Bani Nesibindzi—Jehova Unawe!

1, 2. (a) Ngutiphi tici tebuntfu letitasisita sibeketelele tilingo? (b) Ungakuchaza njani kukholwa? Niketa sibonelo.

UMSEBENTI waJehova usenta sijabule. Nobe kunjalo, sihlangabetana nebumatima lobehlela bonkhe bantfu, futsi singase ‘sihlushwe ngenca yekwenta lokulungile.’ (1 Phet. 3:14; 5:8, 9; 1 Khor. 10:13) Kute sibeketelele tilingo letinjalo ngemphumelelo, kudzingeka sibe nekukholwa nesibindzi.

² Kuyini kukholwa? Umphostoli Pawula wabhala: “Kukholwa kukuciniseka ngetintfo lesetsembele kuto, kukweneliseka ngetintfo lesingakatiboni.” (Heb. 11:1) Lelinye lihumusho litsi: “Kukholwa siciniseko setintfo lesinelitsemba lato. Kukholwa kukuciniseka ngetintfo lesingatiboni.” (The Simple English Bible) Nangabe sinikwe timphepha tendzawo letsite, siyaciniseka kutsi yetfu. Njengobe sinekukholwa kutsi Nkulunkulu uhlale akwenta loko lakushoko, kuba shengatsi siphetse timphepha letisicinisekisako ngaloko. Kukholwa kwetfu kusenta siciniseke kutsi sitakubona kugcwaliseka kwetetsembiso letiseBhayibhelini lesinelitsemba kuto, nekutsi konkhe lasitjela kona eVini lakhe kuliciniso, ngisho naloko lesingakuboni.

3, 4. (a) Siyini sibindzi? (b) Nguyiphi indlela lengasisita kute sicinise kukholwa kwetfu kanye nesibindzi?

³ Sibindzi sisho kukhuluma ngemandla nekwenta tintfo ngaphandle kwekwesaba ngisho nobe ubukene nebumatima nobe usengotini. Nangabe sinesibindzi sisuke sinemandla, sitimisele futsi ngaletinye tikhatsi size singesabi lutfo.—Mak. 6:49, 50; 2 Thim. 1:7.

⁴ Kukholwa kanye nesibindzi kutici tebuntfu lokufanele sibe nato. Ase sitsi siyabona kutsi sidzinga kukholwa lokwenele, kodvwa sitiva site sibindzi. Nangabe kunjalo, eBhayibhelini kunetibonelo letinyenti tebantfu labaveta letici. Ngako-ke, lenye indlela yekucinisa kukholwa kwetfu kanye nesibindzi, kutsi sihlole letinye taletibonelo.

JEHOVA WABA NAJOSHUWA

5. Yini Joshuwa labeyidzinga kute aphumelele emsebentini wakhe?

⁵ Ase sibuyele emuva emakhulwini langu-35 eminyaka lendlulile. Sekwendlule iminyaka lengu-40 Jehova akhulule ema-Israyeli ekugcilatweni baseGibhithe. Ema-Israyeli aholwa ngumphrofethi Mosi. Nyalo uneminyaka lengu-120 budzala, ulibonela khashane liVe Lesetsembiso futsi ufela esicongweni seNtsaba iNebo. Umholi lomlandzelako nguJoshuwa, indvodza ‘legcwaliswe ngemoya wekuhlakanipha.’ (Dut. 34:1-9) Njengobe ema-Israyeli atawungena eKhenani, Joshuwa utawudzinga kuhlakanipha lokuvela kuNkulunkulu kute aphumelele njengemholi wawo. Utawudzinga nekukholwa kuJehova futsi abe nesibindzi nemandla.—Dut. 31:22, 23.

6. (a) Umbhalo waJoshuwa 23:6 utsi sidzinga sibindzi kute senteni? (b) Yini lesiyifundzako kuMisebenti 4:18-20 nakuMisebenti 5:29?

⁶ Kungenteka kutsi kwawacinisa ema-Israyeli kuhlakanipha, sibindzi kanye nekukholwa lokwavetwa nguJoshuwa kuleminyaka leminyenti nakancoba emaKhenani. Nobe kunjalo, kute ema-Israyeli angesabi kulemphi, bekudzingeka kutsi abe nesibindzi sekwenta loko Joshuwa lawatjela kutsi akwente. Ngembikwekutsi ashone, Joshuwa watsi: “Manini nicine; nicaphele kutsi niyakulalela konkhe loko lokubhalwe encwadzini yemtsetfo waMosi, ngaphandle kwekujikela ngesekudla nome ngesancele.” (Josh. 23:6) Natsi sidzinga sibindzi kute silalele Jehova ngato tonkhe tikhatsi. Loku kufaka ekhatsi lapho bantfu basicindzetela kutsi sente tintfo letiphikisana nentsandvo yaNkulunkulu. (Fundza Imisebenti 4:18-20; 5:29.) Nangabe sithantaza njalo kuJehova, utawusisita kutsi sibe nesibindzi.

INDLELA LESINGAPHUMELELA NGAYO

7. Kute abe nesibindzi futsi aphumelele, yini Joshuwa lobekudzingeka ayente?

⁷ Kute sibe nesibindzi sekwenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu, kufanele sidadishe futsi sisebentise liVi lakhe. Nguloko Joshuwa latjelwa kutsi akwente ngesikhatsi aba ngumholi lowalandzela Mosi: “Wena cina kakhulu, ube nesibindzi. Caphela, uyilalele yonkhe imitsetfo lowayinikwa nguMosi, inceku yami. . . . Emavi alencwadzi yemtsetfo angesuki emlonyeni wakho; uyawucabangisisa ujule kuwo busuku nemini, kuze ukhone kukwenta konkhe loku lokubhalwe kuwo; khona-ke uyawuphumelela kube kuhle kuwe.” (Josh. 1:7, 8) Joshuwa wasilalela leso seluleko futsi ‘indlela yakhe yaphumelela.’ Natsi nasenta njengaye, sitawuba nesibindzi lesikhulu futsi siphumelele emsebentini waNkulunkulu.

8. Umbhalo wemnyaka wa-2013 utsatselwe kumuphi umbhalo, futsi ucabanga kutsi lamavi atakusita njani?

⁸ Ngesikhatsi Joshuwa eva emavi aJehova, kungenteka wakhutsateka kakhulu, Nkulunkulu watsi: ‘Cina ube nesibindzi. Ungetfuki, futsi ungaphelelwa ngemandla, ngobe Jehova Nkulunkulu wakho uyakuba nawe nome ngukuphi lapho uya khona.’ (Josh. 1:9) Natsi Jehova unatsi. Ngako-ke, ‘singetfuki, futsi singaphelelwa ngemandla’ ngisho nobe silingwa. Emavi lokufanele siwanake kakhulu ngulawa latsi: ‘Cina ube nesibindzi. . . . Jehova Nkulunkulu wakho uyakuba nawe.’ Lawo mavi lakuJoshuwa 1:9 akhetfwe kutsi abe ngumbhalo wemnyaka wa-2013. Atawusicinisa kuletinyanga letitako, njengobe emavi netento taletinye tibonelo tekukholwa nesibindzi titawusicinisa.

BEMA BABANESIBINDZI

9. Rahabi wakukhombisa ngatiphi tindlela kuba nekukholwa nesibindzi?

⁹ Ngalesikhatsi Joshuwa atfumela tinhloli eKhenani, ingwadla lenguRahabi yatifihla yase idukisa titsa tato. Ngesizatfu sekutsi wakhombisa tento tekukholwa nesibindzi, Rahabi nemndeni wakubo basindza ngesikhatsi lidolobha laseJerikho lihlaselwa ngema-Israyeli. (Heb. 11:30, 31; Jak. 2:25) Kuyabonakala kutsi Rahabi wakuyekela kutiphatsa lokubi kute ajabulise Jehova. Labanye bantfu lababe ngemaKhristu bakhombise kukholwa, sibindzi nemandla ekwenta tingucuko letifanako kute bajabulise Nkulunkulu.

10. Ruthe wakumela ngephansi kwatiphi timo kukhonta kweliciniso, futsi watfola tiphi tibusiso?

¹⁰ Ngemuva kwekufa kwaJoshuwa, Ruthe umMowabi wakumelela ngesibindzi kukhonta kweliciniso. Njengobe abengumfelokati wemIsrayeli, kungenta abati lokutsite ngaJehova. Maketala wakhe lobekangumfelokati, Nawomi, abehlala eveni lakaMowabi kodvwa wakhetsa kubuyela emuva edolobheni laka-Israyeli eBetlehema. Njengobe bahamba, Nawomi wancenga Ruthe kutsi ancandzeke abuyele kubantfu bakubo, kodvwa lomMowabi watsi: “Ngicela kutsi ungangincengi kutsi ngikushiye. Ngiyekele, ngihambe nawe. . . . Sive sakini, kuyawuba sive sami; naNkulunkulu wakho kube nguNkulunkulu wami.” (Rut. 1:16) Ruthe abetimisele kukwenta loko. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Bowazi losihlobo saNawomi washada naRuthe, waba nendvodzana futsi waba ngukhokho waDavide newaJesu. Ngako-ke, Jehova uyatibusisa tento tekukholwa nesibindzi.—Rut. 2:12; 4:17-22; Mat. 1:1-6.

LABANYENTI BAFAKA KUPHILA KWABO ENGOTINI!

11. BoJehoyada naJehosheba basikhombisa njani sibindzi, futsi loko kwaba namiphi imiphumela?

¹¹ Sibindzi kanye nekukholwa kwetfu kuyacina nangabe sibona kutsi Nkulunkulu unalabo labenta umbuso wakhe ute kucala ekuphileni kwabo kanye nekuphila kwebazalwane labakanye nabo. Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga ngemPhristi Lomkhulu Jehoyada nemfati wakhe, Jehosheba. Ngemuva kwekufa kweNkhosi Ahaziya, make wayo, Athaliya wabulala bonkhe bantfwabenkhosi ngaphandle kwaJowashi kwase kubusa yena. Jehoyada naJehosheba batifaka engotini ngekutsi basindzise indvodzana ya-Ahaziya, lenguJowashi, bayifihla iminyaka lesitfupha. Ngemnyaka wesikhombisa, Jehoyada wabeka Jowashi waba yinkhosi wase wenta kutsi kubulawe Athaliya. (2 Khos. 11:1-16) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jehoyada wayisekela iNkhosi Jowashi kutsi ilungise lithempeli. Ngesikhatsi Jehoyada afa aneminyaka lengu-130 budzala, wangcwatjwa nemakhosi “ngenca yebuhle labebentile ka-Israyeli, abentela Nkulunkulu nelithempeli lakhe.” (2 Khr. 24:15, 16) Ngetulu kwaloko, tento taJehoyada tesibindzi akanye nemfati wakhe, tavikela umndeni waDavide, lapho bekutawuvela khona Mesiya.

12. Yini leyentiwa ngu-Ebedi Meleki leyakhombisa kutsi abenesibindzi?

¹² Ebedi Meleki umtsenwa wasesigodlweni seNkhosi Sedekiya, wafaka kuphila kwakhe engotini kute asindzise Jeremiya. Lenkhosi yanikela Jeremiya etindvuneni takaJuda, letambeka licala lemanga tase timfaka emgodzini kute afele khona. (Jer. 38:4-6) Nanobe Ebedi Meleki abetifake engotini ngekutsi avikele Jeremiya njengobe bebabanyenti bantfu labamenyanyako, wacela inkhosi Sedekiya kutsi ivikele lomphrofethi. Sedekiya watfumela emadvodza langu-30 kutsi ahambe na-Ebedi Meleki kute bavikele Jeremiya. Asebentisa lomphrofethi, Nkulunkulu wacinisekisa Ebedi Meleki kutsi abengeke afe ngesikhatsi baseBhabhulona bahlasela iJerusalema. (Jer. 39:15-18) Nkulunkulu uyababusisa labo labanesibindzi sekwenta intsandvo yakhe.

13. Ngusiphi sibindzi lesavetwa ngemaHebheru lamatsatfu, futsi tsine singazuza njani kuloko lokwenteka kuwo?

¹³ Ngelikhulu lesikhombisa B.C.E., emaHebheru lamatsatfu latinceku taJehova, akhonjiswa ngalokucacile kutsi Nkulunkulu uyababusisa bantfu labanekukholwa nesibindzi. INkhosi Nebukhadnezari yabita tonkhe tikhulu taseBhabhulona yatsi atikhotsamele sithico seligolide. Nobe ngubani lobengeke akwente loko, abetawujikijelwa emlilweni. Ngenhlonipho, lamaHebheru lamatsatfu atsi kuNebukhadnezari: “LoNkulunkulu wetfu lesimkhontako unemandla ekusisindzisa kuwo, futsi uyakusephula esandleni sakho, nkhosi. Kodvwa-ke nome angakakwenti loko, sifuna kutsi wena wati, nkhosi, kutsi tsine singeke sibakhonte labonkulunkulu bakho, nome sikhotsame kulesithico sakho segolide losimisile.” (Dan. 3:16-18) Kukhululwa lokumangalisako kwalamaHebheru lamatsatfu kuchazwe kuDanyela 3:19-30. Nanobe tsine singeke sibulawe ngekutsi sijikijelwe emlilweni, sihlangabetana netilingo letivivinya bucotfo betfu futsi singaciniseka ngekutsi Nkulunkulu utasibusisa ngekukhombisa kukholwa nesibindzi.

14. Ngekusho kwaDanyela sehluko 6, Danyela wakhombisa njani kutsi unesibindzi, futsi waba yini umphumela?

¹⁴ Danyela wakhombisa kukholwa nesibindzi ngesikhatsi titsa takhe tincenga iNkhosi Dariyusi kutsi ikhiphe simemetelo sekutsi “nome ngubani lothandaza kulomunye nkulunkulu nome umuntfu ngaphandle kwakho, nkhosi, kulamalanga langema-30 letako uyawujikijelwa emgodzini wemabhubesi.” Danyela watsi nakeva kutsi ubhalwe phansi lomtsetfo, “wahamba waya ekhaya lakhe ekamelweni lelisetulu, lapho emafasitelo akhona abevulekela ngaseJerusalema. Abeguca ngemadvolo katsatfu ngelilanga, athandaze, abonga Nkulunkulu wakhe, njengobe abevame kwenta ngaphambili.” (Dan. 6:6-10) Danyela lobekanesibindzi wajikijelwa emgodzini wemabhubesi—kodvwa Jehova wamsindzisa.—Dan. 6:16-23.

15. (a) Ngusiphi sibonelo sekukholwa nesibindzi lesabekwa bo-Akhwila naPhrisila? (b) Asho kutsini emavi aJesu lakuJohane 13:34, futsi emaKhristu lamanyenti alukhombisa njani lolo tsandvo?

¹⁵ Kuletinye timo letingakachazwa eBhayibhelini, Akhwila naPhrisila ‘banikela ngemphilo yabo kutsi ibesengotini ngenca’ yaPawula. (Imis. 18:2; Rom. 16:3, 4) Baba nesibindzi sekwenta ngekuvumelana nemavi aJesu, latsi: “Ngininika umyalo lomusha wekutsi: Njengobe nami nginitsandzile, nine tsandzanani.” (Joh. 13:34) UMtsetfo waMosi wawutsi umuntfu kufanele atsandze makhelwane wakhe njengobe atitsandza yena. (Lev. 19:18) Kodvwa umyalo waJesu ‘wawumusha’ ekuchazeni lutsandvo lobelungenta kutsi sinikele ngekuphila kwetfu ngenca yalabanye, njengobe naye enta. EmaKhristu lamanyenti akhombisa lutsandvo ngekutsi ‘anikele ngemphilo yawo’ kunekutsi emakholwa lakanye nawo aphatfwe kabi nobe abulawe titsa.—Fundza 1 Johane 3:16.

16, 17. Labanye balandzeli baKhristu bekucala babhekana nakuphi kuvivinywa kwekukholwa, futsi loko kufana njani nekuvivinywa kwalamanye emaKhristu alamuhla?

¹⁶ EmaKhristu ekucala alingisa Jesu ngekuba nesibindzi sekukhonta Jehova kuphela. (Mat. 4:8-10) Awazange avume kushisa imphepho yekuhlonipha umbusi waseRoma. (Buka sitfombe.) Daniel P. Mannix wabhala: “Ambalwa kakhulu emaKhristu lakulahla kukholwa kwawo, ngisho nobe kwakunelilati lebelihlale livutsa umlilo. Bekudzingeka nje kutsi siboshwa sitsele imphepho lencane kulowo mlilo bese sinikwa Sitifiketi Semhlatjelo, emvakwaloko sikhululwe. Besichazelwa kahle kutsi asimkhonti lombusi; kutsiwe simane nje sihlonipha kutsi lombusi loyinhloko yemaRoma ungunkulunkulu. Nobe kunjalo, ambalwa emaKhristu lalisebentisa lelo tfuba lekukhululeka.”—Incwadzi letsi Those About to Die.

¹⁷ EmaKhristu alamuhla labebukene nekufa njengobe abegcinwe etinkambu temaNazi, anikwa ematfuba lamanyenti ekutfola kukhululeka ngekutsi asayine emaphepha ekutsi awasamkhonti Jehova. Kodvwa ambalwa lawasayina. Kuleminyaka lembalwa leyendlulile, boFakazi labangemaTutsi nemaHutu bebasengotini yekufa ngobe bebavikelana ngesikhatsi kubulawana eRwanda. Tilingo letinjalo tidzinga kutsi ube nesibindzi nekukholwa.

KHUMBULA, JEHOVA UNATSI!

18, 19. Ngutiphi tibonelo letiseBhayibhelini letingasisita sente umsebenti wekushumayela?

¹⁸ Lamuhla sinelilungelo lekwenta umsebenti lomkhulu kakhulu lowake waniketwa tinceku taNkulunkulu—umsebenti wekumemetela umlayeto weMbuso nekwenta bafundzi. (Mat. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Sibonga kakhulu ngesibonelo saJesu lesihle! “Wahamba wadzabula emadolobha nemadolobhana ashumayela liVangeli ngembuso waNkulunkulu.” (Luk. 8:1) NjengaJesu, natsi sidzinga kukholwa nesibindzi kute sishumayele umlayeto weMbuso. Ngekusitwa nguNkulunkulu, singafanana naNowa lobekanesibindzi futsi ‘angumshumayeli wekulunga’ “emhlabeni walababengamesabi Nkulunkulu” lebebatawubhujiswa ngazamcolo.—2 Phet. 2:4, 5.

¹⁹ Umthantazo uyasisita kutsi sente umsebenti wekushumayela. Ngesikhatsi labanye balandzeli baKhristu labebashushiswa bathantazela kutsi ‘bakhulume livi laNkulunkulu ngesibindzi,’ leso sicelo saphendvulwa. (Fundza Imisebenti 4:29-31.) Nangabe unemahloni ngekushumayela emtini ngemuti, Jehova utawuphendvula umthantazo wakho wekukhulisa kukholwa nesibindzi lonaso.—Fundza Tihlabelelo 66:19, 20.a

20. Ngukuphi kusekelwa lesinako njengobe sitinceku taJehova?

²⁰ Kumatima kuphila imphilo yekukhonta Nkulunkulu njengobe sihlaselwa tilingo kulelive lelibi leligcwele tinkinga. Nobe kunjalo, asisodvwa. Nkulunkulu unatsi. NeNdvodzana yakhe, leyiNhloko yelibandla inatsi. Siphindze sibe nalabanye boFakazi BaJehova labangetulu kwa-7 000 000 emhlabeni wonkhe. Njengobe sikanye nabo, asichubeke sikhombisa kukholwa futsi simemetela tindzaba letimnandzi sibe sikhumbula umbhalo wemnyaka wa-2013 lotsi: ‘Cina ube nesibindzi. . . . Jehova Nkulunkulu wakho uyakuba nawe.’—Josh. 1:9.