1. Bantfu banasiphi sidzingo, futsi ngubani longasenetisa?

BANTFU banesidzingo lesikhulu sekusondzelana. Kutsiwa bantfu “basondzelene nangabe bangematse nelulwimi futsi batana kahle.” Kuyatentakalela kutsi sijabule kakhulu ngebudlelwane lesinabo nemalunga emndeni kanye nebangani labasitsandzako, labasitsatsa njengalababalulekile futsi labasicondzako. Nobe kunjalo, nguMdali wetfu Lomkhulu lesidzinga kwakha budlelwane lobusedvute naye kwendlula bonkhe bantfu.​—Shu. 12:1.

2. Yini Jehova lasetsembisa yona, kodvwa kungani bantfu labanyenti bangasetsembi leso setsembiso?

² EVini lakhe, Jehova usikhutsata kutsi ‘sisondzele’ kuye futsi usetsembisa kutsi nasenta njalo “utawusondzela” kitsi. (Jak. 4:8) Lawo mavi ayasikhutsata sibili! Nobe kunjalo, bantfu labanyenti bacabanga kutsi akunangcondvo kukholelwa kutsi Nkulunkulu ufuna kusondzela kubo; bacabanga kutsi akubafaneli kusondzela kuye nobe kutsi ukhashane kakhulu kutsi singasondzela kuye. Kungenteka yini vele kutsi sisondzele kuJehova?

3. Nguliphi liciniso lokufanele silati ngaJehova?

³ Liciniso likutsi Jehova ‘akekho khashane kuloyo naloyo kitsi’ lomfunako, futsi singakhona kumati kahle. (Fundza Imisebenti 17:26, 27; Tihlabelelo 145:18.) Nkulunkulu wetfu ufuna kutsi ngisho nebantfu labanesono basondzelane naye futsi ukulungele kwakha bungani lobusedvute nabo. (Isa. 41:8; 55:6) Ngesizatfu  saloko lokwenteka kuye, umhlabeli wabhala ngaJehova watsi: “Wena uva imithandazo uyiphendvule; bonkhe bantfu bafanele kuta kuwe. Ubusisiwe umuntfu lokhetfwa nguwe umsondzete kuwe.” (Hla. 65:2, 4) Kulandzisa kweliBhayibheli lokumayelana neNkhosi Asa yakaJuda kusiniketa sibonelo semuntfu lowasondzelana naNkulunkulu, futsi kuyakhombisa kutsi Jehova wativa njani ngaloko. *

4. Ngusiphi sibonelo iNkhosi Asa leyasibekela bantfu bakaJuda?

⁴ INkhosi Asa yakhombisa inshisekelo lenkhulu ngekukhonta lokuhlantekile, ngekutsi isuse titabane tasethempelini netithico lebetitsandvwa kakhulu kulelo live. (1 Khos. 15:9-13) Njengobe abenenkhululeko yekukhuluma, wakhutsata bantfu kutsi ‘bafunisise Jehova Nkulunkulu nekutsi balalele imitsetfo nemiyalo yakhe.’ Jehova wayibusisa iminyaka yekucala lelishumi yekubusa kwa-Asa ngekutsi kube nekuthula eveni. Yini Asa latsi yabangela lokuthula? Watjela bantfu watsi: “Lelive kusengeletfu, ngobe siyentile intsandvo yaSimakadze Nkulunkulu wetfu. Simfunile, yena wase usipha kuthula yonkhe indzawo.” (2 Khr. 14:1-7) Cabanga ngalokwenteka ngemuva kwaloko.

5. Ngusiphi simo lesavivinya kwetsembela kwa-Asa kuNkulunkulu, futsi waba yini umphumela?

⁵ Asewutifake eticatfulweni ta-Asa. Zera umTopiya abetewuhlasela emaJuda ahamba nemadvodza langu-1 000 000 netincola temphi letingu-300. (2 Khr. 14:8-10) Wawuyowenta njani nawubona lelibutfo lelingaka lemphi limasha lingena embusweni wakho? Libutfo lakho lemphi limane nje linemadvodza langu-580 000! Njengobe emasotja akho ayihhafu yalawa lakuhlaselako, wawungatibuta yini kutsi kungani Nkulunkulu avumela kutsi uhlaselwe? Kute utsatse sinyatselo kulesimo lesiphutfumako, bowungetama yini kulwa lemphi ngekuhlakanipha kwakho? Indlela Asa lenta ngayo ikhombisa kutsi abenebuhlobo lobusedvute naJehova futsi ametsemba. Ngebucotfo watsi: “Sisite, Simakadze Nkulunkulu wetfu, ngobe setsembele kuwe, futsi site kutekulwa nalemphi lenkhulu kangaka, ngobe setsembele ebitweni lakho. Awu, Simakadze, wena unguNkulunkulu wetfu; ungavumeli muntfu kutsi akuncobe.” Yini Nkulunkulu layenta kute aphendvule lesicelo sa-Asa lesisuka enhlitiyweni? ‘Simakadze wawashaya wawancoba’ emaTopiya. Kute ngisho nasinye sitsa lesasindza!​—2 Khr. 14:11-13.

6. Yini leyentiwa ngu-Asa lokufanele siyilingise?

⁶ Yini leyabangela Asa kutsi etsembele ngalokuphelele esicondzisweni saNkulunkulu nasekuvikelweni nguye? LiBhayibheli litsi “inkhosi Asa yenta lokuhle emehlweni aSimakadze” futsi “inhlitiyo yakhe yayitinikele ngalokuphelele kuSimakadze.” (1 Khos. 15:11, 14) Natsi kufanele sikhonte Nkulunkulu ngenhlitiyo lephelele. Kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi sente njalo nasifuna kuba nebudlelwane lobusedvute naye nyalo nasesikhatsini lesitako. Sijabula kakhulu ngekutsi Jehova utsetse sinyatselo kucala wasisondzeta kuye waphindze wasisita kutsi sibe nebudlelwane lobuhle naye futsi sibulondvolote. Asesifundze ngetindlela letimbili Nkulunkulu lakwente ngayo loku.

7. (a) Yini Jehova layentile lesenta sisondzelane naye? (b) Nguyiphi indlela lehamba embili Nkulunkulu lasisondzete ngayo kuye?

⁷ Jehova ukhombise lutsandvo lwakhe ngebantfu ngekudala likhaya lelihle lelingumhlaba. Usachubeka akhombisa lutsandvo lwakhe ngatsi ngekutsi asigcine siphila ngekunakekela tidzingo tetfu tenyama. (Imis. 17:28; Semb. 4:11) Lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi Jehova uyasisita kutsi sihlale  sinebudlelwane lobuhle naye. (Luk. 12:42) Uphindze asicinisekise kutsi uyasilalela nasithantaza kuye. (1 Joh. 5:14) Nobe kunjalo, lutsandvo Nkulunkulu lalukhombise ngenhlawulo luyindlela lehamba embili lasisondzeta ngayo kuye nalesisondzela ngayo kuye. (Fundza 1 Johane 4:9, 10, 19.) Jehova watfumela ‘iNdvodzana yakhe lekuphela kwayo’ yeta emhlabeni kute sikhululwe esonweni nasekufeni.​—Joh. 3:16.

8, 9. Jesu ufeza yiphi indzima enjongweni yaJehova?

⁸ Jehova wente kutsi ngisho nebantfu lebebaphila ngesikhatsi Khristu asengakefiki bazuze kulenhlawulo. Kusukela ngesikhatsi Jehova aphrofetha ngaloyo lobekatawuba nguMsindzisi webantfu esikhatsini lesitako, ngekwembono wakhe kwakufanana nekutsi inhlawulo seyikhokhiwe ngobe bekati kutsi injongo yakhe beyitawuphumelela nakanjani. (Gen. 3:15) Ngemuva kwemakhulu eminyaka, umphostoli Pawula wambonga Nkulunkulu “ngenca yekukhululwa yinhlawulo leyakhokhwa nguKhristu Jesu.” Pawula wengeta watsi: “[Nkulunkulu] uyabeketela futsi uyatitsetselela tono letentiwe esikhatsini lesengcile.” (Rom. 3:21-26) Ngako Jesu unendzima lebalulekile ekusondzeleni kwetfu kuNkulunkulu.

⁹ Jesu ukuphela kwendlela bantfu labatfobekile labangamati ngayo Jehova futsi bajabulele kusondzelana naye. ImiBhalo iligcizelela njani leliciniso? Pawula wabhala watsi: “Nkulunkulu ukhombisa lutsandvo lwakhe kitsi, ngobe ngesikhatsi sisetoni, Khristu wasifela.” (Rom. 5:6-8) Inhlawulo yaJesu yakhokhwa ngobe sitsandvwa kakhulu, hhayi ngobe sikufanele kuyitfola. Jesu watsi: “Kute umuntfu longeta kimi ngaphandle kwekutsi Babe longitfumile amdvonse.” Kulesinye simo watsi: “Kute umuntfu lota kuBabe ngaphandle kwekutsi ete ngami.” (Joh. 6:44; 14:6) Jehova usebentisa umoya wakhe longcwele kute asisondzete kuye ngaJesu, futsi asisite sihlale elutsandvweni lwaKhe sinembono wekuphila lokuphakadze. (Fundza Juda 20, 21.) Asesicoce ngalenye indlela Jehova lasisondzeta ngayo kuye.

10. Yini liBhayibheli lelisifundzisa yona lesisita kutsi sisondzele kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁰ Kuze kube ngunyalo, kulesihloko sesicaphune imibhalo lengu-14 etincwadzini letehlukene teliBhayibheli. Ngaphandle kweliBhayibheli, besingati njani kutsi singasondzela kuMdali wetfu? Ngaphandle kwalo, besingafundza njani ngenhlawulo nangekutsi Jehova uyasidvonsa asebentisa Jesu? Ngemoya wakhe, Jehova waphefumulela bantfu kutsi babhale liBhayibheli, lelisembulela bunguye bakhe lobujabulisako kuhlanganise netinjongo takhe letinhle. Sibonelo saloku kutsi encwadzini ya-Eksodusi 34:6, 7, Jehova utichaza kuMosi ngekutsi ‘unguNkulunkulu lonesihawu nemusa; uyephuta kutfukutsela andze ngemusa nangekwetsembeka, ubentela umusa labatinkhulungwane, atsetselele emaphutsa, nalokubi, netono.’ Ngubani lobekangeke asondzele kumuntfu lonjalo? Jehova uyati kutsi nasichubeka sifundza ngaye eBhayibhelini, uba ngumuntfu sibili kitsi futsi sitawusondzelana kakhulu naye.

11. Kungani kufanele setame kufundza ngebunguye baNkulunkulu nangetindlela takhe? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

¹¹ Nasichaza indlela lesingaba nabo ngayo buhlobo lobusedvute naNkulunkulu, setfulo sencwadzi letsi “Sondela KuJehova” sitsi: “Nome ngabe ngubuphi bungani lesibakhako busekelwe ekumatini loyo muntfu, ekumtsandzeni nasekutsandzeni buntfu bakhe. Ngako-ke kubalulekile kutadisha ngebunguye baNkulunkulu kanye netindlela takhe njengobe tembulwe eBhayibhelini.” Sijabula kakhulu ngekutsi Jehova ubangele kutsi liVi lakhe libhalwe ngendlela tsine bantfu lesingalicondza ngayo!

12. Kungani Jehova asebentisa bantfu kutsi babhale liBhayibheli?

 ¹² Jehova abengasebentisa tingilosi kuze tibhale liBhayibheli. Ngetulu kwaloko, tingilosi tinendzaba natsi nangemsebenti lesiwentako. (1 Phet. 1:12) Akungabateki kutsi tingilosi betingawubhala umlayeto waNkulunkulu lota kubantfu. Kodvwa betingatibona yini tintfo ngendlela umuntfu latibona ngayo? Betingakhona yini kuticondza tidzingo tetfu, butsakatsaka betfu netifiso tetfu? Cha, Jehova bekati kutsi ngeke tikhone kukwenta loko. Ngekutsi asebentise bantfu kute babhale liBhayibheli, Jehova walenta kutsi lisitsintse enhlitiyweni. Singayicondza indlela babhali balo labebacabanga ngayo futsi bativa ngayo kuhlanganise nalabanye lokukhulunywa ngabo emiBhalweni. Singavelana nekudvumateka kwabo, kungabata, kwesaba, nekuba nesono kwabo siphindze sijabule nabo kuloko labaphumelela kukwenta. Njengemphrofethi Elija, bonkhe babhali beliBhayibheli ‘bebanemiva lefana neyetfu.’​—Jak. 5:17.

13. Umthantazo waJona uyitsintsa njani inhlitiyo yakho?

¹³ Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga ngekutsi ingilosi beyitawukhona yini kuyendlulisela kahle indlela Jona labetiva ngayo ngesikhatsi abalekela sabelo Nkulunkulu labemnikete sona. Kwaba kahle kakhulu kutsi Jehova asebentise Jona kute abhale kulandzisa lokumayelana naye, lokufaka ekhatsi umthantazo lawenta kuNkulunkulu ngesikhatsi asekujuleni kwelwandle. Jona watsi: “Ngesikhatsi umphefumulo wami uphelelwa ngemandla ngakukhumbula wena, Simakadze.”​—Jona 1:3, 10; 2:1-9.

14. Yini lengakwenta kutsi ukhone kukucondza loko Isaya lakubhala ngaye?

¹⁴ Cabanga nangaloko Jehova lenta kutsi Isaya akubhale mayelana naye. Ngemuva kwekubona umbono wekukhatimula kwaNkulunkulu, lomphrofethi wakhutsateka kutsi asho lamavi mayelana nekuba  nesono: “Maye kimi, mine ngiphelile! Ngobe ngingumuntfu lotindzebe temlomo wakhe tingcolile, futsi ngihlala emkhatsini webantfu labatindzebe tabo tingcolile. Emehlo ami ayibonile iNkhosi, Simakadze longuSomandla.” (Isa. 6:5) Ikhona yini ingilosi lebeyingasho emavi lanjengalawa? Isaya wawasho, futsi singavelana nendlela labetiva ngayo.

15, 16. (a) Kungani singakhona kuyicondza indlela bantfu labativa ngayo? Niketa tibonelo. (b) Yini lengasisita kute sisondzele kuJehova?

¹⁵ Tingilosi betingakhona yini kutsi ‘atifaneleki’ njengobe kwasho Jakobe, nobe titsi ‘tinesono’ njengobe Phetro ativa ngaleyo ndlela? (Gen. 32:10; Luk. 5:8) Tingilosi letilungile ‘betingesaba’ yini njengobe bafundzi baJesu bebesaba, nobe betingadzinga yini ‘kuba nesibindzi’ natiphikiswa emsebentini wekushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi, njengobe Pawula nalabanye bekudzingeka babe nesibindzi? (Joh. 6:19; 1 Thes. 2:2) Cha, tingilosi tite sono futsi tinemandla kakhulu kunebantfu. Nobe kunjalo, bantfu labanesono nabaveta indlela labativa ngayo, sisheshe sibacondze ngobe natsi sibantfu. Nasifundza liVi laNkulunkulu, kuliciniso kutsi ‘singajabula nalabajabulako, sikhale nalabakhalako.’​—Rom. 12:15.

¹⁶ Nasicabangisisa ngaloko liBhayibheli lelikushoko ngebudlelwane Jehova labenabo netinceku takhe letetsembekile tangesikhatsi lesendlulile, sitawufundza tintfo letinyenti letinhle ngaNkulunkulu wetfu, lowachubeka asondzela kubantfu labanesono ngelutsandvo nangekubeketela. Ngaleyo ndlela sitawumati kakhulu Jehova futsi simtsandze ngalokujulile. Umphumela waloko utawuba kutsi sisondzele kakhulu kuye.​—Fundza Tihlabelelo 25:14, NW.

17. (a) Ngusiphi seluleko lesihle Azariya lasiniketa Asa? (b) Asa akasilalelanga njani seluleko sa-Azariya, futsi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

¹⁷ Ngemuva kwekuba iNkhosi Asa iphumelele emphini lenkhulu yancoba emaTopiya, Azariya umphrofethi waNkulunkulu wanika Asa nesive sakhe seluleko lesihle. Azariya watsi: “Simakadze unani, uma ninaye. Nanimfuna, nitamtfola, kodvwa nanimlahla, naye uyakunilahla.” (2 Khr. 15:1, 2) Nobe kunjalo, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi Asa wehluleka kulalela leseluleko lesihle. Ngesikhatsi asongelwa ngumbuso wasenyakatfo waka-Israyeli, Asa wabalekela kumaSiriya kute atfole lusito. Esikhundleni sekutsi acele lusito kuJehova njengobe abentile ekucaleni, wakha budlelwane nebantfu labangamkhonti Nkulunkulu. Ngesizatfu sekwenta loko, naku Asa latjelwa kona: “Wena wente intfo lebulima kakhulu, kusukela manje utakulwa timphi siphelane.” Iminyaka leyalandzela yekubusa kwa-Asa beyigcwele timphi. (2 Khr. 16:1-9) Ngusiphi sifundvo lesisitfolako kulendzaba?

18, 19. (a) Yini lokufanele siyente nangabe besesikhweshile kuNkulunkulu? (b) Singasondzela njani kuJehova?

¹⁸ Akukafaneli nanini sikhweshe kuJehova. Nangabe besesikhweshile kuye, kufanele sente ngekuvumelana nemavi lakuHoseya 12:6, latsi: ‘Buyela kuNkulunkulu wakho, umtsandze, ulalele imitsetfo yakhe, wente intsandvo yakhe, ulindzele Nkulunkulu wakho ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi.’ Shengatsi singasondzela kakhulu kuJehova ngekutsi sichubeke sizindla ngenhlawulo futsi silitadishe ngenkhutsalo liVi lakhe, liBhayibheli.​—Fundza Dutheronomi 13:4.

¹⁹ Umhlabeli wabhala watsi: “Kungilungele kusondzela kuNkulunkulu.” (Hla. 73:28) Shengatsi sonkhe singachubeka sifundza tintfo letinsha ngaJehova futsi sitijabulele kakhulu tizatfu letinyenti tekumtsandza. Shengatsi Jehova angasondzela kakhulu kitsi nyalo kuze kube phakadze!