Wonderful Counselor - Advent Week One

Dear Lord, open my eyes to understand you as the hope for my life, the author of my faith, joy of my heart and my perfect peace. Please show me through this Advent season how to journey from lament to hope.

Isaiah 9:6

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 11:2

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

Micah 4:9

Why do you now cry aloud—have you no king?

Has your ruler perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?

John 14:26

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

When was the last time you used the word wonderful? Maybe you were describing a meal that you had at a restaurant, maybe it was the decorations you noticed at someone’s home, or maybe you used it to describe someone. The word wonderful as defined in the Webster-Merriam dictionary is to excite wonder, be marvelous or astonishing. Unusually good and admirable are other terms used to describe wonderful. When we think about Jesus and all that He accomplished it should excite wonder and be astonishing to us. The fact that a baby was born to a virgin, is astonishing.

From His birth to His death, Jesus has been the definition of wonderful. In Isaiah 9:6 the prophet uses wonderful as an adjective, to describe the noun (Counselor). Think of this counselor as one who provides advice on a specified subject. In the Old Testament a counselor would advise the king on defense strategies, they were a trusted confidant of the King. In the New Testament people would often ask Jesus what to do in a situation whether it was with taxes or the execution of the law towards a sinner. Each time Jesus gave advice it was wonderful and caused them to be in awe of Him.

As we journey from lament to hope, think about the areas of your life where you need advice or guidance. Do you need advice on how to live with the absence of a loved one? Do you need advice on how to forgive someone who has offended you? Do you need advice on how to live for God while fighting your flesh? There is hope and His name is Jesus, He is called the Wonderful Counselor and in John 14:26 we see that He kept this promise by sending us the Holy Spirit.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

John 14:26

You are not alone, and you don’t have to try to figure everything out on your own. We are not like the people that the prophet Micah is speaking to in Micah 4:9, they were crying out in despair as people without a king or a counselor. Instead, we cry out to a King that is our Wonderful Counselor and He will instruct us perfectly.

What truth from Scripture stands out to you this week?

As you look at Jesus through the lens of being your Wonderful Counselor, do you see anything new about Him? Are you reminded of something God has revealed to you previously?

How does this revelation help you to love others better?

How does seeing Christ in this way move us from lament (or grief or brokenness) toward hope?

Listen to these songs to aid in time of reflection. 

O Come O Come Emmanuel - Maverick City Music

Lord From Sorrows Deep - Matt Boswell, Matt Papa

You Keep Hope Alive - Church of the City