Impi yayisiphelile futhi kwasokuthe zwi esigodini sase-Ela. Amatende amabutho ayephetshulwa ngumoya wemini owawuphephetha kamnandi. INkosi uSawuli yayibuthanise amabutho ayo futhi lendodana yayo uJonathani yayikhona. Ijaha elalisakhula uDavida lalilandisa indaba yalo ngentshiseko enkulu. USawuli wayesegeqe amagula endlebe ukuze kungabi ngitsho lokukodwa okumeqayo. UJonathani yena wayesizwa njani? Wayeliqhawe elimnkantsho ubomvu elalinqobe izimpi zikaJehova ezinengi. Kodwa lamuhla ukunqoba kwakungokwejaha leli elisakhulayo. UDavida wayelahle phansi inkalakatha yendoda engumFilisti, uGoliyathi. UJonathani waba lomona yini ngodumo uDavida ayeluthola?

Okwenziwa nguJonathani kungakutshiya ubambe owangaphansi. IBhayibhili lithi: “Emva kokuba uDavida eseqedile ukukhuluma loSawuli, uJonathani waba moya munye loDavida, wamthanda njengoba ezithanda yena ngokwakhe.” UJonathani wanika uDavida izikhali zakhe okugoqela idandili. Lesi kwakuyisipho esiligugu ngoba uJonathani wayeyintshantshu ekusebenziseni umtshoko. Okuhle kakhulu yikuthi uJonathani loDavida benza isivumelwano esabenza baba ngamathe lolimi futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi babezasekelana.​—1 USamuyeli 18:1-5.

Baqalisa njalo ubungane obuhle kakhulu esifunda ngabo eBhayibhilini. Abantu abalokholo bayabuqakathekisa ubungane. Nxa singakhetha kuhle abangane njalo sibasekele futhi sithembeke kubo, ukholo lwethu luzaqina lanxa siphila ezikhathini ezinzima. (IZaga 27:17) Ake sehle lodaba sibone ukuthi ubungane bukaDavida loJonathani busifundisani.

Kwakungasibungane bokuthatheka yini lobu? Ukuze uthole impendulo kumele uzwisise ukuthi ubungane babo babusekelwe ngaphi. Ake sibuyele emuva kancane. UJonathani waphila ngesikhathi esinzima ngoba uyise uSawuli wayesentshintshile. Waqalisa eyiNkosi ethobekileyo, elalelayo njalo elokholo kodwa wantshintsha waqalisa ukuzigqaja futhi waba yisiqholo.​—1 USamuyeli 15:17-19, 26.

Indlela uSawuli antshintsha ngayo kumele ukuthi yayimudla uJonathani ngoba babezwanana loyise. (1 USamuyeli 20:2) Kungenzakala wayezibuza ukuthi indlela uSawuli ayesesenza ngayo yayizaphetha ngani. Ukungalaleli kweNkosi kwakungenza isizwe sonke sicine singasamukelwa nguJehova yini? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lezi kwakuyizikhathi ezinzima endodeni eyayilokholo njengoJonathani.

Lokhu esesixoxe ngakho kungasinceda sizwisise ukuthi kungani uJonathani loDavida baba ngabangane. UJonathani wananzelela ukuthi uDavida wayelokholo oluqinileyo. Wayengafanani lamanye amadoda ayesebuthweni likaSawuli ngoba yena kazange abanjwe ngumhedehede ngesikhathi ebona inkalakatha yendoda enguGoliyathi. Wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova uzamnika amandla okuthi anqobe uGoliyathi.​—1 USamuyeli 17:45-47.

Eminyakeni eyadlulayo uJonathani laye wayeke wacabanga ngendlela efananayo. Wayengathandabuzi ukuthi yena lejaha elilamthwalela izikhali babengahlasela futhi banqobe amabutho ahlomileyo. Kungani wayeqiniseka kangaka? Wathi: “Akulalutho olungavimbela uJehova.” (1 USamuyeli 14:6) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uDavida loJonathani babelokholo oluqinileyo sibili futhi bemthanda okuzwayo uJehova. Lapho yikho okwakusekelwe khona ubungane babo. Lanxa uJonathani wayeyinkosana elamandla futhi esegijimela iminyaka engu-50 waba ngumngane lomalusi owayethobekile uDavida owayeleminyaka engu-20. *

Isivumelwano esenziwa nguJonathani loDavida savikela ubungane babo. Ngayiphi indlela? UDavida wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova ufuna abe yinkosi elandelayo yako-Israyeli. Wamtshela yini uJonathani ukuthi nguye owayezakuba yinkosi? Akuthandabuzwa! Ubungane obuhle bungaphumelela kuphela nxa abantu bexoxa, bengafihlelani lutho futhi bengaqambelani amanga. Ukwazi ukuthi uDavida nguye owayezalandela ukuba yinkosi kungabe kwenza uJonathani wezwa njani? Kuthiwani nxa kuyikuthi uJonathani wayefisa ukuba yinkosi abeselungisa izinto ezaziphanjaniswe nguyise? IBhayibhili alisitsheli ukuthi uJonathani wayesizwa njani. Kodwa lisitshela ukuthi wayeqotho futhi elokholo oluqinileyo. Wakubona ukuthi uDavida wayelomoya ongcwele. (1 USamuyeli 16:1, 11-13) UJonathani wasigcwalisa isithembiso sakhe ngokuqhubeka engumngane kaDavida, akazange lanini ambone eyisitha sakhe. UJonathani wayefuna ukuthi kwenziwe intando kaJehova.

Ubungane babo baba yisibusiso esikhulu. Ukholo lukaJonathani lusifundisani? Zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kumele zibaqakathekise abangane bazo. Abangane bethu bangasinceda nxa belokholo oluqinileyo kungelani lokuthi bangumhlobo bani kumbe bangakanani. UJonathani loDavida baqinisana futhi bakhuthazana kanengi. Lokhu babekudinga ngoba kulezinto ezinzima ezazizabehlela.

Ekuqaliseni uSawuli wayengamthontisi uDavida waze wamenza umkhokheli wamabutho akhe. Kodwa kungakayingaphi uSawuli waba lomona. Le yiyo kanye into uJonathani ayeyinqobile. UDavida watshaya wabhuqa amaFilisti izikhathi zilandelana. Lokhu kwenza wathola udumo futhi wanconywa ngabantu. Abanye abesifazane baze bahlabela besithi: “USawuli ubulele izinkulungwane zakhe, kodwa uDavida ubulele amatshumi ezinkulungwane zakhe.” Ingoma le ayizange imphathe kuhle uSawuli. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kusukela ngalelolanga kusiya phambili uSawuli wakhangela uDavida ngelihlo elilomhawu.” (1 USamuyeli 16:1, 11-13) USawuli wayesecabanga ukuthi selifuna ukuphuma elinye lingakatshoni. Okwakucatshangwa nguSawuli kwakuyibuthutha obuphindiweyo. UDavida wayekwazi sibili ukuthi uzakuba yinkosi ngemva kukaSawuli kodwa akuzange kuke kufike engqondweni yakhe ukuhluthunela inkosi eyayigcotshwe nguJehova ubukhosi.

USawuli wadinga izindlela zokuthi uDavida abulawe empini kodwa lokhu akuzange kuphumelele. UDavida waqhubeka enqoba izimpi ayezilwa futhi abantu babemhlonipha kakhulu. USawuli wazama ukwenza ukuthi imuli yakhe imanyane laye ekwenzeni icebo lokubulala uDavida. Ukubona uyise esenza njalo kumele ukuthi kwephula inhliziyo kaJonathani. (1 USamuyeli 18:25-30; 19:1) UJonathani wayethembekile kuyise kodwa futhi wayethembekile kumngane wakhe. Pho wayezathembeka kubani?

UJonathani wathi: “Inkosi kayingenzi okubi encekwini yayo uDavida, konanga lutho kuwe, njalo akwenzileyo kukusize kakhulu. Wadela impilo yakhe ekubulaleni kwakhe umFilisti. UJehova wazuzela u-Israyeli ukunqoba okukhulu, lawe wakubona njalo wathaba. Pho kungani ungenza okubi emuntwini omsulwa njengoDavida ngokumbulala kungekho sizatho na?” Kwathi dlwe kuSawuli, wafunga ukuthi kasoze amlimaze uDavida. Kodwa uSawuli kazange asigcine isifungo sakhe. UDavida waqhubeka ewanqoba amaFilisti futhi lokhu kwenza uSawuli waba lomhawu waze wamphosa ngomkhonto. (1 USamuyeli 19:4-6, 9, 10) Kodwa uDavida waphunyuka wabaleka.

Kwake kwadingakala yini ukuthi ukhethe umuntu owawuzathembeka kuye? Ukwenza njalo akulula. Abanye bangakutshela ukuthi kumele uthembeke ebantwini bangakini. Kodwa uJonathani wayekwazi okumele akwenze. Wayengeke athembeke kuyise ahlamukele uDavida inceku kaJehova eyayithembekile futhi imlalela. Ukuthembeka kwakhe kuJehova yikho okwamnceda ukuthi asekele uDavida. Lanxa uJonathani wayethembekile kuNkulunkulu, watshengisa ukuthi uthembekile lakuyise ngokumeluleka, kazange amtshele lokho ayefuna ukukuzwa. Sonke kumele sizimisele ukulingisela indlela uJonathani ayethembeke ngayo.

UJonathani waphinda wazama ukukhuluma loyise owayefuna ukulimaza uDavida kodwa lokhu kwakufanana lokuthela amanzi emhlane wedada. UDavida walanda uJonathani ensitha wamtshela ukuthi uyesaba ukuthi usezabulawa. Wathi: “Kulenyathelo elilodwa nje phakathi kwami lokufa.” UJonathani wathi uzafika exoxa loyise ukuze azwe ukuthi wayesemi ngaphi endabeni yokubulala uDavida. Wathi ekuphendukeni kwakhe wayezatshoka umtshoko endaweni uDavida ayecatshe kuyo ukuze amnike isibonakaliso sokuthi izinto zimi njani. UJonathani wacela uDavida ukuthi afunge esithi: “Ungasusi umusa wakho kwabendlu yakwethu lanxa uJehova eseziqede du zonke izitha zikaDavida ebusweni bomhlaba.” UDavida wavuma ukuthi wayezanakekela abendlu kaJonathani.​—1 USamuyeli 20:3, 13-27.

UJonathani wazama ukukhuluma kuhle ngoDavida kuSawuli kodwa uSawuli wavutha ngolaka. Wabiza uJonathani ngokuthi ‘yindodana yomfazi olihlongandlebe’ futhi wathi ukuthembeka kwakhe kuDavida kwakuletha ihlazo emulini yabo. Ngemva kwalokho wazama ukudonsela ingubo eceleni likaJonathani esithi: “Nxa indodana kaJese isekhona kulo umhlaba, wena awuyikuma kumbe umbuso wakho.” Lokhu akuzange kuyintshintshe indlela uJonathani ayesizwa ngayo, yikho wazama njalo ukuncenga uyise esithi: “Kungani kumele abulawe? Wenzeni na?” USawuli kwathi kadubuke ngentukuthelo. Wayesecutha olumhlophe kodwa wayelokhu eliqhawe elilamandla. Wathi kangikudle ndodana ngomkhonto, kodwa wamkhutha. Lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu uJonathani futhi wasuka wahamba esezondile.​—1 USamuyeli 20:24-34.

Kusisa uJonathani wavukela lapho uDavida ayecatshe khona. Wafika watshoka imitshoko njengokuvumelana kwabo, emtshengisa ukuthi uSawuli wayelokhu ehlose ukumbulala. Ngemva kwalokho uJonathani watshela ijaha elalithwala izikhali zakhe ukuthi libuyele edolobheni. Basala sebebodwa njalo baba lethuba elincane lokuxoxa. Bobabili bakhala ezimathonsi futhi uJonathani kwamdabula inhliziyo ukubona umngane wakhe osakhulayo eseqalisa ukuphila njengesiphepheli.​—1 USamuyeli 20:35-42.

UJonathani watshengisa ukuthi uthembekile sibili kanye lokuthi ulendaba lomngane wakhe. USathane yisitha sabo bonke abantu abathembekileyo yikho wayefuna ukubona uJonathani elandela isibonelo sikayise sokuzifunela udumo lamandla okubusa. Phela uSathane uyathanda ukungena ngenxeba njengempethu esebenzisa ubuthakathaka bethu ukuze senze okubi. Waphumelela ukwenza njalo ebazalini bethu bokuqala u-Adamu lo-Eva. (UGenesisi 3:1-6) Kodwa kuJonathani wayengabuzanga elangeni. Kumele ukuthi uSathane wazonda wabila ngoba wehluleka ukuqila uJonathani. Lawe uzalwisana lokuzigqaja njengoJonathani yini? Phela siphila labantu abazigqajayo. (2 KuThimothi 3:1-5) Uzimisele yini ukuba ngumuntu othembekileyo futhi olendaba labanye njengoJonathani?

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi indlela uSawuli ayezonda ngayo uDavida yayisiqondisa konke ayekwenza. Kwakungaselanto uJonathani ayengayenza ngaphandle kokubukela uyise esenza izinto ezingelangqondo, ebuthanisa amabutho futhi ebhoda lelizwe ezingela indoda eyodwa engelacala. (1 USamuyeli 24:1, 2, 12-15; 26:20) UJonathani wamsekela yini uyise? Akulandawo eBhayibhilini esifunda khona ukuthi wake wancedisana loyise ekuhlaseleni uDavida. Wayengeke azingele uDavida ngoba wayethembekile kuJehova futhi wayeyenze isivumelwano loDavida.

Indlela ayemthanda ngayo uDavida ayizange intshintshe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wathola elinye ithuba lokubonana loDavida eHoreshi okutsho ukuthi “Indawo Yezigodo.” Indawo le yayisezintabeni ezaziseningizimu-mpumalanga yeHebroni. Kungani uJonathani wafaka impilo yakhe emlonyeni wengwenya esiyabona uDavida? IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi wayefuna ukumnceda ukuthi “athole amandla kuNkulunkulu”. (1 USamuyeli 23:16) Wakwenza njani lokhu?

UJonathani watshela umngane wakhe osakhulayo wathi: “Ungesabi.” Waphinda wamqinisa esithi: “Ubaba uSawuli kasoze abeke isandla phezu kwakho.” Kuyini okwenza uJonathani watsho amazwi la? Kungenxa yokuthi wayekholwa ukuthi ilizwi likaJehova aliweli phansi. Waqhubeka etshela uDavida esithi: “Wena uzakuba yinkosi yako-Israyeli.” Eminyakeni eyadlulayo umprofethi uSamuyeli wayeke wathunywa ukuthi akhulume amazwi la, yikho khathesi uJonathani ukhumbuza uDavida ukuthi ilizwi likaJehova aliweli phansi. UJonathani yena wayecabangani ngekusasa lakhe? Wathi: “Mina ngizakuba ngumsekeli wakho.” Indoda le yayizithoba okwamagama! Yayisuthiseka ngokuthi izancedisa njalo izatshelwa okumele ikwenze nguDavida owayemncane kulaye ngeminyaka engu-30. UJonathani waphetha ngokuthi: “Lobaba uSawuli uyakwazi lokhu.” (1 USamuyeli 23:17, 18) USawuli wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi ikusasa lakhe limnyama ngoba wayesilwa lendoda eyayikhethwe nguJehova ukuthi ibe yinkosi ngemva kwakhe!

Kumele ukuthi kwaphela iminyaka uDavida elikhumbula ilanga acina ukubonana ngalo lomngane wakhe futhi kungenzakala ukuthi kwakumthokozisa. Kuzwisa ubuhlungu ukuthi isifiso sikaJonathani sokuba ngumsekeli kaDavida asizange sigcwaliseke.

UJonathani waya empini loyise besiyakulwa lamaFilisti izitha zama-Israyeli. Wancedisana loyise empini futhi wakwenza elomzwangedwa ongelacala. Wenza intando kaJehova kungelani lokuthi uyise wayesenza izinto ezimbi. Walwa ngesibindi langamandla akhe wonke njengenhlalayenza kodwa banqotshwa empini le. Ukuhlamuka kukaSawuli kwasokukubi kakhulu okokuthi wacina esesebenzelana lemimoya. UNkulunkulu wayethe wonke umuntu osebenzelana lemimoya kumele abulawe, yikho wasusa isibusiso sakhe kuSawuli. UJonathani lamanye amadodana kaSawuli amabili babulawa empini. USawuli yena walimala futhi wahle wazibulala.​—1 USamuyeli 28:6-14; 31:2-6.

UDavida wadabuka kakhulu. Indoda le elomusa lethethelelayo yalilela uSawuli lanxa wayeke wamthwalisa amagabha avuzayo njalo wamzwisa ubuhlungu. UDavida waloba amazwi okulilela uSawuli loJonathani. Amazwi asitshela ngothando uDavida ayelalo ngomngane langomeluleki wakhe athi: “Ngilusizi ngawe Jonathani, mfowethu; ubuthandeka kakhulu kimi. Ukungithanda kwakho kade kumangalisa, kumangalisa okudlula okwabesifazana.”​—2 USamuyeli 1:26.

UDavida kazange asikhohlwe isifungo ayesenze kuJonathani. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile wadinga indodana kaJonathani eyayigogekile, uMefibhoshethi futhi wathi eseyitholile wayinakekela. (2 USamuyeli 9:1-13) Kuyazicacela ukuthi uDavida wafunda okunengi kuJonathani. Wafunda ukuthembeka, ukukhetha kuhle lanxa kunzima kanye lokuzimisela ukugagadlela kumngane wakho lanxa lokho kungafaka impilo yakho engozini. Wena ufundani? Uzabadinga abangane abanjengoJonathani yini? Ungaba ngumngane onjalo yini? Nxa singancedisa abangane bethu ukuthi babelokholo oluqinileyo kuJehova, sithembeke kuye ukwedlula kuloba ngubani njalo sithembeke lakubangane bethu kulokugijimisa okufunwa yithi, sizakuba ngabangane beqiniso njengoJonathani. Okuhle kakhulu yikuthi sizalingisela ukholo lwakhe.