Impi yayisiphelile, sekuthulekile eSigodini Sase-Elahi. Njengoba amatende ayenyakaziswa umoya opholile wantambama, iNkosi uSawule yaba nomhlangano nebutho layo. Indodana yayo endala uJonathani yayikulowo mhlangano, futhi insizwa ethile engumalusi yayibaxoxela ngesasasa lokho okwakwenzeke kuyo. Leyo nsizwa kwakunguDavide, yayinomdlandla nentshiseko. USawule wayelalele, ebonakala ukuthi uthathekile. Kodwa uJonathani yena wayezizwa kanjani? Njengoba ayesekhonze ebuthweni likaJehova iminyaka eminingi, ziningi izimpi ayezinqobile. Kodwa namuhla kwakungeyena oyiqhawe, kwakunguDavide. UDavide wayebulale umdondoshiya onguGoliyati! Waba nomona yini uJonathani lapho ebona uDavide ejatshulelwa?

 Kungase kukumangaze lokho okwenziwa uJonathani. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kwathi nje lapho uDavide eqeda ukukhuluma noSawule, uJonathani noDavide baba abangani abakhulu, uJonathani waqala ukumthanda njengoba ezithanda yena.” UJonathani wapha uDavide izikhali zakhe, okuhlanganisa nomnsalo wakhe, okwakuyisipho esikhulu ngoba uJonathani wayaziwa ngokuba umcibisheli onekhono. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJonathani noDavide benza isivumelwano sokuba bahlale bengabangani basekelane.​—1 Samuweli 18:​1-5.

 Baqala kanjalo-ke ubungani babo, futhi bangabanye babangani abakhulu iBhayibheli elikhuluma ngabo. Ubungani bubalulekile kubantu abanokholo. Uma sibakhetha kahle abangani bethu, sibasekele futhi sibe qotho kubo, lokho kungaqinisa ukholo lwethu kulesi sikhathi esiphila kuso esigcwele abantu abangenalo uthando. (IzAga 27:17) Ake sibone ukuthi yini esingayifunda kuJonathani ngokuba abangani abahle.

 Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uDavide noJonathani basheshe babe abangani? Impendulo yalowo mbuzo singayithola ngokuqonda ukuthi ubungani babo babusekelwe kuphi. Cabanga ngalokhu okulandelayo. Kwakuyisikhathi esinzima ekuphileni kukaJonathani. Uyise, iNkosi uSawule, wayeseshintshile. Ekuqaleni wayethobekile, elalela futhi enokholo, kodwa manje uSawule wayeseyinkosi enenkani engalaleli.​—1 Samuweli 15:17-​19, 26.

 UJonathani wayemthanda ubaba wakhe, ngakho kufanele ukuba kwamkhathaza kakhulu ukumbona eshintsha. (1 Samuweli 20:2) Kungenzeka uJonathani wayezibuza ukuthi iyiphi ingozi uSawule ayengayilethela isizwe sikaJehova esikhethiwe. Ingabe ukungalaleli kwakhe kwakuzokwenza abantu baqhele kuJehova bese uJehova engabe esabathanda? Siyaqiniseka ukuthi kwakuyisikhathi esinzima kakhulu leso kumuntu onokholo njengoJonathani.

 Ukwazi lokhu kungasisiza siqonde lokho okwenza uJonathani wayithanda insizwa esencane enguDavide. UJonathani walubona ukholo oluqinile lukaDavide. Khumbula ukuthi ngokungafani nebutho likaSawule, uDavide akazange athuswe ubukhulu bukaGoliyati. Wazitshela ukuthi ukulwa egameni likaJehova kwakuzomenza abe namandla kakhulu kunoGoliyati nazo zonke izikhali zakhe.​—1 Samuweli 17:45-​47.

 Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, uJonathani naye wayezitshele into efanayo. Wayeqiniseka ukuthi yena nesikhonzi sakhe esasimphathela izikhali, babengalinqoba ikamu eligcwele amasosha anezikhali. Kungani ayeqiniseka? UJonathani wathi: “Akukho lutho olungavimba uJehova.” (1 Samuweli 14:6) Ngakho kuningi uJonathani ayefana ngakho noDavide, bobabili babenokholo oluqinile kuJehova futhi bemthanda kakhulu. Lokho kwakuyisisekelo esihle sobungani obabuphakathi kwala madoda amabili. Nakuba uJonathani ayeneminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-50, enamandla futhi eyindodana yenkosi, kuyilapho uDavide ayengumalusi ophansi, cishe engakabi neminyaka engu-20, lokho akubavimbanga ukuba babe abangani. a

 Isivumelwano abasenza sabuvikela ubungani babo. Kanjani? Phela uDavide wayekwazi lokho uJehova ayezomenzela kona: Wayezoba inkosi elandelayo yakwa-Israyeli! Ingabe uDavide wamfihlela uJonathani? Lutho! Ubungani obuhle obufana nobabo bukhuliswa ukukhulumisana okuhle, hhayi amanga nezimfihlo. Ukwazi ngalokho uJehova ayekuthembise uDavide, kwakungamthinta kanjani uJonathani? Kuthiwani uma uJonathani ayenesifiso sokuba yinkosi ngelinye ilanga ukuze alungise ububi obabenziwe uyise? IBhayibheli alisitsheli ukuthi uJonathani waphatheka kanjani; kunalokho lisitshela ngalokho okwakubalulekile, ukholo nokuba qotho kwakhe. Wayebona ukuthi uJehova wayemsekela uDavide. (1 Samuweli 16:​1, 11-​13) Ngakho uJonathani wenza lokho ayekufungile, waqhubeka ebheka uDavide njengomngani hhayi isitha. UJonathani wayefuna kwenzeke intando kaJehova.

 Ubungani babo baba isibusiso esikhulu. Yini esingayifunda okholweni lukaJonathani? Zonke izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu kufanele zikubone ukubaluleka kokuba nabangani. Akudingeki ukuba abangani bethu balingane nathi noma babe nomlando ofana nowethu kodwa uma benokholo oluqinile, bangasisiza kakhulu. UJonathani noDavide babekwazi ukuqinisana nokukhuthazana njalo. Kwakusazodingeka babonisane uthando nakakhulu njengoba ubungani babo base buzovivinywa kakhulu.

 Ekuqaleni uSawule wayemthanda kakhulu uDavide, waze wamenza umholi webutho lakhe. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhashana uSawule waba nomona, okuyinto uJonathani angabanga nayo. UDavide wayelokhu eqhubeka enqoba amaFilisti ayeyizitha zika-Israyeli. Ngenxa yalokho, uDavide wathandwa futhi wadunyiswa kakhulu. Abanye abesifazane abangama-Israyeli baze bacula bathi: “USawule ubulele izinkulungwane zakhe, uDavide yena ubulele amashumi ezinkulungwane zakhe.” USawule akalithandanga lelo culo. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kusukela ngalolo suku kuqhubeke, uSawule wayengasamethembi uDavide.” (1 Samuweli 18:7, 9) Wayesaba ukuthi uDavide wayezozama ukuthatha isikhundla sakhe sokuba inkosi. Kwakuwubuwula lobo. UDavide wayazi ukuthi uyena owayezongena esikhundleni sikaSawule, kodwa akazange acabange ukumsusa kuleso sikhundla ngesikhathi uJehova esamvumela ukuba abuse!

 USawule wenza icebo lokuba uDavide afe empini, kodwa aliphumelelanga. UDavide wayeqhubeka enqoba izimpi, nabantu beqhubeka bemhlonipha. Ngokulandelayo uSawule wazama ukwenza zonke izinceku zakhe nendodana yakhe endala ukuba bahlangane naye bahlele ukubulala uDavide. Cabanga ukuthi kwamphatha kabi kanjani uJonathani ukubona ubaba wakhe eziphatha ngale ndlela! (1 Samuweli 18:25-​30; 19:1) UJonathani wayeyindodana eqotho kodwa futhi ewumngani oqotho. Kodwa manje kwakubonakala sengathi wayengeke akwazi ukuba qotho kubo bobabili, wayezokhetha bani?

 UJonathani wathi: “Inkosi akufanele yenze okubi encekwini yayo uDavide ngoba akakonanga, izinto akwenzele zona bezilokhu ziwusizo kuwe. Wabeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ukuze abulale umFilisti, ngaleyo ndlela uJehova wenza wonke u-Israyeli wanqoba kakhulu. Wakubona lokho, wajabula kakhulu. Pho kungani kufanele wone egazini elingenacala ngokwenza ukuba uDavide abulawe ngaphandle kwesizathu?” USawule wamlalela uJonathani okwesikhashana futhi wathembisa ukuthi wayengeke amlimaze uDavide. Kodwa uSawule akasigcinanga isithembiso sakhe. Ngemva kokuba uDavide enqobe izikhathi eziningana empini, uSawule waba nomona kangangokuba waze wamjikijela ngomkhonto! (1 Samuweli 19:​4-6, 9, 10) UDavide wabaleka.

 Wake waba yini senkingeni yokukhetha phakathi kwabantu ababili obathandayo? Kungaba buhlungu kakhulu. Abanye bangase bakutshele ukuthi kufanele ube qotho emndenini wakho. Kodwa uJonathani wayazi ukuthi lokho akulona iqiniso. Wayengamsekela kanjani ubaba wakhe ekubeni kwakunguDavide owayeqotho futhi elalela uJehova? Ngakho uJonathani wenza isinqumo esasizomenza ahlale eqotho kuJehova. Yingakho akhulumela uDavide. UJonathani akagcinanga ngokuba qotho kuNkulunkulu kuphela, kodwa waba qotho nakubaba wakhe ngokumtshela iqiniso esikhundleni sokumtshela lokho ayengathanda ukukuzwa. Kungasisiza nathi ukulingisa ubuqotho bukaJonathani.

 UJonathani waphinde wazama ukusiza uSawule ukuba enze ukuthula noDavide, kodwa uSawule akamlalelanga. UDavide waya kuJonathani engabonwa muntu, wamtshela ukuthi wayesaba ukuthi uSawule uzombulala. Wathi kumngani wakhe owayemdala kunaye: “Ngingafa noma nini!” UJonathani wathi wayezozama ukuthola ukuthi yini uSawule ayefuna ukuyenza, bese eyabuya azotshela uDavide. Njengoba uDavide ayecashile, uJonathani wayezosebenzisa umnsalo nomcibisholo ukuze amtshele ukuthi yini ayeyitholile. UJonathani wacela uDavide ukuba enze lesi sifungo kuye: “Ungayeki ukuyibonisa uthando oluqotho indlu yami ngisho nalapho uJehova esusa zonke izitha zikaDavide emhlabeni.” UDavide wavuma ukuthi wayezoqhubeka enakekela umndeni kaJonathani.​—1 Samuweli 20:​3, 13-​27.

 UJonathani wazama ukukhulumela uDavide kuSawule, kodwa inkosi yamthukuthelela! USawule wabiza uJonathani ‘ngendodana edlubulundayo,’ wathi wayewuphoxile umndeni wakubo ngokuba qotho kuDavide. Wazama ukwenza uJonathani azicabangele yena, wathi: “Uma nje indodana kaJese isaphila kulo mhlaba, ubukhosi bakho ngeke buqhubeke.” Lokho akumenzanga uJonathani washintsha umqondo, kunalokho waqhubeka encenga ubaba wakhe, ethi: “Kungani kufanele abulawe? Wenzeni?” USawule wavele waba nodlame kakhulu! Nakuba ayesemdala, wayeseyisosha elinamandla. Wajikijela indodana yakhe ngomkhonto! Nakuba ayenekhono, wageja. Ephatheke kabi futhi ehlazekile, uJonathani wahamba ethukuthele.​—1 Samuweli 20:24-​34.

 Ngakusasa, uJonathani waya endaweni eseduze nalapho uDavide ayecashe khona. Wacibishela njengoba babevumelene, okwenza uDavide wabona ukuthi uSawule wayesafuna ukumbulala. UJonathani wabe esetshela isikhonzi sakhe ukuba sibuyele edolobheni. Basala bobabili noDavide, ngakho bathola ithutshana lokukhuluma. Bakhala kakhulu. Ngokukhulu ukudabuka uJonathani wabe esevalelisa kumngani wakhe uDavide owayesezophila njengombaleki.​—1 Samuweli 20:35-​42.

 UJonathani walunqoba uvivinyo wabonisa ukuthi uqotho futhi akazicabangeli yena. USathane, isitha sabo bonke abantu abathembekile, wayezojabula ukube uJonathani wayelandele uSawule wazifunela amandla nodumo. Khumbula ukuthi uSathane uyazi ukuthi abantu bayathanda ukuzicabangela bona, ngakho uyathanda ukusisebenzisa leso sifiso. Waphumelela ku-Adamu no-Eva, abazali bethu bokuqala. (Genesise 3:1-6) Kodwa wahluleka kuJonathani. Kufanele ukuba kwamthukuthelisa kakhulu uSathane lokho! Ingabe wena uyolunqoba uvivinyo olunjalo? Siphila esikhathini lapho abantu abaningi bezicabangela bona kuphela. (2 Thimothewu 3:​1-5) Ingabe sizofunda kuJonathani owayeqotho futhi engenabo ubugovu?

 USawule wayeselawulwa inzondo ngoDavide. Kwakungekho uJonathani ayengakwenza njengoba ebona ubaba wakhe ephenduka uhlanya, ehlanganisa ibutho lakhe elihola ezweni lonke efuna ukubulala indoda eyodwa engenacala. (1 Samuweli 24:​1, 2, 12-​15; 26:20) Wayehamba naye yini uJonathani? ImiBhalo ayisho. Kwakungenakwenzeka ngoba uJonathani wayeqotho kuJehova nakuDavide futhi enze isifungo sokuba umngani othembekile kuye.

 Ayizange ishintshe indlela ayezizwa ngayo ngomngani wakhe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waphinde wayithola indlela yokubonana noDavide. KwakuseHoreshi, okusho “iNdawo Enamahlathi.” IHoreshi yayisendaweni enezintaba, eqhele ngamakhilomitha amaningana eningizimu-mpumalanga yeHebroni. Kungani uJonathani abeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ngokuya kuDavide? IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi wayefuna ukusiza uDavide “ukuba athembele kuJehova.” (1 Samuweli 23:16) Wakwenza kanjani lokho uJonathani?

 UJonathani wathi kumngani wakhe omncane, “Ungesabi.” Wabe esemqinisekisa: “USawule ubaba ngeke akuthole.” Yini eyayimenza aqiniseke? Wayenokholo lokuthi lokho uJehova ayekuhlosile kwakuyokwenzeka. Waqhubeka wathi: “Wena uzoba yinkosi kwa-Israyeli.” Yilokho umprofethi uSamuweli ayekuprofethile eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, manje uJonathani wayekhumbuza uDavide ukuthi lokho uJehova akushilo kuhlale kufezeka. UJonathani wayelibona linjani elakhe ikusasa? Wathi: ‘Mina ngizoba ngaphansi kwakho.’ Wayethobeke ngempela! Kwakuzomanelisa ukukhonza nokusekela indoda ayeyishiya ngeminyaka engu-30! UJonathani waphetha ngokuthi: “USawule ubaba naye uyakwazi lokho.” (1 Samuweli 23:17, 18) USawule wayazi ukuthi wayengeke aze ayinqobe indoda ekhethwe uJehova ukuba ibe inkosi!

 Eminyakeni eyalandela, ngokuqinisekile uDavide wayejabula njalo lapho ekhumbula lokho kuhlangana kwabo. Kwakungokokugcina behlangana. Kuyadabukisa ukuthi isifiso sikaJonathani sokuba ngaphansi kukaDavide asibange sisafezeka.

 UJonathani wahamba noyise beyolwa namaFilisti ayeyizitha zama-Israyeli. Akazange avumele amaphutha kayise amyekise ukukhonza uJehova, yingakho unembeza wakhe wawumkhulula ukuba ahambe naye baye empini. Walwa ngesibindi nangokuzimisela njengoba ayehlale enza, kodwa akumhambelanga kahle u-Israyeli. USawule wayesehlubuke kangangokuthi wayesesebenzelana nemimoya, okwakuyicala elalinesigwebo sokufa. Ngakho uJehova wayengasambusisi uSawule. Kuleyo mpi kwafa amadodana kaSawule amathathu, okuhlanganisa noJonathani. USawule walimala kabi, wabe esezibulala.​—1 Samuweli 28:​6-​14; 31:​2-6.

 UDavide waphatheka kabi kakhulu. Wayenenhliziyo enhle futhi exolela kangangokuthi walilela ngisho noSawule owayemhluphe kakhulu kangaka, wambangela nobunzima obukhulu! UDavide wabhala ingoma yokulila ebhala ngoSawule noJonathani. Amagama athinta inhliziyo kunawo wonke kule ngoma akhuluma ngomngani wakhe owayebe isikhuthazo esikhulu kuye, athi: “Ngidabukile ngawe, mfowethu Jonathani; bengikuthanda kakhulu. Uthando lwakho belumangalisa kakhulu kimi ludlula uthando lwabesifazane.”—2 Samuweli 1:​26.

 UDavide akasikhohlwanga isifungo asenza kuJonathani. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile wacinga indodana kaJonathani ekhubazekile, uMefibhosheti, wayinakekela. (2 Samuweli 9:​1-​13) Kuyacaca ukuthi ukuba qotho kukaJonathani nokuzimisela kwakhe ukunamathela kumngani wakhe noma kunzima, kwamfundisa isifundo esibalulekile uDavide. Ingabe nathi siyosifunda leso sifundo? Singazama yini ukuthola abangani abafana noJonathani? Singaba yini thina abangani abanjalo? Uma sisiza abangani bethu ukuba bakhe ukholo kuJehova futhi baluqinise, sizimisela ukuba qotho kuNkulunkulu kuqala kunakwabanye abantu, futhi siqhubeka siqotho singazifuneli izinzuzo zethu, siyoba abangani abahle njengoJonathani. Siyobe silingisa nokholo lwakhe.