Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 19. Here is a link to this chapter – 1 Chronicles 19 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway
“Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place. Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him. But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”
When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah. So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
…
The Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army. So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Thus the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.” 1 Chronicles 19:1-9 and 18-19.
———
Bad advice a/k/a counsel (that is accepted) will have bad consequences.
Hanun accepted the bad advice of the princes of the sons of Ammon, not only to reject the good-will gesture of David, but also to humiliate David’s servants, and then later to go to war with David. As a result, Ammon and Aram were defeated and “… the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.” 1 Chronicles 19:20.
We also see that clearly in 1 Kings 12:1-20. “King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.” 1 Kings 12:6-8. As a result, King Rehoboam lost control of Israel and only reigned over Judah.
But, there is hope!
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2.
Consider how the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, counsel us.
“8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.” Psalm 32:8-10.
“10 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12.
“12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14 “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15 “By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 “I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 “Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20 “I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.” Proverbs 8:12-21.
All the words of God the Son (Jesus) that we need for life and truth are available to us in the Bible, and even more, some Bibles put all the words of Jesus in red letters to help us more easily spot them. Jesus is called “Wonderful Counselor” in Isaiah 9:6.
Jesus is our life and truth. “Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6.
And, Jesus is our wisdom. “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, …” 1 Corinthians 1:30. “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3.
God the Son (Holy Spirit) both teaches us all things and also brings to our remembrance all that Jesus said to us. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” John 16:13.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 