Psalm 8:1
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Obadiah. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse 8:
Obadiah 8 Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
Edom, the land of Esau, Jacob’s elder brother, was situated in the southern region of the Dead Sea and today includes parts of southern Jordan and Israel. Obadiah prophesied the disappearance of Edom and the endurance of Israel, and so it is today.
How did Esau’s famous city, Edom, come to be cursed to extinction? Because of Edom’s pride, God cut off the “wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau” (Obadiah 8—the mount is Mount Seir). The day came when wisdom and understanding were destroyed out of the land of Edom, and not long after, Edom was no more.
Along the still waters, I reflected on this as it might apply to our land. Pride is antithetical to wisdom and understanding. Homosexuality is contrary to nature and nature’s God (Romans 1:26-27). Denying nature is a symptom of advanced pride: putting men into the boxing ring with women, claiming a man can be pregnant and give birth, and postulating over 100 genders (sexes) are a few recent examples. Romans 1:17-27 makes it clear that soon after a culture degrades to the level it embraces homosexuality, it spirals into spiritual anarchy (Romans 1:28-32). God releases such a nation to hell (Psalms 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”)
The Queer movement is rightly called Pride! And “pride” destroys the wise and the understanding out of our land. Where this happens, the curse of extinction is pronounced from on High!
Happily, we are not entirely bereft of the wise and understanding. At the federal level, the power centers have shifted into their hands. Proverbs 28:2, “For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.” God has raised some who are of understanding and knowledge that will prolong the state of this Republic under God. We would do well to consider two things. First, we are not settled yet; much must be done to recover our land from the destruction caused by the unreasonable and wicked. And second, we must never forget how close we came to the fate of Edom. There is a reason we find no clear prophetic allusion to America’s future. Selah!
In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, Christ stepped from behind the Cross to my side. He spoke to my heart, and I think I discerned a tear in His voice as He said: “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). The Spirit immediately cried out with unutterable groanings: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). He followed this with plaintive pleading: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus said the first step to follow Me is to deny yourself (Philippians 2:5-11), take up your cross (Romans 6:11), and follow Me (1 Peter 2:21).
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Mercy and goodness followed us into the Harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap!
In the last post, the Rumble link failed, and I have not had time to investigate how that happened. It’s always helpful when any of you let me know when there is any problem with our connections. Thank You! By the way, the comment issue has been addressed! Thank you, Kathleen.
Excellent devotion, Brother Jerry. It seems that the more a nation or an individual gives in to pride ability to think clearly and make intelligent decisions will decline proportionately. Half of our country has literally lost their minds. Homosexuality is not the judgement of God. It is the symptom of being given over to a reprobate mind ( Romans 1:28 ). They refuse to retain God in their knowledge.
On spot, my friend. Praying!