What So Ever You Do Will Prosper

Before we examine this concept of advice, I think we should first grab a handle on the actual Hebrew word used here in this first verse used for counsel.

Ps 1:1

Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

 NIV

In the original language we can see it is actually advice but by implication a plan, and by extension that would be a plan of action, a course of action. Notice the Hebrew word here and how it is defined”

`etsah

OT:6098 `etsah (ay-tsaw'); from OT:3289; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence:

So keeping in line with that kind of interpretation, when we think about so many of the areas where we intermingle with the world, it would seem that it may be difficult, if not, almost impossible not to take advice from the world. What if we were to look at education? How could we learn if we did not sit under the instruction of teachers, who may not be saved? How do we deal with that? We must also undergo training for many of the jobs that we have. In most cases, unbelievers do this training. How do we deal with this as well?

What if we join the Military? Not only are we instructed, trained, but commanded by men or women who, many times, are not believers?  True, there may be some who are believers; however, that is not the norm. I think we could use Moses as an example of one who was not only instructed by unbelievers, but one who was raised in an unbelieving home. He was instructed as if he was one of Pharaohs sons. Moses was instructed in city planning, architecture, government, military strategy as well as the basics of writing, reading and math by a culture that was completely different in their beliefs than his. He learned all he would need in the future from the unbelieving world. But he did not accept their advice on how to apply that knowledge. When the time had come he chose to listen to the small still voice of God. This meant he had to leave the unsaved world he was familiar with and travel into unknown regions. There he learned more knowledge and understanding, which would provide him with the skills needed to accomplish the task God had for him. When God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, he was able to obey, after having listened to the advice from God.

I believe we can make a statement that advice is, counsel on what a person should do in life. It is counsel or suggestions as to what choices a person should make, choices that affect a person’s life.  Choices that determine the path one travels. Can we learn basic knowledge from the world? I believe so.  How we apply that knowledge, and to what “cause” we apply it, is advice. This would certainly agree with the original meaning of a course of action, or a plan.