Advice

Human advice

A wise person seeks advice from others

Proverbs 12:15 ESV

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

See also Pr 11:14; Pr 13:10; Pr 15:12; Pr 15:22; Pr 19:20; Pr 24:6; Pr 27:9; Ec 4:13

Rejecting good advice can lead to disaster

Proverbs 1:30–31 ESV

would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

See also 1 Ki 12:8; 1 Ki 12:13–15; Pr 1:25–26; Je 18:18; Ac 27:11

Human advice can have unseen dangers

Proverbs 12:5 ESV

The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

See also Job 21:16; Ps 1:1; Is 19:11; Eze 11:2

Examples of good human advice

Ex 18:17–24 Jethro; 2 Sa 17:5–16 Hushai

Persian experts:

Es 1:13–22; Es 2:1–4

Da 4:27 Daniel; Ac 5:38 Gamaliel; 2 Co 8:10 Paul

Examples of bad human advice

Nu 31:15–16 Balaam

Ahithophel:

2 Sa 15:31–34; 2 Sa 16:20–23; 2 Sa 17:1–4; 2 Sa 17:21–23

1 Ki 12:28 Jeroboam; Is 19:11 Egyptian advisers

Seeking advice from false gods is futile

Leviticus 19:31 ESV

“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.

See also Dt 18:14; 2 Ch 25:15–16; Is 19:3; Is 41:28–29; Is 47:12–13

God needs no-one to advise him

Isaiah 40:13–14 ESV

Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?

See also Job 12:13; Pr 8:14; Is 28:29

God gives advice

To his people

Psalm 32:8 ESV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

See also Ps 16:7; Ps 73:24; Re 3:18

Through Jesus Christ and his Spirit

Isaiah 11:2 ESV

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

See also Is 9:6; Jn 14:26; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:13

Through his word

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

God frustrates bad advice

1 Corinthians 1:19 ESV

For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

See also 2 Sa 17:14; Ps 33:10

Examples of receiving God’s advice

David:

1 Sa 23:1–4; 2 Sa 2:1

Jehoshaphat:

1 Kings 22:5 ESV

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.”

Examples of rejecting God’s advice

Job:

Job 38:2; Job 42:2–3

Israel:

Ps 106:13; Ps 107:11