33—Incwadi Yomthetho

Iimpembelelo ezizolileyo naxa zinamandla zasebenza ngezigidimi zabaprofeti ngokubhekiselele ekuthinjweni kwaseBhabheli zenza okukhulu ukulungisa indlela yohlaziyo olwenzekayo ngomnyaka weshumi elinesibhozo wolawulo lukaYosiya. Le ntshukumo yohlaziyo, nekwathi ngayo kwajikwa izigwebo ezazibonakala zisiza, yabakho ngendlela engalindelekanga konke ngokufunyanwa kufundwe inxenye yesiBhalo esiNgcwele esasineminyaka emininzi sibekwe kwindawo engeyiyo saza salahleka.AN 392.1

Phantse kwinkulungwane yangaphambili, ngexesha lePasika yokuqala eyenziwa nguHezekiya, wawenziwe umsindleko wokuba, yonke imihla kufundwe esidlangalaleni phambi kwabantu incwadi yomthetho ngababingeleli abafundisayo. Kwakusekugcinweni kwemimiselo eyayibhalwe nguMoses, ngakumbi leyo yayinikwe encwadini yomnqophiso, neyinxalenye yeDuteronomi, okwenza ukuba ukulawula kukaHezekiya kube yimpumelelo. UManase yena wayibekela bucala le mimiselo; kwathi ngexesha lolawulo lwakhe ikopi yasetempileni yencwadi yomthetho, ngokungakhathali nokutyeshelwa, yalahleka. Ngoko ke, iminyaka emininzi abantu jikelele baya bayivinjwa imfundiso yayo.AN 392.2

Incwadi eyalahleka kudala yafunyanwa etempileni nguHilkiya, umbingeleli omkhulu, ngexesha isakhiwo sasilungiswa ngokubanzi ngokuhambelana necebo likaKumkani Yosiya lokugcina isakhiwo esingcwele. Umbingeleli omkhulu wawugqithisela umqulu oxabisekileyo kuShafan, umbhali ofunde kakhulu, nowaya wawufunda waza wawusa kukumkani kwanebali lokufunyanwa kwawo.AN 393.1

UYosiya wakhathazeka kakhulu akuva kufundwa okokuqala izibongozo neziyalo ezazibhalwe kulo mqulu wakudala. Akazange wakha wayiqonda ngokupheleleyo indlela okucace ngayo oko uThixo wayekubeke phambi kukaIsrayeli, “ubomi nokufa, intsikelelo nesiqalekiso” (Duteronomi 30:19): nendlela ekwaphindaphindwa ngayo ukubakhuthaza ukuba banyule indlela yobomi, ukuze babeligugu emhlabeni, intsikelelo kuzo zonke izizwe. “Yomelelani nikhaliphe: musani ukoyika, musani ukungcangcazela” uIsrayeli wayalelwa ngoMoses: “ngokuba nguYehova uThixo wakho ohamba nawe; akayi kukuyekela, akayi kukushiya.” Duteronomi 31:6.AN 393.2

Incwadi yayizele ziziqinisekiso zentumekelelo kaThixo ukusindisa ngokupheleleyo abo babeya kubeka ithemba labo ngokupheleleyo kuYe. Njengoko wenzayo ekubahlanguleni kubukhoboka baseYiputa, ubeya kwenza njalo ukusebenza ngamandla ekubakheni eZweni leDinga nasekubabekeni babe yintloko kwizizwe zomhlaba.AN 393.3

Iinkuthazo ezanikwa njengomvuzo wokuthobela zazikhatshwa ziziprofeto zokugwetywakwabobangathobeliyo; waza wathi ukumkani akuweva amazwi aphefumlelweyo, waqonda, ngomfanekiso obekwe phambi kwakhe, iimeko ezazifana nezo zazikho ebukumkanini bakhe. Ngokuhlangene nemizobo yesiprofeto sokumka kuThixo, wothuswa kukufumana iintetho ezicacileyo ezibonisa ukuba imini yentlekele yayiza kulandela ngokukhawuleza nokuba kwakungasayi kubakho mathunga. Intetho yayicacile; kwakungekho kuyiphazama into ayithethayo amazwi. Kwathi ekupheleni komqulu, kwisishwankathelo sokuphatha kukaThixo uIsrayeli, nokuphindwa kweziganeko zexesha elizayo, le micimbi yacaciswa ngokuphindiweyo. Ezindlebeni zikaIsrayeli wonke, uMoses wayethe:AN 394.1

“Bekani indlebe, mazulu, ndithethe;
Live ihlabathi amazwi omlomo wam;
Ichaphaze njengemvula imfundiso yam,
Ihle njengombethe intetho yam,
Njengomkhumezelo phezu kohlaza,
Njengamathontsi phezu kotyani.
Ngokuba ndiya kuvakalisa igama likaYehova:
Mnikeni ubukhulu uThixo wethu!
NguLiwa; ugqibele umsebenzi wakhe,
Ngokuba zonke iindlela zakhe zisesikweni;
NguThixo wentembeko, tu ubugqwetha;
Lilungisa, uthe tye yena.”AN 394.2

Duteronomi 32:1-4

“Khumbula iimini zasephakadeni,
Qonda iminyaka yezizukulwana ngezizukulwana.
Buza kooyihlo, bakubalisele,
Kumadoda amakhulu akowenu, akuxelele.
Ekuzabeleni kOsenyangweni iintlanga ilifa,
Ekubahlulahluleni kwakhe oonyana baka-Adam,
Wayimisa imida yezizwe
Ngokwenani loonyana bakaIsrayeli.
Kuba isabelo sikaYehova ngabantu bakhe,
UYakobi licandelo lelifa lakhe.
Wamfumana ezweni eliyintlango,
Enyanyeni, enkangala ebhombolozayo,
Wamlondoloza njengokhozo lweliso lakhe.”AN 394.3

Iindima 7-10.

Kodwa uIsrayeli “wamlahla uThixo owamenzayo,
Walenza isidenge iLiwa lokusindiswa kwakhe.
Bamkhweletisa ngoothixo basemzini,
Bamqumbisa ngamasikizi.
Babingelela kwiidemon ezingeThixo,
Koothixo abangabaziyo,
Kwabatsha abasandula ukufika,
Ababengabahlonele ooyihlo.
ILiwa elakuzalayo walihilizela,
Wamlibala uThixo owaba nenimba ngawe.

“Wabona uYehova, wabalahla,
Ngokuqunjiswa ngoonyana bakhe
neentombi zakhe.
Wathi, Ndiya kubusithelisa ubuso bam kubo,
Ndibone ukuba koba yintoni na
ukuphela kwabo;
Ngokuba basisizukulwana sempenduka,
Ngoonyana abangenantembeko.
Bona bandikhweletisa ngongeThixo,
Bandiqumbisa ngamampunge abo.
Nam ndiya kubakhweletisa ngabangebantu,
Ndibaqumbise ngohlanga olunobudenge.”

“Ndiya kufumba ububi phezu kwabo,
Iintolo zam ndiziphelelisele kubo;
Omakhanywa kukulamba,
Omadliwa kukurhala,
Nembubhiso ekrakra.”

“Ngokuba luhlanga oluphelelwe ngamacebo, , ,
Tu ingqondo kubo. ,
Akwaba babelumkile; ngebekuqiqa oku,
Basiqonde isiphelo sabo.AN 395.1

Yo! Ebengayi kuthi na emnye kubo
asukele iwaka,
Bebabini bagxothe amawaka alishumi,
Ukuba belingathengisanga ngabo iLiwa labo,
Wabanikela uYehova?
Kuba alinjengeLiwa lethu iliwa lazo,
Iintshaba zethu zingabagwebi boko.”

“Oko akubekwe kum na,
Kwavingcelwa koovimba bam?
Yeyam impindezelo nembuyekezo
Ngexesha lokutyibilika konyawo lwabo;
Ngokuba usondele umhla wokusindeka kwabo,
Kuyakhawuleza abakumiselweyo.”AN 396.1

Iindima 15-21, 23, 24, 28-31, 34, 35.

Ezi ndawo, kunye nezinye ezifana nazo, zamtyhilela uYosiya uthando lukaThixo ngakubantu baKhe kwakunye nokusithiya kwaKhe isono. Wathi ukumkani akufunda iziprofeto zogwebo olukhawulezileyo kwabo baqhubeka novukelo, wangcangcazela ngenxa yexesha elizayo. Ubugwenxa bukaYuda baye bubukhulu; sasiza kuba yintoni ke ngoko isiphumo sokuqhubeka nokreqo lwabo?AN 396.2

Kwiminyaka yangaphambili, ukumkani wayengemntu ungakhathaliyo ngenxa yonqulo lwezithixo olugqubayo. “Ngomnyaka wesibhozo wobukumkani bakhe, esemncinane,” wayezinikele ngokupheleleyo emsebenzini kaThixo. Kwiminyaka emine kamva, eneminyaka engamashumi amabini, wayesenze amalinge okususa isihendo kubantu bakhe ngokuhlambulula “amaYuda neYerusalem, kwiziganga, nooAshera, nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo netyhidiweyo. Badiliza phambi kwakhe izibingelelo zooBhahali, neentsika zelanga ezibe ziphezu kwazo, wazigawula; ooAshera nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo netyhidiweyo wayaphula, wayicola yaluthuli, wayisasaza phezu kwamangcwaba abo babebingelele kuyo.Wawatshisa amathambo ababingeleli phezu kwezibingelelo zabo, wawahlambulula ke amaYuda neYerusalem.” 2 IZikronike 34:3-5.AN 397.1

Wathi ngokunganeli kukwenza umsebenzi ocokisekileyo elizweni lakwaYuda [kuphela], lo mlawuli uselula wayandisa imizamo yakhe yayakufikelela kwiindawo zasePalestina ezazimiwe zizizwe ezilishumi zakwaIsrayeli ngaphambili, nekwakusasele ibathwana elibuthakathaka kuphela. Ingxelo iqhuba ithi, wenza njalo “nasemizini yakwaManase neyakwaEfrayim neyakwaSimon, kwesa kweyakwaNafetali.” Akazange ayeke ade abe uwutyhutyhe ubude nobubanzi ummandla omizi itshatyalalisiweyo, “wazidiliza izibingelelo, wabaqoba ooAshera nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo, wayicola yaluthuli; wazigawula zonke iintsika zelanga ezweni lonke lakwaIsrayeli, wabuyela eYerusalem.” Iindima 6, 7.AN 397.2

Ngolo hlobo, kususela ekungeneni kwakhe ebudodeni, uYosiya wazama ukusisebenzisa ngendlela isikhundla sakhe njengokumkani ekuphakamiseni imithetho-siseko yomthetho ongcwele kaThixo. Ngeli xesha, lo gama uShafan, umbhali, wayemfundela incwadi yomthetho, ukumkani wabona kulo mqulu indyebo yolwazi, ulwalamano olunamandla, emsebenzini wohlaziyo awayelangazelela kakhulu ukubona usenzeka elizweni. Wagqiba ukuba ahambe ekukhanyeni kwamacebiso awo, nokuthi enze konke okusemandleni akhe ukuqhelanisa abantu bakhe neemfundiso zawo nokuba abakhokele, ukuba kunokwenzeka, ekukhuliseni intlonipho nokuwuthanda umthetho wezulu.AN 398.1

Phofu, ingaba oku kwakunakho ukuzisa uhlaziyo oludingekayo? UIsrayeli wayephantse ukufikelela emaphethelweni okunyamezela kwezulu; kungekudala uThixo wayeza kusuka abohlwaye abo babezisa ukungahlonelwa kwegama laKhe. Phofu, umsindo kaYehova wawusele uphenjiwe ngasebantwini. Egutyungelwe lusizi nokukhwankqiswa, uYosiya wazikrazula iingubo zakhe waguqa phambi kukaThixo esentlungwini yomoya, efuna ukuxolelwa kwezono zesizwe esingazohlwayiyo.AN 398.2

Ngelo xesha, umprofetikazi uHulda wayehlala eYerusalem, kufuphi netempile. Ingqondo kakumkani yazaliswa kukungonwabi okunexhala, wabuyela kuye, wazimisela ukubuza kuYehova ngalo mthunywa unyuliweyo, ukuze azi, ukuba kunokwenzeka, nokuba kungaziphi iindlela ezisemandleni akhe, ukuba asindise uYuda owonayo, nosemngciphekweni wentshabalalo ngoku.AN 398.3

Ubunzima bemeko nendlela awayemxabise ngayo umprofetikazi, yamkhokelela ekubeni akhethe, njengabathunywa bakhe abaya kuye, amadoda aphambili ebukumkanini. “Yiyani,” wabayalela “nibuzise kuYehova ngenxa yam, nangenxa yabantu, nangenxa yamaYuda onke, malunga namazwi ale ncwadi ifunyenweyo; ngokuba bukhulu ubushushu bukaYehova esibaselwe bona, ngenxa enokuba oobawo bengawaphulaphulanga amazwi ale ncwadi, ukuba benze njengako konke okubhaliweyo kuyo ngathi.” 2 Kumkani 22:13.AN 399.1

NgoHulda, uYehova wamthumela ilizwi uYosiya elithi intshabalalo yeYerusalelm ayinakho ukujikwa. Nokuba abantu ngoku bangazithoba phambi kukaThixo, abanakho ukukuphepha ukohlwaywa kwabo. Iingqondo zabo zasezife ixesha elide kangangoku, ukuba ukohlwaywa akunakuza phezu kwabo, bangakhawuleza ukubuyela kwikhondo labo elinye lesono. “Nothi kuloo ndoda inithumileyo kum,” watsho umprofetikazi, “Utsho uYehova ukuthi, Yabona, ndiyizisela ububi le ndawo nabemi bayo, onke amazwi encwadi ayilesileyo ukumkani wakwaYuda. Ngethuba lokuba bendishiyile mna, baqhumisela thixweni bambi, ukuba bandiqumbise ngomsebenzi wonke wezandla zabo, yothi le ndawo ibaselwe ubushushu bam, bungacinywa.” Iindima 15-17.AN 399.2

Kwathi kuba ukumkani wayithoba intliziyo yakhe phambi kukaThixo, uYehova wakuvuma ukukhawuleza kwakhe ukucela ukuxolelwa nenceba. “Kuye kwathunyelwa isigidimi: “Ngokuba ibithambile intliziyo yakho, wazithoba phambi koYehova, ekukuveni kwakho endikuthethileyo ngale ndawo, nangabemi bayo, ukuba beya kuba ziimpanza nesiqalekiso, wazikrazula iingubo zakho, walila phambi kwam, nam ndikuvile; utsho uYehova. Ngako oko, uyabona, ndiya kukuhlanganisela kooyihlo, uhlanganiselwe engcwabeni lakho unoxolo, angabuboni amehlo akho bonke ububi endibuzisela le ndawo.” Iindima 19, 20.AN 399.3

Ukumkani kufuneka aziyekele kuThixo iziganeko zexesha elizayo; wayengenakho ukuyijika imithetho engunaphakade kaYehova. Kona ekuvakaliseni izohlwayo zeZulu eziyimpindezelo, uYehova wayengalirhoxisanga ithuba lokuguquka nokuhlaziywa; waza uYosiya, ebona kuko konke oku intumekelelo kwicala likaThixo lokuzisebenza izigwebo zaKhe ngenceba, wazimisela ukwenza konke okusemandleni akhe, ukuzisa iinguqu ezibonakalayo. Ngokukhawuleza walungiselela umhlangano omkhulu, apho wayememele khona amadoda amakhulu nabagwebi baseYerusalem nakwaYuda, kunye nabantu jikelele. Aba, kunye nababingeleli nabaLevi, bahlangana nokumkani entendelezweni yetempile.AN 400.1

Kwesi sihlwele sentlangano, ukumkani wawafunda “onke amazwi encwadi yomnqophiso eyafunyanwa endlwini kaYehova.” 2 Kumkani 23:2. Umfundi wakomkhulu wachukumiseka kakhulu, wasinika isigidimi sakhe ngovakalelo yentliziyo eyaphukileyo. Abo bamphulaphuleyo bachukumiseka ngokungathethekiyo. Ubunzima bemvakalelo obabubonakala enkangelekweni kakumkani, ukuzuka kwesigidimi ngokwaso, isilumkiso ngezigwebo ezilindelekileyo—konke oku kwabanegalelo lako, baza abaninzi bazimanya nokumkani ekufuneni uxolelo.AN 400.2

Ngoku uYosiya waceba ukuba abo baphezulu egunyeni bazimanye nabantu ekunqophiseni ngokunendili phambi kukaThixo ukuba bahlangane omnye nomnye kwilinge lokumisela iinguquko ezipheleleyo. “Wema ukumkaniphezu kwendawoephakamileyo, wenza umnqophiso phambikoYehova wokulandelauYehova, nokugcina imithetho yaKhe, nezingqino zakhe, nemimiselo yakhe, ngentliziyo yonke nangomphefumlo wonke, nokuwamisa onke amazwi alo mnqophiso abhaliweyo kule ncwadi.” Ukusabela kwakunentliziyo kakhulu ukudlula oko ukumkani wayekulindele: “Bema ke bonke abantu emnqophisweni lowo.” Indima 3.AN 400.3

Kuhlaziyo olwalandelayo, ukumkani wayijika ingqalelo yakhe wayikhangelisa ekutshabalaliseni konke okwakusasele kunqulo lwezithixo. Kwakuse kulixesha elide kakhulu abemi belizwe belandela amasiko ezizwe ezibajikelezileyo ngokuguqa kwimifanekiso yemithi namatye, kwada kwabonakala ngokungathi kungaphezu kwamandla omntu ukuzisusa ezi zinto zimbi. Sekunjalo, uYosiya wazingisa kwilinge lakhe lokuwuhlambulula umhlaba. Ngokungqongqo, wahlangabezana nonqulo lwezithixo ngokubulala “bonke ababingeleli beziganga;” “kananjalo ke abaneshologu, noosiyazi, nemilonde-khaya, nezigodo ezizizithixo, neento zonke ezinezothe, ezibe zibonwa ezweni lakwaYuda naseYerusalem, wazitshayela uYosiya, ukuze amise amazwi omyalelo abhaliweyo encwadini abeyifumene uHilekiya umbingeleli endlwini kaYehova.” Iindima 20, 24.AN 401.1

Ngemihla yokukrazuka kobukumkani, kwiinkulungwane zangaphambili, xa uYarobheham unyana kaNebhati, ngokudelela kakhulu uThixo owayekhonzwa nguIsrayeli, wayezama ukubuyisela iintliziyo zabantu kude neenkonzo zetempile eseYerusalem ukuba ziye kwiindlela ezintsha zonqulo, wamisa isibingelelo esingangcwaliswanga eBheteli. Ngexesha lokunikelwa kwesi sibingelelo, apho kwathi kwiminyaka emininzi eyalandelayo,kwakuza kubakho ukutsalelwa kwizenzo zonqulo lwezithixo ulahlekiso, kwavela ngesiquphe umfo wakwaThixo ephuma kwaYuda, enamazwi okugweba iinkqubo ezihlambelayo. “Wankqangaza esibingelelweni,” wathi:AN 401.2

“Sibingelelo, sibingelelo! Utsho uYehova ukuthi, Uyabona, kuya kuzalwa unyana kwindlu kaDavide, ogama linguYosiya; oya kubabingelela phezu kwakho lo ababingeleli beziganga, abaqhumisela phezu kwakho, kutshiswe amathambo abantu phezu kwakho.” 1 Kumkani 13:2. Esi saziso sasikhatshwa ngumqondiso wokuba ilizwi elithethiweyo lelikaYehova.AN 402.1

Iinkulungwane ezintathu zazidlule. Ngexesha lohlaziyo olwenziwa nguYosiya, ukumkani wazimisela eBheteli, apho kwakumi khona isibingelelo sakudala. Isiprofeto esasithethwe kwiminyaka emininzi ngaphambi kukaYarobheham, ngoku sasizaliseka emehlweni.AN 402.2

“Kananjalo isibingelelo esibe siseBheteli, isiganga awasenzayo uYarobheham, unyana kaNebhati, owawonisayo amaIsrayeli, eso sibingelelo neso siganga wasidiliza; wasitshisa isiganga, wasicola saluthuli; wamtshisa uAshera.AN 402.3

“Wabheka uYosiya, wawabona amangcwaba abekhona entabeni, wathumela, wawathabatha amathambo emangcwabeni lawo, wawatshisela phezu kwesibingelelo, wasenza inqambi ngokwelizwi likaYehova, awalimemezayo umfo wakwaThixo, owawamemezayo la mazwi.AN 402.4

“Wathi, Lelani na elaa litye lithe nkqampu ndilibonayo? Athi kuye amadoda aloo mzi, Lingcwaba lomfo wakwaThixo, owavela kwaYuda, wamemeza ezi zinto uzenzileyo kwisibingelelo saseBheteli. Wathi, Myekeni; makangashukunyiswa mntu amathambo akhe. Bawasindisa amathambo akhe, namathambo omprofeti owavela kwaSamari.” 2 Kumkani 23:15-18.AN 402.5

Kumathambeka entaba yeMinquma, ajongene netempile entlekaYehova phezukwentabayeMoriya, kwakukho iziganga nemifanekiso eyayibekwe apho nguSolomon ukukholisa abafazi bakhe ababengabanquli bezithixo. Khangela ku-1 Kumkani 11:6-8. Ngaphezu kweenkulungwane ezintathu, imifanekiso eyayise isiwa yayimi kwi“Ntaba yokuBetheka,” ingamangqina azizimumu okreqo loyena kumkani owayelumkile kwaIsrayeli. Nayo le, yasuswa yatshatyalaliswa nguYosiya.AN 405.1

Ukumkani wafuna, ngaphezu koko, ukumilisela ukholo lwakwaYuda kuThixo wooyise ngokubamba isidlo esikhulu sePasika, ngokuhambelana nemiyalelo ebhalwe encwadini yomthetho. Amalungiselelo enziwa ngabo babejongene neenkonzo ezingcwele, kwaza kwathi ngemini enkulu yesidlo, iminikelo yenziwa ngokuqhutywa yintliziyo. “Bekungazanga kwenziwe pasika ngokwale pasika, kususela kwimihla yabagwebi ababelawula amaIsrayeli, nookumkani bakwaYuda.” 2 Kumkani 23:22. Sekunjalo, inzondelelo kaYosiya, yamkelekile injalo kuThixo, yayingenakho ukucamagushela izono zezizukulwana ezadlulayo; kwaye bungenakho nobungcwele obabonakalaliswa ngabalandeli bakakumkani ukuzisa utshintsho entliziyweni yabaninzi abaya bala ngenkani ukubuya ekunquleni kwabo izithixo beze ekunquleni uThixo oyinyaniso.AN 405.2

Ngaphezu kwenkulungwane emva kokonwatyelwa kwePasika, uYosiya waqhubeka elawula. Wathi xa aminyaka imashumi alithoba, wafa kungquzulwano nemikhosi yaseYiputa, “wangcwatyelwa emangcwabeni ooyise.” “Onke amaYuda neYerusalem amenzela isijwili uYosiya; zathetha zonke iimvumi neemvumikazi ezimbononweni zazo ngoYosiya unanamhla. Bazenza ummiselo kwaIsrayeli; nanzo zibhaliwe ezimbononweni.” 2 IZikronike 35:24, 25. Ngokufana noYosiya, “ngaphambi kwaKhe akubangakho kumkani unjengaye, ubuyeleyo kuYehova ngentliziyo yakhe yonke, nangomphefumlo wakhe wonke, nangamandla akhe onke, ngokomyalelo wonke kaMoses; nangasemva kwakhe akuvelanga unjengaye. Akabuyanga noko uYehova ekuvutheni komsindo wakhe omkhulu, . . . ngenxa yokuqumbisa konke abequmbise ngako uManase.” 2 Kumkani 23:25, 26. Ixesha lalise lisondele ngokukhawuleza xa iYerusalem yayiza kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo baze abemi belizwe bathatyathelwe ekuthinjweni eBhabheli, apho babeza kuthi bafunde khona izifundo abalayo ukuzifunda phantsi kweemeko ezazibalungele kakhulu.AN 406.1