebenzi wabo “babebhincile, yilowo nalowo enenkemba yakhe okhalweni lwakhe, kuyilapho bakha.” Babekulungele ukulwa uma kwenzeka isitha sihlasela.
AUGUST 7-13
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | UNEHEMIYA 5-7
“UNehemiya Wayekuthanda Ukusebenza Hatshi Ukusetshenzelwa”
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Abasekeli Bokukhulekela Kweqiniso—Endulo Nanamuhla
UNehemiya wanikela ngokungaphezu kwesikhathi namakhono akhe okuhlela. Wasebenzisa nezimpahla zakhe ukuze asekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Wasebenzisa imali yakhe ukuze athenge abafowabo abangamaJuda ebugqilini. Wayebolekisa ngemali engafuni nzalo. Akazange ‘awathwese’ amaJuda ngokufuna iholo njengombusi, into ayenelungelo lokuyithola. Kunalokho, ikhaya lakhe lalihlala livuliwe ukuze kudle “abantu abayikhulu namashumi ayisihlanu, . . . nabafika kithi bevela kwabezizwe abasizungezayo.” Usuku ngalunye izivakashi zakhe wayezihlabela “inkabi nezimvu eziyisithupha ezikhethekileyo . . . nezinyoni.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, kanye ngemva kwezinsuku eziyishumi wayezihlinzeka ‘ngewayini eliningi lezinhlobo zonke.’—Nehemiya 5:8, 10, 14-18.
“Ungavumeli Ukuba Izandla Zakho Zibe Buthakathaka”
16 UNehemiya labanye bakhe benelisa ukuwuqeda umsebenzi ngoba uJehova waziqinisa izandla zabo. Ngezinsuku ezingu-52 basebeqedile ukwakha imiduli yeJerusalema. (Neh. 2:18; 6:15, 16) UNehemiya kazange agoqe izandla abukele abantu besebenza. Kodwa wayencedisana labo umsebenzi waze waphela. (Neh. 5:16) Abadala abanengi lamuhla bayamlingisela uNehemiya. Ngokwesibonelo bayancedisa emsebenzini wokwakha owenziwa yinhlanganiso yethu kumbe emsebenzini wokuhlanza lokunakekela amaWolu oMbuso abangena kuwo. Bayabaqinisa abamemezeli abalezandla ezibuthakathaka labalenhliziyo ezilokwesaba ngokuhamba labo ekutshumayeleni langokubavakatshela emizini yabo besiyabakhuthaza.—Bala u-Isaya 35:3, 4.
w00-ZU 2/1 32
UJehova Uzokukhumbula Kanjani?
Ngokungaguquguquki, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi kuNkulunkulu, ‘ukukhumbula’ kusho ukuthatha isinyathelo esiqinisekile. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokuba sekuyizinsuku ezingu-150 umhlaba uphuphuma amanzi, “uNkulunkulu wayesemkhumbula uNowa, . . . uNkulunkulu wadlulisa umoya phezu komhlaba, amanzi abohla.” (Genesise 8:1) Ngemva kwamakhulu athile eminyaka, uSamsoni, owayenziwe waba yimpumputhe futhi waboshwa amaFilisti, wathandaza: “Nkulunkulu, ake ungikhumbule, ungiqinise kube kanye kuphela.” UJehova wamkhumbula uSamsoni ngokumnika amandla angaphezu kwavamile ukuze akwazi ukuziphindiselela ezitheni zikaNkulunkulu. (AbAhluleli 16:28-30) UJehova wawubusisa umzamo kaNehemiya, futhi ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwabuyiselwa eJerusalema.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
w07-ZU 7/1 30 ¶15
“Qhubeka Unqoba Okubi Ngokuhle”
15 Okwesithathu, izitha zikaNehemiya zasebenzisa umkhapheli, uShemaya ongumIsrayeli, ukuba azame ukwenza uNehemiya ukuba aphule uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. UShemaya wathi kuNehemiya: “Masihlangane ngesivumelwano endlini kaNkulunkulu weqiniso, ngaphakathi ethempelini, sivale iminyango yethempeli; ngoba bayeza ukuzokubulala.” UShemaya wathi uNehemiya wayesezobulawa kodwa wayengasindisa ukuphila kwakhe ngokucasha ethempelini. Nokho, uNehemiya wayengeyena umpristi. Wayeyobe wenza isono ngokucasha endlini kaNkulunkulu. Ingabe wayeyowuphula uMthetho kaNkulunkulu ukuze azame ukusindisa ukuphila kwakhe? UNehemiya waphendula: “Ubani onjengami ongangena ethempelini aphile? Ngeke ngingene!” Yini eyenza uNehemiya angaweli esicuphweni ayesibekelwe? Ukwazi ukuthi nakuba uShemaya ayengumIsrayeli njengaye, “kwakungeyena uNkulunkulu owayemthumile.” Phela umprofethi weqiniso akasoze ameluleka ngokuthi aphule uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Nakulokhu, uNehemiya akazange azivumele ukuba anqotshwe abaphikisi ababi. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho wakwazi ukwenza lo mbiko: “Ekugcineni udonga lwaphela ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nanhlanu ku-Eluli, ngezinsuku ezingamashumi amahlanu nambili.”—Nehemiya 6:10-15; Numeri 1:51; 18:7.
AUGUST 14-20
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | UNEHEMIYA 8-9
“Intokozo Eliyiphiwa NguJehova Ilenza Libe Lamandla”
Izifundo Esizithola Emthandazweni Olungiselelwe Kuhle
2 AmaJuda aqeda ukwakha kutsha imiduli yeJerusalema kusasele inyanga ukuthi umbuthano lo ufike. (Neh. 6:15) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu baqeda umsebenzi lo ngezinsuku ezingu-52 kuphela, basebeqalisa ukwenza izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza. Ngakho-ke ngelanga lokuqala ngenyanga kaTishri babuthana egcekeni ledolobho ukuze bazwe u-Ezra, kanye lamanye amaLevi bebalela phezulu umthetho kaNkulunkulu njalo bewuchasisa. (Umfanekiso 1) Zonke izimuli kanye “labo bonke ababelokuzwisisa,” basukuma balalela “kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kwaze kwaba semini enkulu.” Lesi yisibonelo esihle kakhulu kithi esingena imihlangano emaWolu oMbuso amahle. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi uyake uthole yini ingqondo yakho isivakatsha usucabanga ngezinto ezingaqakathekanga kangako? Nxa kunjalo, akuhlole futhi isibonelo sama-Israyeli asendulo angazange alalele kuphela kodwa akufaka enhliziyweni lokho ayekuzwa kwaze kwafika ekuthini akhale izinyembezi ngokwehluleka kwawo ukulalela uMthetho kaNkulunkulu.—Neh. 8:1-9.
w07-ZU 7/15 22 ¶9-10
Ingabe ‘Uyoqhubeka Uhamba Ngomoya’?
9 Injabulo iyisimo sentokozo enkulu. UJehova ‘unguNkulunkulu ojabulayo.’ (1 Thimothewu 1:11; IHubo 104:31) INdodana iyakujabulela ukwenza intando kaYise. (IHubo 40:8; Hebheru 10:7-9) Futhi “injabulo kaJehova iyisiphephelo [sethu].”—Nehemiya 8:10.
10 Injabulo evela kuNkulunkulu isenza saneliseke ngokujulile lapho senza intando yakhe ngisho nalapho sisebunzimeni, sisosizini, noma sishushiswa. Yeka injabulo esiyithola ngokuba ‘nolwazi ngoNkulunkulu’! (IzAga 2:1-5) Ubuhlobo obujabulisayo esinabo noNkulunkulu busekelwe olwazini olunembile, nasokholweni esinalo kuye nasemhlatshelweni kaJesu wesihlengo. (1 Johane 2:1, 2) Okunye okusinika injabulo ukuba yingxenye yobuzalwane beqiniso obungukuphela kwabo obuhlanganisa izizwe ezihlukahlukene. (Zefaniya 3:9; Hagayi 2:7) Ithemba lethu loMbuso nelungelo elikhulu lokumemezela izindaba ezinhle kusenza sijabule. (Mathewu 6:9, 10; 24:14) Kunjalo nangethemba lokuphila phakade. (Johane 17:3) Njengoba sinethemba elihle kangaka, kufanele ‘sijabule nje kuphela.’—Duteronomi 16:15.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
it-1-E 145 ¶2
Isi-Aramu
Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka amaJuda esukile ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni abuthana eJerusalema, umphristi u-Ezra wawabalela ibhuku loMthetho njalo amaLevi atshiyeneyo awuchasisa. UNehemiya 8:8 uthi: “Baqhubeka bebalela abantu ibhuku loMthetho kaNkulunkulu weqiniso. Bawuchasisa wacaca ebantwini futhi baveza egcekeni ukuthi wawusitshoni, bebancedisa ukuthi bazwisise lokho ababebabalela khona.” Kungenzakala ukuthi amaLevi ayewubala ngesiHebheru uMthetho abesechasisela abantu ngesi-Aramu, njengoba amaHebheru ayengabe ekhuluma isi-Aramu ngesikhathi eseBhabhiloni. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lanxa babesizwisisa isiHebheru, amaLevi ayebachasisela ukuze bazwisise ukuthi okwakubalwa kwakusitshoni.
AUGUST 21-27
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | UNEHEMIYA 10-11
“Bazimisela Ukutshiya Ezinye Izinto Ngenxa KaJehova”
w98-ZU 10/15 22 ¶13
IJerusalema Elivumelana Negama Lalo
13 “Isivumelwano esiqinisileyo” esenziwa osukwini lukaNehemiya salungiselela abantu bakaNkulunkulu basendulo usuku lokunikezelwa kogange lwaseJerusalema. Kodwa kwakusenolunye udaba oluphuthumayo olwaludinga ukunakekelwa. Njengoba manje lase libiyelwe ngogangekazi olunamasango angu-12, iJerusalema lalidinga izakhamuzi ezengeziwe. Nakuba kwakunama-Israyeli athile ayehlala kuwo, “umuzi wawubanzi nxazombili; wawumkhulu, kepha abantu babeyingcosana phakathi kwawo.” (Nehemiya 7:4) Ukuze kuxazululwe le nkinga, abantu “benza inkatho ukuyisa omunye kwabayishumi njalo ukuba ahlale eJerusalema, umuzi ongcwele.” Ukusabela ngokuzimisela kuleli lungiselelo kwashukumisela abantu ukuba babusise “bonke abantu ababezinikela ngenhliziyo ukuhlala eJerusalema.” (Nehemiya 11:1, 2) Yeka isibonelo esihle kubakhulekeli beqiniso namuhla abazimo zabo ziyabavumela ukuba bathuthele lapho kunesidingo esikhudlwana khona sosizo lwamaKristu avuthiwe!
w86-ZU 2/15 26
Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Kuyanqoba
Ukushiya ifa nokuthuthela eJerusalema kwakungaphumela ezindlekweni ezithile nasekulahlekelweni okuthile. Labo abahlala kulowomuzi nabo kwakungenzeka bahlangabezane nezingozi ezihlukahlukene. Ngaphansi kwezimo ezinjalo, abanye babebheka izisebenzi zokuzithandela njengezitusekayo futhi ngokungangabazeki bathandaza ukuba uJehova azibusise.
Ukuthembeka Kuyamjabulisa UNkulunkulu
15 Lathi sazinikela kuJehova samthembisa ukuthi sizakwenza intando yakhe loba sekutheni. Sasikwazi ukuthi ukwenza isithembiso lesi kwakusitsho ukuthi kasisoze senze lokho okufunwa yithi. Kodwa-ke kakulula lokhu ikakhulu nxa sesicelwe ukuthi senze into esingayithandiyo. Lanxa kunjalo, siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sithembekile nxa singazinikela ukwenza lokho esiyabe sikuceliwe loba kunzima. Izibusiso esizazithola zinengi ukwedlula ubunzima esingabe sihlangane labo. (Mal. 3:10) Kodwa indodakazi kaJefitha yona yenzani?
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
w06-ZU 2/1 11 ¶1
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi KaNehemiya
10:34—Kungani kwakudingeka ukuba abantu balethe izinkuni? Iminikelo yezinkuni yayingekho eMthethweni KaMose. Imfuneko yayo yaba khona ngenxa yesidingo. Kwakudingeka izinkuni eziningi ukuze kushiswe iminikelo e-altare. Kusobala ukuthi ayengemaningi ngokwanele amaNethini ayekhonza ethempelini njengezigqila ezingewona ama-Israyeli. Ngakho, kwenziwa inkatho ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuthi kuhlale kunezinkuni.
AUGUST 28–SEPTEMBER 3
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | UNEHEMIYA 12-13
“Khetha Abangane Abazakwenza Uhlale Uqotho KuJehova”
it-1-E 95 ¶5
Ama-Amoni
UThobhiya wathi esexotshwe ethempelini abantu babalelwa umthetho kaNkulunkulu okuDutheronomi 23:3-6 owawusithi ama-Amoni lamaMowabi akumelanga angene ebandleni likaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kwalokho abantu bakwenza okwakutshiwo ngumthetho. (Neh 13:1-3) Umthetho lo babewuphiwe eminyakeni engu-1 000 eyadlulayo ngenxa yokuthi ama-Amoni lamaMowabi ayeyale ukuncedisa ama-Israyeli ngesikhathi efika eLizweni Lesithembiso. Kukhanya wawusitsho ukuthi abantu laba babengeke babe yizizalwane zako-Israyeli ezilamalungelo wonke ayetholwa ngabantu besizwe sako-Israyeli. Kodwa lokho akutsho ukuthi ama-Amoni lamaMowabi ayengeke adlelane lama-Israyeli kumbe ukuthi ayengeke ahlale elizweni lawo. Akutsho lokuthi ayengeke athole izibusiso uNkulunkulu ayezipha abantu bakhe. Lokhu kukhanya ngokuthi uZelekhi okuke kwakhulunywa ngaye laye wayengumkhokheli webutho likaDavida, kuphinde kukhanye lasendabeni kaRuthe umMowabi.—Rut 1:4, 16-18.
Selangcweliswa
5 Bala uNehemiya 13:4-9. Siphila labantu ababi, ngakho kunzima ukuthi sihlale singcwele. Cabanga ngo-Eliyashibi loThobhiya. U-Eliyashibi wayengumphristi omkhulu, njalo uThobhiya wayengum-Amoni futhi kungenzeka ukuthi wayelesikhundla esiphansi ohlelweni lokubusa lwesiPhesiya eJudiya. UThobhiya labangane bakhe babelwisana lemizamo kaNehemiya yokwakha kutsha imiduli yeJerusalema. (Neh. 2:10) Kwakulicala ukuthi ama-Amoni angene emagumeni ethempeli. (Dute. 23:3) Pho-ke, umphristi omkhulu wayengakwenzelani ukuthi anike indoda enjengoThobhiya indawo yokuhlala endlini yokudlela eyayisethempelini?
6 UThobhiya lo-Eliyashibi basebejayelene kakhulu. UThobhiya lendodana yakhe uJehohanani babetshade labesifazana abangamaJuda njalo amaJuda amanengi ayemncoma kakhulu uThobhiya. (Neh. 6:17-19) Omunye wabazukulu baka-Eliyashibi wayetshade lendodakazi kaSanibhalathi umbusi waseSamariya owayengumngane omkhulu kaThobiya. (Neh. 13:28) Ubuhlobo lobu yibo obungenza kuzwisiseke ukuthi kungani uMphristi oMkhulu u-Eliyashibi wavuma ukuyengwa ngumuntu ongakholwayo owayengumphikisi. Kodwa uNehemiya watshengisa ukuthi wayethembekile kuJehova ngokuthatha yonke impahla kaThobhiya ayikhiphele phandle kwendlu yokudlela.
w96-ZU 3/15 16 ¶6
Ukubhekana Nenselele Yokwethembeka
6 Uma sithembekile kuJehova uNkulunkulu, siyogwema ukuba abangane babo bonke abayizitha zakhe. Kungakho umfundi uJakobe abhala: “Ziphingi, anazi yini ukuthi ubungane nezwe buwubutha noNkulunkulu? Ngakho-ke, noma ubani ofuna ukuba umngane wezwe uzenza isitha sikaNkulunkulu.” (Jakobe 4:4) Sifuna ukuba nokwethembeka iNkosi uDavide eyakubonisa lapho ithi: “Jehova, angibazondi abakuzondayo na? Anginengwa ngabakuvukelayo na? Ngiyabazonda ngenzondo epheleleyo; bayizitha kimi.” (IHubo 139:21, 22) Asifuni ukudlelana nezoni zangabomu, ngoba asihlobene ngalutho nazo. Ingabe ukwethembeka kuNkulunkulu ngeke kusivimbele ukuba sibe nobudlelwane nezitha zikaJehova ezinjalo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ngokuqondile noma ngethelevishini?
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
it-2-E 452 ¶9
Ukuhlabela
Ukuhlabela kwakuqakathekiswa kakhulu ethempelini. Lokhu kukhanya ngokuthi kuleMibhalo eminengi ekhuluma ngabahlabeleli langokuthi “babengenzi eminye imisebenzi” eyayijayele ukwenziwa ngamaLevi ukuze kungabi lento ebaphambanisayo emsebenzini wabo. (1Imi 9:33) Abahlabeleli laba bathi sebevela ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni baphinda behlukaniswa lamanye amaLevi okutshengisa ukuthi babeqhubeka ngomsebenzi wabo lo oqakathekileyo. (Ezr 2:40, 41) Inkosi yePhesiya u-Athakisekisi (Longimanus) wathi abahlabeleli laba lamanye amaqembu ayesenza imisebenzi eqakathekileyo bangabhadali “imithelo ekhitshwa ngabantu bonke, lemithelo yempahla leyemigwaqo.” (Ezr 7:24) Ngemva kwesikhathi, inkosi yafaka umlayo wokuthi “abahlabeleli kumele baphiwe konke abakudingayo ilanga ngelanga.” Lanxa kuthiwa u-Athakisekisi wafaka umlayo lo, kumele ukuthi u-Ezra nguye owawufakayo esebenzisa amandla ayewaphiwe yinkosi. (Neh 11:23; Ezr 7:18-26) Konke lokhu kwenza sizwisise ukuthi lanxa abahlabeleli kwakungamaLevi, iBhayibhili liveza ukuthi babeliqembu eliqakathekileyo yikho likhuluma ‘ngabahlabeleli kanye lamaLevi.’—Neh 7:1; 13:10.