Zephaniah 3:1-4 says, “1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the tyrannical city! 2 She heeded no voice, she accepted no instruction. [It mentions in two different ways that she did not take counsel.] She did not trust in YHVH, she did not draw near to her Elohim. [Idiomatic phrase meaning she did not bring her offerings.  Could it be that she did not believe she “could afford” to give her offerings and did not trust YHVH would meet her needs if she would but give back to Him what had been provided by Him in the first place?  Our giving truly shows that we know all provision comes by the hand of our Creator; therefore we place our trust in Him.] 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions, her judges are wolves at evening; they leave nothing for the morning. 4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.”

Jeremiah 11:1-5, 10 says;   “1 The word which came to Jeremiah from YHVH, saying, 2 “Hear the words of this covenant, [When we “hear/Shema” with the intent to obey it is the same as taking counsel] and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 and say to them, ‘Thus says YHVH, the Elohim of Israel, “Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant [Take counsel] 4 which I commanded your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Listen to My voice [Take counsel], and do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your Elohim,’ 5 in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I said, “Amen, O YHVH.  10 “They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors who refused to hear My words [Refused to take Yah’s counsel], and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.” [All we have to do to inherit what has been promised to us is heed the word or the counsel given to us in the Word.  The phrase “He’s dying to give it to us!!” couldn’t be more true of our Messiah, because He literally died to bring us back into the covenant that we broke through our lack of heeding counsel…this led us into complete rebellion and disobedience.   However, the reverse is true when we do heed the counsel of the Word…we inherit ALL that has been promised to us with blessing on top of that.]

Following the giving of the Spirit on Shavuot in the books of Acts, Peter gives a dynamic message.  In Acts 2:14-16 which says; “14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:” Peter starts his message with the imperative to give heed to my words…take to heart the counsel I am about to give to you.  He knows that if they will hear his counsel they will gain great understanding that they are the generation that is the beginning of the fulfilment of a prophecy that they have been taught all of their lives.

Next week will continue with the Spirit of Counsel in Acts 2 with Peter’s message and what the prophet Joel spoke!!  May we purpose to be a people who heed the counsel of the Word of YHVH through our obedience!!

Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!

Tammy

Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a