46—“Abaprofeti BakaThixo Bencedisana Nabo”

Kufutshane kumaIsrayeli awayezimisele kumsebenzi wokwakha ngokutsha itempile, kwakuhlala amaSamariya, umxube wohlanga olwabakho ngokwendiselana kwabathabathi belizwe abangabentlanga kwimimandla yeAsiriya kunye namasalela ezizwe ezilishumi awayesele kwaSamari naseGalili. Kwiminyaka elandelayo, amaSamari abanga ukuba anqula uThixo oyinyaniso, kodwa entliziyweni nasekwenzeni ayengabanquli bezithixo. Kuyinyaniso ukuba ayesithi, izithixo zawo zazikho nje ukuba ziwakhumbuze ngoThixo ophilileyo, uMlawuli wezwe lonke; nangona kunjalo, abantu babekekelele ekunikeni imbeko imifanekiso eqingqiweyo.AN 567.1

Ngexesha lokubuyiselwa, la maSamari aya aziwa ngokuba “[nga]babandezeli bamaYuda nabamaBhenjamin.” Athi akuva ukuba “oonyana basemfudusweni bamakhela itempile uYehova uThixo wakwaIsrayeli, beza kuZerubhabheli, nakwiintloko zezindlu zooyise,” bathetha ngolangazelelo lwabo lokuzimanya kunye nabo ekwakhiweni kwayo. “Masakhenani,“bacela,“ngokubasiquqela uThixo wenunjengani; sibingelela kuye kususelakwimihlakaEsar-hadon, ukumkani waseAsiriya, owasinyusela apha.” Baya balalelwa ilungelo ababelicela. “Anithe ni nathi ekumakheleni uThixo wethu indlu,” zatsho iinkokeli zamaIsrayeli; “somakhela sedwa uYehova, uThixo wakwaIsrayeli, njengoko wasiwisela umthetho ngako ukumkani onguKoreshi, ukumkani wamaPersi.” Ezra 4:1-3.AN 567.2

Yaba yintsalela kuphela eyakhetha ukubuya eBhabheli; kwathi ngoku, xa beqalise ukwenza umsebenzi okhangeleka ungaphezu kwamandla abo, abona bamelwane bakufutshane beza bacela ukunceda. AmaSamariya athetha ngokunqula kwawo uThixo wenyaniso, avakalisa ulangazelelo lokwabelana ngamalungelo neentsikelelo ezihambelana nenkonzo yetempile. “Siquqela uThixo wenu njengani,” atsho, “Masakhe nani.” Ukuba iinkokheli zakwaYuda zaziye zasamkela isipho soncedo, zaziya kuba zivule ucango lokungena konqulo lwezithixo. Zaya zakuqonda ukunganyaniseki kwamaSamari. Zaqonda ukuba uncedo lwala madoda aluyi kuba nto xa luthelekiswa nentsikelelo ayelindele ukuyifumana ngokulandela umyalelo ocacileyo kaYehova.AN 568.1

Ngokubhekiselele kulwalamano ekwakufuneka elugcinile uIsrayeli nezizwe ezazibajikelezile, uYehova wayethethe wathi ngoMoses: “Ungenzi mnqophiso nazo, ungazisizeli. Uze ungendiselani nazo, . . . kuba yomtyekisa unyana wakho angandilandeli, bakhonze thixo bambi, uvuthe umsindo kaYehova kuni, akutshabalalise kamsinya.”AN 568.2

“Ningabantuabangcwele kuYehovauThixowenu;uYehova uninyuleleukuba nibe ngabantu abayinqobo kuye, ezizweni zonke eziphezu komhlaba.” Duteronomi 7:2-4; 14:2.AN 568.3

Isiqhamo esasiza kulandela ukungena kubudlelwane bomnqophiso nezizwe ezingqongileyo saxelwa ngokuphandle kwangaphambili. “Aniphangalalise uYehova phakathi kwezizwe zonke, ethabathela esiphelweni sehlabathi, ase esiphelweni sehlabathi;” wavakalisa uMoses; “ukhonze thixo bambi khona ongabazanga wena nooyihlo, imithi namatye. Phakathi kwezo ntlanga akusayi kunyhamnyheka, ayisayi kuba nakuphumla intende yonyawo lwakho; uYehova wokunika apho ukugungqa kwentliziyo, nokuphela kwamehlo, nokuthiswa [bandezeleka] komphefumlo. Ubomi bakho bojinga ngomsonto phambi kwakho, unkwantye ubusuku nemini, ungakholwa bubomi bakho; kusasa wothi, Akwaba bekungokuhlwa! Ngokuhlwa wothi, Akwaba bekukusasa! Ngenxa yokunkwantya kwentliziyo yakho oya kunkwantya ngako, nangenxa yokubona aya kukubona amehlo akho.” Duteronomi 28:64-67. “Eningathi nimfune khona uYehova uThixo wenu,” isithembiso sasisithi, “nimfumane, xa nithe naquqela kuye ngentliziyo yenu yonke nangomphefumlo wenu wonke.” Duteronomi 4:29.AN 569.1

UZerubhabheli namahlakani akhe babeqhelene nale kunye neminye imibhalo; kwaye koku kufuduswa kwangoku babe nobungqina phezu kobungqina bokuzaliseka kwazo. Ngoku ke, njengoko babeguqukile kububi babo obabubazisele bona nooyise izigwebo ezazixelwe ngenx’ engaphambili ngokucacileyo ngoMoses; bakuba bebuyele ngentliziyoyabo yonke kuThixo, bawuhlaziya umnqophisowabo wolwalamano kunye naYe, baya bavunyelwa ukuba babuyele kwaYuda, ukuze babuyisele oko kwakutshatyalalisiwe. Ingaba kwakufuneka ukuba, kwasekuqalekeni kwephulo labo, bangene kumnqophiso nabanquli bezithixo?AN 569.2

“Ungenzi mnqophiso nazo,” wayetshilo uThixo; kwaye abo babesanda ukuzinikela ngokutsha kuYehova esibingelelweni esimiselwe phambi kweendonga zetempile yaKhe, baqonda ukuba umda wokwahlula phakathi kwabantu baKhe nehlabathi uhlala ugcinwe ucace ngokungenako ukuphazanywa. Bala ukungena kwisivumelwano nabo bathi, nangona beqhelene nokufunwa ngumthetho kaThixo, kodwa abafuna ukuziyekela kumabango awo.AN 570.1

Imithetho-siseko emiselwe kuDuteronomi ukuba ifundwe nguIsrayeli kufuneka ilandelwe ngabantu bakaThixo kuse ekupheleni kwexesha. Impumelelo yenene ixhomekeke ekuqhubekeni kolwalamano lwethu lomnqophiso kunye noThixo. Asisayi kuze sikwazi ukuyekelela umthetho-siseko ngokungena kwisivumelwano nabo bangamoyikiyo uThixo.AN 570.2

Kukho ingozi ezingileyo yokuba, abo bazibiza ngoKristu bacinge ukuba, ukuze babe nempembelelo nabantu behlabathi, kufuneka bavumelane kangangoko nehlabathi. Nokuba ke ikhondo elinjalo linokubonakala lizisa okuninzi okuhle, ngamaxesha onke liphela ekulahlekeni komoya. Kufuneka abantu bakaThixo bazilinde kakhulu ngakwimpembelelo erhubuluzayo ezama ukungena ngezicengo ezikhohlisayo ezivela kutshaba lwenyaniso. Bangabaphambukeli nabasemzini kweli lizwe, behamba indlela ezele yingozi. Kumaqhinga emveli nezicengo ezinomtsalane ezinikwayo ukubalingela ekuvumelaneni, kufuneka bangavumi.AN 570.3

Asizizo iintshabaezisekuhleninezithetha phandle ngomsebenzi kaThixo ezona zimelwe kukoyikwa. Ngabo bathi, njengabachasi bakaYuda noBhenjamin, baze ngamazwi agudileyo neentetho ezintle, bekhangeleka befuna ulwalamano lobuhlobo nabantwana bakaThixo, abanamandla amakhulu okukhohlisa. Kwabanjalo, wonke umphefumlo kufuneka usoloko uvundlile, hleze kuthi, ngomgibe ofihlwe ngobunono nangobuchule ubanjiswe ungalindelanga. Kude kuthi khona namhlanje, xa imbali yehlabathi isongwa, iNkosi ifuna kubantwana baYo ukuphaphama okungawuthobiyo umxakatho. Kuthi ke kodwa kuba idabi lilelingapheliyo, kungabikho namnye oshiywa ukuba alwe yedwa. Iingelosi ziyanceda zikhusele abo bahamba ngokuthobeka phambi kukaThixo. Ayisayi kuze iNkosi yethu imngcatshe lowo uthembele kuYo. Njengoko abantwana baYo besondela kuYo ukuba bafumane inkuseleko ebubini, ngemfesane nothando, ubaphakamisela ibhanile ekulweni notshaba. Ningabachukumisi, utsho; kuba bangabaM; ndibavambile ezintendeni zezandla zaM.AN 571.1

Bengadinwa kwinkcaso yabo, abaseSamariya “[babaphelisa] amandla abantu bakwaYuda, beboyikisa ekwakheni; bebaqeshela amagqwetha, ukuba alitshitshise iqhinga labo, yonke imihla kaKoreshi ukumkani wamaPersi, kwada kwezisa ebukumkanini bukaDariyo.” Ezra 4:4, 5. Ngeengxelo ezibubuxoki, bavusa ukukrokra ezingqondweni ezikhokelelwa ekukrokreni ngokulula. Sekunjalo, okweminyaka emininzi amagunya obubi abhekeliswa, baza abantu bezwe lakwaYuda banenkululeko yokuqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo.AN 571.2

Lo gama uSathana wayezamana nokuphembelela awona magunya aphezulu obukumkani baseMedo-Persi ukuba abonise ukungabathandi abantu bakaThixo, iingelosi zona zazisebenza kunye nabafuduswa. Imbambano yile lonke izulu lalinomdla kuyo. Ngomprofeti uDaniyeli, sikrotyiswe kwelidabilikhuluphakathi kwemikhosi yokulunga nemikhosi yobubi. Kwaba ziiveki ezintathu uGabriyeli esilwa namagunya obumnyama, ezama ukuthintela iimpembelelo ezisebenzayo engqondweni kaKoreshi; kwathi phambi kokuba iphele impikiswano, uKristu ngokwaKhe weza ukuba amncede uGabriyeli. “Ke umthetheli wobukumkani bamaPersi wamelana nam imihla engamashumi amabini anamanye,” watsho uGabriyeli; “uyabona, uMikayeli, omnye wakubathetheli abaziintloko, weza kundinceda; mna ndamoyisa khona, kookumkani bamaPersi.” Daniyeli 10:13. Into ekuphela kwayo eyayinokwenziwa lizulu ngenxa yabantu bakaThixo, yenziwa. Ekugqibeleni uloyiso lwazuzwa; imikhosi yotshaba yabuyiswa umva yonke imihla kaKoreshi, nayo yonke imihla yonyana wakhe uCAMBYSES, owalawula iminyaka esixhenxe enesiqingatha.AN 571.3

Eli yayilixesha lamathuba amangalisayo kumaYuda. Ezona zenzeleli ziphezulu ezulwini zazisebenza ezintliziyweni zookumkani, kwaye kwakukokwabantu bakaThixo ukusebenza ngeyona nkuthalo inkulu ukwenza umthetho kaKoreshi. Kwakufuneka bengachithanga mizamo ukubiyisela itempile neenkonzo zayo, nokumilisela ngokutsha emakhayeni abo aseYudeya. Kwathi kodwa, ngemini yamandla kaThixo, abaninzi bafumaneka bengenayo intumekelelo. Inkcaso yeentshaba zabo yayinamandla izimisele, kwaza kwathi kancinane, abakhi baphelelwa kukuqina. Abanye babengakwazi ukulibala umboniso wamhla kwakubekwa ilitye lembombo, xa abaninzi babebonakalalise ukuphelelwa kwabo lithemba kwiphulo. Kwathi xa amaSamariya eya ngokuba nesibindi ngakumbi, abaninzi kumaYuda bakuthandabuza ukuba, kakade ixesha lalifikile ukuba kuphinde kwakhiwe. Loo mvakalelo yakhawuleza yasasazeka. Abaninzi kubasebenzi, betyhafile bephuke umoya, babuyela kumakhaya abo baya kwenza eminye imisebenzi yobomi.AN 572.1

Ngexesha lokulawula kukaCAMBYSES umsebenzi wokwakha itempile wawuhambakancinane.Kwathingexeshalokulawula kukaSmerdis wobuxoki, (obizwengokuthi nguArtashashta kuEzra 4:7), amaSamariya alinyanzela elo bhedengu lingenasazela ukuba likhuphe umthetho owalela amaYuda ukuba ayakhe ngokutsha itempile nesixeko.AN 573.1

Kwaba lithuba elingaphezu komnyaka itempile ingakhathalelwanga ikufuphi ekushiyweni. Abantu bahlala emakhayeni abo bazama ukuzuza impumelelo yasemhlabeni, kodwa imeko yabo yayimbi. Nangona babesebenza kangangoko, kodwa abazange baphumelele. Kwaiimeko ezi zendalo zabonakala ngathi zilwa nabo. Ngenxa yokuba bayiyeka itempile ilinxuwa, uYehova wakwenza abanako ukuba konakaliswe yimbalela. UThixo wayebanike iziqhamo zamasimi nezitiya, umbona newayini kunye neoli, njengezibonakaliso zothando lwaKhe; kodwa kuba bazisebenzisa ezi zipho zininzi ngendlela engeyiyo, zaya zasuswa iintsikelelo.AN 573.2

Zazinjalo iimeko ezazikho ngexesha langasekuqaleni kolawulo lukaDarius Hystaspes. Ngokwasemoyeni nangokwaselizweni, amaIsrayeli ayekwimeko elusizi. Babekrokre bathandabuza ixesha elide kangaka; babenyule ukubeka phambili okuthandwa ngabo ixesha elide kangaka, babe lonke elo xesha beyijongele kude itempile kaThixo ezindonga, nokuba abaninzi babelahlekwe ngumbono wenjongo kaThixo ekubuyiselweni kwabo kwaYuda; babe aba besithi, “Asikabi lixesha lokuba kuziwe, asikabi lixesha lokuba yakhiwe indlu kaYehova.” Hagayi 1:2.AN 573.3

Kanti ke, nayo le yure imnyama yayingekho ngaphandle kwethemba kwabo bathemba labo lalikuThixo. Abaprofeti uHagayi noZekariya bathunywa ukuba bahlangabezane nentlekele. Ngezigidimi ezichukumisayo, aba bathunywa banyuliweyo babatyhilela abantu imbangela yeenkathazo zabo. Ukungabikho kwempumelelo yexesha kwakusisiphumo sokungakhathalelwa kokubekwa izinto ezithandwa nguThixo phambili, batsho abaprofeti. Ukuba uIsrayeliwayemzukisileuThixo,ukubababemnike imbeko nentlonipho efanelekileyo, ngokwenza ukuba ukwakhiwa kwendlu yaKhe kube ngumsebenzi wabo ophambili, babeya kuba bameme ubukho baKhe kunye nentsikelelo.AN 573.4

Kwabo baya batyhafa, uHagayi ubuza umbuzo ophengululayo, “Lixesha na kuni nina, lokuba nihlale ezindlwini zenu zalekiwe, ibe le ndlu yam yona ilinxuwa? Kaloku ke, utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Zigqaleni iindlela zenu.” Kutheni le nto nenze okuncinane kangaka? Kutheni le nto nikhathalele ezenu izindlu ningayikhathaleli indlu kaYehova? Luphi ulangazelelo lwenu enanikhe naluva ngokuhlaziywa kwendlu kaYehova? Nizuze ntoni ngokukhonza u-mna? Ulangazelelo lokusinda entluphekweni lunikhokelele ekubeni niyityeshele itempile, kodwa oku kuyityeshela kunizisele into eniyoyikayo. “Nahlwayela kakhulu, ningenise kancinane; niyadla, ningahluthi; nisela, ninganeli kukusela; nambatha ningevi ntsitho; noziqeshisayo uziqeshisela ukuba agalele engxoweni enezikroba.” Iindima 4-6.AN 574.1

Kwaza kwathi, ngamazwi ababengenakuze bangakwazi ukuwaqonda, uYehova wamtyhila unobangela wokuba baswele: “Nalindela into eninzi, nantso isuke yaba yinto encinane; nithe nakuza nayo ekhaya, ndayiphephetha. Ngani ke? Utsho uYehova wemikhosi; ngenxa yendlu yam, yona le ilinxuwa, nibe nina elowo ebalekela endlwini yakhe. Ngenxa yoko, ngenxa yenu, izulu liyala nombethe, nomhlaba wala neendyebo zawo. Ndabiza ukoma phezu kwelizwe, naphezu kwentaba, naphezu kwengqolowa, naphezu kwewayini entsha, naphezu kweoli, naphezukwezinto zonke eziphuma emhlabeni, naphezu kwabantu, naphezu kweenkomo,naphezukokuxelengakonkekwezandla.” Iindima 9-11.AN 574.2

“Iindlela zenu zigqaleni,” wakhuthaza uYehova. “Nyukani niye kweleentaba, nize nemithi, niyakhe indlu le; ndokholiswa ke yiyo, ndizizukise.” Iindima 7, 8.AN 575.1

Isigidimi soluleko nokuthethisa esanikwa ngoHagayi samkeleka kwiinkokheli nakubantu bakwaIsrayeli. Baya beva ukuba uThixo wayezimisele ngabo. Abazange bakwazi ukuphinda bangawuhoyi umyalelo owathunyelwa kubo—wokuba impumelelo yabo, elizweni nasemoyeni, yayixhomekeke ekuthobeleni ngokunyanisekileyo imiyalelo kaThixo. Bephaphanyiswe zizilumkiso zikamprofeti, uZerubhabheli noYoshuwa, “namasalela onke abantu, baliphulaphula . . . ilizwi likaYehova uThixo wabo, ngokwamazwi kaHagayi umprofeti.” Indima 12.AN 575.2

Ngako nje ukuba uIsrayeli agqibe ekubeni athobele, amazwi okungxolisa alandelwa sisigidimi senkuthazo. “Wakuthetha uHagayi . . . ebantwini, wathi, Ndinani, utsho uYehova. UYehova wawuvuselela umoya kaZerubhabheli” nokaYoshuwa, no“wamasalela onke abantu. Beza ke, bawenza umsebenzi endlwini kaYehova wemikhosi, uThixo wabo.” Iindima 13, 14.AN 575.3

Ngaphantsi nje kwenyanga emva kokuba kuqaliswe ukuyisebenza itempile, abakhi bafumana esinye isigidimi sentuthuzelo. “Yomelela, Zerubhabheli,” wakhuthaza uYehova ngokwaKhe ngomprofeti waKhe; “womelele, Yoshuwa . . . nomelele, nonke bantu belizwe, utsho uYehova, nisebenze; ngokuba ndinani, utsho uYehova wemikhosi.” Hagayi 2:4.AN 575.4

KuIsrayeli owayemise phambi kweNtaba yeSinayi, uYehova wathi: “Ndohlala phakathi koonyana bakaIsrayeli, ndibe nguThixo wabo; bazi ukuba ndinguYehova uThixo wabo, owabakhuphayo ezweni laseYiputa, ukuba ndihlale phakathi kwabo: ndinguYehova uThixo wabo.” Eksodus 29:45, 46. Ngoku, nangona into yokuba baphindaphinda “[uku]menza buhlungu uMoya wakhe oyiNgcwele” (Isaya 63:10), uThixo kwakhona, ngezigidimi zomprofeti waKhe, wasolula isandla saKhe ukuba asindise. Wayehlaziya umnqophiso waKhe ukuze uMoya waKhe ahlale phakathi kwabo; wabayalela, “Musani ukoyika.”AN 576.1

Kubantwana baKhe namhlanje, iNkosi ithi, “Yomelelani, . . . nisebenze; ngokuba ndinani.” UmKristu ngamaxesha onke, unomncedi onamandla eNkosini. Indlela yokunceda kweNkosi sisenokungayazi; kodwa oku siyakwazi: Ayisayi kuze ibaphoxe abo babeka ithemba labo kuYo. Ukuba amaKristu ebengaqonda ukuba mangakanani amaxesha iNkosi eyilungiselele ngayo indlela yawo, ukuze iinjongo zotshaba ngokubhekiselele ngakuwo zingaze ziphumelele, ebengayi kukhubeka endleleni ekhalaza. Ukholo lwawo beluya kuzinza kuThixo, kungabikho silingo sinokuba namandla okuwasusa. Ebeya kumvuma ukuba ububulumko nempumelelo yawo, waye eya kwenza ukuba kwenzeke oko alangazelela ukukusebenza ngawo.AN 576.2

Izibongozo ezinyanisekileyo kunye neenkuthazo ezanikwa ngoHagayi kwabuywa zacinezelwa zongezwa ngoZekariya, uThixo awamnyusa ukuba eme ecaleni kwakhe ekukhuthazeni uIsrayeli ukuba enze umyalelo wokuba kwakhiwe. Isigidimi sokuqala sikaZekariya yayikukuqinisekisa ukuba ilizwi likaThixo alize lisilele, kwakunye nesithembiso sentsikelelo kwabo bathe baliphulaphula ilizwi lesiprofeto.AN 576.3

Amasimi engumqwebedu, nokutya kuya kunqongophala koovimba bawo, ekwajikelezwe zizizwe ezingenabuhlobo, amaIsrayeli, sekunjalo, abheka phambili ngokholo, esabela kubizo lwabathunywa bakaThixo, asebenza ngokukhuthala ukubuyisela itempile ebilinxuwa. Yayingumsebenzi ofuna ukuxhomekeka okuqinileyo phezu kukaThixo. Bathi xa abantu bezama ukwenza indawo yabo, befuna ukuhlaziya ubabalo lukaThixo entliziyweni yabo nasebomini babo, isigidimi emva kwesigidimi zanikwa ngoHagayi noZekariya, neziqinisekiso zokuba ukholo lwabo lwaluza kuvuzwa ngokukhulu, nokuba ilizwi likaThixo ngokubhekiselele kubuqaqawuli bexesha elizayo betempile, endonga zayo babezinyusa, lalingayi kuwa phantsi. Kuso sona esi sakhiwo, kwakuza kuvela, lakuba lizalisekile ixesha, uLangazelelo lwezizwe zonke njengeTitshala noMsindisi woluntu.AN 577.1

Ngoko ke, abakhi babengashiywanga ukuba balwe bebodwa; “baye abaprofeti bakaThixo bekubo bencedisana nabo;” waza uYehova wemikhosi ngokwaKhe wathi, “Yomelelani, . . . nisebenze; ngokuba ndinani.” Ezra 5:2; Hagayi 2:4.AN 577.2

Ngenguquko eyayiphuma entliziyweni, nentumekelelo yokubheka phambili ngokholo, kwafika isithembiso sempumelelo yasemhlabeni. “Ndithabathele kule mini,” watsho uYehova, “ndiya kusikelela.” Indima 19.AN 577.3

KuZerubhabheli inkokheli yabo—lowo, kuyo yonke iminyaka kususela ukuba babuya eBhabheli, wayelingwe kabuhlungu kakhulu—kwanikelwa isigidimi esixabiseke kakhulu. Imini iyeza, watsho uYehova, eziya kuthi ngayo zonke iintshaba zabantu baKhe abanyuliweyo zikhahlelwe phantsi. “Ngaloo mini, utsho uYehova wemikhosi,. . .ndikumise ngokomsesane wokutywina kuba ndikunyule.” Indima 23. Ngoku umphathi kaIsrayeli waba nokuyibona intsingiselo yokubonelela kukaThixo okwakubakhokela kuko konke ukutyhafa nokudideka; waba nokuyiqonda injongo kaThixo kuko konke.AN 577.4

Eli lizwi leza ngqo kuZerubhabheli lalishiywe libhaliwe ukuze likhuthaze abantwana bakaThixo kuzo zonke izizukulwana. UThixo unenjongo ngokuthumela isilingo kubantwana baKhe. Akaze abakhokele ngenye indlela kunokuba beya kunyula ukukhokelwa ukuba bebenokubona isiphelo kwasekuqaleni, baze baluqonde uzuko lwenjongo abayifezekisayo. Konke athi akuzise phezu kwabo ngovavanyo nesilingo kuza ukuze bakwazi ukuba namandla okwenza nokuthwala nzima ngenxa yaKhe.AN 578.1

Izigidimi ezaziswa nguHagayi noZekariya zabavusa abantu ukuba benze wonke umzamo abanakho ukuwenza ukwakha ngokutsha itempile; kodwa, ngexesha besebenza, baya bahlaselwa kakubi ngamaSamariya kunye nabanye abaceba iziphazamiso ezininzi. Kwesinye isiganeko, abaphathi bommandla weMedo-Persi, bahambela eYerusalem bacela igama lalowo wayebanike igunya lokuba bakhe ngokutsha isakhiwo. Ukuba ngelo xesha amaYuda ayengathembelanga kuThixo ukuba awakhokele, lo mbuzo ngewaphela uze nentlekele kuwo. “Ke iliso loThixo wawo libeliphezu kwamadoda amakhulu amaYuda, ukuba bangawabambezeli, ide loo ndawo iye kuDariyo.” Ezra 5:5. Abaphathi baphendulwa ngobulumko obukhulu kangangokuba bagqiba ukuba babhalele kuDarius Hystaspes, owayengumlawuli weMedo-Persi ngelo xesha, betsalela ingqondo yakhe emthethweni owenziwa nguKoreshi, owawuyalela ukuba indlu kaThixo eYerusalem yakhiwe ngokutsha, nokuba iindleko zalo msebenzi zihlawulwe kwindyebo kakumkani.AN 578.2

UDariyo wawuphanda lo mthetho, wawufumana; wathi, ngenxa yawo, wayalela abo babesenza uphando ukuba bakuvumele ukwakhiwa ngokutsha kwetempile ukuba kuqhube. “Wuyekeni umsebenzi wale ndlu kaThixo,” wayalela; “ibamba lamaYuda namadoda amakhulu akwaYuda mabayakhe le ndlu kaThixo endaweni yayo.AN 579.1

“[Ukudlula apho].” waqhubeka uDariyo, “Ndiwisa umthetho wento enoyenza kumadoda amakhulu aloo maYuda, ukuba yakhiwe loo ndlu kaThixo; ndithi, loo madoda makanikwe indleko, ebutyebini bukakumkani, erhafini yaphesheya koMlambo, kunyanyekwe, angabanjezelwa. Nezinto ezifunekayo, iinkunzi ezintsha zeenkomo, neenkunzi zeegusha, neemvana, zokuba ngamadini anyukayo kuThixo wamazulu, nengqolowa, netyuwa, newayini, neoli, ngokwelizwi lababingeleli abaseYerusalem, makazinikwe imihla ngemihla, kungaphosiswa; ukuze basondeze imibingelelo elivumba elithozamisayo kuThixo wamazulu, bathandazele ubomi bokumkani noboonyana bakhe.” Ezra 6:7-10.AN 579.2

Ukumkani wongeza ngomthetho wezohlwayo eziqatha ekufuneka zinikwe abo babeya kuthi nangayiphi indlela bawuguqule umthetho; wagqibezela ngelizwi elibalulekileyo, elithi: “UThixo, olibeke khona igama lakhe, makabakhahlele phantsi bonke ookumkani, nabantu, abolula izandla zabo, beyijika loonto, ukuba bayitshabalalise le ndlu kaThixo eseYrusalem. Mna Dariyo ndiwise umthetho; mawenziwe ngenyameko.” Indima 12. Ngoko uYehova wayilungisa indlela yokugqitywa kwetempile.AN 579.3

Kwakuziinyanga phambi kokuba lo mthetho wenziwe, aye wona amaIsrayeli eqhubeka ukusebenza ngokholo, abaprofeti bakaThixo besancedana nawongezigidimieziza ngexesha elifanelekileyo, nekwathi ngazo, injongo kaThixo ngoIsrayeli yagcinwa iphambi kwabasebenzi. Kwiinyanga ezimbini emva kwesigidimi sokugqibela esibhaliweyo sikaHagayi esinikiweyo, uZekariya waba nothotho lwemibono ngomsebenzi kaThixo emhlabeni. Ezi zigidimi, zinikwe ngemizekeliso nemifuziselo, zafika ngexesha lokuthingaza nonxunguphalo olukhulu, zaza zanokubaluleka okukhulu kubantu ababebheka phambili egameni likaThixo kaIsrayeli. Kwabonakala kwiinkokheli ngokungathi imvume enikwe amaYuda ukuba akhe ngokutsha yayikufuphi irhoxiswe; ikamva lalibonakala limnyama kakhulu. UThixo wabona ukuba abantu baKhe babekudinga kakhulu ukuxhaswa bakhuthazwe ngentyilelo yemfesane nothando lwaKhe olungenasiphelo.AN 580.1

Embonweni, uZekariya weva isithunywa sikaYehova sibuza, “Yehova wemikhosi, koba nini na ungasikwa yimfesane wena, ngenxa yeYerusalem nemizi yakwaYuda, owayibhavumelayo le minyaka imashumi sixhenxe? UYehova wasiphendula isithunywa esibe sithetha nam,” utsho uZekariya, “ngamazwi alungileyo, ngamazwi athuthuzelayo.AN 580.2

“Sathi kum isithunywa esibe sithetha nam, Memeza uthi, Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Ndinekhwele, ikhwele elikhulu, ngeYerusalem nangeZiyon. Ndinoburhalarhume obukhulu kuzo iintlanga ezihleli ngokonwaba; ngokokuba bendinoburhalarhume mna umzuzwana, ke zona zongezelela ububi. Ngako oko, utsho uYehova ukuthi, Ndiyibuyele iYerusalem ngemfesane; indlu yam iya kwakhelwa khona, . . . ulutya lokulinganisa luya kolulwa phezu kweYerusalem.” Zekariya 1:12-16.AN 580.3

Umprofeti wayalelwa ukuba axele kwangaphambili, athi, “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Imizi yam isaya kuphalala okulungileyo; uYehova usaya kuyithuthuzela iZiyon, ayinyule iYerusalem.” Indima 17.AN 581.1

UZekariya wabuya wabona amagunya awaye“chithachithe uYuda, uIsrayeli, neYerusalem,” efuziselwe ngeempondo ezine. Kamsinyane emva koko, wabona abachweli abane, bemele izenzeleli ezisetyenziswa nguYehova ekubuyiseleni abantu baKhe nendlu yonqulo lwaKhe.” Khangela iindima 18-21.AN 581.2

“Ndaphakamisa amehlo am,” watsho uZekariya, “ndakhangela, Nanko umntu ephethe ngesandla ulutya lokulinganisa. Ndathi ke, Uya ngaphina? Wathi kum, Ndiya kulinganisa iYerusalem, ndibone ukuba bungakanani na ububanzi bayo, bungakanani na ubude bayo. Naso ke isithunywa esibe sithetha nam siphuma, kuphuma nesinye isithunywa, sisiya kusikhawulela. Sathi kuso, Gidima, uthethe nalaa ndodana, uthi, IYerusalem iya kuhlala ngokwamaphandle, ngenxa yobuninzi babantu neenkomo eziphakathi kwayo. Ndiya kuba ludonga lomlilo kuyo mna ngeenxa zonke, utsho uYehova; ndibe bubuqaqawuli phakathi kwayo.” Zekariya 2:1-5.AN 581.3

UThixo wayeyalele ukuba iYerusalem yakhiwe ngokutsha, waza umbono wokulinganiswa kwesixeko wasisiqinisekiso sokuba [uThixo] wayeza kunika intuthuzelo namandla kwabo baKhe babandezelwayo, afezekise kubo amadinga omnqophiso waKhe ongunaphakade. Inkathalelo yaKhe ekhuselayo, wathi, iya kufana “[no]donga lomlilo . . . ngeenxa zonke;” kuthi ngabo, uzuko lwaKhe lube nokutyhilwa kubo bonke oonyanababantu. Oko wayekwenza ngenxa yabantu baKhe, kwakuza kwaziwa kuwo wonke umhlaba. “Tsholoza umemelele, wena mmi waseZiyon; ngokuba mkhulu phakathi kwakho Oyingcwele kaIsrayeli.” Isaya 12:6.AN 581.4