“In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, ‘I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.’ So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites . . .”—2 Samuel 10:1–2 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed how many great characters in movies or TV go off the rails simply because they listened to the wrong people? 

Think about The Lion King. Scar whispers poison into Simba’s heart, convincing him the best thing he can do is run away and never return. Simba, wracked with guilt and shame, listens—and ends up living beneath his calling for years. Or take Anakin Skywalker. He starts with noble intentions. But he leans into the whispers of Chancellor Palpatine, secretly the evil Sith Darth Sideous, instead of trusting the Jedi who raised him. The result? Darth Vader. Destruction. Tragedy.

We might not be heirs to the Pride Lands or space wizards with lightsabers (although I do own around seven of them!), but the lesson hits close to home: The voices we let shape our decisions will determine the direction of our lives.

That’s exactly what we see in 2 Samuel 10. David, freshly enthroned and walking in God’s favor, hears that the king of the Ammonites has died. So, he does something kind and honorable. He sends messengers to express sympathy to Hanun, the new king. It’s a move of respect—maybe even an open door to peace between the two nations.

But Hanun doesn’t receive it that way. His advisors start feeding him conspiracy theories: “Do you really think David’s honoring your father? These guys are spies!” And instead of stopping to reflect or seek wiser input, Hanun listens to fear. He humiliates David’s men—and in doing so, ignites a war.

This is what happens when we lean into worldly wisdom. Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) says it plainly: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Hanun thought he was protecting his kingdom, but in reality, he was poisoning it. The wrong counsel made the wrong call—and it cost lives.

There’s no way around it, friends. Who you surround yourself with matters.

That might sound obvious, but let’s be real: Most of us are more influenced than we think. The friends we vent to, the people we follow online, the authors we read, the influencers we let influence, the music we listen to, the media we consume, the advice we take—these voices shape our instincts, our confidence, and our decisions.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) puts it bluntly: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” Sometimes that corruption is slow and subtle . . . a little bitterness here; a little ego there. Sometimes it’s fast and fiery—like Hanun. But either way, when we’re surrounded by voices rooted in pride, self-preservation, or ambition, we’re heading for damage.

David, by contrast, surrounded himself with gibborim (Hebrew for “mighty men”)—men of loyalty, courage, and wisdom. They were not perfect guys by any stretch, but God-honoring, battle-tested companions who sharpened him and stood by him in crisis. That’s the kind of fellowship we need: not flatterers or enablers, but brothers and sisters who tell us the truth in love and point us back to Jesus.

So let me ask: Who’s speaking into your life? Do their voices stir up fear and suspicion or wisdom and grace? Do they echo culture or Christ?

Hanun had a chance to build something meaningful, but he chose paranoia over peace because he trusted the wrong counsel. Don’t make the same mistake.

Pause: Think of a time when you made a poor decision because of bad advice. What voices influenced your decision?

Practice: Evaluate your inner circle. Ask God to bring mature, godly people into your life—and be intentional in letting them speak into your life.

Pray: Jesus, give me ears to hear Your voice above all others. Help me resist the temptation to act out of fear or pride. Surround me with wise, Spirit-filled counsel, and make me the kind of friend others can trust for godly wisdom, too. In Your name, I pray. Amen.