1, 2. (a) Kungani amazwi akuDutheronomi 6:4 ejayelekile? (b) Kungani uMosi wakhuluma lawomazwi?

SEKUYIMINYAKA eminengi abantu benkolo yesiJuda besebenzisa amazwi akuDutheronomi 6:4 nxa besenza umthandazo wabo oqakathekileyo. Umthandazo lo bawubiza ngokuthi yiShema. Leli libala lokuqala lesiHebheru elitholakala evesini le. Umthandazo lo bawenza nsuku zonke ekuseni lantambama ukuze batshengise ukuthi bazinikele kuNkulunkulu.

² Ivesi le iyingxenye yamazwi okucina akhulunywa nguMosi ngesikhathi esesehlukana lesizwe sako-Israyeli esasibuthene emagcekeni akoMowabi ngomnyaka ka-1473 B.C.E. Abako-Israyeli basebezachapha umfula uJodani ukuze bayethatha iLizwe Lesithembiso. (Dute. 6:1) UMosi wayesekhokhele abantu laba okweminyaka engu-40 njalo wayefuna babelesibindi ukuze benelise ukumelana lobunzima ababezahlangana labo phambili. Kwakumele bamthembe uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo futhi babelokholo kuye. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi amazwi kaMosi abaqinisa sibili. Ngemva kokubatshela Imilayo Elitshumi leminye imithetho uJehova ayefuna bayinikwe, uMosi  watsho amazwi alamandla akuDutheronomi 6:4, 5. (Bala.)

3. Yiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo esihlokweni lesi?

³ Kambe abantu bako-Israyeli ababebuthene phambi kukaMosi babengakwazi yini ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo “nguJehova munye”? Lokho babekwazi mhlophe. Phela babekhonza uNkulunkulu oyedwa, uNkulunkulu ka-Abhrahama, u-Isaka loJakhobe. Manje kungani uMosi wabatshela ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo “nguJehova munye”? Umutsho othi ‘uJehova munye’ uhambelana njani lamazwi akuvesi 5? Amazwi akuDutheronomi 6:4, 5 asebenza njani kithi lamuhla?

4, 5. (a) Utshoni umutsho othi ‘uJehova munye’? (b) UJehova utshiyene njani labanye onkulunkulu bezizwe?

⁴ Nguye yedwa. Umutsho othi ‘uJehova munye’ utsho ukuthi akulankulunkulu esingamfanisa loJehova futhi kakho olingana laye. Kungani uMosi wasebenzisa umutsho lo? Kusegcekeni ukuthi wayengahlosanga ukutshengisa ukuthi imfundiso yobuthathu bukaNkulunkulu ingamanga. Phela uJehova unguMdali wezulu lomhlaba njalo unguMbusi wendawo yonke. Nguye yedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi akula omunye unkulunkulu onjengaye. (2 Sam. 7:22) Ngakho uMosi wayekhumbuza ama-Israyeli ukuthi akhonze uJehova kuphela. Kwakungamelanga alandele izizwe ezaziseduze kwawo ezazikhonza onkulunkulu labonkulunkulukazi abatshiyeneyo. Abanye onkulunkulu labo kwakukholwa ukuthi balamandla okulawula ezinye izinto ezidaliweyo. Kanti njalo kwakulabanye onkulunkulu esingeke sibabale sibaqede.

⁵ Ngokwesibonelo abaseGibhithe babekhonza unkulunkulu welanga uRa, unkulunkulukazi wesibhakabhaka uNut, unkulunkulu womhlaba uGeb, unkulunkulu womfula uNayili okuthiwa nguHapi lezinye izinyamazana ezinengi okwakuthiwa zingcwele. Kodwa lapho uJehova esehlisela abaseGibhithe Inhlupho Ezilitshumi kwakhanya ukuthi inengi labonkulunkulu labo babeyiziphamaso nje. AbaseKhenani bona babekhonza uBhali njalo babekholwa ukuthi nguye obanika inzalo. Babekholwa lokuthi ungunkulunkulu wesibhakabhaka, ukuthi nguye obanika izulu futhi nguye owenza kube lesiphepho. Lakwezinye izindawo abantu babekholwa lokuthi uBhali nguye obancedayo. (Nani. 25:3) Ngakho abako-Israyeli kwakumele bakhumbule ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabo uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi akula omunye onjengaye.—Dute. 4:35, 39.

6, 7. Yiphi enye ingcazelo yomutsho othi ‘uJehova munye’ njalo uJehova wakutshengisa njani lokhu?

⁶ Kaguquki futhi uqotho. Umutsho othi ‘uJehova munye’ utsho lokuthi uthembekile kulokho akwenzayo lalokho akuhlosileyo. UJehova uNkulunkulu kantshintshantshintshi. Uthembekile zikhathi zonke, kaguquki, uqotho njalo uleqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo wathembisa u-Abhrahama ukuthi izizukulwane zakhe zazizathatha iLizwe Lesithembiso njalo wenza izimangaliso ezesabekayo ukuze agcwalise lesosithembiso. Lanxa kwedlula iminyaka engu-430 kungakenzakali lokhu uJehova kaguqukanga, wakugcwalisa ayekuthembisile.—Gen. 12:1, 2, 7; Eks. 12:40, 41.

⁷ Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi uJehova wabiza abako-Israyeli ngokuthi ngofakazi bakhe, wasebatshela wathi: “Mina nginguye. Ngaphambi kwami kakho uNkulunkulu owake waba khona njalo kakho ozakuba khona emva kwami.” UJehova waphinda watshengisa lokuthi injongo yakhe kayintshintshi lapho esithi: “Kusukela ezinsukwini zasendulo nginguye.” (Isaya. 43:10, 13; 44:6; 48:12) Kwakuyisibusiso esikhulu kuma-Israyeli ukuba yizinceku zikaJehova uNkulunkulu ongaguqukiyo futhi othembekileyo kukho konke akwenzayo. Lathi silesibusiso esifananayo lamuhla.—Mal. 3:6; Jak. 1:17.

8, 9. (a) UJehova ufunani ebantwini abamkhonzayo? (b) UJesu wakugcizelela njani ukuqakatheka kwamazwi kaMosi?

 ⁸ UMosi wakhumbuza abako-Israyeli ukuthi uJehova wayezaqhubeka ebathanda njalo ebasekela ngakho konke ababekudinga. Ngakho labo kwakumele bazinikele kuye kuphela njalo bamthande ngenhliziyo yabo yonke, langomphefumulo wabo wonke langamandla abo wonke. Abazali kwakufanele bafundise abantwababo ngoJehova izikhathi zonke ukuze labo bazimisele ukukhonza uJehova kuphela.—Dute. 6:6-9.

⁹ UJehova kaguquki kulokho akuhlosileyo lalokho afuna abantu bakhe bakwenze. Ngakho kuyacaca ukuthi lokho akukhangeleleyo ebantwini abamkhonza ngeqiniso akukantshintshi. Yikho lathi lamuhla ufuna sikhonze yena kuphela futhi simthande ngenhliziyo yonke langengqondo yethu yonke langamandla ethu wonke ukuze asamukele. UJesu Khristu laye wakugcizelela lokhu. (Bala uMakho 12:28-31.) Ngakho-ke kasiboneni ukuba singatshengisa njani ngezenzo zethu ukuthi siyakuzwisisa sibili ukuthi “uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye.”

10, 11. (a) Kutshoni ukukhonza uJehova kuphela? (b) UDanyeli labangane bakhe batshengisa njani ukuthi babezimisele ukukhonza uJehova kuphela?

¹⁰ UJehova nguye yedwa uNkulunkulu wethu futhi kumele sikhonze yena kuphela. Yikho kasingeke sikhonze abanye onkulunkulu kumbe sihlanganise ukukhonza kwethu uJehova lemicabango kanye lezenzo eziphathelane lokukhonza kwamanga. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova kasuye nkulunkulu nje odlula abanye onkulunkulu abakhona kumbe olamandla kulabo. Kodwa nguye yedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso njalo nguye yedwa okumele akhonzwe.—Bala iSambulo 4:11.

¹¹ Ibhuku likaDanyeli lisitshela ngabasakhulayo abangamaHebheru uDanyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli lo-Azariya. Amajaha la atshengisa ukuthi ayezimisele ukukhonza uJehova kuphela ngesikhathi esala ukudla okwakungcolile. Kanti njalo kawazange avume lokukhothamela isithombe senkosi uNebhukhadinezari. Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi ayezimisele ukukhonza uJehova kuphela.—Dan. 1:1–3:30.

12. Kuyini okungamelanga sikwenze ukuze senelise ukukhonza uJehova kuphela?

¹² UJehova kumele simfake kuqala ezimpilweni zethu. Ngakho akumelanga sivumele loba yini ithathe indawo kaJehova kumbe isenze sibe ngqondombili ekumkhonzeni. Yiziphi izinto okumele sizinanzelele? EMthethweni Elitshumi uJehova wakucacisa ukuthi abantu bakhe akumelanga bakhonze abanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwakhe njalo wathi bangakhonzi loba yisiphi isithombe. (Dute. 5:6-10) Lamuhla zinengi izindlela zokukhonza izithombe futhi ezinye zakhona kungaba nzima ukuzinanzelela. Kodwa lokho uJehova akufunayo ebantwini bakhe akuntshintshanga, ulokhu ‘enguJehova munye.’ Kasihloleni ukuthi lokhu kutshoni kithi.

13. Kuyini esingacina sesikuthanda ukwedlula uJehova?

¹³ KuKholose 3:5 (bala), sithola iseluleko esilamandla mayelana lalokho okungabangela ukuthi sehluleke ukuhlala silobuhlobo obuhle loJehova. Evesini le ubuhwaba buhambisana lokukhonza izithombe. Ngayiphi indlela? Ngokwesibonelo nxa umuntu ehlala efisa ukuba ngumali iyavuza kumbe ukuphila impilo entofontofo, kungaba lula ukuthi izinto lezi zilawule impilo yakhe futhi zicine zisiba ngunkulunkulu wakhe. Kanti njalo nxa siyikhangela yonke ivesi le kuyacaca ukuthi lezinye izono ezibaliswayo lazo ziyangenelana lobuhwaba okuyikukhonza izithombe. Phela nxa sihlala sifisa izinto lezi singacina sesithanda zona ukwedlula uJehova. Nxa singavumela ukuthi lokhu kwenzakale kithi akungeke kukhanye ukuthi sikhonza ‘uJehova  munye.’ Ngakho kasingakuvumeli lokhu ukuthi kwenzakale kithi.

14. Yisiphi isixwayiso esasinikwa ngumphostoli uJohane?

¹⁴ Umphostoli uJohane laye waxwayisa ukuthi nxa umuntu ethanda izinto ezisemhlabeni, okutsho “izinkanuko zabantu abalezono—ukulangazela kwamehlo abo kanye lokuzigqaja ngezimpahla,” “uthando lukaBaba kalukho kuye.” (1 Joh. 2:15, 16) Yikho kungaba kuhle ukuthi sihlale sizihlola zikhathi zonke ukuze sibone ukuthi singabe sesithanda umhlaba yini. Phela kungaba lula ukuthi siqalise ukuhugwa ngabantu bomhlaba lo, indlela abagqoka ngayo, labazilungisa ngayo kanye lezindlela abazilibazisa ngazo. Kanti njalo ukuthanda umhlaba kungasenza siqalise ‘ukuzifunela izinto ezinkulu,’ ezinjengokugijimisana lemfundo ephezulu. (Jer. 45:4, 5) Sekuseduze kakhulu ukuthi singene emhlabeni omutsha. Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale siwakhumbula amazwi kaMosi. Nxa sikuzwisisa futhi sikukholwa ngeqiniso ukuthi “uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye,” sizazimisela ukumkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke langendlela ayifunayo.—Heb. 12:28, 29.

15. Kungani uPhawuli wakhumbuza amaKhristu ukuthi aloNkulunkulu oyedwa?

¹⁵ Umutsho othi ‘uJehova munye’ usinceda lokuthi sizwisise ukuthi uJehova ufuna izinceku zakhe zimanyane njalo zibe lenjongo efananayo ekuphileni. Ibandla lekhulu lokuqala lalibunjwa ngabantu abangamaJuda, amaGiriki, amaRoma labanye abantu ababevela kwamanye amazwe. Babekhuliswe ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo, belamasiko angafananiyo njalo bethanda izinto ezehlukeneyo. Lokhu kwakusenza kube nzima kwabanye ukwamukela indlela entsha yokukhonza kumbe ukuthi bayitshiye ngokupheleleyo imikhuba yabo emidala. Ngakho umphostoli uPhawuli wakubona kufanele ukuthi abakhumbuze ukuthi amaKhristu aloNkulunkulu oyedwa uJehova.—Bala u-1 Khorinte 8:5, 6.

16, 17. (a) Yisiphi isiphrofetho esigcwalisekayo lamuhla futhi kuba layiphi impumela? (b) Kuyini okungaphambanisa ukumanyana kwethu?

 ¹⁶ Ebandleni lobuKhristu lamuhla khona kunjani? U-Isaya waphrofetha ukuthi “ngezinsuku zokucina” abantu bezizwe zonke bazakhwela entabeni kaJehova. Bazakuthi: “[UJehova] uzasifundisa izindlela zakhe ukuze sihambe ezindleleni zakhe.” (Isaya. 2:2, 3) Kuyajabulisa kakhulu ukubona isiphrofetho lesi sigcwaliseka lamuhla. Ngenxa yalokhu amabandla amanengi alabazalwane abavela ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo, abalamasiko atshiyeneyo futhi abakhuluma izindimi ezehlukeneyo. Kodwa bamanyene ekukhonzeni uJehova. Lanxa kunjalo ukuba labantu abanjalo kungabangela ubunzima obuthile kwezinye izikhathi.

¹⁷ Ngokwesibonelo wena uthini ngabazalwane abalamasiko atshiyene lawakho? Mhlawumbe awujayelananga lolimi lwabo, indlela abagqoka ngayo, indlela abaziphatha ngayo kanye lokudla abakudlayo. Ukhetha ukuzisondeza kulabo abalamasiko afanana lawakho kuphela yini? Kungenzakala lokuthi abakhokhelayo ebandleni okulo, esiqintini okuso loba ewofisini yegatsha lakini bancane kulawe kumbe ngabomunye umhlobo otshiyene lowakho. Uyakuvumela yini lokhu kuphambanise ukumanyana okukhona phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova?

18, 19. (a) Yisiphi iseluleko esiku-Efesu 4:1-3? (b) Singenzani ukuze kuhlale kulokumanyana ebandleni?

¹⁸ Manje singenzani ukuze sihlale simanyene? UPhawuli wanika amaKhristu ayehlala edolobheni lase-Efesu iseluleko esilusizo kakhulu. Idolobho leli lalinothile njalo lalihlala abantu abanengi abatshiyeneyo. (Bala u-Efesu 4:1-3.) Emavesini la uPhawuli waqala wakhuluma ngokuthobeka, ubumnene, ukubekezela kanye lothando. Lezizithelo zomoya zingafaniswa lezinsika ezibambe indlu ukuze iqhubeke imile. Lanxa indlu ingaba lezinsika eziqinileyo kuyadingakala ukuthi ihlale ilungilungiswa ukuze ibe sesimeni esihle. Yikho uPhawuli wakhuthaza amaKhristu ase-Efesu ukuthi azame ngamandla wonke ‘ukugcina ukumanyana komoya ngesibopho sokuthula.’

¹⁹ Sonke ebandleni kumele sizame ukwenza okusemandleni ethu ukuze silondoloze ukumanyana. Singakwenza njani lokhu? Okwakuqala kasitshengiseni izithelo zomoya ezatshiwo nguPhawuli—ukuthobeka, ubumnene, ukubekezela kanye lothando. Okwesibili kumele sizimisele ukugcina ‘ukumanyana komoya ngesibopho sokuthula.’ Ukungazwanani kungafaniswa lemikenke engaphambanisa ukumanyana kwethu. Ngakho-ke kumele sisebenze gadalala ukuthi silungisise loba yikuphi ukungazwanani ukuze sigcine ukuthula kanye lokumanyana phakathi kwethu.

20. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyawazwisisa amazwi athi “uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye”?

²⁰ “UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye.” La ngamazwi alamandla sibili! Abaqinisa abako-Israyeli ukuthi benelise ukulwisana laloba yiziphi izinhlupho ababezahlangana lazo lapho bengena eLizweni Lesithembiso. Nxa lathi singawagxilisa ezinhliziyweni zethu amazwi la azasinceda ukuthi silwisane laloba yibuphi ubunzima obungasivelela ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Azasisiza lokuthi sigcine ukumanyana kwethu nxa sesisePharadayisi. Ngakho kasiqhubekeni sizinikela kuJehova kuphela ngokumthanda langokumkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke. Kasibambeni ziqine ukuze sigcine lokumanyana okusebandleni lobuKhristu. Nxa singahlala sikwenza konke lokhu sizakubona ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi akhulunywa nguJesu mayelana lalabo abazakwahlulelwa njengezimvu. Wathi: “Wozani, lina ababusisiweyo nguBaba; thathani ilifa lenu, uMbuso owalungiselwa lina kulokhu kwadalwa umhlaba.”—Mat. 25:34.