1-3. Kuyini uJehova ayefuna uHezekheli akubone ethempelini njalo kungani wayefuna akubone? (Khangela iSethulo sengxenye 2.)

 UMPHROFETHI uHezekheli wayewazi kuhle uMthetho kaMosi ngoba wayeyindodana yomphristi. Kumele ukuthi wayekujayele ukuya ethempelini futhi wayekwazi ukuthi abantu kwakumele bamkhonze njani uJehova ethempelini. (Hez. 1:3; Mal. 2:7) Kodwa okwasekusenzakala ethempelini likaJehova ngomnyaka ka-612 B.C.E., kwakungamethusa, kuze kwethuse laloba nguphi umJuda othembekileyo.

² UJehova wayefuna uHezekheli abone izinto ezenyanyekayo ezasezisenzakala ethempelini, abesetshela ‘abadala bakoJuda’ ababebuthene endlini yakhe ukuthi uboneni. (Bala uHezekheli 8:1-4; Hez. 11:24, 25; 20:1-3) Ngakho watshengisa uHezekheli umbono walokho okwakusenzakala ethempelini. Wamthwala esebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele, wamsusa endlini yakhe eyayiseTheli-abhibhi eduze lomfula uKhebhari eBhabhiloni. Wahamba laye amakhilomitha amanengi eqonde entshonalanga yeJerusalema, wafika wambeka ethempelini, egedini leguma elingaphakathi. Igedi leli lalisenyakatho. Eselapho waqalisa ukumbhodisa ethempelini emtshengisa okwakusenzakala.

 ³ UHezekheli wabona izinto ezine ezenyanyekayo ezazisenziwa ngama-Israyeli, ezazitshengisa ukuthi ayesekutshiyile ukukhonza kweqiniso. Kuyini okwabangela ukuthi ama-Israyeli ahlamukele uJehova futhi umbono lo usifundisani lamuhla? Ukuze sithole izimpendulo zemibuzo le, sizahlola lokho uHezekheli akubonayo ngesikhathi ebhoda ethempelini. Khathesi asiqaleni sibone ukuthi uJehova ufuna abantu bakhe bamkhonze njani.

4. UJehova ufuna abantu bakhe bamkhonze njani?

⁴ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-900 uHezekheli engakazalwa, uJehova wachasisela abako-Israyeli a ukuthi ufuna bamkhonze njani. Wabanika iMithetho Elitshumi futhi owesibili wawusithi: “Mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho, nginguNkulunkulu ofuna umuntu azinikele kimi kuphela.” (Eks. 20:5) Umthetho lo wawutshengisa ukuthi uJehova kafuni ukuthi abantu bakhe bakhonze abanye onkulunkulu. ESahlukweni 2 sebhuku leli sikhulume ngezinto ezine eziqakathekileyo ezenza uNkulunkulu amukele ukukhonza kwethu. Okunye kwakhona yikuthi kumele sikhonze yena kuphela. Kumele simqakathekise ukwedlula loba yini. (Eks. 20:3) UJehova ufuna abantu bakhe bamkhonze ngendlela ehlanzekileyo, bangenzi izinto ezingabahlanganisa lenkolo yamanga. Ngo-1513 B.C.E., ama-Israyeli avuma ukungena esivumelwaneni soMthetho. Lokho kwatshengisa ukuthi ayavuma ukuthi azakhonza uJehova kuphela. (Eks. 24:3-8) UJehova uyazigcina izivumelwano zakhe, yikho wayekhangelele ukuthi abantu bakhe labo benze njalo.—Dute. 7:9, 10; 2 Sam. 22:26.

5, 6. Kungani uJehova wayefuna abako-Israyeli bazinikele kuye kuphela?

⁵ Kwakuqondile yini ukuthi uJehova atshele ama-Israyeli ukuthi kumele azinikele kuye kuphela? Ye kwakuqondile ngoba unguSomandla loMbusi Wendawo Yonke njalo nguye onika abantu impilo. (Hubo. 36:9; Imiseb. 17:28) Phezu kwalokho uJehova wayekhulule ama-Israyeli ebugqilini eGibhithe. Wathi ewanika iMithetho Elitshumi wawatshela wathi: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho owakukhipha elizweni laseGibhithe, elizweni lobugqili.” (Eks. 20:2) Ngakho kwakuqondile sibili ukuthi uJehova athi ama-Israyeli akhonze yena kuphela.

⁶ UJehova katshintshi. (Mal. 3:6) Ufuna ukuthi abantu bakhe bazinikele kuye kuphela. Ngakho kufanele ukuthi izinto ezine ezenyanyekayo ezazisenzakala ethempelini zazimzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu.

7. (a) AmaJuda ayesenzani egedini lethempeli elalisenyakatho futhi lokho kwamphatha njani uJehova? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Kungani iBhayibhili lisithi uJehova waba lobukhwele? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.)

⁷ Bala uHezekheli 8:5, 6. Kumele ukuthi uHezekheli wethuka ebona amaJuda ayesegedini elisenyakatho kwethempeli ekhonza isithombe esivusa ubukhwele. Kungenzakala ukuthi isithombe leso  kwakuyinsika ka-Ashera, unkulunkulukazi wamaKhenani okwakuthiwa yinkosikazi kaBhali. Ama-Israyeli la ayesephula isivumelwano sawo loJehova ngokukhonza isithombe leso. Yikho ayekwenza kwakumthukuthelisa futhi kwakumenza abe lobukhwele ngoba wayefuna akhonze yena yedwa. b (Dute. 32:16; Hez. 5:13) Kwasekuleminyaka edlula 400 ithempeli liyindawo kaJehova. (1 Amakho. 8:10-13) Kodwa ama-Israyeli ayesekhonzela izithombe ethempelini. Lokhu kwakusenza uJehova ‘asuke aye khatshana lendawo yakhe engcwele.’

8. Umbono kaHezekheli wesithombe esivusa ubukhwele usifundisani?

⁸ Umbono kaHezekheli wesithombe esivusa ubukhwele usifundisani? Okwakusenziwa ngamaJuda ayesehlamukile kuyafanana lalokho okwenziwa emasontweni amanga azithi ngawesiKhristu. Abantu abanengi abasemasontweni la bakhonza izithombe njalo lokho kwenza uNkulunkulu angabamukeli lanxa bona besithi bakhonza yena. Njengoba uJehova engatshintshi, siyaqiniseka ukuthi amasonto la amvusela ubukhwele njengalokho okwakusenziwa ngamaJuda. (Jak. 1:17) UJehova ukhatshana lawo wonke amasonto amanga.

9, 10. Kuyini okunye esikufundayo embonweni kaHezekheli wethempeli?

⁹ Kuyini okunye esikufundayo? Nxa sifuna uNkulunkulu asamukele kumele ‘sibalekele ukukhonza izithombe.’ (1 Khor. 10:14) Kulula ukuzitshela ukuthi ngeke sikhonze izithombe. Kodwa umuntu angakhonza izithombe engananzeleli. Elinye ibhuku elichasisa iBhayibhili lithi: ‘Isithombe kungaba yiloba yini umuntu ayiqakathekisayo loba ayithanda kakhulu ukwedlula uNkulunkulu.’ Ngakho loba yini umuntu ayiqakathekisa kakhulu empilweni yakhe ukwedlula ukukhonza uJehova, iyisithombe. Lokhu kungaba zimpahla umuntu alazo kumbe imali loba ukuya emacansini kumbe ukuzilibazisa. (Mat. 6:19-21, 24; Efe. 5:5; Kol. 3:5) Kumele sibalekele konke ukukhonza izithombe ngoba nguJehova kuphela okumele sizinikele kuye futhi simkhonze.—1 Joh. 5:21.

¹⁰ UJehova wathi esetshengise uHezekheli “izinto ezimbi futhi ezenyanyekayo” ezazisenziwa ngabantu bako-Israyeli, wamtshela wathi: “Uzabona izinto ezenyanyekayo, ezimbi kakhulu kulalezi.” Kambe kuyini okwakungaba kubi kakhulu ukwedlula ukukhonza isithombe esivusa ubukhwele ethempelini?

11. Yiziphi izinto ezabonwa nguHezekheli egumeni lethempeli elingaphakathi?

¹¹ Bala uHezekheli 8:7-12. UHezekheli wavula isikhala emdulini walunguza, wasesiyangena egumeni elingaphakathi lapho okwakule-alithare khona eduze kwethempeli. Wabona emdulini kulemifanekiso “yezinanakazana leyezinyamazana ezenyanyekayo lazo zonke izithombe ezenyanyekayo.” c Imifanekiso le yayingeyabonkulunkulu  bamanga. Kodwa okwamkhathaza kakhulu yilokho athi ephakamisa amehlo wakubona. Wabona “abadala bako-Israyeli abangu-70” bemi “emnyameni,” betshisela onkulunkulu bamanga impepha. EMthethweni kaMosi impepha enukelelayo yayimela imithandazo yabantu abathembekileyo. (Hubo. 141:2) Kodwa impepha eyayitshiwa ngabadala abangu-70 yayilephunga elibi kuJehova. Imithandazo yabo yayimenyanyisa. (Zaga. 15:8) Babeziqila besithi: “UJehova kasiboni.” Kodwa uJehova wayebabona futhi watshengisa uHezekheli khona kanye ababekwenza ethempelini.

12. Kungani kumele sihlale sithembekile lanxa ‘sisemnyameni’ njalo ngobani okumele babe yisibonelo esihle endabeni le?

¹² Okwakusenziwa ngabadala bako-Israyeli abangu-70 kusifundisani? Sifunda ukuthi nxa sifuna ukuthi uNkulunkulu alalele imithandazo yethu futhi amukele inkonzo esimenzela yona kumele sithembeke kuye ngitsho ‘lasemnyameni,’ okutsho ukuthi lalapho kungelamuntu osibonayo. (Zaga. 15:29) Kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi amehlo kaJehova abona konke. Nxa sisazi ukuthi uJehova usikhangele kasisoze senze loba yini engamthokozisiyo lanxa sisodwa. (Heb. 4:13) Abadala bebandla kumele babe yisibonelo esihle kwabanye endabeni le. (1 Phet. 5:2, 3) Abanye ebandleni  bakhangelele ukuthi umzalwane ongumdala, oma phambi kwabo afundise kumele alandele izimiso eziseBhayibhilini lanxa ‘esemnyameni.’—Hubo. 101:2, 3.

13. UHezekheli wabona abesifazana besenzani egedini lethempeli?

¹³ Bala uHezekheli 8:13, 14. UJehova wathi esetshengise uHezekheli abantu ababekhonza isithombe esivusa ubukhwele kanye labadala abangu-70 ababetshisela onkulunkulu bamanga impepha, waphinda wamtshela wathi: “Uzabona izinto ezimbi, ezenyanyekayo kulalezi abazenzayo.” Kuyini umphrofethi lo akubonayo? “Egedini elisenyakatho lethempeli likaJehova” wabona “abesifazana behlezi bekhalela unkulunkulu wabo uThamuzi.” UThamuzi wayengunkulunkulu wabantu beMesophothamiya futhi amabhuku abhalwa ngabantu okuthiwa ngamaSume ambiza ngokuthi nguDumuzi. d Kucatshangelwa ukuthi wayeyindoda ka-Ishtha unkulunkulukazi wenzalo. Kukhanya angani abesifazana laba babelilela uThamuzi owayesefile. Babesenza umkhuba wenkolo yamanga ethempelini, indawo okwakumele kukhonzelwe khona uJehova kuphela. Kodwa ukwenzela umkhuba lo ongcolileyo ethempelini akuzange kuwenze wamukeleke kuNkulunkulu. UJehova wathi okwakusenziwa ngabesifazana laba ‘kwakusenyanyeka.’

14. Sifundani endleleni uJehova ayebona ngayo lokho okwakusenziwa ngabesifazana bako-Israyeli?

¹⁴ Sifundani endleleni uJehova ayebona ngayo lokho okwakusenziwa ngabesifazana laba? Nxa sifuna ukuthi uNkulunkulu amukele indlela esikhonza ngayo akumelanga sihlanganise ukukhonza kweqiniso lemikhuba yenkolo yamanga. Kanti njalo akumelanga senze imikhosi eyaqaliswa ngabantu bezinkolo zamanga. Kumele sizihluphe yini ngokuthi umkhosi othile waqalisa njani? Ye kumele sizihluphe ngokuthi imikhosi enjengeKhisimusi le-Easter leNew Year lokukhumbula amalanga okuzalwa yaqalisa njani lanxa ingakhanya angathi kayimibi kangako. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova ukwazi mhlophe ukuthi imikhosi yonke eyenziwa lamuhla yaqalisa njani. Ngakho ukuthi umkhuba ongcolileyo usulesikhathi eside usenziwa loba ukuthi abanye abantu bazama ukuwuhlanganisa lokukhonza kweqiniso akuwenzi wamukeleke kuJehova.—2 Khor. 6:17; Isam. 18:2, 4.

15, 16. Amadoda angu-25 ayesenzani egumeni elingaphakathi lethempeli njalo kungani ayekwenza kwamcaphula kakhulu uJehova?

¹⁵ Bala uHezekheli 8:15-18. UJehova wathi esezatshengisa uHezekheli okwesine ayefuna akubone waphinda amazwi ayeke wawakhuluma wathi: “Uzabona izinto ezenyanyekayo futhi ezimbi kakhulu kulalezi.” Kungenzakala ukuthi umphrofethi lo wazibuza ukuthi yikuphi okunye okwakungedlula izinto ezimbi ayesezibonile. Khathesi wayesesegumeni lendlu kaJehova elingaphakathi.  Emnyango wabona amadoda angu-25 ayekhangele empumalanga “ekhothamele ilanga.” Amadoda la ayesenza okubi kakhulu ukwedlula konke uHezekheli ayesekubonile. Kungani sisitsho njalo?

¹⁶ Khumbula ukuthi ithempeli lalakhiwe njani. Umnyango wethempeli wawukhangele empumalanga. Ngakho abantu babesithi nxa bengena ethempelini babeyabe bekhangele entshonalanga, befulathele impumalanga. Kodwa amadoda angu-25 abonwa nguHezekheli embonweni “ayefulathele ithempeli” akhangela empumalanga ukuze akhonze ilanga. Ngokwenza lokhu ayefulathela uJehova njengoba ithempeli ‘laliyindlu kaJehova.’ (1 Amakho. 8:10-13) Amadoda la ayehlamukela uJehova. Ayesemtshiyile futhi ayesephula umlayo obhalwe kuDutheronomi 4:15-19. Amcaphula kakhulu uNkulunkulu wethu ofuna ukuthi sizinikele kuye kuphela.

17, 18. (a) Sifundani endabeni yamadoda ayekhonza ilanga ethempelini? (b) Indlela ama-Israyeli ayeseziphatha ngayo yabangelani?

¹⁷ Sifundani emadodeni la ayekhothamele ilanga? Nxa sifuna uJehova asamukele, kumele simkhonze ngendlela ayifunayo. Khumbula ukuthi “uJehova uNkulunkulu ulilanga” lokuthi iLizwi lakhe yilo ‘elikhanyisa’ indlela yethu. (Hubo. 84:11; 119:105) UJehova usikhanyisela indlela esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili lamabhuku asekelwe eBhayibhilini akhitshwa yinhlanganiso yakhe. Uyasitshengisa indlela okumele siphile ngayo ukuze sithokoze empilweni futhi sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo esikhathini esizayo. Kodwa nxa singadinga ukukhanyiselwa ngumhlaba lo ukuthi siphile njani, siyabe simfulathela uJehova. Ukwenza njalo kungamcaphula kakhulu njalo kumzwise ubuhlungu. Kambe ukhona phakathi kwethu ongafuna ukuzwisa uNkulunkulu wethu ubuhlungu? Umbono kaHezekheli usifundisa lokuthi kumele sixwaye abantu abafulathela iqiniso babe ngabahlamuki.—Zaga.11:9.

¹⁸ Sesizibonile izinto ezine ezimbi kakhulu ezabonwa nguHezekheli ezazisenziwa ngamaJuda ayesekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga lezithombe. Lokhu kwaveza ukuthi amaJuda ayesekungcolisile ukukhonza kweqiniso, ngakho isizwe sonke sako-Israyeli sasingaselabudlelwano obuhle loNkulunkulu. Kodwa izikhathi ezinengi ukukhonza okungahlanzekanga kuhambisana lokuziphatha okubi. Yikho abako-Israyeli baqalisa ukuziphatha kubi kakhulu futhi lokhu kwalimaza ubungane babo loNkulunkulu kwenza lokuthi bangahlalisani kuhle. Khathesi asiboneni ukuthi umphrofethi uHezekheli wayichasisa njani indlela amaJuda ayeseziphatha ngayo.

19. UHezekheli wathi abantu bakaJehova basebeziphatha njani?

¹⁹ Bala uHezekheli 22:3-12. Abantu bako-Israyeli basebeziphatha ngendlela elihlazo kungelani lokuthi ngababusi kumbe ngabantukazana. “Abakhokheli bako-Israyeli” babesebenzisa izikhundla zabo ukuze babulale abantu abangelacala. Ngakho abantu labo baqalisa ukwenza okubi njengabakhokheli babo, bedelela uMthetho  kaNkulunkulu. Abanye basebelala lezihlobo zabo futhi abantwana ‘basebedelela’ abazali babo. Amanye ama-Israyeli ayeqilibezela abantu bezinye izizwe njalo ephatha kubi izintandane labafelokazi. Amanye amadoda ayeselala labafazi babomakhelwane bawo. Kwakulabanye abasebethanda ukufunjathiswa lababebolekisa imali behlose ukuthola inzuzo kanye lababethathela omakhelwane impahla yabo. Kumele ukuthi kwamzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu uJehova ukubona abantu bakhe ayeyenze labo isivumelwano sebedelela uMthetho wakhe futhi bengaselazwelo. UJehova wabona lokhu kuyikudelela yena ngokwakhe yikho wathuma uHezekheli ukuthi ayetshela abantu laba abasebexhwalile athi kubo: ‘Selingikhohliwe sibili.’

20. Indlela abantu bakoJuda ababeziphatha ngayo ngesikhathi sikaHezekheli ihambelana njani lendlela abantu abaziphatha ngayo lamuhla?

²⁰ Indlela abantu bakoJuda ababeziphatha ngayo ngensuku zikaHezekheli ihambelana njani lokwenzakala lamuhla? Lalamuhla abantu benza izinto ezilihlazo kakhulu njengabantu bakoJuda ababexhwalile. Ababusi bawasebenzisa kubi amandla abo futhi babaphatha kubi abantu. Abakhokheli bezinkolo, ikakhulu lezo ezithi zingezamaKhristu, bayabusisa amabutho nxa esiya empini futhi ezimpini lezo kufa amamiliyoni abantu. Abafundisi benza abantu bangabi lendaba lalokho iBhayibhili elikutshoyo ngendaba zokuziphatha. Lokho kubangele ukuthi abantu baqhubeke beziphatha kubi  futhi besenza izinto ezilihlazo. Amasonto la ayamdelela sibili uJehova njengamaJuda ayesehlamukile. Lawo ubengawatshela athi: ‘Selingikhohliwe sibili.’

21. Ukuhlola indlela amaJuda ayeziphatha ngayo kusinceda ngani?

²¹ Ukuhlola indlela amaJuda ayeziphatha ngayo kusinceda ngani? Kusifundisa ukuthi nxa sifuna uJehova amukele indlela esimkhonza ngayo kumele siziphathe kuhle ngazo zonke izikhathi. Lokhu akulula ngenxa yokuthi siphila emhlabeni ogcwele abantu abaxhwalileyo. (2 Thim. 3:1-5) Kodwa siyakwazi ukuthi uJehova uyakuzonda konke ukuziphatha okubi. (1 Khor. 6:9, 10) Ngakho siyazilalela izimiso zikaJehova zokuziphatha ngenxa yokuthi siyamthanda futhi siyayithanda lemithetho yakhe. (Hubo. 119:97; 1 Joh. 5:3) Nxa siziphatha kubi siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi asimthandi uNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele futhi ohlanzekileyo. Asifuni ukwenza loba yini engenza ukuthi uJehova athi kithi: “Usungikhohliwe sibili.”

22. (a) Kuyini ozimisele ukukwenza? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²² Sithole izifundo eziqakathekileyo ngokuhlola lokho okwatshiwo nguJehova ngamaJuda ayengaziphathanga futhi ayengcolisa ukukhonza kweqiniso. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi sizimisele ukuqhubeka sizinikele kuJehova kuphela ngoba nguye yedwa okufanele akhonzwe. Ukuze sikwenze lokhu kumele sibalekele zonke izindlela zokukhonza izithombe futhi siziphathe kuhle. Mhlawumbe uyazibuza ukuthi uJehova wenzani ngabantu bako-Israyeli ababengathembekanga. Eseqedile ukubhodisa uHezekheli ethempelini wamtshela wathi: “Ngizavuka ngolaka.” (Hez. 8:17, 18) Siyafuna sibili ukwazi ukuthi uJehova wawenzani amaJuda ayengathembekanga ngoba lokho yikho azakwenza ebantwini abenza izinto ezimbi lamuhla. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokuthi uJehova wabajezisa njani abantu bakoJuda.