Proverbs 15.22
“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
To whom do you go for advice? Who are the truth-tellers in your life?
Scripture admonishes us to listen to the insight and advice of wise people. To seek their counsel, get their perspective, and tap into their wisdom and experience. Scripture also warns us to have discernment and recognize who NOT to listen to. Unfortunately, there are many bad advisers in the world. There are many questionable counselors.
Consider 1 Kings 12, where two very different groups are advising Rehoboam (the son of Solomon) following his father’s death and Rehoboam’s ascension to the throne.
Rehoboam had just been named the king of Israel after the death of his father. The people came to Rehoboam and said, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away.” (1 Kings 12:3-5)
As we know, Solomon had been a very wise man and effective ruler. However, he was not without his flaws. Also, Solomon’s wisdom did not reside exclusively with himself. Solomon had wise counselors around him, and those are the first people that Rehoboam went to consult after hearing that the people wanted a lighter government than Solomon had put on them.
“Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” (1 Kings 12:6-7)
What did Rehoboam do with this advice? We will see tomorrow …
Coram Deo
