The Wonderful Counselor Versus Secular Counselors

Introduction: In 1879, Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt, a German physician and professor, founded the first formal laboratory for psychological research at the University of Leipzig, Germany. This research laboratory marked the beginning of psychology as an independent field of study. Wundt is known today as one of the founding figures of modern psychology. Psychology has overgrown and affected almost all aspects of modern life, including government, courts, schools, business, social work, nursing, engineering, and even church.

Sadly, many prominent early figures of psychology were secular, held anti-Christian views, and built their presuppositions on things that often are in direct conflict with the fundamental assumptions of Christianity. As a result, many of them have reached psychological conclusions and developed counseling techniques that conflict with the true Word of God, as revealed in the Bible. Sigmund Freud, for example, believed that religious people were immature and neurotic. Another example is Albert Ellis. In his opinion, religion sabotages mental health, and religious people are masochistic, emotionally disturbed, stubborn, neurotic, obsessive-compulsive, motivated by anxiety, guilt-ridden, self-condemning, inflexible, and unwilling to accept uncertainty in life.

Today, I want to introduce you to an extraordinary counselor whose counseling surpasses all counselors. His name is Jesus Christ. Let me tell you about His background. Two thousand seven hundred years ago, the people of Israel faced one of the darkest and most hopeless situations of their lives. The reason was, according to Isaiah 8:19, that they had abandoned God. They no longer trusted in Him. Instead, they worshiped idols and consulted mediums and even dead people. God, who had been so patient with them, finally thought, "Enough is enough." If the Israelite chose to do that, He would no longer protect them from their enemies. He would allow a great nation from the north, Assyria, to attack and take them into captivity.

But God is so loving and merciful. Just a few verses later, He said there would be a time of hope and light - hope and light brought by the birth of a child. Look at Isaiah 9:2 - "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned." Yes, Israel, you have walked in darkness. Yes, Israel, you have been living in the land of the shadow of death. But there will be hope. And then, in verse 6, He tells them why: "For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was born seven hundred years later, or two thousand years ago: "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus is the One God promised in Isaiah 9:6. Only He can be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

In Hebrew, "Wonderful Counselor" is "Pele' yo'hetz." "Pele" means wonderful, but it goes beyond that. It's used dozens of times throughout the O.T., and it tends to mean "wonderful" in the sense of "the best ever" or "better than anyone else could expect to do." Because it usually describes something so great only God can do it, almost all the Bible's references to "pele" refer to God. For example, David says about God, "You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God" (Psalm 86:10). The word "marvelous" is "pele." Jesus is wonderful in a way that is boggling to the mind. Jesus demonstrated His wonderfulness in various ways when He was on the earth, beginning with His conception in the womb of a virgin (Matthew 1:23). He showed He is the "wonderful" One in His power to heal (Matthew 4:23), His exceptional teaching (Mark 1:22), His perfect life (Hebrews 4:15), and His resurrection from the dead (Mark 16:6). Jesus taught many wonderful things that are counterintuitive to the human mind: "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matthew 5:4). "Rejoice and be glad" in persecution (Matthew 5:11–12). "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27). Jesus' kind of wonderful is awe-inspiring and superior to any other category, for He is perfect in every way (Matthew 5:48).

The second part of the Messiah's title is the word "counselor" or "Yo'hetz" in Hebrew. The term is used in wisdom literature to describe someone who gives advice. Proverbs 11:14: "Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people (1 Kings 4:34; Micah 4:9). Isaiah uses this word again in 28:29 to describe the LORD: "This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom."