Skip to main content

Wonderful

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.  They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” (Acts 12:21-22)

 Yes, I know, it’s February, not December, but in December, we focus on the first two phrases. Today, I want to focus on the first of the titles in the list: Wonderful Counselor. In the Bible, wonder refers to God’s supernatural ability.

What’s interesting about the second passage is that it was about Herod. It was normal for the Ceasars in Rome and other imperial sorts, but Herod wasn’t a Ceasar. I wonder what would have happened if he had lived and Ceasar found out. Instead, he died. It might seem unfair for God to have killed him because of what others said about him, but he accepted the praise as if it were true.

But Isaiah is basically saying the same thing. The one who would be born would be given a title appropriate only to God within the Jewish faith.  It would have been entirely inappropriate for anyone to proclaim anyone a Wonderful Counselor… except God.

Then again, the very next words announce that this son who would be born would be Mighty God. Let’s take it up another notch…Everlasting Father! How in the world could the son born be the Everlasting Father? Then, after stepping over the line of impossibility and incredulity, Isaiah steps back across with the prophecy that this son would be called the Prince of Peace. That’s easier to understand. All it takes is for him to conquer the whole world by persuasion or coercion. Yeah, easy peasy.

But getting back to the Wonderful Counselor. Let’s make it practical. What would you like counseling about? A relationship? Finances? Where to live? How to stop failing? Take it to your Counselor. Ask Him. Write it in your journal and listen for His answer.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more