CRAFTY COUNSEL!

Psalm 83:1-5 (BBE) 

1   O God, do not keep quiet: let your lips be open and take no rest, O God. 

2  For see! those who make war on you are out of control; your haters are lifting up their heads. 

3  They have made wise designs against your people, talking together against those whom you keep in a secret place. 

4  They have said, Come, let us put an end to them as a nation; so that the name of Israel may go out of man's memory. 

5  For they have all come to an agreement; they are all joined together against you:


The verb "counsel" means to plot, plan, or advise. Crafty counsel is to plot, plan, or give advice that is not to the benefit of the recipient. The Bible addresses the concept of crafty counsel in several passages, often highlighting its negative connotations and the consequences of deceitful schemes.

Our text scripture starts with a plea for God to not keep silent in the face of people’s suffering. People seem to think that God is inactive and indifferent to their plight and distress when the opposite is the case. There are many people ready with the wrong counsel today, like the Israelites of old. People the world over are surrounded by enemies who pretend to be their saviour’s, dishing out supposedly good counsel that is actually crafty counsel meant only for their benefit. Like Rehoboam, Solomon’s son in 1 Kings 12:8, who asked for advice from the older counsellors but instead listened to his contemporaries who gave him the wrong counsel.

There is a message hidden within this Psalm that we need to know as people of God. First, it is important to note that the law of God in this Psalm is not regarding the moral law of God. Instead, it’s about God’s instruction to His people, that there’s a blessing for those who do not walk in wickedness when giving counsel.

The list of hostilities across the globe escalates daily, and the world and his brother are dishing out wicked, wrong, and crafty counsels that seem good to those in dire need of clear direction and assistance. Our text refers to Israel’s enemies as God’s enemies and the threat to them as a threat to God.

People are constantly looking to preachers and religious leaders for spiritual advice. Unfortunately, many of these do not respect spiritual authority or heaven’s mandate. Christians who deny the miracles of the Bible are unfit to counsel others in spiritual matters, and those who interpret the Bible to suit themselves are not safe spiritual advisers. Beware of Christians who add and take away from the word of God; they are not to be trusted to give godly counsel. We should most especially beware of religious leaders and people whose counsel disagrees with the word of God, as stated in Proverbs 19:20.

When we require advice about something that may affect the course of one’s life or the destiny of a soul, we should seek a godly, wise, and respected person to counsel us. Mature or older persons are not necessarily better at giving advice; it is only the wise that can give godly counsel.

We should weigh all advice carefully by the word of God, the standard for godly and spiritual counsel. No matter what men may say, God’s word is right and true. His Word should be the final word in every situation. The only truly infallible guide that we have is the Bible.

God hides us from the secret counsel that is plotted against our destruction, according to Psalm 64:2. There are those whose daily occupation it is to give crafty and evil advice even when not needed. Deceitful and cunning plans, or crafty counsel, are condemned in the Bible. They also underscore the belief that God is aware of all schemes and has the power to disrupt them.

Christ, our Counsellor according to Isaiah 9:6, will always give us the right and godly counsel in all circumstances. Do not mislead anyone or allow yourself to be misled by crafty, wicked counsel.

PRAYER: Father, I ask for Your discernment to recognize and reject any crafty counsel that may come my way. Help me to be vigilant and wise, to weigh all advice against Your holy Word in Jesus’ name, amen.

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