1-3. Kufaka ekhatsi ini kukhonta Jehova “ngenhlitiyo yonkhe”? Niketa sibonelo.

NGESIZATFU sekutsi sinesono, sihlale senta emaphutsa. Kodvwa siyambonga Jehova ngekutsi akasiphatsi “njengalokufanele tono tetfu,” ikakhulukati nangabe siphendvuka futsi sisondzela kuye ngekutitfoba sisebentisa inhlawulo yaJesu. (Hla. 103:10) Njengobe Davide atjela Solomoni, kute Jehova akwemukele kumkhonta kwetfu, kufanele ‘simkhonte ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yetfu.’ (1 Khr. 28:9) Singamkhonta njani Jehova ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe ngisho nobe sinesono?

² Kute sibone kutsi loku singakwenta njani, sitawucatsanisa indlela iNkhosi Asa leyenta ngayo endleleni iNkhosi Amasiya leyenta ngayo. (2 Khr. 15:16, 17; 25:1, 2; Taga 17:3;) Omabili lamakhosi bekanesono futsi bekawenta emaphutsa. Ngenca yekutsi Asa bekatinikele kuNkulunkulu ‘ngenhlitiyo yakhe yonkhe,’ wakwenta konkhe loko lebekamtjela kona. (1 Khr. 28:9) Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, Amasiya yena bekangakatinikeli ngalokuphelele kuJehova. Ngemuva kwekutsi ancobe titsa taNkulunkulu, wabuya netithico tato futsi watikhonta.—2 Khr. 25:11-16.

 ³ Kukhonta Nkulunkulu ‘ngenhlitiyo yonkhe’ kufaka ekhatsi kungayekeli kutinikela kuye ngalokuphelele. EBhayibhelini, ligama lelitsi “inhlitiyo” lisho lingekhatsi lemuntfu. Lihlanganisa tintfo latifunako, indlela lacabanga ngayo, indlela lenta ngayo, simo sengcondvo, emakhono akhe, tisusa takhe tekwenta tintfo kanye nemigomo yakhe. Ngako-ke, umuntfu lokhonta Jehova ngenhlitiyo yakhe yonkhe akatentisi nakamkhonta. Akamkhonti ngobe nje kufanele ente njalo. Kutsiwani ngatsi? Nangabe singatentisi nasikhonta Nkulunkulu kodvwa sichubeke sitinikela ngalokuphelele kuye ngisho nobe sinesono, sisuke sikhombisa kutsi simkhonta ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe.—2 Khr. 19:9.

4. Yini lesitawucoca ngayo?

⁴ Kute sikubone kahle kutsi kusho kutsini kukhonta Jehova ngenhlitiyo yonkhe, asesicoce ngendlela Asa lenta ngayo kanye nendlela lamanye emakhosi akaJuda lafaka ekhatsi boJehoshafati, Hezekiya naJosaya labakhombisa ngayo kutsi batinikele ngenhlitiyo yabo yonkhe kuNkulunkulu. Onkhe lamakhosi lamane bekawenta emaphutsa, kodvwa Nkulunkulu bekasolo awemukela. Kungani Nkulunkulu atsi lamakhosi bekamkhonta ngenhlitiyo yawo yonkhe, futsi tsine singawalingisa njani?

5. Yini Asa layenta?

⁵ Asa bekayinkhosi yesitsatfu leyabusa kaJuda ngemuva kwekutsi tive letilishumi tembuso waka-Israyeli tehlukaniswe ekhatsi. Wasusa tithico waphindze wacosha netitabane tasethempelini. Wadzimate wehlisa ngisho nagogo wakhe Makha esikhundleni sakhe sekuba “yindlovukazi, ngobe bekakhe insika ya-Ashera leyayisinengiso.” (1 Khos. 15:11-13) Ngetulu kwaloko, Asa waphindze wayala bantfu bakhe kutsi bafunisise Jehova ‘nekutsi balalele imitsetfo nemiyalo yakhe.’ Ngekwenta kanjalo, wakhutsata kukhonta kweliciniso.—2 Khr. 14:4.

6. Yini Asa layenta ngesikhatsi emaKushe ahlasela live lakhe?

⁶ Eminyakeni lelishumi yekucala yekubusa kwa-Asa, Jehova wabusisa sive sakaJuda ngekuthula. Ngemuva kwaloko, Zera lobekangumKushe wahlasela emaJuda ngelibutfo lemadvodza langu-1 000 000 kanye nangetincola temphi letingu-300. (2 Khr. 14:1, 6, 9, 10) Yini Asa layenta kulesimo lebesishubile? Wakhombisa kutsi umetsemba ngalokuphelele Jehova. (Fundza 2 Tikhronike 14:11.) Nkulunkulu wawuphendvula umthantazo wa-Asa losuka enhlitiyweni ngekutsi amsite ancobe libutfo lemaKushe futsi alicedze nya. (2 Khr. 14:12, 13) Nanobe lamanye emakhosi abengaketsembeki kuJehova, kodvwa bekawasita kutsi ancobe titsa tawo ngenca nje yeligama lakhe. (1 Khos. 20:13, 26-30) Noma kunjalo, Asa bekatsembele kuNkulunkulu futsi wayiphendvula imithantazo yakhe. Noko kamuva, Asa wenta bulima. Nasi sibonelo, wacela lusito enkhosini yaseSiriya kunekutsi alucele kuJehova. (1 Khos. 15:16-22) Ngisho nome enta njalo, Nkulunkulu abesolo abuka inhlitiyo ya-Asa njengaletinikele “ngalokuphelele kuSimakadze imphilo yakhe yonkhe.” Singamlingisa njani Asa kute sente lokulungile?—1 Khos. 15:14.

7, 8. Singamlingisa njani Asa nasikhonta Jehova?

⁷ Ngako-ke, ngamunye wetfu kufanele atihlole kutsi inhlitiyo yakhe itinikele ngalokuphelele yini kuNkulunkulu. Ungase utibute kutsi, ‘Ngitimisele yini kujabulisa Jehova, nekutsi ngivikele kukhulekela kweliciniso, kanye nekuvikela bantfu bakhe etintfweni letingaba yingoti elukholweni lwabo?’ Cabanga ngesibindzi Asa labanaso ngesikhatsi acosha Makha, “lobekayindlovukazi” kulelolive! Kungenteka kute umuntfu lomatiko  lofana nalendlovukazi, kodvwa tikhona timo lapho khona kufanele ulingise sibindzi sa-Asa. Nasi sibonelo, yini longayenta nangabe lilunga lemndeni nome umngani wakho enta sono futsi angaphendvuki, bese kudzingeka kutsi ayekeliswe kuba nguFakazi? Ungaba naso yini sibindzi sekutsatsa sinyatselo sekungatihlanganisi naye? Inhlitiyo yakho ingakushukumisela kutsi wenteni?

⁸ Njenga-Asa, ungakhombisa kutsi wetsembele kuNkulunkulu ngenhlitiyo yonkhe ngisho nalapho ubhekene nekuphikiswa lokubonakala kulukhuni kukuncoba. Ungahlekwa nobe uphatfwe kabi esikolweni ngenca yekutsi unguFakazi waJehova. Nangabe uyasebenta, kungenteka uyahlushwa ngesizatfu sekutsi utsatsa emalanga ekuya emisebentini yebuKhristu noma uvamise kwala kusebenta sikhatsi lesengetiwe. Nawusesimeni lesinjalo, lingisa Asa, uthantaze kuNkulunkulu. Ngesibindzi tsembela kuJehova, ukumelele ngalokucinile loko lowatiko kutsi kulungile futsi kukuhlakanipha. Khumbula kutsi Nkulunkulu wamcinisa Asa futsi waphindze wamsita, ngako nawe angakusita.

9. Singakhombisa kanjani kutsi setsembele kuNkulunkulu ngenhlitiyo yonkhe nasishumayela?

⁹ Tinceku taNkulunkulu atiticabangeli tona kuphela. Asa wakhutsata kukhulekela kweliciniso. Natsi sisita bantfu kutsi ‘bafunisise’ Jehova. Jehova ujabula kakhulu nangabe asibona kutsi sicocela labanye ngaye, futsi sikwenta loko ngenca yelutsandvo lolucotfo lesinalo ngaye kanye nangekutsi siyafuna kubona labanye bantfu baphila phakadze.

10, 11. Ungasilingisa njani sibonelo saJehoshafati?

¹⁰ Indvodzana ya-Asa lenguJehoshafati yahamba “etinyatselweni teyise Asa.” (2 Khr. 20:31, 32) Yakwenta kanjani loko? Njengababe wakhe, Jehoshafati wakhutsata bantfu kutsi bafune Jehova. Wahlela umkhankaso wekufundzisa bantfu “incwadzi yemtsetfo waSimakadze.” (2 Khr. 17:7-10) Waphindze waya nasenyakatfo yelive laka-Israyeli, esifundzeni setintsaba taka-Efrayimu kute ayokhutsata “bantfu kutsi babuyele kuSimakadze Nkulunkulu.” (2 Khr. 19:4) Jehoshafati abeyinkhosi leyafuna “Simakadze ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yakhe.”—2 Khr. 22:9.

¹¹ Natsi singaba nencenye kulomkhankhaso lomkhulu wekufundzisa bantfu sikanye naJehova. Utibekele yini umgomo wekutsi njalo ngenyanga ufundzise labanye liVi laNkulunkulu, ubente bafune kumkhonta? Ngekuhlela kahle timo takho kanye nangesibusiso saNkulunkulu, ungakhona kucala sifundvo seliBhayibheli. Ngulowo yini umgomo lowuthantazelako? Utimisele yini kukwenta loku, ngisho nome kudzingeka kutsi usebentise sikhatsi sakho sekutijabulisa? Njengoba Jehoshafati aya endzaweni yaka-Efrayimu kute ayokhutsata bantfu kutsi babuyele ekhulekeleni lokuhlantekile, natsi singaya kubantfu lesebapholile kute sibakhutsate kutsi babuyele ekukhulekeni kweliciniso. Ngetulu kwaloko, emadvodza lamadzala elibandla angahlela kuvakashela bantfu labasensimini yabo labayekelisiwe kuba boFakazi, lokungenteka sebayiyekele imikhuba yabo yesono.

12, 13. (a) Jehoshafati wenta njani ngalesikhatsi abhekene nesimo lesimatima? (b) Kungani kufanele silingise Jehoshafati ngekutsi sivume butsakatsaka betfu?

¹² Jehoshafati walingisa babe wakhe Asa, ngekutsi akhombise kutimisela kwakhe kukhonta Nkulunkulu ngisho nome abesatjiswa libutfo lelinemandla letitsa takhe. (Fundza 2 Tikhronike 20:2-4.) Jehoshafati bekasaba! Nome kunjalo, liBhayibheli litsi: “wase uyawuthandaza kuSimakadze.” Kulomthantazo, ngekutfobeka wavuma kutsi  bebete “emandla ekubhekana nalemphi lenkhulu kangaka” futsi bebangati kutsi bekufanele benteni. Wetsembela ngalokuphelele kuJehova futsi watsi: “Emehlo etfu abuke kuwe.”—2 Khr. 22:12.

¹³ NjengaJehoshafati, natsi ngaletinye tikhatsi singahle singati kutsi kumele sentenjani futsi size sesabe ngisho nekwesaba. (2 Khor. 4:8, 9) Khumbula kutsi Jehoshafati wavuma emthantazweni wakhe welinyenti kutsi yena nebantfu bebete sibindzi. (2 Khr. 20:5) Tinhloko temindeni letingemaKhristu nato tingalingisa Jehoshafati ngekutsi ticele sicondziso kuJehova kanye nesibindzi kute tikhone kubhekana netinkinga letihlangabetana nato. Ungabi nemahloni ekuthantaza embikwemndeni wakho. Batawubona kutsi wetsembele kuJehova. Nkulunkulu wamsita Jehoshafati, nawe utakusita.

14, 15. Hezekiya wakhombisa njani kutsi abetsembele ngalokuphelele kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁴ Ngekungafani naJehoshafati, Hezekiya lebekatiwa njengenkhosi ‘lebambelele kuSimakadze,’ kwadzingeka kutsi angahawukeli kukhonta tithico lebetikhontwa nguyise. Hezekiya “wadzilita tindzawo letiphakeme tekukhontela tithico, wabhidlita tithicomatje, wagawula tinsika tabo-Ashera, waphahlata inyoka yelitfusi leyayakhiwe nguMosi,” lebeseyisetjentiselwa kukhulekela. Bekatinikele ngalokuphelele kuJehova futsi “wayigcina yonkhe imitsetfo yaSimakadze labeyinike Mosi.”—2 Khos. 18:1-6.

¹⁵ Ngisho nangalesikhatsi libutfo lase-Asiriya, lebelingumbuso wemhlaba ngaleso sikhatsi, lihlasela tive takaJuda futsi lisongela kubhidlita liJerusalema, Hezekiya wetsembela kuJehova ngenhlitiyo yakhe yonkhe. Inkhosi Senaheribi yase-Asiriya, yetfuka Jehova futsi yetama kwesabisa Hezekiya kute atinikele kuyo. Nome kunjalo, Hezekiya wathantaza kuJehova futsi wakhombisa kutsi wetsembele ekusindzisweni ngemandla aNkulunkulu. (Fundza Isaya 37:15-20.) Nkulunkulu wawuphendvula umthantazo waHezekiya ngekutsi atfumele ingilosi kutsi ibulale emasotja ase-Asiriya langu-185 000.—Isa. 37:36, 37.

16, 17. Njengoba ukhonta Nkulunkulu, ungamlingisa njani Hezekiya?

¹⁶ Kamuva, Hezekiya wagula waphose wafa. Wancenga Jehova kutsi akhumbule kutsi bekacotfo kangakanani kuye. (Fundza 2 Emakhosi 20:1-3.) ImiBhalo isenta sibone kutsi asiphili esikhatsini lapho singalindzela khona kutsi Nkulunkulu asiphulukise ngalokusimangaliso nome asengetele emalanga ekuphila. Noma kunjalo, singamlingisa Hezekiya ngekutsi ngamunye wetfu athantaze kuJehova atsi: “Bengihamba ngekwetsembeka lokunjani embikwakho, nekutsi bengitinikele kangakanani embikwakho, ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yami.” Uyakholelwa yini kutsi Jehova angakhona kukusita ngisho nalapho ugula kakhulu?—Hla. 41:3.

¹⁷ Nasizindla ngesibonelo saHezekiya, kungenteka sibone sidzingo sekususa nome yini lengona buhlobo betfu naNkulunkulu nome isente sishiye kukhulekela kweliciniso. Kuliciniso kutsi asifuni kulingisa bantfu labakhona lamuhla, labasebentisa tekuchumana kute bente labanye bantfu tithico tabo. Kuyavunywa, lamanye emaKhristu ayakujabulela kuchumana nemindeni nome bangani babo basebentisa tona tintfo tekuchumana. Nome kunjalo, bantfu labanyenti basebentisa tekuchumana ngendlela leyecile, ngekutsi bacoce nebantfu labangabati. Baphindze bacitse sikhatsi sabo lesinyenti babuka titfombe nome bafundza tindzaba talabantfu labangabati nekubati. Kunengoti yekutsi labo labenta njalo batikhandze sebayimilutsa yaleto tintfo  letingenamsebenti. UmKhristu angase atikhandze sekatikhukhumeta ngekutsi banyenti labakutsandzile loko lakufake ku-internet futsi eve buhlungu nangabe selehla linani lalabamtsandzako. Singamcabanga yini umphostoli Pawula nome bo-Aquila naPriscilla bacitsa sikhatsi sabo onkhe malanga batfumela titfombe tabo ku-internet nome baba balandzeli bebantfu labangesibo bazalwane? LiBhayibheli lisitjela kutsi Pawula “waba matasatasa ngekushumayela livi laNkulunkulu.” BoPriscilla na-Aquila basebentisa sikhatsi sabo, bachazela labanye “kahle indlela yaNkulunkulu.” (Imis. 18:4, 5, 26) Ngako, kungaba kuhle kutsi sitibute nangu umbuto lotsi: ‘Ngiyakubalekela yini kwenta labanye bantfu tithico noma kusebentisa sikhatsi sami lesimcoka etintfweni letingakabaluleki?’—Fundza Efesu 5:15, 16.

18, 19. Ngutiphi tindlela longatsandza kumlingisa ngato Josaya?

¹⁸ Inkhosi Josaya lebeyitsi khokho kuHezekiya, nayo beyitimisele kugcina imiyalo yaJehova “ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yayo.” (2 Khr. 34:31) Ngalesikhatsi asengumfana, “wacala wafunisisa Nkulunkulu weyisemkhulu Davide,” futsi nasekaneminyaka lengu-20 budzala, wasusa tithico takaJuda. (Fundza 2 Tikhronike 34:1-3.) Josaya bekatimisele kwenta loko bekujabulisa Nkulunkulu kwendlula onkhe emakhosi akaJuda. Nome kunjalo, ngesikhatsi bamfundzela incwadzi yemtsetfo waMosi, Josaya wabona kunesidzingo lesikhulu sekwenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu. Wakhutsata nalabanye kutsi bakhonte Jehova. Umphumela waloko waba kutsi “sive asizange sisuke ekulandzeleni Simakadze,” ngesikhatsi sekubusa saJosaya.—2 Tikhronike 34:27, 33.

¹⁹ Labasha bangalingisa Josaya, ngekutsi bacale basebancane kufunisisa Jehova. Inkhosi Manase lebeseyiphendvukile, kungenteka ngiyo leyafundzisa Josaya ngemusa waJehova. Bantfu labasha, sondzelanani nebantfu labadzala lebatsembekile labasemindenini yakini nasebandleni futsi nifundze ngekutsi Jehova ubasite njani. Khumbulani nekutsi kufundza imiBhalo kwayitsintsa inhlitiyo yaJosaya futsi yamenta watsatsa sinyatselo lesifanele. Kufundza kwakho liVi laNkulunkulu kungakwenta kutsi utsatse sinyatselo lesitakujabulisa kakhulu futsi buhlobo bakho naNkulunkulu bucine njengoba ukhutsata labanye kutsi bafunisise Nkulunkulu. (Fundza 2 Tikhronike 34:18, 19.) Kutadisha liBhayibheli kungakusita kutsi ubone tindlela longatfutfukisa ngato kukhonta kwakho Nkulunkulu. Nawenta njalo, utawube ulingisa Josaya.

20, 21. (a) Ngukuphi kufana lamakhosi lamane lebekanako? (b) Sitawucoca ngani esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

²⁰ Uyabona yini kutsi kubaluleke ngani kuzindla ngalamakhosi lamane lesicoce ngawo akaJuda lakhonta Jehova ngenhlitiyo yonkhe? Abetimisele kwenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu. Kungako achubeka enta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu. Ayenta ngisho nalapho abhekene nebumatima. Lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi abenesisusa lesihle sekukhonta Jehova.

²¹ Njengoba sitobona esihlokweni lesilandzelako, onkhe lamakhosi lamane lesicoce ngawo bekawenta emaphutsa. Nome kunjalo, ngesikhatsi uMhloli wenhlitiyo, ahlola tinhlitiyo tawo, wabona kutsi abetinikele kuye. Natsi sibantfu labanesono. Jehova nakahlola tinhlitiyo tetfu, uyabona yini kutsi simkhonta ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe? Asesicoce ngalombuto esihlokweni lesilandzelako.