II Samuel 19

"You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters …” (v5).  Joab told King David that thousands of men had put their lives on the line to restore David to the throne, and yet, consumed with private grief, David was ignoring them.  He was treating their sacrifice as if it were nothing. Joab challenged him to “arise” (v7) and acknowledge those who had fought for him.

By neglecting his loyal friends, David risked repeating the mistake that drove Absalom away.  Instead of denial, passive resistance, or neglect, wisdom urges us to act courageously, to “go out and speak kindly” (v7).