1. Kuyini okusithokozisa kakhulu empilweni, njalo ngubani okumele sisondele kuye ukwedlula loba ngubani?

 “UMUNTU ngumuntu ngabantu.” Isitsho lesi siliqiniso ngoba kuyasithokozisa kakhulu empilweni ukuba lemuli kanye labangane abasithandayo, abasiqakathekisayo njalo abasizwisisayo. Kuthiwa abantu “basondelelene nxa bethandana kakhulu njalo besazana kuhle.” Kodwa okufanele sisondele kuye kakhulu ukwedlula loba ngubani nguMdali wethu oMkhulu.​—UmTshu. 12:1.

2. UJehova usithembisani, kodwa kungani abanengi bengakukholwa lokho?

² UJehova usebenzisa iLizwi lakhe ukuze asikhuthaze ukuthi ‘sisondele phansi’ kwakhe njalo usithembisa ukuthi nxa singenza njalo “uzasondela” kithi. (Jak. 4:8) Kambe ngubani okungeke kumthokozise ukuzwa amazwi la? Abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi kuliphupho nje ukuthi uNkulunkulu ufuna ukusondela kubo; babona angani akubafanelanga njalo bangabe becabanga ukuthi ukhatshana kakhulu okokuthi ngeke basondele kuye. Kodwa kungenzakala yini ukuthi sisondele phansi kukaJehova?

3. Kuyini okumele sikwazi ngoJehova?

³ Okumele sikwazi ngoJehova yikuthi ‘kakhatshana komunye lomunye wethu’ ikakhulu kulabo abafuna ukumfumana. Yikho-ke singenelisa sibili ukumazi. (Bala imiSebenzi 17:26, 27; IHubo 145:18.) UNkulunkulu ufuna ukuthi labantu abalesono basondele  kuye, uzimisele ukubamukela babe ngabangane bakhe abakhulu njalo uhlala ekulindele lokho. (Isaya. 41:8; 55:6) Umhubi wakubona lokhu, yikho wabhala ngoJehova wathi: “Yebo, wena owuzwayo umthandazo, bonke abantu bazakuza kuwe. Babusisiwe labo obakhethayo ubasondeze.” (Hubo. 65:2, 4) EBhayibhilini kulendaba ephathelane leNkosi yakoJuda u-Asa eyasondela kuNkulunkulu, njalo indaba le iyatshengisa lokuthi uJehova wasondela njani kuyo. *

4. Kuyini okwenza ukuthi iNkosi u-Asa ibe yisibonelo esihle ebantwini bakoJuda?

⁴ INkosi u-Asa yayitshiseka okumangalisayo ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. Yasusa izithombe kanye labesilisa ababefeba labanye abesilisa ethempelini. Ububi lobu basebubhahile elizweni. (1 AmaKho. 15:9-13) U-Asa kazange athikaze ukukhuthaza abantu ukuthi “bakhonze uJehova uNkulunkulu waboyise, balandele yonke imithetho lemilayo yakhe.” UJehova wambusisa u-Asa kwaba lokuthula okukhulu eminyakeni elitshumi eqalisa ukubusa. Kodwa u-Asa wathi ngubani owenza kwaba lokuthula? Watshela abantu wathi: “Ilizwe lilokhu lingelethu, ngoba simfunile uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu; simkhonzile usesilethele ukuthula nxa zonke.” (2 ImiLan. 14:1-7) Khangela ukuthi kwenzakalani kusuka lapho.

5. Kuyini okwatshengisa ukuthi u-Asa wayemthemba uNkulunkulu, njalo kwaphetha ngani?

⁵ Ake sithi ungu-Asa. Uthi mehlo suka, nango uZera umKhushi usebuye ukuzohlasela uJuda elamadoda angu-1 000 000 lezinqola zokulwa ezingamakhulu amathathu. (2 ImiLan. 14:8-10) Ubungenzani sibili ubona ibutho elikhulu kangaka lifika lingasadlanga nkotshana lizohlasela umbuso wakho? Wena ulamadoda angu-580 000 kuphela. Kodwa izitha zakho zinengi okuphindwe kabili nxa ziqathaniswa lebutho lakho. Mhlawumbe usuzibuza ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu evumela ukuthi lokhu kwenzakale. Izinto azisamanga kuhle sibili! Yikho-ke ungazama yini ukuxakulula uhlupho lolu usebenzisa awakho amaqhinga? Okwenziwa ngu-Asa kwatshengisa ukuthi wayeseduze loJehova njalo wayemthemba. Wancenga wathi: “Sisize, O Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, ngoba thina sithembele kuwe, ngebizo lakho siphumile ukuba silwe lalelibutho lempi elikhulu kangaka. O Jehova, unguNkulunkulu wethu; umuntu angezake amelane lawe.” UNkulunkulu wawuphendula njani umthandazo ka-Asa osuka enhliziyweni? “UJehova wawatshaya wawabhuqa amaKhushi.” Akula lesisodwa isitha esaphunyukayo empini le!​—2 ImiLan. 14:11-13.

6. Singamlingisela njani u-Asa?

⁶ Kuyini okwenza ukuthi u-Asa angathandabuzi lakancane ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezamkhokhela njalo amvikele? IBhayibhili lithi: “U-Asa wenza okubukekayo phambi kukaJehova,” njalo lithi “inhliziyo ka-Asa yayinamathele kuJehova.” (1 AmaKho. 15:11, 14) Lathi kumele sikhonze uNkulunkulu, izinhliziyo zethu zinamathele kuye. Kuqakatheke kakhulu lokho ukuze sihlale silobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu khathesi, lasesikhathini esizayo. UJehova nguye owaqalisayo ukusidonsa ukuthi sisondele kuye njalo nguye osinceda ukuthi sibe lobuhlobo obuhle laye njalo sibulondoloze. Yikho-ke akumelanga sikuthathe lula lokho asenzela khona. Kasikhangeleni izinto ezimbili azenzileyo ukuze asisondeze kuye.

7. (a) Kukhanya ngani ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda? (b)  Kuyini okukhulu kulakho konke uNkulunkulu akwenzileyo ukuze asisondeze kuye?

⁷ UJehova watshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda ngokudala umhlaba lo omuhle kangaka ukuze sihlale kuwo. Kanti njalo ulokhu  esithanda ngoba uyasinika konke esikudingayo ukuze siqhubeke siphila. (ImiSeb. 17:28; Isam. 4:11) Okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi usipha izinto ezisinceda ukuthi siqhubeke sisengezelela ulwazi lwethu ngaye. (Luk. 12:42) Uyasitshela lokuthi yena ngokwakhe uyayilalela imithandazo yethu. (1 Joh. 5:14) Kodwa okukhulu kulakho konke uNkulunkulu akwenzileyo ukuze asisondeze kuye yikusihlawulela njalo lokhu kwenza sisondele kuye. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda kakhulu. (Bala u-1 UJohane 4:9, 10, 19.) UJehova wathuma “iNdodana yakhe iyiyo yodwa” emhlabeni ukuze sikhululwe esonweni lasekufeni.​—Joh. 3:16.

8, 9. UJesu ulawuphi umsebenzi ekugcwaliseni injongo kaJehova?

⁸ UJehova wayehlose ukuthi inhlawulo incede bonke abantu, lalabo ababephila uKhristu engakabuyi emhlabeni. Ngesikhathi uJehova ephrofetha mayelana lalowo owayezahlenga abantu, kuye kwakufanana lokuthi inhlawulo isibhadelwe ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi injongo yakhe izaphumelela loba sekutheni. (Gen. 3:15) Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka umphostoli uPhawuli wambonga kakhulu uNkulunkulu ngenxa ‘yensindiso eyeza ngoKhristu uJesu.’ Waqhubeka wathi: ‘UNkulunkulu wayekela izono ezenziwe ngaphambili kungekho kujeziswa.’ (Rom. 3:21-26) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi inhlawulo eyeza ngoJesu iqakatheke kakhulu ukuze sisondele kuNkulunkulu.

⁹ UJesu nguye kuphela ongenza ukuthi abantu abathobekileyo bamazi uJehova njalo basondele phansi kwakhe, babengabangane bakhe. IMibhalo ikuveza njani lokhu? UPhawuli wabhala wathi: “UNkulunkulu ubonakalisa uthando lwakhe kithi ngalokhu: Siseseyizoni, uKhristu wasifela.” (Rom. 5:6-8) Umhlatshelo wenhlawulo kayisikho ukuthi wawusifanele, kodwa sawuthola ngenxa yokuthi uJehova loJesu bayasithanda kakhulu. UJesu wathi: “Kakho ongeza kimi ngaphandle kokuthi uBaba ongithumileyo amsondeze.” Waphinda wathi: “Kakho ozayo kuBaba ngaphandle kwami.” (Joh. 6:44; 14:6) Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJehova usebenzisa uJesu ukuze asondeze abantu kuye njalo uyabanceda lokuthi bahlale besothandweni lwakhe ukuze bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo. Lokhu ukwenza ngomoya wakhe ongcwele. (Bala uJuda 20, 21.) Kasikhangeleni okunye okusetshenziswa nguJehova ukuze asisondeze kuye.

10. Kuyini esikufunda eBhayibhilini okungasinceda ukuthi sisondele phansi kukaNkulunkulu?

¹⁰ Esihlokweni lesi sesiqambe imibhalo ethethwe emabhukwini angu-14 aseBhayibhilini. Pho besingatshelwa ngubani ukuthi singenelisa ukusondela kuMdali wethu ngabe iBhayibhili kalikho? Besingakufunda ngaphi ukuthi kulenhlawulo lokuthi uJehova usebenzisa uJesu ukuthi asisondeze kuye? UJehova wasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze aphefumulele abantu ukuthi balobe iBhayibhili njalo liveza izimpawu zobuntu bakhe ezinhle kanye lezinjongo zakhe ezimangalisayo. Ngokwesibonelo ku-Eksodusi 34:6, 7, uJehova watshela uMosi ukuthi yena ‘unguNkulunkulu olesihawu lomusa, ophuzayo ukuthukuthela, ogcwele uthando lobuqotho, olothando olungapheliyo kuzinkulungwane ethethelela ububi, iziphosiso lezono.’ Sonke siyakufisa ukusondela phansi komuntu onjalo! UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi nxa singafunda okunengi ngaye eBhayibhilini, sizamazi kuhle njalo sizasondela kuye.

11. Kungani kufanele sizimisele ukufunda ngezimpawu zobuntu bukaNkulunkulu? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

¹¹ Isandulelo sebhuku elithi “Sondela kuJehova” sichaza ukuthi singenzani ukuze sibe lobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu. Sithi: “Loba yibuphi ubungane esibenza lomuntu othile, sibenza ngenxa yokuthi siyamazi lowomuntu futhi sibuka loba sithanda ubuntu bakhe. Ngakho kuqakathekile ukufunda  ngezimpawu zobuntu bukaNkulunkulu langendlela enza ngayo izinto njengoba kuvezwe eBhayibhilini.” Kuyasithokozisa sibili ukuthi uJehova wahlela ukuthi iLizwi lakhe libhalwe ngendlela ezakwenza ukuthi abantu balizwisise nxa belibala.

12. Kuyini okwenza uJehova wasebenzisa abantu ukuthi babhale iBhayibhili?

¹² UJehova wayengasebenzisa izingilosi ukuthi zibhale iMibhalo. Phela zilendaba lathi lalokho esikwenzayo. (1 Phet. 1:12) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi izingilosi zazingenelisa ukubhala umlayezo kaNkulunkulu owawusiya ebantwini. Kodwa ubona angani zazizabhala izinto okwakuzakuba lula ukuthi abantu bazizwisise yini? Zazizakwenelisa yini ukuzichasisa kuhle izinswelo zabantu, ubuthakathaka babo lezifiso zabo? Hatshi. UJehova wayekwazi ukuthi ngeke zibhale ngendlela umuntu ayengabhala ngayo. Yikho wakhetha abantu ukuthi babhale iBhayibhili ukwenzela ukuthi lihambelane lalokho abantu abayikho. Ngakho-ke siyenelisa ukuzwisisa ukuthi abalibhalayo labanye okukhulunywa ngabo eMibhalweni babecabanga njani lokuthi babezizwa njani. Siyazwisisa nxa kukhulunywa ngokudana kwabo, ukuthandabuza, ukwesaba kanye lalokho ababekuphambanisa. Kanti njalo siyajabula nxa sibala ngokuthokoza kwabo langokuphumelela kwabo. Njengomphrofethi ­u-Elija, bonke ababhala iBhayibhili ‘babenjengathi.’​—Jak. 5:17.

13. Uzwa njani nxa ubala umthandazo kaJona?

¹³ Cabanga ngalokho okwenzakala kumphrofethi uJona. Ubona angani ingilosi yayingenelisa yini ukuchasisa ngokugcweleyo ukuthi uJona wayezizwa njani lapho ebalekela umsebenzi ayewuphiwe nguNkulunkulu? Okuhle kakhulu yikuthi uJehova wasebenzisa yena uJona, umnikazi wendaba, ukuthi azibhalele indaba le kanye lomthandazo wakhe osuka enhliziyweni awutsho esenzikini yolwandle. UJona wathi: “Lapho impilo yami yayisincipha, ngakhumbula wena, Jehova.”​—Jona. 1:3, 10; 2:1-9.

14. Kungani ungakuzwisisa lokho okwabhalwa ngu-Isaya?

 ¹⁴ U-Isaya laye waphefumulelwa ukuthi azibhalele indaba yakhe. Ngemva kokubona inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu, umphrofethi lo wakuveza ukuthi ungumuntu olesono sibili. Wathi: “Maye mina! Sengibhujisiwe! Ngoba ngingumuntu olendebe ezingcolileyo, njalo ngihlala phakathi kwabantu abalezindebe ezingcolileyo, lamehlo ami asebone uJehova, uJehova uSomandla.” (Isaya. 6:5) Kambe yiyiphi ingilosi eyayingakhuluma amazwi la? U-Isaya wawatsho, njalo lathi singakuzwisisa ukuthi wayezizwa njani.

15, 16. (a) Kuyini okwenza senelise ukubazwisisa abanye? Nika izibonelo. (b) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sisondele kuJehova?

¹⁵ UJakhobe wathi: “Kangiwufanelanga.” Ikhona yini ingilosi eyayingakutsho lokhu, kumbe eyayingakhuluma lokho okwakhulunywa nguPhetro lapho esithi, ‘ngiyisoni’? (Gen. 32:10; Luk. 5:8) Izingilosi ‘zazingethuka kakhulu’ yini njengabafundi bakaJesu? UPhawuli labanye kwakumele baqunge ‘isibindi’ sokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle lanxa babephikiswa. Kodwa izingilosi ezilungileyo kwakungadingeki ukuthi ziqunge isibindi. (Joh. 6:19; 1 Thes. 2:2) Phela izingilosi kazifanani lathi, zilamandla amakhulu. Lapho abantu beveza imizwa yabo, sihle sibazwisise ngoba lathi singabantu njengabo. Nxa sibala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ‘singathokoza lalabo abathokozayo, silile lalabo abalilayo.’​—Rom. 12:15.

¹⁶ Nxa singacabangisisa ngalokho iBhayibhili elikutshoyo mayelana lendlela uJehova ayephatha ngayo izikhonzi zakhe zasendulo, sizafunda izinto ezinengi kakhulu ezinhle ngoNkulunkulu wethu owabasondeza kuye abantu laba abalesono, wababekezelela njalo wabathanda. Yikho sizamazi kuhle uJehova njalo sizamthanda kakhulu. Nxa sesenze njalo sizasondela kuye.​—Bala iHubo 25:14.

17. (a) Yisiphi iseluleko esihle u-Asa asiphiwa ngu-Azariya? (b) Kodwa kuyini okwenziwa ngu-Asa, njalo kwaphetha ngani?

¹⁷ Ngemva kokuthi iNkosi u-Asa isinqobe amabutho amaKhushi umphrofethi kaNkulunkulu, u-Azariya, wayitshela amazwi ayezayinceda kanye labantu bayo. Wathi: “UJehova ulawe nxa wena ulaye. Nxa umfuna, uzamfumana, kodwa nxa umlahla uzakulahla.” (2 ImiLan. 15:1, 2) Kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi u-Asa wehluleka ukulalela iseluleko esihle ayesiphiwe. Ngesikhathi umbuso wako-Israyeli wasenyakatho owawuyisitha ufuna ukumhlasela, u-Asa wahamba wayacela usizo kuma-Aramu. Kulokuthi aphinde acele usizo kuJehova wenza isivumelwano labahedeni. Yikho watshelwa ukuthi: “Usuwenze ubuwula, ngakho kusukela khathesi uzahlala usempini.” Eminyakeni eyalandelayo kwakugcwele izimpi ezingapheliyo embusweni wakhe. (2 ImiLan. 16:1-9) Kusifundisani lokhu?

18, 19. (a) Kumele senzeni nxa kuyikuthi sesivumele okuthile ukuthi kusifuqele khatshana loNkulunkulu? (b) Singenzani nxa sifuna ukusondela eduze kakhulu loJehova?

¹⁸ Kumele sihlale siseduze loJehova. Nxa kuyikuthi sesivumele okuthile ukuthi kusifuqele khatshana laye, kumele senze lokho okutshiwo kuHoseya 12:6 ethi: “Kumele ubuyele kuNkulunkulu wakho; ugcine uthando lokulunga, umlindele kokuphela uNkulunkulu wakho.” Yikho-ke kasihlaleni sisondela kakhulu kuJehova ngokucabangisisa ngenhlawulo kanye lokubala iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili zikhathi zonke.​—Bala uDutheronomi 13:4.

¹⁹ Umhubi wabhala wathi: “Kimi kuhle ukuba seduze loNkulunkulu.” (Hubo. 73:28) Sonke kasiqhubekeni sifunda izinto ezintsha ngoJehova, besesithola izizatho ezinengi kakhulu zokuthi simthande. Sengathi uJehova angasondela kakhulu kithi kuze kube nini lanini!