1-3. (a) Sasinjani isimo sabantu bakaJehova lapho uZakariya eqala ukuprofetha? (b) Kungani uJehova athi abantu bakhe mababuyele kuye?

UMQULU ondizayo, owesifazane ovalelwe phakathi kwe-efa, abesifazane ababili abanamaphiko kanogolantethe​—lena yimibono etholakala encwadini kaZakariya. (Zak. 5:1, 7-9) Kungani uJehova anika umprofethi wakhe le mibono? Sasinjani isimo sama-Israyeli ngaleso sikhathi? Le mibono kaZakariya isithinta kanjani namuhla?

² Ngonyaka ka-537 B.C.E. abantu bakaJehova babejabule kakhulu. Base bekhululiwe eBhabhiloni ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 bethunjiwe. Ngentshiseko enkulu, baphuma bavuselela ukukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema. Ngo-536 B.C.E., zase zibekiwe izisekelo zethempeli. Ngaleso sikhathi abantu “babememeza ngokumemeza okukhulu, futhi umsindo wawuzwakala nasemajukujukwini.” (Ezra 3:10-13) Nokho,  abaphikisa umsebenzi wabo wokwakha baya beba namandla. Bedikibaliswe ubunzima nezinselele eziningi, abantu bayeka ukwakha ithempeli bazakhela ezabo izindlu bazitshalela namasimu. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-16, ukwakhiwa kwethempeli likaJehova kwakusamile. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakudingeka bakhunjuzwe ukuthi kufanele babuyele kuJehova, bayeke ukukhathalela izidingo zabo nje kuphela. UJehova wayefuna babuyele kuye, bamkhonze ngesibindi nangenhliziyo yonke.

³ Ukuze akhumbuze abantu bakhe ukuthi kungani bakhululwa eBhabhiloni, uNkulunkulu wathumela umprofethi wakhe uZakariya ngo-520 B.C.E. Igama lalo mprofethi elithi Zakariya—okusho ukuthi “UJehova Ukhumbulile”—kungenzeka labakhumbuza iqiniso elibalulekile. Nakuba base beyikhohliwe indlela uJehova abasindisa ngayo, uNkulunkulu wayesabakhumbula. (Funda uZakariya 1:3, 4.) Ngothando wabaqinisekisa ngokuthi uzobasiza bamise kabusha ukukhulekela kweqiniso, wabuye wabaxwayisa ngokuthi ngeke ayibekezelele inkonzo eyenziwa ngenhliziyo engaphelele. Ake sihlole umbono kaZakariya wesithupha nowesikhombisa, sibone indlela uJehova abasiza ngayo abantu bakhe ukuba benze okufanele. Namuhla yiziphi izifundo esingazifunda kulokhu?

4. Yini uZakariya ayibona embonweni wakhe wesithupha futhi yini ephawulekayo ngokubhalwa kwalo mqulu kuzo zombili izinhlangothi? (Bheka isithombe 1 esisekuqaleni.)

⁴ Isahluko 5 sikaZakariya siqala ngombono ongavamile. (Funda uZakariya 5:1, 2.) UZakariya ubona umqulu ondizayo ongaba amamitha angu-9 ubude nangu-4.5 ububanzi! Uvuliwe, ulungele ukufundwa. Kubhalwe kuwo isahlulelo futhi kubhalwe kuzo zombili izinhlangothi zawo. (Zak. 5:3) Ngokuvamile kwakubhalwa ohlangothini olulodwa kuphela, okusho ukuthi lo mqulu uqukethe umyalezo obaluleke kakhulu.

5, 6. UJehova ukubheka kanjani ukweba?

⁵ Funda uZakariya 5:3, 4. Bonke abantu bayolandisa kuJehova kodwa labo ababizwa ngegama lakhe bayolandisa nakakhulu. Abantu abamthandayo uNkulunkulu bayaqaphela ukuthi lonke uhlobo lokweba luletha isihlamba egameni likaNkulunkulu. (IzAga 30:8, 9) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umsuka uyini noma ukuthi umuntu uzithethelela uthini, ukweba kubonisa ukuthi umuntu ubheka isifiso sakhe sobugovu njengesibalulekile kunoNkulunkulu. Isela aliwunaki uMthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi alinandaba noJehova negama laKhe.

⁶ Uqaphelile yini ukuthi uZakariya 5:3, 4 uthi ‘isiqalekiso siyongena endlini yesela futhi siyiqothule’? Isahlulelo sikaJehova siyongena endlini ngisho noma ungavala ngezicabha zensimbi nezingidi eziqinile. Ayikho indawo umuntu angazifihla kuyo. UJehova angembula futhi ahlulele ububi phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Ngisho noma umuntu engeba bese ekufihla lokho emaphoyiseni, kumqashi wakhe, kubadala noma kubazali, ngeke akwazi ukubufihla lobo bubi kuNkulunkulu othembisa ukuthi uzobeneka obala. (Heb. 4:13) Yeka ukuthi kuqabula kanjani ukukhonza nabantu abenza umzamo oqotho wokwethembeka “ezintweni zonke”!​—Heb. 13:18.

7. Singasigwema kanjani isiqalekiso somqulu ondizayo?

⁷ Zonke izinhlobo zokweba ziyamcasula uJehova. Sikubheka njengelungelo ukuphila ngokuvumelana nemithetho kaJehova, siziphathe ngendlela engalethi isihlamba egameni laKhe. Lokho kuyosisiza sisinde lapho uJehova ahlulela labo abephula imithetho yakhe ngamabomu.

8-10. (a) Siyini isifungo? (b) Yisiphi isifungo iNkosi uZedekiya engazange isigcine?

⁸ Umqulu ondizayo ube usuxwayisa labo abenza “isifungo samanga egameni” likaNkulunkulu. (Zak. 5:4) Isifungo yinto eqinisekisa ukuthi into ethile iyiqiniso noma eqinisekisa ukuthi umuntu uzoyenza noma ngeke ayenze into ethile.

⁹ Akuwona umdlalo ukufunga egameni likaJehova. Yilokho kanye okwenziwa yinkosi yokugcina eyabusa eJerusalema. UZedekiya wafunga ngoJehova ukuthi uyothembeka njalo enkosini yaseBhabhiloni. Nokho, uZedekiya akasigcinanga isifungo sakhe. Ngenxa yalokho uJehova wakhipha lesi sahlulelo: “Kuphila kwami, . . . endaweni yenkosi embeke ukuba abe yinkosi lowo owedelela isifungo sayo, nowaphula isivumelwano sayo, uyofa ekanye nayo phakathi kweBhabhiloni.”​—Hez. 17:16.

¹⁰ Ngenxa yokuthi iNkosi uZedekiya yayifunge ngegama likaNkulunkulu, kwakumelwe isigcine leso sifungo. (2 IziKr. 36:13) Kunalokho, uZedekiya wacela usizo eGibhithe kodwa lokho akumsizanga ekuphunyukeni ejokeni labaseBhabhiloni.—Hez. 17:11-15, 17, 18.

11, 12. (a) Yisiphi isifungo esibaluleke kakhulu kunazo zonke? (b) Isifungo esisenza lapho sizinikezela kumelwe sikuthinte kanjani ukuphila kwethu kwansuku zonke?

¹¹ UJehova uyazilalela izithembiso esizenzayo. Akazithathi kancane izifungo zethu, yingakho kumelwe sizigcwalise ukuze samukeleke kuye. (IHu. 76:11) Kuzo zonke izithembiso esike sazenza, esibaluleke kakhulu yilesi esasenza ngesikhathi sizinikezela kuJehova. Ukuzinikezela yisifungo esisenza ngobuqotho sokukhonza uJehova ngokuphelele.

¹² Singasigcina kanjani isifungo sethu esasenza lapho  sizinikezela? Ukumelana novivinyo olukhulu noluncane kufanele kubonise ukuthi sisibheka njengento ebaluleke kakhulu isifungo sokudumisa uJehova “usuku nosuku.” (IHu. 61:8) Ngokwesibonelo, lapho othile emsebenzini noma esikoleni ekweshela, ingabe ubheka lokho njengethuba ‘lokujabulela izindlela [zikaJehova]’ bese uthi ‘Cha’ kulo okweshelayo? (IzAga 23:26) Uma sihlala endlini ehlukene phakathi ngokwenkolo, siyamcela yini uJehova asisize siqhubeke singamaKristu aqinile ngisho noma esihlala nabo bengamkhonzi uJehova? Siyathandaza yini kuBaba wethu osezulwini nsuku zonke, simbonge ngokusiqondisa nangokusithanda? Siyawenza yini umzamo wokufunda iBhayibheli nsuku zonke? Empeleni, ngesikhathi sizinikezela sathembisa ukwenza zonke lezi zinto. Ukuzenza kusho ukuthobela uNkulunkulu. Ukukhonza uJehova ngokugcwele kwembula ukuthi siyamthanda futhi sizinikezele kuye ngempela. Inkonzo yethu iwukuphila kwethu, akuyona nje into esiyenza ngezikhathi ezithile. Ukugcwalisa isithembiso sethu kuzuzisa thina, ukwethembeka kusinika ikusasa eliqhakazile.​—Dut. 10:12, 13.

13. Yini esingayifunda embonweni kaZakariya wesithupha?

¹³ Umbono kaZakariya wesithupha usisiza sibone ukuthi abantu abathanda uJehova akufanele babe amasela noma benze izifungo abangeke bazigcine. Sifunda nokuthi ngisho noma ama-Israyeli enza amaphutha, uJehova akazange awalahle. Wabuqonda ubunzima ama-Israyeli ayebhekene nabo njengoba ayezungezwe yizitha. Usibekela isibonelo ngokuzigcina izithembiso zakhe futhi uyosisiza sizigcine nezethu. Enye yezindlela asisiza ngazo ukusinika ithemba lokuthi maduze uzoqeda bonke ububi emhlabeni. Umbono olandelayo kaZakariya uqinisekisa leli themba.

14, 15. (a) Embonweni wesikhombisa, yini uZakariya ayibonayo? (Bheka isithombe 2 esisekuqaleni.) (b) Umelelani owesifazane ophakathi kwe-efa, kungani evalelwe kubhasikidi onesivalo somthofu?

¹⁴ Ngemva kokubona umqulu ondizayo, ingelosi ithi kuZakariya: ‘Phakamisa amehlo akho.’ Yini ezokwembulwa umbono wesikhombisa? UZakariya ubona kuphuma ubhasikidi obizwa ngokuthi “yi-efa.” (Funda uZakariya 5:5-8.) Lo bhasikidi unesivalo “somthofu esiyisiyingi.” Lapho isivalo sisuswa, uZakariya ubona ‘owesifazane ehlezi ngaphakathi.’ Ingelosi ibe isichaza ukuthi owesifazane ophakathi kukabhasikidi “ukuKhohlakala.” Cishe kwamethusa kakhulu uZakariya ukubona lona wesifazane ezama ukuphuma kulo bhasikidi avaleleke kuwo! Kodwa ngokushesha, ingelosi imbuyisela ngaphakathi lona wesifazane ibe isivala ubhasikidi ngesivalo esisindayo. Lokhu kusho ukuthini?

¹⁵ Lo mbono ubonisa ukuthi uJehova ngeke akubekezelele ukukhohlakala noma ububi banoma yiluphi uhlobo phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Singaqiniseka ngokuthi uyobususa ngokushesha. (1 Kor. 5:13) Ingelosi isinikeza isiqinisekiso salokho ngokuvala ubhasikidi ngesivalo somthofu.

16. (a) Yini uZakariya ayibona yenzeka kubhasikidi? (Bheka isithombe 3 esisekuqaleni.) (b) Abesifazane abanamaphiko bawuthatha bawuyise kuphi ubhasikidi?

¹⁶ Ngemva kwalokho uZakariya ubona abesifazane ababili abanamaphiko anamandla anjengamaphiko kanogolantethe.(Funda uZakariya 5:9-11.) Laba besifazane bahluke ngokuphelele kulona ovalelwe kubhasikidi. Laba besifazane basebenzisa amaphiko abo anamandla ukuze baphakamise ubhasikidi okuvalelwe kuwo “ukuKhohlakala.” Bawuyisa kuphi? “Ezweni laseShinari,” noma eBhabhiloni. Kodwa kungani bewuyisa eBhabhiloni?

17, 18. (a) Kungani iShinari iyindawo efanelekayo yokubeka ukuKhohlakala? (b) Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza ngokuphathelene nobubi nokukhohlakala?

 ¹⁷ Kuma-Israyeli ayephila ngesikhathi sikaZakariya, iShinari kwakuyindawo efanelekayo yokubeka ukuKhohlakala. UZakariya namanye amaJuda babazi ukuthi iBhabhiloni laliyindawo egcwele ukukhohlakala nobubi. Njengoba babekhulela kulelo dolobha elingcolile okukhulekelwa kulo izithombe, kwadingeka balwe kanzima ukuze bamelane nomoya walelo zwe owawunabantu abakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Kumelwe ukuba lo mbono wabenza bakhululeka​—baqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uzogcina ukukhulekela kweqiniso kuhlanzekile!

¹⁸ Nokho, umbono wakhumbuza amaJuda umthwalo wawo wokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela ehlanzekile. Ukukhohlakala noma ububi ngeke buvunyelwe ukuba bungene futhi buhlale phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Njengoba siye sadonselwa enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu ehlanzekile, esivikelayo nesinakekela ngothando, kuwumthwalo wethu ukuyigcina ihlanzekile. Ingabe lokhu akusenzi sifune ukugcina “indlu” yethu ihlanzekile? Ukukhohlakala noma ububi banoma yiluphi uhlobo abufuneki epharadesi lethu elingokomoya.

19. Isitshelani imibono kaZakariya namuhla?

¹⁹ Umbono kaZakariya wesithupha nowesikhombisa uyisixwayiso kulabo abenza ngokungathembeki, ubakhumbuza ukuthi uJehova akabubekezeleli ububi. Abakhulekeli bakhe abaqotho kumelwe babuzonde ngokusuka enhliziyweni ububi. Le mibono isenza siqiniseke ngokuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini uyasithanda. Uma sizikhandla ukuze sibe uhlobo lwabantu abajabulisa uNkulunkulu nabathola isivikelo sakhe, ngeke sithole isiqalekiso. Kunalokho uJehova uyosibusisa. Ngeke sizisole ngemizamo yethu yokuhlala sihlanzekile kuleli zwe eligcwele ububi. Qiniseka ngokuthi ungaphumelela ngosizo lukaJehova! Kodwa singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi ukukhulekela kweqiniso kuyophumelela kuleli zwe elingamesabi uNkulunkulu? Yini esenza siqiniseke ngokuthi uJehova uzoyivikela inhlangano yakhe njengoba usizi olukhulu lusondela? Le mibuzo izophendulwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.