CRAFTY COUNSEL!

Psalm 83:1-5 TLB

O God, don't sit idly by, silent and inactive when we pray. Answer us! Deliver us! [2] Don't you hear the tumult and commotion of your enemies? Don't you see what they are doing, these proud men who hate the Lord? [3] They are full of craftiness and plot against your people, laying plans to slay your precious ones. [4] "Come," they say, "and let us wipe out Israel as a nation-we will destroy the very memory of her existence." [5] This was their unanimous decision at their summit conference-they signed a treaty to ally themselves against Almighty God-

 

The verb "counsel" means to plot, plan, or give advice. "Crafty counsel" refers to plotting, planning, or giving advice that is not to the benefit of the recipient.

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.

Psalm 83 can be titled the "Psalm of the Six-Day War" because, on May 28, 1967, Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of the United Arab Republic, said, “We plan to open a general assault on Israel. This will be total war. Our basic aim is the destruction of Israel.” When war broke out on June 5, the United Arab Republic was joined by Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Sudan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. The attempt of this confederacy to drive Israel into the sea was unsuccessful. In six days, the war was over, and Israel was the undisputed victor. Psalm 83's reference to crafty counsel now makes sense and has meaning.

There are many people ready with the wrong counsel today, like the Israelis of old and the president of the UAR. People worldwide are surrounded by enemies who pretend to be their saviours, dishing out supposedly good advice that is crafty counsel that only benefits them. Like Rehoboam, Solomon’s son in 1 Kings 12:8, who asked for advice from the older counsellors but instead listened to his mates who gave him 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 and receiving advice.

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 referred 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 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.

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 the crafty, wicked counsel of the wicked.

PRAYER: Father, grant me the discernment to recognize and avoid crafty counsel and the wisdom to not offer crafty counsel. In Jesus’ name, amen.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/womenoflight/episodes/CRAFTY-COUNSEL-e31kcve

Follow the FRESH MANNA CHANNEL on Telegram: https://t.me/freshmdevo

Follow the FRESH MANNA CHANNEL on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va8y5tqAjPXP6kZdoX1j

EMAIL: TEEWOMENOFLIGHT@OUTLOOK.COM

WOULD YOU CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH US TO REACH MORE PEOPLE?

BY SHARING THIS MESSAGE ON YOUR PLATFORMS AND CONTACTS OR SOWING A SEED TO HELP US KEEP DOING THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROUSITY AND SUPPORT.

SHALOM

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START AGAIN!

Job 17:10-11 GW   "But now, all of you, come and try again! I won’t find one wise man among you.  My days are passing by. My plans are broken. My dreams are shattered."[10]   Life may require us to start again—and it’s never too late to start over. One of life’s certainties is that everyone will experience failure at something at some point. Life is never an unbroken series of victories. Setbacks, losses, and sometimes defeat will happen and may overwhelm us. Defeat may be thrust upon us by circumstance or by others, or we may defeat ourselves by our own thoughts and actions. When this happens, some give up, some persist until they succeed, and others are willing to start over again. Luke 7:11-15 gives the account of the widow of Nain, on her way to bury her only son, crying, distraught after losing another close family member. On the way, Jesus saw her, had compassion, and acted.  The woman must have thought, "Is He kidding? Does He know what I've been t...
Read more

DIVINE VISION!

Jeremiah 1:1-11 NASB The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, [2] to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. [3] It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month. [4] Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, [5] “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” [6] Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” [7] But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. [8] “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord. [9] Then the Lord stretch...
Read more

RESISTANCE FROM STEPPING INTO PURPOSE!

John 16:33 AMPC I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]   Stepping into your God-given purpose is one of the most powerful decisions you will ever make. But it is also one of the most resisted. The Bible makes it clear that whenever God calls a person, opposition rises—externally, internally, and spiritually. Jesus Himself tells us that trials will come, but His victory gives us courage and peace. Every believer must understand this: resistance is not a sign that you’re in the wrong place; it is often proof that you’re stepping into the right one. Everyone called by God faces resistance! Throughout Scripture, the moment people stepped into divine purpose, they faced pushback. ...
Read more