“and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor…”

Yesterday we considered the first half of this name, Wonderful. We learned that Jesus is wonderful because of his acts of wonder, and he is Wonderful by name and title because he is the only one who could do these wonders. We will take time today to consider why he is called Wonderful Counselor.

We all understand what a counselor is and does. A counselor gives wisdom, insight, and advice, especially in making decisions. We seek counsel when we are making decisions, when we are struggling in difficulty, when we need wisdom. In all these situations, Jesus is wonderful in counsel!

Isaiah describes him further in Isaiah 11:2, “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge all start with God and are given to us by God through Jesus and His Spirit.

Isaiah tells us a little more about this title in Isaiah 28:29, when he is encouraging the people during difficulty. They see God’s work of judgment and discipline and they don’t understand why God is so harsh with them. Isaiah writes, “This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”

It’s hardest to trust God and his wisdom and counsel when things are difficult, isn’t it? But Isaiah assures us that God is the Wonderful Counselor even in the hard times: “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (Isaiah 46:9–10).

God is sovereign and in control of all events in this world and our lives. Thus his counsel is infallible, because he knows the end from the beginning. His counsel in those times is wonderful, beyond our understanding and ability to fathom, and we can trust God in that counsel. Be assured of God’s care for you today, when you trust him as your Wonderful Counselor.