And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
Day by day he took his station at the city gate where crowds of suppliants waited for redress, mingling with the men of Israel and listening to their grievances. To each man after hearing his story he declared that his matters were good and right, yet asserted that the king had provided no deputy to hear him, expressing sympathy and regret over the inefficiency of the government. The charge gained force because there was real negligence and delay in the administration of justice, which had spread from David's listlessness and irresolution to those serving under him. He artfully turned every cause of dissatisfaction to his own advantage to steal the hearts of the men of Israel, winning sympathy through a false appearance of friendship that stands as an example of misleading conduct.
That misleading course was the wrong way of plotting discontent by suggesting evil thoughts and using others as agents in soul-destroying work. Its method is to stir up the minds of those under one's care to feel they are not treated as they deserve to be treated, to sympathize injudiciously with supposed grievances, and to deepen the impression that they are neglected and deprived of what is justly their due. It creates an atmosphere that aids the working of the leaven of discontent and dissatisfaction until the seed sown yields a harvest of discontent. The opposite is the right way, which makes conditions favorable for sowing cheerfulness and content and reflects a true friend who is firm, open, decided and unselfish, and knowing how to deal with human minds in this way requires a living connection with God.
Day by day he took his station at the city gate where crowds of suppliants waited for redress, mingling with the men of Israel and listening to their grievances. To each man after hearing his story he declared that his matters were good and right, yet asserted that the king had provided no deputy to hear him, expressing sympathy and regret over the inefficiency of the government. The charge gained force because there was real negligence and delay in the administration of justice, which had spread from David's listlessness and irresolution to those serving under him. He artfully turned every cause of dissatisfaction to his own advantage to steal the hearts of the men of Israel, winning sympathy through a false appearance of friendship that stands as an example of misleading conduct.
That misleading course was the wrong way of plotting discontent by suggesting evil thoughts and using others as agents in soul-destroying work. Its method is to stir up the minds of those under one's care to feel they are not treated as they deserve to be treated, to sympathize injudiciously with supposed grievances, and to deepen the impression that they are neglected and deprived of what is justly their due. It creates an atmosphere that aids the working of the leaven of discontent and dissatisfaction until the seed sown yields a harvest of discontent. The opposite is the right way, which makes conditions favorable for sowing cheerfulness and content and reflects a true friend who is firm, open, decided and unselfish, and knowing how to deal with human minds in this way requires a living connection with God.