5779 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 Pr 12:15 See also Pr 11:14; Pr 13:10; Pr 15:12,22; Pr 19:20; Pr 24:6; Pr 27:9; Ecc 4:13

Rejecting good advice can lead to disaster Pr 1:30-31 See also 1Ki 12:8 pp 2Ch 10:8; 1Ki 12:13-15 pp 2Ch 10:13-15; Pr 1:25-26; Jer 18:18; Ac 27:11

Human advice can have unseen dangers Pr 12:5 See also Job 21:16; Ps 1:1; Isa 19:11; Eze 11:2

Examples of good human advice

Ex 18:17-24 Jethro; 2Sa 17:5-16 Hushai Persian experts: Est 1:13-22; Est 2:1-4
Da 4:27 Daniel; Ac 5:38 Gamaliel; 2Co 8:10 Paul

Examples of bad human advice

Nu 31:15-16 Balaam Ahithophel: 2Sa 15:31-34; 2Sa 16:20-23; 2Sa 17:1-4,21-23
1Ki 12:28 Jeroboam; Isa 19:11 Egyptian advisers

Seeking advice from false gods is futile

Lev 19:31 See also Dt 18:14; 2Ch 25:15-16; Isa 19:3; Isa 41:28-29; Isa 47:12-13

God needs no-one to advise him

Isa 40:13-14 See also Job 12:13; Pr 8:14; Isa 28:29

God gives advice

To his people Ps 32:8 See also Ps 16:7; Ps 73:24; Rev 3:18

Through Jesus Christ and his Spirit Isa 11:2 See also Isa 9:6; Jn 14:26; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:13

Through his word 2Ti 3:16

God frustrates bad advice

1Co 1:19 See also 2Sa 17:14; Ps 33:10

Examples of receiving God’s advice

Examples of rejecting God’s advice

See also