What does "wonderful in counsel" teach us about seeking God's guidance? Verse in Focus “...the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.” (Isaiah 28:29) Defining the Phrase • “Wonderful” – literally “extraordinary, surpassing, miraculous.” • “Counsel” – deliberate, purposeful guidance rooted in perfect knowledge. Together the words declare that God’s guidance is both astonishingly good and flawlessly wise. Why This Matters for Seeking Guidance • God’s counsel transcends human insight (Isaiah 55:8–9). • His guidance is never trial-and-error; it is perfect from the outset (Psalm 18:30). • Because He is “excellent in wisdom,” His directions come with the power to accomplish what He advises (Isaiah 46:10–11). • Trusting His counsel guards us from the blind spots of our own understanding (Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12). Practical Ways to Seek His Wonderful Counsel 1. Saturate your mind with His revealed Word – Scripture is the primary channel of divine counsel (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16–17). 2. Ask Him directly for wisdom – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God... and it will be given” (James 1:5). 3. Submit every plan to His lordship – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart... He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). 4. Listen for the Spirit’s prompting that aligns with Scripture – “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). 5. Seek godly counsel from mature believers – “Plans succeed through many counselors” (Proverbs 15:22), yet weigh every human word against the Bible. Contrasting Human and Divine Counsel • Human counsel is limited by ignorance and bias; God’s is limitless and impartial (Psalm 147:5). • Human counsel changes with new information; God’s is unchanging, for He knows the end from the beginning (Malachi 3:6; Isaiah 46:10). Promises to Anchor Your Confidence • Psalm 32:8 — “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” • Jeremiah 29:11 — “I know the plans I have for you... plans for welfare and not for calamity.” • Romans 12:2 — God’s will is “good and pleasing and perfect.” Key Takeaways • God’s guidance is “wonderful” because it is flawless, timely, and backed by omnipotence. • Seeking that counsel means prioritizing Scripture, praying for wisdom, and humbly surrendering personal preferences. • Confidence grows as you remember that the One who guides you is the same Lord called “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6), whose plans cannot fail. |
    |