What can we learn from Judges 5:29 about seeking godly counsel? Setting the Scene Judges 5 is the Song of Deborah, celebrating Israel’s victory over Sisera. In verse 29 we momentarily leave the battlefield and stand beside Sisera’s mother. She is anxious, staring through the window, asking why her son has not returned. “Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself” (Judges 5:29). What happens in this single line offers rich insight into how—and how not—to seek counsel. The Dilemma of Sisera’s Mother • Sisera’s mother wants reassurance, not truth. • She turns to “her wisest ladies,” the culturally approved counselors of her circle. • Their answer supports the narrative she prefers: Sisera must be delayed because he is gathering abundant spoil (v. 30). • The counsel is comforting but wrong, because God had already decreed Sisera’s defeat (Judges 4:9). Lessons on Seeking Counsel • Worldly wisdom can sound persuasive but still oppose God’s revealed plan (1 Corinthians 3:19). • Counsel that merely echoes our desires blinds us to reality (Jeremiah 17:9). • Genuine wisdom begins with submission to what God has spoken (Proverbs 1:7). Testing Counsel Against God’s Word • Compare every word of advice with Scripture. “Every word of God is flawless” (Proverbs 30:5). • Ask whether the counsel leads toward obedience or away from it (James 3:17). • Refuse advice that contradicts clear biblical teaching, no matter how respected the source (Acts 5:29). Qualities of Godly Counselors • Reverence for the Lord (Psalm 111:10). • Proven character and integrity (Philippians 2:22). • Willingness to speak truth in love, even when it hurts (Proverbs 27:6). • Alignment with the whole counsel of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Humble dependence on prayer and the Spirit (Colossians 1:9). Putting It into Practice 1. Choose advisors whose lives demonstrate obedience to Christ. 2. Invite counsel early, not simply to validate decisions already made. 3. Weigh every suggestion against Scripture; embrace what accords with truth, discard the rest. 4. Cultivate a heart that prefers hard truth over soothing falsehood (Proverbs 9:8-9). 5. Remember that God Himself offers unfailing counsel through His Word and His Spirit (Psalm 32:8; John 16:13). Sisera’s mother listened to voices that soothed her fears but silenced reality. Let her error press us to seek counselors who love God’s truth more than our comfort, so that our steps align with His sure and victorious Word. |
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