The Lord’s purpose: The counsel of the Lord

Taken from Proverbs 19:20-21 (NLT), the Verse of the Day for October 10, 2016 offers these words of wisdom:

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

The King James Version puts it this way:

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

In Isaiah 46:9-10, we find another reference to “the counsel of the Lord”:

Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

In the Book of Psalms we also find references to “the counsel of the Lord”:

Psalm 25:14 (Amplified Bible)

The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.

Psalm 33:11 (Amplified Bible):

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts and plans of His heart through all generations.

Psalm 33:11 in the King James Version provides the introductory scripture or the epigraph for this poem based on the topic at hand:                                  

The Counsel of the Lord

The counsel of the LORD stands for ever, 

the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Psalm 33:11 KJV

 

As your will unfolds in splendid epiphany

And you speak life, open our ears that we might hear.

We seek guidance for the days ahead; draw us near,

So that we might be all that you desire us to be.

Advise and counsel us to help others to see

That to walk in perfect love is to cast out fear,

To follow the precepts of all that you hold dear.

We will make known your purpose and boldly declare

The truth and seek wise counsel that we might fulfill

Our commitment to serve each day as we prepare

The way of Lord, centered in your perfect will.

Though we are beset by trials on every hand,

We will abide in your presence, yielded and still:

The counsel of the Lord forevermore shall stand.

The hymn, “Behold, Our God” makes reference to “the counsel of God,” the topic of the Verse of the Day: