Rejecting the Counsel of God
The first psalm describes the character of those who are blessed by God. “He does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.” The implication of these words is that if one does walk in the counsel of the ungodly, he is cursed. The psalmist has in mind walking in the counsel of ungodly men and the blessedness of those who walk in the counsel of the godly men. Think of how this is magnified when we think of the importance of walking in the counsel of the godly One. The New Testament speaks often about this.
The counsel of God is revealed in the Bible. Paul described the breath of this counsel when he said, “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Messengers of God must speak the truth (1 Pet. 4:11); they must speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15); and they must speak the entirety of God’s will. Even if men reject what is taught, the messenger is still innocent. Paul said, “I am innocent from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned. . .” (Acts 20:26).
The counsel of God cannot be changed by any person on earth. David said, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psa. 119:89). The English Standard Version emphasizes the word settled. “Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” God has revealed His counsel in His words and decrees the blessing of those who follow it. It is remarkable that men so often choose to reject His counsel.
The New Testament affirms this truth even more emphatically. It speaks of the unchangeable character, the immutability, of His counsel (Heb. 6:17). Those who seek to change His counsel are condemned by God. Paul reveals how the curse of God awaits every man, every angel and even Paul himself if they perverted the gospel he had preached (Gal. 1:8-9).
This counsel of God is spoken of by the Holy Spirit in His discussion of the greatness of John the Baptist and the message he brought. He said that all the people who heard John, even the tax collectors, . . . justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.” What about those who were not baptized by John? “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will (the Greek word is counsel) of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him” (Luke 7:29-30).
Let me urge you to devote time in your life to read about His will, His counsel in your life. When every Bible is burned up with the fires of heaven consuming the earth, there will be one copy that remains to be used by the Judge of all mankind to measure our lives (Rev. 20:12). That counsel is firmly fixed in heaven, it is immutable. To reject its teaching on any topic, even the baptism revealed by Jesus, is to reject the counsel of God. Think about this!