Audio Download

Oba 1:8  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?

[Study Aired January 24, 2024]

Oba 1:8  Shall I not^H3808 in that^H1931 day,^H3117 saith^{H5002 (H8803 Qal)} the LORD,^H3068 even destroy^{H6 (H8689 Hiphil)} the wise^H2450 men out of Edom,^{H4480 H123} and understanding^H8394 out of the mount^{H4480 H2022} of Esau?^H6215

H3808 – lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles: –    X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig [-norant], much, less, nay, neither, never, no ([-ne], -r, [-thing]), (X as though . . . , [can-], for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without

H1931 – Hoo, he, she, it, himself, that, it (neuter), a primitive word

H3117 – Yome, day, time, year, a working day, a day’s journey, days, lifetime, period (general), today, yesterday, tomorrow, from an unused root meaning to be hot

H5002 – Nehoom, (Qal) utterance, declaration, revelation, from a primitive root H5001, Na’am, to prophesy, utter a prophecy, speak as prophet, say (Used once in OT)

H3068 – Yehovah, Jehovah = the existing one, the proper name of the one true God, unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136 (not found in E-sword) from a primitive root H1961, Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, become, arise, appear, come, become, become like, be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, accompany, be with, occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about, be done, be finished, be gone

H6 – Abad, (Hiphil) to destroy, put to death, of divine judgment, a primitive root

H2450 – Khakahm, wise, skilful, shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle, learned, prudent, from a primitive root H2449, Khakam, to be wise, to be or become wise, act wisely, to make wise, teach wisdom, instruct, to be made wise, to show oneself wise, deceive, show one’s wisdom

H4480 – Min, from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than, some of, after (of time), from…even to, both…and, either…or, too much for, through, because, from H4482, Mane, musical chord, a stringed instrument from an unused root to apportion

H123 – Edom, red, descendants of Esau, land of Edom, Idumea – land south and south east of Palestine, from H122 Adom, red, ruddy (of man, horse, heifer, garment, water, lentils), from H119 Adam, to be red, ruddy, be rubbed red, dyed red, reddened, cause to show red, glare, of unknown derivation

H8394 – Tahboon, understanding, intelligence, the act/faculty of understanding, skill, insight, the object of knowledge, teacher, from a primitive root H995, Bene, to discern, understand, consider, perceive, understand, know, observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, have discernment/insight/ understanding, be discerning/intelligent/discreet, cause to understand, give understanding, teach, show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently, instruct, prudent, regard

H4480 – see above

H2022 – Har, hill, mountain, hill country, mount, a shortened form of H2042, Harar, mountain, hill, hill country, mount, from an unused root meaning to loom up

H6215 – Esav, hairy, apparently a form of a primitive root H6213, Asah, to do, fashion, accomplish, make, work, produce, to deal with, act, act with effect, effect, prepare, attend to, put in order, observe, celebrate, acquire, appoint, ordain, institute, bring about, use, spend, pass, be done, be made, be produced, be offered, be observed, be used, be made, to press, squeeze

Here is the Young’s Literal translation of Obadiah 1:8

“Is it not in that day—an affirmation of Jehovah, That I have destroyed the wise out of Edom, And understanding out of the mount of Esau?” (YLT)

The “wise out of Edom” will be destroyed, and the word used for wise is H2450 (khaw-kawm’) meaning wise, cunning or subtil. The word is first used in Genesis:

Gen 41:8  And it cometh to pass in the morning, that his spirit is moved, and he sendeth and calleth all the scribes of Egypt, and all its wise men (H2450), and Pharaoh recounteth to them his dream, and there is no interpreter of them to Pharaoh.

There is a positive and negative application of wisdom. In the positive sense, wisdom is an essential characteristic for rulership. It is because Joseph had God’s spirit, the Pharaoh considered him wise, and therefore appointed him as a ruler.

Gen 41:38  and Pharaoh saith unto his servants, ‘Do we find like this, a man in whom the spirit of God is ?’
Gen 41:39  and Pharaoh saith unto Joseph, ‘After God’s causing thee to know all this, there is none intelligent and wise as thou;
Gen 41:40  thou—thou art over my house, and at thy mouth do all my people kiss; only in the throne I am greater than thou.‘
Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh saith unto Joseph, ‘See, I have put thee over all the land of Egypt.

We see a contrast in scripture between the wisdom of men (the wise men of Edom, the sorcerers and magicians of Egypt) and the Wisdom of Christ. Here is how God views the wisdom of men, which is earthly and carnal:

Jer 9:23  Thus said Jehovah: Let not the wise boast himself in his wisdom, Nor let the mighty boast himself in his might, Let not the rich boast himself in his riches,
Jer 9:24  But—in this let the boaster boast himself, In understanding and knowing Me, For I am Jehovah, doing kindness, Judgment, and righteousness, in the earth, For in these I have delighted, An affirmation of Jehovah.
Jer 9:25  Lo, days are coming—an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have laid a charge on all circumcised (H4135) in the foreskin,
Jer 9:26  On Egypt, and on Judah, and on Edom, And on the sons of Ammon, and on Moab, And on all cutting the corner of the beard , Who are dwelling in the wilderness, For all the nations are uncircumcised, And all the house of Israel are uncircumcised (H6189) in heart!

The word used for uncircumcised is H6189 (aw-rale’) meaning exposed. On the other hand, the word for circumcised H4153 (mool) means to destroy. The spiritual implication is our hearts are circumcised/destroyed as in the verse from Joel, so that we may be made anew.

Jol 2:13  And rend (revile, tear) your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God 

We are privileged to have judgment now on the house of God as He tears down the earthly wisdom and destroys the false doctrines in our lives we have inherited from Babylon and Satan, the father of lies. This is all carried out for the purpose of humbling us.

Ecc 3:10  I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.

The process of destroying “the wise out of Edom” is the same as Jacob supplanting Esau. Our carnal wisdom is supplanted by Christ’s wisdom. Here is how the Lord’s wisdom is described.

Pro 4:5  Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Pro 4:6  Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Pro 4:7  The first thing is wisdom—get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
Pro 4:8  Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
Pro 4:9  She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.

Wisdom is described in the feminine because Jesus is God’s wife, signifying his wisdom is in submission to his father. The wisdom of Jesus was still obedient to his Father in the garden of Gethsemane.

Mat 26:39  And having gone forward a little, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou.

James 3 describes two types of wisdom: “earthly wisdom” and “wisdom from above”.

Jas 3:15  this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,
Jas 3:16  for where zeal and rivalry are, there is insurrection and every evil matter;
Jas 3:17  and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: 
Jas 3:18  and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace. (LSV)

The wisdom of Edom is a high thing that exalts itself against the wisdom from above. We are commanded to cast down these imaginations.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

The high things that exalteth itself against Christ includes the wisdom of Edom. Any doctrine that is contrary to the wisdom from above (against Christ) is anti-Christ. Here is how man’s earthly wisdom is described in Revelation

Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Here are four verses that describe who the antichrist(s) are.

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The Greek word for antichrist is G500 (antichristos) meaning an opponent of the Messiah: the antichrist.

Just as the carnal mind opposes the mind of Christ, anything that is in opposition to Christ’s wisdom is that same “spirit of antichrist”, of which there are many.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Mat 24:5  for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall lead many astray

This verse in Matthew 24 was one of my first revelations given to me since I started reading the articles on IWWB. I had always thought it meant that false prophets would stand up saying they themselves are Christ, an act that would be easy to discern as false. Instead, this verse speaks of what is happening everyday in the mega churches around the world. Many stand up saying “Jesus Christ” is “the Christ” yet they are preaching a different Jesus. Their Jesus is tainted with the wisdom of Edom. Their Jesus has no concern with the sum of the words of Christ, hence it is to be expected they lead many astray. Not all have been given to eat of the tree of life in this lifetime; this is reserved for a special few, the elect of God.

Pro 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Pro 3:15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Pro 3:16  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Pro 3:17  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Jesus is the tree of life because His words are life, and He is the Word. 

Mat 7:24  Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock

It is when we truly hear the words of Christ that we begin to overcome the old man and the wisdom of Edom is destroyed [H6: aw-bad’ meaning destroy, perish, blotted out].

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

How do we hear “these words” of Christ? How do we avoid having our name blotted out of the book of life? I grew up in a church that believed we could avoid eternal judgment by inviting Christ into our heart. This invitation could be delivered in seven seconds and was a simple act that assured salvation. The subtlety of this deception makes it extremely convincing, but what it does in essence is the opposite. It places the old man back on the throne saying that he has no need of judgment because he is saved. He now has Jesus Christ in his life because he has chosen to become a follower, and he has made the decision. He is a new creation, all because he, of his own free will, invited Christ into his life. Instead, here is the truth of how we are brought to Christ.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [G1670: helkuō, meaning drag by inward power, impel] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The words of Christ impel us to Him and lead us into judgment. It is natural for the flesh to want to escape judgment and remain uncircumcised so we can say what we want and do what we please. However, as the elect, we know how important it is for Christ to rebuke the nations within and destroy the wisdom of Edom.

Psa 9:5  Thou hast rebuked nations, Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Their name Thou hast blotted out to the age and for ever.

Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Conclusion and Spiritual Principle: This process of the old man being blotted out is a grievous experience as we are brought to our wits’ end, but, it yields the New Man in us. It is this new man in us that allows us to be partakers of His holiness as we are dragged to eat of the tree of life.

Rev 21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it [including the Wisdom of Edom], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.