It’s a “will worship” morning (Colossians 2:23). Psalm 20 will serve for Temple worship today.
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Proverbs 24, and verse 6 is where the Mind of the Spirit interacted with the spirit of my mind.
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
The word counsel translates תַּחְבֻּלוֹת (tachbuloot—steerage, guidance, a plan, good advice). The second use of counsel is counsellors, and this word is יוֹעֵֽץ (ya ats’—also to advise, but includes the idea of deliberation to a resolution, to consult, to devise, or guide).
Last night, we had a leadership meeting, but it didn’t go as I had hoped or expected. It went much better! In the multitude of counsellors, we devised a plan to move forward toward my objective in a more prudent manner. Indeed, we experienced the promise of this verse: in the multitude of counsellors, we found safety.
Along the still waters, I reflected on various statements God has made in His word about counsel and counsellors.
Without it, the people fall. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). To fall is the same word translated perish in Exodus 19:21, where God expressed concern that the people would illadvisedly “break through unto the LOR to gaze, and many of them perish.”
“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established” (Proverbs 15:22). Disappointed translates a word that includes the ideas of breaking, frustrating, disappointing, dissolving, and dividing. Established is used to translate a word that is the antonym of the one translated as disappointed. It communicates the ideas of something accomplished, and that continues, something that endures, a plan that succeeds.
Negatively, David calls on GOD to “Destroy … them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions” (Psalm 5:10). The word that is translated counsels here is built on Ya-ats’ (see above). It’s mo-ay-tsaw’. It has the same meaning, except it includes the “device” or “devices” by which one is convinced to proceed in the direction advised. In Proverbs 11:14, the “counsel” is good but absent. In the case of Psalm 5:10, it’s present, but God confounds it.
There is one illustration of God confounding the “good” counsel of a wicked man with the “bad” counsel of a righteous man: the counsel of Ahithophel that was defeated by Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1-14). In this case, the “good” counsel served evil, and the “bad” counsel served good.
In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of the Cross, I remembered the counsel of Caiphas, which was meant for evil but served a greater good:
John 11:49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
John 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
John 11:51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
John 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
John 11:53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
Ironically, the greatest light of life burst into the world through the darkest counsel in history, maybe eternity. Think of it! In the darkest of hearts, evil framed the words of the greatest prophecy of good: that Jesus should die for that nation (John 11:51). Does it not bring to mind yesterday’s devotion: “Ye meant it for evil, but God meant it for good”?
I heard the Spirit through Jesus’ words bear witness to my heart: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). There, in those words, you find the light of God’s will being done in earth requires we obey the dark counsel of the Cross: deny yourself. Selah!
At the table, standing in the radiance of His resurrected glory (Revelation 1:12-16), His head and hairs white like wool, as white as snow, and the fire that burned in His eyes reflected in His golden belt, and danced in his brass feet like molten mirrors. While holding the seven stars in His right hand, His left held the oil He poured onto my head. He set down the cruse of oil that never fails (1 Kings 17:14-16), and then He took my cup, filled it with His sufficient grace, and returned it to me. He turned His face toward the harvest, and the two-edged sword from His mouth pointed the way we would go. We went! Goodness and mercy followed (Psalm 23:5-6).
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
0 Comments