64—Imbacu UDavide

[Esi sahluko sisekwe ku-1 Samuweli 18-22.]

Emva kokubulawa kukaGoliyati, uSawule wamgcina kuye uDavide, akamvumela ukuba abuyele endlwini kayise. Kwenzeka ukuba “umphefumlo kaYonatan wabophana nomphefumlo kaDavide; uYonatan wamthanda njengomphefumlo wakhe.” UYonatan noDavide benza umnqophiso wokuba bamanyane njengabazalwana, waza unyana kakumkani “wazihluba ingubo yokwaleka abenayo wayinika uDavide, neengubo zakhe zokulwa, kwesa nakwikrele lakhe, nakwisaphetha sakhe, nakumbhinqo wakhe.” UDavide wanikwa imithwalo ebalulekileyo, kodwa wakugcina ukuthobeka kwakhe, waza wathandwa ngabantu nayindlu yasebukhosini.ANa 649.1

“Waphuma uDavide waya apho wathunywa khona nguSawule, wenza ngengqiqo. USawule wammisa phezu kwamadoda odwa.” UDavide wayenobulumko enyanisekile, kwaye kucacile ukuba intsikelelo kaThixo inaye. Ngamanye amaxesha uSawule wayekuqonda ukungafaneleki kwakhe (Sawule) ukulawula uIsrayeli, weva ukuba ubukumkani bungakhuseleka kakhulu ukuba angahlanganiswa nomntu ofumana imiyalelo ngqo kuYehova. Waya wathemba uSawule ukuba ukuhlangana kwakhe noDavide kungayinkuseleko kuye. Njengokuba uDavide wayethandwa ekhuselwe nguYehova, ubukho bakhe bungayinkuseleko kuSawule xa ephuma naye esiya emfazweni.ANa 649.2

Yayikukwazelela kukaThixo ukuba uDavide aqhagamshelane noSawule. Isikhundla sikaDavide enkundleni sasiya kumnika ulwazi lwemicimbi, ukulungiselela ubukhulu bexesha elizayo, obabuya kumenza athenjwe sisizwe. Amahla-ndinyuka nobunzima obamhlelayo, ngenxa yobutshaba bukaSawule, ayeya kumkhokelela ekubeni akuve ukuxhomekeka kuThixo, nokulibeka kuYe lonke ithemba lakhe. Ubuhlobo bukaYonatan kwakukukwazelela kukaThixo kuDavide, ukukhusela ubomi bomlawuli kaIsrayeli wexesha elizayo. Kuzo zonke izinto, uThixo wayephumeza iinjongo zobabalo lwaKhe, kuDavide nakubantu bakwaIsrayeli.ANa 649.3

Noko ke, uSawule akazange athabathe thuba lide enobuhlobo noDavide. Bathi xa uSawule noDavide bebuya edabini namaFilisti, “baphuma abafazi emizini yonke yakwaIsrayeli, bevuma ingoma, bengqungqa, besiza kumkhawulela uSawule ukumkani ngeengqongqo nangovuyo, nangeetriyangile [izixhobo zomculo].” Elinye iqela lacula lisithi, “USawule ubulele amawaka akhe,” lo gama elinye layithabatha ingoma laphendula, “UDavide ubulele amawaka akhe angamashumi.” Idemon yomona yangena entliziyweni kakumkani. Wabanomsindo kuba uDavide ephakanyiswe ngaphezu kwakhe kwingoma yabafazi bakwaIsrayeli. Endaweni yokuzicinezela ezi mvakalelo zomona, wabonkalisa ubuthakathaka besimilo sakhe, wakhuza, “UDavide bamnike amawaka alishumi, mna bandinike amawaka nje; sekusele ukuthi ubukumkani bube bobakhe.”ANa 650.1

Esona siphako sikhulu esimilweni sikaSawule yayikukuthanda kwakhe ukunconywa. Olu phawu lwaba nempembelelo elawulayo kwizenzo neengcinga zakhe; yonke into yayinophawu lokulangazelela ukunconywa nokuziphakamisa. Umgangatho wakhe wokulungileyo nokungalunganga yayingumgangatho ophantsi wokuthanda ukuqhwatyelwa izandla. Akakho umntu okhuselekileyo ophilela ukukholisa abantu, angafuni kuqala ukunconywa nguThixo. Yayiyinjongo kaSawule ukuba abe phambili ekuxabiseni kwabantu; ngoko yathi yakuvunywa le ngoma, yahlala engqondweni kakumkani into yokuba uDavide uza kuzithimba iintliziyo zabantu, alawule endaweni yakhe.ANa 650.2

USawule wayivulela intliziyo yakhe kumoya womona owathi watyhefwa nguwo umphefumlo wakhe. Nangona izifundo awayezifumene kumprofeti uSamuweli, zimfundisa ukuba uThixo wenza okukhulu ngaye nawuphi lowo amnyulileyo, nokuba akukho bani unokukuphazamisa oko, ukumkani wenza kwacaca ukuba wayengenalo ulwazi lwenene lwamacebo okanye amandla kaThixo. Ukumkani kaIsrayeli wayethelekisa intando yakhe kwintanto yaLowo ungenasiphelo. USawule akazange afunde, ngexesha elawula ubukumkani bakwaIsrayeli, ukuba kufuneka alawule umoya wakhe. Wakuvumela ukutshiseka kwakhe ukuba kulawule ingqiqo yakhe, wada waya kweyela kuburhalarhume bokuvutha ngumsindo. Wayehlaselwa yingqumbo, aze alungele ukubulala nabani na othi achase intando yakhe. Ukusuka kule mpambano wayezakudlulela kwimo yokuphelelwa lithemba nokuzidela, uze umvandedwa uwulawule umphefumlo wakhe.ANa 650.3

Wayethanda ukumva uDavide edlala uhadi lwakhe, ube ngathi uye wagxotheka umoya ombi okwangoko; kodwa, ngenye imini, umfana esalungiselela phambi kwakhe, emenzela umculo omnandi ngohadi ngohadi lwakhe, encedisa ilizwi lakhe evuma iindumiso kuThixo, ngequbuliso, uSawule wayigibisela ngomkhonto le mvumi, ejonge ukubugqiba ngoko ubomi bayo. UDavide wasindiswa kukungenelela kukaThixo, wathi engalimelanga, wabaleka wasaba kwingqumbo yokumkani ophambeneyo.ANa 650.4

Kwathi ngokuya ikhula intiyo kaSawule ngakuDavide, walizingela ngakumbi ithuba lokumbulala; kodwa akukho nalinye kumacebo akhe okuchasa umthanjiswa kaYehova elaphumelelayo. USawule wazinikela kulawulo lomoya okhohlakeleyo phezu kwakhe; lo gama uDavide ethembele kuLowo uligorha egquguleni, onamandla ekuhlanguleni. “Yingqalo yobulumko ukoyika uYehova” (Mizekeliso 9:10), waza umthandazo kaDavide wahlala usiya kuThixo, ukuba ahambe phambi kwaKhe ngendlela egqibeleleyo.ANa 651.1

Ngokulangazelela ukuba akhululeke kubukho botshaba lwakhe, ukumkani “wamsusa kuye, wammisa wangumthetheli wakhe wewaka. . . . Ke onke amaIsrayeli namaYuda ebemthanda uDavide.” Abantu abazange bathabathe thuba lide ukuqonda ukuba uDavide wayengumntu ofanelekileyo, nokuba imicimbi ebekwe ezandleni zakhe yayiphathwa ngobulumko nobuchule. Iziluleko zendodana zazibonakalisa ubulumko obubodwa, kwaye kubonakala kukhuselekile ukuzilandela; lo gama ukubona kukaSawule ngamanye amaxesha kwakungathembekanga, nezigqibo zakhe zingalumkanga.ANa 651.2

Nangona uSawule wayesoloko elikhangele ithuba lokutshabalalisa uDavide, wayemoyika, njengoko kwakucacile ukuba uYehova wayenaye. Isimilo sikaDavide esingenakusoleka savusa ingqumbo kukumkani; wacinga ukuba, kanye bubomi nobukho bukaDavide obumzisela ingcikivo, njengoko xa buthelekiswa nobakhe, obakhe babubonakala bungento. Yaba ngumona owamenza uSawule ukuba angonwabi, wawubeka umcimbi wetrone yakhe emngciphekweni. Indlela le nkohlakalo ingathethekiyo yesimilo esibi esebenza ngayo elizweni lethu! Obu butshaba bunye babukho entliziyweni kaSawule, bubo obasebenza entliziyweni kaKayin ukuchasa umntakwabo uAbheli, kuba imisebenzi ka-Abheli yayilungile, waza uThixo wamzukisa, ibe yena eyakhe [uKayin] imisebenzi imibi, waza uYehova akakwazi ukumsikelela. Umona uyinzala yekratshi, kwaye ukuba uyondliwa entliziyweni, uya kukhokelela kwintiyo, ekugqibeleni uye kwimpindezelo nokubulala. USathana wasibonisa esakhe isimilo ngokuvusa umsindo kuSawule ngakulowo ungazange wamenza nto imbi.ANa 651.3

Ukumkani wahlala eqaphele ngqongqo uDavide, ethemba ukuba angafumana ithuba angazilumkelanga ngalo okanye lokugquduza okunokwenzaukuba[ukumkani]nesizathusokumbeka[uDavide] ehlazweni.Wazivaengenakwanelisekaade ayibulale indodana aze abonakale enokuthetheleleka phambi kwesizwe ngesenzo sakhe senkohlakalo. Wabeka isibatha ezinyaweni zikaDavide, emkhuthaza ukuba alwe namaFilisti ngamandla amakhulu, ethembisa, njengomvuzo wokukhalipha, isivumelwano nomafungwashe wakhe wendlu yobukhosi. Kwesi sindululo, impendulo elulamileyo kaDavide yathi, “Ndingubani na, ayintoni na amakowethu, iyini imizalwane kabawo kwaIsrayeli, ukuba ndibe ngumyeni kukumkani?” Ukumkani wakubonakalisa ukunganyaniseki kwakhe ngokuyendisela inkosazana komnye [umntu].ANa 652.1

Ukuhlangana kukaDavide noMikali, eyona ntwazana incinane kaSawule, kwakumnika ukumkani ithuba lokuceba ngakutshaba lwakhe. UMikali wanikelwa kumfana phantsi kwemeko ethi kufuneka kubekho ubungqina obunikwayo bokuba kuya koyiswa kubulawe iqela elibekiweyo leentshaba zesizwe. Ke u“Sawule ubecinga ukumwisa uDavide ngesandla samaFilisti,” kodwa uThixo wamkhusela umkhonzi waKhe. UDavide wabuya engumoyisi edabini, ukuze abe ngumyeni kukumkani. “UMikali intombi kaSawule ubemthanda,” waza ukumkani, enengqumbo, wabona ukuba amacebo akhe abe nesiphumo esikukuphakanyiswa kwakhe kanye lowo ebefuna ukumtshabalalisa. Wayesaqiniseke ngakumbi ukuba, le yayiyindoda uYehova awathi ingcono kunaye, neyakulawula etroneni kaIsrayeli endaweni yakhe. Wathi ekulahle konke ukuzifihla, wakhupha umyalelo kuYonatan nakubaphathi basebhotwe ukuba bususwe ubomi balowo amthiyileyo.ANa 652.2

UYonatan wayityhila injongo kakumkani kuDavide, wamcela ukuba azifihle lo gama eza kucengacengana noyise ukuba abusindise ubomi bomhlanguli kaIsrayeli. Wabeka phambi kukakumkani oko kwenziwa nguDavide ukusindisa uzuko kwanobomi besizwe, nokuba kuya kuba lityala elibi kangakanani eliya kuhlala phezu kombulali walowo uThixo amsebenzise ukuchithachitha iintshaba zabo. Isazela sikakumkani sachukumiseka, yaza intliziyo yakhe yathamba. “Ehleli nje uYehova, akayi kubulawa.” UDavide waziswa kuSawule, walungiselela phambi kwakhe, njengoko wayesenza kwangaphambili.ANa 652.3

Kwaphindwa kwayiwa emfazweni phakathi kukaIsrayeli namaFilisti, waza uDavide wawukhokela umkhosi ukulwa neentshaba zabo. Uloyiso olukhulu lwazuzwa ngamaHebhere, baza abantu belizwe bancoma ubulumko nobugorha bakhe. Le nto yasuka yabuxhokonxa ubukrakra bangaphambilibukaSawulengakuye.Ngelixeshaindodana idlala Phambi kokumkani, izalisa ibhotwe ngoncuthu lwengoma, imvakalelo kaSawule yamongamela, wajikijela utolo kuDavide ezama ukuyiqhama imvumi nodonga; kodwa ingelosi kaYehova yasityhalela ecaleni eso sikhali sibulalayo. UDavide wasinda, wabalekela endlwini yakhe. USawule wathumela iintlola ukuba zimthabathe nje ukufika kwakhe kusasa, zibuchithe ubomi bakhe.ANa 652.4

UMikali wamxelela uDavide ngenjongo kayise. Wamkhuthaza ukuba abalekele ubomi bakhe, wamkhupha ngefestile, waba uyakwazi ukumenza ukuba asinde. Wabalekela kuSamuweli eRama, waza umprofeti, engakoyiki ukungonwabi kukakumkani, wayamkela imbacu. Ikhaya likaSamuweli laliyindawo enoxolo xa lithelekiswa nebhotwe lobukumkani. Kwakulapha, phakathi kweenduli, apho umkhonzi kaYehova ohloniphekileyo wayeqhubeka khona nomsebenzi wakhe. Iqela leemboni lalinaye, laye lifunda kakhulu intando kaThixo liphulaphula ngembeko amazwi emfundiso awayesiwa emilebeni kaSamuweli. Zazixabisekile izifundo awaya wazifunda uDavide kwititshala yakwaIsrayeli. UDavide wakholwa ukuba amabutho kaSawule awanakuze ayalelwe ukuba ayihlasele le ndawo ingcwele, kodwa akukho ndawo yayikhangeleka ingcwele kwingqondo esebumnyameni yokumkani ophelelwe lithemba. Ukuhlangana kukaDavide noSamuweli kwavusa ikhwele kukumkani, hleze lowo wayehlonitshwa njengongumprofeti kaThixo kulo lonke elakwaIsrayeli anganika impembelelo engahambisela phambili utshaba lukaSawule. Wathi ukumkani akuva apho akhoyo uDavide, wathumela amagosa ukuba amzise eGibheha, apho wayezimisele ukulifeza khona icebo lokubulala.ANa 653.1

Abathunywa bahamba indlela yabo, bezimisele ukumbulala uDavide; kodwa Omkhulu kunoSawule wabalawula. Bahlangana neengelosi ezingabonwayo, njengoBhileham xa wayesendleleni esiya kuqalekisa uIsrayeli. Baqala ukuthetha iintetho zokuprofeta ngento eza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo, bavakalisa uzuko nobungangamsha bukaYehova. Ngaloo ndlela uThixo walawula ngaphaya komsindo womntu wabonakalisa amandla aKhe okububamba ububi, ngeli xesha embiyele umkhonzi waKhe ngebutho leengelosi.ANa 653.2

Iindaba zafika kuSawule njengoko wayelinde ngenzondelelo ukuba abe noDavide phantsi kwamandla akhe; kodwa endaweni yokuziva ethethiswa nguThixo, wacaphuka ngakumbi, waza wathumela abanye abathunywa. Naba nabo bonganyelwa nguMoya kaThixo, bazimanya nabokuqala ekuprofeteni. Izigidimi zesithathu, zathunywa ngukumkani; kodwa nazo zafika kwiqela labaprofeti, impembeleloengcweleyawa phezu kwabo nabo, baprofeta. USawule wagqiba ukuba aye ngokwakhe, kuba ubutshababakhe obunoburhalarhume bungakwazi Ukulawuleka. Wayezimisele ukungabi salinda elinye ithuba lokumbulala uDavide; ngako nje ukuba ahlangane naye, wazimisela ukuba uya kumbulala ngesakhe isandla, nokuba iziphumo ziye zayintoni.ANa 653.3

Sekunjalo, ingelosi kaThixo yahlangana naye endleleni yamlawula. UMoya kaThixo wambamba ngamandla aKhe, wabheka phambili esenza imithandazo kuThixo, ixutywe neentetho ezingexesha elizayo kunye neengoma ezingcwele. Waprofeta ngoMesiya ozayo enguMhlanguli wehlabathi. Wathi akufika ekhayeni lomprofeti, eRama, wayibeka bucala ingubo yokwaleka eyayiluphawu lwenqanaba lakhe, wathi imini yonke nobusuku bonke walala phambi kukaSamuweli. Abantu bahlangana ukuba babone umbono ongaqhelekanga, kwaza oko kwenziwe ngukumkani kwabikwa kuyo yonke indawo. Kwakhona, ekusondeleni kokuphela kolawulo lwakhe, kwaba yintetho engumzekelo kwaIsrayeli ukuba uSawule naye uphakathi kwabaprofeti.ANa 654.1

Waphinda umtshutshisi woyiswa kwinjongo yakhe. Wamqinisekisa uDavide ukuba wayeseluxolweni naye, kodwa uDavide wayekuthembe kancinane ukuguquka kukakumkani. Wakuthabatha oku njengethuba lokuzimela, hleze umoya kakumkani ujike, njengaphambili. Intliziyo yakhe yayenzakele ngaphakathi, waza walangazelela ukubona umhlobo wakhe uYonatan kwakhona. Ekuqonda ukuba msulwa kwakhe, wafuna unyana kakumkani wenza isibheno esichukumisa kakhulu. “ndenze ntoni na?” wabuza, “buyini na ubugwenxa bam? Siyini na isono sam phambi koyihlo, ukuba angxamele umphefumlo wam nje?” UYonatan wakholelwa ukuba uyise uyiguqule injongo yakhe, nokuba akasenayo injongo yokususa ubomi bukaDavide. Waza wathi uYonatan kuye, Makube lee oko; akuyi kufa. Uyabona, ubawo akenzi nenkulu into, nencinane into angayityhileli indlebe yam; ubawo uyifihleleni na ke le nto kum? Akunjalo.” Emva komboniso omkhulu wamandla kaThixo, uYonatan akazange akholwe ukuba uyise wayesaza kumenza okubi uDavide, njengoko oko kuya kuba kukubonakalisa uvukelo ngakuThixo. UDavide yena wayengoyisakalanga. Ngokunyaniseka okukhulu, wamvakalisela uYonatan, wathi, “Ehleli nje uYehova, uhleli nje umphefumlo wakho, ngathi sisithuba esinye sokunyathela esiphakathi kwam nokufa.”ANa 654.2

Ngexesha lenyanga entsha, kwakubakho itheko elingcwele kwaIsrayeli. Eli theko lenzeka ngemini esemva kokuba bekuhlangene uDavide noYonatan. Kweli theko, kwakulindeleke ukuba omabini amadodanaabekho etafileni kakumkani; kodwauDavide, esoyika ukubakhona, kwalungiselelwa ukuba atyelele abantwakwabo eBhetelehem. Ekubuyeni kwakhe, wayeza kuzimela entsimini engekho kude kwiholo lesidlo, abe neentsuku ezintathu engekho phambi kokumkani; aze uYonatan aqaphele igalelo loko kuSawule. Ukuba ubekho umbuzo ngokungabikho konyana kaYese, uYonatan wayeza kuthi, uye ekhaya ukuya kuhlangana nendlu kayise embingelelweni owawuza kwenziwa. Ukuba akubonakalanga ngqumbo kukumkani, aze aphendule athi, “Kulungile,” kuya kuba kukhuselekile ukubuyela kukaDavide ebhotwe. Ukuba ke uye wanomsindo kukungabikho kwakhe, oko kuya kuthi uDavide makasabe.ANa 655.1

Ngosuku lokuqala lwesidlo, ukumkani akazange wabuza ngokungabikho kukaDavide; kodwa ithe indawo yakhe yakuba ingenamntu ngosuku lwesibini, wabuza, “Yinina ukuba angezi kudla unyana kaYese nayizolo nanamhla? UYonatan wamphendula uSawule, wathi, UDavide ucele kum, wandibongoza ukuba aye eBhetelehem; wathi, Khawundiyeke ndiye; ngokuba kukho umbingelelo wemizalwane yakowethu ekhaya; ke yena umkhuluwa wam undiwisele umthetho; kaloku ukuba undibabale, makhe ndigidime ndibone umkhuluwa wam. Kungenxa yoko angezanga etafileni yokumkani.” Wathi akuweva uSawule la mazwi, umsindo wakhe awalawuleka. Wavakalisa ukuba, lo gama uDavide esaphila, uYonatan akasayi kuyiqabela itrone kaIsrayeli, waza wayalela ukuba uDavide kuziwe naye ngokukhawuleza, ukuze abulawe. UYonatan waphinda wamthethelela umhlobo wakhe, ecenga, “Yini na ukuba abulawe? Ufa ngani na?” Esi sibheno sasuka samenza ukumkani wangusathana ngumsindo, wathi umkhonto abewulungisele uDavide wawuphosa kunyana wakhe.ANa 655.2

Inkosana yababuhlungu yanengqumbo, yemka phambi kokumkani, ayaba saba ngummenywa esidlweni. Umphefumlo wayo wawusindwa lusizi xa wayebuyela ngexesha ebe libekiwe kwindawo apho uDavide wayeza kuva khona ngeenjongo zikakumkani ngakuye. Bawolana, balilelana ngokukrakra. Imvakalelo emnyama kakumkani yabeka isithunzi sayo ebomini bamadodana, yaza intlungu yawo yankulu kakhulu ukuba ingachazwa. Amazwi okugqibela kaYonatan awa ezindlebeni zikaDavide xa babesahlukana ukulandela iindlela zabo ezahlukeneyo, athi, “Hamba unoxolo; makume esikufungele igama likaYehova thina sobabini, sisithi, UYehova makabe phakathi kwam nawe, naphakathi kwembewu yam nembewu yakho, kude kuse ephakadeni.”ANa 655.3

Unyana kakumkani wabuyela eGibheha,wazauDavide waleqa ukuya kufika eNobhi, isixeko esingekude kakhulu, nesasisisizwe sakwaBhenjamin. Umnquba wawuziswe apha ukusuka eShilo, kwaye kulapha apho uAhimeleki umbingeleli omkhulu wayelungiselela khona. UDavide wayengazi apho angabalekela khona ukufuna igwiba, ngaphandle kwakulo mkhonzi kaThixo. Umbingeleli wamkhangela ekhwankqisiwe, ngexesha efika engxamile kubonakala ngathi uhamba yedwa, imbonakalo yakhe iyeyexhala nosizi. Wambuza ukuba ubekwa yintoni apho. Indodana yayihleli isoyika ukubhaqwa, yaza yathi kwingxaki yayo enkulu, yabhenela ekukhohliseni. UDavide wamxokisa umbingeleli esithi uthunywe ngukumkani umcimbi oyimfihlelo, ofuna uhambo lokuphathwa ngobuchule obukhulu. Apha wabonakalisa ukuswela ukholo kuThixo, saza isono sakhe sanomphumela wokufa kukambingeleli omkhulu. Ukuba inyaniso wayeyithethe njengoko injalo, uAhimeleki ngewalazi inyathelo amelwe kukulithabatha ukusindisa ubomi bakhe. UThixo ufuna ukuba ukunyaniseka kube luphawu lwabantu baKhe, nakweyona ngozi inkulu. UDavide wacela kumbingeleli imibhako emihlanu yesonka. Kwakungeko nto ngaphandle kwesonka esingcwalisiweyo esasigcinwe yindoda yakwaThixo, kodwa uDavide waphumelela ukususa intlonipho yakhe, wasithabatha isonka wasitya ukuvusa iphango.ANa 656.1

Kwaya kwabakho ngoku ingozi entsha. UDowegi, intloko yabelusi bakaSawule, owayezibiza ngenkolo yamaHebhere, wayehlawula izibhambathiso zakhe kwindawo yonqulo. Wathi akuyibona le ndoda, uDavide wazimisela ukukhawuleza afumane enye indawo yokuzimela, nokuba afumane isixhobo anokuzikhusela ngaso xa kufuneka njalo. Wacela ikrele kuAhimeleki, waxelelwa ukuba akanalo ngaphandle kwekrele likaGoliyati, elaligcinwe njengentsalela yakudala etempileni. UDavide waphendula, “Akukho linjengalo, ndinike lona.” Isibindi sakhe savuseleleka akulibamba ikrele awayelisebenzise ngaphambili ukutshabalalisa intshatsheli yamaFilisti.ANa 656.2

UDavide wabalekela kuAkishe, ukumkani waseGati; kuba waziva ekhuseleke kakhulu phakathi kweentshaba zabantu bakhe kunakulawulo lukaSawule. Sekunjalo, kwaya kwaxelwa kuAkishe ukuba uDavide yindoda eyabulala intshatsheli yamaFilisti kwiminyaka eyadlulayo; waza ngoku lo ebefuna igwiba kwiintshaba zikaIsrayeli wazifumana esengozini enkulu. Wathi, ke ngoko, ngokuziphambanisa, wazikhohlisa iintshaba zakhe waba uyakwazi ukuzimela.ANa 656.3

Impazamo yokuqala kaDavide yaba kukungamthembi uThixo eNobhi, yaza eyesibini impazamo yayinkohliso phambi kuka-Akishe. UDavide wayebonakaliseiimpawuzesimilo esinesidima,kwaye ukuziphatha kwakhe kwakumzuzele ukuthandwa ngabantu; kodwa wathi akufikelwa kukulingwa, ukholo lwakhe lwashukuma, kwavela ubuthakathaka bobuntu. Wayembona wonke umntu njengentlola nomncethezi. Ngexesha lokuxakeka okukhulu, uDavide wakhangela kuThixo ngeliso elizinzileyo lokholo, wayoyisa ingxilimbela yomFilisti. Wayekholwa kuThixo, ehamba egameni laKhe. Uthe akuba ezingelwa etshutshiswa, ukudideka nokuxinzeleka kwaphantsa kwamfihla uBawo wasemazulwini emehlweni akhe.ANa 657.1

Noko kunjalo, la mava ayenceda ukumfundisa uDavide ubulumko; kuba amkhokelela ukuba abuqonde ubuthakathaka bakhe nokufuneka kokuxhomekeka rhoqo kuThixo. Owu, ukuxabiseka kwempembelelo kaMoya kaThixo xa ifika kumphefumlo ophelelwe lithemba, ikhuthaza onobugwala, isomeleza ongenamandla, inike isibindi noncedo kubakhonzi bakaYehova abalingiweyo! Owu, ukuba nguThixo wethu, ophatha ngobubele abonayo, abonakalise umonde nothando entluphekweni, naxa sigutyungelwe lusizi olukhulu!ANa 657.2

Konke ukusilela ngakwicala labantwana bakaThixo kubangwa kukuswela kwabo ukholo. Xa amathunzi ewurhangqa umphefumlo, xa sifuna ukukhanya nenkokelo, kufuneka sikhangele phezulu; kukho ukukhanya ngaphaya kobumnyama. UDavide kwakungafunekanga angamthembi uThixo nokuba ngumzuzwana. Wayenaso isizathu sokuthembela kuYe: wayengumthanjiswa kaYehova, kwaye phakathi kwengozi, wayekhuselwe ziingelosi zikaThixo; wayexhotyiswe ngesibindi sokwenza izinto ezimangalisayo; ukuba wayeyisusile nje engqondweni yakhe imeko enoxinzelelo, awayebekwe kuyo, acinge ngamandla nobungangamsha bukaThixo, ngewaba seluxolweni naphakathi kwamathunzi okufa; ngesibindi, ngewayesiphindile isithembiso sikaYehova, “Zingade zimke iintaba, neenduli zishukume; yona inceba yam ayiyi kumka kuwe, ungashukumi nomnqophiso wam woxolo” Isaya 54:10.ANa 657.3

Phakathi kweentaba zakwaYuda, uDavide wafuna indawo yokuphephela ekusukelweni nguSawule. Waphumelela ngokungena emqolombeni waseAdulam, indawo apho umkhosi omncinane wawunokukhuseleka khona kumkhosi omkhulu. “Beva abakhuluwa bakhe nendlu kayise yonke, behla baya kuye khona.” Usapho lukaDavide aluzange luzive lukhuselekile, lusazi ukuba nangaliphi ixesha, urhano olungenangqondo lukaSawule lungabhekiswa kubo ngenxa yokuzalana noDavide. Ngoku, baya bazi—ntoleyoeyasaziwa ngumntu wonke kwaIsrayeli—ukuba uThixo umnyule uDavide njengomlawuli olandelayo wabantu baKhe; baza bakholwa ukuba bangakhuseleka xa bekunye naye, nangona wayeyimbacu kumqolomba owodwa, kunokuba bebeya kubanjalo ngexesha besesichengeni sokumkani ophambeneyo nonekhwele.ANa 657.4

Emqolombeni waseAdulam, usapho lwalumanyene ngovelwano nobubele. Unyana kaYese wayesenza myoli ngelizwi nangohadi ngelixa evuma, “Yabonani, ukuba kuhle, ukuba mnandi, ukuthi abazalwana bahlale bemxhelo mnye!” Ndumiso 133:1. Wabungcamla ubukrakra bokungathenjwa ngakubazalwana bakhe; kwaza ukuvumelana okwathabatha indawo yokungavani kwazisa uvuyo kwintliziyo yalowo uyimbacu. Kulapha apho uDavide waqamba indumiso yamashumi amahlanu anesixhenxe.ANa 658.1

Kwakungekudala phambi kokuba iqela likaDavide lingenelelwe ngabanye ababelangazelela ukusinda kwingcinezelo kakumkani. Babebaninzi ababelahlekelwe kukumthemba umlawuli kaIsrayeli, kuba babebona ukuba wayengasakhokelwa nguMoya kaYehova. “Abuthelana kuye amadoda axinekileyo, namadoda onke anamatyala, namadoda onke anezikrokro; waba ngumthetheli wawo. Aba kuye amadoda akumakhulu amane.” Apha uDavide waba nobukumkani bakhe obuncinane, kubo kwakulawula ucwangco nokuziphatha kakuhle. Sekunjalo, nakule ndawo yakhe yokuphumla ezintabeni, wayekude kakhulu ekuziveni ekhuselekile, kuba wathi rhoqo ukufumana izibonakaliso zokuba ukumkani akayilahlanga injongo yakhe yokubulala.ANa 658.2

Wabafumanela igwiba abazali bakhe kukumkani wakwaMowabhi, waza emva koko, ngokulunyukiswa ngengozi ngumprofeti kaYehova, wabaleka apho wayezimele khona waya kwihlathi leHerete. Amava awayedlula kuwo uDavide ayengengawo angafunekiyo okanye alilize. UThixo wayemnika indlela yoqeqesho lokumlungisela ukuba abe ngumphathi womkhosi onobulumko, nokumkani onobulungisa nenceba. Ngebutho lakhe leembacu, wayezuza ukulungiselelwa ixesha lokuthabatha umsebenzi kuSawule, ngenxa yemvakalelo yokubulala nokungakwazi ukuzilumkela okungaboniyo, wayesiya engakulungeli ngokupheleleyo ukuwenza. Abantu abakwazi ukumka kwicebiso likaThixo baze bahlale bekugcinile ukuzola nobulumko obunokubenza ukuba benze ngobulungisa nangengqiqo. Ayikho impambano eyoyikeka, nengenakuncedwa njengaleyo yokulandela ubulumko bomntu, obungakhokelwa bubulumko bukaThixo.ANa 658.3

USawule wayelungiselela ukuba ambhabhise ambambe uDavide emqolombeni waseAdulam, kwathi kwakufunyaniswa ukuba uDavide uyishiyile le ndawo yokuphephela, ukumkani wanengqumbo enkulu. Ukubaleka kukaDavide kwaba yimfihlakalo kuSawule. Wayenako ukukuchaza kuphela ngokukholwa ukuba bekukho iintlola kwinkampu yakhe [Sawule], ezamxelelayo unyana kaYese ngokuba kufuphi kwakhe kwanecebo lakhe.ANa 658.4

Waqinisekisa kumaphakathi akhe ukuba kukho iyelenqe elenziweyo ukumchasa, waza wathi, ngomnikelo wezipho ezikhulu nezikhundla eziphezulu, wabathenga ukuba baveze ukuba ngubani phakathi kwabantu bakhe onobuhlobo noDavide. UDowegi umEdom wajika wangumncethezi. Wathi, eqhutywa kukuthanda udumo, nokurhalela ubutyebi, kunye nentiyo anayo ngakumbingeleli, owakhalimela izono zakhe, uDowegi waluxela utyelelo lukaDavide kuAhimeleki, ewubeka umcimbi ngendlela yokuba aphembelele umsindo kuSawule ngakwindoda kaThixo. Amazwi olu lwimi lunenkohlakalo, abasa umlilo wesihogo, axhokonxa ezona mvakalelo zaka zambi entliziyweni kaSawule. Ephambene ngumsindo, wavakalisa ukuba lonke usapho lukambingeleli kumele lutshabalale. Waya wenziwa lo mthetho ukhohlakeleyo. Kwakungekuphela uAhimeleki, kodwa namalungu endlu kayise, “amashumi asibhozo anamahlanu amadoda enxibe iefodi yelinen emhlophe,” abulawa ngokomyalelo kakumkani, ngesandla sombulali uDowegi.ANa 659.1

“NeNobhi, umzi wababingeleli, wayitshabalalisa ngohlangothi lwekrele, ethabathela kwindoda ase kumfazi, ethabathela kwiintsapho ase kwiintsana, neenkomo, namaesile, neegusha.” Wabanakho ukuyenza le nto uSawule phantsi kolawulo lukaSathana. Ngoku uThixo wayethe ubugwenxa bama-Amaleki buphelele, wamyalela ukuba awatshabalalise kuphele tu, wazicingela ukuba yena unemfesane kakhulu ukuba angasenza isigwebo sezulu, kodwa ngoku, ngaphandle komyalelo kaThixo, phantsi kwenkokelo kaSathana, wabanakho ukubulala ababingeleli bakaYehova, azise intshabalalo kubemi baseNobhi. Injalo ke ukugqwetheka intliziyo yomntu okwalileyo ukukhokelwa nguThixo.ANa 659.2

Esi senzo samzalisa wonke uIsrayeli ngoloyiko. Yayingukumkani abamnyulayo lo wenza le nkohlakalo, kwaye wenza kanye njengoko ookumkani bezinye izizwe ezingamoyikiyo uThixo besenza. Ityeya yayikubo, kodwa ababingeleli ababebuze kubo babulawa ngekrele. Yintoni eyayiza kulandela?ANa 659.3