1, 2. Lihumusho Lemhlaba Lomusha liliphakamisa njani libito laNkulunkulu?

 NGALESIBILI ekuseni lipholile kodvwa libalele, kunguDecember 2, 1947, licembu lelincane lebazalwane labagcotjiwe baseBethel leseBrooklyn, eNew York, lalungela kwenta umsebenti lomkhulu. Lomsebenti bewumatima, kodvwa bachubeka bawenta kwate kwaphela iminyaka lengu-12. Ekugcineni, ngeLisontfo laMarch 13, 1960, bacedzela incenye yekugcina yelihumusho lelisha leliBhayibheli. Ngemuva kwetinyanga letintsatfu, ngaJune 18, 1960, uMzalwane Nathan Knorr wakhulula umculu wekugcina lophelele we-“New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures,” etilalelini lebetijabulile lebetisemhlanganweni lomkhulu, eManchester, eNgilandi. UMzalwane Knorr wayiveta kahle imiva yalabo lebebakhona kulomhlangano, ngesikhatsi atsi: ‘Lamuhla lilanga lekujabula kuBoFakazi BaJehova emhlabeni wonkhe!’ Intfo lebeyihamba embili ngalelihumusho lelisha lebeyibangela injabulo lenkhulu, kutsi belilisebentisa kakhulu libito laNkulunkulu.

² Emahumusho lamanyenti eliBhayibheli awalifaki libito laNkulunkulu. Kodvwa tinceku taJehova letigcotjiwe talwisana nelisu laSathane lekucedza libito laNkulunkulu etingcodvweni tebantfu. Setfulo se-Lihumusho Lemhlaba Lomusha lelakhululwa ngalelo langa satsi: “Incenye lebaluleke kakhulu yalelihumusho kubuyiselwa kwelibito laNkulunkulu etindzaweni talo letifanele.” Ecinisweni, Lihumusho Lemhlaba Lomusha lisebentisa libito laNkulunkulu lelitsi Jehova tikhatsi letingetulu kwa-7 000. Lelihumusho belihamba embili ekuphakamiseni libito laBabe wetfu losezulwini​—Jehova!

3. (a) Bazalwane betfu bebayicondza ngayiphi indlela inchazelo yelibito laNkulunkulu? (b) Kufanele siwucondze njani umbhalo wa-Eksodusi 3:13, 14? (Fundza libhokisi lelitsi “ Inchazelo Yelibito LaNkulunkulu.”)

³ Eminyakeni yekucala, Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bebatsi libito laNkulunkulu lisho kutsi: “Nginguye Lenginguye.” (Eks. 3:14) Ngako-ke, Sicongosekulindza saJanuary 1, 1926 satsi: “Libito lelitsi Jehova lisho Loyo lokhona, . . . lokunguLoyo lote sicalo nesiphetfo.” Nanobe kunjalo, ngesikhatsi bahumushi be-Lihumusho Lemhlaba Lomusha bacala umsebenti wabo, Jehova wasita bantfu bakhe bacondza kutsi libito lakhe alisho nje kuba khona kuphela, kodvwa lokubaluleke kakhulu lisho kutsi unguNkulunkulu lonenjongo futsi losebentako. Ngako laBafundzi BeliBhayibheli  bacondza kutsi nalihunyushwe njengobe linjalo, libito lelitsi Jehova lisho kutsi: “Ubangela Kutsi Kube Khona.” Wabangela kutsi kube khona konkhe lokudaliwe kanye nebantfu labahlakaniphile, futsi uchubeka abangela kutsi intsandvo yakhe kanye nenjongo yakhe kugcwaliseke. Nanobe kunjalo, kungani kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi libito laNkulunkulu liphakanyiswe, futsi singahlanganyela njani ekuliphakamiseni?

4, 5. (a) Yini lesisuke siyicela nasithantaza sitsi: “Alingcweliswe libito lakho”? (b) Nkulunkulu utalingcwelisa njani libito lakhe, futsi loko utawukwenta nini?

⁴ Jehova ufuna libito lakhe liphakanyiswe. Ecinisweni injongo yakhe leyinhloko kungcweliswa kwelibito lakhe, njengobe kubekwe kwacaca esicelweni sekucala saJesu semthantazo wakhe losibonelo, lesitsi: “Alingcweliswe libito lakho.” (Mat. 6:9) Nasenta lesicelo, sisuke sithantazela ini?

⁵ Njengobe sifundzile eSehlukweni 1 salencwadzi, sicelo lesitsi “alingcweliswe libito lakho” singulesinye seticelo letintsatfu letisemthantazweni waJesu losibonelo letihlobene nenjongo yaJehova. Leletinye letimbili titsi: “UMbuso wakho awute. Intsandvo yakho ayentiwe emhlabeni njengasezulwini.” (Mat. 6:10) Ngako-ke, njengobe sicela Jehova kutsi atsatse sinyatselo kute ente uMbuso wakhe ute nentsandvo yakhe yenteke, siphindze simcele nekutsi atsatse sinyatselo sekungcwelisa libito lakhe. Ngalamanye emavi, sicela Jehova kutsi atsatse sinyatselo sekuhlanta libito lakhe ekuhlanjalatweni lebekusolo kwenteka kusukela kwaba nekuhlubuka e-Edeni. Jehova utawuphendvula njani lomthantazo? Utsi: “Ngitalingcwelisa libito lami lelikhulu, lebeselihlanjalatwa emkhatsini wetive.” (Hez. 36:23; 38:23, NW.) Nge-Amagedoni, nakasusa bonkhe bubi, Jehova utawungcwelisa libito lakhe phambi kwayo yonkhe indalo.

6. Singahlanganyela njani ekungcwelisweni kwelibito laNkulunkulu?

⁶ Kuwo wonkhe umlandvo, Jehova uvumele tinceku takhe kutsi tihlanganyele ekungcweliseni libito lakhe. Nanobe kunjalo, ngeke sikwati kulenta libe ngulelingcwele kakhulu libito laNkulunkulu, ngobe selivele lingcwele ngemcondvo lophelele. Ngako-ke, singalingcwelisa njani? Isaya utsi Jehova wemabutfo “nguye lekufanele nimati ngekutsi ungcwele.” NaJehova usho naku mayelana nebantfu bakhe: “Bayawuligcina lingcwele Libito lami . . . , bamangale ngaNkulunkulu wema-Israyeli.” (Isa. 8:13; 29:23) Ngesizatfu saloko, singcwelisa libito laNkulunkulu ngekulitsatsa njengalelihlukile kunawo onkhe lamanye emabito futsi leliphakeme kunawo, ngekutsi sihloniphe loko lelikushoko nangekutsi sisite labanye kutsi nabo balitsatse njengalelingcwele. Ngalokukhetsekile, siveta kumangala kwetfu kanye nekuhlonipha libito laNkulunkulu nasicaphela kutsi Jehova unguMbusi futsi simhlonipha ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yetfu.​—Taga 3:1; Semb. 4:11.

7, 8. (a) Kungani kwatsatsa sikhatsi ngaphambikwekutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bakwati kufakaza ngelibito lakhe? (b) Yini lesitayihlola manje?

⁷ Tinceku taNkulunkulu taseminyakeni yakamuva tisebentise libito laNkulunkulu etincwadzini tato kusukela ngabo-1870.  Nasi sibonelo: I-“Zion’s Watch Tower” ya-August 1879 kanye ne-“Songs of the Bride,” lokuyincwadzi yekuhlabela leyashicilelwa ngalowo mnyaka, kokubili kunalo libito lelitsi Jehova. Nanobe kunjalo, kubonakala shengatsi ngembikwekutsi Jehova avumele bantfu bakhe kutsi batibite ngelibito lakhe lelingcwele, wacale waciniseka kutsi bayafaneleka kutfola lelo lungelo. Jehova wabalungiselela njani laBafundzi BeliBhayibheli bekucala kutsi bafakazele libito lakhe?

⁸ Nasibuka ngasekupheleni kwabo-1800 nasekucaleni kwabo-1900, sibona indlela Jehova labanike ngayo bantfu bakhe kucondza lokucacile kwemaciniso labalulekile lahlobene nelibito lakhe. Ase sicoce ngalamatsatfu awo.

9, 10. (a) Kungani tihloko tekucala te-Sicongosekulindza betikhuluma kakhulu ngaJesu? (b) Nguluphi lushintjo lolwenteka kusukela nga-1919, futsi kwaba namiphi imiphumela? (Fundza nelibhokisi lelitsi “ Indlela Sicongosekulindza Lesiliphakamise Ngayo Libito LaNkulunkulu.”)

⁹ Kwekucala, tinceku taJehova taba nembono lofanele ngekubaluleka kwelibito laNkulunkulu. Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bekucala labetsembekile bebatsatsa kukhishwa kwenhlawulo njengemfundziso leyinhloko yeliBhayibheli. Loku kuveta sizatfu lebesenta Sicongosekulindza sikhulume kakhulu ngaJesu. Nasi sibonelo: Emnyakeni wawo wekucala ushicilelwa, lomagazini wakhuluma ngelibito laJesu tikhatsi letilishumi kwendlula libito laJehova. Sicongosekulindza saMarch 15, 1976, saphawula kutsi Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bekucala bebanika Jesu “kubaluleka lokwecile.” Nanobe kunjalo, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi Jehova wabasita bacondza kubaluleka liBhayibheli lelikunika libito laKhe. Loko kwabatsintsa njani Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli? Ikakhulukati kusukela nga-1919 kuchubeke, le-Sicongosekulindza lesifanako satsi: “Bacala kubonisa kubonga lokukhulu ngaJehova, longuBabe waMesiya losezulwini.” Ecinisweni, eminyakeni lelishumi leyalandzela 1919, Sicongosekulindza sakhuluma ngelibito laNkulunkulu tikhatsi letingetulu kwa-6 500.

¹⁰ Ngekunika libito lelitsi Jehova kunaka lokufanele, labazalwane betfu baveta lutsandvo labanalo ngelibito laNkulunkulu. NjengaMosi wasendvulo, bebatimisele ‘kumemetela libito laJehova.’ (Dut. 32:3, NW; Hla. 34:3) Ngesizatfu saloko, Jehova walucaphela lolutsandvo lebebanalo ngelibito lakhe futsi wababonisa umusa, njengobe kwatsenjiswa emiBhalweni.​—Hla. 119:132; Heb. 6:10.

11, 12. (a) Tincwadzi tetfu tashintja ngayiphi indlela ngekushesha nje ngemuva kwa-1919? (b) Jehova bekenta kutsi tinceku takhe tinake ini, futsi kungani?

¹¹ Kwesibili, emaKhristu eliciniso awucondza kahle umsebenti labenikwe wona nguNkulunkulu. Ngemuva nje kwa-1919, bazalwane labagcotjiwe labaholako bakhutsateka kutsi bahlolisise siphrofetho sa-Isaya. Ngemuva kwaloko, kwatiswa lebekucuketfwe tincwadzi tetfu kwashintja. Kungani lolushintjo lwaba “kudla ngesikhatsi lesifanele”?​—Mat. 24:45.

¹² Ngaphambi kwekufika kwa-1919, Sicongosekulindza besingakake sawachaza ngalokujulile emavi a-Isaya latsi: “Jehova utsi: ‘Nine nibofakazi bami, yebo niyinceku yami lengiyikhetsile.’” (Fundza Isaya 43:10-12, NW.) Kodvwa ngekushesha nje ngemuva kwa-1919, tincwadzi tetfu tacala kunaka lendzima yeliBhayibheli, takhutsata bonkhe labagcotjiwe kutsi bahlanganyele  emsebentini labanikwe wona nguJehova, wekutsi bafakaze ngaye. Ecinisweni, kusukela nga-1925 kuya ku-1931 kuphela, kwacocwa nga-Isaya sehluko 43 kubomagazini labangu-57 labehlukene be-Sicongosekulindza, futsi ngamunye kulabomagazini wacondzisa lamavi a-Isaya kumaKhristu eliciniso. Kuyacaca-ke kutsi ngaleyo minyaka Jehova bekenta tinceku takhe tinake umsebenti lebekufanele tiwente. Kungani? Kuze ‘tihlolwe kucala kutsi tiyafaneleka yini.’ (1 Thim. 3:10) Nanobe kunjalo, ngaphambi kwekutsi bakwati kufakaza kahle ngelibito laNkulunkulu, Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bekufanele bativete kuJehova ngemisebenti yabo kutsi bakufanelekela mbamba kuba bofakazi bakhe.​—Luk. 24:47, 48.

13. LiVi laNkulunkulu liyembula njani insayeya lebalulekile lokufanele ilungiswe?

¹³ Kwesitsatfu, bantfu baJehova bakwemukela kubaluleka kwekungcweliswa kwelibito laNkulunkulu. Emkhatsini wabo-1920, bacondza kutsi kungcweliswa kwelibito laNkulunkulu bekuyinsayeya lebaluleke kakhulu lebekufanele ilungiswe. LiVi laNkulunkulu lilembula njani leliciniso lelibalulekile? Cabanga ngetibonelo letimbili. Ngusiphi sizatfu lesikhulu lesenta Nkulunkulu wakhulula ema-Israyeli eGibhithe? Jehova watsi: “Nekutsi libito lami litewudvunyiswa emhlabeni wonkhe.” (Eks. 9:16) Kungani Jehova awabonisa umusa ema-Israyeli ngesikhatsi ahlubuka kuye? Jehova waphindze watsi: “Kodvwa ngenca yeLibito lami, ngenta loko lokwakungaligcina lingakonakali emehlweni etive.” (Hez. 20:8-10) Yini Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli labayifundza kuletibonelo letiseBhayibhelini kanye nakuletinye?

14. (a) Ngasekupheleni kwabo-1920, yini bantfu baNkulunkulu labayicondza? (b) Kucondza lokwatfolwa Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli kwawutsintsa njani umsebenti wekushumayela? (Fundza nelibhokisi lelitsi “ Sizatfu Lesikhulu Sekushumayela.”)

¹⁴ Ngasekupheleni kwabo-1920, bantfu baNkulunkulu bakucondza kubaluleka kwaloko lokwashiwo ngu-Isaya eminyakeni lengaba ngu-2 700 ngaphambili. Mayelana naJehova, Isaya watsi: “Wasihola kanjalo-ke sive sakho, watakhela wena Libito lelinebukhosi.” (Isa. 63:14) Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bacondza kutsi intfo lebeyibalulekile bekungasiko kusindziswa kwebantfu, kodvwa bekukungcweliswa kwelibito laNkulunkulu. (Isa. 37:20; Hez. 38:23) Nga-1929, incwadzi letsi “Prophecy” yagocota leliciniso ngekutsi itsi: “Libito laJehova liyintfo lebaluleke kakhulu kuyo yonkhe indalo.” Lokucondza lokulungisiwe kwaphindze kwakhutsata tinceku taNkulunkulu kutsi tifakaze ngaYe futsi tihlante libito lakhe ekuhlanjalatweni.

15. (a) Yini bazalwane betfu labayifezile ngabo-1930? (b) Ngusiphi sikhatsi lebesesifikile?

¹⁵ Ngasekucaleni kwabo-1930, bazalwane betfu besebanembono lofanele ngekubaluleka kwelibito laNkulunkulu, bese bawucondza kahle umsebenti Nkulunkulu labebanike wona, futsi bese bayicondza nensayeya lenkhulu lebekusafanele ilungiswe. Besesifikile sikhatsi sekutsi Jehova anike tinceku takhe lilungelo lekufakazela libito lakhe. Kute sibone kutsi loko kwenteka njani, ase sicoce ngaletinye tintfo letenteka esikhatsini lesendlulile.

16. (a) Jehova uliphakamisa ngayiphi indlela lehamba embili libito lakhe? (b) Esikhatsini lesendlulile, bobani labacala kukhonta njengebantfu belibito laNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Indlela lehamba embili Jehova laliphakamisa ngayo libito lakhe kutsi abe nebantfu emhlabeni labalifakazelako. Kusukela  nga-1513 B.C.E., sive saka-Israyeli sacala kuba bantfu baJehova. (Isa. 43:12) Nanobe kunjalo, sehluleka kugcina sivumelwane lebesisente naNkulunkulu, futsi nga-33 C.E., salahlekelwa buhlobo lobukhetsekile lebesinabo naye. Ngekushesha ngemuva kwaloko, Jehova ‘wanaka kwekucala bantfu betive kuze kubo atitfolele bantfu labatawubitwa ngelibito lakhe.’ (Imis. 15:14) Labantfu labesandza kubakhetsa babitwa ngekutsi ‘ngu-Israyeli waNkulunkulu,’ lobewakhiwa balandzeli baKhristu labagcotjiwe labavela etiveni letehlukahlukene.​—Gal. 6:16.

17. Nguliphi lisu Sathane laphumelela kulenta?

¹⁷ Cishe nga-44 C.E., bafundzi baKhristu “ngekucondziswa nguNkulunkulu . . . , babitwa kwekucala ngekutsi ngemaKhristu.” (Imis. 11:26) Ekucaleni, leligama belehlukaniseka, ngobe belisho emaKhristu eliciniso kuphela. (1 Phet. 4:16) Nanobe kunjalo,  njengobe sibonile emfanekisweni waJesu wakolo nelukhula, Sathane waphumelela kulelisu lakhe lekwenta kutsi leligama lelehlukile lelitsi emaKhristu lisetjentiswe nangiwo onkhe emaKhristu emanga. Ngesizatfu saloko, kwaphela iminyaka leminyenti kulukhuni kwehlukanisa emaKhristu eliciniso kumaKhristu emanga. Kodvwa loko kwacala kushintja emkhatsini ‘wesikhatsi sekuvuna’ lesacala nga-1914. Kungani? Kungenca yekutsi tingilosi tacala kwehlukanisa emaKhristu emanga kuweliciniso.​—Mat. 13:30, 39-41.

18. Yini leyasita bazalwane betfu babona kutsi bebadzinga ligama lelisha?

¹⁸ Ngemuva kwekubekwa kwesisebenti lesetsembekile nga-1919, Jehova wasita bantfu bakhe kutsi bawucondze umsebenti lebekabanike wona. Masinyane, babona kutsi kushumayela emtini ngemuti bekubenta behluke kuwo onkhe emaKhristu emanga. Ngemuva kwekucondza leliciniso, ngekushesha bacondza nekutsi ligama lelitsi “Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli” belingabenti behluke ngalokuphelele kuletinye tinkholo. Injongo yabo leyinhloko ekuphileni bekungasiko kumane nje batadishe liBhayibheli, kodvwa bekukufakaza ngaNkulunkulu, kuhlonipha libito lakhe kanye nekuliphakamisa. Ngako-ke, nguliphi ligama lebelitawufanelana kahle nemsebenti lebebawenta? Loyo mbuto waphendvulwa nga-1931.

19, 20. (a) Ngusiphi sincumo lesijabulisako lesentiwa emhlanganweni lomkhulu wa-1931? (b) Bazalwane betfu bentani ngesikhatsi batfola ligama lelisha?

¹⁹ NgaJuly 1931, Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli labangaba ngu-15 000 baya emhlanganweni lomkhulu lebewuseColumbus, Ohio, eMelika. Batsi nababona luhlelo lwalomhlangano, bamangaliswa tinhlavu letimbili temagama, lokungu-J na-W—lebetibhalwe ekhasini lekucala lwaloluhlelo. Bebatibuta kutsi ‘tisho kutsini letinhlavu temagama?’ Labanye bebatsi tisho kutsi ‘Caphela’ (Just Watch), labanye bona bebatsi tisho kutsi ‘Mani’ (Just Wait). Kwatsi ngeLisontfo ngaJuly 26, uMzalwane Joseph Rutherford wafundza sincumo lebesinemavi lanemandla latsi: “Sifisa kwatiwa futsi sibitwe ngeligama lelitsi BoFakazi BaJehova.” Ngaleso sikhatsi bonkhe lebebakhona bayicondza inchazelo yaletinhlavu temagama lebetibadida, kutsi betimelela ligama lelitsi BoFakazi BaJehova (Jehovah’s Witnesses), lokuligama lelitsatfwe emBhalweni wa-Isaya 43:10.

²⁰ Bantfu lebebalapho bemukela lesincumo ngekumemeta lokukhulu futsi bashaya tandla sikhatsi lesidze. Lokujabula lobekuseColumbus kwaviwa cishe emhlabeni wonkhe ngemsakato. Bo-Ernest naNaomi Barber labase-Australia, bayakhumbula: “Ngesikhatsi kukhala lihlombe eMelika, bazalwane labaseMelbourne bagcuma bema ngetinyawo futsi nabo bachubeka bashaya tandla. Ngeke size silikhohlwe lelo langa!” a

21. Leligama lelisha lawutfutfukisa ngayiphi indlela umsebenti wekushumayela?

²¹ Njengobe besetineligama lelisekelwe eBhayibhelini lelitsi BoFakazi BaJehova, tinceku taNkulunkulu taba nemandla lamakhulu ekuhlanganyela emsebentini wekushumayela. Bo-Edward naJessie Grimes, labangemahlahlandlela lashadene  aseMelika, labebakhona emhlanganweni waseColumbus wa-1931, batsi: “Sasuka ekhaya siBafundzi BeliBhayibheli, kodvwa sabuyela emuva sesiBoFakazi BaJehova. Besijabulile ngekutsi manje sesineligama lelisisita sikhatimulise libito laNkulunkulu wetfu.” Ngemuva kwalowo mhlangano, labanye BoFakazi basebentisa indlela lensha yekukhatimulisa lelibito. Bebatetfula kumnikati welikhaya ngekutsi bamnike likhadi lelinemlayeto lotsi: “Ngingulomunye wabofakazi BAJEHOVA, ngishumayela ngeMbuso WAJEHOVA Nkulunkulu wetfu.” Kuyacaca kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bebatigcabha ngekufakaza ngelibito lelitsi Jehova, futsi bebakulungele kumemetela kubaluleka kwalo kuyo yonkhe indzawo.​—Isa. 12:4.

22. Yini lefakazela kutsi bantfu baJehova behlukile kuletinye tinkholo?

²² Sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti Jehova ente bazalwane betfu labagcotjiwe kutsi bemukele libito lebelibenta bahlukaniseke kuletinye tinkholo. Kusukela nga-1931, Sathane ukhonile yini kwenta bantfu baNkulunkulu bangasahlukaniseki? Uphumelele yini kwenta kutsi bantfu basibone sifanana nalentinye tinkholo? Cha, akazange! Kunaloko, kwatiwa kwetfu njengabofakazi baNkulunkulu kuchubekela embili kunanini ngaphambili. (Fundza Mikha 4:5; Malakhi 3:18.) Ecinisweni, sesatiwa kakhulu ngaleligama laNkulunkulu, kangangekutsi nangabe umuntfu lotsite alisho, bantfu bavele batsi ungulomunye waBoFakazi BaJehova. Kunekutsi kukhontwa kwaJehova kweliciniso kuphatanyiswe yinkholo yemanga lenkhulu lefanana nentsaba, ‘kuyawuphakanyiswa kube ngetulu kwemagcuma.’ (Isa. 2:2) Lamuhla, kukhontwa kwaJehova kanye nekungcweliswa kwelibito lakhe kuphakanyiswa ngelizinga lelikhulu.

23. Ngekusho kweTihlabelelo 121:5, nguliphi liciniso lelimayelana naJehova lelisinika emandla lamakhulu?

²³ Kuyasicinisa kwati kutsi Jehova utasivikela ekuhlaseleni kwaSathane lokukhona nyalo nalokuseta! (Hla. 121:5) Sinesizatfu lesihle sekusho emavi lashiwo ngumhlabeli lowabhala watsi: “Sibusisiwe leso sive lesiNkulunkulu waso kunguSimakadze, sive latikhetsele sona kutsi sibe lifa lakhe.”​—Hla. 33:12.