April 19

Absalom rose up early. ... Thy matters are...right; but there is no man deputed... to hear thee. — 2 Sam 15:2-3

Absalom perverted good things to base and ignoble uses. For example, early rising is a good thing, when one rises to begin a day of beautiful living. Absalom rose early to ply his arts of treachery.

Sympathy is a good thing. One can do no Christlier work than to go among those who are overwrought, speaking cheering, strengthening words. To take by the hand one who has fallen in some misfortune, and be a brother to him, helping him to rise; is a noble thing to do.

But Absalom only pretended to be the people’s friend that he might get their confidence and then use them in his wicked plot to seize his father’s throne. He lost no opportunity, when any one was dissatisfied, to pity him, and hint how different it would be if only he were king.

There is no baser treachery than this, and we all need to be on our guard continually, lest, by half–conscious disparagement, we destroy the influence of others and do them irreparable injury.