2 Chronicles 24:17 But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. NLT
There have been so much emphasis on understudying those that are successful but we fail to realize that we can learn a few lessons from those that failed. There are lessons to learn from those that failed. Joash was successful at the beginning of his reign because he submitted himself for mentoring under priest Jehoiada. After the death of Jehoiada, he listened to the wrong counsel from leaders of Judah. That was the beginning of his journey to failure. Things were working fine in his kingdom and God was pleased with him. However, things changed after he heeded the wrong counsel.
As a result of wrong counsel, the bible said: "They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord , the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem."(vs8). Joash ordered the stoning of Zechariah(vs 21) the son of Jehoiada the priest because he delivered a message of rebuke from the Lord. Unfortunately, he was also assasinated as a comeuppance for his evil(vs25). The moment you leave the path of wise and godly counsel and start following after the counsel of vain persons, you'll start pressing a self destruct button.
Wrong counsel split the kingdom during Rehoboam's reign. Amnon lost his life because he heeded the wrong counsel. Godly counsel is rooted in scriptures, priceless and valuable but you can't get it from fools. Who is your counselor? Sometimes, those that give wrong counsel may not be practicing the counsel they give others. Some marriages would have remained intact save for counsel from people who are keeping theirs despite the odds but do not mind others losing theirs. Do not surround yourself with vain persons. A wise man said, "Choose your counsel, company and companions wisely: beware seeking wise words of advice from a fool or expecting informed opinions or decisions from the ignorant."
Father, I receive the grace to discern and heed wise counsel, and shun vain persons in Jesus name.