1, 2. UDavida wathembeka njani kuJehova? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

USAWULA namabuthwakhe ayi-3 000 bebaphasi phezulu bafunana noDavida emangweni weJuda bafuna ukumbulala. Kwathi kusese njalo, ngobunye ubusuku uDavida namadoda ebekakhamba nawo bafumana ikampa lapho uSawula namabuthwakhe ebeba kiyo. Babafumana boke bayile ngobuthongo, yeke uDavida no-Abitjhayi bananaba badlula woke amasotja bebayokufika kuSawula. U-Abitjhayi wahlebela uDavida wathi: “Yithi ngimthungelele phasi ngomkhonto kube kanye; angeze ngamkhutha bona ngibuyelele kabili.” Kodwana uDavida akhenge amvumele. Wathi kuye: “Awa, ungathomi umbulale! Ngubani ongabeka isandla phezu kozesiweko [kaJehova] angabi nomlandu?” Wanaba wathi: “[UJehova] uyangalela bona ngingabeka isandla phezu kozesiweko wakhe!”—1 Samyela 26:8-12.

 ² UDavida bekazi kuhle nje ukuthi yini okufuze ayenze nakafuna ukuthembeka kuJehova. Nokuthi kufuze ahloniphe uSawula. Akhenge afikelwe ngitjho nam’ cabango wokumlimaza. Kubayini? Bekakuhlonipha ukuthi uJehova umenze ikosi yakwa-Israyeli. Njengekadeni uJehova ufuna ukuthi soke sibahloniphe labo abanikele amagunya.—Funda uMikha 6:8.

3. U-Abitjhayi wathembeka njani kuDavida?

³ U-Abitjhayi naye wamhlonipha uDavida, wakuhlonipha ukuthi uZimu umenze ikosi. Kwathi ngemva kokuthi abe yikosi wenza izono ezikulu! Wahlobonga nomka-Uriya, ngemva kwalokho watjela uJowabi ukuthi enze isigiri bona u-Uriya abulawe epini. (2 Samyela 11:2-4, 14, 15; 1 IinKronike 2:16) UJowabi bekamfowabo lika-Abitjhayi, yeke kungenzeka ukuthi u-Abitjhayi wayizwa indaba le, kodwana khenge alise ukuhlonipha uDavida. Ngaphezu kwakho koke, phela u-Abitjhayi bekamrholi wamabutho, yeke bekangasisebenzisa isikhundleso bona abe yikosi, kodwana akhenge enze njalo. Kunalokho wasebenzela uDavida bewamvikela nemanabenakhe.—2 Samyela 10:10; 20:6; 21:15-17.

4. (a) UDavida ube sibonelo esihle njani sokuthembeka kuZimu? (b) Ngiziphi iimbonelo esizozidemba?

⁴ UDavida ipilwakhe yoke wathembeka kuJehova. Ebutjheni bakhe wabulala itsitsirimba uGoliyadi obeka thuka uJehova nama-Israyeli. (1 Samyela 17:23, 26, 48-51) Ngesikhathi uDavida ayikosi, kwafuze bona umphorofidi kaJehova uNathani ayomkhalimela ngezono ebekazenzile. Okuthabisako kukuthi khonokho uDavida wavuma ukuthi wonile bese waphenduka. (2 Samyela 12:1-5, 13) Nasekaluphele wafaka isandla nakwakhiwa ithempeli, wanikela ngezinto ezinengi eziligugu. (1 IinKronike 29:1-5) Kusebaleni-ke ukuthi nanyana uDavida enza imitjhapho emikhulu, akhenge alise ukuthembeka kuZimu. (IRhubo 51:6, 12, [51:4, 10 NW]; 86:2) Esihlokwenesi, sizokucoca ngesibonelo sakaDavida nezabanye abaphila ngesikhathi sakhe. Begodu sibone ukuthi singathembeka njani kuJehova kwaphela. Besidembe nobuntu obungasirhelebha endabeni le.

5. Ngisiphi isifundo esisifunda emtjhaphweni ka-Abitjhayi?

⁵ U-Abitjhayi wafuna ukubulala uSawula ngebanga lokuthi ufuna ukuthembeka kuDavida. Kodwana uDavida walemuka bona bekuzokuba kumbi ukulimaza “ozesiweko [kaJehova].” (1 Samyela 26:8-11) Lokhu kusifundisa isifundo esiqakathekileko sokuthi: Nasifuna ukwazi ukuthi ngubani okufuze sithembeke kuye, kufuze sizibuze bona ngimuphi umthetho weBhayibheli ongasirhelebha endabeni leyo.

6. Nanyana kungokwemvelo ukuthi sifune ukuthembeka emndenini nebanganini bethu, kubayini kufuze sivule amehlo?

⁶ Kungokwemvelo ukuthi sifune ukuthembeka emuntwini esimthandako, kungaba malunga womndenethu namkha umngani. Kodwana ngebanga lokuthi sinesono, ngezinye iinkhathi amazizwethu angasidurhisa. (Joromiya 17:9) Yeke nakwenzeka umuntu esimthandako enza  isono abe atjhiye neqiniso. Kufuze sithembeke kuJehova ukudlula kunanyana ngubani.—Funda uMatewu 22:37.

7. U-Anne wahlala njani athembekile ngaphasi kobujamo obubudisi?

⁷ Nakhibe kunelunga lomndenakho elisusiweko ebandleni, kuhle ukuthi uthembeke kuJehova. Akhucabange ngesibonelwesi, unina lika-Anne bekasusiwe, yeke ngelinye ilanga wamdosela kufunjathwakwakhe wamtjela ukuthi ufuna ukumkweriyela. ^[1] (Qala isiphetho.) Unina lika-Anne uthi into ebeyimdanisa khulu, kukuthi umndenakhe bewungafuni ukumkhulumisa. Lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu khulu u-Anne, kangangokuthi waphendula unina ngokumtlolela incwadi. Ngaphambi kokuthi amtlolele incwadi, u-Anne wacabangisisa ngemithetho yeBhayibheli. (1 Korinte 5:11; 2 Jwanisi 9-11) Encwadini leyo wazithoba wamhlathululela kuhle ukuthi nguye unina okhethe ukuzihlukanisa nomndeni ngokuthi enze isono begodu angaphenduki. Wabuye wamtjela ukuthi ayikho enye indlela engamenza athabe godu, ngaphandle kokuthi abuyele kuJehova.—Jakopo 4:8.

8. Ngibuphi ubuntu obungasirhelebha bona sithembeke kuZimu?

⁸ Abakhulekeli bakaJehova bangeenkhathi zakaDavida bebathobekile, banomusa begodu banesibindi. Akhesibone-ke ukuthi ubuntobu thina bungasirhelebha njani bona sithembeke kuJehova.

9. Kubayini u-Abineri afuna ukubulala uDavida?

⁹ Indodana kaSawula uJonathani nomlawuli wamabutho wakwa-Israyeli u-Abineri, bambona uDavida nakaletha ihloko kaGoliyadi eKosini uSawula. UJonathani waba mngani kaDavida begodu wathembeka kuye. (1 Samyela 17:57–18:3) U-Abineri yena akhenge enze njalo. Wabe warhelebha noSawula nakafuna ukubulala uDavida. (1 Samyela 26:1-5; IRhubo 54:5, [54:3,NW]) Bobabili uJonathani no-Abineri bebazi kuhle nje ukuthi uZimu bekafuna bona uDavida abe yikosi yakwa-Israyeli ngemva kwakaSawula. Nanyana kunjalo kwathi ngemva kokuhlongakala kwakaSawula, u-Abineri akhenge asekele uDavida. Kunokuthi asekele uDavida walinga ukubeka indodana kaSawula u-Itjhi-Bhotjhethi ukuthi abe yikosi. Kungenzeka  ukuthi u-Abineri ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wafuna ukuba yikosi, begodu mhlamunye kungebangelo ahlanganyela amabhayi nomunye wabafazi beKosi uSawula. (2 Samyela 2:8-10; 3:6-11) Kubayini uJonathani noAbineri bebahlukile endleleni ebebaphatha ngayo uDavida? Kungebanga lokuthi uJonathani bekathembekile kuJehova begodu bekathobekile. U-Abineri bekangasi njalo.

10. Kubayini u-Absalomu angakhenge athembeke kuZimu?

¹⁰ Indodana kaDavida u-Absalomu beyingakathembeki kuJehova, ngani ngoba beyingakathobeki. Beyifuna ukuba yikosi, yeke yafumana “ikarana, iinjomani namatjhumi amahlanu wamavulandlela.” (2 Samyela 15:1) Yarogela ama-Israyeli amanengi ukuthi athembeke kiyo. Yalinga nokubulala uyise, ngitjho nanyana beyazi kuhle ukuthi nguJehova owamenza ikosi yakwa-Israyeli.—2 Samyela 15:13, 14; 17:1-4.

11. Yini esiyifunda ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli okumalungana no-Abineri, u-Absalomu noBharuku?

¹¹ Umuntu nakangakathobeki begodu afuna namalungelo angeziweko, kuba budisi kuye ukuthi ahlale athembekile kuZimu. Iqiniso kukuthi siyamthanda uJehova begodu asifuni ukuba marhamaru sikhohlakale njengo-Abineri no-Absalomu. Yeke kufuze sikubalekele khulu ukufisa ukuba nemali enengi namkha umsebenzi ozosenza sizizwe siqakatheke khulu. Lokho kuzokulimaza ubuhlobo bethu noJehova. Ngokwesibonelo uBharuku unobhala kaJoromiya, bekarhalela ukuba nezinto ezithileko, ngebangelo-ke akhenge asakuthabela ukusebenzela uZimu. UJehova wathi kuye: “Engikwakhileko ngizokugiriza, engikutjalileko ngikusiphule; lokho kungekwenarha yoke. Alo, wena uzifunela izinto ezikulu na? Ungakufuni lokho.” (Joromiya 45:4, 5) UBharuku wamlalela uJehova. Nathi-ke kufuze simlalele, ngombana ingasikade uzokutjhabalalisa iphasi elikhohlakelekweli.

12. Kubayini singeze sathembeka kuZimu nangabe senza izinto ezingathandwa nguye?

¹² UDaniel umzalwana ohlala eMexico, kwaba nesikhathi la kwakufuze akhethe khona ukuthi ufuna ukuthembeka kubani. Bekafuna ukutjhada nomntazana ongasinguFakazi. Uthi: “Bengisolo ngimtlolela imilayezo ngitjho nanyana besele ngiphayona.” Okuhle kukuthi watlhogomela  ukuthi lokho ebekakwenza bekuthandwa nguye ingasi uZimu. Bekufuze athembeke kuJehova. Yeke wazithoba wakhuluma nomunye umdala ngomntazanakhe lo. Uthi nakanabako: “Umdala lo wangirhelebha ngalemuka ukuthi nangifuna ukuthembeka kuZimu, kufuze ngilise ukutlolela umntazana lo imilayezo. Ngathandaza khulu begodu ngilila nokulila, ngalisa ukumtlolela umntazana loyo. Msinyazana ngemva kwalokho ngakuthabela khulu ukukhonza uJehova.” Sikhuluma nje uDaniel unomfazi othanda uJehova, begodu umbonisi wesigodi.

13. UNathani wathembeka njani kuZimu nakuDavida ngesikhathi uDavida onile?

¹³ Nasithembekeliko kuJehova, sizokuthembeka nakwabanye abantu begodu sizobarhelebha ngendlela ehle. Umphorofidi uNathani bekathembekile kuJehova, ngebangelo-ke wathembeka nakuDavida. Ngemva kokuthi uDavida athethe umka-Uriya bese wahlela nokuthi u-Uriya abulawe, uJehova wathumela uNathani bona ayomkhalima. UNathani waba nesibindi begodu walalela uJehova. Wenza ngokuhlakanipha waba nomusa naka khuluma noDavida. Bekafuna ukutjengisa uDavida ukuthi isono asenzako besisikhulu tle. Yeke wamcocela ngendoda ethileko eregileko eyeba okukuphela kwemvana yendoda ebeyidobha phasi. UDavida nakezwa ngendaba le wakwata wazala ipoto. UNathani wathi kuye: “Umuntu loyo nguwe!” Yeke uDavida walemuka ukuthi wonile kuJehova.—2 Samyela 12:1-7, 13.

14. Ungathembeka njani kuJehova, ebanganini neenhlobeni zakho?

¹⁴ Nawe ungathembeka kuJehova begodu uthembeke nakwabanye abantu ngokuthi ube nomusa. Ngokwesibonelo, ungaba nesiqisekiso sokuthi umzalwana namkha udade othileko wenze isono esikhulu. Uzokufuna ukungamzwisi ubuhlungu, khulukhulu nangabe ngewekhenu namkha mnganakho. Kufuze ukhumbule ukuthi kuqakatheke khulu ukuthembeka kuJehova. NjengoNathani, lalela uJehova kodwana ungakhohlwa ukuba nomusa emzalwaneni namkha kudade loyo. Mtjele ukuthi kufuze ayokubawa irhelebho kubadala, angariyadi. Nakhibe akayi, wena kufuze ubabikele abadala. Nawenza njalo uthembekile kuJehova. Begodu usuke utjengise umusa kumzalwana namkha kudade loyo, ngani ngoba abadala bazomrhelebha bona abe nobuhlobo obuhle noJehova. Bazomkhalima kuhle nangesineke.—Funda uLevitikusi 5:1; Galatiya 6:1.

15, 16. Kubayini uRhutjhayi bekufuze abe nesibindi ukuze athembeke kuZimu?

¹⁵ URhutjhayi bekangomunye wabangani bakaDavida ebebathembekile. Lokha abantu nabafuna ukubeka u-Absalomu bona abe yikosi, uRhutjhayi bekufuze abe nesibindi ukuze ahlale athembekile  kuZimu nakuDavida. Bekazi ukuthi u-Absalomu uze namasotjakhe eJerusalema nokuthi uDavida ubalekile. (2 Samyela 15:13; 16:15) Yini-ke uRhutjhayi ayenzako? Kghani wajikela uDavida wasekela u-Absalomu? Awa akhenge enze njalo. Nanyana uDavida besele aluphele begodu nabantu abanengi bafuna ukumbulala, uRhutjhayi wahlala athembekile kuDavida ahlonipha ukuthi ubekwe nguJehova bona abe yikosi. Yeke uRhutjhayi waya eNtabeni ye-Oliva ukuze ayokuhlangana noDavida.—2 Samyela 15:30, 32.

¹⁶ UDavida wabawa uRhutjhayi ukuthi abuyele eJerusalema, afike lapho azenze umngani ka-Absalomu. Ukuze u-Absalomu alalele isiluleko azamnikela sona esikhundleni sokuthi athathe saka-Arhitofeli. U-Rhutjhayi wabanesibindi begodu wafaka ipilwakhe engozini ukuze alalele uDavida athembeke nakuJehova. UDavida wathandaza abewela uRhutjhayi ukuthi uJehova amrhelebhe, begodu uJehova wamrhelebha. U-Absalomu wasilalela iseluleko sakaRhutjhayi, kunokuthi alalele saka-Arhitofeli.—2 Samyela 15:31; 17:14.

17. Kubayini kufuze sibe nesibindi ukuze sithembeke?

¹⁷ Soke kufuze sibe nesibindi ukuze sithembeke kuJehova. Kufuze silalele yena kunokuthi silalele imindenethu, abantu esisebenza nabo namkha abosopolotiki. Ngokwesibonelo, uTaro ohlala eJapan, kusukela asesemsanyana bekenza koke angakwenza ukuze alalele ababelethi bakhe. Bekathembekile kibo, ingasi ngombana kufuze enze njalo kodwana bekakwenziswa kukuthi bekabathanda. Kwathi nakathoma ukufunda naboFakazi bakaJehova, ababelethi bakhe bathi kufuze alise. Kwamdanisa khulu lokho begodu bekubudisi nokubatjela bona yena uqunte ukuthi uzokuya esifundweni. Uthi: “Kwaphela iminyaka eminengi ababelethi bami bathi ngingasalibeki ekhaya, bebangikwatele khulu. Ngathandazela ukuthi ngibe nesibindi ukuze ngingawutjhugululi umkhumbulwami. Kwanjesi nokho sebathambile, ngingabavakatjhela nanyana kunini.”—Funda izAga 29:25.

18. Yini oyifundileko esihlokwenesi?

¹⁸ NjengoDavida, uJonathani, uRhutjhayi noNathani kwanga singabalingisa sithabele ukuthembeka kuJehova. Asifuni ukufana no-Abineri no-Absalomu, abangakhenge bathembeke. Khona kuliqiniso ukuthi sinesono begodu siyayenza imitjhapho. Kodwana asimtjengiseni uJehova ukuthi ukuthembeka kuye kuyinto eqakatheke khulu kithi.