1, 2. UDavide wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayeqotho kuNkulunkulu? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

USAWULE namasosha akhe angu-3 000 babezingela uDavide ehlane laseJudiya ukuze bambulale. Kodwa ngobunye ubusuku, uDavide namadoda ayekanye nawo bathola indawo uSawule namasosha akhe ababekanise kuyo. Bonke babelele zwi, ngakho uDavide no-Abhishayi bacathama badlula amasosha baze bayofika kuSawule. U-Abhishayi wahlebela uDavide wathi: “Ngicela ungivumele ngimhlanganise nomhlabathi ngomkhonto kanye nje kuphela, ngeke ngimphinde kabili.” Kodwa uDavide akamvumelanga ukuba abulale uSawule. Wathi ku-Abhishayi: “Ungamchithi, ngoba ngubani oye welulela isandla sakhe kogcotshiweyo kaJehova kodwa wahlala emsulwa?” UDavide wabe esethi: “Kuyinto engacabangeki ngami, emehlweni kaJehova, ukuba ngelulele isandla sami kogcotshiweyo kaJehova!”—1 Samuweli 26:8-12.

² UDavide wayeqonda ukuthi yini okwakudingeka ayenze  ukuze abe qotho kuJehova. Wayazi ukuthi kufanele amhloniphe uSawule, futhi akazange acabange ngisho nokucabanga ukumlimaza. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayekhethe uSawule ukuba abe yinkosi yakwa-Israyeli. Namuhla, njengasesikhathini esidlule, uJehova ufuna ukuba zonke izinceku zakhe zibe qotho kuye futhi zibahloniphe labo abavumele ukuba babe negunya.—Funda uMika 6:8.

3. U-Abhishayi waba qotho kanjani kuDavide?

³ U-Abhishayi wayemhlonipha uDavide ngoba wayazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayekhethe yena ukuba abe yinkosi. Nokho, ngemva kokuba ebe yinkosi, uDavide wenza izono ezinkulu. Waphinga nomka-Uriya, ngemva kwalokho wayala uJowabe ukuba aqiniseke ukuthi u-Uriya uyafa empini. (2 Samuweli 11:2-4, 14, 15; 1 IziKronike 2:16) UJowabe kwakungumfowabo ka-Abhishayi, ngakho kumelwe ukuba u-Abhishayi wezwa ngalokho okwakwenziwe uDavide, kodwa waqhubeka emhlonipha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, u-Abhishayi wayengumholi webutho lempi futhi wayengasebenzisa igunya lakhe ukuze athathe ubukhosi, kodwa akakwenzanga lokho. Kunalokho, wakhonza uDavide futhi wamvikela ezitheni zakhe.—2 Samuweli 10:10; 20:6; 21:15-17.

4. (a) UDavide waba kanjani yisibonelo sobuqotho kuNkulunkulu? (b) Yiziphi ezinye izibonelo esizozihlola?

⁴ UDavide waba qotho kuJehova kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe. Lapho esemncane, wabulala umdondoshiya onguGoliyati, owayehlambalaza uJehova nama-Israyeli. (1 Samuweli 17:23, 26, 48-51) Lapho uDavide eseyinkosi, umprofethi kaJehova uNathani kwadingeka amnikeze isiyalo ngenxa yezono ayezenzile. Ngokushesha, uDavide wazivuma izono zakhe futhi waphenduka. (2 Samuweli 12:1-5, 13) Kamuva, lapho uDavide esemdala, wanikela ngezinto eziningi eziyigugu ukuze afake isandla ekwakhiweni kwethempeli likaJehova. (1 IziKronike 29:1-5) Kuyacaca ukuthi nakuba uDavide enza amaphutha amakhulu ekuphileni kwakhe, akakaze ayeke ukuba qotho kuNkulunkulu. (IHubo 51:4, 10; 86:2) Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngesibonelo sikaDavide nabanye ababephila ngesikhathi sakhe, futhi sifunde ukuthi singaba kanjani qotho kakhulu kuJehova kunakunoma ubani omunye. Sizoxoxa nangezinye izimfanelo ezizosisiza senze kanjalo.

5. Yisiphi isifundo esisifunda ephutheni lika-Abhishayi?

⁵ Lapho u-Abhishayi ezama ukubulala uSawule, wayezama ukuba qotho kuDavide. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi uDavide wayazi ukuthi kwakuyoba yiphutha ukulimaza “ogcotshiweyo kaJehova,” akamvumelanga ukuba ayibulale inkosi. (1 Samuweli 26:8-11) Lokhu kusifundisa isifundo esibalulekile: Lapho kudingeka sinqume ukuthi ubani esizoba qotho kuye, kudingeka sicabange ngokuthi yisiphi isimiso seBhayibheli esingasisiza esimweni esisuke sibhekene naso.

6. Nakuba kungokwemvelo ukuba qotho emndenini wethu nakubangane, kungani kumelwe siqaphele?

⁶ Kungokwemvelo ukuba qotho kumuntu esimthandayo, njengomngane noma  ilungu lomndeni. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi sinesono, imizwa yethu ingasilahlekisa. (Jeremiya 17:9) Ngakho, lapho umuntu esimthandayo enza isono futhi eshiya iqiniso, kumelwe sikhumbule ukuthi kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba qotho kuJehova kunakunoma ubani omunye.—Funda uMathewu 22:37.

7. Omunye udadewethu wahlala kanjani eqotho kuNkulunkulu ngaphansi kwesimo esinzima?

⁷ Uma othile emndenini wakho esusiwe ekuhlanganyeleni nebandla, ungabonisa uJehova ukuthi uqotho kuYe. Ngokwesibonelo, ngolunye usuku umama ka-Anne, owayesusiwe ekuhlanganyeleni, wamshayela ucingo wathi ufuna ukumvakashela. ^[1] (Bheka umbhalo osekugcineni.) Umama ka-Anne wathi wayengajabule neze ngoba umndeni wawenqaba ukumkhulumisa. Lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu u-Anne, futhi wathembisa ukuthi uzombhalela incwadi amphendule. Ngaphambi kokuba ayibhale, u-Anne wazindla ngezimiso zeBhayibheli ezithile. (1 Korinte 5:11; 2 Johane 9-11) Encwadini, wachaza ngomusa ukuthi umama wakhe nguye owayeshiye umndeni lapho ona futhi enqaba ukuphenduka. U-Anne watshela unina ukuthi ukuphela kwendlela angaphinde ajabule ngayo ukubuyela kuJehova.—Jakobe 4:8.

8. Yiziphi izimfanelo ezizosisiza sibe qotho kuNkulunkulu?

⁸ Okunye futhi, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zosuku lukaDavide zazithobekile, zinomusa futhi zinesibindi. Ake sibone ukuthi lezi zimfanelo zingasisiza kanjani ukuba sibe qotho kuJehova.

9. Kungani u-Abhineri azama ukubulala uDavide?

⁹ Indodana kaSawule uJonathani kanye nomkhuzi webutho lakwa-Israyeli, u-Abhineri, babona uDavide elethe ikhanda likaGoliyati eNkosini uSawule. UJonathani waba umngane kaDavide futhi wahlala eqotho kuye. (1 Samuweli 17:57–18:3) Kodwa u-Abhineri akazange akwenze lokho. Empeleni, kamuva waze ngisho wasiza uSawule, owayefuna ukubulala uDavide. (1 Samuweli 26:1-5; IHubo 54:3) Bobabili uJonathani no-Abhineri babazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayefuna kube uDavide inkosi elandelayo yakwa-Israyeli. Kodwa ngemva kokufa kukaSawule, u-Abhineri akazange amsekele uDavide. Kunalokho,  wazama ukubeka indodana kaSawule u-Ishibosheti ukuba ibe yinkosi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kungenzeka ukuthi u-Abhineri wayefuna ukubuhlwitha ubukhosi, futhi cishe yingakho alala nomunye wabafazi beNkosi uSawule. (2 Samuweli 2:8-10; 3:6-11) Kungani uJonathani no-Abhineri babezizwa ngendlela ehluke kangaka ngoDavide? Kungenxa yokuthi uJonathani wayeqotho kuJehova futhi ethobekile kodwa u-Abhineri wayengenjalo.

10. Kungani u-Absalomu ayengeqotho kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁰ U-Absalomu, indodana yeNkosi uDavide, wayengeqotho kuNkulunkulu ngoba wayengathobekile. Wayefuna ukuba yinkosi, ngakho wazitholela ‘inqola namahhashi namadoda angamashumi amahlanu agijima phambi kwakhe.’ (2 Samuweli 15:1) Wayenga nama-Israyeli amaningi ukuba acheme naye. Waze ngisho wazama nokubulala uyise, nakuba ayazi ukuthi uJehova wayenze uDavide waba yinkosi kwa-Israyeli.—2 Samuweli 15:13, 14; 17:1-4.

11. Singazuza kanjani ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli okuphathelene no-Abhineri, u-Absalomu noBharuki?

¹¹ Lapho umuntu engathobekile futhi efuna igunya elithe xaxa, kuba nzima ukuba ahlale eqotho kuNkulunkulu. Yiqiniso, siyamthanda uJehova kanti asifuni ukuzicabangela thina kuphela futhi sibe babi, njengo-Abhineri no-Absalomu. Kodwa kumelwe siqaphele ukuba singaqali ukufisa ukuceba noma umsebenzi osenza sizizwe sibalulekile. Lokhu kuyobulimaza ukuhlobo bethu noJehova. Okwesikhathi esithile, uBharuki, unobhala kaJeremiya wayefuna into ayengenayo futhi wayengasajabule ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu. UJehova wabe esethi kuBharuki: “Bheka! Engikwakhile ngiyakudiliza, engikutshalile ngiyakusiphula, ngisho nalo lonke izwe ngokwalo. Kodwa wena, uqhubeka uzifunela izinto ezinkulu. Musa ukuqhubeka uzifuna.” (Jeremiya 45:4, 5) UBharuki wamlalela uJehova. Nathi kumelwe simlalele ngoba maduzane uzolibhubhisa leli zwe elibi.

12. Bonisa ukuthi kungani singeke sikwazi ukuba qotho kuNkulunkulu lapho sizicabangela sodwa.

¹² UDaniel, umfowethu waseMexico, kwakumelwe anqume ukuthi uzoba qotho kubani. Wayefuna ukushada nentombazane eyayingeyena umkhulekeli kaJehova. UDaniel uthi: “Ngaqhubeka ngiyibhalela  ngisho nangemva kokungenela inkonzo yokuphayona.” Kodwa wabe eseqaphela ukuthi ngobugovu wayenza lokho okwakufunwa nguye. Wayengeqotho kuJehova futhi kwakudingeka athobeke. Ngakho watshela umdala ongumakadebona ngale ntombazane. UDaniel uyachaza: “Wangisiza ngabona ukuthi ukuze ngibe qotho kuNkulunkulu, kudingeka ngiyeke ukuyibhalela. Ngemva kwemithandazo eminingi nezinyembezi, yilokho engakwenza. Ngokushesha, injabulo yami enkonzweni yakhula.” UDaniel manje usenenkosikazi ethanda uJehova futhi usekhonza njengombonisi wesigodi.

13. UNathani wahlala kanjani eqotho kuNkulunkulu nakuDavide ngisho lapho uDavide onile?

¹³ Lapho siqotho kuJehova, singaba qotho nakwabanye futhi sibasize ngendlela engcono kakhulu. Umprofethi uNathani wayeqotho kuJehova nakuDavide. Ngemva kokuba uDavide ethathe umfazi wenye indoda wabe eseyibulala, uJehova wathumela uNathani ukuze aluleke uDavide. UNathani wayenesibindi futhi walalela uJehova. Kodwa wenza nangokuhlakanipha wakhuluma noDavide ngendlela enomusa. Wayefuna ukusiza uDavide aqonde ukuthi zazizimbi kangakanani izono zakhe. Ngakho wamlandisa ngendoda ecebile eyeba iwundlu lendoda empofu okwakuwukuphela kwalo. Lapho uDavide ezwa ngalokhu, wasicasukela isenzo saleyo ndoda ecebile. UNathani wabe esethi: “Nguwe lowo muntu!” UDavide waqaphela ukuthi wonile kuJehova.—2 Samuweli 12:1-7, 13.

14. Ungaba kanjani qotho kuJehova nakumngane wakho noma isihlobo?

¹⁴ Nawe ungaba qotho kuJehova kuqala bese uba qotho nakwabanye ngokuba nomusa. Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzeka unobufakazi bokuthi umfowenu wenze isono esikhulu. Ungathanda ukuba qotho kuye, ikakhulu uma engumngane wakho omkhulu noma eyilungu lomndeni. Kodwa uyazi nokuthi kubaluleke nakakhulu ukuba qotho kuJehova. Ngakho njengoNathani, lalela uJehova kodwa ube nomusa kumfowenu. Mtshele ukuthi kufanele acele usizo lwabadala nokuthi kufanele akhulume nabo ngokushesha. Uma engakwenzi lokho, kufanele ubatshele wena. Ngokwenza lokhu, uhlala uqotho kuJehova. Kanti ngesikhathi esifanayo, umbonisa umusa umfowenu ngenxa yokuthi abadala bangamsiza ukuba aphinde abe nobuhlobo obuhle noJehova. Bazomlungisa ngendlela ezolile nemnene.—Funda uLevitikusi 5:1; Galathiya 6:1.

15, 16. Kungani kwakudingeka uHushayi abe nesibindi ukuze abe qotho kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁵ UHushai wayengomunye wabangane beNkosi uDavide abaqotho. Lapho abantu befuna ukwenza u-Absalomu abe yinkosi, uHushayi kwakudingeka abe nesibindi  ukuze ahlale eqotho kuDavide nakuNkulunkulu. Wayazi ukuthi u-Absalomu wayeze eJerusalema namasosha akhe nokuthi uDavide wayebalekile. (2 Samuweli 15:13; 16:15) Kodwa yini ayenza uHushayi? Ingabe wamshiya uDavide wasekela u-Absalomu? Cha. Nakuba uDavide ayesekhulile futhi abantu abaningi befuna ukumbulala, uHushayi wahlala eqotho kuye ngoba uJehova wayekhethe yena ukuba abe yinkosi. Ngakho uHushayi waya eNtabeni Yeminqumo eyohlangana noDavide.—2 Samuweli 15:30, 32.

¹⁶ UDavide wacela uHushayi ukuba abuyele eJerusalema futhi azenze umngane ka-Absalomu ukuze abhuntshise iseluleko sika-Ahithofeli. UHushayi waba nesibindi, wabeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ukuze alalele uDavide futhi ahlale eqotho kuJehova. UDavide wathandaza kuJehova ukuba asize uHushayi futhi yilokho okwenzeka. U-Absalomu walalela uHushayi kunokuba alalele u-Ahithofeli.—2 Samuweli 15:31; 17:14.

17. Kungani kudingeka sibe nesibindi ukuze sibe qotho?

¹⁷ Kudingeka sibe nesibindi ukuze sibe qotho kuJehova futhi silalele yena kunokwenza lokho amalungu emindeni yethu, esisebenza nabo noma iziphathimandla zikahulumeni ezifuna sikwenze. Ngokwesibonelo, kusukela esengumfanyana, uTaro waseJapane, wayenza konke angakwenza ukuze ajabulise abazali bakhe. Wayebalalela futhi eqotho kubo, hhayi ngoba ephoqiwe, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayebathanda. Kodwa lapho eqala ukutadisha noFakazi BakaJehova, abazali bakhe babefuna ayeke. Lokhu kwamphatha kabi futhi kwakunzima nakakhulu ukubatshela ukuthi usenqume ukuya emihlanganweni. UTaro uthi: “Babecasuke kangangokuba kwaphela iminyaka ngenqatshelwe ukubavakashela ekhaya. Ngathandazela isibindi sokuba nginamathele esinqumweni sami. Manje isimo sabo sengqondo sesithe ukushintsha futhi sengiyakwazi ukubavakashela njalo.”—Funda izAga 29:25.

18. Uzuze kanjani kulesi sifundo?

¹⁸ NjengoDavide, uJonathani, uNathani kanye noHushayi, kwangathi nathi singakuzwa ukwaneliseka okutholakala ngokuba qotho kuJehova. Asifisi ukuba njengo-Abhineri no-Absalomu abangazange babe qotho. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi asiphelele futhi siyawenza amaphutha. Kodwa asibonise uJehova ukuthi ukuba qotho kuye kuyinto ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwethu.