Get Your Wisdom and Counsel from Heaven

2 Samuel 5:19

“So David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The LORD answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.” 

This one phrase “So David inquired of the LORD”  tells us all we need to know about the character of the man. David was a man of war who received his marching orders from heaven. The Scriptures tell us that he had valiant skilled fighting men, who could offer solid counsel in times of war. David was always open to insight, but he valued the counsel from above most of all. Long before Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, David was praying for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The secret to David’s success is found in his willingness to inquire of the Lord for His counsel, before making his decisions. The wisdom from heaven was his guide, the word of the Lord filled his thoughts and brought him victory every time.  The best tactics of David’s enemies were of no use against the man who waited and received the mind of God on the matter. David passed this secret on to Solomon after him: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” (Proverbs 21:30). What could the Philistines possibly do against a person whose God is willing to fight for them and through them? (See 2 Samuel 5:22-25).

Call on the God Who Fights for You

At the Red Sea Pharaoh of Egypt discovered just how powerless he and his armies were against a people who called on the God who fought for them. “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).  And again,  “During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt” (Exodus 14:24-25).

Follow the Example of Jesus

From Genesis to Revelation you will find that God did mighty things on behalf of those who called on Him and waited for His instructions. Listen to the voices of those who have fought alongside God and won: “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us”(Isaiah 8:10). Jesus modeled this way of life and told whoever would listen “follow me.” The secret to Jesus’ success is found in his own words: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does…” (John 5:19-20).

If God is for you who can possibly be against you? “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ…” (2 Corinthians 2:14). Listen to the gentle promptings of the Spirit calling you to wait on God for wisdom and insight from heaven. Whatever you may be up against, no matter how impossible it may seem, call on the Lord who fights for you. Never entertain thoughts of defeat, because nothing is impossible with God. Call on Him when you aren’t sure what to do, call on Him before making important decisions, get your wisdom and your counsel from heaven, and Be Encouraged! -JSP