This passage is recognized by most as Messianic, and therefore speaking about Jesus Christ, though of the Old Testament. Jesus said we should search the Old Testament for it was that which spoke of Him, therefore we should not be surprised to find such verses of prophecy there. However, have you ever considered that these are also words of promise to you? We readily claim the New Testament passage that says we are joint heirs with Christ. We should as readily understand that though of prophecy such passages as the one before us are also for us, for what God does for one child He will surely do for all. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29 AV). As the child of God being conformed to the image of our Lord, should we not be as He was when confronted with the things and power of this earth?

There is an old saying that misery loves company. There appears to be some truth in this speaking as a man and of this world, for what do we do when things are just plain all around lousy except to share the misery with one and all? How many when faced with difficult problems ask everyone they know and have the least confidence in, and even some they might not otherwise associate with for advice? Perhaps as you do these things you even quote Scripture whereby we read "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14 AV).

The world is filled with professional counselors, Christian and otherwise. The church has bought into the deceit that says we need professional counselors to survive the darker side of living on earth. Many larger churches have professional counselors on staff. My professor in seminary for counseling did not have a degree in theology, but was a licensed psychologist, who also was on the staff of a local church for pastoral counseling. He had his own office complete with receptionist and secretary. The church charged for his services, at a discounted rate for members of course. This should not be! There may be times when external intervention by a "qualified" counselor is needed. I do not wish to attack those who so find themselves in the care of professionals. I do warn that if they are not Christians in addition to being trained counselors, you are skirting the very edge of hell itself.

If we have placed our trust in God, then why is it we turn to Him who created us, and who is named "Counselor" as the last resort? I recently listened to Elizabeth Elliott presented this passage in almost these words, and saying this was her favorite passage when faced with difficulties or questions, and that she always first turned to God before "sharing" the trial with even her most trusted friends and mentors. The heathen turn to meditation as if the answer lay within man, the Christian turns to man as if the answers to life could be obtained from numbers, or by consensus of counselors. Elizabeth has found the only source of real power, and the only place of safety for mankind, the bosom of the Son.

God has sworn never to desert us, and that we can not utterly despair, yet that is how we "choose" to live the majority of the time. No wonder then we are tossed about by the seas of life. God has spoken and so it is, God will help us. Note the beginning of verse seven in making this same statement then continues to an action taken by the person, "I have set my face like a flint." I know the source of my strength, I know through Christ I can do all things, so I refuse to let the circumstances of the moment remove my eyes from Jesus, the source of that power and the real help in this life and the next. I continue to do what must be done, taking the next step as life presents it, appearing perhaps to be completely unaware of the dire circumstance surrounding me. This is not as the earthly counselor would suggest, psychological denial, it is a sureness in the God who loves me with an everlasting love that cannot fail. There is not a believer who will deny this is true, yet we all seem to forget it so easily when needed. The eastern religions don’t miss the boat psychologically speaking, and make use of an earthly device, meditation, to relieve the stress and worry of life. Yet we have a source of real power in prayer, claiming that which God has already promised to us that brings the same earthly affect as meditation, with the added truth that it isn’t a vain undertaking, but commanded by God Himself that we pray in all things (Philippians 4:6).

When we are faced with that situation or person who brings stress, turmoil, or strife into our life, we are not ashamed of Him who has called us from darkness into the light, "I hid not my face from shame or spitting." I am not ashamed to call upon God anywhere at anytime. The insults (spitting) of those around me change not my resolution, for I have set my face like flint, knowing in whom I have put my trust.

The trap of the evil one in presenting my enemies as being on the winning side has no effect, for I have heard the voice of God, "Lo they shall wax old as a garment’ the moth shall eat them up." We face a defeated enemy, and though in many places such as this passage we know that we are never alone in the battles of life, we find another truth here also. "Let us stand together: who is mine adversary? I included the variant readings in the opening rendering of the Scripture because I believe that here I find the answer of the "instinct" of man to turn to others finds a place to turn in the physical world, as well as the spiritual world. I read this not in the way as if it is asking who is against me (adversary), but who is he that stands by me, who is my adversary as in spokesman. While this in context is pointing out that God is my adversary and who dare contend with God, I also believe it is that we are to comfort and strengthen each other. So in an almost reversal of what may have been the understanding in the paragraph regarding turning to counselors, I say this is where godly counsel enters and the purpose God has brought us together in fellowship as the body of Christ becomes manifest to the troubled soul.

First we immediately and without doubt turn to God in prayer, knowing the payer will be answered and the answer will not be no. Then we turn to the family, the body of Christ. As wild animals seek to divide their prey from the flock before moving in for the kill so Satan does go about as a roaring lion to see whom he can frighten or shame into bolting for the cover of the world instead of the covering of God and the protection of the body of Christ, the flock of God. So it is that Satan would have each of us believe that we are unique and there is none that can understand our problems, nor who can help, that we might be separated and isolated for the kill.

Take courage, you are never alone, and in the body of Christ have many who are ready to be your adversary in the court of life; those whom the Lord has declared competent to offer counsel, our brothers and sisters in Christ! So we are blessed that we might be a blessing.