1-3. Yintoni eyayikhathaza uHezekile, ibe waphefumlelwa ukuba abhale ntoni?

 YAYINGUNYAKA wesithandathu uHezekile ethinjiwe eBhabhiloni. a Lo mprofeti wayevel’ akhathazeke xa ecinga ngendlela elalilawulwa kakubi ngayo ilizwe lakowabo, kwaYuda. Wayebabonile ookumkani bengena bephuma esihlalweni.

² UHezekile wazalwa xa kwakulawula uKumkani uYosiya othembekileyo. Umele ukuba wavuya kakhulu xa weva ukuba lo kumkani waqhekeza imifanekiso eqingqiweyo, waza wanceda amaYuda aphinda akhonza uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. (2 Kron. 34:1-8) Kodwa ke, yonke loo nto yenziwa nguYosiya zange ihlale ixesha elide, kuba ookumkani abalawula emva kwakhe baphinda bakhonza izithixo. Yiloo nto olo hlanga lwalusenza izinto ezimbi lwaza lwayeka ukukhonza uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. Ngaba izinto zaziza kuhlala zinje? Tu ke khona.

³ UYehova waphefumlela uHezekile ukuba abhale isiprofeto sokuqala kweziliqela ezithetha ngoMesiya. Lo Mesiya wayeza kuba nguMlawuli noMalusi oza kuzikhathalela izimvu  zikaYehova, aze azincede ziphinde zimkhonze kakuhle. Simele sifunde ngezi ziprofeto, kuba ukufumana kwethu ubomi obungunaphakade kuxhomekeke ekwenzekeni kwazo. Ngoko ke, makhe sithethe ngezine zazo.

 4. Sithetha ngantoni isiprofeto uYehova awathi uHezekile makasibhale, ibe wasiqala njani?

⁴ Malunga no-612 B.C.E., “ilizwi likaYehova” lafika kuHezekile, waza wabhala ngesiprofeto esithetha ngolawulo lukaMesiya nangesizathu sokuluthemba. Into yokuqala uYehova awayithethayo kuHezekile ngesi siprofeto, kukuba makathethe nabanye abantu abathinjiweyo esebenzisa isafobe. Esi safobe sabonisa ukungabi nalukholo kwabalawuli bakwaYuda, nokuba siyaludinga uLawulo LukaMesiya.​—Hez. 17:1, 2.

 5. Sithini esi safobe?

⁵ Funda uHezekile 17:3-10. Sithi esi safobe: “Ukhozi olukhulu” luqhawula “elona setyana liphezulu” kumthi womsedare luze lulibeke ‘kwisixeko soosomashishini.’ Emva koko, ‘luthatha imbewu yelizwe’ luze luyifake kwintsimi etyebileyo ‘ngasemanzini amaninzi.’ Le mbewu iyakhula ibe ‘ngumthi weediliya onabileyo.’ Kufika “olunye ukhozi olukhulu.” Iingcambu zalo mdiliya zikhawuleza ziye ngakolu khozi lwesibini, zifuna ukutyalwa kwenye indawo enamanzi amaninzi. UYehova uyayigxeka le nto yenziwa ngulo mdiliya, aze athi iingcambu zawo ziza kuncothulwa zize ‘zome nko.’

 6. Sasithetha ntoni esi safobe?

⁶ Sasithetha ntoni esi safobe? (Funda uHezekile 17:11-15.) Ngo-617 B.C.E., uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare waseBhabhiloni (“ukhozi olukhulu” lokuqala) warhangqa iYerusalem. Wasusa uKumkani uYehoyakin wakwaYuda (“elona setyana liphezulu”) kwisikhundla sakhe sokulawula, wamsa eBhabhiloni (‘kwisixeko soosomashishini’). Emva koko, wamisela uZedekiya (enye ‘imbewu yelizwe’) ukuba alawule eYerusalem. Lo kumkani mtsha wakwaYuda wafunga ngoThixo esithi uza kuthembeka phantsi kolawulo lukaNebhukadenetsare. (2 Kron. 36:13) Kodwa wasophula eso sifungo. Wayijikela iBhabhiloni, waza wayokufuna uncedo kuFaro waseYiputa (“ukhozi olukhulu” lwesibini), kodwa akazange aphumelele. UYehova wayicaphukela le nto yenziwa nguZedekiya yokwaphula isifungo. (Hez. 17:16-21) Ekugqibeleni wayekiswa ukuba ngukumkani, waza wavalelwa ejele eBhabhiloni, wafela apho.​—Yer. 52:6-11.

 7. Sifunda ntoni kwesi safobe?

⁷ Sifunda ntoni kwesi safobe? Okokuqala, sifunda ukuba kufuneka siyenze into ebesithe siza kuyenza. UYesu wathi: “Xa uthe ‘Ewe,’ mayibe nguewe lowo; xa uthe ‘Hayi,’ ibe nguhayi.” (Mat. 5:37) Xa sikwimeko efunisa sifunge ngoThixo ukuba  siza kuthetha inyani, njengaxa sisenkundleni, eso sifungo siyinto enkulu kakhulu. Okwesibini, kufuneka sibajonge abantu esinokubathemba. IBhayibhile ithi: “Sanukuthembela kwiinkosana, nakunyana womntu, ongenakukwazi ukunisindisa.”​—INdu. 146:3.

8-10. UYehova waprofeta wathini ngoMlawuli ozayo, uMesiya, ibe senzeka njani esi siprofeto? (Jonga nebhokisi ethi, “Isiprofeto Esithetha NgoMesiya—Umthi Omkhulu Womsedare.”)

⁸ Ukhona umlawuli esinokumthemba ngokupheleleyo. Emva kokuba uYehova eprofete ngesetyana elifuna ukutyalwa kwenye indawo, uphinda aprofete ngoMlawuli ozayo, uMesiya.

⁹ Sithini esi siprofeto? (Funda uHezekile 17:22-24.) Kwesi siprofeto, ayilokhozi olukhulu kodwa nguYehova uqobo oza kuqhawula “isetyana eliphezulu emthini womsedare” aze ‘alityale kwintaba ephakamileyo.’ Eli setyana liza kukhula “libe ngumthi womsedare omkhulu,” zize zihlale phantsi kwawo “zonke iintlobo zeentaka.” Emva koko, “yonke imithi yasendle” iza kwazi ukuba nguYehova oye wenza lo mthi wamkhulu.

¹⁰ Senzeka njani esi siprofeto? UYehova wasusa uNyana wakhe uYesu Kristu kumnombo kaDavide (‘umthi womsedare’) waza wamtyala kwiNtaba YeZiyon esezulwini (‘intaba ephakamileyo’). (INdu. 2:6; Yer. 23:5; ISityhi. 14:1) Ngoko, nangona wayejongwa ziintshaba zakhe njengoyena “mntu uphantsi ebantwini,” uYehova wamphakamisa wambeka ‘kwitrone katata wakhe uDavide.’ (Dan. 4:17; Luka 1:32, 33) Njengomthi omkhulu womsedare, uKumkani onguMesiya, uYesu Kristu, uza kulawula umhlaba wonke esezulwini, ibe wonke umntu olawulwa nguye uza konwaba. Nguye ke lo uMlawuli esinokumthemba! Xa kulawula uYesu, abantu abathobelayo apha emhlabeni baza ‘kuhlala bekhuselekile, bangaphazanyiswa kukoyika intlekele.’​—IMize. 1:33.

11. Sisifundisa ntoni isiprofeto ‘sesetyana elithambileyo’ eliba “ngumthi womsedare omkhulu”?

¹¹ Sifunda ntoni kwesi siprofeto? Esi siprofeto ‘sesetyana elithambileyo’ eliba “ngumthi womsedare omkhulu,” sisenza sikwazi ukuphendula umbuzo obalulekileyo othi: Siza kuthemba bani? Kububudenge ukuthemba oorhulumente abangabantu nemikhosi yabo. Ukuze sikhuseleke nyhani, kufuneka sithembe uKumkani onguMesiya, uYesu Kristu. Urhulumente wakhe wasezulwini nguye kuphela olithemba labantu.​—ISityhi. 11:15.

12. UYehova wabonisa njani ukuba wayengasilibelanga isivumelwano awayesenze noDavide?

¹² Indlela uYehova awasicacisa ngayo esi safobe seenkozi ezimbini, yamnceda uHezekile waqonda ukuba uZedekiya, ukumkani owayengathembekanga nowayephuma kumnombo kaDavide, wayeza kuyekiswa ukuba ngumlawuli aze athinjwe eBhabhiloni. Mhlawumbi lo mprofeti wayezibuza, ‘Ngoku iza  kuthini into yesivumelwano sikaThixo noDavide, sokuba kuza kuphuma ukumkani kumnombo kaDavide aze alawule ngonaphakade?’ (2 Sam. 7:12, 16) Ukuba nyhani wayezibuza loo nto, wakhawuleza waphenduleka. Malunga no-611 B.C.E., ngonyaka wesixhenxe wokuthinjwa eBhabhiloni, ngoxa uZedekiya wayesalawula kwaYuda, “kwafika ilizwi likaYehova” kuHezekile. (Hez. 20:2) UYehova wathi makabhale isiprofeto esithetha ngoMesiya, esasicacisa ukuba wayengasilibelanga isivumelwano awayesenze noDavide. Loo nto siyibona ngokuba esi siprofeto sasichaza ukuba lo Mlawuli uzayo onguMesiya wayeza kuba nelungelo elisemthethweni lokulawula, kuba wayephuma kumnombo kaDavide.

13, 14. Sithini isiprofeto esikuHezekile 21:25-27, ibe senzeka njani?

¹³ Sithini esi siprofeto? (Funda uHezekile 21:25-27.) Kwesi siprofeto, uYehova usebenzisa uHezekile ukuthetha nenkosi yakwaSirayeli engumenzi-bubi efikelwe lixesha lokohlwaywa. Uxelela lo kumkani owenza izinto ezimbi ukuba liza kususwa ‘ilaphu elisentlokweni’ yakhe ‘nesithsaba’ sakhe (izinto ezibonisa isikhundla sokuba ngumlawuli). Emva koko, abalawuli  ‘abathotyiweyo’ babeza kuphakanyiswa, baze abo ‘baphakamileyo’ bathotywe. Abalawuli abaphakanyisiweyo babeza kuqhubeka belawula de “afike lowo unelungelo elisemthethweni,” aze uYehova alunike yena ulawulo loBukumkani.

¹⁴ Senzeka njani esi siprofeto? Ngo-607 B.C.E. ubukumkani bakwaYuda ‘obuphakamileyo’ bathotywa xa amaBhabhiloni atshabalalisa iYerusalem aza athimba uKumkani uZedekiya. Ngelo xesha, ekubeni eYerusalem kwakungekho kumkani ophuma kumnombo kaDavide, abalawuli beeNtlanga ‘abathotyiweyo’ baphakanyiswa, baza baqhubeka belawula emhlabeni okwethutyana. “Ixesha ezilinikiweyo” iintlanga laphela ngo-1914, xa uYehova walunika uYesu Kristu ulawulo. (Luka 21:24) Ekubeni uYesu wayephuma kumnombo kaKumkani uDavide, ‘wayenelungelo elisemthethweni’ lokuba nguKumkani onguMesiya. b (Gen. 49:10) Ngoko uYehova wasigcina isivumelwano sakhe noDavide, sokuba kwakuza kuphuma ukumkani kumnombo kaDavide aze alawule ngonaphakade.​—Luka 1:32, 33.

15. Kutheni sinokumthemba ngokupheleleyo uKumkani onguYesu Kristu?

 ¹⁵ Sifunda ntoni kwesi siprofeto? Sifunda ukuba sinokumthemba ngokupheleleyo uKumkani onguYesu Kristu. Ngoba? Kaloku yena akafani nabanye abalawuli abaye bakhethwa ngabantu okanye abaye babhukuqa abanye. UYesu wakhethwa nguYehova waza ‘wanikwa ubukumkani’ anelungelo elisemthethweni lokubufumana. (Dan. 7:13, 14) Ngoko sinokumthemba nyhani lo Kumkani!

16. UYehova uziphatha njani izimvu, ibe ‘abalusi bakwaSirayeli’ bexesha likaHezekile baziphatha njani izimvu?

¹⁶ UYehova, oyena Malusi Mkhulu, uzikhathalele kakhulu izimvu zakhe, ezingabakhonzi bakhe abalapha emhlabeni. (INdu. 100:3) Uyijongile indlela abalusi abangabantu abaziphatha ngayo izimvu zakhe. Ngoko yicinge indlela amele ukuba wakhathazeka ngayo ngenxa ‘yabalusi bakwaSirayeli’ bexesha likaHezekile. Babelawula “ngegqudu nangenkohlakalo.” Ngenxa yaloo nto, izimvu zaziphetheke kakubi, zaza ezininzi zazo zamshiya uYehova.​—Hez. 34:1-6.

17. UYehova wazisindisa njani izimvu zakhe?

¹⁷ Wayeza kwenza ntoni uYehova? Wathi kwaba balawuli bakhohlakeleyo bakwaSirayeli: ‘Ndiza kuniphendulisa.’ Emva koko wathi: “Ndiza kuzisindisa [izimvu] zam.” (Hez. 34:10) UYehova usoloko eyenza into ayithethileyo. (Yosh. 21:45) Ngo-607 B.C.E. wazisindisa izimvu zakhe esebenzisa amaBhabhiloni awahlasela iYerusalem, aza abayekisa ukulawula abo balusi bakhohlakeleyo. Emva kweminyaka eyi-70, wasindisa abakhonzi bakhe eBhabhiloni waza wababuyisela kwilizwe labo ukuze baphinde bamkhonze ngendlela ayifunayo. Kodwa izimvu zikaThixo zazingekakhuseleki ncam, kuba zaziseza kuqhubeka zilawulwa ngookumkani behlabathi. Kaloku “ixesha ezilinikiweyo” iintlanga laliseza kuqhubeka kangangamakhulu eminyaka.​—Luka 21:24.

18, 19. Malunga nonyaka itshatyalalisiwe iYerusalem, waprofeta wathini uHezekile? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

¹⁸ Malunga nonyaka itshatyalalisiwe iYerusalem, uYehova wathi uHezekile makaprofete ngendlela oyena Malusi Mkhulu azikhathalele ngayo izimvu zakhe, ibe ufuna ziphile ngonaphakade. Eso siprofeto sichaza indlela uMlawuli onguMesiya aza kuzalusa ngayo izimvu zikaYehova.

¹⁹ Sithini esi siprofeto? (Funda uHezekile 34:22-24.) Sithi uThixo uza “kuzivelisela umalusi omnye” ambiza ngokuba ‘ngumkhonzi wakhe uDavide.’ Amagama athi “umalusi omnye” nelithi “umkhonzi” abonisa ukuba lo Mlawuli nguye yedwa oza kulawula ixesha elide. Akuzubakho omnye umlawuli oza kuphuma kumnombo kaDavide emva kwakhe. Lo Mlawuli okwanguMalusi uza kuzondla izimvu zikaThixo, aze abe  “yinkosi phakathi kwazo.” UYehova uza “kwenza isivumelwano soxolo” kunye nazo. “Iintsikelelo ziza kugaleleka njengemvula” kwezi zimvu, ibe ziza kuhlala kamnandi, zikhuselekile. Abantu baza kuhlala ngoxolo, kuze kubekho uxolo naphakathi kwabantu nezilwanyana.​—Hez. 34:25-28.

20, 21. (a) Senzeka njani isiprofeto esithetha ‘ngomkhonzi wam uDavide?’ (b) Amazwi kaHezekile athetha “ngesivumelwano soxolo” nangemvula yeentsikelelo asixelela ntoni ngento eza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo?

²⁰ Senzeka njani esi siprofeto? Xa uThixo wathi lo Mlawuli ‘ngumkhonzi wam uDavide,’ wayethetha ngoYesu ophuma kumnombo kaDavide nonelungelo elisemthethweni lokulawula. (INdu. 89:35, 36) Ibe xa wayelapha emhlabeni, uYesu wabonisa ukuba ‘ungumalusi olungileyo’ kuba wancama ubomi bakhe ‘ebuncamela izimvu.’ (Yoh. 10:14, 15) Kodwa ngoku lo Malusi usezulwini. (Heb. 13:20) Ngo-1914, uThixo wamenza uKumkani waza wamnika umsebenzi wokwalusa nowokondla izimvu zakhe ezisemhlabeni. Emva koko, ngo-1919, lo Kumkani mtsha wanika ‘ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi’ umsebenzi wokondla ‘abo basebenza endlini yakhe,’ oko kukuthi, abakhonzi bakaThixo abathembekileyo abanethemba lasezulwini okanye lasemhlabeni. (Mat. 24:45-47) Phantsi kolawulo lukaKristu, ikhoboka elithembekileyo londla izimvu zikaThixo. Loo nto izinceda zihlale zikhuselekile ibe zinoxolo.

²¹ Amazwi kaHezekile athetha “ngesivumelwano soxolo” nangemvula yeentsikelelo asixelela ntoni ngento eza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo? Asixelela ukuba kwihlabathi elitsha, abakhonzi bakaYehova baza kufumana iintsikelelo ezininzi phantsi ‘kwesivumelwano soxolo.’ Kwiparadesi eza kube igcwalise umhlaba wonke, abantu abasoze baphinde babe nexhala leemfazwe, ulwaphulo-mthetho, indlala, ukugula okanye boyike izilwanyana. (Isa. 11:6-9; 35:5, 6; 65:21-23) Livuyisa nyhani ithemba lokuphila ngonaphakade eparadesi apho izimvu zikaThixo ziza “kuhlala zikhuselekile, kungabikho mntu uzoyikisayo.”​—Hez. 34:28.

22. UYesu uziphatha njani izimvu, ibe abadala banokufana njani naye?

²² Sifunda ntoni kwesi siprofeto? UYesu uyafana noTata wakhe, naye uzikhathalele kakhulu izimvu. Lo Kumkani onguMalusi uyaqiniseka ukuba izimvu zikaTata wakhe ziyondliwa, zihlala ngoxolo ibe zikhuselekile. Kuvuyisa nyhani ukulawulwa nguMlawuli onjengalo! Abadala abasebenza njengabalusi abangaphantsi kukaYesu, bamele bazikhathalele njengaye izimvu. Bamele bawaluse umhlambi “ngokuzithandela” nangenxa yokuba ‘befuna nyhani,’ baze babe yimizekelo kuwo. (1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Umdala umele angaze nanini na ayiphathe kakubi imvu kaYehova! Kaloku khumbula amazwi uYehova awawathetha kubalusi bakwaSirayeli ababekhohlakele ngexesha likaHezekile. Wathi:  ‘Ndiza kuniphendulisa.’ (Hez. 34:10) Oyena Malusi Mkhulu kunye noNyana wakhe bayijongile indlela eziphethwe ngayo izimvu.

23. Waprofeta wathini uYehova ngokumanyanisa uhlanga lwakwaSirayeli, ibe senzeka njani eso siprofeto?

²³ UYehova ufuna abakhonzi bakhe bamanyane. Waprofeta ethembisa ukuba izizwe ezibini zakwaYuda nezizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli zaziza kumanyana zibe “luhlanga olunye” ngokungathi ‘ziintonga’ ezimbini ezidityaniswa zibe ‘yintonga enye’ esandleni sakhe. (Hez. 37:15-23) Esi siprofeto senzeka xa uThixo wamanyanisa amaSirayeli kwiLizwe Lesithembiso ngo-537 B.C.E. c Kodwa loo nto yayingumzekelo nje womanyano olukhulu nolungazukuphela oluseza kubakho. Emva kokuba uYehova ethembise ngokumanyanisa uSirayeli, wathi uHezekile makaprofete ngendlela uMlawuli ozayo aza kubamanyanisa ngayo ngonaphakade abakhonzi bakhe.

24. UYehova umbiza njani uMlawuli onguMesiya, ibe luza kuba njani ulawulo lwakhe?

²⁴ Sithini esi siprofeto? (Funda uHezekile 37:24-28.) UYehova uphinda abize uMlawuli onguMesiya ngokuthi “umkhonzi wam uDavide,” ‘umalusi omnye,’ nangokuthi ‘inkosi,’ kodwa ngoku umbiza nangokuba ‘ngukumkani.’ (Hez. 37:22) Lo Kumkani  uza kulawula njani? Ulawulo lwakhe aluzukuphelelwa. Ukusetyenziswa kwegama elithi “ngonaphakade” kubonisa ukuba iintsikelelo eziza nolawulo lwakhe azizukuphela. d Xa kulawula yena kuza kubakho umanyano. Abantu abathobekileyo abaza kulawulwa ngulo ‘kumkani’ baza kuhamba ‘ngezigwebo’ okanye ngemithetho efanayo, baze ‘bahlale’ bemanyene. Uza kwenza ukuba abantu abalawulwa nguye basondele kuYehova uThixo. UYehova uza kwenza “isivumelwano soxolo” kunye nabo. Uza kuba nguThixo wabo, bona babe ngabantu bakhe. Kwaye ingcwele yakhe iza kuba ‘phakathi kwabo ngonaphakade.’

25. Senzeka njani isiprofeto esithetha ngoKumkani onguMesiya?

²⁵ Senzeka njani esi siprofeto? Ngo-1919, abo bathanjisiweyo bamanyaniswa phantsi ‘komalusi omnye,’ uKumkani onguMesiya, uYesu Kristu. Emva koko, “isihlwele esikhulu” esiphuma “kuzo zonke iintlanga nezizwe nezizwana neelwimi,” samanyana nabo bathanjisiweyo. (ISityhi. 7:9) Baba “ngumhlambi omnye” phantsi ‘komalusi omnye.’ (Yoh. 10:16) Ngoku bonke, nokuba banethemba lokuphila ezulwini okanye emhlabeni, bathobela imiyalelo kaYehova. Loo nto yenza ukuba bahlale bemanyene emhlabeni wonke. UYehova uye wabasikelela ngokubenza  bahlale ngoxolo, ibe ingcwele yakhe emela ukukhonzwa kwakhe kakuhle iphakathi kwabo. UnguThixo wabo, ibe bakuvuyela nyhani ukumkhonza, ngoku nangonaphakade!

26. Ungancedisa njani kumanyano lwabazalwana bethu emhlabeni wonke?

²⁶ Sifunda ntoni kwesi siprofeto? Sinenyhweba enkulu yokumanyana nabazalwana bethu emhlabeni wonke sikhonza uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. Kodwa mntu ngamnye kufuneka encedisile kolu manyano. Yiloo nto sonke kufuneka sihlale simanyene kwizinto esizikholelwayo nesizenzayo. (1 Kor. 1:10) Ngoko, sonke sondliwa ngokutya okufanayo okuqinisa ukholo, siphila ngendlela efanayo echazwa ziZibhalo, sishumayela ngoBukumkani size senze abafundi. Kodwa eyona nto isenza simanyane, luthando. Sincedisa kumanyano xa sizama ukuba nothando size silubonise ngokuba nemfesane, uvelwano, ukuxolela nangezinye iindlela. IBhayibhile ithi: “Uthando . . . lubamanyanisa ngokupheleleyo abantu.”​—Kol. 3:12-14; 1 Kor. 13:4-7.

27. (a) Zikwenza uzive njani iziprofeto ezithetha ngoMesiya ezikwincwadi kaHezekile? (b) Kwizahluko ezilandelayo zale ncwadi kuza kuthethwa ngantoni?

²⁷ Simbulela nyhani uYehova ngeziprofeto ezithetha ngoMesiya ezikwincwadi kaHezekile! Ukufunda nokucinga ngezi ziprofeto kusifundisa ukuba simele simthembe uKumkani wethu uYesu Kristu. Kusifundisa nokuba unelungelo elisemthethweni lokulawula, usalusa ngothando ibe uza kusenza sihlale simanyene ngonaphakade. Kuyinyhweba enkulu ukulawulwa nguKumkani onguMesiya. Masikhumbule ukuba ezi ziprofeto zithetha ngoMesiya, ziyinxalenye yeziprofeto ezikwincwadi kaHezekile ezithetha ngokukhonzwa kukaYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. UYehova usebenzisa uYesu ukuze aqokelele abantu bakhe aze abancede baphinde bamkhonze ngendlela ayifunayo. (Hez. 20:41) Kwizahluko ezilandelayo zale ncwadi kuza kuthethwa ngaloo nto.