1, 2. (a) Kubayini sithi kukuhlakanipha ukuba ngehlangothini lakaJehova? (b) Sizokufunda ngani esihlokwenesi?

SIZABE sihlakaniphile nange sihlala sitjhidelene noJehova. Kazi akekho onamandla, ohlakaniphe nonethando njengaye! Asingabazi bona akekho ongathi akafuni ukuba ngehlangothini lakaZimu ongalendlela. (Rhu. 96:4-6) Nanyana kunjalo, kunabanye abakhulekeli bakaJehova abangakhenge babe ngehlangothini lakhe nakuvela ubujamo obugandelelako.

² Esihlokwenesi sizokufunda ngabantu ebebazitjela ukuthi bangehlangothini lakaJehova kodwana izenzo zabo zitjho okhunye, begodu bamzwisa ubuhlungu. Kunengi esingakufunda emilandweni yabantwabo, okuhlanganisa ukuhlala sithembekile kuJehova.

3. Kubayini uJehova akhalima uKhayini, begodu wathini kuye?

³ Akhucabange ngoKhayini. Iye khona kuliqiniso ukuthi bekangalotjhi abosingazimu kodwana bekalotjha uJehova. Nanyana kunjalo, khenge imthabise uZimu indlela ebekamlotjha ngayo. Kubayini? UZimu wabona ukuthi uKhayini ufukamele izinto ezikhohlakeleko ngehliziywenakhe. (1 Jwa. 3:12) Kungebangelo uJehova  amkhalimela, wathi: “Kanti nawenza okuhle azakhe umomotheke na? Nawenza okungakalungi, yelela isono sikulindile nawusuka lapha. Sikhanukela ukukubinda kodwana wena kufuze uqine kunaso.” (Gen. 4:6, 7) Kuhlekuhle uJehova bekathi kuKhayini, “Nange ungaphenduka ube ngehlangothini lami nami ngizokuba nawe.”

4. Wenzani uKhayini?

⁴ UKhayini nakazakufumana umusa kaZimu bekufuze alungise indlela acabanga ngayo. Yeke kunokulalela uZimu nakamkhalimako, waqinisa ihloko wala ukululekwa. Ngebangelo-ke, wazithola sele awele esonweni ngebanga lemicabango emimbi nokuba marhamaru. (Jak. 1:14, 15) Kungenzeka uKhayini nakasesemutjha bekangacabangi ukuthi ngelinye ilanga uzokujamelana noJehova. Kodwana ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wavukela uZimu begodu wabulala nomfowabo.

5. Yini engasenza silahlekelwe mumusa kaZimu?

⁵ Njengombana kwenzeka kuKhayini, nanamhlanjesi umKrestu angalotjha uJehova kodwana izenzo zakhe zimphikise. (Jud. 11) Ngokwesibonelo, angavumela imicabango emimbi, ukuba marhamaru nokuhloya amanye amaKrestu kumlawule. (1 Jwa. 2:15-17; 3:15) Ukulawulwa micabango enjalo kungenza umuntu enze izono ezinengi. Ngesikhathi esifanako khibe uhlala akhona esifundweni begodu nesimini awumtlhogi. Abanye abantu kungenzeka bangalemuki ukuthi sifukamele imicabango emimbi namkha siziphethe njani, kodwana ekufuze sikwazi kukuthi akunanto efihlekileko kuJehova begodu uyakghona ukubona ukuthi simlotjha ngeenhliziyo zoke na.—Funda uJoromiya 17:9, 10.

6. UJehova usisiza njani bona “siqine” nasiqalene nezinto ezisidosela esonweni?

⁶ Ngitjho nanyana sinande sitjhapha ngasikhathi, uJehova akasipheleli ihliziyo. Nange umuntu athathe indlela ezomtjhidisela kude naye, uyambawa athi: ‘Buyela kimi, nami ngizakubuyela kuwe.’ (Mal. 3:7) Lokhu kuqakatheke khulu nasilwisana nobuthakathaka obuthileko, ufuna silwisane nobumbi. (Isa. 55:7) Nasenza njalo uzokuba ngehlangothini lethu, asisize sitjhidelane naye, asiduduze ebuhlungwini esibuzwako, kungaba buhlungu behliziyo namkha emzimbeni. Lokho kuzosisiza bona “siqine” nasiqalene nezinto ezisidosela esonweni.—Gen. 4:7.

7. USolomoni waphambuka njani endleleni yokulotjha uJehova?

⁷ Kunengi esingakufunda eKosini uSolomoni. Kazi ngesikhathi asesemutjha, bekahlala afuna ukunqotjhiswa nguJehova. UZimu wamenza wahlakanipha wabe wamphathisa nomsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli elibabazekako leJerusalema. Nokho ngokukhamba kwesikhathi walahlekelwa buhlobo bakhe noJehova. (1 Kho. 3:12; 11:1, 2) Kwenzekani? UmThetho kaZimu bewuthi ikosi akukafuzi ibe ‘nabafazi abanengi ngombana ihliziywayo izakuhlubuka.’ (Dut. 17:17) USolomoni khenge awulalele umThetho loyo, wagcina sele atjhade abafazi abama-700. Khenge aphelele lapho wabe wathatha neminye imingena ema-300. (1 Kho. 11:3) Inengi labafazi bakhe belingasi ma-Israyeli, yeke belilotjha abosingazimu. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uSolomoni weqa nomunye umThetho kaZimu ebewuthi akukafuzi bendiselane nabantu bakosontjhaba.—Dut. 7:3, 4.

8. USolomoni wazwisa uJehova ubuhlungu obungangani?

⁸ USolomoni watjhida kancanikancani eenkambisweni zakaJehova, lokho kwamenza wazifumana sekone khulu. USolomoni wakhela uzimukazi u-Atjhitarothi i-aldari wabuye wakhela noKemotjhi naye ongusingazimu.  Bekahlangana nabomkakhe nabalotjha abozimu bamalaba. Nakakha ama-aldari la, akhenge akhethe enye indawo kodwana wakhetha intaba ephambi kweJerusalema lapho ebekakhele khona uJehova ithempeli. (1 Kho. 11:5-8; 2 Kho. 23:13) Kungenzeka uSolomoni bekazitjela ukuthi uJehova uzokweqisela amehlo ukungalalelokho ikani nje nakasenza umnikelo ethempelini.

9. Waba yini umphumela wokungalaleli kwakaSolomoni?

⁹ UJehova akathomi akweqisele amehlo ukungalaleli. IBhayibheli ilandisa ithi: “USomnini wathukuthelela uSolomoni ngombana ihliziywakhe yasele ifulathele uSomnini . . . , owaziveza kabili kuye. USomnini naziveza kuSolomoni wamyala bonyana angadlhemadlhemi ngemva kwabosingazimu, kodwana azange awulalele umyalo kaSomnini.” Lokho kwabangela ukuthi uZimu angasamamukela begodu angasamsekela. Neenzukulwana zakaSolomoni nazo zaphundwa kukuba sembusweni obumbeneko wakwa-Israyeli. Akhenge kuphelele lapho kodwana kwaba neenqabo ezinengi okwakufuze ziqalane nazo.—1 Kho. 11:9-13.

10. Yini engafaka ubungani bethu noJehova ekingeni?

¹⁰ Nasikhetha abangani abangamhloniphiko uJehova neenkambiso zakhe kungaba nomphumela omumbi ebunganini bethu naye njengombana kwenzeka kuSolomoni. Abanye babantwabo kungenzeka bahlala bakhona esifundweni kodwana ngapha ufumane ukuthi ubuhlobo babo noZimu abukaqini. Bese kuthi abanye kungaba ziinhlobo, abomakhelwana, abantu osebenza namkha ofunda nabo abangalotjhi uJehova. Kunanyana ngikuphi, nange singanene nabantu abangamhloniphi uJehova, ngokukhamba kwesikhathi bangasitjhidisela kude noZimu.

11. Yini ezosisiza sikhethe abangani?

¹¹ Funda yoku-1 kwebeKorinte 15:33. Banengi abantu abaneenhliziyo ezihle, ukghona ukufumana abantu abangamlotjhiko uJehova kodwana abangenzi izono ezimbi. Akhesithi yindlela ongahlathulula ngayo abantu ojayelene nabo, singatjho na ukuthi babangani abahle? Akhuzibuze ukuthi, bazokuba nomthelela onjani ebunganini bakho noJehova. Bazakusiza uthuthuke na? Yini eqakathekileko emaphilwenabo? Ngokwesibonelo, yini abahlala bacoca ngayo? Kghani yifetjheni, imali, ngezokuzithabisa, bofunjathwako, amakhophyutha njalonjalo? Nabakhuluma ngabanye abantu, bakhuluma kuhle na, namkha banamahlaya amambi? UJesu wathi: “Umlomo ukhuluma lokho okuphuphuma ngehliziyweni.” (Mat. 12:34) Nakungenzeka utjheje ukuthi abantu ojayelene nabo bafaka ubungani  bakho noJehova ekingeni kuzokufuze wenze okuthileko ngalokho, kungaba kuhle ukungabi nesikhathi esinengi nabo nakukghonakalako ubalahle abangani abanjalo.—IzA. 13:20.

12. (a) Yini uJehova ayenza yakhanya ema-Israyelini ngemva kokuthi aphume eGibhide? (b) Ama-Israyeli athini ngemva kokuthi uZimu athe kufuze akhulekele yena yedwa?

¹² Singafunda okungeziweko ngokwenzeka ngemva kokuthi ama-Israyeli aphume eGibhide. Abantu bahlangana phambi kweNtaba iSinayi. Lapho uJehova wakubeka ebaleni ukuthi bekanabo. UJehova wenza isimangaliso ngokwenza ilifu elinzima. Ngemva kwalokho kwaba nemidumo, imibani nentuthu begodu kwaba netjhada elikhulu elizwakala njengepalapala. (Eks. 19:16-19) UJehova wazibonakalisa ngalokho ukuthi yena ‘unguZimu onesikhwele.’ Waqinisekisa ama-Israyeli ngokuthi uzokuthembeka kilabo abamthandako nabenza ngokuvumelana nemiyalwakhe. (Funda u-Eksodusi 20:1-6.) Kuhlekuhle uJehova bekabatjela ukuthi, “Nanithembekako kimi, nami ngizokuthembeka kini.” Wena bewungazizwa njani uJehova uZimu nakenza isithembiswesi kuwe? Asisoli bona bewungenza njengama-Israyeli. Kazi aphendula kanyekanye athi: “Woke amezwi akhulunywe nguSomnini sizawaphetha.” (Eks. 24:3) Kungasikade akhulume amezwi la, kwaba nento eyalinga ukuthembeka kwawo.

13. Yini eyalinga ukuthembeka kwama-Israyeli?

¹³ Ama-Israyeli aqhaqhazela kwaqhulana amadolo nakabona ilifu elinzima, imibani namanye amatshwayo asimangaliso avela kuZimu. Ngikho uMosi wayobakhulumela noJehova eNtabeni iSinayi. (Eks. 20:18-21) UMosi wakhamba waya esiqongolweni sentaba wayokukhuluma noJehova, nakuya azakukhamba mlibe. Inga-kghani ngesikhatheso ama-Israyeli bekasele angana buyo, angasenamrholawo amthembako? Kubonakala ngasuthi abantu bebathembele khulu kuMosi ekutheni abe nabo lapho. Lokho kwabagandelela kangangokuthi batjela u-Aroni bathi: “Sikima usenzele isithombe sakaZimu ozasikhokhela ngombana nakhu uMosi okunguye owasikhupha enarheni yeGibhide asazi bonyana kwenzakeleni ngaye.”—Eks. 32:1, 2.

14. Yini ama-Israyeli azikhohlisa ngayo begodu uJehova wenzani ngalokho?

¹⁴ Abantu bebazi ukuthi ukulotjha iinthombe kumphatha kabuhlungu khulu uJehova. (Eks. 20:3-5) Kodwana ingasikade bese kungibo abalotjha isithombesibazwa. Ngitjho nanyana abakwenzako bekusebaleni ukuthi bonela uZimu, kodwana bazikhohlisa bazitjela ukuthi basesesehlangothini lakhe. Kubayini sitjho njalo? Kazi u-Aroni wabiza ukukhulekela kweenthombokhu ngokuthi “mnyanya” kaJehova. UJehova wazizwa njani ngalokho? Kwamlimaza. Watjela uMosi wathi abantu “barhubutjhe isivumelwano” begodu “baphambuke msinyana endleleni engabayala ngayo.” Wasilingeka khulu uJehova kangangokuthi wafuna ukutjhabalalisa soke isitjhaba sakwa-Israyeli.—Eks. 32:5-10.

15, 16. UMosi no-Aroni batjengisa njani ukuthi bangehlangothini lakaJehova? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

¹⁵ UJehova wakhetha bona angawatjhabalalisi ama-Israyeli. Umusakhe wamenza wanikela abantu abathembekileko ithuba lokuba ngehlangothini lakhe. (Eks. 32:14) Ngemva kokubona isenzo sabo esingakalungi, sokurhuwelela, ukubhina kunye nokugida hlanu kwesithombe, uMosi wasila isithombe segolide ebebasilotjha saba yipuphu. Wathi ebantwini: “Abangehlangothini lakaSomnini abeze kimapha! Woke amadodana kaLevi abuthanela kuye.”—Eks. 32:17-20, 26.

 ¹⁶ Nanyana u-Aroni bekanesandla ekwakheni isithombesi, watjhuguluka waba sehlangothini lakaJehova namaLevi. Abantu abathembekilekwaba bebangakhethi ukuba ngehlangothini lakaJehova kwaphela kodwana bebazihlukanisa nabantu abambi. Bekuyinto ehle khulu leyo, kazi mhlokho iinkulungwana zalahlekelwa maphilwazo ngebanga lokulotjha iinthombe. Kwathi labo abangehlangothini lakaJehova bathenjiswa isibusiso.—Eks. 32:27-29.

17. Amezwi kaPowula malungana nesithombe segolide asifundisani?

¹⁷ Umpostoli uPowula nakakhuluma ngesithombe segolide wathi: “Izintwezi zenzeka kobana zibe sibonelo ukusikhandela bona . . . singabi balotjhi babosingazimu njengombana abanye babo benza. [Iimbonelwezi] zatlolwa njengesiyeleliso kithi thina esele sifikelwe kuphela kweenkhathi. Nje-ke nawudlumbana bona ujame udzimelele, yelela bona ungawi.” (1 Kor. 10:6, 7, 11, 12) Njengombana uPowula avezile, abantu abalotjha uJehova nabo bangazithola benza izinto ezimbi. Labo abavumela ukulawulwa ziinlingo bangazitjela bona basesebangani bakaJehova. Kodwana ukufuna ukuba mngani kaJehova namkha nawuthi uthembekile kuye akutjho bona uJehova uyathaba ngawe.—1 Kor. 10:1-5.

18. Yini engasenza siphelelwe lithando lethu ngoJehova begodu kungaba namuphi umphumela?

¹⁸ Njengombana ama-Israyeli atshwenyeka uMosi nakariyada eNtabeni iSinayi, nanamhlanjesi amaKrestu angazizwa atshwenyekile nakabona ngasuthi ilanga lakaJehova lokwahlulela nephasi elitjha liyariyada. Ukuzaliseka kweenthembiswezi kungabonakala kusesekude khulu namkha ngasuthi ngeze kwenzeka. Nasingatjheji imicabango le ingasenza bona sikhohlwe ukwenza intando kaZimu sibeke izinto eziphathekako qangi emaphilwenethu. Bese kuthi ngokukhamba kwesikhathi siphelelwe lithando lethu ngoZimu, sigcine sele senza izinto ebengekhe sazenza nange sinobuhlobo obuqinileko noJehova.

19. Ngiliphi iqiniso ekufuze sihlale silikhumbula begodu kubayini lokho kuqakathekile?

¹⁹ Khumbula bona uJehova ufuna simlalele ngehliziyo yoke begodu sizinikele kuye ngokupheleleko. (Eks. 20:5) Ukusuka ehlangothini lakaJehova kuzokutjho bona sesenza intando kaSathana begodu lokho kuzokuphetha kumbi. Kungebangelo uPowula wasikhumbuza wathi: “Angeze nasela ikapho kaJehova nekapho yamadimoni; angeze nadla ‘etafuleni lakaJehova’ netafuleni lamadimoni.”—1 Kor. 10:21.

20. Ngitjho nanyana sikhasela eziko, uJehova angasisiza njani?

²⁰ IBhayibheli liveza bona uKhayini, uSolomoni nama-Israyeli nakaseNtabeni iSinayi bafana ngento yinye. Abantwaba boke nje bekufuze ‘batjhuguluke.’ (IzE. 3:19) Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJehova akapheli ihliziyo ngalabo abakhasela eziko. Kwaba njalo nango-Aroni, uJehova wamlibalela. Kunjalo nanamhlanjesi, uJehova angasiyelelisa ngeendaba eziseBhayibhelini, namkha athumele omunye umKrestu asiyelelise. Nasingalalela iinyeleliswezo, uJehova uzasirhawukela.

21. Khuyini okufuze sizimisele ukuyenza nasilingwako?

²¹ UJehova usuka anomnqopho nakanomusa kithi. (2 Kor. 6:1) Umusakhe lo, usivulela ithuba ‘lokwala ukungahloniphi uZimu,’ sale ‘neenkanuko zephasi.’ (Funda uTitosi 2:11-14.) Ikani nasisaphila “phakathi kwephaseli,” ukuzinikela kwethu kuye kuzokuhlala kulingwa. Asikulungele bona sihlale singehlangothini lakaZimu, ‘sesabe’ uJehova ‘uZimethu, simlotjhe besinamathele kuye.’—Dut. 10:20.