Just How is “The Counsel of God” Described in the Bible?

While the phrase “Counsel of God” may seem a bit stilted and old fashioned, it is a useful one. The phrase appears 4 times in the KJV, once in 1 Samuel 14:37 where Samuel asked “counsel of God”. It is used twice in Job (15:8 and 29:4) both speaking the counsel of God in terms of the counsel of a friend. The last instance is the famous instance of Acts 20:27:

27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Paul here speaks of the entire content of his preaching as the “counsel of God”. From his office as Apostle, a writing Prophet, so to speak, that counsel takes on the authority and impact of one who spoke the very words of God Himself.

The word “counsel” in Acts 20:27 is “boulay” and speaks of a plan, purpose, or a decision^[1]. That makes the idea different than our idea of counsel. It is not a suggestion, it is the Kings objective purpose, laid out and declared for His subjects. When we think of “counsel” we think in terms of suggestions and helpful tips. That is not all the class of idea we are in here. No, no – This is no more a suggestion than the policeman’s light and siren is a suggestion that you pull over!

And so we ask – just how is this “Counsel” described in the Bible? ^[2] Space prohibits a full listing of all of the attributes that are used, but a short list can be supplied. But we’d like to make one observation first if we may – the attributes are all the attributes of God Himself!

And this is not Surprising – in fact we would expect it if we give it but a moment’s thought! It is God’s counsel and there is every reason that it would share the characteristics of His character. What He does should be like Him.

First, the Bible tells us that the counsel of God is Immutable. Speaking of the great purpose he had in Christ, and the truth that this purpose could not be thwarted, The writer to Hebrews said in Hebrews 6:17-18:

17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

This shows exactly what we said earlier – that we are not talking about suggestions – but are talking about purposes – plans! They are unalterable because God’s character is unalterable! He doesn’t make one plan, have second thoughts and then erase that, and go for plan “B”. His plan is His plan – it is unshakeable! This is, in part why we can rest our hope on what He has promised! He and His Word are immutable.

_____________________________________________

^[1] Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLG 1087, #2). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's quick reference topical Bible index. Nelson's Quick reference (156). Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers.