65—Isisa SikaDavide

[Esi sahluko sisekwe ku-1 Samuweli 22:20-23; 23 ukuya kuma-27]

Ekubulaleni kabuhlungu kukaSawule ababingeleli bakaYehova, “kwasinda unyana wamnye ka-Ahimeleki unyana ka-Ahitubhi, ogama inguAbhiyatare; owabaleka walandela uDavide. UAbhiyatare wamxelela uDavide, ukuba uSawule ubabulele ababingeleli bakaYehova. Wathi uDavide kuAbhiyatare, Bendisazi kwangaloo mini, ukuba, ekho nje uDowegi umEdom, uya kumxelela kakade uSawule. Ndim obulalise imiphefumlo yonke yendlu kayihlo. Hlala nam, musa ukoyika; ngokuba ofuna umphefumlo wam ufuna umphefumlo wakho; ngokuba ugcinakele, unam nje.”ANa 660.1

Esazingelwa ngukumkani, uDavide akazange ayifumane indawo yokuphumla okanye ekhuselekileyo. EKehila, ibutho lakhe elikhaliphileyo lasindisa idolophu ekuthinjweni ngamaFilisti, kodwa babengakhuselekanga, naphakathi kwabo bantu babahlangulayo. Ukusuka eKehila babuyela kwintlango yeZifi.ANa 660.2

Ngeli xesha, kanye xa zazimbalwa iindawana ezikhanyayo endleleni kaDavide, wavuyiswa kukufumana ukuhanjelwa okungalindelekanga nguYonatan, owaya weva ngendawo abalekele kuyo. Yayixabisekile imizuzu abayichithayo aba bahlobo babini bekunye. Babalisa amava abo awahlukeneyo, waza uYonatan wayomeleza intliziyo kaDavide, esithi, “Musa ukoyika, ngokuba isandla sikaSawule ubawo asiyi kukufumana. Wena uya kuba ngukumkani kumaIsrayeli, mna ndibe nganeno kwakho; kananjalo uSawule ubawo uyakwazi kakuhle oku.” Njengokuba babethetha ngokumangalisa kokuphathwa nguThixo, imbacu ezingelwayo yakhuthazeka kakhulu. “Benza umnqophiso bobabini phambi koYehova. UDavide wahlala entshinyeleni yehlathi apho, uYonatan waya endlwini yakhe.”ANa 660.3

Emva kokutyelela kukaYonatan, uDavide wawukhuthaza umphefumlo wakhe ngeengoma zokudumisa, ekhapha ilizwi lakhe ngohadi lwakhe ngexesha evuma:ANa 660.4

“Ndizimela ngoYehova:
Ningathini na ukuthi kumphefumlo wam,
Baleka entabeni yakho njengentaka?
Ngokuba nabo abangendawo begoba isaphetha,
Bezilungisile iintolo zabo entanjeni,
Ukuba batole besithele kwabantliziyo zithe tye.
Xa iziseko zithe zagungxulwa,
Ilungisa linokuthini na?
UYehova, ulotempile yakhe ingcwele,
UYehova ulotrone yakhe isemazulwini,
Amehlo akhe ayababona, iinkophe
Zakhe ziyabacikida oonyana babantu.
UYehova uyalicikida ilungisa;
Ke yena ongendawo nothanda ukugonyamela,
Umthiyile umphefumlo wakhe.ANa 661.1

Ndumiso 11:1-5.

AmaZifi, awayebalekele kwiingingqi zawo ezikhohlakeleyo uDavide ukusuka kwakhe eKahile, athumela izwi kuSawule eGibheha, exela ukuba ayazi apho azifihle khona uDavide, nokuba aya kumkhokela ukumkani ukumsa apho aphumle khona. Wathi uDavide, kuba elunyukisiwe ngeenjongo zawo, wasitshintsha isikhundla sakhe, wafuna igwiba ezintabeni phakathi kweMahon noLwandle lweTyuwa [oluFileyo (IBHAYBHILE)].ANa 661.2

Laphinda lathunyelwa izwi kuSawule, “Nanku uDavide entlango yase-Engedi. USawule wathabatha amadoda angamawaka amathathu ahleliweyo kumaIsrayeli onke; waya kufuna uDavide namadoda akhe emaweni amagogo.” UDavide wayenamadoda angamakhulu amathandathu kuphela kwiqela lakhe, lo gama uSawule wayemkhawulela nomkhosi wamawaka amathathu. Kumqolomba obucala, unyana kaYese namadoda akhe alindela ukukhokelwa nguThixo ukuba kwenziwe ntoni. Wathi uSawule xa enyuka intaba, wathi gu bucala, wangena, eyedwa, kwinkontyo apho kanye uDavide nebutho lakhe babezimele khona. Athi amadoda kaDavide akuyibona le nto, ayikhuthaza inkokeli yawo ukuba imbulale uSawule. Into yokuba ngoku ukumkani wayesegunyeni lawo, yathatyathwa ngawo njengesibonakaliso esicacileyo sokuba uThixo ngokwaKhe ulunikele esandleni sawo utshaba, ukuba alutshabalalise. UDavide walingeka ukuba ayamkele le mbono kulo mcimbi; kodwa ilizwi lesazela lathetha kuye, lisithi, “Uze ungamchukumisi umthanjiswa kaYehova.”ANa 661.3

Amadoda kaDavide, engakufuni ukumshiya uSawule eseluxolweni, amkhumbuza umphathi wawo amazwi kaThixo, “Yabona, ndiyakulunikela utshaba lwakho esandleni sakho, wenze kulo njengoko kulungileyo emehlweni akho. Wesuka uDavide, wanqamla ngasese isondo lengubo yokwaleka abenayo uSawule.” Saya sambetha isazela sakhe emva koko, kuba eyonakalisile ingubo kakumkani.ANa 661.4

Wavuka uSawule, waphuma emqolombeni, waqhubeka nokufuna kwakhe, kwaye kusiwa ilizwi kwiindlebe zakhe ezothukileyo, lisithi, “Nkosi yam, kumkani.” Wabheka ukuba abone ukuba ngubani na lo uthetha naye. Yho! Yayingunyana kaYese, indoda ekade elangazelela ukuba ibe semandleni akhe ukuze ayibulale. UDavide waqubuda kukumkani, emvuma ukuba uyinkosi. Emva koko wathetha naye uSawule la mazwi: “Yini na ukuba uve amazwi abathe, Nanku uDavide efuna ukuba uhlelwe bububi? Yabona, namhla abonile amehlo akho, ukuba uYehova ebekunikele esandleni sam namhla emqolombeni; kwathiwa mawubulawe. Laba nenceba kuwe iliso lam, ndathi, Andiyi kusa sandla enkosini yam; ngokuba ingumthanjiswa kaYehova. Khangela ke, bawo, nali isondo lengubo yakho yokwaleka, lisesandleni sam; ngokuba ndingakubulalanga nje ekulinqumleni isondo lengubo yakho yokwaleka, yazi, ubone ukuba esandleni sam akukho bubi nalukreqo. Andonanga kuwe, uwuzingela nje umphefumlo wam ukuba uwuthabathe.”ANa 662.1

Wathi akuweva uSawule amazwi kaDavide, wathobeka, wanyanzeleka ukuba abuvume ubunyaniso bawo. Imvakalelo yakhe yachukumiseka kakhulu akuqonda ukuba ngokupheleleyo ebe esegunyeni lendoda afuna ukuyibulala. UDavide wema phambi kwakhe enesazela esimsulwa. Ngomoya othambileyo, uSawule wadanduluka, “Lilizwi lakho na elo, nyana wam Davide? USawule waliphakamisa izwi lakhe, walila. Wathi kuDavide, ilungisa nguwe kunam; ngokuba undenze okulungileyo wena, ndakwenza okubi mna. . . . Xa umntu alufumanayo utshaba lwakhe, wolundulula ngendlela elungileyo yini na? UYehova makakubuyekeze kuwe okulungileyo ngenxa yoko undenze ngako namhla. Kaloku yabona, ndiyazi ukuba uya kuba ngukumkani okunene, bume esandleni sakho ubukumkani bakwaIsrayeli.” UDavide wenza umnqophiso noSawule ukuba, kwakwenzeka oku, uya kuyixabisa indlu kaSawule, angalinqamli igama lakhe.ANa 662.2

Wathi ngokwazi oko wakwenzayo ngoSawule kwindlela yakhe edlulileyo, UDavide akaze abuye akuthembe ukuqinisekisa kukakumkani, akathemba nokuba imeko yenguquko iya kuthabatha ixesha elide. Wathi, ke ngoko, uSawule akubuyela ekhayeni lakhe, wahlala uDavide yena kwiinqaba ezisezintabeni.ANa 662.3

Ubutshaba obubhekiswa kwizicaka zikaThixo ngabo baziyekele kwigunya likaSathana, maxa wambi Buyaguquka bube yimvakalelo yoxolelaniso nothando, kodwa inguquko leyo ayikholisi kuba yeyexesha elide. Emva kokuba amadoda anengqondo yenkohlakalo athe enza, ada athethaizinto ezikhohlakeleyo ukuchasaizicakazikaYehova, ukoyiseka kukuthi enze imposiso, ngamanye amaxesha kuzika nzulu ezingqondweni zawo. UMoya kaYehova uzamana nawo, aze azithobe iintliziyo zawo phambi kukaThixo, naphambi kwabo impembelelo yawo ibizama ukubatshabalalisa, aze ayitshintshe indlela yawo ngakubo. Sekunjalo, athi la madoda akuphinda aluvule ucango kwiingcebiso zongendawo, zivuseleleke iintandabuzo ezindala, kuvuke ubutshaba obudala, abuyele kumsebenzi awaye aguquka kuwo, waza washiywa ixesha elide. Kwakhona aphinda athethe kakubi, atyhole agwebe ngeyona ndlela yaka yambi kwa-aba bantu babevume kubo izono ngokona kukhulu ukuzithoba. USathana unokuyisebenzisa imiphefumlo enjalo ngamandla agqithisileyo, emva kokuba kulandelwe ikhondo elinjalo kunokuba ebenokwenjenjalo ngaphambili, kuba aba bantu bone badlula ukukhanya okukhulu kakhulu.ANa 662.4

“Wafa uSamuweli. Abuthelana onke amaIsrayeli, ambambazelela, amngcwabela endlwini yakhe eRama.” Ukufa kukaSamuweli kwathatyathwa njengelahleko engenakulungiseka kwisizwe sikaIsrayeli. Umprofeti omkhulu olungileyo, umgwebi obalulekileyo, wawa ekufeni, yabanzulu kakhulu intlungu yabantu, yahlaba umxhelo. Kususela ebutsheni bakhe, uSamuweli wahamba phambi koIsrayeli ngengqibelelo entliziyweni yakhe; nangona uSawule wayamkelwe njengokumkani, uSamuweli wayenempembelelo enamandla kakhulu kunaye, kuba ingxelo yakhe yayiyeyokunyaniseka, ukuthobela, nokuzinikela. Sifumanisa ukuba wamlawula uIsrayeli yonke imihla yobomi bakhe.ANa 663.1

Bathi abantu bakuthelekisa indlela kaSawule naleyo kaSamuweli, bayibona impazamo abathi bayenza ngokufuna ukumkani ukuze bangahluki kwizizwe ezibangqongileyo. Abaninzi bayikhangela ngomothuko imeko yasekuhlaleni, eyayikhawuleza ukungenwa ligwele lokungenankolo nokungamhloneli uThixo. Umzekelo womlawuli wawunempembelelo ethe saa kuyo yonke indawo, kwafaneleka ngokwenene ukuba uIsrayeli alile ngenxa kaSamuweli, umprofeti kaYehova, kuba efile.ANa 663.2

Isizwe sasilahlekwe ngumseki nomongameli wezikolo zaso ezingcwele, kodwa kwakungaphelelanga apho. Salahlekwa ngulowo abantu babeqhele ukuya kuye neenkathazo zabo ezinkulu, salehlekwa ngumntu obehlala ethetha noThixo ngezinto ezintle ezifanele abantu baso [isizwe]. Ukuthethelela kukaSamuweli kwanika imvakalelo yokukhuseleka; kuba “Sinamandla kakhulu isikhungo selungisa, siyeyisa.” Yakobi 5:16. Abantu baba noluvo lokuba uThixo ubashiyile. Ukumkani wakhangeleka engekude kakhulu ekuphambaneni. Ubulungisa bebugqwethiwe, ucwangco lujike lwasisiphithiphithi.ANa 663.3

Kwakungeli xesha kanye, xa isizwe sasidlavulwa yimbambano yangaphakathi, apho icebo elizolileyo neloyika uThixo likaSamuweli, lalidingeka kakhulu, awaya uThixo wasivumela isicaka saKhe esesikhulile ukuba siphumle. Zabakrakra iinkumbulo zabantu bakukhangela ukuzola kwendawo apho wayelele khona, bakhumbula ubuyatha babo bokwala ukuba abe ngumlawuli wabo; kuba wayesondelelene kakhulu nezulu wada wangathi umqamangela uIsrayeli etroneni kaYehova. YayinguSamuweli owabafundisa ukuba bamthande bamthobele uThixo; kodwa ngoku wayefile, abantu baziva beshiyeke kwiinceba zokumkani owayezimanye noSathana, nowayeza kuwuqhawula umtshato phakathi kwabantu noThixo kunye neZulu.ANa 664.1

UDavide akazange abekho emngcwabeni kaSamuweli, kodwa wamlilela kakhulu nangothando njengonyana onyanisekileyo elilela uyise amthandayo. Wayesazi ukuba ukufa kukaSamuweli kuqhawule elinye iqhina lokwalelwa kwezenzo zikaSawule, waza waziva engakhuselekanga kangako kunangoko ebesaphila umprofeti. Ngeli xesha ingqondo yayisaxakeke kukulilela ukufa kukaSamuweli, uDavide wathabatha ithuba lokufuna indawo enenkuseleko enkulu; ngoko wabalekela kwintlango yakwaParan. Kulapha apho waqamba indumiso yekhulu elinamashumi amabini ananye. Kwezi ndawo zimagqagala, eqonda ukuba efile nje umprofeti, ukumkani wayelutshaba lwakhe, wacula:ANa 664.2

“Uncedo lwam luvela kuYehova,
UMenzi wezulu nehlabathi.
Akayi kukha ozele umgcini wakho.
Uyabona, akozeli, akalali,
UMgcini kaIsrayeli.
NguYehova umgcini wakho,
NguYehova umthunzi wakho ekunene kwakho.
Emini ilanga aliyi kukwenzakalisa,
Nenyanga ebusuku.
UYehova uya kukugcina ebubini bonke,
Uya kuwugcina umphefumlo wakho.
UYehova uya kukugcina ukuphuma kwako
Nokungena kwakho,
Kususela ngoku kude kuse ephakadeni.”ANa 664.3

Ndumiso 121:2-8.

Ngexesha uDavide namadoda akhe babesentlango yeParan, bakhusela, kubangeneli ababegqugqisa, impahla enkulu nemihlambi yendoda esisityebi, egama linguNabhali, owayenemfuyo eninzi kweso sithili. UNabhali wayeyinzala kaKhalebhi, kodwa isimilo sakhe sasinengqondo yobundlavini nokuvimba.ANa 664.4

Yayilixesha lokuchetywa kweegusha, ixesha lobubele. UDavide namadoda akhe babeyidinga kakhulu into etyiwayo; kwathi, ngokwesithethe saloo maxesha, unyana kaYesewathumelaishumi lamadodana kuNabhali, ewayalela ukuba ambulise ngegama lenkosi yawo; wongeza: “Hlala kakuhle uphile wena, iphile nendlu yakho, kuphile konke onakho. Ndivile kaloku ukuba unabachebi. Ke kaloku abalusi bakho babe nathi; asibenzanga nto, abalahlekelwanga nto yonke imihla ababeseKarmele. [*Ingeyiyo iNtaba yeKarmele, kodwa indawo kumhlaba wakwaYuda, kufuphi nedolophu iMahon.] Buza kumadodana akho, okuxelela. Makababalwe nguwe la madodana akowethu, ngokuba sifike ngemini elungileyo. Khawubanike abakhonzi bakho, nonyana wakho uDavide, into esithe sayifumana isandla sakho.”ANa 665.1

UDavide namadoda akhe baba ludonga lokhuselo kubelusi nemihlambi kaNabhali; ngoku ke, le ndoda isisityebi yacelwa ukuba ithabathe kubutyebi bayo ixhase iimfuno zabo bayenzela kangako. UDavide namadoda akhe babenakho ukuzinceda kumaqela empahla enkulu nemihlambi yayo, kodwa abazange bakwenze oko. Baziphatha ngendlela ehloniphayo. Ububele babo, kodwa, babulahla kuNabhali. Impendulo awayibuyisela kuDavide yayibonisa isimilo sakhe: “Ngubani na yena uDavide? Ngubani na unyana kaYese? Azi namhla baninzi abakhonzi abakreqayo, elowo enkosini yakhe. Ndingathini na ukuthabatha isonka sam, namanzi am, nento yam exheliweyo, endiyixhelele abachebi bam, ndiyinike amadoda endingawaziyo nokuba avela phi na?”ANa 665.2

Athi akubuyela amadodana engaphethe nto ayichaza indaba kuDavide, wazaliswa yingqumbo. Wayalela amadoda akhe ukuba azixhobise alungiselele imfazwe; kuba wayezimisele ukuyohlwaya le ndoda yamvimba oko kwakulilungelo lakhe, yaza ngaphezu koko yafaka nesithuko. Esi senzo sokungxama sasihambelana ngakumbi nesimilo sikaSawule kunesikaDavide, kodwa unyana kaYese kwakusafuneka afunde umonde kwisikolo sokungcungcutheka.ANa 665.3

Omnye wabakhonzi bakaNabhali wakhawuleza waya kuAbhigali, inkosikazi kaNabhali, emva kokuba endulule amadodana kaDavide, wamxelela oko kwenzekileyo. “Yabona,” watsho, “uDavide ususe abathunywa entlango, ukuba beze kusikelela inkosi yethu; yesuka yabadlakavula. Kanti amadoda lawo ebelungile kunene kuthi; akasonanga, asilahlekelwanga nto ngemihla yonke esibe sihamba nawo, oko besisezindle; aba ludonga kuthi nasebusuku nasemini, yonke imihla ebe sinawo, sisalusa impahla emfutshane. Yazi ngoko, uyibone into oyenzayo; ngokuba kugqitywe kwelobubi ngakwinkosi yethu, nangakwindlu yayo yonke.”ANa 665.4

Wathi engahlangananga nomyeni wakhe okanye engayixelanga kuyo injongo yakhe, uAbhigali wenza umphako omkhulu, owaya wakhweliswa emaesileni, wathumela ngomphathi wezicaka, naye wahamba ukuba ahlangane nebutho likaDavide. Wahlangana nabo kumatyholo asendulini. “UAbhigali wambona uDavide wangxama, wehla e-esileni, wawa ngobuso phambi koDavide, waqubuda emhlabeni. Wawa ke ezinyaweni zakhe, wathi, Mabube kum, kum lo, nkosi yam, ubugwenxa obu. Makhe athethe umkhonzazana wakhe ezindlebeni zakho.” UAbhigali wathetha noDavide ngembeko enkulu kwangathi uthetha nekumkani esele ilawula. UNabhali yena wayekhalime krwada, wathi, “Ngubani na yena uDavide?” kodwa uAbhigali wambiza ngokuthi, “nkosi yam.” Ngamazwi anobubele, wazama ukuyithomalalisa imvakalelo yakhe ephazanyisiweyo necatshukisiweyo, wacengana naye egameni lomyeni wakhe. Ngaphandle kokuzigwagwisa okanye ukuziphakamisa, kodwa ezaliswe bubulumko nothando lukaThixo, uAbhigali wabonakalisa amandla okuzinikela kwakhe kwindlu yakhe; wayicacisa ngokuphandle kuDavide into yokuba indlela erhabaxa ayiyo umyeni wakhe yayingacingwanga ngabulumko kwangaphambili ngenjongo yokumhlasela [uDavide], koko yayikukuphuhluka nje kwendalo engonwabanga nenomona.ANa 666.1

“Ngoko, nkosi yam, ehleli nje uYehova, uhleli nje umphefumlo wakho, inene, uYehova ukunqandile ukuba ungaphalazi gazi ungazisindisi ngesandla sakho; ngoko mazibe njengoNabhali iintshaba zakho, nabayifunela ububi inkosi yam.” UAbhigali akazange akuthabathele kuye ukunconywa ngoku kucinga ukumjika uDavide kwinjongo yakhe ekhawulezileyo, kodwa walusa kuThixo uzuko nokubonga. Waya wamnika uDavide ulungiselelo olukhulu njengomnikelo woxolo kumadoda kaDavide, waqhubeka ecenga ngokungathi nguye ngokwakhe owaphembelela ukucaphuka kwenkosi.ANa 666.2

“Khawumxolele,” watsho, “umkhonzazana wakho ukreqo lwakhe; ngokuba inene, uYehova uya kuyenzela inkosi yam indlu eqinileyo; ngokuba inkosi yam ilwa iimfazwe zikaYehova; ububi abuyi kufunyanwa kuwe imihla yakho yonke.” UAbhigali wayirhesha nje indlela emelwe kukulandelwa nguDavide. Kwakufuneka alwe amadabi kaYehova. Kwakungafuneki afune impindezelo ngokoniwa kwakhe, nangona wayetshutshiswa njengomngcatshi.Waqhubeka: “Xa kuthe kwesuka umntu, wakusukela, wawufuna umphefumlo wakho, wobotshwa umphefumlo wenkosi yam esiqhumeni sabaphilileyo kuYehova uThixo wakho. . . . Kuthi, xa uYehova athe wenza kwinkosi yam njengako konke okulungileyo akuthethileyo ngawe; wakumisa wayinganga yamaIsrayeli: oko kungabi sisiwiso kuwe, nesikhubekiso sentliziyo yenkosi yam, nokuphalaza igazi elimsulwa, nokuzisindisa kwenkosi yam; ukuba uthe uYehova wenza okulungileyo enkosini yam, womkhumbula umkhonzazana wakho.” 1 Samuweli 25:29-31.ANa 666.3

La mazwi ayenokuphuma kuphela kwimilebe yalowo uye waxhamla kubulumko basezulwini. Ubungcwele buka-Abhigali, bunjengevumba lentyatyambo, babuziphumela nje engacinganga, ebusweni, elizwini, nakwizenzo. Intetho, enongwe ngobabalo, izele bububele noxolo, yathulula impembelelo yezulu. Wavakalelwa kakuhle uDavide, wangcangcazela akucinga ukuba zaziya kubanjani iziphumo zokudyuduzela kwenjongo yakhe. “Banoyolo abaxolisi; ngokuba baya kubizwa ngokuthi bangoonyana bakaThixo bona.” Mateyu 5:9. Akwaba bebengaba baninzi abafazi abafana nalo mfazi wakwaIsrayeli, abanokuthomalalisa iimvakalelo ezikhathazekileyo, bathintele iinjongo zobutyhuthutyhuthu, badambise ububi obukhulu ngamazwi azolileyo nobulumko obusetyenziswe kakuhle.ANa 667.1

Ubomi bobuKristu obunikelwe [kuThixo] buhlala njalo bunika ukukhanya nentuthuzelo kunye noxolo. Bubonakala ngokuba nobunyulu, icebo, ubulula, nokuxabiseka. Bulawulwa luthando olungafuni okukokwalo noluyingcwalisayo impembelelo. Buzele nguKristu, baye bushiya umzila wokukhanya naphi na apho onabo ahamba khona. UAbhigali wayengumkhalimi nomcebisi olumkileyo. Indlela awaziva ngayo uDavide yanyamalala phantsi kwempembelelo nokuzathuza kwakhe. Woyisakala kukuba wathabatha inyathelo eliphuthileyo, walahlekwa kukuwulawula umoya wakhe.ANa 667.2

Ngentliziyo ethobileyo, wakwamkela ukuthethiswa, ngokuhambelana namazwi akhe athi, “Malindibethe ilungisa linenceba, lindohlwaye; i-oli enjalo yentloko ayingeyali intloko yam.” Ndumiso 141:5. Wamnika umbulelo neentsikelelo kuba emcebise ngobulungisa. Baninzi abathi bakuba bethethisiwe, bacinge ukuba bafanele ukunconywa xa bekwamkele ukuthethiswa bengakhange balahlekelwe ngokukulunyamezela; kodwa bambalwa kakhulu abakwamkela ukuthethiswa ngentliziyo enombulelo baze babasikelele abo bazama ukubasindisa ekulandeleni ikhondo elibi.ANa 667.3

Wathi uAbhigali akubuyela ekhaya, wamfumana uNabhalineendwendwezakhebezonwabisengesidloesikhulu, abasijika sangumbono wolonwabo lokunxila. Kwaba ngentsasa elandelayo xa umfazi wakhe emxelela ngokuhlangana kwakhe [yena mfazi] noDavide. UNabhali wayenobugwala entliziyweni; wathi akuyiqonda indlela obuphantse bambulalisa ngayo ngokukhawuleza ubudenge bakhe, wangathi ubethwe sisathutwhane. Wathi ngokoyika ukuba uDavide angaqhubeka nenjongo yakhe yempindezelo, wazaliswa luloyiko, watyhafa, wawa phantsi, waphelelwa ziingqondo, akeva nto. Emva kweentsuku ezilishumi wafa. Ubomi uThixo awayemnike bona baba sisiqalekiso kuphela emhlabeni. Phakathi kokuvuya nokuzonwabisa, uThixo wathi kuye, njengoko watshoyo kwindoda esisityebi yomzekelo, “Ngobu busuku umphefumlo wakhe uya kubizwa kuwe.” Luka 12:20.ANa 668.1

Emva koko, uDavide wamtshata uAbhigali. Wayesele eyindoda yomfazi omnye, kodwa isithethe sezizwe ngelo xesha, sayigqwetha ingqiqo yakhe, sanempembelelo kwizenzo zakhe. Namadoda amakhulu nalungileyo athi one ngokulandela izenzo zehlabathi. Iziphumo ezikrakra zokutshata abafazi abaninzi, zavakala kabuhlungu kubo bonke ubomi bukaDavide.ANa 668.2

Emva kokufa kukaSamuweli, uDavide wasala eseluxolweni okweenyanga ezimbalwa. Waphinda wabuyela kubulolo baseZifi; kodwa ezi ntshaba, ngokuthemba ukuzuza ukuthandwa ngukumkani, zamxelela apho azimele khona uDavide. Olu lwazi lwayivusa idemon eyayisalele esifubeni sikaSawule. Waphinda wabiza amadoda akhe okulwa wawakhokela ukuba kuyokusukelwa uDavide. Abahlobo bakhe abaziintlola bamzisela iindaba unyana kaYese zokuba uSawule uyaphinda ukumlandela; waza wathi, enamadoda akhe ambalwa, uDavide waqala wayifuna indawo yotshaba lwakhe. Kwaye kusebusuku xa, bathi ngobulumko, babheka phambili, bafika apho utshaba lulalise khona, bazibona phambi kwabo iintente zikakumkani namaphakathi akhe. Abazange babonwe, kuba inkampu yonke yayithe cwaka, kulelwe. UDavide wabiza abahlobo bakhe ukuba bahambe naye bangene kanye phakathi kotshaba. Kumbuzo wakhe othi, “Ngubani na oya kuhla nam aye kuSawule empini?” UAbhishayi waphendula kwangoko, “Mna ndohla nawe.”ANa 668.3

Baya bazimela ngamathunzi eenduli, uDavide nomncedi wakhe bangena enkampini yotshaba. Bathi ngokuzama ukuqinisekisa ukuba lingakanani inani leentshaba zabo, bafika kuSawule elele, intshuntshe yakhe ihlonywe emhlabeni, nentsuba yamanzi ngasentlokweni yakhe. Ecaleni kwakhe, kwakulele uAbhinere, umphathi oyintloko [yomkhosi], bejikelezwe ngamasoldati, bonke belele cum. UAbhishayi wayiphakamisaintshuntshe[kaSawule],wathikuDavide, “UThixo ulunikele namhla utshaba lwakho esandleni sakho; kaloku makhe ndimqhame, nomhlaba ngentshuntshe ngasihlandlo sinye, ndingenzi zibe zibini.” Walindela ilizwi elimvumelayo; kodwa kwawa ezindlebeni zakhe amazwi asebezayo: “Musa ukumbulala ngokuba ngubani na ongasa isandla kumthanjiswa kaYehova, aze abe msulwa? . . . Ehleli nje uYehova, ukuba akathanga uYehova ambulale, mhlawumbi kwafika imini yakhe wafa, mhlawumbi wehla waya emfazweni wabulawa: makube lee kum ngenxa kaYehova ukukha ndise isandla sam kumthanjiswa kaYehova. Khawuthabathe kaloku intshuntshe engasentlokweni yakhe, neselwa lamanzi, sihambe. Wayithabatha ke uDavide intshuntshe, neselwa lamanzi engasentlokweni kaSawule; bemka, kungaboni mntu, kungazi mntu, kungavukanga mntu; ngokuba bonke babelele: kuba babewelwe bubuthongo obukhulu bukaYehova.” Hayi ukuba lula kwendlela uYehova enza buthakathaka ngayo oyena womeleleyo, nasusa ngayo ubulumko koyena usisilumko, adide ubuchule boyena uphaphileyo!ANa 668.4

Wathi uDavide akuba ethe qelele kakhulu enkampini, wema endulini wakhwaza ngelizwi elikhulu ebhekisa ebantwini nakuAbhinere, esithi, “Akuyiyo ndoda yini na? ngubani na onjengawe kwaIsrayeli? Yini na ke ukuba ungayigcini inkosi yakho ukumkani? Ngokuba kufike ubani wasebantwini, eza konakalisa ukumkani inkosi yakho. Asinto ilungileyo le uyenzileyo. Ehleli nje uYehova, ningoonyana bokufa, ningayigcinanga nje inkosi yenu, umthanjiswa kaYehova. Khangela kaloku, iphi na intshuntshe yokumkani, neselwa lamanzi elibe lingasentlokweni yakhe? Walazi uSawule ilizwi likaDavide, wathi, Lilizwi lakho na elo, nyana wam Davide? Wathi uDavide, Lilizwi lam, nkosi yam kumkani. Wathi, Yini na le nto inkosi yam imsukelayo umkhonzi wayo? Kuba ndenze ntoni na? Bubi buni na obusesandleni sam? Ngoko inkosi yam ukumkani mayikhe iwaphulaphule amazwi omkhonzi wayo.” Kwakhona ukuvuma kwaphuma emilebeni kakumkani, “Ndonile; buya, nyana wam Davide; ngokuba andisayi kuba sakwenza nto imbi, ngendawo yokuba umphefumlo wam ubunqabile emehlweni akho namhla. Uyabona ndenze ngobudenge, ndalahleka ngokukhulukazi. Waphendula uDavide, wathi, Nantsi intsuntshe yokumkani. Makuwele enye indodana iyithabathe.” Nangona uSawule wenza isithembiso, esithi, “Andisayi kuba sakwenza nto imbi,” uDavide akazange azibeke esichengeni samandla akhe.ANa 671.1

Isiganeko sesibini sokuhlonipha kukaDavide ubomi bukakumkani senzaumdaonzulukakhulu engqondweni kaSawule,sazisakuye ukuyivuma okuthobeke kakhulu imposiso yakhe. Wamangaliswa woyisakala kukubonakaliswa kobubele obungako. Ekwahlukaneni kwakhe noDavide, uSawule wankqangaza, wathi, “Usikelelwe, nyana wam Davide; uya kwenza weyise; kananjalo uya kufeza kufezeke.” Sekunjalo, unyana kaYese akazange athembe ukuba ukumkani uya kuhlala ixesha elide esenale ngqondo.ANa 672.1

UDavide wayephelelwe lithemba lokuxolelaniswa noSawule. Kwabonakala kuyinto engenakujikwa eyokuba ekugqibeleni awe elixhoba lenkohlakalo kakumkani, waza wazimisela ukuba aphinde afune igwiba kumhlaba wamaFilisti. Enamakhulu amathandathu amadoda phantsi kwenkokelo yakhe, wadlulela kuAkishe, ukumkani waseGati.ANa 672.2

Isigqibo sikaDavide sokuba ngokuqinisekileyo uSawule uya kuyifeza injongo yakhe yokumbulala, wasenza ngaphandle kwengcebiso kaThixo. Naxa uSawule wayeceba ezama ukuphumelela ukumtshabalalisa, uYehova wayesebenza ukubuzuzela uDavide ubukumkani. UThixo uyawasebenzisa amacebo aKhe, noxa emehlweni abantu ebonakala eyimfihlelo. Abantu abangakwazi ukuziqonda iindlela zikaThixo, bathi, ngokukhangela imbonakalo, bazibone izilingo neemvavanyo, nezibonakaliso ezichasana nabo azivumelayo uThixo ukuba zize kubo, njengezinto ezilwa nabo, nezisebenzela intshabalalo yabo. Kwaba njalo ukukhangela kukaDavide izinto ezibonwayo, akakhangela kwizithembiso zikaThixo. Wakuthandabuza ukuba uya kuze afike etroneni. Izilingo ezazide zaludinisa ukholo lwakhe zawugqiba umonde wakhe.ANa 672.3

UYehova akazange amthumele uDavide ukuba afumane ukhuseleko kumaFilisti, ezona ntshaba zinkulu zikaIsrayeli. Sona esi isizwe sasiza kuba phakathi kwezona ntshaba zimbi zakhe kude kube sekupheleni, ukanti wabalekela kuzo efuna uncedo ngexesha lakhe lentswelo. Elahlekwe kukuthemba uSawule kunye nabo babemsebenzela, wazilahlela kwiinceba zeentshaba zabantu bakhe. UDavide wayengumphathi onesibindi womkhosi, kwaye wayezibonakalisile ukuba ungumlwi olumkileyo nophumelelayo kodwa wayesebenza ngokuchasene mpela nento ayithandayo xa esiya kumaFilisti. UThixo wayemnyulele ukuba awuphakamise umgangatho wakhe ezweni lakwaYuda, kwaza kwaba kukuswela kwakhe ukholo okwamkhokelela ukuba ashiye indawo yakhe yokusebenza ngaphandle komyalelo ovela kuYehova.ANa 672.4

UThixo waphoxwa kukungakholwa kukaDavide. AmaFilisti ayemoyike uDavide ngaphezu kokuba ayesoyika uSawule nemikhosi yakhe; waza ngokuzibeka kwakhe phantsi kokhuselo lwamaFilisti, uDavide wawabonisa ubuthakathaka babantu bakhe. Ngaloo ndlela wazikhuthaza ezi ntshaba zingenalusizi ukuba zimcinezele uIsrayeli. UDavide wayethanjiselwe ukuba akhusele abantu bakaThixo; ngoko ke uYehova wayengafuniukuba abakhonzibaKhebanikeinkuthazo kwabakhohlakeleyo ngokuveza ubuthakathaka babantu baKhe okanye ngembonakalo yokungakukhathaleli ukuhlala kwabo kakuhle. Ngapha koko, abazalwana bakhe baba nengqondo yokuba uye kubahedeni ukuba anqule oothixo babo. Ngesi senzo wanika ithuba lokuba zibonwe ngendlela engeyiyo iinjongo zakhe, baza abaninzi bakhokelwa ekubeni bamgwebe bengabuzanga. Le nto kanye uSathana alangazelela ukuba ayenze, wakhokelelwa ukuba ayenze; kuba ngokufuna igwiba kumaFilisti, uDavide wabanga uvuyo loloyiso olukhulu kwiintshaba zikaThixo nabantu baKhe. UDavide akazange akuyeke ukunqula uThixo, engazange akuyeke nokuzinikela emsebenzini waKhe; kodwa wanikela ngokumthemba kwakhe [uThixo] kwinkuseleko yesiqu sakhe, waba ngaloo ndlela ubeka ibala kwingqibelelo nokunyaniseka kwesimilo uThixo afuna ukuba abakhonzi baKhe babe naso.ANa 672.5

UDavide wamkelwa ngobubele ngukumkani wamaFilisti. Ukufudumala kokwamkelwa kwakhe, nganxanye kwakungokuba ukumkani wamthanda, nganxanye kwalinyhwalaza ikratshi lakhe ukuba umHebhere afune ukhuselo lwakhe. UDavide waziva ekhuselekile ekungcatshweni ngokuba abe ngaphantsi kolawulo luka-Akishe. Wazisa intsapho yakhe, indlu yakhe, izinto zakhe, aza enjenjalo namadoda akhe; ngokwembonakalo, wangumntu oze ukuba eme ngokusisigxina kwilizwe lamaFilisti. Konke oku, kwamanelisa uAkishe, owathembisa ngokuwakhusela amaIsrayeli azimbacu.ANa 673.1

Ngokucela kukaDavide ukuba indawo yokuhlala elizweni ibe kude nesixeko sakomkhulu, ukumkani ngobubele wamnika iZikelage ukuba ibe yindawo yakhe. UDavide waqonda ukuba kuya kuba yingozi ukuba yena nabantu bakhe babe phantsi kwempembelelo yabakhonzi bezithixo. Kwidolophu eyayithe qelele kakhulu ukuba bayisebenzise, babeya kukwazi ukukhonza uThixo bekhululekile kakhulu kunokuba bebeya kubanjalo ukuba bebehleli eGati, apho iinkonzo zobuhedeni zazingayikubanto yimbi ngaphandle kokuba lithende lobubi nesiphazamiso.ANa 673.2

Ngexesha ehleli kule dolophu ithe geqe, uDavide walwa namaGeshure, namaGezere, nama-Amaleki, akashiya noyedwa ephila ukuba azise iindaba eGati. Wathi akubuya edabini, wamenza uAkishe ukuba azi ukuba ulwe nezo zizwe zakubo, amadoda akwaYuda. Ngoku kuhlakaza, wabasisixhobo sokomeleza isandla samaFilisti; kuba wathi ukumkani, “Ugqibile ukuzinukisa ebantwini bakowabo kwaIsrayeli; woba ngumkhonzi wam ke ngonaphakade.” Wazi UDavide ukuba ibe iyintando kaThixo ukuba ezo zizwe zabahedeni zitshatyalaliswe, wazi ukuba wanyulwa ukuba awenze lo msebenzi; kodwa wayengahambi ngecebo likaThixo xa wayesenza inkohliso.ANa 673.3

“Kwathi ngaloo mihla, amaFilisti ayihlanganisa yonke imikhosi yawo, ukuze aphume umkhosi ayekulwa namaIsrayeli. Wathi uAkishe kuDavide, Yazi ngokuqinisekileyo ukuba uya kuphuma nomkhosi wam, wena namadoda akho.” UDavide wayengenazo iinjongo zokusiphakamisa isandla sakhe ngakubantu; kodwa wayengaqinisekanga ukuba makenze ntoni, zide iimeko zibonise ukuba makathini. Wamphendula ukumkani ngendlela emphephayo, wathi, “Kaloku uya kuyazi into eya kwenziwa ngumkhonzi wakho.” UAkishe wawathabatha la mazwi njengesithembiso sokunceda ekufikeni kwemfazwe, wabhambathisa ngezwi lakhe ukunika uDavide imbeko enkulu, amnike isikhundla esiphezulu kwinkundla yamaFilisti.ANa 674.1

Nangona phofu ukholo lukaDavide ngandlela ithile lwaluhexa ngakwizithembiso zikaThixo, wayesakhumbula ukuba uSamuweli wamthambisa ukuba abe ngukumkani kaIsrayeli. Wakhumbula uloyiso awamnika lona uThixo phezu kweentshaba zakhe kumaxesha adlulayo. Wazikhumbuza ngenceba enkulu kaThixo ekumgcineni kwisandla sikaSawule, waza wazimisela ukuba akasayi kuze akuphoxe ukumthemba. Kwada kwathi nangona ukumkani kaIsrayeli wayezingela ubomi bakhe, akabi nako ukuhlanganisa imikhosi yakhe neentshaba zabantu bakhe.ANa 674.2