Phakathi kwabo babethembe imvuselelo kanaphakade njengesiphumo sohlaziyo phantsi kukaYosiya, kwakukho uYeremiya, owabizelwa nguThixo kumsebenzi wokuprofeta esemtsha, ngomnyaka weshumi nantathu wokulawula kukaYosiya. Ilungu lobubingeleli lwabaLevi, uYeremiya wawuqeqeshelwa kwasebuntwaneni umsebenzi ongcwele. Kuloo minyaka yolonwabo lokulungiselela, wayiqonda kancinane into yokuba wathanjiswa kwasekuzalweni ukuba abe “ngumprofeti weentlanga;” lwaza lwathi lwakufika ubizo lwezulu, wagutyungelwa yingqondo yokungafaneleki. “Kwowu, Nkosi Yehova,” wakhuza, “yabona, andikwazi ukuthetha, ngokuba ndingumntwana.” Yeremiya 1:5, 6. AN 407.1
KuYeremiya oselula, uThixo wabona umntu owayeza kunyaniseka koko akuphathisiweyo noya kumelana nenkcaso. Ebuntwaneni wayebonakalalise ukuthembeka; kwaye ngoku wayeza kunyamezela ubunzima, njengejoni lomnqamlezo. “Musa ukuthi, ndingumntwana,” wamyalela njalo uYehova umthunywa wakhe onyuliweyo; “ke uya kuya kubo bonke endikuthuma kubo; konke endikuwisela umthetho ngako, uze ukuthethe. Uze ungaboyiki, ngokuba ndinawe ukuba ndikuhlangule.” “Ke wena, bhinqa amanqe akho, usuk’ ume, uthethe kubo konke endikuwisela umthetho ngako. Musa ukuqhipuka umbilini, hleze mna ndikuqhiphule umbilini ngabo. Uyabona ke, mna ndikwenza namhla umzi onqatyisiweyo, intsika yesinyithi, udonga lobhedu kulo lonke ilizwe, lokumkani bakwaYuda, nakubathetheli balo, kubabingeleli balo, nakubantu belizwe. Baya kulwa nawe, bangabi nakukweyisa, ngokuba ndinawe ukuba ndikuhlangule; utsho uYehova.” Iindima 7, 8, 17-19. AN 407.2
Iminyaka engamashumi amane, uYeremiya wayeza kuma phambi kwesizwe elingqina lenyaniso nobulungisa. Ngexesha lokreqo olungenamlinganiselo, wayeza kuba ngumzekelo wobomi nesimilo sonqulo lukaThixo ekuphela kwaKhe oyinyaniso. Ngexesha lokungqingwa okubi kweYerusalem, wayeza kuba ngumlomo kaYehova. Wayeza kukuxela kwangaphambili ukuwa kwendlu kaDavide nokutshatyalaliswa kwetempile entle eyakhiwa nguSolomon. Wathi naxa evalelwe entolongweni ngenxa yokuthetha kwakhe okungenaloyiko, waqhubeka ethetha ngokuphandle echasa isono kwiindawo eziphezulu. Edeliwe, ethiyiwe, esaliwa ngabantu, ekugqibeleni wayeza kungqina ngokuzaliseka emehlweni kweziprofeto zakhe zentshabalalo eyayisiza, abelane ngosizi nentlungu eyayiza kulandela intshabalalo yesixeko esimiselwe intshabalalo. AN 408.1
Kwathi ke, phakathi kwentshabalalo eqhelekileyo, isizwe esasidlula kuyo ngokukhawuleza, uYeremiya wakholisa ukuvunyelwa ukuba akhangele ngaphaya kwemibono yoxinzelelo yelo xesha ukuba abone okunokulindelwa kwixesha elizayo, xa abantu bakaThixo beya kuhlangulwa kwilizwe lotshaba baphinde batyalwe eZiyon. Wabona kwangaphambili ixesha xa uYehova eya kuhlaziya ulwalamano lwaKhe lomnqophiso kunye nabo. “Imiphefumlo yabo ibe njengomyezo onyelwa ngamanzi, uvunde; bangabi saphinda bathe amandla.” Yeremiya 31:12. AN 408.2
Ngokubizelwa kwakhe emsebenzini wobuprofeti, uYeremiya ngokwakhe wabhala: “Wasolula uYehova isandla sakhe, wachukumisa umlomo wam; wathi ke uYehova kum, Yabona, ndibeke amazwi am emlonyeni wakho. Khangela, ndikwenza namhla umveleli weentlanga nezikumkani ukuba unyothule, udilize, utshabalalise, ugungxule; ukuba wakhe, utyale.” Yeremiya 1:9, 10. AN 409.1
Makabulelwe uThixo ngamazwi athi, “wakhe, utyale.” Ngala mazwi, uYeremiya wayeqinisekiswa ngenjongo kaYehova yokubuyisela nokuphilisa. Zazingqongqo izigidimi ekwakufuneka zithwelwe kwiminyaka eyayiza kulandela. Iziprofeto zezohlwayo eziza kufika kwakamsinyane kwakufuneka zinikwe ngokungenaloyiko. Kwiintili zeShinare “ububi” babuza kuza “phezu kwabemi bonke belizwe.” “Ndiya kuthetha elokubagweba kwam,” watsho uYehova, “ngenxa yobubi babo bonke, kuba bendishiyile.” Iindima 14, 16. Kanti ke umprofeti wayeza kuzihambisa ezi ziprofeto neziqinisekiso zokuxolelwa kwabo bonke ababeya kubuya ekwenzeni kwabo okugwenxa. AN 409.2
Njengomakhi oyintloko olumkileyo, uYeremiya, kwasekuqalekeni komsebenzi wobomi bakhe, wafuna ukukhuthaza abantu bakwaYuda ukuba babeke iziseko zobomi babo basemoyeni ngokubanzi nangokunzulu, ngokwenza umsebenzi ocokisekileyo wokuguquka. Kwaye kukudala besakha ngezixhobo, uPawulos azifanisa nemithi, ingca, neendiza, abe yena uYeremiya ezifanisa nenkunkuma. “Bayisilivere ecekisiweyo, ukubizwa kwabo,” watsho njalo kuhlanga olungafuniyo ukuzohlwaya, “ngokuba uYehova ebacekisile.” Yeremiya 6:30. Ngoku babekhuthazwa ukuba baqale ukwakha ngobulumko, besakhela unaphakade, bayilahlele ecaleni inkunkuma yokreqo nokungakholwa, baze basebenzise njengesiseko isixhobo segolide enyulu, isilivere ecoliweyo, amatye anqabileyo—ukholo nokuthobela kunye nemisebenzi elungileyo—izinto ekuphela kwazo ezamkelekileyo emehlweni kaThixo ongcwele. AN 409.3
NgoYeremiya, ilizwi likaYehova eleza ebantwini baKhe lathi: “Buya, phambakazi Israyeli, . . . andiyi kubusanganisa ubuso bam kuni, ngokuba ndinenceba, utsho uYehova; andiyi kuba nanqala ngonaphakade. Buvume kodwa ubugwenxa bakho; ngokuba ukreqile kuYehova uThixo wakho. . . . Buyani, nyana bangamaphamba, utsho uYehova; ngokuba ndinizekile mna.” “Niya kundibiza ngokuthi, Bawo; ningabuyi ekundilandeleni.” “Buyani, nyana bangamaphamba; ndokuphilisa ukuphamba kwenu.” Yeremiya 3:12-14, 19, 22. AN 410.1
Ukongeza kwezi zicengo zimangalisayo, uYehova wabanika abantu baKhe abonayo amazwi kanye ababe nokubuyela ngawo kuYe. Babeza kuthi: “Uyabona, siza kuwe; ngokuba wena, Yehova, unguThixo wethu. Inyaniso, yaba bubuxoki ingxokozelo yasezindulini, yasezintabeni; inyaniso, lukuYehova uThixo wethu usindiso lukaIsrayeli. . . . Masilale esikizini lethu, lisigubungele ihlazo lethu; ngokuba kuYehova uThixo wethu sonile, thina noobawo kwasebuncinaneni bethu, unanamhla; asaliphulaphula ilizwi likaYehova uThixo wethu.” Iindima 22-25. AN 410.2
Uhlaziyo phantsi kukaYosiya lwalihlambulula ilizwe kwiitempile zonqulo lwezithixo, kodwa zona iintliziyo zabantu zazingazange ziguqulwe. Imbewu yenyaniso eyayintshulile kunye nesithembiso esasinikiwe sesivuno esininzi zaminxwa ngameva. Okunye ukuhlehla okwakuya kuba njalo kwakuya kuba kokubulalayo; waza uYehova wazama ukusivusa isizwe ukuba siyiqonde ingozi esikuyo. Kwakuya kuba kuphela ngokuthembeka kuYehova apho babenokulindela imfesane yezulu kunye nempumelelo. AN 410.3
UYeremiya wathi rhoqo ukuyitsalela ingqondo yabo kwiziyalo ezinikwe kuDuteronomi. Ngaphezu kwakhe nawuphi umprofeti, wazicinezela iimfundiso zomthetho kaMoses ebonisa indlela ezingathi zizise ngayo eyona ntsikelelo inkulu yasemoyeni esizweni nakwintliziyo yomntu ngamnye. “[Buzani] umendo ongunaphakade, ukuba yiyiphi na indlela yokulungileyo, nihambe ngayo,” wacenga, “noyifumanela ukuphumla imiphefumlo yenu.” Yeremiya 6:16. AN 411.1
Kwathi kwesinye isiganeko, ngomyalelo kaYehova, umprofeti wema kwelinye lamasango amakhulu lokungena esixekweni apho wanyanzelisa ukubaluleka kokugcinwa ngcwele kwemini yeSabatha. Abemi baseYerusalem babesengozini yokulahlekwa ngumbono wobungcwele beSabatha, baza balunyukiswa ngokuzukileyo ukuba bangalandeli okuthandwa ngabo ngaloo mini. Intsikelelo yathenjiswa ngokuxhomekeke ekuthobeleni. “Kothi ke, ukuba nithe nandiphulaphula,” watsho uYehova, “nawungcwalisa umhla wesabatha, anenza nalinye ishishini ngawo: kothi ke kungene ngamasango alo mzi ookumkani nabathetheli, abahleli etroneni kaDavide, bekhwele ezinqweleni nasemahasheni, bona, nabathetheli babo, amadoda akwaYuda, nabemi baseYerusalem; lo mzi umiwe ngonaphakade.” Yeremiya 17:24, 25. AN 411.2
Esi sithembiso sempumelelo njengomvuzo wokuzinikela wawukhatshwa sisiprofeto sezigwebo ezibi ezaziya kusiwela isixeko ukuba abemi bathe abanyaniseka kuThixo nomthetho waKhe. Ukuba iziyalo zokuthobela uYehova uThixo wooyise nokungcwalisa umhla weSabatha yaKhe aziphulaphulwanga, isixeko namabhotwe aso sasiza kutshatyalaliswa siphele ngomlilo. AN 411.3
Ngoko ke, umprofeti wema waqina kwimithetho-siseko eyiyo yokuphila okulungileyo eyandlelwe ngokucacileyo encwadini yomthetho. Zona iimeko ezazilawula elizweni lakwaYuda zazikumgangatho wokuba ibe ngamanyathelo angqongqo kuphela awayenokwenziwa ukuze kubekho ukuguqukela kokulungileyo; ngoko ke, wasebenza nzima ngokunyaniseka okukhulu ngenxa yabangazohlwayiyo. “Zikhubeleleni intsinde,” wabongoza, “ningahlwayeli emithaneni enameva.” Yihlambulule ububi intliziyo yakho, Yerusalem, ukuze usindiswe.” Yeremiya 4:3, 14. AN 412.1
Isihlwele esikhulu sabantu asizange siluphulaphule ubizelo ekuguqukeni nasekuhlaziyweni. Kususela ekufeni kukaKumkani Yosiya, abo balawula isizwe abazange babonakalise kunyaniseka koko bakuphathisiweyo baye bekhokelela abaninzi ekulahlekeni. UYehoyazi, esuswe esihlalweni kukungenelela kukakumkani waseYiputa, walandelwa nguYehoyakim, unyana omkhulu kaYosiya. Kususela kwasekuqaleni kokulawula kukaYehoyakim, uYeremiya waba nethemba elincinane lokulisindisa ilizwe lakhe elithandekayo kwintshabalalo kunye nabantu ekuthinjweni. Kanti ke, kunjalo akazange avunyelwe ukuba ahlale athi cwaka lo gama intshabalalo epheleleyo yayibonakala izela ubukumkani. Abo babesele benyanisekile kuThixo, kwakufuneka bekhuthaziwe ukuba bazingise ekwenzeni okulungileyo, baze aboni, ukuba kunokwenzeka, bakhuthazwe ukuba babuye ebugwenxeni babo. AN 412.2
Intlekele yayifuna ilinge likawonke-wonke nelifikelela kwiindawo ezikude. UYeremiya wayeyalelwe nguYehova ukuba eme entendelezweni yetempile athethe kubo bonke abantu bakwaYuda abadlulayo, bephuma bengena. Kwizigidimi awazinikwayo kwakungafuneki anciphise nalinye ilizwi, ukuze aboni baseZiyon bafumane elona thuba lipheleleyo lokuva nokubuya kwiindlela zabo ezimbi. AN 412.3
Umprofeti wathobela; wema esangweni lendlu kaYehova waliphakamisa ilizwi elumkisa ebongoza. Phantsi kwempefumlelo yOnamandla wavakalisa, wathi: AN 413.1
“Liveni ilizwi likaYehova, nonke maYuda angenayo ngala masango, ukuba nimnqule uYehova. Utsho uYehova wemikhosi, uThixo kaIsrayeli, ukuthi, Zilungiseni iindlela zenu nezenzo zenu, ukuze ndinibeke kule ndawo. Musani ukukholosa ngamazwi obuxoki, okuthi, Yitempile kaYehova, yitempile kaYehova, yitempile kaYehova yona leyo. Okanye ukuba nithe nazilungisa nizilungisa iindlela zenu nezenzo zenu; ukuba nithe nakwenza nikwenza okusesikweni phakathi komntu nommelwane wakhe; anamcudisa owasemzini, nenkedama, nomhlolokazi, analiphalaza igazi elimsulwa kule ndawo, analandela thixo bambi, ukuba kube kubi kuni; ndonibeka kule ndawo, ezweni endalinika ooyihlo, kwasephakadeni kuse ephakadeni.” Yeremiya 7:2-7. AN 413.2
Ukungakhululeki kukaYehova ukohlwaya kubonakaliswa ngokucacileyo apha. Uyazibamba izigwebo zaKhe ukuze ababongoze abo bangazohlwayiyo. Lowo wenza “inceba, nesiko, nobulungisa, ehlabathini” unolangazelelo ngabantwana baKhe abonayo; ngazo zonke iindlela anazo uzama ukubafundisa indlela yobomi obungunaphakade. Yeremiya 9:24. Wawakhupha amaIsrayeli ebukhobokeni ukuze amkhonze, Yena okuphela koThixo oyinyaniso nophilileyo. Nangona azula ixesha elide ekunquleni izithixo, akucekisa ukuthethisa kwaKhe, kodwa ngoku uvakalisa intumekelelo yokubeka bucala isohlwayo abanike elinye ithubalokuguquka.Ukubeka kucaceukuba,kuphelangokuhlaziyeka kwentliziyongokwenene, ekunokuthi intshabalalo ebazelayo ibe nokujikwa. Kuya kuba lilize ukubeka kwabo ithemba labo etempileni nakwiinkonzo zayo. Amatiletile neenkonzo ezikhethekileyo xa zizodwa zazingekhe zisicamagushele isono. Sekukho kunjalo ukubanga ukuba bangabantu abanyuliweyo bakaThixo, kukuhlaziyeka kwentliziyo kunye nobomi obuphilwayo kuphela obabunokubasindisa kwisiphumo esasiqinisekile sokuqhubeka ngokwenza ubugwenxa. AN 413.3
Ngenxa yoko, “emizini yakwaYuda, nasezitratweni zaseYerusalem” isigidimi sikaYeremiya kuYuda sathi, “Yivani amazwi alo mnqophiso,“—imithetho ecacileyo kaYehova njengoko ibhaliwe eNcwadini eNgcwele,--“niwenze.” Yeremiya 11:6. Sisigidimi esi awasivakalisayo ngexesha emi entendelezweni zetempile ekuqalekeni kokulawula kukaYehoyakim. AN 414.1
Amava kaIsrayeli kususela kwimihla yeMfuduko, aya aphindwa ngokufutshane. Umnqophiso kaThixo kunye nabo wawusithi, “Phulaphulani ilizwi lam: ndoba nguThixo wenu, nibe ngabantu bam, nihambe ngendlela yonke endinimiselayo, ukuze kulunge kuni.” Ngokungenazintloni nangokuzingisileyo, waya waphulwa lo mnqophiso. Abantu besizwe esinyuliweyo “bahamba ngamaqhinga, ngobungqola bentliziyo yabo embi, bandinikela umhlana, ayaba bubuso.” Yeremiya 7:23, 24. AN 414.2
“Kungathuba lini na” wabuza uYehova, ukuba aba bantu baseYerusalem baphambe ngokuphamba okungunaphakade?” Yeremiya 8:5. Ngokwentetho yomprofeti, kwakungokuba babengazange balithobele ilizwi likaYehova baza bakwala ukulungiswa. Khangela uYeremiya 5:3. “Kuphelile ukuthembeka,” walila, “kunqumkile emlonyeni wabo.” “Kanti nengwamza ezulwini iyawazi amaxesha ayo amisiweyo; nehobe, nehlabankomo, nendwe ziligcinile ixesha lokufika kwazo; ke bona abantu bam abalazi isiko likaYehova.” “Mandingabaveleli na ke ngenxa yezo zinto” utsho uYehova; ungandiphindezeli na mphefumlo wam kuhlanga olunje? Yeremiya 7:28; 8:7; 9:9. AN 414.3
Ixesha lokuba kuhlolwe intliziyo ngokunzulu lalifikile. Ngexesha uYosiya wayengumlawuli wabo, abantu babe naso noko isizathu sokuba nethemba. Ngoku ke wayengasenakho ukubathethelela, kuba wayewile edabini. Izono zesizwe zazingangokuba ixesha lokuba bangathethelelwa lalise lidlula. “Kungafanelana kumi ooMoses noSamuweli phambi kwenu,” watsho uYehova, “umphefumlo wam ubungebheki kwaba bantu. Bagxothe ebusweni bam, baphume. Kuya kuthi, xa bathe kuwe, Siphume siye ngaphi na? Uthi kubo, Utsho uYehova ukuthi, Abokufa bafe; abekrele babe ngabekrele; abendlala babe ngabendlala; abokuthinjwa bathinjwe.” Yeremiya 15:1, 2. AN 415.1
Ukwala ukuphulaphula isimemo senceba uThixo awayeyinika ngoku kwakuza kuzisa phezu kohlanga olungazohlwayiyo izigwebo ezafikela ubukumkani bangasentla bakwaIsrayeli kwiinkulungwane zeminyaka ngaphambili. Isigidimi esaya kubo sathi: “Ukuba nithe anandiphulaphula, nihambe ngomyalelo wam, endiwubeke phambi kwenu, anawaphulaphula amazwi abakhonzi bam abaprofeti, endibathumela kuni, ndibathuma ndivuka kusasa, anaweva: ndoyenza le ndlu ibe njengeShilo, ndiwenze lo mzi ube yinto yokutshabhiswa ezintlangeni zonke zehlabathi.” Yeremiya 26:4-6. AN 415.2
Abo babemi entendelezweni yetempile bemamele intetho kaYeremiya, bakuqondangokucacileyookukubhekisa kuShilo, nakwixesha lemihla kaEli xa amaFilisti oyisa uIsrayeli aza emka netyeya yomnqophiso. AN 415.3
Isono sikaEli sasibandakanya ukungabufaki ngqondweni ubugwenxa boonyana bakhe bekwisikhundla esingcwele, nakububi obabukho kulo lonke ilizwe. Ukutyeshela kwakhe ukulungisa obu bubi kwazisa kuIsrayeli intlekele eyoyikekayo. Oonyana bakhe bawa edabini, uEli naye walahlekelwa bubomi bakhe, ityeya kaThixo yathatyathwa ezweni lakwaIsrayeli, amawaka angamashumi amathathu abantu babulawa—konke oko ngenxa yokuba kwavunyelwa isono ukuba siqhame ngaphandle kokuba singxolelwe sinqandwe. UIsrayeli wayecinga ngendlela ephuthileyo ethi, nangona kusenziwa izono, ubukho betyeya buya kuqinisekisa ukuba baya kuwoyisa amaFilisti. Ngokunjalo, ngexesha likaYeremiya, abemi bakwaYuda babenenkolo yokuba ukugcina ngqongqo iinkonzo ezingcwele zetempile ezimiselweyo kuya kubagcina ekohlwayweni ngenxa yekhondo labo elikhohlakeleyo. AN 416.1
Athi ubukhulu besifundo kubantu ababambe izikhundla zeemfanelo ezinkulu ebandleni likaThixo namhlanje! Athi ukundiliseka kwesilumkiso sokuphatha ngokuthembekileyo izenzo ezigwenxa ezizisa ukungahlonelwa emsebenzini wenyaniso! Makungabikho kwabo bathi bangabagcini bomthetho kaThixo abathi bazikhohlise ngelithi, ukuxabisa imithetho abanokubonakalisa ngaphandle kuyabakhonkxa [ukubanqanda] ekusebenziseni ubulungisa obungcwele. Mabangabikho abakwalayo ukuthethiswa ngenxa yobubi, bangabatyholi abakhonzi bakaThixo ngokuthi badlulisile kulangazelelo lokuzama ukuhlambulula inkampi [ibandla] ekwenziweni kobubi. UThixo osithiyileyo isono, ubiza abo bathi bagcina umthetho waKhe ukuba basuke kubo bonke ubugwenxa. Ukutyeshela ukuguquka nokuba nentumekelelo yokuthobela,kuya kuzisa phezukwamadoda nabafazi banamhlanjeiziphumo ezibi ezifana nezafika phezu kukaIsrayeli wakudala. Kukho umda ekungekhe kudlulwe kuwo ukulityaziswa kwezigwebo zikaYehova. Ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngemihla kaYeremiya kusisilumkiso esinendili kuIsrayeli wangoku, wokuba, amacebiso neziyalo azinikiweyo ngezixhobo ezinyuliweyo, zizinto ezingekhe zinganakwa kuze kungabikho kohlwaywa. AN 416.2
Isigidimi sikaYeremiya esiya kubabingeleli nakubantu savusa inkcaso kwabaninzi. Ngengxolo yokuchasa bakhwaza, bathi, “Yini na ukuba uprofete egameni likaYehova, usithi, Le ndlu iya kuba njengeShilo, lo mzi ube linxuwa, ungabi nabemi? Babizelwa ndawonye bonke abantu kuYeremiya endlwini kaYehova.” Yeremiya 26:9. Ababingeleli, abaprofeti bobuxoki, nabantu babuya banengqumbo ngakuye lowo wayengayi kuthetha izinto ezigudileyo okanye aprofete inkohliso. Sadelwa ngaloo ndlela isigidimi sikaThixo, waza umkhonzi waKhe wathenjiswa ngokufa. AN 417.1
Iindaba zamazwi kaYeremiya zasiwa kumadoda amakhulu akwaYuda, aza akhawuleza ukusuka kwibhotwe likakumkani ukuza etempileni, ukuze azivele ngokwawo ubunyaniso ngomcimbi. “Ababingeleli nabaprofeti bathetha kubathetheli nakubantu bonke, besithi, Le ndoda ifanelwe sisigwebo sokufa, ngokuba iprofete ngalo mzi, njengoko nikuvileyo ngeendlebe zenu.” Indima 11. Sekunjalo, uYeremiya wema waqina phambi kwamadoda amakhulu kunye nabantu, esithi: “UYehova undithume ukuba ndiprofete ngale ndlu nangalo mzi onke amazwi eniwavileyo. Kaloku ke, lungisani iindlela zenu neentlondi zenu, niliphulaphule ilizwi likaYehova uThixo wenu; wozohlwaya uYehova ngenxayobubi abuthethileyo ngani. Ke mna, yabonani, ndisesandleni senu; yenzani kum njengoko kulungileyo, kuthe tye, emehlweni enu. Kodwa ke yazini nazi oku: ukuba nithe nandibulala, inene, nobeka igazi elimsulwa phezu kwenu, naphezu kwalo mzi, naphezu kwabemi bawo; ngokuba, inyaniso, uYehova undithumele kuni, ukuba ndiwathethe la mazwi onke ezindlebeni zenu.” Iindima 12-15. AN 417.2
Ukuba umprofeti wayeye woyika ngenxa yezoyikiso zabo basegunyeni, isigidimi sakhe ngesasingazange saba nempumelelo, kwaye naye ngewalahlekana nobomi bakhe; kodwa, isibindi awasihambisa ngayo isilumkiso esinendili, wenza ukuba abantu bathobele, aza awajikela amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli ngakwicala lakhe. Abonisana nababingeleli kunye nabaprofeti bobuxoki, ebabonisa ubudenge bamanyathelo aqatha ababewaceba, aza amazwi awo aba nempembelelo ezingqondweni zabantu. Ngaloo ndlela uThixo waba uveza abakhuseli bomkhonzi waKhe. AN 418.1
Amadoda amakhulu nawo ahlanganyela ekuchaseni isigqibo sababingeleli ngokubhekiselele kwisiphelo sikaYeremiya. Bathetha ngomba kaMika, owaprofeta ngezigwebo phezu kweYerusalem, esithi, “IZiyon iya kulinywa ibe yintsimi, neYerusalem ibe yimiwewe, nentaba yendlu le ibe yimimango enehlathi.” Babuza besithi: “Bambulala na ke uHezekiya ukumkani wakwaYuda namaYuda onke? Akoyikanga uYehova na, wambongoza uYehova, waza uYehova wazohlwaya ngenxa yobubi abebuthethile ngabo? Thina ke, senze na ububi obukhulu kwimiphefumlo yethu?” Iindima 18, 19. AN 418.2
Ngokucenga kwala madoda anempembelelo, ubomi bomprofeti basindiswa, nangona kwabaninzi kubabingeleli nabaprofeti bobuxoki, Ngokungakwazi ukumelana neenyaniso ezibagweba awayezithetha, kwakuya kuba kuhle kubo ukumbona ebulawa kuba betyhola ngelithi uqhwaya imfazwe. AN 419.1
Kususela kwimini yokubizelwa kwakhe emsebenzini, uYeremiya wema phambi kukaYuda “njengenqaba” ingqumbo yomntu eyayingenakho ukuyichasa ize yoyise. “Balwe nawe,” uYehova wamlumkisa kwangaphambili umkhonzi waKhe, “bangabi nakukuthini; ngokuba ndinawe, ukuze ndikusindisemna, ndikuhlangule; utsho uYehova. Ndiya kukuhlangula esandleni sabangendawo, ndikukhulule ekubambeni kwabangcangcazelisayo.” Yeremiya 6:27; 15:20, 21. AN 419.2
Nanjengomntu owayeliphakuphaku nowayesoloko ezijongele phantsi, uYeremiya wayenqwenela ubomi obunoxolo nobuthuleyo bokuphumla, apho wayengadingi kubona kuqhubeka ukungazohlwayi kwesizwe sakhe asithandayo. Intliziyo yakhe yaba buhlungu kakhulu ngenxa yentshabalalo eyenziwa sisono. “Akwaba intloko yam ibingamanzi, amehlo am aba lithende leenyembezi;” walila, “bendiya kubalilela imini nobusuku ababuleweyo bentombi yabantu bakowethu! Akwaba bendinendawo yokulalisa kwabahambi entlango; bendiya kubashiya abantu bakowethu, ndimke kubo!” Yeremiya 9:1, 2. AN 420.1
Kwakukhohlakele ukugculelwa awabizelwa ukuba akunyamezele. Umphefumlo wakhe owawuchukumiseka wahlatyaniselwa ziintolo ezaziphoswa kuye ngabo babedelela izigidimi zakhe, bewenza into engento umthwalo wakhe wokubabizela enguqukweni. “Ndisuke ndayintlekisa kubantu bonke bakowethu.” watsho, “ndiyingoma yabo imini yonke.” “”Ndaba yintlekisa yonke imini; bonke bephela bayandigculela.” “Bonke abafo ababexolelene nam balinde ukuqhwalela kwam; bathi, Mhlawumbi angarhwebesheka, simeyise, simphindezele.” IZililo 3:14; Yeremiya 20:7, 10. AN 420.2
Sekunjalo, umprofeti othembikileyo womelezwa imihla yonke ukuba anyamezele. “Ke uYehova unam, njengegorha elingcangcazelisayo,” watsho ezaliswe lukholo; “ngenxa yoko baya kukhubeka abandisukelayo, abayi koyisa; baya kudana kakhulu, ngokuba bengenzanga ngengqiqo; ihlazo labo lingunaphakade, alinakulityalwa.” “Vumani kuYehova, mdumiseni uYehova, ngokuba ewuhlangule umphefumlo wehlwempu esandleni sabenzi bobubi.” Yeremiya 20:11, 13. AN 420.3
Amava awadlula kuwo uYeremiya ngemihla yobutsha bakhe nakwiminyaka yokukhula kwakhe emsebenzini wakhe, amfundisa isifundo sokuba, “ayikhona emntwini indlela yakhe; akukhona endodeni ehambayo ukuqiniseka ukunyathela kwayo.” Wafunda ukuthandaza, “Ndithethise, Yehova, kodwa kube ngokwesiko, kungabi ngomsindo wakho, hleze undinciphise.” Yeremiya 10:23, 24. AN 420.4
Akuba ebizelwe ukuba asele indebe yokungcungcutheka nentlungu, elingwe kwintlupheko yakhe ukuba athi, “Aphelile amandla am, nokulinda kwam kuYehova,” wakhumbula ukwazelelela kukaThixo ngenxa yakhe waza wathi ngoloyiso wadanduluka, “Kungeenceba zikaYehova le nto singagqityelwanga, ngokuba azipheli iimfesane zakhe. Zintsha imiso ngemiso, kukhulu ukuthembeka kwakhe. Isabelo sam nguYehova, utsho umphefumlo wam; ngenxa yoko ndilindele kuye. UYehova ulungile kwabathembele kuye, kumphefumlo wam; ngenxa yoko ndilindele kuye. Kulungile ukuba umntu alulindele, ethe cwaka, usindiso lukaYehova.” Izililo 3:18, 22-26. AN 421.1