The Baby in the Manger #13: Counsellor

Counsellor (heb: yāʿaṣ)

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Do you ever feel like you just can't see a path ahead?  For yourself?  For your community?  The environment?  The economy?  The church?

Today's word comes from that famous passage in Isaiah 9, and is one that cannot be read without wanting to burst into song with Handel's Messiah. However, I for one realise that I've never given much thought to the description wonderful counsellor attributed to the promised Messiah. To many people, the word conjures up images of a therapist.   Whilst there may be overlaps between our understanding of the word 'counsellor' and the Biblical usage, the Biblical word (which is yāʿaṣ) definitely has a slightly different emphasis.

Firstly, the word is used to describe God's wise guidance and instruction.  For example:

I will praise the LORD, who counsels (yāʿaṣ) me; even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:7)

or

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel (yāʿaṣ) you with my loving eye on you. (Psalm 32:8)

Do we trust the wisdom of God's words - his instructions to us and his guidance through scripture?  Many do not - they wish to supplant God's words with their own teaching, thinking that they can divorce this wisdom from God's love and God's goodness.  God gives us guidance on how to live because he is good, because he is all-wise, and because he loves us, not because he's an out of date killjoy.

But whilst scripture guides our immediate steps, and even our longer-term decisions and paths, we cannot control the world we find ourselves in.  However, praise be, that we find another angle in the usage of the word Counsellor when describing God - and that is of the great planner, deviser and purposer.  Consider, for example, the following verses from Isaiah 14 - which contain the word yāʿaṣ three times (and that's to say nothing of the other words which also convey similar ideas).

The Lord Almighty has sworn,
‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
   and as I have purposed (yāʿaṣ), so it will happen...
This is the plan determined (yāʿaṣ) for the whole world;
   this is the hand stretched out over all nations.
For the Lord Almighty has purposed (yāʿaṣ), and who can thwart him?
   His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?'
(Isaiah 14:24,26-27)

However muddy and murky it may seem from where we're standing, God not only has the eagle-eye view, but is bringing all things together for his glory.  And the fact of the matter is, we can't understand - and that's ok!  In fact, it's this very disparity in understanding that is one of the things that make us fall down at his feet in worship.

So, when we can't see the way and wonder what on earth the all-sustaining creator of the universe is playing at letting our lives, let alone the world, get into this state, we can be encouraged: the Wonderful Counsellor came to earth to live among us, to die for us, and to be raised to life and ascend to the Father, and he has a plan - to bring all things under his feet.

In the NIV, the English word 'counsellor' only appears once in the New Testament (although there is clearly much written on God's wisdom there too), so it seems fitting to conclude this post with those words:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
  How unsearchable his judgments,
  and his paths beyond tracing out!
‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
  Or who has been his counsellor?’
‘Who has ever given to God,
  that God should repay them?’
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
  To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36)