Thursday, June 22, 2017

Delightful Counselors

Psalm 119:24 Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.

What I love about Psalm 119 (well, one of the many things I love about it) is how much punch is packed into each verse. There are just nine words in this phrase, yet these words are so rich with meaning, and so connected to the rest of Scriptural doctrine, that I cannot even fit the whole phrase into one devotional. There are other verses in the psalm that speak of God's words being our delight, (16, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, and 174) so I will discuss that concept at another time. For now, I want to consider God's testimonies as our counselors.

We often need guidance. Since we are not omniscient or omnipresent, many situations will arise where we cannot decipher the right or the best course to take on our own, and we must consult with others who know more or (speaking as a young person) have lived longer than we have. On the human level, the Bible was written by many such people—those who have lived life, and seen the way the world works, and can pass on what they have learned to future generations.

Why, though, turn to the Bible, specifically? There are many books that offer counsel on a variety of subjects—The Art of War, The Prince, The Koran and hundreds of othersbut we need to consider our goal:
God, being our chiefest good, must be our last end; therefore in every action there must be a habitual purpose, and in all actions of weight and moment there must be an actual purpose, to please God. —Thomas Manton 
If our goal is to please the one true God, then, Sun Tzu and Machiavelli will not be much help. The Bible is the only source of counsel that we can turn to for assistance, since it is the only book where the "human" wisdom it contains is the result of divine revelation.

I am so thankful that the Bible gives clear counsel on how to live our lives. In any perplexity in which we may find ourselves, we can turn to the word of God, and it will shed light on our confusion. It may take time, and continued seeking—but that in itself is part of Biblical counsel: "seek and you will find" "if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God". For specific requests, the Bible may not have a specific answer ("Go to this college" or "Yes, you need a new car"), but it does tell us how to pray about specific requests, and by taking Scripture in context we will be able to resolve questions about the overall tenor of the Christian life, and we will know if we are living in God's will.

Our feelings may disagree with the Bible. The logic of the world will often disagree with the Bible. Christianity is not an easy or comfortable "religion"; it is a relationship with Christ, and the ultimate goal is the glory of God. We cannot glorify God without following the counsel of the Bible, because God does not contradict Himself.

I'm not talking about trying to change other people's convictions on issues like alcohol, standards of dress, or how they educate their children. I know the danger of legalism, because my own personality (as well as growing up in a conservative home) is more easily drawn in that direction than towards license, but this is not about me telling other people how to live their Christian life. This is about me myself living a life well pleasing to God.

As far as where exactly to seek counsel in the Bible—it can be found everywhere, because every word is God-breathed and profitable to us, but don't start by reading Leviticus over and over! There are certain "go-to" sections that many Christians love and turn to frequently, with good reason. Proverbs is especially rich in wisdom and advice, and Psalms is excellent for when we need to just meditate on God and trust Him as we're making a decision. The gospels are full of Jesus' teaching, the clearest picture of how to be Christlike, and Paul's epistles (and the general epistles too) have much practical advice, usually towards the end after all the doctrine is set out.

Where do you start, when you need counsel? To whom do you go? We should always go first to the Word of God. He is all-knowing, and always available.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Optimi consiliarii mortui

No comments:

Post a Comment

We appreciate your comments so much that we like to know who they are from. Please leave your name with your comment!