1, 2. (a) Nabhothi nemadvodzana akhe baphatfwa njani kabi? (b) Ngubuphi buntfu lesitawucoca ngabo kulesihloko?

CABANGA nganasi simo. Lenye indvodza ibekwe licala lelikhulu lelingemanga. Umndeni kanye nebangani bayo bamangaliswa kutsi lendvodza igwetjwe ngebufakazi lobungemanga lobetfulwe bofakazi labatiwako kutsi abaketsembeki. Bantfu labatsandza kulunga beva buhlungu nababona lendvodza kanye nemadvodzana ayo langenacala bayobulawa. Lena akusiyo inganekwane. Loku kwenteka encekwini yaJehova leyetsembekile lenguNabothi, leyaphila ngesikhatsi kubusa iNkhosi Ahabi yaka-Israyeli.—1 Khos. 21:11-13; 2 Khos. 9:26.

² Kulesihloko, ngeke sicoce ngaloko lokwenteka kuNabhothi nje kuphela kodvwa sitawuphindze sicoce nangalomunye lomdzala lobekatsembekile lobekasebandleni lebuKhristu lelikhulu lekucala, lowenta liphutsa lekwehlulela kabi. Kufundza ngaletibonelo letiseBhayibhelini kutasisita sibone kutsi kutfobeka kubalulekile nangabe sifuna kuba nembono waJehova ngekulunga. Sitawuphindze sifundze ngekutsi kucolela labanye nangabe basiphetse kabi  ebandleni kungakhombisa njani kutsi sinembono waJehova ngekulunga.

3, 4. Nabhothi abeyindvodza lenjani futsi kungani angazange avume kutsengisela iNkhosi Ahabi insimu yakhe?

³ Nabhothi beketsembekile kuJehova ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli alandzela tento letimbi teNkhosi Ahabi kanye netemkakhe lebekayiNdlovukati lembi lenguJezebeli. Letikhonti taBhali betingamhloniphi Jehova futsi tingenandzaba netimiso takhe. Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, Nabhothi bekabheka buhlobo bakhe naJehova njengalobubaluleke kakhulu.

⁴ Fundza 1 Emakhosi 21:1-3. Ngesikhatsi Ahabi afuna kutsenga insimu yaNabhothi noma amnike lenye lencono esikhundleni sayo, Nabhothi wala. Kungani? Ngenhlonipho wachaza watsi: “Simakadze akasungivumela kutsi ngikunike lifa labobabemkhulu.” Kwala kwaNabhothi bekuhambisana nemtsetfo waJehova lobewungabavumeli kutsi batsengise lifa lebebakabanike lona. (Lev. 25:23; Num. 36:7) Asingabati kutsi Nabhothi abenembono waJehova.

5. Jezebheli wasifaka njani sandla ekubulaweni kwaNabhothi?

⁵ Lokubuhlungu kutsi kwala kwaNabhothi kutsengisela iNkhosi Ahabi lensimu kwambangela kutsi imphatse kabi kakhulu ikanye nemkayo. Kute Jezebheli atfolele lendvodza yakhe lensimu, wakhuluma emanga lamabi ngaNabhothi, lokwabangela kutsi yena nemadvodzana akhe babulawe. Yini Jehova lebekatayenta ngalesento lesibi?

6, 7. Jehova wakhombisa njani kutsi ungumtsandzi wekulunga, futsi kungani loku kwaba yindvudvuto etihlotjeni kanye nasebanganini baNabhothi?

⁶ Ngekushesha Jehova watfumela Elija ku-Ahabi mayelana nalesento sakhe lesibi. Elija wamehlulela kahle Ahabi ngekutsi amtjele kutsi bekangumbulali nelisela. Saba yini sehlulelo saJehova ngalendzaba? Ahabi nemkakhe kanye nemadvodzana akhe bebatawubulawa njengoba kwenteka kuNabhothi nemadvodzana akhe.—1 Khos. 21:17-25.

⁷ Nanobe umndeni netihlobo taNabhothi teva buhlungu ngesento lesibi sa-Ahabi, tatfola indvudvuto ngekwati kutsi Jehova bekasibonile lesimo futsi watsatsa sinyatselo ngekushesha. Noko kutfobeka kwabo kanye nekutsembela kwabo kuJehova bekutawuvivinywa tintfo lebetitawukwenteka bangakatigadzi.

8. Wenta njani Ahabi nakeva ngesehlulelo saJehova futsi waba yini umphumela waloko?

⁸ Ngesikhatsi Ahabi eva ngesehlulelo lesibuhlungu lesivela kuJehova “wadzabula tingubo takhe, wembatsa emasaka, wazila, walala ngemasaka, wahamba angulotfotjisiwe.” Ahabi watitfoba kakhulu! Waba yini umphumela wekutitfoba kwakhe? Jehova watsi ku-Elija: “Ngenca yekutsi utitfobile kimi, ngingeke ngisamehlisela lesigemegeme etikhatsini takhe, kodvwa ngiyawusehlisela etikwendlu yakakhe ngesikhatsi sekubusa kwemsa wakhe.” (1 Khos. 21:27-29; 2 Khos. 10:10,11,17) Jehova longumvivinyi “wetinhlitiyo tebantfu” wakhombisa Ahabi umusa.—Taga 17:3.

9. Kungani kutfobeka kwawuvikela umndeni waNabhothi kanye nebangani bakhe?

⁹ Bativa njani ngalesincumo saJehova labo lebebati ngalesento lesibi lebesentiwe ngu-Ahabi? Lokuguculwa kwesahlulelo kungenteka kwakuvivinya kukholwa kwetihlobo nebangani baNabhothi. Nangabe kunjalo, kutfobeka bekutabavikela, kwente kutsi bachubeke nekumkhonta ngekwetsembeka  Jehova futsi baciniseke kutsi wenta tintfo ngekulunga. (Fundza Dutheronomi 32:3, 4.) Nabhothi, emadvodzana akhe kanye nemindeni yabo batawujabulela kulunga lokungiko sibili lapho Jehova sekavusa labalungile. (Jobe 14:14, 15; Joh. 5:28, 29) Ngetulu kwaloko, umuntfu lotfobekile uyakhumbula kutsi “Nkulunkulu [weliciniso] uyakuyehlulela yonkhe imisebenti lesiyentile, ngisho nalokufihlakele lesikwentako, nome kuhle nome kubi.” (Shu. 12:14) Nangabe Jehova akhokha sehlulelo, kunetintfo laticabangelako lesingatati tsine. Ngako, kutfobeka kuvikela labo labangenacala kutsi buhlobo babo naNkulunkulu bungalimali.

10, 11. (a) Ngutiphi timo letingavivinya umbono lesinawo ngekulunga? (b) Ngutiphi tindlela kutfobeka lokungasivikela ngato?

¹⁰ Utawukwenta njani nangabe emadvodza lamadzala elibandla enta sincumo longasicondzi kahle nobe longavumelani naso? Nasi sibonelo, utokwenta njani nangabe wena nobe umuntfu lomtsandzako alahlekelwa lilungelo lenkonzo lalitsandzako? Utakwenta njani nangabe umuntfu loshade naye, indvodzana noma indvodzakati yakho nobe umngani wakho lomtsandzako ayekeliswa kuba ngufakazi futsi ungavumelani naleso sincumo? Kutsiwani nangabe ukholelwa kutsi lotsite lowente bubi uboniswe umusa  kube kungakafanele? Timo letinjalo tingakuvivinya kukholwa kwetfu kuJehova kanye nangendlela inhlangano yakhe lehlela ngayo tintfo. Kutfobeka kungakuvikela njani nangabe ubhekana naloluvivinyo? Asesicoce ngetindlela letimbili.

¹¹ Kwekucala kutfobeka kutosenta sivume kutsi kungenteka site onkhe emaciniso aleyondzaba. Kungakhatsaliseki kutsi sati kanganani ngaleso simo, nguJehova kuphela longafundza inhlitiyo yemuntfu lengumfanekiso. (1 Sam. 16:7) Kwati kwetfu leliciniso kutasenta kutsi sititfobe, sicaphele kutsi indlela lesicabanga ngayo ilinganiselwe, nekutsi sibone kubaluleka kwekulungisa indlela lesibuka ngayo leyondzaba. Kwesibili, kutfobeka kutasisita kutsi silalele futsi sibeketele njengoba silindzele Jehova kutsi alungise leso simo. Indvodza lehlakaniphile lenguSolomoni yabhala yatsi: “Kuyakubahambela kahle labo labesaba Nkulunkulu . . . , kodvwa kungeke kubahambele kahle lababi, futsi imphilo yabo ingeke yeluleke.” (Shu. 8:12, 13) Ngakulokunye, kutfobeka kusita bonkhe labo labatsintsekako kutsi babe nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu.—Fundza 1 Phetro 5:5.

12. Ngusiphi simo lesitawucoca ngaso nyalo, futsi ngani?

¹² EmaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala ase-Antiyokhi abhekana nesimo lesingazange sivivinye kutfobeka kwabo kuphela kodvwa savivinya ngisho nesifiso sawo sekucolela. Asesicoce ngalendzaba futsi sibone kutsi ingasisita njani sihlole indlela lesenta ngayo nakufanele sicolele labanye nekutsi sicondze indlela kucolela lokuhlobene ngayo nembono waJehova ngekulunga.

13, 14. Ngumaphi emalungelo umphostoli Phetro lebekanawo, futsi wasikhombisa njani sibindzi?

¹³ Umphostoli Phetro bekangulomdzala lohlonishwako ebandleni lebuKhristu. Bekangumngani waJesu futsi bekaniketwe emalungelo ekwenta imisebenti lekhetsekile. (Mat. 16:19) Nasi sibonelo, nga-36 C.E., Phetro watfola lilungelo lekucocela Khoneliyuse nemndeni wakhe tindzaba letimnandzi. Lesento besibalulekile ngoba Khoneliyuse bekangasuye umJuda futsi abengakasoki. Ngesikhatsi Khoneliyuse kanye nendlu yakhe sebemukele umoya longcwele, Phetro watsi: “Njengobe labantfu sebemukele umoya longcwele njengatsi, ngubani longabavimba kutsi babhajatiswe ngemanti?”—Imis. 10:47.

¹⁴ Nga-49 C.E., baphostoli kanye nemadvodza lamadzala aseJerusalema bahlangana ndzawonye kute batococa ngekutsi bekufanele yini kutsi basoke bantfu beTive lesebangemaKhristu. Kulomhlangano, Phetro wakhuluma ngekuciniseka, wakhumbuta labazalwane ngeminyaka leyendlulile lapho bantfu betive lebebangakasoki bamukela khona sipho semoya longcwele. Loko lokwashiwo nguPhetro kwaba lusito lolukhulu esigungwini lesibusako sangelikhulu lekucala nasenta sincumo. (Imis. 15:6-11, 13, 14, 28, 29) Sibindzi saPhetro sekuveta emaciniso njengoba anjalo sawajabulisa kakhulu emaKhristu langemaJuda kanye neweTive. Loku kwenta kwaba melula ngalamaKhristu kutsi ayetsembe lendvodza lebeyinebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu!—Heb. 13:7.

15. Nguliphi liphutsa lelentiwa nguPhetro ngalesikhatsi ase-Antiyokhi? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

¹⁵ Ngemuva kwalomhlangano lobewunga-49 C.E., Phetro wavakashela e-Antiyokhi. Ngesikhatsi alapho, bekete inkinga yekutihlanganisa nebazalwane beTive. Kunyenti labakufundza elwatini Phetro lebekanalo kanye netintfo letenteka kuye. Asingabati kutsi bamangala futsi badvumateka ngesikhatsi Phetro sekayekela kudla nabo. Lamanye  emaJuda ebandleni lokufaka ekhatsi Bhanabasi, alandzela lesibonelo saPhetro lesibi. Yini leyabangela kutsi lomKhristu longulomdzala ehlulele kabi, lokwabangela kutsi libandla lihlukane ekhatsi? Kukhona yini tsine lesingakufundza kuleliphutsa lelentiwa nguPhetro nangabe natsi sikhutjwe ngemavi noma tento talomdzala?

16. Phetro walungiswa njani kuleliphutsa lalenta, futsi ngumiphi imibuto lesingatibuta yona?

¹⁶ Fundza Galathiya 2:11-14. Phetro wabanjwa lugibe lwekwesaba bantfu. (Taga 29:25) Nanobe bekati kutsi Jehova utiva njani ngalendzaba, Phetro wesaba imibono yalamanye emaJuda lebekasokile ebandleni laseJerusalema. Umphostoli Pawula lebekakhona kulomhlangano lobewuseJerusalema nga-49 C.E., waya kuPhetro e-Antiyokhi wafike wamekhuta ngalokutentisa kwakhe. (Imis. 15:12; Gal. 2:13.) LamaKhristu aletinye Tive besekatokwenta njani ngaleliphutsa lebelentiwe nguPhetro? Bebatawukhubeka yini ngaleliphutsa? Phetro besekatawulahlekelwa ngemalungelo enkonzo yini ngenca yaleliphutsa lakhe?

17. Kucolewa nguJehova kwamsita njani Phetro?

¹⁷ Bufakazi bukhombisa kutsi Phetro watitfoba futsi wasemukela seluleko saPawula sekumekhuta. ImiBhalo ayisitjeli kutsi wemukwa emalungelo enkonzo. Kunaloko, kamuva waphefumulelwa kutsi abhale tincwadzi letimbili teliBhayibheli. Encwadzini yakhe yesibili, Phetro nakakhuluma ngaPawula watsi ‘ungumzalwane wetfu lotsandzekako.’ (2 Phet. 3:15) Nanobe liphutsa laPhetro lawavisa buhlungu emaKhristu aletinye Tive lebekakhona ebandleni, Jesu loyinhloko yelibandla wachubeka amsebentisa. (Ef. 1:22) Ngako, emalunga elibandla atfola litfuba lekutsi alingise Jesu kanye nababe wakhe ngekutsi acolele labanye. Siyetsemba kutsi kute lowayekela kukhonta Jehova ngenca yekutsi ukhutjwe ngumuntfu lonesono.

18. Ngutiphi timo lapho kungadzingeka sikhombise khona kutsi sinembono waJehova?

¹⁸ Njengoba kwakunjalo ngelikhulu lekucala, nalamuhla emadvodza lamadzala lakhona ebandleni lebuKhristu anesono, “ngobe sonkhe siyona tikhatsi letinyenti.” (Jak. 3:2) Kungenteka siyalati leliciniso kodvwa kuba nesono kwetfu kuyavivinyeka lapho sikhutjwa ngumzalwane wetfu. Nakwenteka kuvela timo letinjalo, sitawukhombisa yini kutsi sinembono waJehova ngekulunga? Nasi sibonelo, utokwenta njani nangabe lomdzala ebandleni enta liphutsa leliphambene nekulunga? Utawavumela yini emavi lakhulunywe ngulomdzala angakacabangi kahle kutsi akuvise buhlungu? Kunekutsi usheshe uphetse ngekutsi lomzalwane akasakufanelekeli kuba ngulomdzala welibandla, utawulindzela Jesu loyinhloko yelibandla yini kutsi alungise leso simo? Utawuyenta yini imetamo yekubuka ngale kwaleliphutsa, mhlawumbe ngekutsi unake kakhulu imisebenti lemihle layente ngekwetsembeka esikhatsini lesendlulile? Nangabe umzalwane lokonile achubeka nekuba ngulomdzala welibandla nobe atfola lamanye emalungelo, utawujabula naye yini? Kutimisela kwakho kumcolela kutawukhombisa kutsi unembono waJehova ngekulunga.—Fundza Matewu 6:14, 15.

19. Yini lokufanele sitimisele kuyenta?

¹⁹ Bantfu labatsandza kulunga balangatelela sikhatsi lapho Jehova atawususa khona kungalungi lokubangelwa bantfu labacondziswa nguSathane kanye nalesimiso sakhe lesibi. (Isa. 65:17) Uma nje sisengakafiki leso sikhatsi, sonkhe kufanele sitimisele kuba nembono waJehova ngekulunga ngekutsi sititfobe, semukele kutsi silinganiselwe etintfweni letitsite futsi sibacolele ngalokukhulekile labo labasonako.