COUNSEL

The COUNSEL of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations – Psalm 33:11

COUNSEL is one of the Triplets of Wisdom – Instruction, Counsel, and Guidance. The Psalmist said: “I will bless the LORD, who has given me COUNSEL: my reins also INSTRUCT me in the night seasons” (Psa.16:7). God’s counsel, given by the Holy Spirit, often manifests as Instruction received in the human spirit and mind. Counsel is commonly defined as advice or opinion given upon consultation, deliberation or request. In the scriptural sense however, God’s Counsel is beyond mere advice, opinion or suggestion. It is in the class of commands, decrees, design, purpose, and will: “Listen to COUNSEL and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s COUNSEL – that will stand” (Pro. 19:20-21). God always “works all according to the counsel of His Will” (Eph.1:11). Hebrews 6:17 speaks of “the Immutability of His counsel.”

Paul reminded the elders in the church at Ephesus: “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Counsel therefore refers to the testimonies of God’s Word: “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors” (Psa.119:24). God is “great in counsel and mighty in work” (Jer.32:19). No creature can serve as His counsellor (Isa.40:13; Rom.11:34). One of the prophetic Names of our Messiah Jesus Christ is “Counselor” (Isa.9:6). The Holy Spirit is also described in John 14:16 as “another Comforter”, which translates to: Advocate, Counselor, Encourager, Helper, Intercessor, and Strengthener. Jesus identified this wonderful Counselor as the source that leads into all truth, for it is He that reveals the truth about God. He is the Spirit of Wisdom, counsel, understanding, knowledge, fear of God, and might (Isa.11:1-2).

Although God – by His Word and Spirit – is our Ultimate Counsellor, He often raises other human vessels as counsellors at various junctions in life’s journey. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Also, “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established” (Pro.15:22). When you seek godly counsel, your purposes will never be disappointed; your plans will never go awry. Again, “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety” (Pro.24:6). None of us is an expert in everything; we need counsel in diverse dimensions of life: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (Pro.12:15). The essence of scriptures is that both men and God take counsel and plan; but in the end it is bot the counsel and plans of men that are established, but of God. God’s Plans always succeed (Psa.33:10-11).

The point of Psalm 33 is: we may plan, but God’s counsel holds sway. We may amass resources and strength, but He decides what plans succeed. Counsel, like Instruction, is another ‘color’ of the many-sided Wisdom of God: “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding; I have strength” (Pro.8:14). Walking in God’s Counsel also presupposes that you avoid the counsel of the froward and the ungodly (Job 5:13; Psa.1:1). When you walk in His Counsel, those who take counsel against you will utterly fail. God will hide you from their secret counsel, bring their counsel to nought, and make their devices of no effect (Psa.31:13; 33:10; 64:2). Those who rebel against the Counsel of the Most High always end up cast down (Psa.107:11-12). Why? Because “there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD” (Pro.21:30). Counsel is crucial to every assignment on earth: “Plans are established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war” (Pro.20:18).