The Great Counselor

Isaiah 9:6
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2007 Harold Dinsmore

               The angels, numbering perhaps thousands, appeared with the angel who had brought the message of a Savior to the shepherds in Luke 2.  In verse 14 we are informed of what it was they proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased.”

               Just what is meant by peace among men?  The King James Version says, “And on earth, peace, good will toward men.”  The secret of peace, which is found in the Prince of Peace we will discuss in a few weeks, lies in Messiah’s counseling abilities.  His name is declared to be Counselor.  When one hears the word counselor, what comes to mind?

               Usually, we get counseling when something is wrong.  When we get counseling for whatever warped reasons, people attach a stigma to it.  Many times it has been overheard, “Oh, Clara, there’s Dick & Jane – they’re getting counseling, you know, marriage counseling – too bad.”  Or one might hear, “Walter is going for counseling.” As they make “this motion” (screwy motion).

               And so the majority of us wait too long to receive counseling.  We wait until we approach a nervous breakdown, or our marriages are destroyed or we have sunk into deep depression.

               For some reason, we don’t like people thinking we are human and have needs.  In our text the writer declares empathetically that the child born will carry the entire weight of the government of the universe upon His shoulders – our Counselor – the Great Counselor – can handle whatever it is you have to share with Him.