Seeking Human Counsel in Spiritual Matters and Decision Making

The Bible presents a multifaceted view of seeking counsel, emphasizing both divine guidance and the value of human wisdom in decision-making, particularly in spiritual matters. While ultimate wisdom and counsel reside with God, Scripture also encourages believers to seek and offer counsel among themselves.

Divine counsel is foundational. Proverbs 8:14 states, "I have counsel and wisdom: I am understanding, and I have strength" ^[1]. This verse, applied to divine Wisdom, indicates that counsel originates with God ^[9]. Job 29:4 speaks of "the counsel of God upon my tent," suggesting God's direct guidance in one's life ^[4]. The New Testament further identifies the Holy Spirit as the "Counselor" whom Jesus promises to send, who will be with believers forever ^[3]. This highlights the internal, spiritual guidance available to Christians.

However, the Bible also frequently commends the seeking of human counsel. The book of Proverbs, in particular, stresses the importance of listening to instruction. Proverbs 19:20 advises, "Hear counsel, and receive instruction," so that one "mayest be wise in thy latter end" ^[8]. This instruction is not limited to divine revelation but extends to the wisdom of parents, teachers, and ministers ^[8]. John Gill, commenting on this verse, emphasizes that this includes the "counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ," as well as "his Gospel and of the Scriptures" ^[8].

The Old Testament provides examples of human counsel being sought and given. In Exodus 18:19, Jethro offers Moses counsel on how to manage the people, saying, "Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God" ^[2]. This demonstrates a practical application of human wisdom in leadership and administration, with the understanding that such counsel operates under God's blessing.

The concept of seeking counsel extends to various aspects of life, including warfare. Proverbs 24:5 suggests that "by wise counsel thou shall make thy war" ^[13]. This implies that strategic planning and thoughtful deliberation, often involving the input of others, are crucial for success. John Gill notes that this applies not only to physical warfare but also to the "spiritual warfare with sin, Satan, the world, and false teachers," which requires strength and wise methods ^[13]. Above all, Gill adds, one "should ask counsel of God" in such matters ^[13].

The New Testament reinforces the idea that believers possess the capacity for discernment and judgment. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:15, appeals to the Corinthians' own powers of judgment, stating, "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say" ^[10]. This implies a responsibility for individuals to weigh arguments and make decisions, rather than passively accepting all advice. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on this verse notes that "We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of 'judging' for ourselves" ^[10]. While acknowledging the potential for abuse, the commentary asserts that the weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use ^[10].

Furthermore, the spiritual man is described as having the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16), which enables a unique form of understanding ^[11]. This spiritual wisdom, distinct from human wisdom, is communicated and learned "in the dimension and power of the Spirit" ^[14]. However, this does not negate the value of human input. The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to individuals as He wills, yet believers are also encouraged to "earnestly desire the most helpful gifts" ^[12]. This paradox highlights both divine sovereignty and human responsibility in spiritual development and decision-making ^[12].

In practical decision-making, Torrey's Topical Textbook lists "decision" as necessary for the service of God, exhorting believers to seek God with their hearts, keep His commandments, and follow Him fully ^[5]. This involves a commitment to God's will, which can be informed by both direct divine guidance and the wisdom gleaned from others. When facing affliction, believers are exhorted to pray for divine teaching and direction ^[6]. This suggests that while human counsel can be valuable, the ultimate source of direction is God.

Self-examination is also enjoined in Scripture (2 Corinthians 13:5), and it should be engaged in with prayer for divine searching and with a purpose of amendment ^[7]. This internal process of reflection, guided by prayer, complements the external seeking of counsel.

Sources

Proverbs “Proverbs 8:14 (Geneva1599) — I haue counsell and wisedome: I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength.”
Exodus “Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God. -- Exodus 18:19”
John “I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,— -- John 14:16”
Job “Job 29:4 (YLT) — As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Examination — Enjoined -- 2Co 13:5. Necessary before the communion -- 1Co 11:28. Cause of difficulty in -- Jer 17:9. Should be engaged in With holy awe. -- Ps 4:4. With diligent search. -- Ps 77:6; La 3:40. With prayer for divine searching. -- Ps 26:2; 139:23,24. With purpose of amendment. -- Ps 119:59; La 3:40. Advantages of -- 1Co 11:31; Ga 6:4; 1Jo 3:20-22.”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:20: Hear counsel, and receive instruction,.... Of parents, masters, and ministers; especially the counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation; that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end; in the latter end of life, at death; that then it may appear a man has been so wise as to be concerned for a future state, for the good of his soul in another world; by listening to the counsel and instruction of Christ, in his word; by lookin”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:14: Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom,.... The words and sentiments in this and the following clause are the same with those in Job 12:13; and scent to be taken from thence, which are spoken of God; and being here applied to Wisdom, show that a divine Person is meant; and are very applicable to him who the Wisdom of God, and the power of God; and on whom rests the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel, and of might, and of the fear of the Lord, Co1 1:24. "Counsel" belongs to him, and is used and exercised by him, as concerned with the Father and Spirit, both in”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:16: For--proof of Co1 2:15, that the spiritual man "is judged of no man." In order to judge the spiritual man, the ordinary man must "know the mind of the Lord." But "who of ordinary men knows" that? that he may instruct him--that is, so as to be able to set Him right as His counsellor (quoted from Isa 40:13-14). So the Septuagint translates the Greek verb, which means to "prove," in Act 9:22. Natural men who judge spiritual men, living according to the mind of God ("We have the mind of Christ"), are virtually wishing to instruct God, and bring Hi”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:11: 12:11 The Spirit . . . decides which gift each person should have: See 12:4, 6, 18, 28. Paul paradoxically affirms both the sovereign choice of God in giving spiritual gifts and the human responsibility to “earnestly desire the most helpful gifts” (12:31).”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 24:5: For by wise counsel thou shall make thy war,.... Counsel, as well as strength, is necessary for war: kings and states, before they enter on a war, should not only well consider the justness of their cause, but should consult whether they have a sufficiency of men and money to carry it on; and should concert the wisest methods to attack the enemy, or defend themselves; and, above all, should ask counsel of God; see Kg2 18:20. And this is true of our spiritual warfare with sin, Satan, the world, and false teachers; which requires not only strength to wage war with the”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 2:13: 2:13 using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths: Just as spiritual wisdom is different from human wisdom, so the way spiritual wisdom is taught must be different from the way human wisdom is taught. The communicating and learning of spiritual truth must be done in the dimension and power of the Spirit; it is not simply a rational, human exercise.”

Ask Your Own Question