“The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.” - Psalms 33:10-11
As we enter a new year we have the natural opportunity to connect with the counsel of the Lord and His plans for us.
“The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.” - Psalms 33:10-11
This verse contrasts the counsel of the nations with the counsel of the Lord. The word picture for counsel is the image of a tree. The ancient Hebrew root for tree is etz and for counsel it is otz. The root is 2 ancient Hebrew letters the ayin and the tzadde. The ayin is the symbol for eyes or perspective and the tzadde is a picture of a staircase implying a journey or a climb to ascend to a higher place. Combining them means obtaining the perspective that enables us to go higher. This is what the counsel of the Lord is for.
The Apostle Paul describes this process in Philippians 3:13-14
“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Php 3:13-14, NAS95)
The Hebrew word for counsel is derived from the image of a tree. A tree has a pattern of growth that moves toward the light. A tree “sees” the source of light and naturally grows to it. This is why it is so important to evaluate where we are, receiving “light” or inspiration for our lives. Yeshua told us:
"The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. "Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. "If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.” (Luk 11:34-36, NAS95)
Like the tree, we need light to grow. The Hebrew word for light “or” comes from the root “ar” which means order. The word for counsel being the image of the tree gives us an insight into the importance of what source of light we receive from, the order of the Lord or the chaos of darkness.
Let’s consider some aspects of this embodiment of the Hebrew concept of counsel. When we think of a tree, we first have to think of the seed that the tree comes from. The seed reproduces after its kind.
There are 2 kinds of seed: God-seed and world-seed. They produce 2 very different kinds of fruit from their respective trees.
The trees of righteousness bear good fruit, and the trees of the world bear evil fruit. Yeshua tells us in Matthew 7:15-20
“"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Mat 7:15-20, NKJV)
The connection of false prophets to a bad tree makes total sense when we look at the ancient Hebrew word root, which tells us that the tree is good or bad based on its perspective, leading to eternal life or leading to sin and death.
When we think of the most famous biblical trees, the tree of life, “etz hayyim” or the tree of death known as the tree that brings knowledge of good and evil, “etz ha-da'at tov v’raah”. I think it helpful to look at the tree that brings knowledge of good and evil. God is only good, so knowing Him would also be life. BUT knowing good and evil brings an unsteadiness of life, a double-mindedness that corrupts good with evil.
The word for “knowing” is the Hebrew word da’at, translated as knowledge, first appears in the Bible in reference to this tree. But the second place where it appears is in reference to Adam knowing his wife, Eve. I think this is really important connection because it tells us of a kind of interaction that forever changes reality from a condition of separateness into a new reality of oneness.
The Apostle Paul described the reality of sexual union:
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH." But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1Co 6:15-20, NAS95)
In this way, sexual union is an example of “knowing” good and evil, and it tells us why this tree was forbidden. We were never designed to “know” evil. Evil is the opposite of “good,” what God has planned for us. It was a tree that had its forbidden fruit eaten that brought shame, fear and sin into this world.
What does this have to do with counsel and our plans for the future?
I believe Yeshua was hung and killed on a tree to generate a spiritual antidote to the daily intake of good and evil from the world.
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"—” (Gal 3:13, NAS95).
It was eating from a forbidden tree that brought the curse and it is eating from the fruit of another tree, the tree we call the cross that frees us back into eternal life, eating from the tree we were designed to eat from, the one that reconnects us to the counsel of God, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told His disciples and us: “So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.” (Jhn 6:53-57, NAS95)
Let’s look a little deeper into the source of the dark light so we can be clear about the importance of seeking God’s counsel at this pivotal time in our calendar.
Look with me at Genesis 3:
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'" The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” (Gen 3:1-7, NAS95)
A couple of things that struck me. One is the reference to false prophets and the connection to fruit is so clear. Satan offers tangible fruit to tempt us away from trusting in God. What are some tangible “fruits” he offers? They are called works or deeds of the flesh: Galatians 5:19-21
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21, NAS95)
These deeds or works all come from a source of counsel, a tree that bends towards the false light of Satan.
“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (2Co 11:14-15, NAS95)
Secondly, I noticed that the serpent, Satan, focused on the eyes being opened. We say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. How we see things is a huge battleground. The eyes are the windows of the soul, the doorway of possibility, what we call hope. Depression is a state of hopelessness.
Satan wanted and wants us to lose hope and enter into despair. To win all he has to do is to get us to focus on the circumstances of life, to become realistic. It isn’t that we should live in denial of reality, of the “truth” of our circumstances. That would be as Satanic and illusionary as focusing solely on the “truth” of our circumstances. They are both ditches on the side of the road.
Instead, biblical seeing is opening up our inner sight into the trust in the goodness of our King. It is no accident that as Satan corrupts us through our seeing, and that God restores us through the restoration of Kingdom vision.
“Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Jhn 3:3, NAS95)
It is by a transformation of seeing, the light we turn to that we bring hope into our lives!
Paul prayed this:
“do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might” (Eph 1:16-19, NAS95)
Activation: As we think ahead it is time for a hope revolution. I encourage you to seek the Lord and His counsel for your lives in the year ahead. Take each area and first look at what is and then ask Him for what His hope or promise is for that area. Bless you as you return to the tree of life, the source of eternal life. Take communion and eat of the fruit of eternal life!
Behold, I Am Coming Soon!
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” - Revelation 22:7, NKJV
The New Jerusalem
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev 21:2, NKJV)
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the Battle of Armageddon
“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."” (Rev 19:1-2, NKJV)
Who is Mystery Babylon?
Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. - Matthew 24:3-5 NKJV
The Seven Vials of God's Wrath
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues (vials); for in them is filled up the wrath of God. - Revelation 15:1
The Two Witnesses
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. - Rev 11:3-4
The Seven Trumpets (Shofars)
So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. - Rev 8:6 NKJV
666 - The Mark of the Beast
“And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (Rev 13:16-18, NASB)
The Antichrist and the False Prophet
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2Th 2:3-4)
End Times: The Holy Roman Empire Reborn
"You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. "The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. "You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:31-35 NASB)
End Times: Israel God’s Centerpiece - Part 2
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." (Dan 9:27 NKJV)
End Times: Israel the Centerpiece
“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:” (Gen 15:18, NASB)
World War 3
“And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:15)
Final 3 Seals - 5th, 6th and 7th
“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”” (Rev 5:1-2, NASB)
Who Are the Main Players? The Four Horsemen
“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."” (Rev 5:1-5)
New World Order
“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.” (Rev 13:1-2)
Revelation: The Keys to the Kingdom
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Rev 1:17-18, NASB)“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Rev 1:17-18, NASB)
Understanding the End Times
He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. (Dan 12:9 NASB)
Brit בְּרִית, The Covenant
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."” (Jer 31:31-3NKJV)
Bereshit בְּרֵאשִׁית, The beginning and the End
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:8, NKJV)
Trust, Betach בָּטַח
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore, my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.” (Psa 28:7, NAS95)
Meekness, Canah כָּנַע, Anah עָנָה
“He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic 6:8, NASB)
Integrity, Yashar יָשָׁר
“And He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”” (Exodus15:26,NASB)
Image and Likeness Bearers Tzelem צֶלֶם and Demoot דְּמוּת
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Gen 1:26-27 NASB)
Succoth - The Mishkan - Tabernacle
““Have them construct a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. “According to all that I am going to show you as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, so you shall construct it.” (Exo 25:8-9, NASB)
Yom Kippur: Alignment
“That they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. “The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me.” (Joh 17:21-23, NASB)
Yom Teruah, Day of the Shout of The King
“"He has not observed misfortune in Jacob; Nor has He seen trouble in Israel; The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.” (Num 23:21, NAS95)