“Cina Kakhulu, Ube Nesibindzi”
“Cina kakhulu, ube nesibindzi . . . Simakadze Nkulunkulu wakho uyakuba nawe.”—JOSH. 1:7-9.
UNGAPHENDVULA NJANI?
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Enoke kanye naNowa bakuveta ngatiphi tindlela kuba nesibindzi?
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Labanye bantfu besifazane basendvulo baba njani sibonelo sekukholwa kanye nekuba nesibindzi?
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Ngutiphi tibonelo tebantfu labasha lababa nesibindzi letikutsintsa inhlitiyo?
1, 2. (a) Yini ledzingekako ngalesinye sikhatsi kute kuphila kwetfu kwamalanga onkhe kube ngulokulungile? (b) Sitawufundza ngani kulesihloko?
SIBINDZI siphambene nekwesaba, kuba neluvalo kanye nekuba ligwala. Singase sicabange kutsi umuntfu lonesibindzi ngulocinile, lonemandla futsi longesabi. Nanobe kunjalo, ngalesinye sikhatsi, siyasidzinga sibindzi kute kuphila kwetfu kwamalanga onkhe kube ngulokulungile.
2 Labanye bantfu liBhayibheli lelilandzisa ngabo bebangesabi nabahlangabetana netimo letivivinyako. Labanye bebaba nesibindzi etimeni letivame kwehlela bantfu baJehova. Yini lesingayifundza etibonelweni letiseBhayibhelini letimayelana nekuba nesibindzi? Singaba naso njani sibindzi?
BOFAKAZI LABANESIBINDZI EVENI LELINGAMHLONIPHI NKULUNULU
3. Yini leyabiketelwa ngu-Enoki mayelana nebantfu labangamhloniphi Nkulunkulu?
3 Kute umuntfu abe ngufakazi waJehova emkhatsini webantfu lababi bangembikwaZamcolo wangesikhatsi saNowa, bekudzingeka abe nesibindzi. Nanobe kunjalo, Enoki, ‘longuwesikhombisa esitukulwaneni sa-Adamu,’ wetfula umlayeto wakhe losiphrofetho ngesibindzi, nakatsi: “INkhosi iyawufika kanye netinkhulungwane tetinkhulungwane talabangcwele bayo. Iyakwehlulela bonkhe bantfu, ibajezise labo labangamesabi Nkulunkulu. Iyawubajezisa ngenca yemisebenti yabo yonkhe yekwedzelela nekungamhloniphi Nkulunkulu, nangawo onkhe emavi lamabi lakhulunywe ngaye toni letingamesabi.” (Juda 14, 15) Enoki wakhuluma shengatsi siphrofetho sakhe besesentekile ngesizatfu sekutsi besitawugcwaliseka nakanjani. Bantfu labangamhloniphi Nkulunkulu babhujiswa kuZamcolo wemhlaba wonkhe.
4. Nowa, ‘wahamba naNkulunkulu’ ngaphansi kwatiphi timo?
4 Zamcolo wenteka nga-2370 B.C.E., sekwendlule iminyaka lengetulu kwa-650 ngemuva kwekutsi Enoki ente umsebenti wekuphrofetha. Ngesikhatsi lesifanako, kwatalwa Nowa, wakhulisa umndeni wakhe futsi yena nemadvodzana akhe, bakha umkhumbi. Tingilosi letimbi tashintja imitimba yato yafanana neyebantfu, talala nebesifazane labahle, base batala Tichwaga. Ngetulu kwaloko, bubi bebantfu bandza kakhulu futsi umhlaba wonkhe wagcwala budlova. (Gen. 6:1-5, 9, 11) Ngetulu kwetimo letinjalo, ‘Nowa wahamba naNkulunkulu’ futsi waba ‘ngumshumayeli wekulunga.’ (Fundza 2 Phetro 2:4, 5.) Natsi, sidzinga kuba nesibindzi lesifananako kulamalanga ekugcina.
BAKHOMBISA KUKHOLWA KANYE NESIBINDZI
5. Mosi wakukhombisa njani kuba nekukholwa kanye nesibindzi?
5 Mosi waba sibonelo sekukholwa kanye nesekuba nesibindzi. (Heb. 11:24-27) Kusukela nga-1513 kuya ku-1473 B.C.E., wasetjentiswa nguNkulunkulu kute ahole ema-Israyeli aphume eGibhithe, waphindze wawacondzisa ehlane. Mosi wativa ete likhono lekwenta lesabelo, kodvwa wasemukela. (Eks. 6:12) Yena anemnakabo, Aroni, baya tikhatsi letinyenti kuFaro, umbusi waseGibhithe lobekanenhlitiyo lelukhuni, futsi ngesibindzi bamemetela Tishayo Letilishumi letasetjentiswa nguJehova kute atsele ngelihlazo bonkulunkulu baseGibhithe waphindze wakhulula bantfu baKhe. (Eks., tehl. 7-12) Mosi wakhombisa kukholwa nesibindzi ngobe bekasekelwa nguNkulunkulu, njengobe natsi asisekela.—Dut. 33:27.
6. Nakwenteka siphenywa ngemibuto tiphatsimandla, singakhona njani kuniketa bufakazi ngesibindzi?
6 Sidzinga sibindzi lesifanana nesaMosi, ngobe Jesu watsi: “Niyawumiswa embikwebabusi nemakhosi ngelibito lami, kuze kube bufakazi kubo nakubetive. Kepha-ke nabanimangalele, ningahlupheki ngekutsi niyawutsini nekutsi nikusho kanjani; ngobe nakufika leso sikhatsi, niyawunikwa lenifanele nikusho. Ngobe akusini leniyakukhuluma, kepha ngumoya weYihlo wasezulwini loyawukhuluma ngani.” (Mat. 10:18-20) Nakwenteka siphenywa ngemibuto tiphatsimandla, umoya waJehova utasisita kutsi setfule bufakazi ngenhlonipho, ngekukholwa kanye nangesibindzi.—Fundza Lukha 12:11, 12.
7. Yini leyenta Joshuwa waba nesibindzi futsi waphumelela?
7 Kutadisha njalo uMtsetfo waNkulunkulu kwakha kukholwa kanye nesibindzi saJoshuwa, lowalandzela Mosi ekuholeni sive sema-Israyeli. Nga-1473 B.C.E., ema-Israyeli bese akulungele kungena eVeni Lesetsembiso. Naku Nkulunkulu lakusho kuJoshuwa: “Cina kakhulu, ube nesibindzi.” Ngekulalela loMtsetfo, Joshuwa bekatawenta tincumo letihlakaniphile futsi aphumelele. Watjelwa: “Ungetfuki, futsi ungaphelelwa ngemandla, ngobe Simakadze Nkulunkulu wakho uyakuba nawe nome ngukuphi lapho uya khona.” (Josh. 1:7-9) Asingabati kutsi lamavi amcinisa Joshuwa. Siyaciniseka ngekutsi Nkulunkulu waba naye ngobe wamsita wancoba titsa takhe eVeni Lesetsembiso eminyakeni lesitfupha kuphela—nga-1467 B.C.E.
BANTFU BESIFAZANE LABABA NESIBINDZI
8. Ngusiphi sibonelo sekukholwa kanye nesesibindzi lesisitfola kuRahabi?
8 Eminyakeni lengemakhulu lendlulile, bantfu besifazane labanyenti bebanesibindzi sekumelela kukhonta kwabo Jehova. Sibonelo saloko kutsi Rahabi lobekayingwadla yaseJerikho wakhombisa kukholwa kuNkulunkulu, ngekutsi ngesibindzi afihle tinhloli letimbili lebetitfunywe nguJoshuwa, waphindze wadukisa titfunywa tenkhosi lebetifuna kubulala letinhloli. Yena kanye nemndeni wakubo basindza ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli ancoba iJerikho. Rahabi wayishiya ngalokuphelele imikhuba yakhe lemibi, wakhonta Jehova ngekwetsembeka futsi waba ngukhokhokati waMesiya. (Josh. 2:1-6; 6:22, 23; Mat. 1:1, 5) Iyajabulisa indlela labusiswa ngayo ngesizatfu sekukholwa kanye nesibindzi sakhe.
9. Debhora, Bharaki kanye naJayeli bakukhombisa njani kuba nesibindzi?
9 Ngemuva kwekufa kwaJoshuwa nga-1450 B.C.E., behluleli ngibo labebalawula umtsetfo ka-Israyeli. Besekuphele iminyaka lengu-20 iNkhosi Jabini lengumKhenani icindzetela ema-Israyeli ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu atfuma umphrofethikati Debhora kutsi akhutsate umehluleli Bharaki kutsi atsatse sinyatselo. Bharaki wabutsela ndzawonye emadvodza langu-10 000 eNtsabeni iThabori, futsi bese akulungele kulwa nesikhulu semphi yaJabini, lokungu Sisera, lobekangene endzaweni lebekile yaseKhishani anelibutfo lakhe kanye netinkalishi temphi letingu-900. Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli asondzela kulendzawo, Nkulunkulu wabangela kutsi kune imvula lenkhulu futsi indzawo lebekulwelwa kuyo yaba neludzaka lolwabangela kutsi tinkalishi temaKhenani tibhajwe. Libutfo laBharaki laphumelela, kantsi “onkhe emabutfo aSisera awa ngelusiko lwenkemba.” Sisera wabalekela ethendeni laJayeli kute atfole kukhosela, kodvwa Jayeli wambulala ngalesikhatsi alele. Ngekuvumelana nesiphrofetho saDebhora kuBharaki, “ludvumo” lwalokuncoba lwaya kuJayeli. Ngesizatfu sekutsi Debhora, Bharaki kanye naJayeli bebanesibindzi, ema-Israyeli ‘aba nekuthula iminyaka lengu-40.’ (Khu. 4:1-9, 14-22; 5:20, 21, 31) Nalamanye emadvodza lamanyenti kanye nebesifazane, bavete kukholwa nesibindzi lesifananako.
EMAVI ETFU ANGAKHUTSATA LABANYE KUTSI BABE NESIBINDZI
10. Kungani singatsi emavi etfu angabakhutsata labanye?
10 Lesikushoko kungabangela tikhonti taJehova lesikanye nato kutsi tibe nesibindzi. Ngelikhulu lesi-11 B.C.E., iNkhosi Davide yasho nankha emavi kuSolomoni indvodzana yayo: “Cina, ube nesibindzi, wente lomsebenti. Ungesabi, futsi ungapheli emandla, ngobe Simakadze Nkulunkulu, longuNkulunkulu wami, unawe. Angeke akujabhise, futsi angeke akulahle, kuze kuphele wonkhe umsebenti wekukhonta ethempelini laSimakadze.” (1 Khr. 28:20) Solomoni wakhombisa kuba nesibindzi futsi wakha lithempeli lelihle laJehova eJerusalema.
11. Emavi lanesibindzi entfombatanyana lengumIsrayeli aba namuphi umphumela endvodzeni letsite?
11 Ngelikhulu lelishumi B.C.E., emavi lakhombisa sibindzi lakhulunywa yintfombatanyana lengumIsrayeli aletsa sibusiso kumuntfu lobekanebulephelo. Lentfombatanyana yatfunjwa libutfo futsi yaba sigcili saNamani, sikhulu selibutfo laseSiriya lebesinebulephelo. Lwati lebeyinalo ngetimangaliso Jehova latenta asebentisa Elisha, lwayenta yatjela umfati waNamani kutsi nangabe indvodza yakhe ingaya ka-Israyeli, umphrofethi waNkulunkulu bekatayelapha. Namani walalela, wacondza ka-Israyeli, wafike welashwa ngalokusimangaliso futsi wase uba sikhonti saJehova. (2 Khos. 5:1-3, 10-17) Nangabe usemncane ngemnyaka futsi utsandza Nkulunkulu njengalentfobatanyana, Nkulunkulu angakunika sibindzi kute ufakaze kubothishela, kulofundza nabo kanye nakulabanye.
12. Emavi eNkhosi Hezekiya aba namuphi umphumela esiveni sayo?
12 Emavi lakhetfwe kahle ngesikhatsi sekucindzeteleka, angakhutsata labanye kutsi babe nesibindzi. Ngesikhatsi ema-Asiriya ayekulwa nebaseJerusalema ngelikhulu lesiphohlongo B.C.E., naku iNkhosi Hezekiya leyakutjela sive sayo: “Cinani, nime sibindzi, ningesabi, futsi ningapheli emandla ngenca yalenkhosi yase-Asiriya nalolucucaba lwemphi yayo leta nayo, ngobe kitsi kunemandla lamakhulu kunalawa lenawo yona. Kuye kunemkhono wenyama, kodvwa kitsi kunaSimakadze Nkulunkulu wetfu lotasisita atilwe letimphi tetfu.” Bantfu basabela njani kulamavi? “Bema sibindzi ngaloko Hezekiya, inkhosi yakaJuda, lakusho kubo.” (2 Khr. 32:7, 8) Emavi lafananako angacinisa sibindzi setfu kanye nesalamanye emaKhristu nangabe sishushiswa.
13. Ngusiphi sibonelo sekuba nesibindzi lesisitfola ku-Obadiya, sikhulu seNkhosi Ahabi?
13 Ngalesinye sikhatsi sibindzi asivetwa nguloko lesikushoko. Ngelikhulu lelishumi B.C.E., sikhulu seNkhosi Ahabi, Obadiya, ngesibindzi wafihla baphrofethi baJehova labalikhulu ‘baba ngu-50 kulowo nakulowo mgedze’ kute bangabulawa yindlovukazi lebeyiyimbi, Jezebeli. (1 Khos. 18:4) Njenga-Obadiya, indvodza lebeyesaba Nkulunkulu, linyenti letikhonti taJehova letetsembekile lamuhla, tivikele ngesibindzi emakholwa letikanye nawo ngekutsi tingabaniketi bashushisi imininingwane letsite lemayelana nawo.
ESTA—INDLOVUKAZI LENESIBINDZI
14, 15. INdlovukazi Esta yakuveta njani kukholwa kanye nesibindzi, futsi loko kwaba namuphi umphumela?
14 INdlovukazi Esta, yaveta kukholwa lokukhulu kanye nesibindzi ngesikhatsi Hamani lobekamubi enta lusongo lwekubulala emaJuda labekaseMbusweni wasePeresiya, ngelikhulu lesihlanu B.C.E. Ngaleso sizatfu, emaJuda azila aphindze athandaza ngalokusuka etinhlitiyweni tawo. (Esta 4:1-3) INdlovukazi Esta beyicindzeteleke kakhulu. Modekhayi lobekasihlobo sayo wayitfumelela ikhophi yencwadzi lebeyigunyata kutsi akubulawe bantfu labanyenti futsi wayicela kutsi ivele enkhosini kute incengele emaJuda akubo. Lobekukhatsata kakhulu kutsi wonkhe umuntfu lobekaya eNkhosini angakabitwa, bekabulawa.—Esta 4:4-11.
15 Nanobe kunjalo, Modekhayi watsi ku-Esta: “Nawuthula manje kulesikhatsi, lusito lutawuchamuka kulenye indzawo. Empeleni, ngubani nje lowatiko kutsi mhlawumbe wena wentelwa sona lesikhatsi kutsi ube yinkhosikati lenkhulu?” Esta wakhutsata Modekhayi kutsi abutsele ndzawonye emaJuda endzaweni yaseSusa futsi amzilele. Watsi: “Nami netincekukati tami sitawuzila njengani. Emvakwaloko ngitawuvele ngitidzikele, ngingene enkhosini, nome loko kuphambene nemtsetfo. Nangabe ngiyafa, ngife kube kanye.” (Esta 4:12-17) Esta wenta imisebenti lekhombisa kuba nesibindzi futsi incwadzi leyatiwa ngelibito lakhe iveta kutsi Nkulunkulu wabakhulula bantfu bakhe. Esikhatsini salamuhla, emaKhristu lagcotjiwe kanye nebangani bawo labatinikele baveta sibindzi lesifananako nabehlelwa tilingo, futsi ‘umuvi wemithandazo’ uhlale abasekela.—Fundza Tihlabelelo 65:2; 118:6.
“MANI SIBINDZI”
16. Ngusiphi sibonelo labasha labanaso labasishiyelwa nguJesu?
16 Kulesinye sentakalo ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka, Jesu lobekaneminyaka lengu-12 budzala, bamtfola ethempelini “ahleti netati temtsetfo, atilalela futsi atibuta nemibuzo.” Ngetulu kwaloko, “bonkhe labamuva bamangaliswa kucondzisisa kwakhe kanye netimphendvulo takhe.” (Luk. 2:41-50) Nanobe bekamncane, Jesu bekanekukholwa kanye nesibindzi lebesidzingeka kute abute tati temtsetfo imibuto ethempelini. Kucabanga ngesibonelo saJesu kungasita labasebasha ebandleni lebuKhristu kutsi basebentise onkhe ematfuba kute ‘bakulungele kubaphendvula bonkhe labababuta ngelitsemba lelikubo.’—1 Phet. 3:15.
17. Kungani Jesu akhutsata balandzeli bakhe kutsi ‘beme sibindzi,’ futsi kungani natsi kufanele sente lokufananako?
17 Jesu wakhutsata labanye kutsi ‘beme sibindzi.’ (Mat. 9:2, 22) Watjela bafundzi bakhe: “Siyeta sikhatsi, nanyalo sesifikile, lapho nonkhe nitawusakateka, ngulowo nalowo abuyele ekhaya lakhe. Nitangishiya ngedvwa; kodvwa noko angingedvwa, ngobe Babe unami. Senginitjele loku, kuze nitewuba nekuthula kimi. Eveni niyawuhlupheka nibe nelusizi. Kodvwa manini sibindzi, ngobe mine ngilincobile live.” (Joh. 16:32, 33) Njengebalandzeli baJesu bekucala, sihlangabetana nenzondo levela kulelive, kodvwa akukafaneli sifane nalo. Kuzindla ngemphilo yekuba nesibindzi leyavetwa yiNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu kungasinika sibindzi kute sihlale singangcoliswa ngulelive. Yalincoba live futsi natsi singenta lokufananako.—Joh. 17:16; Jak. 1:27.
‘BANI NESIBINDZI’
18, 19. Ngubuphi bufakazi lobaniketwa ngumphostoli Pawula mayelana nekukholwa kanye nesibindzi?
18 Umphostoli Pawula wabeketelela tilingo letinyenti. Kulesinye sato, emaJuda eJerusalema aphose ambulala wasindziswa ngemasotja langemaRoma. Ngalobo busuku, “iNkhosi yema eceleni kwaPawula yatsi: ‘[Bani] nesibindzi, njengobe ungifakazele nje la eJerusalema, kufanele wente njalo futsi naseRoma.’” (Imis. 23:11) Pawula wakulalela loko.
19 Pawula wabakhuta ngesibindzi labo lababita ngekutsi ‘baphostoli lababonakala bagcame kakhulu.’ (2 Khor. 11:5; 12:11) Ngalokungafanani nabo, bekangabala naku lokulandzelako njengebufakazi bebuphostoli bakhe—kuboshwa, kushaywa, kutsatsa luhambo loluyingoti, letinye tingoti, kulamba, koma, kungalali ebusuku kanye nekukhatsateka kwakhe ngemakholwa labekanye nawo. (Fundza 2 Khorinte 11:23-28.) Loku kukulandzisa lokuhle kwekukholwa kanye nekwekuba nesibindzi—konkhe lokuniketa bufakazi bekusekelwa ngemandla lavela kuNkulunkulu.
20, 21. (a) Niketa sibonelo lesiveta kutsi siyasidzinga sibindzi. (b) Kungaphansi kwatiphi timo lapho kungase kudzingeke kutsi sivete sibindzi, futsi yini lesingaciniseka ngayo?
20 Akusiwo onkhe emaKhristu latawuhlangabetana nekushushiswa lokumatima. Nanobe kunjalo, sonkhe sidzinga kuba nesibindzi kute sitincobe tinkinga letinjalo ekuphileni. Ase sifanekise: Lelinye lijaha lase-Brazil belijoyine licembu letigebengu. Ngemuva kwekutadisha liBhayibheli, kwalikhanyela kutsi kudzingeka lente tingucuko, kodvwa bekwatiwa kutsi umuntfu loshiya lelicembu letigebengu bekabulawa. Lathandaza laphindze lasebentisa imibhalo kute livetele umholi walelicembu laletigebengu sizatfu lesenta kutsi libashiye. Lelijaha lakhululwa ngaphandle kwekulinyatwa futsi laba ngummemeteli weMbuso.
21 Sibindzi siyadzingeka kute sishumayele tindzaba letinhle. EmaKhristu lasemasha ayayidzinga lemfanelo kute alondvolote bucotfo bawo esikolweni. Singase sidzinge sibindzi kute sicele kungabi khona emsebentini wekutiphilisa kute sikwati kuba khona kulo lonkhe luhlelo lwemhlangano lemikhulu lesiba nayo. Tintfo letidzinga sibindzi tinyenti kakhulu. Ngisho nobe ngabe sihlangabentana natiphi tinsayeya, akukho kungabata kutsi Jehova utayilalela ‘imithandazo yekukholwa’ lesiyentako. (Jak. 5:15) Asingabati kutsi utasiniketa umoya wakhe longcwele kute usisite kutsi ‘sicine kakhulu, sibe nesibindzi.’
[Sitfombe ekhasini 11]
Enoki washumayela ngesibindzi eveni lelingamhloniphi Nkulunkulu
[Sitfombe ekhasini 12]
Jayeli bekanemandla kanye nesibindzi