(5) And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; (6) In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. (7) Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
Those ministers in divine things, are ever to be valued, which deal faithfully. What a beautiful lesson, may all such learn here, in the conduct of Joab. Surely David needed to be roused, and Joab took a method to do it effectually. When sinners grow cold, and unconcerned, the word of GOD must be delivered in its naked force, that, like the sword of the SPIRIT, it may wound the conscience, and its edge be felt.