The Counsel Of The Lord

The counsel of the LORD standeth fast for ever,

The thoughts of His heart to all generations (Ps. 33:11).

On this firm assurance our hearts can rest despite all the uncertainties which pervade the world scene at the beginning of another year.

The psalmist contrasts the counsel of the Lord with the counsel of the nations: "The LORD bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of none effect" (v.10). So it was in regard to the thoughts of God's heart to provide salvation through the redeeming love of Calvary. David wrote by the Holy Spirit: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His anointed". A thousand years later disciples of Christ in Jerusalem could say in prayer to God:

Of a truth in this city against Thy holy Servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together; to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel foreordained to come to pass (Acts

4:27,28).

The Lord Jesus was "delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God", though crucified and slain "by the hand of lawless men". The counsel of the nations brought to nought; the counsel of the Lord standing fast for ever.

Within the last three years we have witnessed a spectacular illustration of the counsel of the nations being brought to nought. A decade ago it would have been thought incredible that the mighty Soviet super-power would disintegrate and the communist parts, system be destroyed. Yet this happened in am amazingly short time. All their thoughts had been, "There is no God" (Ps. 10:4). In the pride of human self-sufficiency they had built up an empire of oppression. God brought their counsel to nought The desperate need for economic aid led to concessions on human rights and political freedoms. This in turn released an upsurge of "people power" which shattered a system so firmly established over seventy years.

By contrast, the counsel of the Lord stands fast God pursues His farreaching purpose of grace for this dispensation in the spread of the

gospel, so long restricted in the Soviet Empire. In Christ believers are "made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11). It has proved to be within the counsel of God's will that His message of saving grace should at this time be communicated more freely in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Twelve States. "The thoughts of His heart stand fast to all generations". "None can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" (Dan. 4:35).

The New Year gives continuing opportunity also for disciples of Christ to harmonize with divine counsel in their service for the Lord. To the elders of the Church of God in Ephesus Paul said, "I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). He was referring to the revealed truth of God for guidance in discipleship, the faith once for all delivered unto the saints. Obedience to the whole counsel of God brought believers together into churches of God; those churches unitedly formed God's spiritual house. The importance of obedience to revealed truth was illustrated when the Lord Jesus criticized the Pharisees and

lawyers for not being baptized by John. He said that "they rejected for themselves the counsel of God" (Luke 7:30). Many today would also regard such a matter as baptism in water as relatively unimportant, but the Lord's words put it into true perspective. Regard for divine principle and obedience to the Lord's commands are still vital to the fulfilment of the whole counsel of God in our generation.

At a personal level also we may realize throughout another year the guidance of divine counsel in our mdividual experience. The writer of the seventy-third psalm had passed through a crisis of doubt as to God's care for Him. He admitted, "My feet were almost gone: my steps had well nigh slipped" (verse 2). He found it hard to understand why God allowed the wicked to prosper when so many devout believers were plagued and chastened. "When I thought how I might know this", he wrote, "it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end" (verses 16,17).

Let us by faith place our hand in His, that we may be guided by His counsel throughout the year or until He returns.

unknown | Jan 1993
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