Bad counsel refers to advice or guidance that leads individuals away from God's will, resulting in negative consequences. The Bible provides numerous examples and warnings against heeding such counsel, emphasizing the importance of seeking wisdom from God and His Word.

Biblical Examples of Bad Counsel:

1. The Serpent's Deception (Genesis 3:1-6): The first instance of bad counsel in the Bible occurs in the Garden of Eden. The serpent, representing Satan, deceives Eve by questioning God's command and suggesting that eating the forbidden fruit would make her like God. Genesis 3:4-5 states, "You will not surely die," the serpent told the woman. "For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." This counsel led to the fall of humanity.

2. Rehoboam's Folly (1 Kings 12:6-15): King Rehoboam, Solomon's son, sought advice on how to rule the people of Israel. The elders advised him to serve the people and speak kindly to them, but Rehoboam rejected their counsel. Instead, he followed the advice of his peers, who suggested he increase the people's burdens. 1 Kings 12:14 records his response: "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions." This decision led to the division of the kingdom.

3. Ahithophel's Betrayal (2 Samuel 16:20-23; 17:1-23): Ahithophel was a trusted advisor to King David, but he later sided with Absalom during his rebellion. Ahithophel's counsel to Absalom was initially regarded as wise, but when Absalom chose to follow Hushai's advice instead, Ahithophel's plans were thwarted. 2 Samuel 17:14 states, "For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster upon Absalom."

Warnings Against Bad Counsel:

1. Psalm 1:1 : "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers." This verse highlights the importance of avoiding the influence of those who do not follow God's ways.

2. Proverbs 12:5 : "The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit." This proverb contrasts the outcomes of righteous and wicked counsel, emphasizing the deceitful nature of the latter.

3. Proverbs 19:20-21 : "Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail." These verses encourage seeking godly counsel and recognizing that ultimately, God's purpose will stand.

The Role of Godly Counsel:

The Bible underscores the value of seeking godly counsel to avoid the pitfalls of bad advice. Proverbs 11:14 states, "For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance." This highlights the importance of surrounding oneself with wise and godly advisors.

Discernment and Wisdom:

Believers are called to exercise discernment and seek wisdom from God to recognize and reject bad counsel. James 1:5 encourages, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." This promise assures believers that God provides the wisdom needed to navigate life's challenges and avoid the snares of bad counsel.Psalm 1:1-6
Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
Topicalbible.org

Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Topicalbible.org

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
Topicalbible.org

6191. arom -- to be shrewd or crafty
... in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of smoothness) to be cunning
(usually in a bad sense) -- X very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent ...
/hebrew/6191.htm - 6k

You Chose a Bad Introducer. If You Will Take My Counsel, Both You ...
... 10. You chose a bad introducer. If you will take my counsel, both you and I will
by preference turn to him who introduces us to the Father and who said No man ...
/.../10 you chose a bad.htm

Gamaliel's Counsel
... It is, of course, possible that he bases his counsel of letting the followers of
Jesus alone ... all this may be true, the advice on the whole is a low and bad one. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/gamaliels counsel.htm

Fourth Chapter
... false. So I said, O thou Evil Spirit, what an impure false counsel hast
thou put in my heart, thou bad, false counsellor! If we ...
/.../the history and life of the reverend doctor john tauler/fourth chapter.htm

The Wills of Men are So Much in the Power of God, that He Can Turn ...
... us that not only men's good wills, which God Himself converts from bad ones, and ...
heap punishment on others, as He Himself judges right by a counsel most secret ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 41 xx the wills of.htm

Nicholas Tells his Story to Dr. Tauler
... "So I said, O thou evil spirit, what impure counsel hast thou put in my heart,
thou bad, false counsellor! If we had such a god' (he ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter viii nicholas tells his.htm

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... religion, as by the word may be plainly made appear: wherefore I counsel thee to ...
not exercised with trials, grow gross, are diseased and full of bad humours in ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

The Life of Mr. Robert Garnock.
... Thus he continued, till, he says, he got bad counsel from some of his friends to
supplicate for his liberty; and they prevailed so far as to draw up a ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr robert 7.htm

Of the Conformity of Our Will to that Will of God which is ...
... that bad bound themselves thereto by solemn vow,"for better reason, and upon less
occasion, one may by the authority of the same charity, counsel many to ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vi of the conformity.htm

Men are Possessed of Free Will, and Endowed with the Faculty of ...
... 2. But if some had been made by nature bad, and others good, these latter ... we might
become forgetful, and thus stand in need of that good counsel which the good ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxvii men are possessed of.htm

How the Slothful and the Hasty are to be Admonished.
... fears the temptation of malignant spirits, whosoever the persecution of bad men,
and ... it is well said in Solomon, My son, do nothing without counsel, and after ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xv how the slothful.htm

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