UDAVIDA uyazilungiselela njengombana amasotja abalekela ngemva kwakhe. Athukwe ayahlengezela njengombana abaleke epini. Athuswe yini kangaka? UDavida uwalalele njengomabana asolo atjho ibizo lendoda ewathusileko le. Nakathi mehlo suka, indoda le nasiya ijame laphaya, iphakeme ukuzidlula zoke iinstistirimba uDavida ekhe wazibona.

NguGoliyadi! UDavida wanyekele walemuka ukuthi amasotjakhe athuswe yini kangaka—uGoliyadi bekayikakaramba yendoda, alingana nentaba nakajamileko. Nangaphandle kokumbatha izembatho zepi, bekanobudisi obudlula bamadoda amabili nakahlanganisiweko. Bekahlome ngeenkhali zepi, begodu anamandla ararako, ikutana ekade izibona. UGoliyadi wathi akube yipi. Cabanga nje iphimbo lakhe elibhodlako nalizwakala eentabeni njengombana atjhijila ibutho lama-Israyeli nekosalo uSawula. Wathi akuze nanyana ngubani ozithembako, bathathane phezulu kube kanye, lokho kuzoyiqeda yoke ipi!—1 Samyela 17:4-10.

Ama-Israyeli atjhotjhobala. NakuSawula ikosi kwaba ngiso leso. Nakaqala ubujamobo uDavida, uyabona ukuthi sekuphele inyanga yoke solo kunje! Womabili amabutho, amaFilista nama-Israyeli aqalene ngemehlweni njengombana uGoliyadi abarhuga ngenyazo ilanga nelanga. Kwamtshwenya khulu lokho uDavida. Phela bekudanisa kwamambala ukuthi ikosi yakwa-Israyeli namasotjayo, kunye nabafowabo lakaDavida abathathu abadala kunaye, boke njalo bayahlengezela ngevalo! Emehlweni kaDavida umrhedenikazi lo onguGoliyadi bekenza okungaphezu kokuhlazisa ibutho lama-Israyeli; bekanyaza uZimu ka-Israyeli, uJehova! Kodwana khuyini ebekungenziwa msanyana osemutjha lo uDavida? Begodu thina namhlanjesi singafundani ngokukholwa kwakhe?—1 Samyela 17:11-14.

Akhesibuyele emva siyokubona la isuka khona. Besekumarhwaqela, uDavida eluse izimvu zakayise ndawana thize eentabeni hlanu kweBhethelehema. Bekalisokana elinejamo, elisese seminyakeni yobutjha balo, abovana begodu aqaleka, umbona emehlweni ukuthi uhlakaniphile. Bekuthi nakuthulileko, azidlalele inghwani. Ubuhle bendalo kaZimu ngibo obamenza wazuza amakghono wokudlala umbhino, njengombana bekasebenzisa isikhathi esinengi adlala umbhino. Kodwana ngobunye ubusuku uyise wambiza wathi ufuna ukumbona, kurhabile.—1 Samyela 16:12.

Nakangenako ufumana uyise, uJese, akhuluma nelinye iqhegu. Iqhegwelo bekumphorofidi othembekileko uSamyela. Bekathunywe nguJehova bona azokuzesa enye yamadodana kaJese bona ibe yikosi yakwa-Israyeli! USamyela besekababonile abafowabo lakaDavida abalikhomba, kodwana uJehova wamtjela indlebe ukuzwa uSamyela ukuthi akafuni namunye walabo abalikhomba. Kwathi nakufika uDavida, uJehova watjela uSamyela wathi: “Nangu-ke engimkhethileko. Sikima umzese.” USamyela wavula iphondo elinamafutha wekhethelo wathela ingcenye yawo ehloko kaDavida, boke abafowabo baqalile. Ipilo kaDavida yatjhentjha ngemva kokuzeswa kwakhe. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kusukela mhlokho uMoya [“kaJehova,” NW] wehlela phezu kwakaDavida.”—1 Samyela 16:1, 5-11, 13.

Kghani uDavida wathoma ukuba marhamaru ngobukhosi? Awa, yena bekazilindele ukunqotjhiswa  mumoya kaJehova, okungiwo ebewuzamazisa bona sinini isikhathi sokwamukela umthwalo wobukhosi. Nakasalinde njalo, waragela phambili nokuzenzela isabelo sakhe esiphasi sokwelusa. Loyo msebenzi ebekawenza ngekuthalo nangesibindi. Umhlambi kayise wakhe wasongelwa bekwaba kabili, kwathoma ngebhubezi bese kwalandela ibhere. UDavida azange aziqotjhe nje kwaphela iimbandanezo. Kodwana walwa nazo, wavikela umhlambi kayise ebewunganabani. Kizo zombili iinkhathezo, walwa nesibanda ngasinye wasibulala!—1 Samyela 17:34-36; Isaya 31:4.

Nakufika isikhathi, uDavida wabizwa godu. IKosi uSawula beseyizwile ngaye nokuziphatha kwakhe. Nanyana bekasese yikutana enamandla njalo uSawula, uJehova besekangasamthandi ngebanga lokungalaleli kwakhe ilayelo lakaZimu. UJehova wawususa umoyakhe kuSawula, lokho kwabangela ikosi le bona ibe nomoya omumbi—ilaka, ukungathembeki, nokuthanda inturhu. Bekuthi nakufika umoya omumbi lo kuSawula, aduduzwe mbhino kwaphela. Njeke amanye amadoda kaSawula bekezwile ngekghono lakaDavida kwezomvumo nezokulwa. Wabizwa-ke uDavida, bese waba ngomunye wabavumi besigodlweni sakaSawula nosonkhande wakhona.—1 Samyela 15:26-29; 16:14-23.

Abantu abatjha bangafunda okunengi ngokukholwa kwakaDavida eendabenezi. Nawungatjheja uzokubona ukuthi ebekakwenza ngesikhathi sakhe nakangenzi litho, bekukuqinisa ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova. Okhunye kukuthi, wabekezela, wazuza namakghono amahle ebekazomenza asebenziseke. Kodwana ngaphezu kwakho koke, wavuma ukunqotjhiswa mumoya kaJehova. Nangambala, lezi ziimfundo ezihle khulu soke esingazifunda!—UMtjhumayeli 12:1.

Nakasasebenzela uSawula njalo, uDavida bephele abuyele nekhabo ayokulusa izimvu, ngas’kathi lokho akwenze ibanga elijanyana. Bekuphakathi kwesinye seenkhathi ezinjalo mhla uJese athumela uDavida bona ayokuhlola amadodanakhe amathathu amadala, ebekamasotja kaSawula. UDavida wamlalela uyise, waphathela abafowabo abazokutlhoga, watjhinga eMrhobeni we-Ela. Nakafika lapho kwamdanisa ukubona amabutho amabili lawo solo aqalene ngemehlweni njengombana khesatjho nasivula indaba le. Bebajame njalo basolo baqalene ibanga elingaba bubanzi bomrhoba loyo.—1 Samyela 17:1-3, 15-19.

KuDavida lobo bekungasi bujamo bokubekezelelwa. Wasilingwa kukuthi ibutho lakaZimu ophilako, uJehova limsaba njani umuntu wakomuntu—nakhona umrhedenikazi lo? UDavida wabona ukuthi uGoliyadi udelela uJehova ngokunqophileko. Yeke, wathoma wakhuluma namasotja bona ayokulwa noGoliyadi. Angakaliginyi njalo uDavida, umfowabo omdala, u-Eliyabu wayizwa ukuthi iyaphi indaba le. Wamkhalima kabuhlungu umnakwabo lo, watjho nokuthi into ayizele la kukuzokubukela ukufa kwabantu. Kodwana uDavida wabuza wathi: “Sengenzeni-ke gadesi? Kanti lokhu akukaqakatheki na?” Ngemva kwalokho watjhidela, akhuluma ngesibindi malungana nokuhlula uGoliyadi, bekwaba kulapho omunye abikela khona uSawula ngamezwi lawo. Ikosi yabawa bona uDavide azoyibona.—1 Samyela 17:23-31.

UDavida wakhuluma naka amezwi asikhuthazo ekosini ngoGoliyadi: “Akungabi nomuntu onyamako ngebanga lomFilista.” USawula namadoda anaye besekayilahlile itewu ngoGoliyadi. Mhlamunye batjhapha  ngokuthi bazimadanise netsitsirimba leya, bacabanga nangendlela ababafitjhani ngayo kiyo. Bebacabanga ukuthi itsitsirimba ehlomileko leyo izobabulala bulula. Kodwana uDavida azange akucabange lokho. Njengombana sizokubona, yena wabona umraro loyo ngenye indlela. Yeke, wathi yena uzokuyokulwa noGoliyadi.—1 Samyela 17:32.

USawula wathi: “Angeze wakghona ukwehla uyokulwa nomFilista loya; usesemsana, kanti yena uyitsitsirimba eyathoma ukulwa kusukela ebutjheni bayo.” Kghani vele uDavida bekasesemsana? Awa, kodwana bekasesemncani ukuthi angayokulwa epini, begodu bekubonakala ukuthi usesemutjha. Kodwana uDavida besekaziwa ukuthi usisilwi esiphumelelako, begodu kungenzeka ngesikhatheso besekangemaphethelweni weminyaka yobutjha bakhe.—1 Samyela 16:18; 17:33.

UDavida waqinisekisa uSawula ngokumhlathululela akwenza ebhubezini nebhere. Kghani bekazikhakhazisa ngokwenza njalo? Awa. UDavida bekakwazi okwamenza waphumelela ezipini lezo. Wathi: “[“UJehova,” NW] owangisindisa eqatheni lebhubezi neqatheni lebhere, uzangisindisa esandleni somFilista lo.” Emaswapheleni uSawula wabeka phasi, wathi kuDavida: “Khamba, yeke [“uJehova,” NW] abe nawe.”—1 Samyela 17:37.

Awukhanuki na ukuba nokukholwa okunjengekwakaDavida? Khumbula-ke ukuthi nawuzakuba nokukholwa okunjalo awuveli ukuphuphe nje bese kuyenzeka. Okwenza uDavida wakholelwa kuZimu lilwazi nelemuko. Bekazi ukuthi uJehova uMvikeli onethando nokuthi uyakwenza akuthembisako. Yeke nathi nasifuna ukuba nokukholwa okunjalo, kufuze sikukhuthalele ukufunda iliZwi lakaZimu, iBhayibheli. Nasiphila ngalokho esikufundako, sizokuthola imiphumela emihle yakho ezokuqinisa ukukholwa kwethu.—Hebheru 11:1.

Ekuthomeni uSawula wazama ukumbathisa uDavida isembatho sakhe sepi. Besithi asifane nesakaGoliyadi esenziwe ngekoporo, begodu besiside njengeyembhe, sinamarurhururhu wesimbi alakanyeneko. UDavida wasimbatha, wazama ukukhamba ngaso, kodwana wabona ukuthi angekhe kulunge, siyamdisela. Phela bekangakabi ukubandulelwa ubusotja, yeke bekangakazijayeli izembatho zakhona, khulukhulu zakaSawula ngombana bekangomude esitjhabeni sakwa-Israyeli! (1 Samyela 9:2) Wasihlubula, wembatha zakhe izembatho zetjhila ebekazijayele, ebezimsiza nekutheni akghone ukuvikela umhlambi.—1 Samyela 17:38-40.

UDavida wathatha izinto azisebenzisa ekuluseni, watjatha isikhwama ehlombe waphatha nesarwayi. Isarwayi besingabonakala njengomdlalo, kodwana kuye bekusikhali esinamandla. Besimabhande amabili ahlanganiswe sikhumba esisasikhwama—isikhali umelusi angakghona ukusisebenzisa. Bekafaka ilitje ngesikhwanyenapho, asiwunawune ngehla kwehlokwakhe ngebelo, bese alise ibhande linye, ilitje liphume linqophe lapha alithumela khona. Ngendlela ebesilisizo ngayo isikhalesi, amanye amasotja akhe azisebenzisa izarwayi epini.

Nasekahlome njalo, uDavida wagijima wayokuqalana netsitsirimba le. Singayicabanga imithandazo yakhe evela ehliziyweni njengombana aguqa phasi ehlabathini, adobha amatje amancani amahlanu abutjhelelezi. Nanguya, akhamba aya epini—angakhambi, kodwana agijima!

Wacabangani uGoliyadi nakabona umuntu azokulwa naye lo? Siyafunda ukuthi “waqala uDavida wambona amsanyana, akhanya begodu aqaleka, yeke wamnyaza.” UGoliyathi wathi: “Ngiyinja na, uza kimi uphethe iingojwana nje? Kuyatjho ukuthi wasibona isibhuku sakaDavida, kodwana azange asitjheje isarwayi. Wathuka uDavida ngabosingazimu bamaFilista, wafunga nokuthi inyamakhe uzoyipha amadlanga neembandana zommango.—1 Samyela 17:41-44.

Bekube kunamhlanjesi, indlela uDavida asabela ngayo isese sibonelo esinamandla sokukholwa. Khewucabange nje, umsanyana athi kuGoliyadi: “Uza kimi ngesabula nomkhonto nangezenjana, kodwana mina ngiza kuwe ngebizo [“lakaJehova,” NW] uMninimandlawoke, uZimu wamabutho ka-Israyeli, [owadeleleko].” UDavida bekangathuswa mamandla womuntu neenkhali aziphetheko. UGoliyadi wadelela uJehova uZimu, uJehova wamfundisa isifundo. Kunjengombana uDavida atjho, ‘ipi ngekayaJehova.’—1 Samyela 17:45-47.

UDavida wabulemuka ubukhulu bakaGoliyadi neenkhali aziphetheko. Kodwana azange avumele  izinto ezinjalo zimthuse. Azange enze iphoso elenziwa nguSawula nebutho lakhe. UDavida azange azimadanise noGoliyadi. Kunalokho, wamadanisa uGoliyadi noJehova. Nakajamileko uGoliyadi bekamamitha ayi-2.9 ubude, awadlula woke amadoda akhamba nawo, kodwana lokho bekuyini nakumadaniswa nobukhulu boMbusi wendawo yoke? KuJehova uGoliyadi bekafana nawo woke omunye umuntu, alingana nobutjhontjhwani obungapatlaka nanyana kunini!

UDavida wahlangabeza inaba lakhe, watjho afaka isandla sakhe ngesikhwanyeni samatje. Wahlohlela isarwayi sakhe, wasiwunawuna ngehla kwehloko besathoma sabetha umlozi. UGoliyadi weza ezile kuDavida, watjhidela akhamba hlanu kosonkhande wakhe. Ubude bakhe bamubophela phasi ngombana isihlangu esivamile esingaphathwa ngusonkhande, besingekhe samvikela ehloko uGoliyadi nanyana besiphakanyiswe kangangani. Kanti kulapho-ke uDavida ebekamkorole khona.—1 Samyela 17:41.

UDavida wajikijela ilitje. Kwathula kwathi du njengombana lifika likorola poro la alithumele khona. Kilokhu uJehova wenza umude wokuthi uDavida kungasamtlhogi ukuphosa elinye ilitje. Ilitjelo labetha langena epandla kaGoliyadi. Itsitsirima yabhusuka phasi ngobuso bayo! Kuyatjho kuthi usonkhande wabaleka ngebanga levalo. UDavida watjhidela, warhwatjhula isabula kaGoliyadi, wamquntula ngayo ihloko.—1 Samyela 17:48-51.

Emaswapheleni, uSawula namasotjakhe baba nesibindi. Barhuwelela, bagijimisa amaFilista. Ipi yaba njengombana uDavida atjele uGoliyadi ukuthi uJehova “uzoninikela ezandleni zethu nokanyana nje.”—1 Samyela 17:47, 52, 53.

Namhlanjesi, iinceku zakaZimu azilwi ipi yamambala, yokubambana ngezandla nangeenkhali. Sesadlula isikhatheso. (Matewu 26:52) Nanyana kunjalo, kufuze silingise ukukholwa kwakaDavida. Njengaye, nathi sifuna ukubona uJehova amumuntu wamambala kithi—abe kuphela koZimu esimlotjhako nesithembele kuye. Ngezinye iinkhathi singazizwa sibancani khulu nasimadaniswa nemiraro esiqalene nayo, kodwana imiraro yethu mincani khulu nayimadaniswa namandla kaJehova anganamkhawulo. Nasikhetha uJehova njegoZimethu, sikholelwe kuye njengoDavida, akunamraro namkha isitjhijilo okufuze sisithuse. Akunalitho elingahlula amandla kaJehova!