If you know anything about Solomon you know that he was very wise. The Word says it like this: King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom (2 Chronicles 9:22-23 NET). God told Solomon: I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you (1 Kings 3:12 NET).
So we understand that Solomon was given wisdom by God that surpassed everyone else. With this in mind lets look at something. We read in 1 Kings 12:6 (NET) King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” Now I don’t want to focus on Rehoboam nor his story. Rather on something you almost miss. He asked the advisers that served Solomon. This means that Solomon, the wisest man around, had advisers. Why would he have advisers? Because in his wisdom he knew that nobody knows everything. He knew that he needed advice sometimes. He needed guidance, he needed to be taught.
This is important to remember. Why? Because we all need to be teachable. We all need advice, no matter how smart or well versed we are, we can learn from other people.
Proverbs 9:9 KJV Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 11:14 NET When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors.