UDAVIDE wazimelela njengoba amasosha edudulana ephambana naye. Ayehlahle amehlo esaba njengoba ebaleka ohlwini lwempi. Ayesatshiswa yini? Kumelwe ukuba uDavide wawezwa kaningi ephindaphinda igama elilodwa. Kwakuyigama lendoda ethile. Nembala, nansiya leyo ndoda imi ngokwedelela phansi esigodini, mhlawumbe ibonakala iyisigwebedla kunabo bonke abantu uDavide ake wababona.

UGoliyathi! Shono amasosha ayemesaba​—wayemkhulu ngokungakholakali, ewumdondoshiya. Ngisho engagqokile izembatho zakhe zempi ezesabekayo, cishe wayesinda ngaphezu kwamadoda amabili ayizigwebedla. Kodwa wayehlome eyizingovolo, futhi eyisosha elinamandla ayinqaba nelingumakad’ebona. UGoliyathi wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu ephonsa inselele. Mcabange ebhavumula kwenanela namagquma njengoba eklolodela ibutho lakwa-Israyeli nenkosi yalo, uSawule. Wathi indoda ezizwayo mayize izolwa naye, baqede ngale mpi kube kanye!​—1 Samuweli 17:4-10.

Ama-Israyeli athothobala. NeNkosi uSawule yathothobala. UDavide wathola ukuthi sekungaphezu kwenyanga izinto zinje! Phakathi kwala mabutho amabili, elamaFilisti nelama-Israyeli, alikho elaligoba uphondo, uGoliyathi elokhu ekloloda nsuku zonke. Kwamphatha kabi lokhu uDavide. Kwakuyihlazo ukuthi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli namasosha ayo, kuhlanganise nabafowabo bakaDavide abathathu abadala, babekhwantabele! Ngokubona kukaDavide, lo muntu wezizwe, uGoliyathi, wayengahlazi nje ibutho lakwa-Israyeli; wayedelela uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uJehova! Kodwa yini eyayingenziwa yibhobhodleyana elinguDavide? Futhi yini thina namuhla esingayifunda okholweni lukaDavide?​—1 Samuweli 17:11-14.

Ake sihlehle ngezinyangana ezithile. Kwase kuhwalala, uDavide eluse izimvu zikayise ndawana-thile emaqeleni angaseBhetlehema. Wayeyinsizwa ebukekayo, cishe engakafiki eminyakeni engu-20, ebomvana, esho ngamehlo akhangayo omuntu ohlakaniphile. Lapho kuthulekile, wayechitha isizungu ngokudlala ihabhu. Ubuhle bendalo kaNkulunkulu babumthinta futhi ikhono lakhe lokudlala umculo lalilokhu likhula ngoba wayenesikhathi esiningi sokuprakthiza. Kodwa ngalobu busuku, uDavide wabizwa. Uyise wayefuna ukumbona ngokushesha.​—1 Samuweli 16:12.

Wafica uyise, uJese, exoxa nendoda eyayisikhulile impela. Kwakungumprofethi othembekile, uSamuweli. UJehova wayemthume ukuba azogcoba enye yamadodana kaJese njengenkosi elandelayo yakwa-Israyeli! USamuweli wayesebabonile abanye abafowabo bakaDavide abadala abangu-7, kodwa uJehova wayekwenze kwacaca kuSamuweli ukuthi wayengakhethanga namunye kubo. Kodwa lapho kufika uDavide, uJehova watshela uSamuweli: “Mgcobe, ngoba nguye lo!” Bebhekile bonke abafowabo bakaDavide abadala, uSamuweli wavula uphondo olugcwele amafutha akhethekile, wathela uDavide ngawo ekhanda. Ukuphila kukaDavide kwashintsha unomphela ngemva kwalokho kugcotshwa. IBhayibheli lithi: “Umoya kaJehova waqala ukusebenza phezu kukaDavide kusukela ngalolo suku kuqhubeke.”​—1 Samuweli 16:1, 5-13.

Ingabe uDavide wabe esegaqela ubukhosi? Cha, kwakumanelisa ukulinda umoya kaJehova umqondise, umazise uma sekuyisikhathi sokwamukela  imithwalo yemfanelo eyengeziwe. Okwamanje, waqhubeka nomsebenzi wakhe ophansi wokwelusa. Wayewenza ngokukhulu ukuzinikela nesibindi. Imfuyo kayise yake yahlaselwa yibhubesi, kokunye yahlaselwa yibhere. UDavide akazange amane azihebeze ekude lezo zilwane. Kunalokho, wahlala izithonto esilwaneni sasendle evikela izimvu zikayise ezazingenakwenzani. Kuzo zombili izenzakalo, wasibulala isilwane sasendle eyedwa!​—1 Samuweli 17:34-36; Isaya 31:4.

Ngemva kwesikhathi, uDavide waphinde wabizwa. Idumela lakhe lase lifike ezindlebeni zeNkosi uSawule. Nakuba ayeseseyiqhawe elinamandla, uSawule wayeselahlekelwe umusa kaJehova ngenxa yokuvukela iziyalezo zikaNkulunkulu. UJehova wayewususile umoya wakhe kuSawule, futhi ngenxa yalokho le nkosi yayisivame ukwehlelwa umoya omubi​—isifuthefuthe sentukuthelo, ukudlinzekela abanye nobudlova. Lapho uSawule ehlelwe yilo moya omubi, into eyayimenza azole kwakuwumculo. Ezinye zezinceku zikaSawule zazizwile ngedumela likaDavide njengomdlali womculo nanjengeqhawe. Wabe esebizwa uDavide, kungakabiphi waba omunye wabadlali bomculo basesigodlweni sikaSawule nezindibi zakhe.​—1 Samuweli 15:26-29; 16:14-23.

Intsha ngokukhethekile ingafunda lukhulu okholweni lukaDavide lapha. Phawula ukuthi isikhathi sakhe sokuphumula wasisebenzisela izinto ezamsondeza kuJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngesineke wahlakulela amakhono ayezosebenziseka futhi akwenza kwaba lula ukuba athole umsebenzi. Nokho, ngaphezu kwakho konke wavumela ukuholwa umoya kaJehova. Yeka izifundo ezinhle sonke esingazifunda!​—UmShumayeli 12:1.

Lapho ekhonza uSawule, uDavide wayevamile ukubuyela ekhaya azokwelusa izimvu, ngezinye izikhathi ahlale isikhathi esijana. Kwakungesinye salezo zikhathi lapho uJese ethuma uDavide ukuba ayohlola abafowabo abathathu abadala, ababesebuthweni likaSawule. UDavide walalela, wathatha imithwalo eya kubafowabo, walibangisa eSigodini Sase-Elahi. Lapho efika, wadumala ukuthola la mabutho amabili elokhu ebhekene njengoba kuchazwe ekuqaleni kwalesi sihloko. Ayengapha nangapha ezinhlangothini zaleso sigodi esivulekile.​—1 Samuweli 17:1-3, 15-19.

Lesi simo sasingabekezeleleki kuDavide. Ibutho likaNkulunkulu ophilayo, uJehova, lalingabaleka kanjani lesaba umuntu nje—umuntu wezizwe nokwenza? KuDavide, ukukloloda kukaGoliyathi kwakuwukwedelela uJehova nje kwaphela. Ngakho, waqala ukukhuluma namasosha ngesasasa mayelana nokunqoba uGoliyathi. Kungakabiphi, umfowabo kaDavide omdala, u-Eliyabe, wezwa ngalokho okwakushiwo uDavide. Wamkhuza ngokhahlo umfowabo, ethi uzele ukuzobuka ukuchitheka kwegazi nje. Kodwa uDavide wamphendula: “Ngenzeni manje? Bekungelona izwi nje?” Wabe eseqhubeka ekhuluma ngokuzethemba ngokunqoba uGoliyathi, kwaze kwaba nothile obikela uSawule. Inkosi yathi uDavide makalethwe kuyo.​—1 Samuweli 17:23-31.

UDavide washo la mazwi akhuthazayo enkosini mayelana noGoliyathi: “Ungavumeli nhliziyo yamuntu ife” ngenxa yakhe. Inhliziyo kaSawule nebutho lakhe yayisifile ngempela ngenxa kaGoliyathi. Mhlawumbe babenze iphutha eliqondakalayo lokuziqhathanisa nalowo mdondoshiya, bezicabanga befika okhalweni nje noma esifubeni sale ndoda. Babewubona  nje lo mdondoshiya ogqoke izembatho zempi ubabhuqabhuqa. Kodwa uDavide wayengacabangi kanjalo. Njengoba sizobona, le nkinga wayeyibheka ngendlela ehluke ngokuphelele. Ngakho, wathi yena uzolwa noGoliyathi.​—1 Samuweli 17:32.

USawule wenqaba, wathi: “Awukwazi ukuyolwa nalo mFilisti, ngoba ungumfana nje, yena uyindoda yempi kusukela ebufaneni bakhe.” Ingabe uDavide wayeyingane ngempela? Cha, kodwa kona wayemncane kakhulu ukuba angabuthelwa empini, futhi kungenzeka wayebukeka eyingane. Kodwa uDavide wayesaziwa kakade njengeqhawe futhi kungenzeka wayesecela eminyakeni engu-20 manje.​—1 Samuweli 16:18; 17:33.

UDavide waqinisekisa uSawule ngokumxoxela indaba yebhubesi nebhere. Ingabe wayeziqhayisa? Cha. UDavide wayazi ukuthi wayenqobe kanjani kulezo zimpi. Wathi: “UJehova, owangikhulula esidladleni sengonyama nasesidladleni sebhere, nguye ozongikhulula esandleni salo mFilisti.” Ekugcineni uSawule wadela, wathi: “Hamba, kwangathi uJehova angaba nawe.”​—1 Samuweli 17:37.

Ungathanda yini ukuba nokholo olunjengolukaDavide? Phawula ukuthi ukholo lwakhe lwalungesona nje isifiso noma ukuziphuphela. Wayenokholo kuNkulunkulu wakhe ngenxa yolwazi nalokho ayekubonile. Wayemazi uJehova njengoMvikeli onothando noMgcini wezithembiso. Uma sifuna ukuba nokholo olunjalo, kudingeka siqhubeke sifunda ngoNkulunkulu iBhayibheli elikhuluma ngaye. Njengoba sikwenza esikufundayo, siyothola ukuthi nolwethu ukholo luyoqiniswa yimiphumela emihle.​—Hebheru 11:1.

USawule waqale wazama ukugqokisa uDavide izembatho zakhe zempi. Zazithi azifane nezikaGoliyathi, futhi kungenzeka zazinanejazi elikhulu lethusi, elinezingcwecwe ezilakanyene. UDavide wazama ukuhamba egqoke lezi zembatho ezinkulu futhi ezisindayo, kodwa washeshe wabona ukuthi ngeke zimlungele. Wayengaqeqeshelwe ubusosha, ngakho wayengakujwayele ukugqoka izembatho zempi, ikakhulu ezazigqokwa uSawule, owayemude kunabo bonke abantu esizweni sakwa-Israyeli! (1 Samuweli 9:2) Wazikhumula, wakhetha izingubo azijwayele—zikamalusi olungele ukuvikela umhlambi wakhe.​—1 Samuweli 17:38-40.

UDavide wayephethe ubhoko lwakhe njengomalusi, egaxe isikhwama sakhe, ephethe nendwayimane. Indwayimane ingase ibonakale iwubala, kodwa empeleni yayiyisikhali esiyingozi. Njengoba yayiyimidweshu emibili emide yesikhumba enesikhwanyana ekugcineni, yayiyisikhali esihle kakhulu kumalusi. Wayefaka itshe esikhwanyaneni, ayiwilizise phezulu ngesivinini, bese ededela umdweshu owodwa, kuphume itshe liqonde ngqo entweni elalingase liyibulale. Lesi sikhali sasiphumelela kangangokuthi ngezinye izikhathi amabutho ayeba nesigaba sabaphonsa indwayimane.

UDavide washesha wayohlangabeza isitha sakhe ehlome ngalesi sikhali. Singamcabanga nje uDavide ethandaza ngobuqotho njengoba egoba ecosha amatshe amahlanu amancane abushelelezi emfuleni owomile. Wabe eseqonda empini​—engahambi nje, kunalokho egijima!

UGoliyathi wacabangani lapho ebona lo muntu ozolwa naye? Siyafunda: “Wamedelela ngoba wayengumfana ebomvana, eyigeza.” UGoliyathi wabhavumula: “Ngiyinja yini ukuba uze kimi nezimboko?” Ngokusobala walubona ubhoko lukaDavide, kodwa wangayinaka indwayimane. Wamthuka ngonkulunkulu bamaFilisti uDavide, wafunga ukuthi isidumbu salesi sitha sakhe esidelelekile sizodliwa yizinyoni nezilwane zasendle.​—1 Samuweli 17:41-44.

Impendulo kaDavide nanamuhla isengamazwi okholo ahlaba umxhwele. Yicabange nje le nsizwa imemeza uGoliyathi: “Wena uza kimi nenkemba nomkhonto nengcula, kodwa mina ngiza kuwe negama likaJehova wamabutho, uNkulunkulu wezinhlu zempi yakwa-Israyeli, oye wamklolodela.” UDavide wayazi ukuthi amandla nezikhali zomuntu kwakungasho lutho. UGoliyathi wayedelele uJehova uNkulunkulu futhi uJehova wayezophendula. Njengoba uDavide asho, “impi ingekaJehova.”​—1 Samuweli 17:45-47.

UDavide wayezibona izikhali zikaGoliyathi nokuthi ungumdondoshiya. Kodwa wenqaba ukuvumela lezi zinto zimesabise. Akalenzanga iphutha elenziwa uSawule nebutho lakhe. UDavide akaziqhathanisanga noGoliyathi. Kunalokho, wabuka uGoliyathi wamqhathanisa noJehova. UGoliyathi wayemude le  kunamanye amadoda, engamamitha acishe abe mathathu, kodwa wayeyini nje uma eqhathaniswa noMbusi wendawo yonke? Phela, njenganoma imuphi umuntu, wayenjengesinambuzane nje​—kulokhu, isinambuzane esase sizopitshizwa uJehova!

UDavide wagijima eqonde esitheni sakhe, wakhipha itshe esikhwameni sakhe. Walifaka endwayimaneni wayiwilizisa phezulu yaze yacula. UGoliyathi, mhlawumbe enamathele kumphathi-sihlangu wakhe owayengaphambili, wasondela kuDavide. Ubude bukaGoliyathi empeleni kungenzeka bambeka engozini, ngoba umphathi-sihlangu omude ngendlela evamile wayengeke akwazi ukuphakamisa isihlangu ngokwanele ukuba sivikele ikhanda lalo mdondoshiya. Yilo kanye-ke uDavide aqondisa kulo indwayimane yakhe.​—1 Samuweli 17:41.

UDavide walidedela itshe. Cabanga kuthule cwaka, itshe liqonde ekhanda lomdondoshiya. Ngokungangabazeki, uJehova waqinisekisa ukuthi lelo tshe elilodwa laliyokufeza okwakudingeka. Itshe lathi chofo, lashona phakathi ebunzini likaGoliyathi. Umdondoshiya wawa bhu phansi ngobuso! Umphathi-sihlangu cishe wabeletha izithende. UDavide wasondela, wathatha inkemba kaGoliyathi, wanquma lo mdondoshiya ikhanda ngenkemba yawo.​—1 Samuweli 17:48-51.

Ekugcineni, uSawule namasosha akhe baqunga isibindi. Ngokukhamuluka okukhulu kwempi, bagijima beqonde kumaFilisti. Impi yaphetha njengoba nje uDavide ayetshele uGoliyathi: “UJehova . . . uzoninikela esandleni sethu.”​—1 Samuweli 17:47, 52, 53.

Namuhla, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu azilwi impi engokoqobo. Leso sikhathi sesadlula. (Mathewu 26:52) Noma kunjalo, kuyadingeka silingise ukholo lukaDavide. Njengaye, kudingeka sibheke uJehova njengongokoqobo​—njengowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu esizomkhonza futhi simhloniphe. Ngezinye izikhathi, singase sizizwe sibancane kunezinkinga zethu, kodwa izinkinga zethu zincane kunamandla kaJehova angenamkhawulo. Uma sikhetha uJehova njengoNkulunkulu wethu futhi sibe nokholo kuye njengoDavide, akukho nselele nankinga engasesabisa. Akukho lutho olungenakunqotshwa amandla kaJehova!