How does Jeremiah 38:14 connect with Proverbs 11:14 about seeking wise counsel?

Setting the Stage in Jeremiah 38:14

“Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and had him brought to the third entrance to the LORD’s temple. ‘I am going to ask you something,’ the king said to Jeremiah. ‘Hide nothing from me.’”

• Judah’s final king is under siege from Babylon

• Earlier warnings from Jeremiah have been ignored or suppressed (Jeremiah 37:2)

• Zedekiah now seeks a private word, hoping for favorable news, yet still fears public opinion (Jeremiah 38:15-19)

---

Wisdom Summarized in Proverbs 11:14

“For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.”

• God values a multiplicity of godly voices

• National stability is directly tied to heeding such counsel

---

Where the Two Passages Intersect

• Zedekiah illustrates Proverbs 11:14 in the negative—he limits himself to one counselor and refuses to act on what he hears

• Jeremiah stands as the faithful conduit of divine wisdom; ignoring him removes the protection promised in Proverbs

• The contrast exposes the peril of selective listening and secret consultations instead of transparent, obedient responsiveness to God-given counsel

---

Additional Scriptural Echoes

• 2 Chronicles 20:20—Jehoshaphat urges Judah to “believe His prophets and you will succeed”

• Psalm 1:1—Blessing rests on the one who avoids ungodly counsel and delights in God’s law

• James 1:5—God invites His people to ask for wisdom, promising to give generously without reproach

---

Lessons for Life Today

• Seek counsel that is rooted in Scripture, not popular opinion

• Invite multiple mature believers into major decisions to fulfill the “many counselors” principle

• Receive counsel openly and act promptly; delay reveals divided loyalties (Luke 9:62)

• Recognize that rejecting clear biblical guidance brings personal and communal consequences, just as Judah experienced exile

---

Concluding Insights

Jeremiah 38:14 shows a ruler desperate for direction yet unwilling to embrace the full weight of God’s word, while Proverbs 11:14 offers the timeless remedy—humble, collective submission to wise, godly counsel that brings true deliverance.