What does it mean that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor?

Now, bear in mind that in Scripture a name is, generally speaking, descriptive of the one who owns it, and not a mere label without any such meaning as names often are with us today; and then ponder the meaning of "the Name" of the virgin's Son in its fivefold character. "Wonderful." — Something singular or unique, altogether surpassing ordinary human knowledge. "Counsellor." — One marked by wisdom, resource, and authority. He who is in the secret of the divine counsels and able to put them into effect. "The mighty God." — The full title of Deity. The Hebrew word for God is in the singular El, not Elohim, which is plural. The virgin's Son is singularly God, if one may so speak. "The everlasting Father" or "Father of Eternity." — He from whom eternal ages spring and have their being. "The Prince of Peace." — He who will ultimately end all the discords of earth under righteous rule.

This word has various meanings: to guide, to advise, to plan, and to purpose. How important it is that the One who is to sit on David's throne should have this Name and all the qualifications that go with the Name. He will be able to guide perfectly and to advise perfectly, and to plan and purpose perfectly. Such a Ruler will have an astounding and transforming influence over the whole earth. The instability and uncertainty of our times is an indictment of man's unhappy failure in government. Praise God that we have a prophecy like Isaiah 9:6 which focuses our attention on a Counsellor who will be able to implement His plans and purposes. In Isaiah 11:2 the Branch out of Jesse shall have the Spirit of counsel and might. His counsel will be given and received in the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the power and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). The whole passage in Isaiah 11:1-10 is a beautiful and majestic picture of the coming kingdom under the Seed of Jesse. Psalm 73:24 gives the principle of guidance connected with counsel, “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel”. Proverbs 20:18 tells us that “Every purpose is established by counsel”. The exquisite language of Isaiah 46:9-10 should be quoted “I am God, (El: the Mighty One) and there is none else: I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure”. All these references, and there are many more of like character, create confidence in the rule of the Seed of David who bears the Name Counsellor. He will have the wisdom, and the power to effect His wisdom, in His reign of blessing.

“COUNSELLOR.” He will be the Source of all counsel for those who share the government and its benefits in that day. All counsel that is good has already proceeded from Him, for He it is who has said, “Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By Me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By Me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” (Prov. 8:14-16). Divinely suitable it is, indeed, that He should be called “Counsellor.”

Not a question brought to Jesus on earth perplexed Him: the wisdom of the True Solomon, the Greater than Solomon, could meet and answer every hard question. Nor is it different now, for Christ, risen from the dead, and glorified in heaven, "has been made to us wisdom from God" (1 Cor. 1:30). There is not a question that the troubled, anxious sinner can bring to Him but what He will answer in wisdom and in grace. Every difficulty of the saint of God, whether in relation to his individual life, his service for the Lord, or connected with the exercises of the assembly of God, can he brought to Him to resolve. Christians do not require the help of the wise men of this world, for God has said, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent" (1 Cor. 1:19.) All wisdom for the Christian is in Him in whom "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," and we are "complete in Him, which is the Head of every principality and power" (Col. 2:9-10).

How much more there is in that Name! He is our Counsellor. Let us not lean to our own understanding; rather let us sit at His feet, listening to His word. He is the "mighty" God, a word which suggests a "warrior." Why do we attempt things in our own strength? His counsel and His power are available at all times, and in every circumstance. He is "The Everlasting Father," or it might read, "The Father of Eternity." This would show that everything had its origin in Him (Col. 1:17, and hence He has a perfect knowledge of every happening. He is the "Prince of Peace: . the establishment of peace is in His control alone, and "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end."

We realize in deeper measure how perfectly Christ has entered into Manhood as we hear Him say, "I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel." The One who gives divine counsel as God — whose name is Wonderful and Counsellor — is the One who received counsel as Man. No man, as such, is able in his own wisdom to take the path of life in a world of sin. At every step, amidst the confusions of sin and self-will we need divine counsel. If, as the prophet says, we are to know how "to speak a word in season to him that is weary," we must have the ear opened "morning by morning … to hear as the learner." And this again is the language of the Lord. As Man He walked by the daily counsel of God. How necessary that we should be daily at His feet to hear His word.

Next, He says, "I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel." He is our Counsellor, and infinite in wisdom, and for every step of the journey we need divine guidance. Our own wisdom would be valueless to us, and if we were dependent upon it we should quickly lose our way. But our very affection for Christ helps us in our pathway, for where our hearts are true to Him we are quicker to detect what is not of Him and we do not so readily turn aside; thus our "reins also instruct us in the night seasons." In the night seasons when the worldling is asleep the affections of the saint are awake, he meditates on Christ and receives instruction.

As Prince of peace. Christ is the Leader and Finisher (leader and completer. JND Trans.) of the faith (Heb. 12:2). Compare: David and those who came to him for peace (1 Sam. 22:1-2; 1 Chron. 12:17-18). Christ is Counsellor by excellence: He instructs, corrects and counsels (Rev. 3:14-22).

One of the names given to this Child is “Wonderful” [Hebrew pele, meaning something not to be grasped or understood]. The same word is used when the Angel of Jehovah (in this case clearly the Lord Himself), appeared to Manoah and his wife, prophesying the birth of a son. When Manoah, wishing to show homage to the heavenly Visitor, asked Him His name, the reply was given, “Why asks thou thus after My name, seeing it is secret [Hebrew pele]?” (Jud. 13:18).

"Counsel" is thought to be derived from a word meaning to be strong, then to command; and hence, advice. And does not this suggest what all true counsel is — authoritative and binding? Thus our Lord's teaching was "as one having authority." How full was His life of that divinely perfect counsel. A fit accompaniment of this was the Spirit of "might," which, while seemingly in contrast, was really associated with and complementary to the other, giving an evenly balanced display of the Spirit's working. When we think of all His mighty works in mercy upon the helpless and needy, we see how fully the Spirit of might rested upon Him as through the Spirit He wrought His miracles (Luke 4:14).