12/3（星期二）：彌合矛盾
經文：「老年人對他說：現在王若服事這民如僕人，用好話回答他們，他們就永遠作王的僕人。」（王上12:7）

說明：
羅波安王宮廷中的老年人，親身經歷了所羅門王晚年的苛政，知道事態嚴重。老年人的建議是疏導民怨，而非高壓統治。他們勸王在管治時要有服事的心態，看自己如僕人。彌合矛盾的出發點是統治者有公僕的心態，尊重民意，才能贏取民心。

禱告重點：
1. 老年人獻議是針對羅波安王的自我（ego），教他「服事這民如僕人」，就是放下身段，這樣人民「就永遠作王的僕人」。這就是統治者與被統治者雙方有互作僕人的社會契約，為香港官民之間能邁向這目標來彌合矛盾禱告。
2. 老年人建議羅波安王「用好話回答他們」，這就是疏導民怨。為香港政府在彌合矛盾的目標下懂得疏導民怨禱告，也為民眾懂得適切回應代求。

✝”Call the city praying & Fasting for Healing of Hong Kong” Prayer guidelines (3)

Topic：Socai Stability
Method：Personal or group prayer by bible verses

12/3（Tue）：Narrow down conflicts
Scripture: “And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.”（1 King 12:7）

Explanation：
The old people in Rehoboam’s palace had experienced the harsh rule of Solomon and knew how serious the matter was. Their suggestion was to vent the grudges of the people instead of heavy-hand ruling. They advised the king to take up a serving attitude and see himself as a servant. The starting point of narrowing down conflicts is to have an attitude of the civil servant and respect on the people’s will, thereby winning the people hearts.

Prayer Note:

1.The old people’s suggestion appealed to the ego of Rehoboam, urging him to put down his arrogance and “be a servant unto this people”. Then the people “will be thy servants for ever”. This is a social contract by which the ruler and the ruled become servants to each other. Pray for the rulers and the ruled in Hong Kong to move towards this goal to resolve the conflicts.

2. The old people suggested Rehoboam to “speak good words to them” to vent the people’s grudges. Pray for the government of Hong Kong to know how to vent the grudges of the people with a view to resolve the conflicts and also for the people’s appropriate response.