Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election

The Greatest Council

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-02-03

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver preaches from Psalm 16, emphasizing that God provides perfect counsel through His Word and through Jesus Christ. He explains how Christ, as the perfect man, received and obeyed the Father's counsel, and how believers today have access to the same perfect counsel through Scripture and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. The sermon urges hearers to study, meditate on, and obey God's Word to avoid heartache and live pleasing to God.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bibles, if we would please, to Psalm 16. Psalm 16. I'm going to preach on that which Hobie began a little while ago. Psalm 16. Notice, if you would please, beginning with verse 1. We'll read the entire Psalm. It's very, very brief. Only 11 verses. I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled, The Greatest Counsel. The Greatest Counsel. Notice Psalm 16 verse 1, David says, preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust.

[John Weaver] O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou art my Lord. My goodness extended not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight.

[John Weaver] Psalm 16. Uh, notice if you would please beginning with verse one, we'll read the entire Psalm. It's very, very brief. Only 11 verses. I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled the greatest counsel, the greatest counsel. Notice Psalm 16 verse one. David says, preserve me, Oh God, for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, my goodness extended not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight.

[John Weaver] Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God, and their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup, I'll maintain as my lot. The lions are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, I have a goodly heritage, I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel.

[John Weaver] My reigns also instruct me in the night seasons. I've set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand. I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope for thou will not leave my soul in hell. Neither will thou suffer thine Holy one to see corruption. That will show me the path of life in my presence is fullness of joy. And at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

[John Weaver] Now I'll call your attention to verse seven. Look at it if you would please. David said, I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in the night seasons. I want you to think for a moment of the families, the churches, the individuals that are in turmoil and in trouble in this country. We have individuals, families, churches, as well as states and our nation that really do not know which way to turn.

[John Weaver] If you would take any phone book, you will find in the yellow pages numerous counselors. And the interesting thing is there are so many counselors that are offering their services The question has to be asked to whom do we listen? You can also ask this question. What would you give to have absolutely perfect counsel? Can you imagine the heartache, the trouble and the turmoil that you could save yourself if you had absolutely perfect counsel, if you had absolutely perfect counsel and you followed it. then you could never ever make a mistake or a wrong move. Can you imagine how many millions of people have lost money in the stock market just because of bad counsel? Think of the people that have lost money in plenty of places just because of bad counsel. Think of the people Who wish they'd never listened or ever heard of the name of Bernie Madoff.

[John Weaver] Would you think just for a moment about the husbands and wives and children and entire families that have been either divorced or separated and are at odds with each other will not even speak to each other. All because of bad and wicked counsel. It really boils down to this. If you had perfect counsel and you followed that perfect counsel, you would not have any problems. You would always be right and you would always do right. One of our problems is simply this, that we really and truly do not wish to listen to counsel of any kind, much less perfect counsel. You see, many of the people, in fact, I would venture to say most of the people that go to counseling really do not want to be counseled. What they really want is for the counselor to put a stamp of approval upon what they've already determined to do. They've already made up their minds and they just simply want a stamp of approval upon that which they've determined to do.

[John Weaver] And trying to talk them out of their determined course of action is like talking to a stone wall. In Proverbs 12 and verse 15, we read this. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkened unto counsel is wise. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. So a fool in the Bible is not a mentally deficient person. A fool in the Bible is someone who will not listen, someone who will not heed, someone who will not hear godly counsel. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23 and verse 9, Speak not in the ears of a fool for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. So a fool is a fool simply because he will not listen to anyone.

[John Weaver] He will not follow instruction. We are forbidden in the Bible to emulate foals. For instance, in Proverbs 18 verse two, the Bible says a fool have no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. And in other words, The only thing a fool is interested in is doing what he wants to do, having a good time, pleasing himself. The Bible says in Proverbs 24 and verse 7, Wisdom is too high for a fool, he openeth not his mouth in the gate. In other words, he can't really grasp wisdom.

[John Weaver] Now, when you look at Psalm 16, you've got to remember that Psalm 16 not only speaks of David, but it also speaks of our Lord. And neither David nor our Lord were fools. Each one listened to counsel and each one obeyed. Now, let me tell you something that's very important about Psalm 16. Although Psalm 16 was written by David and applies to David, it also applies to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you look in verse 10, notice what verse 10 says, for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Now that verse is quoted in the New Testament in Acts 2 in verse 27 as applying directly to Jesus Christ. For Acts 2 in verse 27 simply says, because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. So notice, Psalm 16 is about our Lord as well. In fact, if you look in verse 2, O my soul, thou hast said of the Lord, my Lord, my goodness extended not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight.

[John Weaver] So even the perfect obedience of God the Son did not extend to God the Father. In other words, God the Father, was not increased in any way by the obedience of the son, but his obedience extended to the saints that are in the earth. In other words, we were the one that benefited from the person work of Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, when you skip down to verse nine, look in verse nine, therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. My flesh also shall rest in hope. That verse refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Very clearly look in verse 11. Notice verse 11, thou will show me the path of life and my presence is fullness of joy at thy right hand. There are pleasures forevermore, which speaks then of the resurrection and the ascension and the exaltation of Christ. So you can see then that diverse, uh, two and three speaks of Christ verse nine, verse 10, verse 11 speaks of Christ, but how in the world. Does verse seven apply to Christ where he says, I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in the night season. Now we can understand how that verse applies to David. We can understand how that verse applies to each one of us, but how does it apply to Jesus Christ?

[John Weaver] Well, let me just tell you, you have to remember one main truth. Listen carefully. Jesus Christ is one person with two natures. He's not two persons, He's one person with two natures. He has the nature of God since He is God, and He has the nature of man since He is man. So Jesus Christ is one person with two natures. Now I want you to remember something, that Jesus Christ came, as the servant of the Father. Over and over in the New Testament, we read that he was sent by the Father. In other words, Jesus Christ came as the Father's servant. In fact, it's interesting to note, as you read through the New Testament, the phrase that is most frequently applied to Christ, by Christ himself, is that he is the sent one. So Jesus Christ, then, is the sent one. Jesus Christ came as a servant of the Father. Therefore, Christ could rightfully and truthfully say, as being the Son of Man, and as being the servant of the Father, and as being the sent one, He could rightfully and truthfully say, in John 14 and verse 28, My Father is greater than I.

[John Weaver] But on the other hand, Since Jesus Christ is God, He could just as rightfully and truthfully say in John 10 and verse 30, I and my Father are one. You see, the Bible says it like this in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. And without controversy, in other words, there's no, you can't argue about this. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached on in the world, and believed on in the world, and received up into glory. Without all controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, just very quickly, hold Psalm 16, but turn over in your Bibles to John chapter 1. The Gospel of John. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Look in John chapter 1 very quickly. And notice if you would please what the scripture says here, just showing you that Jesus Christ is indeed God in the flesh in John one and verse one, we read this in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.

[John Weaver] The same was in the beginning with God. Now notice if you would please, since he's God, he's the creator in verse three, all things were made by him. And without Him was not anything made that was made. So in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Now skip down, if you would, to verse 14. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

[John Weaver] And we beheld His glory, the glories of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. So Jesus Christ is God. Listen carefully. Jesus Christ is not part of God. or part God or little God? No, the answer is Jesus Christ is God. He is God manifested in the flesh. He was sent of the Father. He came into this world born of a virgin. He grew as a child and in that growth, He received counsel and instruction of the Father.

[John Weaver] How do we know that? Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter two, and let's begin reading there with verse 40. Luke chapter two and verse 40. Jesus Christ, remember, came as a servant. He is the son of man as well as God in the flesh, but he grew as a child and received counsel from his father as a child. Notice Luke two, verse 40. The Bible says, and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. Now that's one verse, but let's read on.

[John Weaver] Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of Passover. And when he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days and they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass that after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.

[John Weaver] And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed. And his mother said of him, son, Why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.' And he said unto them, How is it that you sought me? Wished you not that I must be about my father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

[John Weaver] And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." Watch, and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature in favor with God and man. If you go back to verse 40, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." Now, how did Jesus Christ increase in wisdom? How did He grow? How did He wax strong in spirit? How did He become filled with wisdom?

[John Weaver] And the answer is, He listened to the counsel of His Father. As a child, He grew into manhood, obeying His Father, and doing His Father's will. Listen to his own words. Let me quote John 6 and verse 38. Jesus Christ said, I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. Why did He come? He came to obey the Father. Jesus Christ received perfect counsel from the Father, and He obeyed that counsel perfectly. Without me reading all the scriptures, I want to just give you one brief quote from John Gill. He includes a lot of scriptures in this quote, but let me give it to you. John Gill wrote, for though he himself, talking about Christ, for though he himself is the counselor with respect to his people, yet as man he received counsel from God and the spirit of counsel rested upon him and fitted him for and directed him in the execution of his prophetic office. For the doctrine he taught was not his own, but his father's, and he said nothing of himself but what his father taught him, and instructed him to speak.

[John Weaver] And he also gave him counsel about the execution of his priestly office, or about his sufferings and death, drinking of the cup which he with submission to the divine will desired might pass from him, but having advice in this matter most cheerfully and courageously yielded to take it John Gill says very clearly based upon the scriptures and he included about 10 scriptures here that Christ received counsel from his father and he obeyed now if you will turn back in your Bibles to Isaiah 11 here's a prophecy concerning Christ Isaiah 11 And I want you to note the first three verses. Isaiah 11, verses one through three. Look what it said.

[John Weaver] And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse. It's talking about Christ. And a branch shall grow out of his roots. And by the way, one of the names for the Messiah, one of the names for Jesus Christ in the Bible is the branch. Okay? So, and there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse. and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

[John Weaver] Now look, 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 of the fear of the Lord, and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither approve after the hearing of his ears, but with righteousness shall he judge. But notice if you would please, it's the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of counsel that is to be upon Jesus Christ. So our Lord's obedience then to this divine counsel was absolutely perfect. Now, let me show you how perfect it was. Because in John 8 and verse 46, Jesus Christ looked at his enemies and he said this, Which of you convinces me of sin?

[John Weaver] He didn't say that to his friends. He asked that of his enemies. Which of you convinces me of sin? Which of you can show one place, just one place, where I violated the law of God? Not man's interpretation of the law, but a violation of the law of God. Which of you can convict me of a violation of the law of God. No one answered her word.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something. If his enemies could have shown it, they would have shown it. For they desired to discredit him totally and completely. In fact, our Lord went on to say in John 8 and verse 29, He that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone. Listen now. For I always do those things which please Him. So on the one hand Christ says no one can convict me of sin. On the other hand Christ said I only always do those things which please Him.

[John Weaver] So perfect counsel and perfect obedience were paramount in our Lord's life. Look in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2. Let me show you again. Philippians chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 8. You can see how our Lord was rewarded for His perfect obedience as He followed that perfect counsel. Philippians chapter 2. Notice if you would verse 8. In fact, let's go back to verse 5 just so that you can see.

[John Weaver] that Christ is in view here. Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery or something to be seized at, to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, now look, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also with highly exalted him and given him a name, which is above every name that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven, of things in earth and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the father.

[John Weaver] So here, this perfect obedience is rewarded with the ascension and the exaltation. And Jesus Christ now has absolute and total dominion.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 9. And I know that you are familiar with this verse, but in light of what we're saying, I want you to see Isaiah 9 and verse 6. And help me out now. Turn there, if you would, Isaiah 9. Look at verse 6. Here's what the scripture says. For unto us a child is born. How did that child get born? Here's how.

[John Weaver] Unto us a Son is given. Had not God given His Son, no child would have been born. But God gave His Son. Unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given. And the government, that is total dominion, shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful. What's that next word? Counselor. The Mighty God. The Everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace. And of the increase of His government, And peace, there shall be no end upon the throne of David, upon his kingdom to order and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever.

[John Weaver] The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Note, if you would, he is now counselor. He who received perfect counsel and he who obeyed perfect counsel is now the great counselor. I want you to note something. He is the living word of God. And the Bible is the written word of God. Jesus Christ is wisdom incarnate. And here's something that ought to really thrill your heart. The Bible tells us in first Corinthians one in verse 30. Now listen, but off him that is of God, the father, But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made in us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." Did you hear that verse? But of him, that is of the Father, are you in Christ Jesus, who is made in us wisdom.

[John Weaver] Do you realize that I don't care how dumb you are intellectually and how the world looks down upon you. If you've been saved by the grace of God, you have been given the wisdom of Jesus Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, those ones that are despised and looked down upon by the world are called of God and chosen of God to confound the mighty and confound the wise. Why? Because the wisdom of God is wiser.

[John Weaver] In fact, let me go back. The scripture says the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man. And we have been made wisdom in Christ. We who have no wisdom have been given wisdom in Christ. Now, here's the question. Let's go back to Psalm 16. I've showed you how that Jesus Christ received perfect wisdom and obeyed perfectly. The question has to be asked, now how does this apply to us? We understand how it applies to Jesus Christ. How did it apply to David? How does it apply to us? Well, let's go back to verse six. Look what David wrote. David said, the lines are fallen into me in pleasant places.

[John Weaver] Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in the night seasons. Hmm.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note, he said, the Lord is my portion and the lot of mine inheritance. Notice what he said now, the Lord is my portion and the light and mine inheritance. Notice, then he said, I have a goodly heritage. David is claiming here that the Lord is his portion and he states that he has a good heritage. Let me ask this question. What was this heritage that David is saying is goodly? Let me go back and ask it another way. Let me ask this. What was his heritage as a child of God? Well, he said, I have a goodly heritage.

[John Weaver] Lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. I want you to hold Psalm 16, but go in your Bibles first to Romans 9 and let's see what kind of heritage David has as a child of God. We're going to Romans 9 and then we'll turn back to Romans 3. Look in Romans 9 and look at verses 4 and 5. Now here's the heritage David is talking about.

[John Weaver] Paul writes, verse four, who are Israelites to whom pertain is the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the service of God and the promises whose are the fathers and of whom is concerning the flesh. Christ came who is over all God bless forever. Amen.

[John Weaver] Now let me point something out. Listen carefully. It was Israel. that received the law of God, the covenants, the worship, the service. It was not the Assyrians. It was not the Babylonians. It was not the Moabites. It was not the Jebusites or the Hivites or the Hittites. It was only Israel. Go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 3. Watch carefully. Romans 3 verse 1. Romans three verse one, what advantage then have the Jew or the Judah it or what profit is there of circumcision much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. What advantage did Judah have and Israel have over all the other nations? chiefly unto them were committed the oracles of God." They had the written word of God. Now here's the question.

[John Weaver] We have seen how Jesus Christ has made in us wisdom because he's expressly called the wisdom of God. But let me show you something that you may have overlooked in your reading of the Bible. Turn to Luke 11 And look at verse 49. Luke 11, verse 49. Now remember, Jesus Christ is speaking. He's pronouncing woes upon the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And in Luke 11, in verse 49, He says, therefore, also set the wisdom of God.

[John Weaver] I will send them prophets and apostles and some of them they shall slay and persecute. And then he goes on. I just want to call your attention to one thing. Christ is quoting the scripture. And he said, therefore, set. The wisdom of God. Jesus Christ is the living wisdom of God. And the Bible is the written wisdom of God. The whole of scripture is referred to by Jesus Christ as the wisdom of God. Now listen, it may be accurately said that he who neglects Jesus Christ neglects wisdom, salvation, and deliverance. And it may be accurately said, he who also neglects the word of God, neglects wisdom, salvation and deliverance. The source of our counsel, the source of our wisdom is twofold. It is Christ, the living word and the Bible, the written word.

[John Weaver] Now that is why in second Timothy chapter two in verse 15, We've been commanded, now listen carefully, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Study to show yourself approved unto God.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just clear up a little misconception. I've heard a few well-meaning Christians who wanted really and truly to appear super pious and super spiritual. And by the way, I am always cautious of anyone who wants to appear super pious and super spiritual. And whenever you see these TV preachers with these sweet, syrupy smiles on their faces all of the time, and they walk around all the time with that sweet, syrupy smile, you just better be careful.

[John Weaver] I got news for you. I don't always walk around with a smile on my face. I don't. And neither do you. Because there are things that concern you and there are things that you don't want to smile about. But I've heard some well-meaning Christians say this, well, they didn't have to study. And they didn't have to read their Bible because the Spirit teaches them. The Holy Spirit will bring things to their mind. Well now folks, let me tell you, there is a verse that rings similar to that in the Scripture.

[John Weaver] Let me quote it for you. John 14 verse 26, when our Lord said, But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things. He did say that, but He didn't stop there. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I've sent unto you." Wait a minute. How can the Holy Spirit bring truths to your remembrance if you've never read them? If you've never studied them? If you've never thought about them? If you've never meditated, how can you remember that which you've never experienced? How can you remember that which you've never read?

[John Weaver] You see, David said, I have a goodly heritage. What was his goodly heritage? First, he had the law. and the covenants, and he read them and he knew them both. You cannot remember that which you've never read. You cannot remember that which you've never experienced. And how in the world do you know whether or not you have a goodly heritage if you've never read it? Secondly, David said, if you look back in Psalm 16 in verse 7, David said this in verse 7, look at it.

[John Weaver] He said, I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in the night seasons. And by the way, in the Hebrew, the word night is actually plural in the nights seasons. In other words, it was not just one night. It was a multitude of nights.

[John Weaver] Now a question has to be asked. What does David mean when he says, my reigns also instruct me in the night season? Let me tell you what the Hebrew word reigns literally means. Kidneys. Kidneys. My kidneys instruct me. Some of us understand that very well. At 10, 2, and 4, and I'm not talking about in the daytime, But the word reigns means kidneys. But the word reigns is usually just a word which refers then to the secret inner workings in man. It actually refers to his heart and to his emotions.

[John Weaver] For instance, let me give you two quick verses. I want you to turn to Jeremiah 17. Both of these verses will be in Jeremiah. Look in Jeremiah 17 in verse 10. Just to show you how the word reigns really refers to the innermost workings of man, Jeremiah 17 verse 10, God says, I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the reigns, even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. So when the Lord searches the heart and He tries the reigns, He's trying the innermost workings of man, our secret thoughts, our imaginations. Then if you look in Jeremiah 20 and verse 12, Here it is again, and there's a multitude of times, but just two of them here. Jeremiah 20 and verse 12, but O Lord of hosts, thou tries the righteous and sees the reins and the heart.

[John Weaver] Let me see thy vengeance on them for into the have I opened my calls. Notice it's God who sees the reins. He sees the innermost workings of man's thoughts. So David says, my reigns also instruct me in the night seasons.

[John Weaver] Now what does he mean by that? Well, what David could mean is simply this, that he meditates upon his bed during the night seasons. In other words, it's not just during the daytime that he thinks about God, and his word. It's during the nighttime as well. While others may be sleeping, David is saying, my mind is working. My mind is fixed upon the things of God. I try to improve the silence. I try to improve the leisure. I try to improve the solitude of the night with holy meditations, and I try to excite my affections toward God. It could mean that David was just simply lying there meditating upon God and upon his word. However, it could also mean something else. I don't doubt that David did just what I have described to you But this verse could also refer to the teaching and the illumination of the Holy Spirit It is God who must educate us It is God who must illuminate our understanding now. Let me tell you what the Apostle Paul wrote Timothy In 2nd Timothy 2 and verse 7, he said this, Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

[John Weaver] Now note that, very simple, consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Now what did Paul tell Timothy? He said, Timothy, you think about what I have written. You meditate upon it. You study it. And as you study, and as you think, and as you meditate, the Lord gives the understanding of all things. In other words, it's not just study alone. God has to open your eyes. You see, it is our responsibility to study.

[John Weaver] It is God's grace and mercy that illuminates our mind and enables us to understand. And the truth is really simple, folks. If God does not give us understanding, if He does not illuminate our mind to apply the truth and the wisdom of God, all of our study is useless. So David could not only be referring, in verse 7, to his own personal meditations, but he also could be referring to the work of God the Holy Spirit, even as he lay in bed at night.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask that you turn to two passages. The first one is Job 33, and the second one is John 16. So let's go to Job 33, and then we're going to John 16. Just to show you that God is not confined to the daytime, notice Job 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 14. Look what he says. Job 33, verse 14. I love this. God speaketh once, yea, twice, and man perceiveth it not." Do you realize that God can speak to you at times and you don't even know it's God speaking to you, but He does. So He says, God, for God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

[John Weaver] Now watch, in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, then He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction. Why? That He may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man. is just as capable of speaking in the night. He opens our ears. He seals our instruction. There's a verse similar in the New Testament.

[John Weaver] Look in John 16, verses 13 and 14. Notice what the Bible says. John 16, verses 13 and 14. Our Lord is talking about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and He says this, How be it when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you." What did He say? The Holy Spirit will guide you into truth.

[John Weaver] He's not going to open your mind to understand something that you've never heard, never read, never studied. No. He will guide you in the truth that is true. And He will not speak of Himself. He will show you, He said, whatsoever He's received of Me. What have we received of Christ? We've received His Word. What's the Holy Spirit going to teach us? He's going to teach us His Word. Now listen, please. This is very important. Here is illumination. Here is the definition. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. What?

[John Weaver] Let me say that again. It is important. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. It is not revelation. When you say, well, let me show you what the Holy Spirit just revealed to me. The Holy Spirit didn't just reveal anything to you. He may have illuminated your mind to understand previously revealed truth. You see, revelation is an act of God whereby God reveals to the human mind things never known before.

[John Weaver] For instance, Who wrote the first five books of the Bible? Moses. Okay. What's in the first three chapters of Genesis? Creation. How did Moses know what happened? He didn't live then. He wasn't around. The way Moses knows what happened and knew what happened was because God revealed it to him. That's Revelation. And he pinned it. Revelation is the act of God. whereby God reveals truth never known before to the human mind. There is no further revelation. The Bible says, and very clearly in Hebrews chapter 1, that God in these last days has spoken us by His Son. If you try to tell me today that God is giving additional revelation, what you're trying to tell me is that Jesus Christ is not the full and final revelation of God, and the Bible is not the complete Word of God. So illumination then means that God, the Holy Spirit, guides us to understand that which He has already revealed. That's what illumination is. In other words, the Holy Spirit powerfully instructs and convincingly teaches us how to walk and how to live.

[John Weaver] How to apply the wisdom that God has already given us in this perfect counsel. And sometimes God does it with a very strong hand. In fact, Isaiah 811 says this, for the Lord spake to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people. So God oftentimes instructs us in a very strong way. And I've got news for you.

[John Weaver] When that instruction comes, it comes through this word. He does bring things to our remembrance that we've read and we've studied. There's been times in my life I've been talking to people and counseling people and all of a sudden verse comes to my mind that I probably hadn't read in a long time, but it comes to my mind and it's the perfect verse that I need to help that individual. But it can't come to my mind if I don't read it, if I don't study it, if I don't know it. Here's what Charles had in Spurgeon said, based upon Psalm 16 in verse seven, listen carefully.

[John Weaver] He said, by the rains understand the inner man, the affections and the feelings. The communion of the soul with God brings to it an inner spiritual wisdom, which in still seasons is revealed to itself. Our Redeemer spent many nights alone upon the mountain, and we may readily conceive that together with his fellowship with heaven, he carried on a profitable commerce with himself, reviewing his experience, forecasting his work, and considering his position.

[John Weaver] Great generals fight their battles in their own mind long before the trumpet sounds and so did our Lord win our battle on His knees before He gained it on the cross. It is a gracious habit after taking counsel from above to take counsel within. Wise men see more with their eyes shut by night than fools can see by day with their eyes open. He who learns from God and so gets the seed, will soon find wisdom within himself growing in the garden of his soul.

[John Weaver] Thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee saying, this is the way, walk you in it when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. The night seasons which the sinner chooses for his sins is the hallowed hour of quiet when believers hear soft still voices from heaven and of the heavenly life within themselves. So Spurgeon is saying once again that great generals fight their battles in their mind long before the trumpet sounds and God gives us understanding as we study and as we read His perfect counsel.

[John Weaver] So the questions that you need to ask are these. Have you been counseled by the Lord and His word? Have you received this counsel or have you refused to listen to that counsel? There are so many that could save themselves so many heartaches if they would just simply hear and heed and obey the word of God. God gives us counsel to deliver us from our sins. Most of us in this room have children. And I can honestly say, and you can honestly say, it grieves you and breaks your heart when you see your children committing some of the same sins that you committed.

[John Weaver] You've done everything you can to stop them. You've done everything you can to teach them. And guess what? They still refuse. They will not hear. They will not listen. And they go straight on in their sin. And they suffer the consequences of it. And you could say to your children, How many heartaches I could save you if you would just listen to your dad or just listen to your mother.

[John Weaver] Do you not know that is why God gave us this book? What did he say? All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be perfect. Thoroughly furnished under every good word. How in the world can you refuse the counsel of God? God tells you how to live. He tells you how to invest. He tells you what real money is. He tells you how to treat your wife. He tells you how to treat your husband. He tells you how to discipline your children. He tells you how to conduct yourself. He tells you everything that you need to know. The question is, will you listen to His counsel?

[John Weaver] Now, let me make some applications, and I do want you to turn to 1 Peter chapter 1, I'm sorry, 2 Peter chapter 1, and I want you to see this first application. I want you to understand how gracious and kind our Heavenly Father is to provide for us everything that we need to walk through this life. We just need to learn to obey. Look in second Peter one in verse three, second Peter one, verse three, according as his divine power had given us all things that pertain into life and godliness through the knowledge of him that called us to glory and virtue. Now I want you to note something. According as his divine power, look carefully, has given us all things that pertain in life and godliness. If you want to know how to live, if you want to know how to be godly, God has given us that. But where has he given it? Look through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. God's given us everything we need.

[John Weaver] We have the greatest counsel from the greatest counselor. The counsel of God is ours if we will just hear and obey. In Ezekiel 33 in verse 11, God said this, Say to them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn you, turn you from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? Why are you going this way?

[John Weaver] I've given you everything you need to avoid that. Why? We have the greatest counsel. Why would we continue in sin? Why would we continue in practices and habits that destroy us when God has told us exactly how to change things and how to live our lives pleasing and honoring to Him? Here's a second application. When we see and hear and obey The outcome will be a heart rightly affected and more disposed to praise God for the fact that His grace has inclined our hearts to love Him and to serve Him. You know, I don't know if this has ever affected you or not, but it has affected me.

[John Weaver] Alice and I enjoy watching the History Channel and you always have to take the History Channel with a grain of salt on many occasions. But when they start showing some of these natives, some of these foreign people and their gods and their religions and what they do to themselves and what they do to each other, how can you not say, thank God You've given me Your Word. Thank God you've opened my understanding. Thank God I don't think like that. I don't act like that. I don't live like that. I don't want to be like that. What a joy and what a blessing it is when you realize that God has given you truth. He's not only given you truth, He's given you a mind to understand it and comprehend it and apply it. And if that doesn't make you want to praise Him, I don't know what will. You don't have to go to foreign lands.

[John Weaver] Just look in Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. and say, thank God we don't think like those reprobates.

[John Weaver] We have the perfect counsel from the perfect counselor. Here's the last application. If Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is not only perfect God, but perfect man. If the perfect man needed to listen to the counsel of his father, how much more do you and I need to hear and heed that counsel? If we want to be like Christ, if we want to be holy, and godly. If we want to be able to say with Christ, for I do always those things that please Him, we need to hear His counsel and obey His word. We have the perfect counsel and the perfect counselor.

[John Weaver] I don't care what your problems are. I don't care if they're financial. I don't care if they're family. I don't care if they're personal. I don't care what the problems are. I'm here to tell you His Word has the answer. His Word has the answer. And if you neglect it, you'll just go on with your problems and your heartaches. No problem is ever resolved unless you resolve it scripturally and biblically. Once it resolved biblically, it's taken care of.

[John Weaver] We have the perfect counsel and the perfect counselor. We just need to obey. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we do ask for your grace and mercy in our lives. Thank you for your word. Thank you for Jesus Christ. Thank you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit and father. We pray that you'd give us grace to obey, help us to live for thee, and to honor thee in every area of our lives. In Christ's name, we ask it. Amen.

The Greatest Counsel

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	IdhYjtvTsS8
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-02-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 081: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 1 — Chapter 9
Source Timed Segments	76

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Need for Perfect Counsel

Weaver introduces Psalm 16 and highlights the turmoil in families, churches, and the nation due to bad counsel. He asks what one would give for absolutely perfect counsel that would prevent all mistakes.

All right, let's open our Bibles, if we would please, to Psalm 16. Psalm 16. I'm going to preach on that which Hobie began a little while ago. Psalm 16. Notice, if you would please, beginning with verse 1. We'll read the entire Psalm. It's very, very brief. Only 11 verses. I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled, "The Greatest Counsel." The Greatest Counsel. Notice Psalm 16 verse 1, David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:1-11

"Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust." "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."

Psalm 16. Notice, if you would please, beginning with verse 1, we'll read the entire Psalm. It's very, very brief. Only 11 verses. I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled "The Greatest Counsel," the greatest counsel. Notice Psalm 16 verse 1. David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:1-11

"Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight." "Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel." "My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Now I'll call your attention to verse 7. Look at it if you would please. David said, "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." I want you to think for a moment of the families, the churches, the individuals that are in turmoil and in trouble in this country. We have individuals, families, churches, as well as states and our nation that really do not know which way to turn. If you would take any phone book, you will find in the yellow pages numerous counselors. And the interesting thing is there are so many counselors that are offering their services. The question has to be asked: to whom do we listen? You can also ask this question: What would you give to have absolutely perfect counsel? Can you imagine the heartache, the trouble, and the turmoil that you could save yourself if you had absolutely perfect counsel? If you had absolutely perfect counsel and you followed it, then you could never ever make a mistake or a wrong move. Can you imagine how many millions of people have lost money in the stock market just because of bad counsel? Think of the people that have lost money in plenty of places just because of bad counsel. Think of the people who wish they'd never listened or ever heard of the name of Bernie Madoff.

Would you think just for a moment about the husbands and wives and children and entire families that have been either divorced or separated and are at odds with each other, will not even speak to each other, all because of bad and wicked counsel? It really boils down to this: If you had perfect counsel and you followed that perfect counsel, you would not have any problems. You would always be right and you would always do right. One of our problems is simply this, that we really and truly do not wish to listen to counsel of any kind, much less perfect counsel. You see, many of the people—in fact, I would venture to say most of the people that go to counseling—really do not want to be counseled. What they really want is for the counselor to put a stamp of approval upon what they've already determined to do. They've already made up their minds and they just simply want a stamp of approval upon that which they've determined to do.

The Fool Rejects Counsel

Using Proverbs, Weaver defines a biblical fool as one who refuses to listen to godly counsel, insisting on their own way. Many seek counseling only for approval of their predetermined decisions.

And trying to talk them out of their determined course of action is like talking to a stone wall. In Proverbs 12 and verse 15, we read this:

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 12:15

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. So a fool in the Bible is not a mentally deficient person. A fool in the Bible is someone who will not listen, someone who will not heed, someone who will not hear godly counsel. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23 and verse 9, "Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words." So a fool is a fool simply because he will not listen to anyone. He will not follow instruction. We are forbidden in the Bible to emulate fools. For instance, in Proverbs 18 verse 2, the Bible says, "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." In other words, the only thing a fool is interested in is doing what he wants to do, having a good time, pleasing himself. The Bible says in Proverbs 24 and verse 7, "Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate." In other words, he can't really grasp wisdom.

Now, when you look at Psalm 16, you've got to remember that Psalm 16 not only speaks of David, but it also speaks of our Lord. And neither David nor our Lord were fools. Each one listened to counsel and each one obeyed. Now, let me tell you something that's very important about Psalm 16. Although Psalm 16 was written by David and applies to David, it also applies to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you look in verse 10, notice what verse 10 says: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Now that verse is quoted in the New Testament in Acts 2 in verse 27 as applying directly to Jesus Christ. For Acts 2 in verse 27 simply says, "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." So notice, Psalm 16 is about our Lord as well. In fact, if you look in verse 2, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."

Psalm 16 Applies to Christ

Weaver demonstrates that Psalm 16 speaks of both David and the greater David, Jesus Christ, citing verses 10 and 11 as New Testament references to Christ's resurrection and exaltation.

So even the perfect obedience of God the Son did not extend to God the Father. In other words, God the Father was not increased in any way by the obedience of the Son, but His obedience extended to the saints that are in the earth. In other words, we were the ones that benefited from the person and work of Christ. Now, when you skip down to verse 9, look in verse 9: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope." That verse refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Very clearly look in verse 11. Notice verse 11: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore," which speaks then of the resurrection and the ascension and the exaltation of Christ. So you can see then that verses 2 and 3 speak of Christ, verse 9, verse 10, verse 11 speak of Christ, but how in the world does verse 7 apply to Christ where he says, "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons"? Now we can understand how that verse applies to David. We can understand how that verse applies to each one of us, but how does it apply to Jesus Christ?

Christ Received and Obeyed the Father's Counsel

Explaining Christ's two natures, Weaver shows that as the sent servant, Christ received counsel from the Father, grew in wisdom (Luke 2), and perfectly obeyed, fulfilling Isaiah 11:2.

Well, let me just tell you, you have to remember one main truth. Listen carefully. Jesus Christ is one person with two natures. He's not two persons, He's one person with two natures. He has the nature of God since He is God, and He has the nature of man since He is man. So Jesus Christ is one person with two natures. Now I want you to remember something, that Jesus Christ came as the servant of the Father. Over and over in the New Testament, we read that He was sent by the Father. In other words, Jesus Christ came as the Father's servant. In fact, it's interesting to note, as you read through the New Testament, the phrase that is most frequently applied to Christ, by Christ Himself, is that He is the sent one. So Jesus Christ, then, is the sent one. Jesus Christ came as a servant of the Father. Therefore, Christ could rightfully and truthfully say, as being the Son of Man, and as being the servant of the Father, and as being the sent one, He could rightfully and truthfully say, in John 14 and verse 28, "My Father is greater than I."

Scripture Reading — John 14:28

But on the other hand, since Jesus Christ is God, He could just as rightfully and truthfully say in John 10 and verse 30, "I and my Father are one." You see, the Bible says it like this in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Without all controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, just very quickly, hold Psalm 16, but turn over in your Bibles to John chapter 1. The Gospel of John. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Look in John chapter 1 very quickly. And notice if you would please what the scripture says here, just showing you that Jesus Christ is indeed God in the flesh. In John 1 and verse 1, we read this: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

"The same was in the beginning with God." Now notice if you would please, since He's God, He's the creator in verse 3: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." So in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Now skip down, if you would, to verse 14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." "And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." So Jesus Christ is God. Listen carefully. Jesus Christ is not part of God, or part God, or little God. No, the answer is Jesus Christ is God. He is God manifested in the flesh. He was sent of the Father. He came into this world born of a virgin. He grew as a child and in that growth, He received counsel and instruction of the Father.

How do we know that? Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 40. Luke chapter 2 and verse 40. Jesus Christ, remember, came as a servant. He is the Son of Man as well as God in the flesh, but He grew as a child and received counsel from His Father as a child. Notice Luke 2, verse 40. The Bible says, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Now that's one verse, but let's read on.

"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." "And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them."

"And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." Watch, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." If you go back to verse 40, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Now, how did Jesus Christ increase in wisdom? How did He grow? How did He wax strong in spirit? How did He become filled with wisdom? And the answer is, He listened to the counsel of His Father. As a child, He grew into manhood, obeying His Father, and doing His Father's will. Listen to His own words. Let me quote John 6 and verse 38. Jesus Christ said,

Scripture Reading — John 6:38

"I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

Why did He come? He came to obey the Father. Jesus Christ received perfect counsel from the Father, and He obeyed that counsel perfectly. Without me reading all the scriptures, I want to just give you one brief quote from John Gill. He includes a lot of scriptures in this quote, but let me give it to you. John Gill wrote, "For though he himself," talking about Christ, "for though he himself is the Counsellor with respect to his people, yet as man he received counsel from God, and the spirit of counsel rested upon him, and fitted him for and directed him in the execution of his prophetic office. For the doctrine he taught was not his own, but his Father's, and he said nothing of himself but what his Father taught him, and instructed him to speak."

"And he also gave him counsel about the execution of his priestly office, or about his sufferings and death, drinking of the cup which he with submission to the divine will desired might pass from him, but having advice in this matter most cheerfully and courageously yielded to take it." John Gill says very clearly based upon the scriptures—and he included about 10 scriptures here—that Christ received counsel from His Father and He obeyed. Now if you will turn back in your Bibles to Isaiah 11, here's a prophecy concerning Christ. Isaiah 11. And I want you to note the first three verses. Isaiah 11, verses 1 through 3. Look what it said. "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse," it's talking about Christ, "and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." And by the way, one of the names for the Messiah, one of the names for Jesus Christ in the Bible is the Branch. Okay? So, "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."

Now look, "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 of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge." But notice if you would please, it's the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of counsel that is to be upon Jesus Christ. So our Lord's obedience then to this divine counsel was absolutely perfect. Now, let me show you how perfect it was. Because in John 8 and verse 46, Jesus Christ looked at His enemies and He said this, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?"

Christ's Perfect Obedience and Exaltation

Christ's sinless life (John 8:46) and perfect obedience (Philippians 2) led to His exaltation. He is now the Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6) and believers are made wisdom in Him (1 Corinthians 1:30).

He didn't say that to His friends. He asked that of His enemies.

Scripture Reading — John 8:46, 29

"Which of you convinceth me of sin?"

Which of you can show one place, just one place, where I violated the law of God? Not man's interpretation of the law, but a violation of the law of God. Which of you can convict me of a violation of the law of God? No one answered a word. Let me tell you something. If His enemies could have shown it, they would have shown it. For they desired to discredit Him totally and completely. In fact, our Lord went on to say in John 8 and verse 29, "He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone;" listen now, "for I do always those things that please him." So on the one hand Christ says no one can convict me of sin. On the other hand Christ said I only always do those things which please Him.

So perfect counsel and perfect obedience were paramount in our Lord's life. Look in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2. Let me show you again. Philippians chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 8. You can see how our Lord was rewarded for His perfect obedience as He followed that perfect counsel. Philippians chapter 2. Notice if you would verse 8. In fact, let's go back to verse 5 just so that you can see.

that Christ is in view here. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself," now look, "and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

So here, this perfect obedience is rewarded with the ascension and the exaltation. And Jesus Christ now has absolute and total dominion. Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 9. And I know that you are familiar with this verse, but in light of what we're saying, I want you to see Isaiah 9 and verse 6. And help me out now. Turn there, if you would, Isaiah 9. Look at verse 6. Here's what the scripture says: "For unto us a child is born." How did that child get born? Here's how.

"Unto us a son is given." Had not God given His Son, no child would have been born. But God gave His Son. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government," that is total dominion, "shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful," what's that next word? "Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." Note, if you would, He is now Counsellor. He who received perfect counsel and He who obeyed perfect counsel is now the great Counsellor. I want you to note something. He is the living Word of God. And the Bible is the written Word of God. Jesus Christ is wisdom incarnate. And here's something that ought to really thrill your heart. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1 in verse 30, now listen, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." Did you hear that verse? "But of him," that is of the Father, "are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom."

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:30

Do you realize that I don't care how dumb you are intellectually and how the world looks down upon you, if you've been saved by the grace of God, you have been given the wisdom of Jesus Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, those ones that are despised and looked down upon by the world are called of God and chosen of God to confound the mighty and confound the wise. Why? Because the wisdom of God is wiser. In fact, let me go back. The scripture says the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man. And we have been made wisdom in Christ. We who have no wisdom have been given wisdom in Christ. Now, here's the question. Let's go back to Psalm 16. I've showed you how that Jesus Christ received perfect wisdom and obeyed perfectly. The question has to be asked, now how does this apply to us? We understand how it applies to Jesus Christ. How did it apply to David? How does it apply to us? Well, let's go back to verse 6. Look what David wrote. David said, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places."

The Believer's Heritage and Counsel

David's 'goodly heritage' refers to the oracles of God (Romans 3:2). Believers have the written Word and the living Word. The Holy Spirit illuminates previously revealed truth as we study and meditate.

In fact, let me go back. The scripture says the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man. And we have been made wisdom in Christ. We who have no wisdom have been given wisdom in Christ. Now, here's the question. Let's go back to Psalm 16. I've showed you how that Jesus Christ received perfect wisdom and obeyed perfectly. The question has to be asked, now how does this apply to us? We understand how it applies to Jesus Christ. How did it apply to David? How does it apply to us? Well, let's go back to verse 6. Look what David wrote. David said, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places."

"Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." Hmm. Now, I want you to note, he said, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." Notice what he said now, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." Notice, then he said, "I have a goodly heritage." David is claiming here that the Lord is his portion and he states that he has a good heritage. Let me ask this question: What was this heritage that David is saying is goodly? Let me go back and ask it another way. Let me ask this: What was his heritage as a child of God? Well, he said, "I have a goodly heritage."

"Lines have fallen to me in pleasant places." I want you to hold Psalm 16, but go in your Bibles first to Romans 9 and let's see what kind of heritage David has as a child of God. We're going to Romans 9 and then we'll turn back to Romans 3. Look in Romans 9 and look at verses 4 and 5. Now here's the heritage David is talking about. Paul writes, verse 4,

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:4-5

"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."

Now let me point something out. Listen carefully. It was Israel that received the law of God, the covenants, the worship, the service. It was not the Assyrians. It was not the Babylonians. It was not the Moabites. It was not the Jebusites or the Hivites or the Hittites. It was only Israel. Go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 3. Watch carefully. Romans 3 verse 1. "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." What advantage did Judah have and Israel have over all the other nations? "Chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." They had the written Word of God. Now here's the question.

We have seen how Jesus Christ has made in us wisdom because He's expressly called the wisdom of God. But let me show you something that you may have overlooked in your reading of the Bible. Turn to Luke 11 and look at verse 49. Luke 11, verse 49. Now remember, Jesus Christ is speaking. He's pronouncing woes upon the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And in Luke 11, in verse 49, He says, "Therefore also said the wisdom of God."

"I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute." And then He goes on. I just want to call your attention to one thing. Christ is quoting the scripture. And He said, "Therefore also said the wisdom of God." Jesus Christ is the living wisdom of God. And the Bible is the written wisdom of God. The whole of scripture is referred to by Jesus Christ as the wisdom of God. Now listen, it may be accurately said that he who neglects Jesus Christ neglects wisdom, salvation, and deliverance. And it may be accurately said, he who also neglects the Word of God, neglects wisdom, salvation, and deliverance. The source of our counsel, the source of our wisdom is twofold. It is Christ, the living Word, and the Bible, the written Word.

Now that is why in 2 Timothy chapter 2 in verse 15, we've been commanded, now listen carefully, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Study to show yourself approved unto God. Now, let me just clear up a little misconception. I've heard a few well-meaning Christians who wanted really and truly to appear super pious and super spiritual. And by the way, I am always cautious of anyone who wants to appear super pious and super spiritual. And whenever you see these TV preachers with these sweet, syrupy smiles on their faces all of the time, and they walk around all the time with that sweet, syrupy smile, you just better be careful. I got news for you. I don't always walk around with a smile on my face. I don't. And neither do you. Because there are things that concern you and there are things that you don't want to smile about. But I've heard some well-meaning Christians say this, well, they didn't have to study. And they didn't have to read their Bible because the Spirit teaches them. The Holy Spirit will bring things to their mind. Well now folks, let me tell you, there is a verse that rings similar to that in the Scripture.

Let me quote it for you. John 14 verse 26, when our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:26

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things."

He did say that, but He didn't stop there.

Scripture Reading — John 14:26

"He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Wait a minute. How can the Holy Spirit bring truths to your remembrance if you've never read them? If you've never studied them? If you've never thought about them? If you've never meditated, how can you remember that which you've never experienced? How can you remember that which you've never read?

You see, David said, "I have a goodly heritage." What was his goodly heritage? First, he had the law and the covenants, and he read them and he knew them both. You cannot remember that which you've never read. You cannot remember that which you've never experienced. And how in the world do you know whether or not you have a goodly heritage if you've never read it? Secondly, David said, if you look back in Psalm 16 in verse 7, David said this in verse 7, look at it. He said, "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." And by the way, in the Hebrew, the word night is actually plural, "in the nights seasons." In other words, it was not just one night. It was a multitude of nights.

Now a question has to be asked. What does David mean when he says, "my reins also instruct me in the night season"? Let me tell you what the Hebrew word reins literally means. Kidneys. Kidneys. My kidneys instruct me. Some of us understand that very well. At 10, 2, and 4, and I'm not talking about in the daytime. But the word reins means kidneys. But the word reins is usually just a word which refers then to the secret inner workings in man. It actually refers to his heart and to his emotions.

For instance, let me give you two quick verses. I want you to turn to Jeremiah 17. Both of these verses will be in Jeremiah. Look in Jeremiah 17 in verse 10. Just to show you how the word reins really refers to the innermost workings of man, Jeremiah 17 verse 10, God says, "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." So when the Lord searches the heart and He tries the reins, He's trying the innermost workings of man, our secret thoughts, our imaginations. Then if you look in Jeremiah 20 and verse 12, here it is again, and there's a multitude of times, but just two of them here. Jeremiah 20 and verse 12, "But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart."

"Let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause." Notice it's God who sees the reins. He sees the innermost workings of man's thoughts. So David says, "my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." Now what does he mean by that? Well, what David could mean is simply this, that he meditates upon his bed during the night seasons. In other words, it's not just during the daytime that he thinks about God and His Word. It's during the nighttime as well. While others may be sleeping, David is saying, my mind is working. My mind is fixed upon the things of God. I try to improve the silence. I try to improve the leisure. I try to improve the solitude of the night with holy meditations, and I try to excite my affections toward God. It could mean that David was just simply lying there meditating upon God and upon His Word. However, it could also mean something else. I don't doubt that David did just what I have described to you, but this verse could also refer to the teaching and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. It is God who must educate us. It is God who must illuminate our understanding. Now, let me tell you what the Apostle Paul wrote Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, he said this, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

Now note that, very simple, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Now what did Paul tell Timothy? He said, Timothy, you think about what I have written. You meditate upon it. You study it. And as you study, and as you think, and as you meditate, the Lord gives the understanding of all things. In other words, it's not just study alone. God has to open your eyes. You see, it is our responsibility to study.

It is God's grace and mercy that illuminates our mind and enables us to understand. And the truth is really simple, folks. If God does not give us understanding, if He does not illuminate our mind to apply the truth and the wisdom of God, all of our study is useless. So David could not only be referring, in verse 7, to his own personal meditations, but he also could be referring to the work of God the Holy Spirit, even as he lay in bed at night.

Now, let me ask that you turn to two passages. The first one is Job 33, and the second one is John 16. So let's go to Job 33, and then we're going to John 16. Just to show you that God is not confined to the daytime, notice Job 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 14. Look what he says. Job 33, verse 14. I love this. "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not." Do you realize that God can speak to you at times and you don't even know it's God speaking to you, but He does. So He says, "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not."

Now watch, "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." He is just as capable of speaking in the night. He opens our ears. He seals our instruction. There's a verse similar in the New Testament. Look in John 16, verses 13 and 14. Notice what the Bible says. John 16, verses 13 and 14. Our Lord is talking about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and He says this, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." What did He say? The Holy Spirit will guide you into truth.

He's not going to open your mind to understand something that you've never heard, never read, never studied. No. He will guide you in the truth that is true. And He will not speak of Himself. He will show you, He said, whatsoever He's received of Me. What have we received of Christ? We've received His Word. What's the Holy Spirit going to teach us? He's going to teach us His Word. Now listen, please. This is very important. Here is illumination. Here is the definition. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. What?

Let me say that again. It is important. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. It is not revelation. When you say, well, let me show you what the Holy Spirit just revealed to me. The Holy Spirit didn't just reveal anything to you. He may have illuminated your mind to understand previously revealed truth. You see, revelation is an act of God whereby God reveals to the human mind things never known before.

The Ministry of Illumination

Weaver distinguishes revelation from illumination: the Holy Spirit guides believers into understanding Scripture already given. God instructs even in night seasons through meditation and the Spirit's teaching.

For instance, who wrote the first five books of the Bible? Moses. Okay. What's in the first three chapters of Genesis? Creation. How did Moses know what happened? He didn't live then. He wasn't around. The way Moses knows what happened and knew what happened was because God revealed it to him. That's revelation. And he penned it. Revelation is the act of God whereby God reveals truth never known before to the human mind. There is no further revelation. The Bible says, and very clearly in Hebrews chapter 1, that God in these last days has spoken us by His Son. If you try to tell me today that God is giving additional revelation, what you're trying to tell me is that Jesus Christ is not the full and final revelation of God, and the Bible is not the complete Word of God. So illumination then means that God, the Holy Spirit, guides us to understand that which He has already revealed. That's what illumination is. In other words, the Holy Spirit powerfully instructs and convincingly teaches us how to walk and how to live.

How to apply the wisdom that God has already given us in this perfect counsel. And sometimes God does it with a very strong hand. In fact, Isaiah 8:11 says this, "For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people." So God oftentimes instructs us in a very strong way. And I've got news for you.

When that instruction comes, it comes through this Word. He does bring things to our remembrance that we've read and we've studied. There's been times in my life I've been talking to people and counseling people and all of a sudden a verse comes to my mind that I probably hadn't read in a long time, but it comes to my mind and it's the perfect verse that I need to help that individual. But it can't come to my mind if I don't read it, if I don't study it, if I don't know it. Here's what Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, based upon Psalm 16 in verse 7, listen carefully. He said, "By the reins understand the inner man, the affections and the feelings. The communion of the soul with God brings to it an inner spiritual wisdom, which in still seasons is revealed to itself. Our Redeemer spent many nights alone upon the mountain, and we may readily conceive that together with his fellowship with heaven, he carried on a profitable commerce with himself, reviewing his experience, forecasting his work, and considering his position."

"Great generals fight their battles in their own mind long before the trumpet sounds, and so did our Lord win our battle on His knees before He gained it on the cross. It is a gracious habit after taking counsel from above to take counsel within. Wise men see more with their eyes shut by night than fools can see by day with their eyes open. He who learns from God and so gets the seed, will soon find wisdom within himself growing in the garden of his soul." "Thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. The night seasons which the sinner chooses for his sins is the hallowed hour of quiet when believers hear soft still voices from heaven and of the heavenly life within themselves." So Spurgeon is saying once again that great generals fight their battles in their mind long before the trumpet sounds and God gives us understanding as we study and as we read His perfect counsel.

Applications: Hear and Obey God's Counsel

God has given all things for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Believers must listen to Scripture to avoid sin and heartache. If Christ needed the Father's counsel, how much more do we?

So the questions that you need to ask are these: Have you been counseled by the Lord and His Word? Have you received this counsel or have you refused to listen to that counsel? There are so many that could save themselves so many heartaches if they would just simply hear and heed and obey the Word of God. God gives us counsel to deliver us from our sins. Most of us in this room have children. And I can honestly say, and you can honestly say, it grieves you and breaks your heart when you see your children committing some of the same sins that you committed. You've done everything you can to stop them. You've done everything you can to teach them. And guess what? They still refuse. They will not hear. They will not listen. And they go straight on in their sin. And they suffer the consequences of it. And you could say to your children, "How many heartaches I could save you if you would just listen to your dad or just listen to your mother."

Do you not know that is why God gave us this book? What did he say? "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." How in the world can you refuse the counsel of God? God tells you how to live. He tells you how to invest. He tells you what real money is. He tells you how to treat your wife. He tells you how to treat your husband. He tells you how to discipline your children. He tells you how to conduct yourself. He tells you everything that you need to know. The question is, will you listen to His counsel?

Now, let me make some applications, and I do want you to turn to 1 Peter chapter 1, I'm sorry, 2 Peter chapter 1, and I want you to see this first application. I want you to understand how gracious and kind our Heavenly Father is to provide for us everything that we need to walk through this life. We just need to learn to obey. Look in 2 Peter 1 in verse 3, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Now I want you to note something. "According as his divine power," look carefully, "hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." If you want to know how to live, if you want to know how to be godly, God has given us that. But where has He given it? Look, "through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." God's given us everything we need.

We have the greatest counsel from the greatest Counsellor. The counsel of God is ours if we will just hear and obey. In Ezekiel 33 in verse 11, God said this, "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Why are you going this way? I've given you everything you need to avoid that. Why? We have the greatest counsel. Why would we continue in sin? Why would we continue in practices and habits that destroy us when God has told us exactly how to change things and how to live our lives pleasing and honoring to Him? Here's a second application. When we see and hear and obey, the outcome will be a heart rightly affected and more disposed to praise God for the fact that His grace has inclined our hearts to love Him and to serve Him. You know, I don't know if this has ever affected you or not, but it has affected me.

Alice and I enjoy watching the History Channel and you always have to take the History Channel with a grain of salt on many occasions. But when they start showing some of these natives, some of these foreign people and their gods and their religions and what they do to themselves and what they do to each other, how can you not say, "Thank God You've given me Your Word. Thank God you've opened my understanding. Thank God I don't think like that. I don't act like that. I don't live like that. I don't want to be like that." What a joy and what a blessing it is when you realize that God has given you truth. He's not only given you truth, He's given you a mind to understand it and comprehend it and apply it. And if that doesn't make you want to praise Him, I don't know what will. You don't have to go to foreign lands.

Just look in Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. and say, "Thank God we don't think like those reprobates."

We have the perfect counsel from the perfect Counsellor. Here's the last application. If Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is not only perfect God, but perfect man—if the perfect man needed to listen to the counsel of His Father, how much more do you and I need to hear and heed that counsel? If we want to be like Christ, if we want to be holy and godly, if we want to be able to say with Christ, "For I do always those things that please him," we need to hear His counsel and obey His Word. We have the perfect counsel and the perfect Counsellor. I don't care what your problems are. I don't care if they're financial. I don't care if they're family. I don't care if they're personal. I don't care what the problems are. I'm here to tell you His Word has the answer. His Word has the answer. And if you neglect it, you'll just go on with your problems and your heartaches. No problem is ever resolved unless you resolve it scripturally and biblically. Once it's resolved biblically, it's taken care of.

We have the perfect counsel and the perfect Counsellor. We just need to obey. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we do ask for your grace and mercy in our lives. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for Jesus Christ. Thank you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. And Father, we pray that you'd give us grace to obey, help us to live for Thee, and to honor Thee in every area of our lives. In Christ's name, we ask it. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Sufficiency and Perfection of God's Counsel

Summary: God's Word provides perfect counsel that, if followed, would prevent all mistakes and heartaches. Scripture is the written wisdom of God, sufficient for all of life.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'If you had perfect counsel and you followed that perfect counsel, you would not have any problems. You would always be right and you would always do right.' He later cites 2 Peter 1:3 that God has given all things pertaining to life and godliness.

Christ as the Model of Receiving and Obeying Counsel

Summary: Jesus Christ, though God, as man received counsel from the Father and obeyed perfectly. His life demonstrates the necessity and blessing of heeding divine counsel.

Evidence: Weaver explains from Luke 2:40-52 that Christ increased in wisdom and from John 6:38 that He came to do the Father's will. He quotes John Gill on Christ receiving counsel for His prophetic and priestly offices.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Illumination

Summary: The Holy Spirit guides believers into understanding Scripture, bringing truth to remembrance. Illumination is distinct from revelation; it applies previously revealed truth to the heart.

Evidence: Weaver defines illumination as 'the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth.' He cites John 16:13-14 and 2 Timothy 2:7.

The Foolishness of Rejecting Counsel

Summary: A biblical fool is one who refuses to listen to godly instruction. Many seek counseling only for validation of their own plans, leading to destruction.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Proverbs 12:15, 'The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise,' and Proverbs 23:9.

The Necessity of Personal Study and Meditation

Summary: Believers must study Scripture and meditate on it day and night. The Holy Spirit brings to remembrance what has been read and studied, not new revelations.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'How can the Holy Spirit bring truths to your remembrance if you've never read them?' He references David's meditation in the night seasons (Psalm 16:7).

Key Arguments

Perfect counsel exists and is found in God's Word

Summary: Weaver argues that if one had absolutely perfect counsel and followed it, one would never make a mistake. This counsel is available in Scripture.

Evidence: He asks, 'What would you give to have absolutely perfect counsel? ... If you had absolutely perfect counsel and you followed it, then you could never ever make a mistake or a wrong move.'

Christ's sinless life proves He followed perfect counsel

Summary: Jesus challenged His enemies to convict Him of sin (John 8:46), demonstrating His perfect obedience to the Father's counsel.

Evidence: Weaver quotes John 8:46 and 8:29, emphasizing that Christ always did what pleased the Father.

Believers are made wisdom in Christ

Summary: Through union with Christ, believers possess His wisdom, enabling them to confound the worldly wise (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 1:30: 'But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom.'

The Holy Spirit illuminates, He does not give new revelation

Summary: Weaver insists that the Spirit's teaching ministry is to guide into already revealed truth, not to impart new doctrines or revelations.

Evidence: He states, 'Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. It is not revelation.'

Rejecting God's counsel leads to unnecessary suffering

Summary: Many heartaches could be avoided if people would simply hear and obey God's Word. God's commands are for our good.

Evidence: Weaver laments, 'There are so many that could save themselves so many heartaches if they would just simply hear and heed and obey the Word of God.'

Scripture References

Psalm 16:1-11

Context: The entire Psalm is read and serves as the sermon text, focusing on verse 7 regarding counsel.

Proverbs 12:15

Context: Used to define a fool as one who thinks his own way is right and rejects counsel.

Proverbs 23:9

Context: Cited to show that a fool despises wisdom.

Acts 2:27

Context: Quoted to demonstrate that Psalm 16:10 applies to Christ's resurrection.

John 14:28

Context: Used to show Christ's subordination as the sent servant: 'My Father is greater than I.'

John 10:30

Context: Used to show Christ's equality with the Father as God: 'I and my Father are one.'

1 Timothy 3:16

Context: Cited to affirm the mystery of the incarnation: 'God was manifest in the flesh.'

John 1:1, 3, 14

Context: Used to establish Christ's deity and incarnation.

Luke 2:40-52

Context: Shows Christ's growth in wisdom as a child, receiving counsel from the Father.

John 6:38

Context: Christ's statement that He came to do the Father's will, not His own.

Isaiah 11:1-3

Context: Prophecy that the Spirit of counsel would rest upon Christ.

John 8:46, 29

Context: Christ's challenge to His enemies and His claim to always please the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Context: Christ's humiliation and exaltation for His obedience.

Isaiah 9:6

Context: Christ is called Counsellor, the one who now gives perfect counsel.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Context: Christ is made unto us wisdom from God.

Romans 9:4-5

Context: Israel's heritage includes the covenants and the law.

Romans 3:1-2

Context: The chief advantage of the Jew was that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Luke 11:49

Context: Jesus refers to Scripture as 'the wisdom of God.'

2 Timothy 2:15

Context: Command to study to show oneself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth.

John 14:26

Context: The Holy Spirit will teach and bring to remembrance what Christ has said.

Historical References

Bernie Madoff

Context: Used as an example of people who lost money due to bad counsel.

John Gill

Context: Quoted regarding Christ receiving counsel from the Father for His prophetic and priestly offices.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Context: Quoted on Psalm 16:7, describing the inner spiritual wisdom gained through communion with God in night seasons.

Important Quotes

If you had perfect counsel and you followed that perfect counsel, you would not have any problems. You would always be right and you would always do right.

Significance: Summarizes the sermon's central premise that God's counsel is perfect and sufficient to prevent all mistakes.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Significance: Key Scripture defining the fool as self-deceived and the wise as those who listen to counsel.

I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

Significance: The central verse of the sermon, highlighting David's praise for divine counsel and inner instruction.

How can the Holy Spirit bring truths to your remembrance if you've never read them? If you've never studied them? If you've never thought about them?

Significance: Emphasizes the necessity of personal Bible study for the Spirit's ministry of remembrance.

Great generals fight their battles in their own mind long before the trumpet sounds, and so did our Lord win our battle on His knees before He gained it on the cross.

Significance: Spurgeon quote illustrating the importance of meditation and prayerful preparation, applied to Christ and believers.

If Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is not only perfect God, but perfect man—if the perfect man needed to listen to the counsel of His Father, how much more do you and I need to hear and heed that counsel?

Significance: Final application urging believers to follow Christ's example of dependence on the Father's counsel.

Discussion Questions

Why do many people seek counseling only for approval of their own plans rather than genuine guidance?

Context: Weaver observes that most people going to counseling have already decided what to do and just want a stamp of approval.

How does Psalm 16 apply both to David and to Jesus Christ?

Context: Weaver explains the dual fulfillment, especially in verses 10-11 regarding resurrection.

In what ways did Jesus Christ receive and obey the Father's counsel during His earthly life?

Context: Weaver cites Luke 2 and John 6:38 to show Christ's growth in wisdom and submission to the Father's will.

What is the difference between revelation and illumination, and why is this distinction important?

Context: Weaver defines illumination as the Spirit guiding into previously revealed truth, not giving new revelation.

How can we cultivate the practice of meditating on Scripture during 'night seasons'?

Context: Weaver discusses David's meditation at night and the Spirit's instruction during quiet times.

What are some practical ways we can ensure we are hearing and obeying God's counsel in daily decisions?

Context: Weaver urges believers to study Scripture and rely on the Spirit to apply it to life.

Applications

Study and meditate on Scripture diligently

Summary: Believers must read, study, and meditate on God's Word so that the Holy Spirit can bring truth to remembrance and guide them.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'How can the Holy Spirit bring truths to your remembrance if you've never read them?' and cites 2 Timothy 2:15.

Obey God's counsel to avoid unnecessary heartache

Summary: Many personal and family problems result from ignoring biblical counsel. Obedience to Scripture prevents suffering.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'There are so many that could save themselves so many heartaches if they would just simply hear and heed and obey the Word of God.'

Follow Christ's example of dependence on the Father

Summary: If the perfect man Jesus needed to listen to the Father's counsel, believers must humbly seek and obey God's guidance.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'If the perfect man needed to listen to the counsel of His Father, how much more do you and I need to hear and heed that counsel?'

Praise God for giving His Word and understanding

Summary: Recognizing that God has provided perfect counsel and opened our minds to understand it should lead to heartfelt gratitude and praise.

Evidence: Weaver reflects on watching the History Channel and thanking God for not thinking like those without Scripture.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T17:16:07Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T08:04:02Z

Clean Transcript

The Greatest Counsel

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bibles, if we would please, to Psalm 16. Psalm 16. I'm going to preach on that which Hobie began a little while ago. Psalm 16. Notice, if you would please, beginning with verse 1. We'll read the entire Psalm. It's very, very brief. Only 11 verses. I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled, "The Greatest Counsel." The Greatest Counsel. Notice Psalm 16 verse 1, David says, "Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust."
#1 | 0:17 to 0:53 | cleaned
"O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."
#2 | 0:54 to 1:03 | cleaned
Psalm 16. Notice, if you would please, beginning with verse 1, we'll read the entire Psalm. It's very, very brief. Only 11 verses. I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled "The Greatest Counsel," the greatest counsel. Notice Psalm 16 verse 1. David says, "Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."
#3 | 1:20 to 1:55 | cleaned
"Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel."
#4 | 1:57 to 2:18 | cleaned
"My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
#5 | 2:18 to 2:48 | cleaned
Now I'll call your attention to verse 7. Look at it if you would please. David said, "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." I want you to think for a moment of the families, the churches, the individuals that are in turmoil and in trouble in this country. We have individuals, families, churches, as well as states and our nation that really do not know which way to turn.
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If you would take any phone book, you will find in the yellow pages numerous counselors. And the interesting thing is there are so many counselors that are offering their services. The question has to be asked: to whom do we listen? You can also ask this question: What would you give to have absolutely perfect counsel? Can you imagine the heartache, the trouble, and the turmoil that you could save yourself if you had absolutely perfect counsel? If you had absolutely perfect counsel and you followed it, then you could never ever make a mistake or a wrong move. Can you imagine how many millions of people have lost money in the stock market just because of bad counsel? Think of the people that have lost money in plenty of places just because of bad counsel. Think of the people who wish they'd never listened or ever heard of the name of Bernie Madoff.
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Would you think just for a moment about the husbands and wives and children and entire families that have been either divorced or separated and are at odds with each other, will not even speak to each other, all because of bad and wicked counsel? It really boils down to this: If you had perfect counsel and you followed that perfect counsel, you would not have any problems. You would always be right and you would always do right. One of our problems is simply this, that we really and truly do not wish to listen to counsel of any kind, much less perfect counsel. You see, many of the people—in fact, I would venture to say most of the people that go to counseling—really do not want to be counseled. What they really want is for the counselor to put a stamp of approval upon what they've already determined to do. They've already made up their minds and they just simply want a stamp of approval upon that which they've determined to do.
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And trying to talk them out of their determined course of action is like talking to a stone wall. In Proverbs 12 and verse 15, we read this: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. So a fool in the Bible is not a mentally deficient person. A fool in the Bible is someone who will not listen, someone who will not heed, someone who will not hear godly counsel. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23 and verse 9, "Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words." So a fool is a fool simply because he will not listen to anyone.
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He will not follow instruction. We are forbidden in the Bible to emulate fools. For instance, in Proverbs 18 verse 2, the Bible says, "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." In other words, the only thing a fool is interested in is doing what he wants to do, having a good time, pleasing himself. The Bible says in Proverbs 24 and verse 7, "Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate." In other words, he can't really grasp wisdom.
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Now, when you look at Psalm 16, you've got to remember that Psalm 16 not only speaks of David, but it also speaks of our Lord. And neither David nor our Lord were fools. Each one listened to counsel and each one obeyed. Now, let me tell you something that's very important about Psalm 16. Although Psalm 16 was written by David and applies to David, it also applies to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you look in verse 10, notice what verse 10 says: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Now that verse is quoted in the New Testament in Acts 2 in verse 27 as applying directly to Jesus Christ. For Acts 2 in verse 27 simply says, "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." So notice, Psalm 16 is about our Lord as well. In fact, if you look in verse 2, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."
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So even the perfect obedience of God the Son did not extend to God the Father. In other words, God the Father was not increased in any way by the obedience of the Son, but His obedience extended to the saints that are in the earth. In other words, we were the ones that benefited from the person and work of Christ.
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Now, when you skip down to verse 9, look in verse 9: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope." That verse refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Very clearly look in verse 11. Notice verse 11: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore," which speaks then of the resurrection and the ascension and the exaltation of Christ. So you can see then that verses 2 and 3 speak of Christ, verse 9, verse 10, verse 11 speak of Christ, but how in the world does verse 7 apply to Christ where he says, "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons"? Now we can understand how that verse applies to David. We can understand how that verse applies to each one of us, but how does it apply to Jesus Christ?
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Well, let me just tell you, you have to remember one main truth. Listen carefully. Jesus Christ is one person with two natures. He's not two persons, He's one person with two natures. He has the nature of God since He is God, and He has the nature of man since He is man. So Jesus Christ is one person with two natures. Now I want you to remember something, that Jesus Christ came as the servant of the Father. Over and over in the New Testament, we read that He was sent by the Father. In other words, Jesus Christ came as the Father's servant. In fact, it's interesting to note, as you read through the New Testament, the phrase that is most frequently applied to Christ, by Christ Himself, is that He is the sent one. So Jesus Christ, then, is the sent one. Jesus Christ came as a servant of the Father. Therefore, Christ could rightfully and truthfully say, as being the Son of Man, and as being the servant of the Father, and as being the sent one, He could rightfully and truthfully say, in John 14 and verse 28, "My Father is greater than I."
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But on the other hand, since Jesus Christ is God, He could just as rightfully and truthfully say in John 10 and verse 30, "I and my Father are one." You see, the Bible says it like this in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Without all controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, just very quickly, hold Psalm 16, but turn over in your Bibles to John chapter 1. The Gospel of John. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Look in John chapter 1 very quickly. And notice if you would please what the scripture says here, just showing you that Jesus Christ is indeed God in the flesh. In John 1 and verse 1, we read this: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
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"The same was in the beginning with God." Now notice if you would please, since He's God, He's the creator in verse 3: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." So in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Now skip down, if you would, to verse 14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
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"And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." So Jesus Christ is God. Listen carefully. Jesus Christ is not part of God, or part God, or little God. No, the answer is Jesus Christ is God. He is God manifested in the flesh. He was sent of the Father. He came into this world born of a virgin. He grew as a child and in that growth, He received counsel and instruction of the Father.
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How do we know that? Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 40. Luke chapter 2 and verse 40. Jesus Christ, remember, came as a servant. He is the Son of Man as well as God in the flesh, but He grew as a child and received counsel from His Father as a child. Notice Luke 2, verse 40. The Bible says, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Now that's one verse, but let's read on.
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"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."
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"And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them."
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"And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." Watch, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." If you go back to verse 40, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Now, how did Jesus Christ increase in wisdom? How did He grow? How did He wax strong in spirit? How did He become filled with wisdom?
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And the answer is, He listened to the counsel of His Father. As a child, He grew into manhood, obeying His Father, and doing His Father's will. Listen to His own words. Let me quote John 6 and verse 38. Jesus Christ said, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Why did He come? He came to obey the Father. Jesus Christ received perfect counsel from the Father, and He obeyed that counsel perfectly. Without me reading all the scriptures, I want to just give you one brief quote from John Gill. He includes a lot of scriptures in this quote, but let me give it to you. John Gill wrote, "For though he himself," talking about Christ, "for though he himself is the Counsellor with respect to his people, yet as man he received counsel from God, and the spirit of counsel rested upon him, and fitted him for and directed him in the execution of his prophetic office. For the doctrine he taught was not his own, but his Father's, and he said nothing of himself but what his Father taught him, and instructed him to speak."
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"And he also gave him counsel about the execution of his priestly office, or about his sufferings and death, drinking of the cup which he with submission to the divine will desired might pass from him, but having advice in this matter most cheerfully and courageously yielded to take it." John Gill says very clearly based upon the scriptures—and he included about 10 scriptures here—that Christ received counsel from His Father and He obeyed. Now if you will turn back in your Bibles to Isaiah 11, here's a prophecy concerning Christ. Isaiah 11. And I want you to note the first three verses. Isaiah 11, verses 1 through 3. Look what it said.
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"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse," it's talking about Christ, "and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." And by the way, one of the names for the Messiah, one of the names for Jesus Christ in the Bible is the Branch. Okay? So, "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."
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Now look, "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 of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge." But notice if you would please, it's the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of counsel that is to be upon Jesus Christ. So our Lord's obedience then to this divine counsel was absolutely perfect. Now, let me show you how perfect it was. Because in John 8 and verse 46, Jesus Christ looked at His enemies and He said this, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?"
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He didn't say that to His friends. He asked that of His enemies. "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" Which of you can show one place, just one place, where I violated the law of God? Not man's interpretation of the law, but a violation of the law of God. Which of you can convict me of a violation of the law of God? No one answered a word.
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Let me tell you something. If His enemies could have shown it, they would have shown it. For they desired to discredit Him totally and completely. In fact, our Lord went on to say in John 8 and verse 29, "He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone;" listen now, "for I do always those things that please him." So on the one hand Christ says no one can convict me of sin. On the other hand Christ said I only always do those things which please Him.
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So perfect counsel and perfect obedience were paramount in our Lord's life. Look in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2. Let me show you again. Philippians chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 8. You can see how our Lord was rewarded for His perfect obedience as He followed that perfect counsel. Philippians chapter 2. Notice if you would verse 8. In fact, let's go back to verse 5 just so that you can see.
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that Christ is in view here. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself," now look, "and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
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So here, this perfect obedience is rewarded with the ascension and the exaltation. And Jesus Christ now has absolute and total dominion.
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Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 9. And I know that you are familiar with this verse, but in light of what we're saying, I want you to see Isaiah 9 and verse 6. And help me out now. Turn there, if you would, Isaiah 9. Look at verse 6. Here's what the scripture says: "For unto us a child is born." How did that child get born? Here's how.
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"Unto us a son is given." Had not God given His Son, no child would have been born. But God gave His Son. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government," that is total dominion, "shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful," what's that next word? "Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever."
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"The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." Note, if you would, He is now Counsellor. He who received perfect counsel and He who obeyed perfect counsel is now the great Counsellor. I want you to note something. He is the living Word of God. And the Bible is the written Word of God. Jesus Christ is wisdom incarnate. And here's something that ought to really thrill your heart. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1 in verse 30, now listen, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." Did you hear that verse? "But of him," that is of the Father, "are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom."
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Do you realize that I don't care how dumb you are intellectually and how the world looks down upon you, if you've been saved by the grace of God, you have been given the wisdom of Jesus Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, those ones that are despised and looked down upon by the world are called of God and chosen of God to confound the mighty and confound the wise. Why? Because the wisdom of God is wiser.
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In fact, let me go back. The scripture says the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man. And we have been made wisdom in Christ. We who have no wisdom have been given wisdom in Christ. Now, here's the question. Let's go back to Psalm 16. I've showed you how that Jesus Christ received perfect wisdom and obeyed perfectly. The question has to be asked, now how does this apply to us? We understand how it applies to Jesus Christ. How did it apply to David? How does it apply to us? Well, let's go back to verse 6. Look what David wrote. David said, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places."
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"Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." Hmm.
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Now, I want you to note, he said, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." Notice what he said now, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." Notice, then he said, "I have a goodly heritage." David is claiming here that the Lord is his portion and he states that he has a good heritage. Let me ask this question: What was this heritage that David is saying is goodly? Let me go back and ask it another way. Let me ask this: What was his heritage as a child of God? Well, he said, "I have a goodly heritage."
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"Lines have fallen to me in pleasant places." I want you to hold Psalm 16, but go in your Bibles first to Romans 9 and let's see what kind of heritage David has as a child of God. We're going to Romans 9 and then we'll turn back to Romans 3. Look in Romans 9 and look at verses 4 and 5. Now here's the heritage David is talking about.
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Paul writes, verse 4, "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."
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Now let me point something out. Listen carefully. It was Israel that received the law of God, the covenants, the worship, the service. It was not the Assyrians. It was not the Babylonians. It was not the Moabites. It was not the Jebusites or the Hivites or the Hittites. It was only Israel. Go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 3. Watch carefully. Romans 3 verse 1. "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." What advantage did Judah have and Israel have over all the other nations? "Chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." They had the written Word of God. Now here's the question.
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We have seen how Jesus Christ has made in us wisdom because He's expressly called the wisdom of God. But let me show you something that you may have overlooked in your reading of the Bible. Turn to Luke 11 and look at verse 49. Luke 11, verse 49. Now remember, Jesus Christ is speaking. He's pronouncing woes upon the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And in Luke 11, in verse 49, He says, "Therefore also said the wisdom of God."
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"I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute." And then He goes on. I just want to call your attention to one thing. Christ is quoting the scripture. And He said, "Therefore also said the wisdom of God." Jesus Christ is the living wisdom of God. And the Bible is the written wisdom of God. The whole of scripture is referred to by Jesus Christ as the wisdom of God. Now listen, it may be accurately said that he who neglects Jesus Christ neglects wisdom, salvation, and deliverance. And it may be accurately said, he who also neglects the Word of God, neglects wisdom, salvation, and deliverance. The source of our counsel, the source of our wisdom is twofold. It is Christ, the living Word, and the Bible, the written Word.
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Now that is why in 2 Timothy chapter 2 in verse 15, we've been commanded, now listen carefully, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Study to show yourself approved unto God.
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Now, let me just clear up a little misconception. I've heard a few well-meaning Christians who wanted really and truly to appear super pious and super spiritual. And by the way, I am always cautious of anyone who wants to appear super pious and super spiritual. And whenever you see these TV preachers with these sweet, syrupy smiles on their faces all of the time, and they walk around all the time with that sweet, syrupy smile, you just better be careful.
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I got news for you. I don't always walk around with a smile on my face. I don't. And neither do you. Because there are things that concern you and there are things that you don't want to smile about. But I've heard some well-meaning Christians say this, well, they didn't have to study. And they didn't have to read their Bible because the Spirit teaches them. The Holy Spirit will bring things to their mind. Well now folks, let me tell you, there is a verse that rings similar to that in the Scripture.
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Let me quote it for you. John 14 verse 26, when our Lord said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things." He did say that, but He didn't stop there. "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Wait a minute. How can the Holy Spirit bring truths to your remembrance if you've never read them? If you've never studied them? If you've never thought about them? If you've never meditated, how can you remember that which you've never experienced? How can you remember that which you've never read?
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You see, David said, "I have a goodly heritage." What was his goodly heritage? First, he had the law and the covenants, and he read them and he knew them both. You cannot remember that which you've never read. You cannot remember that which you've never experienced. And how in the world do you know whether or not you have a goodly heritage if you've never read it? Secondly, David said, if you look back in Psalm 16 in verse 7, David said this in verse 7, look at it.
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He said, "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." And by the way, in the Hebrew, the word night is actually plural, "in the nights seasons." In other words, it was not just one night. It was a multitude of nights.
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Now a question has to be asked. What does David mean when he says, "my reins also instruct me in the night season"? Let me tell you what the Hebrew word reins literally means. Kidneys. Kidneys. My kidneys instruct me. Some of us understand that very well. At 10, 2, and 4, and I'm not talking about in the daytime. But the word reins means kidneys. But the word reins is usually just a word which refers then to the secret inner workings in man. It actually refers to his heart and to his emotions.
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For instance, let me give you two quick verses. I want you to turn to Jeremiah 17. Both of these verses will be in Jeremiah. Look in Jeremiah 17 in verse 10. Just to show you how the word reins really refers to the innermost workings of man, Jeremiah 17 verse 10, God says, "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." So when the Lord searches the heart and He tries the reins, He's trying the innermost workings of man, our secret thoughts, our imaginations. Then if you look in Jeremiah 20 and verse 12, here it is again, and there's a multitude of times, but just two of them here. Jeremiah 20 and verse 12, "But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart."
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"Let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause." Notice it's God who sees the reins. He sees the innermost workings of man's thoughts. So David says, "my reins also instruct me in the night seasons."
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Now what does he mean by that? Well, what David could mean is simply this, that he meditates upon his bed during the night seasons. In other words, it's not just during the daytime that he thinks about God and His Word. It's during the nighttime as well. While others may be sleeping, David is saying, my mind is working. My mind is fixed upon the things of God. I try to improve the silence. I try to improve the leisure. I try to improve the solitude of the night with holy meditations, and I try to excite my affections toward God. It could mean that David was just simply lying there meditating upon God and upon His Word. However, it could also mean something else. I don't doubt that David did just what I have described to you, but this verse could also refer to the teaching and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. It is God who must educate us. It is God who must illuminate our understanding. Now, let me tell you what the Apostle Paul wrote Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, he said this, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
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Now note that, very simple, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Now what did Paul tell Timothy? He said, Timothy, you think about what I have written. You meditate upon it. You study it. And as you study, and as you think, and as you meditate, the Lord gives the understanding of all things. In other words, it's not just study alone. God has to open your eyes. You see, it is our responsibility to study.
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It is God's grace and mercy that illuminates our mind and enables us to understand. And the truth is really simple, folks. If God does not give us understanding, if He does not illuminate our mind to apply the truth and the wisdom of God, all of our study is useless. So David could not only be referring, in verse 7, to his own personal meditations, but he also could be referring to the work of God the Holy Spirit, even as he lay in bed at night.
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Now, let me ask that you turn to two passages. The first one is Job 33, and the second one is John 16. So let's go to Job 33, and then we're going to John 16. Just to show you that God is not confined to the daytime, notice Job 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 14. Look what he says. Job 33, verse 14. I love this. "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not." Do you realize that God can speak to you at times and you don't even know it's God speaking to you, but He does. So He says, "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not."
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Now watch, "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." He is just as capable of speaking in the night. He opens our ears. He seals our instruction. There's a verse similar in the New Testament.
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Look in John 16, verses 13 and 14. Notice what the Bible says. John 16, verses 13 and 14. Our Lord is talking about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and He says this, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." What did He say? The Holy Spirit will guide you into truth.
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He's not going to open your mind to understand something that you've never heard, never read, never studied. No. He will guide you in the truth that is true. And He will not speak of Himself. He will show you, He said, whatsoever He's received of Me. What have we received of Christ? We've received His Word. What's the Holy Spirit going to teach us? He's going to teach us His Word. Now listen, please. This is very important. Here is illumination. Here is the definition. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. What?
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Let me say that again. It is important. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. It is not revelation. When you say, well, let me show you what the Holy Spirit just revealed to me. The Holy Spirit didn't just reveal anything to you. He may have illuminated your mind to understand previously revealed truth. You see, revelation is an act of God whereby God reveals to the human mind things never known before.
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For instance, who wrote the first five books of the Bible? Moses. Okay. What's in the first three chapters of Genesis? Creation. How did Moses know what happened? He didn't live then. He wasn't around. The way Moses knows what happened and knew what happened was because God revealed it to him. That's revelation. And he penned it. Revelation is the act of God whereby God reveals truth never known before to the human mind. There is no further revelation. The Bible says, and very clearly in Hebrews chapter 1, that God in these last days has spoken us by His Son. If you try to tell me today that God is giving additional revelation, what you're trying to tell me is that Jesus Christ is not the full and final revelation of God, and the Bible is not the complete Word of God. So illumination then means that God, the Holy Spirit, guides us to understand that which He has already revealed. That's what illumination is. In other words, the Holy Spirit powerfully instructs and convincingly teaches us how to walk and how to live.
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How to apply the wisdom that God has already given us in this perfect counsel. And sometimes God does it with a very strong hand. In fact, Isaiah 8:11 says this, "For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people." So God oftentimes instructs us in a very strong way. And I've got news for you.
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When that instruction comes, it comes through this Word. He does bring things to our remembrance that we've read and we've studied. There's been times in my life I've been talking to people and counseling people and all of a sudden a verse comes to my mind that I probably hadn't read in a long time, but it comes to my mind and it's the perfect verse that I need to help that individual. But it can't come to my mind if I don't read it, if I don't study it, if I don't know it. Here's what Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, based upon Psalm 16 in verse 7, listen carefully.
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He said, "By the reins understand the inner man, the affections and the feelings. The communion of the soul with God brings to it an inner spiritual wisdom, which in still seasons is revealed to itself. Our Redeemer spent many nights alone upon the mountain, and we may readily conceive that together with his fellowship with heaven, he carried on a profitable commerce with himself, reviewing his experience, forecasting his work, and considering his position."
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"Great generals fight their battles in their own mind long before the trumpet sounds, and so did our Lord win our battle on His knees before He gained it on the cross. It is a gracious habit after taking counsel from above to take counsel within. Wise men see more with their eyes shut by night than fools can see by day with their eyes open. He who learns from God and so gets the seed, will soon find wisdom within himself growing in the garden of his soul."
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"Thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. The night seasons which the sinner chooses for his sins is the hallowed hour of quiet when believers hear soft still voices from heaven and of the heavenly life within themselves." So Spurgeon is saying once again that great generals fight their battles in their mind long before the trumpet sounds and God gives us understanding as we study and as we read His perfect counsel.
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So the questions that you need to ask are these: Have you been counseled by the Lord and His Word? Have you received this counsel or have you refused to listen to that counsel? There are so many that could save themselves so many heartaches if they would just simply hear and heed and obey the Word of God. God gives us counsel to deliver us from our sins. Most of us in this room have children. And I can honestly say, and you can honestly say, it grieves you and breaks your heart when you see your children committing some of the same sins that you committed.
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You've done everything you can to stop them. You've done everything you can to teach them. And guess what? They still refuse. They will not hear. They will not listen. And they go straight on in their sin. And they suffer the consequences of it. And you could say to your children, "How many heartaches I could save you if you would just listen to your dad or just listen to your mother."
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Do you not know that is why God gave us this book? What did he say? "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." How in the world can you refuse the counsel of God? God tells you how to live. He tells you how to invest. He tells you what real money is. He tells you how to treat your wife. He tells you how to treat your husband. He tells you how to discipline your children. He tells you how to conduct yourself. He tells you everything that you need to know. The question is, will you listen to His counsel?
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Now, let me make some applications, and I do want you to turn to 1 Peter chapter 1, I'm sorry, 2 Peter chapter 1, and I want you to see this first application. I want you to understand how gracious and kind our Heavenly Father is to provide for us everything that we need to walk through this life. We just need to learn to obey. Look in 2 Peter 1 in verse 3, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Now I want you to note something. "According as his divine power," look carefully, "hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." If you want to know how to live, if you want to know how to be godly, God has given us that. But where has He given it? Look, "through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." God's given us everything we need.
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We have the greatest counsel from the greatest Counsellor. The counsel of God is ours if we will just hear and obey. In Ezekiel 33 in verse 11, God said this, "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Why are you going this way?
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I've given you everything you need to avoid that. Why? We have the greatest counsel. Why would we continue in sin? Why would we continue in practices and habits that destroy us when God has told us exactly how to change things and how to live our lives pleasing and honoring to Him? Here's a second application. When we see and hear and obey, the outcome will be a heart rightly affected and more disposed to praise God for the fact that His grace has inclined our hearts to love Him and to serve Him. You know, I don't know if this has ever affected you or not, but it has affected me.
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Alice and I enjoy watching the History Channel and you always have to take the History Channel with a grain of salt on many occasions. But when they start showing some of these natives, some of these foreign people and their gods and their religions and what they do to themselves and what they do to each other, how can you not say, "Thank God You've given me Your Word. Thank God you've opened my understanding. Thank God I don't think like that. I don't act like that. I don't live like that. I don't want to be like that." What a joy and what a blessing it is when you realize that God has given you truth. He's not only given you truth, He's given you a mind to understand it and comprehend it and apply it. And if that doesn't make you want to praise Him, I don't know what will. You don't have to go to foreign lands.
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Just look in Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. and say, "Thank God we don't think like those reprobates."
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We have the perfect counsel from the perfect Counsellor. Here's the last application. If Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is not only perfect God, but perfect man—if the perfect man needed to listen to the counsel of His Father, how much more do you and I need to hear and heed that counsel? If we want to be like Christ, if we want to be holy and godly, if we want to be able to say with Christ, "For I do always those things that please him," we need to hear His counsel and obey His Word. We have the perfect counsel and the perfect Counsellor.
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I don't care what your problems are. I don't care if they're financial. I don't care if they're family. I don't care if they're personal. I don't care what the problems are. I'm here to tell you His Word has the answer. His Word has the answer. And if you neglect it, you'll just go on with your problems and your heartaches. No problem is ever resolved unless you resolve it scripturally and biblically. Once it's resolved biblically, it's taken care of.
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We have the perfect counsel and the perfect Counsellor. We just need to obey. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we do ask for your grace and mercy in our lives. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for Jesus Christ. Thank you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. And Father, we pray that you'd give us grace to obey, help us to live for Thee, and to honor Thee in every area of our lives. In Christ's name, we ask it. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T17:16:07Z

The Greatest Counsel

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver preaches from Psalm 16, emphasizing that God provides perfect counsel through His Word and through Jesus Christ. He explains how Christ, as the perfect man, received and obeyed the Father's counsel, and how believers today have access to the same perfect counsel through Scripture and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. The sermon urges hearers to study, meditate on, and obey God's Word to avoid heartache and live pleasing to God.

Introduction: The Need for Perfect Counsel

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:1-11

"Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust." "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:1-11

"Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight." "Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel." "My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

The Fool Rejects Counsel

Using Proverbs, Weaver defines a biblical fool as one who refuses to listen to godly counsel, insisting on their own way. Many seek counseling only for approval of their predetermined decisions.

And trying to talk them out of their determined course of action is like talking to a stone wall. In Proverbs 12 and verse 15, we read this:

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 12:15

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

Psalm 16 Applies to Christ

Weaver demonstrates that Psalm 16 speaks of both David and the greater David, Jesus Christ, citing verses 10 and 11 as New Testament references to Christ's resurrection and exaltation.

Christ Received and Obeyed the Father's Counsel

Explaining Christ's two natures, Weaver shows that as the sent servant, Christ received counsel from the Father, grew in wisdom (Luke 2), and perfectly obeyed, fulfilling Isaiah 11:2.

Scripture Reading — John 14:28

But on the other hand, since Jesus Christ is God, He could just as rightfully and truthfully say in John 10 and verse 30, "I and my Father are one." You see, the Bible says it like this in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Without all controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, just very quickly, hold Psalm 16, but turn over in your Bibles to John chapter 1. The Gospel of John. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Look in John chapter 1 very quickly. And notice if you would please what the scripture says here, just showing you that Jesus Christ is indeed God in the flesh. In John 1 and verse 1, we read this: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Scripture Reading — John 6:38

"I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

Christ's Perfect Obedience and Exaltation

Christ's sinless life (John 8:46) and perfect obedience (Philippians 2) led to His exaltation. He is now the Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6) and believers are made wisdom in Him (1 Corinthians 1:30).

He didn't say that to His friends. He asked that of His enemies.

Scripture Reading — John 8:46, 29

"Which of you convinceth me of sin?"

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:30

Do you realize that I don't care how dumb you are intellectually and how the world looks down upon you, if you've been saved by the grace of God, you have been given the wisdom of Jesus Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, those ones that are despised and looked down upon by the world are called of God and chosen of God to confound the mighty and confound the wise. Why? Because the wisdom of God is wiser. In fact, let me go back. The scripture says the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man. And we have been made wisdom in Christ. We who have no wisdom have been given wisdom in Christ. Now, here's the question. Let's go back to Psalm 16. I've showed you how that Jesus Christ received perfect wisdom and obeyed perfectly. The question has to be asked, now how does this apply to us? We understand how it applies to Jesus Christ. How did it apply to David? How does it apply to us? Well, let's go back to verse 6. Look what David wrote. David said, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places."

The Believer's Heritage and Counsel

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:4-5

"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."

Let me quote it for you. John 14 verse 26, when our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:26

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things."

He did say that, but He didn't stop there.

Scripture Reading — John 14:26

"He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

The Ministry of Illumination

Applications: Hear and Obey God's Counsel

God has given all things for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Believers must listen to Scripture to avoid sin and heartache. If Christ needed the Father's counsel, how much more do we?

Just look in Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. and say, "Thank God we don't think like those reprobates."

The Greatest Counsel

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	IdhYjtvTsS8
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-02-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 081: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 1 — Chapter 9
Source Timed Segments	76

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Need for Perfect Counsel: Weaver introduces Psalm 16 and highlights the turmoil in families, churches, and the nation due to bad counsel. He asks what one would give for absolutely perfect counsel that would prevent all mistakes.
The Fool Rejects Counsel: Using Proverbs, Weaver defines a biblical fool as one who refuses to listen to godly counsel, insisting on their own way. Many seek counseling only for approval of their predetermined decisions.
Psalm 16 Applies to Christ: Weaver demonstrates that Psalm 16 speaks of both David and the greater David, Jesus Christ, citing verses 10 and 11 as New Testament references to Christ's resurrection and exaltation.
Christ Received and Obeyed the Father's Counsel: Explaining Christ's two natures, Weaver shows that as the sent servant, Christ received counsel from the Father, grew in wisdom (Luke 2), and perfectly obeyed, fulfilling Isaiah 11:2.
Christ's Perfect Obedience and Exaltation: Christ's sinless life (John 8:46) and perfect obedience (Philippians 2) led to His exaltation. He is now the Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6) and believers are made wisdom in Him (1 Corinthians 1:30).
The Believer's Heritage and Counsel: David's 'goodly heritage' refers to the oracles of God (Romans 3:2). Believers have the written Word and the living Word. The Holy Spirit illuminates previously revealed truth as we study and meditate.
The Ministry of Illumination: Weaver distinguishes revelation from illumination: the Holy Spirit guides believers into understanding Scripture already given. God instructs even in night seasons through meditation and the Spirit's teaching.
Applications: Hear and Obey God's Counsel: God has given all things for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Believers must listen to Scripture to avoid sin and heartache. If Christ needed the Father's counsel, how much more do we?

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Perfect counsel exists and is found in God's Word

Weaver argues that if one had absolutely perfect counsel and followed it, one would never make a mistake. This counsel is available in Scripture.

He asks, 'What would you give to have absolutely perfect counsel? ... If you had absolutely perfect counsel and you followed it, then you could never ever make a mistake or a wrong move.'

Christ's sinless life proves He followed perfect counsel

Jesus challenged His enemies to convict Him of sin (John 8:46), demonstrating His perfect obedience to the Father's counsel.

Weaver quotes John 8:46 and 8:29, emphasizing that Christ always did what pleased the Father.

Believers are made wisdom in Christ

Through union with Christ, believers possess His wisdom, enabling them to confound the worldly wise (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 1:30: 'But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom.'

The Holy Spirit illuminates, He does not give new revelation

Weaver insists that the Spirit's teaching ministry is to guide into already revealed truth, not to impart new doctrines or revelations.

He states, 'Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. It is not revelation.'

Rejecting God's counsel leads to unnecessary suffering

Many heartaches could be avoided if people would simply hear and obey God's Word. God's commands are for our good.

Weaver laments, 'There are so many that could save themselves so many heartaches if they would just simply hear and heed and obey the Word of God.'

Scripture References

Psalm 16:1-11: The entire Psalm is read and serves as the sermon text, focusing on verse 7 regarding counsel.
Proverbs 12:15: Used to define a fool as one who thinks his own way is right and rejects counsel.
Proverbs 23:9: Cited to show that a fool despises wisdom.
Acts 2:27: Quoted to demonstrate that Psalm 16:10 applies to Christ's resurrection.
John 14:28: Used to show Christ's subordination as the sent servant: 'My Father is greater than I.'
John 10:30: Used to show Christ's equality with the Father as God: 'I and my Father are one.'
1 Timothy 3:16: Cited to affirm the mystery of the incarnation: 'God was manifest in the flesh.'
John 1:1, 3, 14: Used to establish Christ's deity and incarnation.
Luke 2:40-52: Shows Christ's growth in wisdom as a child, receiving counsel from the Father.
John 6:38: Christ's statement that He came to do the Father's will, not His own.
Isaiah 11:1-3: Prophecy that the Spirit of counsel would rest upon Christ.
John 8:46, 29: Christ's challenge to His enemies and His claim to always please the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11: Christ's humiliation and exaltation for His obedience.
Isaiah 9:6: Christ is called Counsellor, the one who now gives perfect counsel.
1 Corinthians 1:30: Christ is made unto us wisdom from God.
Romans 9:4-5: Israel's heritage includes the covenants and the law.
Romans 3:1-2: The chief advantage of the Jew was that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Luke 11:49: Jesus refers to Scripture as 'the wisdom of God.'
2 Timothy 2:15: Command to study to show oneself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 14:26: The Holy Spirit will teach and bring to remembrance what Christ has said.

Historical References

Bernie Madoff: Used as an example of people who lost money due to bad counsel.
John Gill: Quoted regarding Christ receiving counsel from the Father for His prophetic and priestly offices.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Quoted on Psalm 16:7, describing the inner spiritual wisdom gained through communion with God in night seasons.

Important Quotes

If you had perfect counsel and you followed that perfect counsel, you would not have any problems. You would always be right and you would always do right.

Summarizes the sermon's central premise that God's counsel is perfect and sufficient to prevent all mistakes.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Key Scripture defining the fool as self-deceived and the wise as those who listen to counsel.

I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

The central verse of the sermon, highlighting David's praise for divine counsel and inner instruction.

How can the Holy Spirit bring truths to your remembrance if you've never read them? If you've never studied them? If you've never thought about them?

Emphasizes the necessity of personal Bible study for the Spirit's ministry of remembrance.

Great generals fight their battles in their own mind long before the trumpet sounds, and so did our Lord win our battle on His knees before He gained it on the cross.

Spurgeon quote illustrating the importance of meditation and prayerful preparation, applied to Christ and believers.

If Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is not only perfect God, but perfect man—if the perfect man needed to listen to the counsel of His Father, how much more do you and I need to hear and heed that counsel?

Final application urging believers to follow Christ's example of dependence on the Father's counsel.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why do many people seek counseling only for approval of their own plans rather than genuine guidance?

[Context]

Weaver observes that most people going to counseling have already decided what to do and just want a stamp of approval.

[Question]

How does Psalm 16 apply both to David and to Jesus Christ?

[Context]

Weaver explains the dual fulfillment, especially in verses 10-11 regarding resurrection.

[Question]

In what ways did Jesus Christ receive and obey the Father's counsel during His earthly life?

[Context]

Weaver cites Luke 2 and John 6:38 to show Christ's growth in wisdom and submission to the Father's will.

[Question]

What is the difference between revelation and illumination, and why is this distinction important?

[Context]

Weaver defines illumination as the Spirit guiding into previously revealed truth, not giving new revelation.

[Question]

How can we cultivate the practice of meditating on Scripture during 'night seasons'?

[Context]

Weaver discusses David's meditation at night and the Spirit's instruction during quiet times.

[Question]

What are some practical ways we can ensure we are hearing and obeying God's counsel in daily decisions?

[Context]

Weaver urges believers to study Scripture and rely on the Spirit to apply it to life.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T08:04:02Z