How can Proverbs 15:22 guide us in decision-making like in 1 Kings 12:9? The Principle Stated—Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” • God affirms that successful planning depends on seeking and heeding multiple, trustworthy voices. • The verse assumes a literal, everyday application: obtain counsel before you commit. • “Many advisers” implies variety—people seasoned in Scripture, experience, and spiritual maturity. The Narrative Illustrated—1 Kings 12:9 “So he asked them, ‘What advice do you offer? How should we answer these people who say to me, “Lighten the yoke your father put on us”?’ ” • King Rehoboam invites advice, but selectively: he dismisses the elders (12:6–8) and embraces peers who share his bias (12:10–11, 14). • The story showcases the disaster that follows ignoring balanced counsel—ten tribes split from the kingdom (12:16–19). • Rehoboam’s deeds turn Proverbs 15:22 into a living caution. Lessons Drawn from the Two Passages • Seeking counsel is not merely asking; it is choosing counsel aligned with God’s wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). • Multiple, godly voices act as a safeguard against pride and tunnel vision (Proverbs 11:14; 24:6). • Ignoring seasoned, biblically grounded advice invites preventable loss, as Rehoboam proves. Practical Steps for Wise Decision-Making 1. Identify godly advisers—people marked by reverence for Scripture and proven character. 2. Compare counsel with the clear teaching of God’s Word (Psalm 119:105). 3. Look for unity among independent, biblically minded voices (2 Corinthians 13:1). 4. Submit the final choice to God, trusting His promise of wisdom (James 1:5). Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 19:20—“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.” • Isaiah 30:1—Warning against “plans that are not Mine … alliances not of My Spirit.” • Hebrews 13:17—Value the oversight of spiritual leaders who “keep watch over your souls.” Summary Proverbs 15:22 unveils God’s blueprint for sound decisions: many advisers anchored in His Word. 1 Kings 12:9 sets the cautionary backdrop—seeking counsel without discernment shatters plans. Embrace the first verse, avoid the second’s mistake, and experience plans that stand. |
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