We live in a world overflowing with advice. Scroll through social media for five minutes, and you’ll find someone eager to tell you what to do — “Five ways to fix your finances,” “Three habits that guarantee happiness,” “Ten steps to a better you.”
There’s no shortage of counsel. But not all counsel is created equal.
I once read about a successful CEO who surrounded himself with yes-men — people who told him only what he wanted to hear. He ignored warning signs, dismissed dissenting voices, and made bold moves that looked brilliant until the company collapsed. Later, he admitted, “My biggest mistake wasn’t what I did—it was who I listened to.”
Most of us can relate. Maybe you’ve faced a major decision — a job change, a move, a relationship — and found yourself pulled between competing opinions. Everyone means well, but not all advice leads toward truth.
And then there’s the constant background noise of our age: influencers, experts, and commentators, all dispensing guidance on everything under the sun. Without even realizing it, we let dozens of voices shape our thinking every day.
So how do we discern which voices are worth trusting?
For that, we turn to an ancient story — one that still speaks powerfully today.
David’s Darkest Hour
The book of 2 Samuel tells us that King David once fled Jerusalem barefoot and in tears, betrayed by his own son Absalom. It’s one of the Bible’s most heartbreaking scenes. As David climbed the Mount of Olives, he prayed desperately:
“O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” — 2 Samuel 15:31
Ahithophel wasn’t a random court official. He was one of David’s closest and wisest advisors. Scripture says both David and Absalom “esteemed” his counsel as though it came straight from God (2 Samuel 16:23). But Ahithophel’s wisdom had soured. He had joined Absalom’s rebellion and was now using his influence to destroy David.
His first piece of advice to Absalom was horrifying: take your father’s concubines and make the act public. It was a political power move meant to humiliate David and signal total domination. Absalom agreed.
Then came the second plan — swift and strategic. “Let me take 12,000 men tonight,” Ahithophel said, “and we’ll kill David while he’s weary.” The advice sounded brilliant. Absalom and all his elders thought so too.
But before acting, Absalom sought another opinion — from a man named Hushai.
Hushai was secretly loyal to David. When asked for his perspective, he respectfully disagreed: “This time, the counsel of Ahithophel is not good.” He warned Absalom that David was a seasoned warrior and urged him to gather a massive army and lead it himself. It was flattery, not strategy, that won the day.
Scripture says:
“The Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.” — 2 Samuel 17:14
God’s invisible hand was already steering the outcome.
Hushai’s message eventually reached David through a network of loyal priests and servants. Though their plan was almost discovered, they escaped safely.
Ahithophel, realizing his counsel had been rejected, went home, put his affairs in order, and took his own life.
Absalom, in time, would meet his end as well — caught by his hair in the branches of a tree and struck down by Joab’s men. When word reached David, he wept bitterly:
“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!” — 2 Samuel 18:33
It was a tragic end to a story filled with ambition, betrayal, and grief — but also a powerful reminder that God’s sovereignty never wavers, even when human counsel fails.
Three Lessons for Us Today
1. Discern the Source
When you think advice sounds persuasive, pause and look deeper. Who’s speaking? What’s their motive? Is this person guided by Scripture or by self-interest? Ahithophel’s counsel was sharp, but his heart was proud and poisoned. True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, not the applause of people.
2. Surround Yourself with the Godly
Proverbs 11:14 says, “In an abundance of counselors there is safety.” But safety doesn’t come from the number of opinions — it comes from the right kind of voices. Surround yourself with people who love truth more than comfort, who are willing to speak hard words in grace. We all need Hushais in our lives — friends whose loyalty is rooted in righteousness, not convenience.
3. Trust God’s Sovereignty Above All
Even when you’ve received bad advice, even when you’ve been misled or disappointed, remember: God is still writing the story. He turned Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness. He preserved David’s life. And He is sovereign over every outcome in yours.
When you can’t tell which voice to follow, seek His. He’s the only Counselor who never misleads.
A Closing Reflection
Maybe you’re facing a big decision right now — a career move, a ministry direction, or a family question that feels weighty. Before acting, take a breath. Ask God for wisdom. Then pray as David did:
“Lord, turn foolish counsel into nothing, and surround me with truth-tellers who point me back to You.”
The song “Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right” by Sovereign Grace Music captures this truth beautifully:
“He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall.”
Even when advice goes wrong, God’s wisdom goes right.
Read More or Listen On:
🎧 Wisdom Calling Podcast – Episode 67: “When Advice Goes Wrong”
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.