Advice

Counsel is essential for gaining wisdom, though human advice is not always reliable. God's advice is necessary and trustworthy for guidance in life.

Human advice

A wise person seeks advice from others

Proverbs 12:15 See also Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 15:12, Proverbs 15:22, Proverbs 19:20, Proverbs 24:6, Proverbs 27:9; Ecclesiastes 4:13

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

Rejecting good advice can lead to disaster

Proverbs 1:30–31 See also 1 Kings 12:8 parallel 2 Chronicles 10:8; 1 Kings 12:13–15 parallel 2 Chronicles 10:13–15; Proverbs 1:25–26; Jeremiah 18:18; Acts 27:11

They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Human advice can have unseen dangers

Proverbs 12:5 See also Job 21:16; Psalm 1:1; Isaiah 19:11; Ezekiel 11:2

The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.

Examples of good human advice

Exodus 18:17–24 Jethro; 2 Samuel 17:5–16 Hushai; Esther 1:13–22, Esther 2:1–4; Daniel 4:27 Daniel; Acts 5:38 Gamaliel; 2 Corinthians 8:10 Paul

Examples of bad human advice

Numbers 31:15–16 Balaam; 2 Samuel 15:31–34, 2 Samuel 16:20–23, 2 Samuel 17:1–4, 2 Samuel 17:21–23; 1 Kings 12:28 Jeroboam; Isaiah 19:11 Egyptian advisers

Seeking advice from false gods is futile

Leviticus 19:31 See also Deuteronomy 18:14; 2 Chronicles 25:15–16; Isaiah 19:3, Isaiah 41:28–29, Isaiah 47:12–13

You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

God needs no-one to advise him

Isaiah 40:13–14 See also Job 12:13; Proverbs 8:14; Isaiah 28:29

Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?

God gives advice

To his people

Psalm 32:8 See also Psalm 16:7, Psalm 73:24; Revelation 3:18

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.

Through Jesus Christ and his Spirit

Isaiah 11:2 See also Isaiah 9:6; John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:13

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Through his word

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

God frustrates bad advice

1 Corinthians 1:19 See also 2 Samuel 17:14; Psalm 33:10

For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Examples of receiving God's advice

David: 1 Samuel 23:1–4; 2 Samuel 2:1; 1 Kings 22:5 parallel 2 Chronicles 18:4

Examples of rejecting God's advice

Job: Job 38:2, Job 42:2–3; Psalm 106:13, Psalm 107:11