DAVIDE waba nesibindzi wangena emkhatsini walamasotja lebekafucana, endlula ngakuye. Lamasotja abehlahle emehlo, afile kwesaba kunguloyo naloyo abaleka angafuni kuma emgceni wemphi. Abesatjiswa yini kangaka? Kungenteka Davide abehlale aweva lamasotja akhuluma ngalenye indvodza labekayesaba. Lapha ngesheya kwakume sidlakela sendvodza leyedzelelako, Davide labengazange sekayibone solo atalwa.

KwakunguGoliyathi. Davide wavele watibonela nje kutsi yini lebeyenta lamasotja ayesabe kangaka lendvodza. Phela beyiyinkhulu kakhulu, isidlakela sendvodza. Nayingakatigcoki timphahla tayo temphi, lendvodza sisindvo sayo besendlula sisindvo semadvodza lamabili ladla kusale. Beyihlome iphelele, inemandla futsi iyingwazi lenelikhono. Goliyathi wamemeta ngembomboza yelivi lelikhulu afuna langalwa naye. Cabanga nje livi lakhe lihokoma emkhatsini wetintsaba njengobe ahlambalata libutfo laka-Israyeli kanye nenkhosi yalo, Sawula. Wamemeta watsi abakhetse indvodza ibe yinye emkhatsini wabo kute bayitfumele iyokulwa naye, kuze acedze leyomphi kube kanye.​—1 Samuweli 17:4-10.

Ema-Israyeli kanye nenkhosi yawo Sawula, bebesaba kakhulu. Lesimo Davide labesibona kwaphela inyanga solo sichubeka. Lamabutfo lamabili, lemaFilisti nelema-Israyeli, achubeka ajamelene njengobe Goliyathi abesoloku achubeka nekuhlambalata kwakhe, lilanga nelilanga. Loko kwakumkhatsata kakhulu Davide. Cabanga nje kutsi kwakulihlazo kanjani kutsi inkhosi yema-Israyeli kanye nelibutfo layo bebafile kwesaba. Ngisho nabomnakaboDavide labatsatfu labadzala kunaye lebebakulelibutfo, nabo bebesaba. Ngekubona kwaDavide, loGoliyathi lobekangamkhonti Jehova abengagcini nje ngekwedzelela libutfo laka-Israyeli, kodvwa abetfuka Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli longuJehova. Lomfanyana longuDavide kukhona yini labekangakwenta ngalesimo? Singafundzani tsine lamuhla esibonelweni saDavide sekuba nekukholwa?​—1 Samuweli 17:11-14.

Asesibuyele emuva etinyangeni letendlulile. Kwase kuhwalala ngesikhatsi Davide abutsisa umhlambi wetimvu teyise emagcumeni langaseBetlehema. Davide abetsandzeka, alikhwa, abekhanya ngelibala, anemehlo lakhaliphile futsi kungenteka abeselibhobhodlelana. Nakatiphumulele, abevame kucitsa situnge ngekudlala lihabhu. Kubuka buhle bendalo yaNkulunkulu kwamtsintsa futsi likhono lakhe lekudlala umculo lakhula kancane kancane ngobe abenesikhatsi lesinengi sekuwudlala. Ngalenye intsambama babe wakhe watsi akulandvwe Davide ngekushesha.​—1 Samuweli 16:12.

Nakefika watfola uyise Jese akhuluma nalomunye mkhulu. Kwakungumphrofethi lowetsembekile Samuweli. Jehova abemtfume kutsi ayogcoba yinye yemadvodzana aJese kutsi ibe yinkhosi yaka-Israyeli lebeyitawulandzela. Samuweli abesavele ababonile labanye bomnakaboDavide labasikhombisa labadzala kunaye, kodvwa Jehova wakwenta kwacaca kuSamuweli kutsi kute lamkhetsile kubo. Nakefika Davide, Jehova watjela Samuweli watsi: ‘Mgcobe, ngobe nguye yena lowo.’ Samuweli wakhipha luphondvo lobelugcwele emafutsa wawatsela enhloko yaDavide, embikwabo bonkhe bomnakabo labadzala. Kuphila kwaDavide kwashintja kusukela ngalelo langa agcotjwa. LiBhayibheli litsi: ‘Kusukela ngalelo langa umoya waSimakadze wehlela etikwaDavide ngemandla lamakhulu.’​—1 Samuweli 16:1, 5-11, 13.

Davide wase ucala kutikhukhumeta yini ngekutsi utawuba yinkhosi? Cha, kunaloko abetimisele  kulindzela umoya waJehova kutsi umcondzise kutsi sasinini sikhatsi lesifanele sekutsatsa bukhosi. Sisengakefiki leso sikhatsi, Davide wachubeka nemsebenti wakhe lobukeleka phansi wekwelusa. Lona kwakungumsebenti lowawudzinga kutinikela lokukhulu nesibindzi. Umhlambi weyise wahlaselwa tikhatsi letimbili. Ngalelinye lilanga wahlaselwa libhubesi kwatsi ngalelinye wahlaselwa libhele. Davide akazange amane aticoshe letilwane kuze tingahlaseli umhlambi wakubo. Kunaloko, walwa nato kuze avikele lomhlambi weyise lobewusengotini. Kuto totimbili letikhatsi, wakhona kutibulala ayedvwa letilwane letiyingoti.​—1 Samuweli 17:34-36; Isaya 31:4.

Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Davide waphindze wabitwa. INkhosi Sawula beseyivile ngetidvumo takhe. Nakuba Sawula abesolo ayingwazi, abengasemukeleki kuJehova ngenca yekutsi wehluleka kulalela imiyalo yakhe. Jehova abesawususile umoya wakhe kuSawula, ngenca yaloko, lenkhosi beseyisigcila semoya lomubi lowawuyibangela kutsi ibe nelulaka lolubi, budlova kanye nekungabetsembi labanye bantfu. Ngumculo kuphela lobewenta lenkhosi ibe ncono nayifikelwa ngulomoya lomubi. Lamanye emadvodza eNkhosi Sawula bekavile ngelikhono laDavide lekudlala umculo kanye nekuba kwakhe yingwazi. Ngako Davide wabitelwa esigodlweni futsi ngekushesha iNkhosi Sawula yamenta lomunye webafana bayo nemhlabeleli wayo.​—1 Samuweli 15:26-29; 16:14-23.

Kunyenti bantfu labasha labangakufundza kuDavide mayelana nekukholwa. Khumbula kutsi sikhatsi sakhe lesinyenti wasisebentisela kunaka tintfo letamenta wasondzelana naJehova. Ngetulu kwaloko, Davide waba nesineke sekufundza emakhono lamenta waba lusito. Lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi walalela nakacondziswa ngumoya waJehova. Leti tifundvo letinhle kakhulu kitsi sonkhe.​—Umshumayeli 12:1.

Ngesikhatsi Davide asebentela iNkhosi Sawula, abevamise kuya ekhaya ayokwelusa timvu takubo futsi ngaletinye tikhatsi bekahlala emalanga lamanyenti khona. Ngalelinye lalawo malanga, Jese wamtfuma kutsi ayewuhlola banakabo labatsatfu labadzala lebebakadze basebutfweni laSawula. Ngenhlonipho, Davide wavuma kuhamba nemtfwalo lowesindzako walibangisa khona kubomnakabo, eSigodzini sase-Ela. Wakhatsateka kakhulu nakakhandza lamabutfo lamabili solo ajamelene njengobe sike sachaza ekucaleni kwalesihloko. EmaFilisti bekeme kulelinye ligcuma, nema-Israyeli eme kulelinye, lesigodzi saba semkhatsini wabo.​—1 Samuweli 17:1-3, 15-19.

Davide abengeke asibeketelele lesimo. Bekungenteka kanjani kutsi libutfo lemphi laJehova, Nkulunkulu lophilako lesabe indvodza nje leyedzelelako nalengamkhonti Nkulunkulu? Davide wabona kuhlambalata kwaGoliyathi njengekwetfuka Jehova lucobo lwakhe. Ngako watjela lamasotja kutsi angancotjwa Goliyathi. Umnakabo lomdzala Eliyabe wayiva inkhulumo yaDavide. Wamekhuta kamatima, waze wamtsetsisela nekutsi abetofunani lapho endzaweni yemphi. Kodvwa Davide wamphendvula watsi: “Manje sengenteni? Sengingabe ngisakhuluma nje nekukhuluma?” Ngako wachubeka nekukhuluma ngekuncotjwa kwaGoliyathi, lawo mavi aze efika nasetindlebeni teNkhosi Sawula. Lenkhosi yase iyambita Davide.​—1 Samuweli 17:23-31.

Davide wakhuluma lamavi lakhutsatako enkhosini Sawula mayelana naGoliyathi, latsi: “Akubete lophelelwa ngemandla ngenca yalomFilisti.” INkhosi Sawula nelibutfo layo besebavele bangenwe ngemanti emadvolweni ngenca yaGoliyathi. Kungenteka nabo  benta liphutsa lebelingentiwa ngunoma ngabe ngubani lekuticatsanisa nalendvodza lendze lesidlakela, batibona bangeke bakhone kulwa naso. Bebacabanga kutsi lendvodza lehlomile leyayiwushiye impela umhlaba beyingavele icedze ngabo bangakalwi nekulwa nje. Kodvwa Davide akazange acabange ngaleyondlela. Njengobe sitawubona, Davide wabuka lenkinga ngendlela lebeyehluke kakhulu. Ngako watsi yena matfupha utakulwa naGoliyathi.​—1 Samuweli 17:32.

Sawula waphiphita watsi: “Ungeke ukhone kuyakulwa nalomFilisti, ngobe wena usengumfana nje, kantsi yena uyingwazi yekutalwa.” Davide abengumfana lomncane yini vele? Cha, kodvwa bekasengakakulungeli kuba sebutfweni lemphi ngobe bekabukeka amncane. Nome kunjalo, Davide bekatiwa ngekuba yingwazi lenesibindzi futsi kungenteka besekasondzele eminyakeni yabo-20 ngaleso sikhatsi.​—1 Samuweli 16:18; 17:33.

Davide wacinisekisa Sawula nakamlandzisela ngekubulala kwakhe libhubesi nelibhele. Davide bekatikhukhumeta yini? Cha. Bekati kutsi bekawatsetsephi emandla ekuncoba kuleto timphi. Ngako watsi: “LoSimakadze lowangephula esidladleni selibhubesi nasesidladleni selibhele utangikhulula nasesandleni salomFilisti.” Sawula wabona kutsi kute langakwenta, wase utsi kuDavide: “Hamba, shangatsi Simakadze angaba nawe.”​—1 Samuweli 17:37.

Ungatsandza yini nawe kuba nekukholwa lokufana nekwaDavide? Naka kutsi kukholwa kwaDavide bekungasiko nje kwekutsatseka noma intfo labeyifisa. Abekholwa kuNkulunkulu wakhe ngenca yekutsi bekamati kahle nangenca yetintfo lebetentekile ekuphileni kwakhe. Bekati kutsi Jehova unguMvikeli lonelutsandvo neMgcini wetetsembiso. Nasifuna kuba nekukholwa lokufanana naloku, sidzinga kuchubeka sifundza ngaNkulunkulu eBhayibhelini. Nasikwenta loko lesikufundzile, sitawutfola imiphumela lemihle letawucinisa kukholwa kwetfu.​—Hebheru 11:1.

Inkhosi Sawula yacale yagcokisa Davide timphahla tayo temphi. Letimphahla betifana netaGoliyathi tentiwe ngelitfusi futsi kungenteka betifaka ekhatsi libhantji lensimbi lelikhulu lemphi. Davide wabese wetama kuhambahamba agcoke letimphahla temphi letisindzako kodvwa wabona kutsi ngeke timlungele. Abengakaceceshelwa kuba lisotja, ngako abengakakwetayeli kugcoka timphahla temphi. Ingasaphatfwa-ke yetembatfo taSawula ngobe bekamudze kunabo bonkhe esiveni sema-Israyeli. (1 Samuweli 9:2) Wase uyatikhumula wagcoka timphahla takhe labekatetayele, lokutimphahla letigcokwa ngumelusi kuze avikele umhlambi wetimvu.​—1 Samuweli 17:38-40.

Davide watsatsa indvuku yakhe nesidubulelo sakhe, wase ugaca nesikhwama sakhe. Namuhla sidubulelo singabonakala siyintfo lencane kodvwa besisikhali lesiyingoti kabi. Besentiwa ngetintsambo tesikhumba letimbili letindze, kusikhali lesikahle semelusi. Abetsi angafaka litje, bese sewuyasijikitisa ngetulu kwenhloko yakhe ngesivinini lesikhulu, ngemuva kwaloko ayekele yinye intsambo, anembe ngenjongo yekubulala. Sidubulelo besiwenta kahle umsebenti waso kangangekutsi nasetimphini bebavame kusisebentisa.

Kwatsi asahlome ngalendlela, Davide waphuma ngekushesha ebutfweni lakubo waya kulesitsa sakhe. Singamcabanga Davide athandaza ngebucotfo njengobe agobondzela lapha emfuleni lowomile abutsa ematje lamancane lasihlanu, wase uyagijima ucondza ngco enkhundleni yemphi.

Yini Goliyathi layicabanga nakabona Davide? Lendzaba ichubeka itsi: “Wabuka Davide wambona kutsi usengumfana, abovana, amuhle, wamedzelela.” Abhavumula, Goliyathi watsi: “Ngiyinja yini, kutsi ungeta kimi uphetse tindvuku?” Kusebaleni kutsi wayibona lendvuku lebeyiphetfwe nguDavide kodvwa akasinakanga lesidubulelo. Wacalekisa Davide ngabonkulunkulu bemaFilisti futsi wafunga wagomela kutsi sidvumbu salesitsa sakhe abetasinika tinyoni kanye netilwane tesiganga.​—1 Samuweli 17:41-44.

Indlela Davide laphendvula ngayo isibonelo lesihle kakhulu sekukholwa ngisho nalamuhla. Asewulicabange nje lelijaha leliselincane litsi kuGoliyathi: “Wena uta kimi uphetse inkemba, nelijozi, nesikhali, kodvwa mine ngita kuwe ngelibito laSimakadze wetimphi, Nkulunkulu wemabutfo aka-Israyeli, wona lawo mabutfo bewuwabita insayeya.” Davide bekati kutsi emandla kanye nekuhloma kwemuntfu bekungakabaluleki kangako. Goliyathi abedzelele Nkulunkulu Jehova, ngenca yaleso sizatfu Jehova abetawutiphendvulela. Kunjengobe Davide asho: ‘Imphi ngeyaJehova.’​—1 Samuweli 17:45-47.

 Akusho kutsi Davide abengabuboni bukhulu baGoliyathi kanye netikhali takhe. Kodvwa akazange ativumele leto tintfo kutsi timesabise. Akazange alente liphutsa lelentiwa nguSawula nelibutfo lakhe. Davide akazange aticatsanise naGoliyathi kodvwa wamcatsanisa naJehova. Goliyathi abecishe abe ngemamitha lamatsatfu budze, abewushiye impela umhlaba. Kodvwa-ke, abengakanani nakacatsaniswa naNkulunkulu longuSomandla? Ecinisweni, kuNkulunkulu Goliyathi abefana nesilokatane nje lesingasilutfo labetawuvele acedze ngaso.

Davide wagijima wacondza kulesitsa sakhe, wase ufaka sandla esikhwameni wakhokha litje linye. Walifaka kulesidubulelo, wasijikitisa wase ujikijela ngawo onkhe emandla akhe. Goliyathi naye weta acondze kuDavide, ahamba emuva kwalelisotja lebelimphatsele lihawu. Budze baGoliyathi bebungamsebenteli ngobe lisotja lelidze ngalokwetayelekile belingakhoni kumvikela buso ngelihawu lebelimphatsela lona. Kulapho-ke Davide abebuke kutsi utawunemba khona.​—1 Samuweli 17:41.

Davide walikhulula lelitje lakhe. Cabanga nje kuthule kutse cwaka, njengobe lelitje licondza ngco labekafuna kunemba khona. Akungabateki kutsi nguJehova lowacondzisa lelitje laDavide kutsi lingashayi kulenye indzawo. Lelitje lavele lanemba, lacondza ngco ebuntini laGoliyathi. Lesichwaga savele sashayeka phansi ngebuso. Lelisotja lebeliphetse lihawu lavele lacela empunzini. Davide waya kuGoliyathi wafike watsatsa lenkemba yakhe wamjuba ngayo inhloko.​—1 Samuweli 17:48-51.

Ekugcineni, Sawula nelibutfo lakhe baba nesibindzi. Bamemeta bajabulela kutsi sebancobile futsi bawagijimisa lamaFilisti. Kwavele kwaba njengobe Davide abeshito kuGoliyathi kutsi: ‘Jehova, nguye lotaninikela nonkhe etandleni tetfu.’​—1 Samuweli 17:47, 52, 53.

Lamuhla tinceku taNkulunkulu atiyi emphini. Leso sikhatsi sesendlula. (Matewu 26:52) Noma kunjalo, natsi kufanele silingise kukholwa kwaDavide. Njengaye, kufanele sitsatse Jehova njengaNkulunkulu lophilako, longakhona kusisindzisa nalesingametsemba. Ngalesinye sikhatsi, nasiticatsanisa netinkinga tetfu singatikhandza sibancane kakhulu kodvwa leto tinkinga tincane kakhulu naticatsaniswa nemandla aJehova. Nasikhetsa Jehova njengangaNkulunkulu wetfu, sibeke litsemba letfu kuye njengaDavide, kute silingo, futsi kute inkinga lengasicedza emandla. Kute lokungehlula Jehova!