“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and in His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
A people waiting in great anticipation for the arrival of One who would break them free of every bondage. Waiting with longing for the coming of their Savior. For their King. One who would release them from captivity. One who would rule justly with truth and righteousness.
The prophet Isaiah foretold of Christ’s coming. He gives four names in this portion of scripture that foretells the coming of the true King: Jesus.
Jesus who would upturn everything. All would change upon His arrival. What He came to do far exceeded what mankind was ever able to come up with.
And through these four names, His Kingship is outlined.
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
This prophecy in Isaiah foretells of who Jesus is to be. It’s not just a name but Jesus’ very being - His true nature. His entirety IS Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
His title and character as KING.
We could sit in the book of Isaiah all day and uncover all that was described of Jesus. But today we’re going to sit on His name: WONDERFUL COUNSELOR.
This Wonderful Counselor would fulfill every longing, and He would far surpass any king before or after.
His wisdom is beyond that of king Solomons, who gave great counsel. And while Solomon may have been a good counselor, he wasn’t wonderful. He was erred in his ways and at fault for many things. He wasn’t perfect.
“The counsel that Christ brings defies expectations of mankind and exceeds our humanly ability to understand.” Logos.edu - Daniel Burton
Jesus is not just A counselor but He is THE WONDERFUL Counselor. The AWESOME Counselor. The MAJESTIC Counselor. The PERFECT Counselor.
His counsel is high above. It is great and glorious. And it is WONDERFUL.
“The Hebrew word pele’ (wonderful) is used in the Bible of things that are unusual and beyond the capability of man, often mysterious or difficult things…the Bible only uses pele’ for God’s deeds and words, never for human accomplishments.” namesforgod.net
The counsel of God is WONDERFUL!
“All this comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.” Isaiah 28:29
“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” Psalm 33:11
You can go to anybody to receive advice. You can talk to your trusted friend or a perfect stranger at the bus stop. They can give great advice, I’m sure. But it’s not always good, Godly counsel.
Anybody can counsel but it’s not always wonderful when they do it. Unless it is grounded in truth, there is no way for it to be wonderful.
When Jesus spoke, throughout His ministry, the people marveled. He captivated His audience because He spoke with such wisdom. (Matthew 13:54, John 7:15)
Not only was Jesus wise, but He is characterized by wisdom.
His very person is wisdom. His counsel is above all.
Isaiah 28:29 “This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”
And not only is He counselor but He is the one who derives the plan.
The counsel that Jesus brings is the plan for salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:30 “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
As King, Jesus threw all of the expectations out the door and instead made a new reality that ALL would come to Him and receive life.
As King, He would erase the divide and claim PEACE!
As King, grace would abound.
As King, the humble would be raised high.
The children of Israel waited in anticipation for their coming King. For Him to restore freedom and justice. To release them from bondage. But He wasn’t King only for the Jews. Instead, He came for all to have salvation.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life.”
He truly is our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR!
While it is easy to turn to someone we trust for counsel, how often do we first turn to the Lord for His counsel?
We can find true counsel - His wonderful counsel - through His Word and by His Spirit.
COUNSEL THROUGH HIS WORD
Jesus came to show His love to His people. And His word is continued proof of that. What an amazing thing that we don’t have to wait to hear the words of Jesus. To hear His counsel. To be amazed by His wisdom.
His Word is truth and we have access to it today.
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
God’s counsel is high above. His statutes are made clear and His commands are direct. He prescribes in His Word how to live our lives here on earth.
I recently heard a sermon on 2 Samuel 6 when David returns the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Prior to getting to Jerusalem and in his haste to bring the Ark to his home, David overlooked God’s commands in HOW to carry the Ark. Through his lack of diligence to the word of the LORD, a young man died while trying to prevent the Ark from falling off of the ox cart.
You would think - how horrible! This young man died by just touching the Ark! What injustice!
But God had every right because He stated earlier in Exodus and Numbers that the Ark was to be carried by poles through the ringlets designed on the Ark. And the Levite priests were to carry it.
God’s plan was never for the Ark to be transported by an ox cart. And He clearly stated HOW it was to be transported. His counsel was overlooked by David and there were consequences to his laziness.
“No amount of good motives and genuine sincerity can substitute what God has planned in His way.” ~ Lon Solomon
We are to live our lives in accordance with the Word of the Lord.
“The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.” Psalm 37:30-31
Throughout the book of Proverbs, wisdom is coveted and far surpasses gold and riches. He who has wisdom is richer than fools surrounded with gold.
Proverbs 19:20-21 “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”
Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
We are to take God’s word to heart. Knowing that when we become lazy with His statues, there are consequences. That God’s intention and plans for us are good and not evil. (Jeremiah 29:11)
What a WONDERFUL SAVIOR we have who gives counsel through His Word! And not only through His Word but by His Spirit.
COUNSEL THROUGH HIS SPIRIT
“One descriptive name for the Holy Spirit includes the derivative of the second word, ya’ats (counselor): He is the Spirit of counsel and strength.” namesforgod.net
While Jesus was finishing His ministry on earth, He promised something far greater would be in store after He leaves. He said it was better He would go away so that the Helper would come. (John 16:7)
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
The Holy Spirit is not some Jiminy Cricket conscience that tells us what to do. He is far greater than anything we could imagine. Because not only is He in us but He is with us as Helper and Counselor.
“The Spirit speaks to us both for our good and God’s glory.
He reminds us about all that Jesus has taught.
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - the Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you everything I have told you.” John 14:26
He is a personal witness to testify about Christ.
“When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father - the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father - He will testify about Me.” John 15:26
He convicts us of sin.
“When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” John 16:8
He guides us to truth.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.” John 16:13
He brings glory to Jesus.
“He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:14
To receive the Spirit is to receive a helper and advocate for the soul, One who will always point us to Jesus, our Redeemer and King.” blueletterbible.org
So take heart, my friends! Our King has come! Our Wonderful Counselor is with us today! Whether you need wisdom, help or understanding for something, our King Jesus is all that we need!
Through His Word and by His Spirit, He brings wonderful counsel!
“The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:2
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Our King is coming back. Are you ready for His return? Are you waiting in anticipation? Searching and knowing that He would be your wonderful counselor as well? (John 16:33)
~ Kissy Black
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