The Bible is Like a Counselor

Psalm 119.18 contains a prayer, “Open my eyes, that I may see wonderful things in your law.” I’d like to follow the psalmist lead by praying as we begin our time in God’s Word. Father, Son, and Holy Sprit, you are wonderful and through Your Word, You counsel us through this journey of life. We confess that we are not worthy to come to you on our own power, but only through the perfect one, Jesus Christ. Please open our eyes to see the wonderful truths of Your Word. Open our hearts to receive the conviction of Your Spirit. Empower our hands and feet to live out this message with passion and integrity. Amen.

Read Psalm 119.17-24.

The theme for today is that God’s Word counsels us in God’s heart.

Did you catch the last verse? Psalm 119.24, “Your testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.” One of the key traits of counseling requires active listening. It has been said, “When God speaks He does not stutter.” As we approach our counselor today, He is listening. He also has some lessons to teach us that requires our active listening.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Many Christians are talking when they should be listening.”

In Psalm 119.17-24, we encounter three ways God’s Word counsels us.

First, God’s Word Counsels Our Perspective (Psalm 119.18). The Psalmist prays that God will open our eyes so that we may behold wondrous things out of God’s law. Sometimes, we have a negative impression of law. The word as it was used in the Old Testament did mean God’s law. However, a better understanding would be God’s “instruction.” Open my eyes so that I may see wondrous things out of your instruction. I know that doesn’t sound that inspiring, but need to get step back and capture the wonderful things from God’s Word.

The first time, we encounter the word wonderful in the Bible, God tells Abram that his wife who is very old and past the age of childbearing will have a son. Then, in Genesis 18.14, we read, “Is anything too hard/wonderful for the Lord?” A year later, Sarah’s holding a baby boy. Open my eyes to the wonders of your Word.

In Psalm 119.27, we read a similar prayer, “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.”

I’m thankful to those who use their gifts to enhance our gatherings through visuals. On the west side of the stage, we have every verse from Psalm 119 displayed. I invite you this month before or after the worship gathering to explore the different verses that are displayed.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861), writes in “Aurora Leigh”,

“Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”

God’s Word counsels our perspective on His wondrous ways.

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Would you consider praying that God will open your eyes to the wonders of His Word?

Second, God’s Word Counsels Our Desires (Psalm 119.20).

“My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.” Our soul, our living being. All that we are is consumed. Many times the word for consumed is associated with a fire. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4.24). When Elijah offered the sacrifice on Mount Carmel, fire from heaven consumed the sacrifice (1 Kings 18.38).

Do you recall the major wildfires from the summer. In 2021, California reported 2,568,848 acres burned. When conditions align, fire consumes everything in sight.

Our desires compare to fire. In our soul, we have desires many are admirable, and pure, and holy. Other desires are destructive. James gives us a picture of what happens when our desires are destructive.

James 1.13-15 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Some desires lead to death, but the Psalmist desires or longs for God’s laws or rules at all times.

I want to invite you to long for God’s Word. In Psalm 42, we have a picture of a deer longing for streams of water.

Psalm 42:1–2 NIV

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

If you need help in your longing for the Bible, then you may want to consider the Right Now Media study we are highlighting this month. The study led by Michael DeFazio is called, “How to read the Bible.” It is an eight session course to help you understand the Bible. Michael and I walked through the Holy Land together back in 2016. I commend his teaching to you. If you need help signing up for your free Right Now Media Account, please contact the church office at 217-488-6204.

Third, God’s Word Counsels Our Challenges (Psalm 119.19, 21-23).

As you read through the Psalms, David documents those who are out to harm him, and lie about him, and seek his life. Daniel, knew what it was like for princes and political leaders to plot against him. He was thrown into the lion’s den.

Jesus, the Christ endured the plotting of the Pharisees. Just after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, we read these words from John 11.53, “So from that day on they [Sanhedrin] made plans to put him to death.”

Tom Ewald shared with me the story of one of his students from a class at Haus Edelweis, Austria. He asked the students to describe most harrowing crisis they have endured and the effects it had on their lives. A student wrote back general response because the president of Iran began closing the churches. He ministered to 10 churches. After sharing his story, Tom asked the student what he wanted his American brothers and sisters to know. He replied, “Tell them that we love them and the politicians are trying to close our doors, but God is opening them.”

Corrie ten Boom, who suffered in prison camps during World War II shared, “I’ve experienced His presence in the deepest darkest hell that men can create. I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them. I know that Jesus Christ can live in you, in me, through His Holy Spirit. You can talk with Him; you can talk with Him out loud or in your heart when you are alone, as I was alone in solitary confinement. The joy is that He hears each word.”

What challenges do you face now? What mountains are you climbing? God’s Word counsels our challenges.

I can remember about 10 or 15 years ago, I was in one of those challenging seasons. I came into my study and found a post-it note with a scripture reference, Psalm 69.30-31 and the person’s initials. That Christian brother recognized the power of God’s counsel when we face challenges.

Psalm 69:30–31 NIV

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The best answer to accusing princes is the word of the justifying King” (Treasury of David, 3:175).

A friend reminded me this week, every king in the history had counselors around him except one. Jesus, the King of Kings was His own counselor. We celebrated Christmas a couple of weeks ago. On Christmas Eve, we read a prophecy from Isaiah describing the Messiah, the Savior of the World. In Isaiah 9.6, we read about the one to come.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Wonderful Counselor was in our text from Psalm 119—open my eyes to the wondrous things out of your law (Ps. 119.18). Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors (Ps. 119.24). My friends, we have a wonderful Counselor, Jesus Christ. He shows us the way. He tells us the truth. He laid down His life.

In addition, he sent us a counselor, a helper, the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 (ESV)

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

The Holy Spirit counsels us through the sacred writings of Scripture.

“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119.24).

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