Ningabantu bakaNkulunkulu

UnguNkulunkulu

Psalm 82:1-8

NgokuDr. J. Ligon Duncan

January 1, 2006

Nceda nihlale. Siqhubeka sisebenza kwiNcwadi yesiThathu yeZithsaba kunye, yaye sibuya ku Psalm 82: iZithsaba ezimfutshane, iZithsaba malunga noThixo norhulumente. Yaye ukuba ubujingile ukujonga kwi-Epistle yokuQala kwisihloko sesi sikhuthelo sakusasa okanye ubukele iphephandaba lakho namhlanje ekuseni waza wazibuza ukuba nditshintshe ikhoni — hayi, ndiyathetha, ndiza kushumayela UnguNkulunkulu. Amehlo akho aqaphela loo mazwi aphuma ngqo ku Psalm 82.

Ngoku, unokuba uzibuze ukuba esi sikhuthelo sizakuphathelanisa ntoni; okanye mhlawumbi wacinga ukuba “uLigon ufunda iLizwi loKholo kunye nabasebenzi bezempilo nokutyetyiswa, yaye uza kusinika intshumayelo kaKenneth Copeland malunga nendlela esingaboThixo abancinci.” Sukuba nexhala: andikenzanga, yaye andiyo!

Ngoku, kubalulekile ukuba siwazi ngaphambi kokuba sifunde esi Zithsaba kunye ukuba kube neentlobo ngeentlobo zokutekeleza malunga nokuba yimpi lelungu “UnguNkulunkulu” kubhekisela kuye. Iiliberal phakathi kweminyaka engama-50-75 edlulileyo ziye zaphakamisa ukuba le yobufakazi beqhekeza lepolitheism yakudala: olu hlalutyo lwezono ezininzi lubonisa ukuba yinto eseleyo yenkolelo yakuIsrayeli yakudala kwiNkulunkulu ezininzi, nangona ekugqibeleni, phantsi kwempembelelo yabaProfeti, i-monotheism yezokuziphatha yaba yinto ephambili yaze yagxotha iinkolelo ze-poliytheism zakudala.

Ngoku, ingxaki, yaye kunjalo, kule mbono ibonisa ukuba esi Zithsaba sinazo zonke i-monotheism yezokuziphatha. Isimalunga noThixo omnye olawulayo yaye olawula abantu bakhe nomhlaba wonke, kubandakanywa nabo balawula umhlaba. Yaye ukuba umbhali wesi Zithsaba, kwixesha apho kunikezelwa khona ukholo kuThixo omnye, kwenze njalo ngabapostoli bonke belizwe, kutheni le ndlela uya kuyishiya kule Zithsaba ebonakalisa ipolitheism yakudala njengo mbali wakwaIsrayeli? Ayenzi sense.

Umbono wesibili (futhi yumbono wabambalwa njengokuthi “nina ungabankulunkulu” kubhekiselwa kuye, noma kubankulunkulu ababhekiselwa kubo kule Psalm) uthi abankulunkulu lapha bangabakhuluzi bademoni. Kwanikezwa izibonelo ezifana noDanyeli, lapho uGabrieli ethunyelwa ekhuphuka kuNkulunkulu uya kuDanyeli ekuphenduleni umthandazo kaDanyeli ku Daniel 9, yena uyathintwa, njengokungathi, abambana nemiPhiko nemiNhloko emgwaqweni wakhe wokufika kuDanyeli noNkulunkulu, futhi kuphakanyiswa ukuthi kunendikiso yezimPhiko nemiNhloko zidlala nale Psalm.

Ngokomzekelo, uma ubheka phansi kwivesi 7, abavikeli bombono wabo bazothi qaphela ukuthi umbhali wePsalm uthi ngabo ababiza ngabankulunkulu, “Nihlelo nife njengabantu...” bayathi ‘Aha! Lokho kuthetha ukuthi aba bantu, ngoba uma bengabantu ungakusho ngabo ‘nife njengabantu,’ y lokhu kungumbufakazi wokuthi le Psalm ayikho ngabantu ababizwa ngabankulunkulu, kodwa kungumbufakazi wokuthi iPsalm i ngamandla angelosi bademoni.’

Well, apart from the major interpretative problem with that, which is that clearly the Psalm is an instruction from God to those who are in civil authority, the problem with the proof of verse 7 is that that proof cuts both ways. We can say definitively that the end of angelic demonic powers is not going to be like the end of men, in the sense that they will meet the second death first in the lake of fire.

And, secondly, we can know that the very expression “you will die like men” is in the context of people who are acting like gods but who are merely men. And so the phrase “you will die like men” is perfectly appropriate for them.

Icala elidala, elikhulu kuninzi lwabantu kule ndima ukuthi amagod gods lapha abhekisela kubabusi bezwe. Kuwo wonke uTestamente Olidala uThixo uhlale eyala amaciko wabuhulumeni ukuba busa ngokuqiniseka; kanti kule ndima Uyabita ngokuthi gods (ngokuncane “g”) ngoba bebeqeshwe nguYe, ngoba befanele ukubusa ngokuvumelana nelizwi Lakhe (ilizwi likaThixo), n ngoba befanele ukuba yibo abaphathi abaphakathi bokulunga kwakhe ezweni. Basebenza njengabasebenzi bakaThixo.

Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi uJesu uqobo lwakhe uyacaphuna le ndima kunzulu eThobheli. Vukani nami ku John 10. Sizofika ku Psalm 82, ngiyakuqinisekisa, kodwa vukani nami ku John 10. Ku John 10, niyakukhumbula, phakathi kwesigaba 22 uJesu ungena engxoxweni ephakathi nomkhosi wokuzinikela eJerusalema nabantu baseJudia abaqoqene lapho, phakathi nomkhosi onjalo uthi (esigabeni 30) “Mina noYise ngodwa.” Njengoba uJesu ekhona efakaza ubuThixo bakhe kule ndima. BaseJudia bona bayaqonda loo. Qaphelani lokho abathi esigabeni 33: "Wena, woba yimuntu, uzikhipha njengomgod."

Ngesikhathi uJesu esabela kubo uyabafanyana nancane, uyacaphuna kubo kusuka ku Psalm 82, uthi, “Akuzalwanga yini okulotshiweyo emthethweni wenu, ‘Ngathi, ‘Nina ungod gods’? Uma uYena wabita ngokuthi gods labo abathola ilizwi likaThixo (iSibhalo asikwazi ukuphukiswa), nina nithi ngaye oyingcwele uYise wamthuma emhlabeni, ‘Uyabhuhlunga,’ ngenxa yokuthi ngathi, ‘Ngiyingane kaThixo?’”

Kule mpendulo uJesu wenza izinto ezimbili. Okokuqala, uyabakhuza abagxeki bakhe baseJudia kusukela emasikripthi abo ukuthi kunezindima lapho uNkulunkulu akhuluma ngabantu njengabanguNkulunkulu. Kodwa ngokuqinisekile, uyabona amandla e-argumenti yakhe yinto encane ukuya kwinto enkulu. Uma labantu abathole izwi likaNkulunkulu, izwi likaNkulunkulu lokuthi ungabusa njani ngokuqiniseka emhlabeni wakwa-Israyeli, uma labantu abathole izwi likaNkulunkulu lokuthi balithephe ngalo bangabizwa ‘abanguNkulunkulu’, kufanele kangakanani ukuthi Yena uNkulunkulu amthumileyo emhlabeni abizwe ngokuthi uNkulunkulu, “uNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” Kwaye uJesu kule ndima uprotha ubufakazi bokuthi umqondo ofanele we Psalm 82. Yipsalemu elikhulunywa kubabusi base-Israyeli.

Kwa le, masivule amaBhayibheli akithi ku Psalm 82 silalele izwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngaphambi kokuthi silalele lifundwa, masikhanganye kuye ekuthandazeni.

Yise, siyabonga ngenxa yelizwi lakho. Siyabonga ngenxa yokufika kwalo; siyabonga ngenxa yegunya lakhe. Siyabonga, eyNkulunkulu, ngenxa yobuphila, umsebenzi wakhe, ngenxa yokuthi akalona i ncwadi efile, kodwa yilowo izwi eliphilayo. Lihle ngenxa yokukhula kwethu, ngenxa yokuqondisa kwethu, ngenxa yoqeqesho lwethu ekulungiseni, yena na wabonisa ukuthanda kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yindlela yokusindiswa ngoMsindisi na nguNkulunkulu wethu. Kwaye siyabonga ngenxa yalo. Njengoba sifunda izwi lakho namhlanje, siyakucela ngenxa yoMoya wakho uncoshe umqonda nokukholwa kwelizwi lakho. Lokhu siyakucela egameni likaJesu. Amen.

Lalelani izwi likaNkulunkulu.

Ipsalemu ka-Asafu.

Ithwala uThixo ekuthroneni kwakhe; uyahlulela phakathi kwabathwali bomthetho. Nide nini niyahuleleka ngokungabi nabulungisa, Nokuthanda ubani kub wicked? Thixani ababuthakathaka naba yathwa; Yenzani ubulungisa kubahluphekileyo nabangenayo. Hlangulani ababuthakathaka nabadinga; Bakhululeni ekandleni lab wicked. “Abazi nokuyiqonda; Bahamba befikelwe ubumnyama; Zonke iziseko zomhlaba zixukuxekile. Ngathi, ‘Ningabathixo, Nabo bonke bengabantwana baThixo onguMkhulu. Kodwa niyakufa njengabantu, Niphuke njengomunye wabathwali bomthetho.’ Vuka, Thixo, uhlele umhlaba! Ngokuba nguwe oyedwa onazo zonke izizwe.

Amen. Ngale ndlela iphela le ngxenye yelizwi likaThixo elyingcwele, eliphefumlelwe, nelingenasiphako. Mqhubeke nje ukongeza iblessings zakhe kulo.

Le yipsalmo, ingoma eyayimelwe iculeke ekuthroneni. Omnye umbhali wathi ngePsalmo, “Le Psalmo akufanele iculeke ekuthroneni. Iyalathela ku thixo ka hulumende. Ibandla alinalutho lokwenza kuhulumende. Kufanele silindele yedwa uYehova okhulu ukuza, yena yedwa oyahlulela zonke izizwe, yena yedwa oyiNkosi yezizwe, akufanele sicule le Psalmo ekuthroneni.”

Kodwa kuyathakazelisa, yiqiniso, le Psalmo ibingene ekuthroneni kwaIsrayeli iminyaka emakhulu amaninzi, yena iqhubekile ukuculeka ekuthroneni kwabantu bakaThixo iminyaka itholela ezithile.

Lowo nje lokhu lusitshela ukuthi uhulumeni ubaluleke kakhulu kuNkulunkulu. Akusiyo into esiyishintsha ngakolunye uhlangothi lwesimpilo yethu, futhi sinempilo kaKristu lapha bese uhulumeni ukhona lapha. Cha, uNkulunkulu unamathele kakhulu kuhulumeni. UMartin Luther wayechaza iZulu phakathi neMpi Yabasebenzi eJalimane. Uyaqhubeka nokhulumela ngale Zulu. IZulu elifushane uma lithathwa. Ngicabanga ukuthi uMartin Luther wabhala amazwi amaningi ngale Zulu kunalokho okutholakala kule Zulu! Kodwa esinye sezizathu awenza ngazo lokhu kungenxa yokuqaphela kwakhe okukhulu kuhulumeni omuhle kanye nesibusiso asilethayo ukuba nohulumeni omuhle, hhayi kuphela kubantu bakaNkulunkulu kodwa nakubantu bonke. Uyakha ibizo ekukhulumeni ngale Zulu ukuthi wayengathanda ukuba umholi omuhle, ohulumeni omuhle ( “incekukazi yezwe” enhle njengoba ayeyisho ngesikhathi sakhe), kunokuba abe uHillary noma uJerome. uHillary wayengomunye wabantu abaqalile ukunyakaza kwezindlu zokuhlala ePalestina, uJerome wayengumkhongomani odumile eBethlehem owayephethe ukuhumusha iVangeli laseLatini. Kodwa uLuther wayesho ukuthi wayenomqondo ophakeme ngohulumeni wasezweni.

Khalvin naye wayenomqondo ophakeme ngohulumeni wasezweni. Ngempela, sovame ukuzwa abaphostoli namuhla besithi umsebenzi wozwiso ulibizo eliphakeme kakhulu umuntu analo. UKhalvin wacabanga ukuthi ibizo lohulumeni libizo eliphakeme kakhulu umuntu analo! Yena futhi, wayekubonakalisa ukuthi uhulumeni wabekwa nguNkulunkulu ngenxa yenhlalakahle evamile, nokuthi akukho okwenzayo muhle kubantu nakubantu bakaNkulunkulu ikakhulukazi kunohulumeni omuhle.

Nokho, le yisihlabelelo mayelana nokubusa okulungile okwakhelwa nguThixo abantu bakhe ukuze bayicule. Ungacabanga izimo e-Israeli lapho kungase kubonwe mhlawumbe ngabamandla bakumkani ababengakwazi ukubusa kahle — kungase kubonakale njengesivukothi ukucula le Salmo ekukhulekeleni kwethempeli eJerusalema. Ungacabanga? Uyinkosi engathandeki, ubusa abantu baka-Israyeli, futhi uprista ophuma naye Psalm 82 futhi ukuze akuculisele phambi kwakho. Kungani, ungamgxotha emtowni!

Nokho, uThixo wayefuna ukufundisa abantu bakhe amaqiniso amaningana abalulekile, futhi ngifuna ukukukhomba kuwe kuwo amathathu muhlanga ephasazhini st tonight. Emavesini 1-4, ngifuna ubone ukubizwa kukaThixo kohulumeni abathembekile. Kuyavesi 5, ngifuna ubone isikhalazo sikaThixo ngokuhulumeni okungenampilo. Futhi, emavesini 6-8 ngifuna ubone lesi sikhuqulo sokwahlulela okunikezwa nguThixo kubawengi abalawulayo, abalawulayo babantu, abahlukahlukanisi phakathi kwabantu bakaThixo — labo ababizwa nguYe “bagod.” Masilokhu kuwo wonke la mazwe ngobanye.

Yiba. UThixo ubiza uhulumeni othemelile.

Okokuqala, uThixo ubiza uhulumeni othemelile emavesini 1-4. Lalela la mazwi futhi:

“UThixo uma ekuma kwakhe ekongresheni lakhe; Uwahlulela phakathi kwabalawulayo. Kuzokuthatha isikhathi esingakanani ukwahlulela ngokungenampilo, nokubonisa ukuthanda kwakho kubibi? Thulisa ababuthakathaka nabantwana abangenayihlo; Yenza ubulungisa kubahluphekile nabangenamandla. Xilongo ababuthakathaka nabadingayo; Bakhulule enqabeni yababi.”

Kwazi sinomshumayelo kaThixo kubantu bakhe mayelana nokubusa okulungile. Kule pasazhi saziswa kulokho okubonakala njengesigcawu sasekhothameni; okungenani, yisihlanganiso esikhulu sabantu bakaThixo. Kulesi cala, uThixo uqobo lakhe usungula isikhathi sokwahlulela. Abantu bakhe baqoqwe eduze kwakhe. Ukhona phakathi kwabo. Futhi ubani okhona naye? Abalawulayo...abahluleli. “Uwahlulela phakathi kwabalawulayo,” kusitsho kuvesi 1.

Naye ngokushesha, emshweni wesi-2, kwenzeka ntoni? UThixo uphakamisa izityholo ezibandakanya abo balawuli, abo bahlokomizi: “Niya kuhlala niglije njani ngokungafanelekanga, nibe nikhathazekile kub wicked?” Ngamanye amazwi, uThixo umi phakathi kwesihlanganiso sonke sabantu Bakhe, yena ubonisa abo balawuli nabo bahlokomizi, yena uthi ‘Nihlulela ngokungafanelekanga yena nibonisa umkathazo kub wicked.’ Ngoku, ekuphakamiselelo kwaleyo tyholo yokuqala kubo, ngoku uthi kubo into ayifunayo, into ayilindele kwabo balawula kakuhle. Ubona oku emshweni 3-4.

Okokuqala, uthi kubo into ayilindele: ukuba ulawulo lwabo luqaphele imithombo yabo ekungenzeka yabo bagcinwa, babiwe, yena ubalula: ababuthakathaka, abantwana, abahluphekileyo nabahluphekileyo. Kwaye ulawulo lwabo luqaphele abo ekungenzeka yabo bagcinwa yena baphatheke njengo thixo. Qaphela ukuba uthi ngako emshweni 4: “Hluluka ababuthakathaka nabahluphekileyo; bazikhulule ezandleni z wicked.”

Kwaye qaphela apha uThixo uthi kwezona zinto zimbini zikarhulumente wabantu bakhe. Okokuqala, baya kuqaphela abo ekungenzeka yabo bagcinwa. Baya kuqinisekisa, ngamanye amazwi, ukuba kukho ubulungisa obufanayo kubo bonke. Okwesibini, baya kukhusela abo babuthakathaka ekuphathweni kakubi nokuhlaselwa kw wicked, yena kukho ukuphathwa kwabulungisa yena kukhuselo lwabo abangakwazi ukuzikhusela, yena zombili eze zinto zilindeleke nguThixo kwikarhulumente wabantu bakhe.

Njengendlela, lesi yisizathu esenza abakholelwa eBhayibhelini bakholeleke njalo ukuthi uhulumeni omuhle kufanele akhuthalise ukulunga okulinganayo phansi komthetho. Lokho akusiyo idea eyasungwa ngababa bethu abasungula izwe. Bafunde loo ng исти ukusuka kwisiko labo lobuKristu, kusuka eBhayibhelini: ukuthi ukulunga okulinganayo phansi komthetho yinto uNkulunkulu ayilindela kuwo wonke uhulumeni omuhle. Yisimiso somhlaba wonke.

Eqinisweni, lokho kungaba ingxoxo eluncedo kakhulu kuwe njengobuKristu ukungena kuyo neneneKristu. Ungathi kungeneneKristu, “NjengeKristu, ngine isizathu sokuthi ngiyakholeleka ukuthi kufanele kube khona ukulunga okulinganayo phansi komthetho. Uma ukholelwa ekuguqukeni kukaDarwin nakuqondakalini, wena ungakholwa ukuthi kunuNkulunkulu, ngesisekelo sini uyakholeleka ukuthi kufanele kube khona ukulunga okulinganayo phansi komthetho? Siyini isisekelo sefelsefu yombono wako womhlaba okujezisa ukuthi kufanele kube khona ukulunga okulinganayo phansi komthetho?” Akhona impendulo ilungileyo kulowo nalowo ophika uNkulunkulu oMdali oqinisa imithetho yendawo yonke yokulunga nokungalungi, yeqiniso nokulunga. Ngakho lokho kungaba ingxoxo eluncedo kakhulu yangaphambi koku vangeliza ukungena kuyo nomngani wakho ongakholwa.

Kodwa lapha, uThixo, ngokwenza abantwana ba-Israyeli bakalele isihlabelelo salo apho Akhubaza aboongameli abangalunganga, empeleni wenza ntoni? Uyabqinisa kubantu Bakhe ukholo lokuba uThixo uYena ngumthombo wolawulo; ukuba uThixo ngumthombo weemilinganiselo zokuziphatha ezihlala zintle ezilinganiswa ngazo yonke inkawuluko; ukuba uThixo unomdla kakhulu kulawulo olulungileyo kuzo zonke iintlanga. Enye yezinto ezikulo Psalm, kunjalo, kukuba igxininisa uThixo akalawuli nje kuphela kwa-Israyeli, kodwa phezu kwani? Zonke iintlanga. Ziyakhe. Ngoko uThixo unomdla kulawulo olulungileyo kungekhala kuphela phakathi kwabantu Bakhe, kodwa nakwiintlanga zonke, yaye uThixo uya kubabamba aboongameli abaziphatha ngendlela engafanelekanga. Ngoko ngokukalelela isihlabelelo salo ngokuphindaphinda nangaphezu kwamakhulu amaninzi iminyaka, abantwana ba-Israyeli bafunda ukuba uThixo ngumthombo wolawulo, ukuba Yena ngumthombo weemilinganiselo zokuziphatha ezihlala zintle ezilinganiswa ngazo yonke inkawuluko, ukuba Yena unomdla kakhulu kulawulo olulungileyo kuzo zonke iintlanga, yaye ukuba Yena uya kubabamba aboongameli.

UJesu, uyakhumbula, xa Yena ekhona phambi kukaPilato ku John 19, uthetha kuPilato — ntoni? “Ndiyazi ukuba unayo imandla kodwa yiyo leyo ikunikezelwe yona.” Uyavuma ukuba ulawulo lukaPilato ePalestina ekugqibeleni alubuyi kuKhesare, lubuyela kuThixo. UPowulos uya kuthetha into enye ku Romans 13. Phakathi kokubusa kukaNero (ngokwenzekayo!) uya kuthetha ukuba uThixo ubekele ulawulo kwinkwabo yethu. Yena ngumthombo wolawulo. Yena ngumthombo weemilinganiselo zokuziphatha ezihlala zintle ezilinganiswa ngazo yonke inkawuluko. Yena unomdla kulawulo olulungileyo nolulungileyo, yaye Yena uya kubabamba aboongameli. Abantu bakaThixo bafunda ezo zinto ngokukalelela isihlabelelo salo.

II. Isikhalazo sikaThixo ngokuchasene nolawulo olungalunganga.

Kukhona into yesibili engifuna uyibone, futhi, nokho, ukuthi yikho ukukhala kukaNkulunkulu ngokumelene nohulumu ongangaki. Uyabona emshweni wesi-5 uNkulunkulu akhalela ngohulumu ongangaki. Lapha emshweni wesi-5 uyabona ukuhlola kukaNkulunkulu kwabathwali bamandla noholicini bakwa-Israyeli. Bakanye naye, khumbula, banemicimbini. Umyalelo usuwaphe ukuyeka ukubusa ngokungangaki. Njengaye uqhubeka nokuhlola kwakhe emshweni wesi-5: “Abazi nokho abaqondi; bahamba emnyameni; Yonke imiseko yezwe iyaxheshwa.”

Wayengekho umphumela omuhle kakhulu embalini yabo, kwaba? U Nkulunkulu uyabatshela ukuthi njengabathwali bamandla nabathuli abangenakho ukuqonda — okungukuthi, bashoda ubuhlakani nokwahlula. Uyabatshela ukuthi bahamba emnyameni — okungukuthi, bakhona ekhathazweni elimnyama lokudideka kwama. Bashoda ubuhlakani nokwahlula, into ebalulekile ekwahluleni nasekuthuleni.

Kwaye badidekile, ngoba abazange bayixabise ngokwanele ukuthi ukubusa kwabo kuvela kuNkulunkulu, nokuthi yimithetho kaNkulunkulu abayokhanda kufeza nokuthi kuNkulunkulu ababomthetho.

Kwaye yini imiphumela? Hhe, uyabatshela ekugcineni komshwe wesi-5: “Yonke imiseko yezwe iyaxheshwa.” Ngamanye amazwi, lonke uhlelo lokuziphatha luyaxheshwa, luyathikaziswa ngenxa yobuthulu obuthathaka. Hhayi nje ubuthulu obuthathaka, kodwa ubuthulu obubi nokuthathaka nokungangaki. Imiseko yenhlalakahle yethwalwa phansi ngohulumu ongangaki.

Uyazi, akufanele kusimangaze, kodwa emhlabeni owile kukhona umkhuba wokubhuka osekhona kuwo wonke umsebenzi wamandla nokubusa kwabantu. Ngenxa yalokho, owasungula uyise wabeka imithetho nemikhawulo yokuzama nokubhekana nalelo phroblem ye abantu ababuthathaka abasebenzisa amandla abo ngokubhuka, nokuthi basebenzisa la mandla ngendlela engathuthukisi inhlalakahle yethu kodwa de facto iyathwalwa phansi.

Nokhu, uNkulunkulu unika isilinganiso sakhe ngabathonga nabaholi. Abazi uNkulunkulu njengomthombo wobulungiswa nokulawula, yingakho behloka ubuhlali nokwahlula, abantu base bekhathazeka.

Kwaye ekugcineni, emavesini 6-8, sibona isibayizo sikaNkulunkulu ngabathonga. Uyabaxwayisa ngokwahluleka kwakhe kubathonga abafayo abazibizayo ng gods. Lalela futhi amazwi kaNkulunkulu emavesini 6 no 7: “Ngathi, ‘Ningabagods, bonke oyi owan oKhethiweyo. Kodwa niyakufa njengabantu, niwe njengomunye o phathi.’”

Ngamanye amazwi, uNkulunkulu uthi ‘Bhekani, ngiyanikimisela e-Israyeli njengabameleli bami ngenxa yombutho wabantu, yingakho ningabagods, ning owan oKhethiweyo. Ningabantu abagcwele ngamandla ami okulawula. Kodwa musani ukukhohlwa ukuthi niyakufa njengabantu abanye, uma nifa kuyakubeleka ushilongo olindele.’

UNkulunkulu ubeke abathonga e-Israyeli. Bagcwele ngesibopho sakhe sokuphatha ubulungiswa ngokusho kwakhe. Bayaphendula kuNkulunkulu, yingakho uthi kubo ‘Ningabagods. Ningabantu abagcwele ngamandla ami okuphatha ubulungiswa. Kodwa ngosuku olunye niyakufa, niwe phambi kwesihlalo sakhe esingcwele endlunkulu yami wokuhluleka nokuhlola ukholo lwenu. Futhi ngiyanikupha isilinganiso salokho okulindeleke kuni ukuba ningaphathi ngokobulungiswa, okuyisilinganiso esitholakala kwakhe yingakho kumuthetho wakhe oyisimo osenikwe wona.’

Nokuphendula kwokhu, abantu bakaNkulunkulu ekugcineni bakhuluma kule Psalm. Ngokuhamba kwethemba bebehlabelela ngoNkulunkulu noma bebehlabelela amazwi kaNkulunkulu kulaba busukazi. Ekugcineni, emshweni wesi-8 abantu bakaNkulunkulu bahlebelela ngamazwi abo. Futhi yini abayihlebelelayo? “Vuka, eyNkulunkulu, uphathisise umhlaba! Ngoba wena owakho onazo zonke izizwe.” Njengoba ubona, ekugcineni abantu ababuthanayo bakhala; yini abayishoyo? ‘Woza, Nkosi, uphathisise umhlaba, ngoba zonke izizwe ziyakho.’

Esinye sezwi lokugcina kakhulu kwiBible, iNcwadi yeSambulo, “Woza, Nkosi, woza ngokushesha.” Ukuze enzeni? Uzoza kuphathisisa njengoba uCharles Wesley esho kulelo lutulo olukhulu...lithini, 318? Lo, Uza Ngamafu Ehla - “Woza kuphathisisa, woza kuphathisisa, woza kuphathisisa, hamba,” Uzisho. Ngoba uApostola Paulo ugcizelela ukuthi ekupheleni uNkulunkulu uyakuphathisisa umhlaba ngalo muntu uKristu Jesu, nawo wonke umuntu kumele avele phambi kwasesihlalweni sokuphathisisa kukaKristu; futhi, angoza futhi uza ngamafu enhlonipho nesikhazazo sokuphathisisa. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu eTestamenteni Elidala bathandazela ngaphezu kokwazi, abayahle? lapho becela uNkulunkulu avuke, aze afike aphathisise kubawubusi abangalungi?

UNkulunkulu usikhumbuza ngale Psalm ukuthi uyakwenza abawubusi bonke abaphatha, abaphathisisa, abahluleli.

Amazwi kaMartin Luther kule Psalm anceda kakhulu. Ushaya ibhalansi, yize kube yisikhathi esiphithiphithayo emlandweni waseJermane ngesikhathi seReformationi kanye neNkathi yeZivenzi. Futhi ukhomba zombili izici zohulumu: isici senhlonipho okumele sinala kubo abahulumu kanye nesici sokubawajibikisa kuNkulunkulu abahulumu. Nakhu akwenzayo:

Ngeke kube khona ukuthula lapho kungekho uhulumeni, noma lapho uhulumeni unikezwa ithuba elingafanele, ngeke kube khona ukuthula. Lapho kungekho ukuthula, akekho umuntu ongaligcina ilunga lakhe noma enye into ephambi kokuhlukumeza kwenze lowenye noma ukweba noma ukuphanga noma udlame nokubi; icala elincane kulokho, kube khona ithuba lokufundisa igama likaNkulunkulu nokukhulisa izingane ekwesabeni iNkosi ngokuyilonda.

Kwa into eyodwa: ukububesi kahle kohulumeni. Kanti yinto enye: ukubawajibisa:

Nkulunkulu uyabathoba ababusi ukuze bangabidiki ubunandi Bakhe namandla ngokuvumelana nomsuka wabo, ngokuba ababusi phakathi kwabantu hhayi bona ababusi isonto ngaleyo ndlela yokuthi babe nayo ithuba yabo bonke bengakwenza lokho abakufunayo. Hhayi! uNkulunkulu uThixo ukhona nalabo. Uyabahlulela, abajeziswe, abaqondise. Uma bengalilindi ilizwi Lakhe, ngeke baphunyuke.

Ndifuna ukuvala ngemicabango embalwa. Eyodwa yale i lokhu iZulu linika izinto ezibalulekile nokuqukethwe kokuthi ungazithandazela kanjani abantu ababusi nabanamandla. Ungathatha imiyalelo emihle kaNkulunkulu uyithandazele ababusi bakho nabanamandla bezwe, “Nkosi, banikela ukuze babuse ngokuvumelana nemiyalelo emihle.” Ungathatha izahlulelo zakhe ezimbi kubabusi ababi beIsrayeli, uyiguqule uyithandazele iNkosi ivumele ababusi bethu bangabusi ngaleyo ndlela, kodwa babuse ngokuvumelana nemigawo kaNkulunkulu yokuziphatha okungafi.

Nokukhona, ngifuna ubone lokhu. Akuyena into ephawulekayo ukuthi uThixo akhathalele ukuphila kwabantu bonke abangaphansi kwamandla awoyisithu, hhayi nje kuphela abantu abakholelwa kuKristu? Ngakho-ke noma yini esiyenzayo kule ndawo eya ngokwandayo ngokumelene noKristu, njengabantu abakholelwa kuKristu, kufanele sihlale sikwazi ukwenza kucace ukuthi uma singena endaweni yezwe, ukukhathalela kwethu akukhani nje kuphela ngokuThixokazi kwethu siqu. Ukukhathalela kwethu kukonke ukuphila okuhle, ukuphila kwabantu bonke, kwabantu abangabakholelwa kuKristu; ngoba uThixokazi wethu ukhathalele bona, futhi sibonakalisa ngaye njengoba sihlanganyela ekuphileni komphakathi, hhayi nje kuphela ngokubonisa ukukhathalela okufanele kwimilingo ehlala njalo lapho uxukwempahla wamkelwe khona, kodwa ngokukhathalela abangabakholelwa kuKristu, ngenxa yokuthi sifuna ukusebenzela ukuphila kwabo, njengobufakazi kuThixokazi wethu omkhulu noyathandayo.

UThixokazi akubusise igama lakhe. Masithandaze.

Thixokazi wethu oyinhloko, siyabonga ngokutikhulisa yena ngokuhusu uxukwempahla eBhayibhilini. Ngubani owayezocabanga ukuthi wena oThixokazi uyabayalela abantu bakho bakuye bahlabelele ingoma yokukhanya kwabakulu? Kodwa wena uyenza, futhi siyabonga ngalokho. Futhi yeka liyaphawuleka kule nkathi yethu, lapho sibona imilingo ishikambe nguxukwempahla olahlekelwe ngumkhumbi, olahlekelwe yimigomo eyayisekelwe kumadokhumenti ayasunguliwe, yena ukhishwa yiqiniso lakho. Thixokazi wethu oyinhloko, sicela ukuthi unike usikhombo njengabantu abakholelwa kuKristu, abasikazi nabesilisa abaphila emhlabeni owahlanya, ukuze senze umsebenzi wethu wokummelela uMsindisi wethu esebenzweni lomphakathi. Futhi Thixokazi wethu, ngaphezu kwakho konke siyabonga ukuthi ngolunye usuku uNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu uyakufika yena ajgeze. Hhayi nje kuphela, unikezela ukholo lwethu ukumthemba, nokulindela ukumthanda ngokushesha. Siyakucela egameni likaJesu. Amen. Ngaba yima ukuze uthole ukubusiswa kwaThixokazi.

Uxolo lube kubwa abayeni, nothando nokholo, ngomsebenzi kaJesu Kristu uNkosi yethu, kuze kube usuku olusha, nezithunzi zibaleke. Amen.

2013 First Presbyterian Church.

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