‘Rich Men North of Richmond’: A Surprise Move of God?
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‘Rich Men North of Richmond’: A Surprise Move of God?
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If you keep up with the news or social media, you have probably heard by now about Oliver Anthony. (That’s his stage name; his real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford.)
Who is praying on the wall?
Anthony is the breakout artist from Farmville, Virginia, whose song, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” has garnered over 37 million views on YouTube in just over two weeks. “Rich Men North of Richmond” also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has skyrocketed Anthony to independent stardom.
(The lyrics of “Rich Men North of Richmond” contain multiple uses of the “d**n” word and the “s**t/bull****” words. But don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater: God is using this song powerfully anyway.)
What does “Rich Men North of Richmond” have to do with the move of God?
Anthony’s viral single has been hailed far and wide because it cuts to the bone. It resonates with people because it’s raw and real. More than that, however, it echoes the pain and struggle of working Americans — and working America is responding to it.
But I believe that Anthony’s song is more than an anthem of pain. I believe it’s a surprising work of God.
Here’s why:
- The Church has tried (though not very hard) to unite America around morality. The problem is, many in the Church fail to believe what the Bible says (about sin, deviant lifestyles, social issues, etc.).
- Conservative politicians have tried to unite people around their message, but with little success.
- However, when people fail, God always succeeds. And where the Church and the world have proved unable to unite the people around their causes, God can do it …
- and He is choosing to unite people in their cry of pain.
I believe that the Lord is sneaking the sound of revival and freedom into the hearts of the American people through the arts — yes, through music, and He is clearly using this song from an anointed, everyday Virginia farmer to put the cry for freedom from oppression in the hearts of Americans.
If we look at the Biblical pattern, God always responds to His people’s united cry of oppression.
Look at what God said to Moses when He set the Israelites free from 400 years of slavery:
And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:7–10 NKJV).
God chose to free the Israelites from slavery when their cry of pain rose up to Him. And don’t you think He was the one who caused their discontent with their slave status? Of course He was. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. It is God who gives us the desire for freedom.
But once we have the desire for freedom, a new sound must be released — and God is doing that, too.
He did not release a new televangelist to proclaim the need for freedom. He didn’t release the newest, most charismatic politician with a billion-dollar PAC behind him.
He did, however, release a man with a guitar, singing in the woods with his dogs lying on the ground around him — and He used a radio network in West Virginia (a state that my extended family calls home, but which is often maligned and mocked in modern culture!) to send the sound to millions of people.
After all, it is the foolish things that confound the wise. As the apostle Paul wrote:
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:27–29 NKJV).
Also, remember that Psalm 75 tells us that it is God who raises up kings and brings them down. Promotion belongs to God, and only He can elevate men.
And so, we have God releasing a sound from an unexpected source.
A new sound will always precede a new move of God, and God always answers the cry of His people. The church couldn’t unite the people; politicians couldn’t unite the people; but God is using a farmer from Virginia to unite the people — and He’s uniting them around their cry of pain.
But when Oliver Anthony, that very anointed farmer from Virginia, got up to play a free concert recently, he began by tearfully reading Psalm 37 before he sang. He choked up as he read how God promises to destroy the wicked and vindicate the just. And the sound of God’s word went forth from a little stage on a little farm, heard by everyday people with big ideas and who felt the Lion roaring in their hearts.
Friend, pay attention to what God is doing.
He’s not moving in a way He has ever moved before. “Behold, I do a new thing,” His word says — and indeed, He is. He is doing a new thing by sneaking His message of freedom and deliverance into the hearts of the American people, all so that we can cry out to Him and He can free us from our oppressors.
Have you heard Anthony’s song? What is the Lord saying to you through it? Comment below!
Jamie Rohrbaugh is the founder and CEO of From His Presence. She is the author of Getting to Know the Sevenfold Holy Spirit, and she seeks to equip you to carry His manifest glory everywhere you go. Her resources have been published by YouVersion Bible Plans and in Charisma magazine, as well as on The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets. You can find free mentoring on her podcast, Take Your Territory with Jamie Rohrbaugh, which is available through your favorite podcast streaming app. Download her free prayer tool, Praying the Names of God: 555 Biblical Names of God and How to Use Them in Prayer and Worship, here. Photo credit: radiowv/YouTube.
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Thank you for helping me put my heartfelt requests to the Lord, as I rely heavily on the Holy Spirit when I lack verbiage in these times of SO MUCH trouble in our federal government.
1 thing that “hit me” some months, maybe 2 yr. ago: the OATH taken by all political office holders, & all military inductees, which reads in part, something like: “I promise to defend this my country U.S.A. from all enemies: foreign AND DOMESTIC.” My emphases. “They say” that although not in The Bible, but in true history . . . . Balaam had tried to “curse” Israel for king Balak so Balaam could receive promised monies, valuables. God Would NOT allow that. So, “they say” that in history Balaam finally “succeeded” when he taught the Israelites various sins, which IMPLODED their nation . . . . ‘Sound like any countries today?
Hi Jaime, thank you for this article and being willing to think outside of the religious box. Looking at the comments it seems that we are still so freaked out by people’s sin that we want to immediately hide behind our religious walls and shut them down because they used a few raw words. To me this doesn’t look like Jesus but more like the religious crew of His days on earth. They were too concerned about their cleanliness to go meet them where they are at. There are so many people out there who love God but won’t go near the church because of her attitude toward them. God is doing a new thing and He will offend the religious spirit that influences the church and turns people away. We are praying and asking God to do something about our country, but we aren’t willing to look outside our religious box and see the possibility of what He wants to do. Time to repent like the Laodicean church. We are blind ratchet in naked. Jesus advises us to buy from him gold refined by the fire eye salve so that we can see in a white robe to hide our nakedness. I see this as His testing to bring forth what is good, Him opening our eyes to see whether he sees, and His robe of righteousness not our own.
My email opened with this message this morning:
https://anewthingministries.com/sing-to-the-lord/
One of my heroes of the faith is Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. He is a strong Christian who relinquished his retirement by refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from the State Capitol in Alabama.
He (like myself) considers them to be Commandments – not suggestions….
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…”
-Exodus 20:7To take God’s name in vain is to use it in an empty or meaningless way. Because “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,” we must be careful to instead treat the name of God with honor and reverence (Acts 4:12)
Here’s a thought to help us focus on the curse word controversy. We all have sin and fall short of the glory of God. First John 1:8 “ If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. “ What is so good about the “Rich Men North of Richmond “song is that God is using this song to touch the hearts of many people for Him. Let’s focus on the main point. God is using this humble man and his song to touch hearts for His will and His way. Another scripture to remember is Matthew 7:3 “ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye ?” It’s what God is doing, not about the milder curse words. Praise His Name!!
I love you description of “the pain and struggle of working Americans”
Seeing that the oerson supposedly running our beloved America believes we are all just living the dream under him…
Thank you God that you hear the prayers of your people….
Thank you that You are going to free us from this oppression
I do not know if this song if God is using this song. I usually do not use profanity. However, why is sh.t not acceptable but dung is? Euphemisms are used to soften language to make things less objectionable or more acceptable. Therefore, I find that euphemisms used in place of killing are the most offensive words in the English language.
I’ve recently heard different prophets say God is bringing a new sound, could this be one of those new sounds. I believe God is using anyone in this time, that will yield to Him. The days of doing things the ” churchy way” are over. What a great time to be alive!!!
This article shows the state of Christianity and how many do not read their Bibles! None of these cussin words are in the Bible, so why would Christians listen to them and/or repeat them? We don’t win the world by joining them in their sinful lyrics or activities! FATHER GOD please help YOUR people to know YOU and YOUR WORD and YOUR HEART intimately and to imitate YOU ALONE in JESUS NAME!
Hey Roberta. I understand your point. But, just to clarify, not once in the article above does it encourage people to listen to the song or to curse. The entire article talks about how a person ought to simply be aware of what GOD is doing to use this song to unify liberals and conservatives alike around their collective cry of pain. And as God’s Word says in Psalm 111:4, He has made His wonderful works to be remembered. God can and does use EVERYTHING for His purposes—even a song with curse words in it, sung by a humble farmer from Virginia.
Blessings,
Jamie Rohrbaugh
Hey Jamie: Quote: But I believe that Anthony’s song is more than an anthem of pain. I believe it’s a surprising work of God. Unquote! Perhaps it was not suggested that people listen to the song, but some might listen because it appears you are suggesting it MIGHT be a surprising work of GOD. I listened because of that statement and because of the article you wrote. However I concluded that for me, it is Not a surprising work of GOD! I concluded that for me GOD would not have me listening to lyrics that I wouldn’t use! With all due respect!
No this song is NOT being used by GOD for any reason! Is any of this language in scripture? First of all if I’m feeling all of this man’s so-called pain, I would get on my knees and give it to GOD and leave it there! When I get off of my knees, the pain and distress is GONE! It would be better to listen to Jaci Velasquez’ “I get on my knees” than this cussing song! I did not sense GOD’S Anointing on this song, and the lyrics are not:
whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report; no virtue or praise, which are the things we are supposed to think on! Are Christians so desperate that we need to listen to and conform to the world when GOD says to “come out from among them, and be ye separate! And touch NOT the unclean thing?” FATHER GOD please teach YOUR people to recognize YOUR Voice so they won’t follow the voice of a stranger in JESUS MIGHTY NAME! Amen!
Hey sister. I understand where you are coming from. However, I would encourage you to rethink your first statement. I sure am glad that God the Father used those murdering, ungodly Romans (who not only mudered, but also cheated and stole and offered child sacrifices to the demon gods) to carry out His plan of salvation by crucifying Jesus, aren’t you?
Blessings,
Jamie Rohrbaugh
Jamie: It appears that you want me to think like you! You keep commenting to those of us that disagree with you? I don’t agree with this article or your assessment of it! Of course GOD can use anything or anyone for HIS Purposes because HE IS GOD! My discernment on this song is that for me it is not of GOD, nor am I to listen to it again! This is why GOD tells us all to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling!” I have my own opinion on the article and song based on my understanding of scripture! I thought I was as free to voice my objection to this song on IFA as you are to perhaps “endorse” it as maybe being a surprising work of GOD?
Hey Carol. You are welcome to disagree. Thanks for the conversation. Many blessings to you in Christ.
God convicted me from using letters in lieu of profanity when repeating an event since in doing so I was making people think words that were to unwholesome to say. Now I just say that there was profanity used which doesn’t bear repeating when the occasion requires a summary retelling. After all, what is the difference between saying a word out loud and having people hear it audibly versus making people think these words themselves? This way I don’t have to think the words that I will not say or use and I don’t make people think them either. When I was a kid I heard older and mature Christians say that these words hurt their ears and now they hurt mine too. How much more damage are we causing by having people think this unnecessary filth?
Ps. 125:3 ..the sceptor of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous….
I disagree; what’s wrong with Christianity in America is that we all have our little umbrellas we camp under. I believe Christ desires unity, and he’s just shaking His head at us. There are only two stems off the vien, one is Jewish and the other is only Christianity. Not a 100 versions of it. We surrender to God’s will under Jesus’s authority and let Him decide the outcome that He’s already designed.
Our Father is always more willing to forgive than we are to repent. We can look at Jesus on the cross in the process of dying from the torturous death he volunteered for when he says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing!” And the thief who repents while himself dying is welcomed by Christ into paradise. Grace and love are costly, but they are greater than God’s judgement. There must be justice before pardon and there was in Jesus. Richard, my heart goes out to you, not in condescension, but in love. I pray that God meets you where you are and that you can know these things by experience.
“Heart Of God”, Zach Williams
I know you’re hurting
I can see it in your eyes
So, pull back the curtain
And take off your disguise
Whoever told you
Ain’t worth the fight
The cross tells a story
That’ll change your mind
‘Cause there’s only love in the heart of God
No room for shame in His open arms
There’s beauty from ashes, so come as you are
And there’s only love in the heart of God
Come, prodigal children
It’s never too late
Run home to the Father
Let Him clothe you with grace
And bury your burdens
Break free from the fear
Step out the shadows
There’s no judgment here
There’s only love in the heart of God
No room for shame in His open arms
There’s beauty from ashes, so come as you are
And there’s only love in the heart of God
No, He’s not sitting there shaking His head
Writing you off, leaving you lost
He’s not sitting there shaking His head
Wishing He’d never went to that cross
He’s not sitting there shaking His head
Writing you off, leaving you lost
He’s not sitting there shaking His head
He went to that cross, He went to that cross
‘Cause He loves you so much
There’s only love in the heart of God
No room for shame in His open arms
There’s beauty from ashes, so come as you are
‘Cause there’s only love in the heart of God
No room for shame in His open arms
There’s beauty from ashes, so come as you are
‘Cause there’s only love in the heart of God
‘Cause there’s only love in the heart of God
To remember where I came from, to help those in need, to keep His words close to my heart and be obedient, to remember that God always keeps his promises.
Oliver Anthony – Rich Men North Of Richmond
Somewhat like Oliver Anthony, I was born dirt-poor on an 80 acre farm in Southern ID. My Father and Grandfather spent 12-hour days 6 days a week farming with a team of giant horses called Percherons. We were dirt poor and made our living planting fields of Idaho Spuds and Sugar beets. On the farm was Grandpa, Grandma, with four daughters. My dad married daughter #3 and our family had my sister and me. Not once in our 75 years of farming did we ever except welfare or unemployment or any other government freebees. Not one thin dime, but the federal tax man was always there once a year with his fingers digging in our pockets for Nichols and Quarters. As a Korean War vet. I served 4 years in the military and was in harm’s way. I suffered from severe Post Traumatic Stress but with God’s help, I managed to graduate from the University of WA with a bachelors degree in civil/Structural engineering. I have operated my own successful engineering consulting firm for 45 years and I am No DAMED By GOD Communist Parasite Liberal.
😳
An authentic and real out cry from the heart. Yes some may object to some
words in the lyrics as the Sadducees and Pharisees did to Jesus’s teaching, the authenticity speaks truth to the hearer.
I was always taught that ignorance was behind profanity, because people wouldn’t take the time necessary to learn other, better, non-cussing words! Has nothing to do with being a pharisee or sadduccee! It has to do with guarding my hear with all diligence! What I hear will be what I speak eventually and if I didn’t cuss or listen to cussin as a sinner, why would I now as a Blood bought child of the living GOD?
Oh praise God !! How beautiful and mysterious and perfect are all His ways. He knew exactly what would touch the hearts and unite and strengthen His people. His timing was perfect Everything He does is perfect!! How mighty and loving and wise He is. He has heard our cry and answered it. Thank you Father God for raising up Oliver Anthony for such a time as this. He is just the right man doing just the right things in obedience to You!! Hallelujah!! Exodus 6:7 “I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. “🙌
His song shows us that God uses anyone and everyone to give His message. The “Church” is divided internally and in many cases compromised to culture. This song highlights the corruption in D.C. and that they do not represent the people anymore – they stay in office without term limits and never live in the policies they help put into place. Government is too big, and the Federal government has bribed the States of their true rights in how this Constitutional Republic should be run. “Oliver Anthony” has been anointed by God as he cried out to Him in this song, given us a battle cry, and He is working through Christopher to awaken people to what is right and just. Thank You God for giving us the awakening we needed – more and more are waking up.
I cried the first 30 times I listened to it. It’s seems like it’s uniting 95% of the world!!! No matter their race, gender, blue collar, white collar etc. Let’s pray for revival!
The gutteral cries of Oliver Anthony’s songs moved me . They are the cries of my heart and soul. I pray that God would heal our hearts and bring America back to the people and forgive us for being complacent. Bring us back to glorifying God in all that we do.
Thank God, thank God, that his people are starting to stir. Lord we are listening. Bless this humble farmer and all those who hear his message and spread it. We commit our trust to you and you alone.
Thank you Jesus that you are doing a new thing that you hear the cry’s of your people not only here in our country but through out this earth!! Lord please help us for we cannot do one thing without you ! Not one !! We love you and look forward to more of You!! In Jesus name we pray to our Father .. the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
I would also add to my former prayer: Abba Father and Lord Jesus, I wish to express my supreme faith that your will is the only divine will, and that Planet Earth (Urantia) will, at a time of your own choosing, most certainly become settled in light and life.
John, I had never heard of Urantia until just now. Surely, we live in the most amazing time in the history of the world, except for when Jesus became our sacrifice. Thank You Lord, for the amazing things you are doing to wake up the people . We cling to You, for without You we can do nothing.
I do not understand why Urantia was brought up, but I found this on a website called the Urantia Foundation. It is a Direct Quote:
“The Urantia Book tells us:
“The religious challenge of this age is to those farseeing and forward-looking men and women of spiritual insight who will dare to construct a new and appealing philosophy of living out of the enlarged and exquisitely integrated modern concepts of cosmic truth, universe beauty, and divine goodness.” (43.3) 2:7.10
The teachings contained in The Urantia Book, when embraced in the hearts and minds of mankind, have the power to bring to reality the supernal message from the Master: “Peace on earth and good will among men.”
Delivering this revelation to souls in need of its spiritual message, without invasive promotion, churchification, or evangelization is the challenge that faces us.”
Be cautious…
Pure witchcraft! If it is not in scripture, it isn’t of GOD! “New philosophy?” Pure new age teaching! Some of you may be on the wrong website! This website, as far as I know is for GOD the FATHER, JESUS HIS SON, AND OUR HOLY SPIRIT! Taught about in GOD’S WORD the HOLY BIBLE! Period!
Nothing about urantia is in our Bible!
Abba Farther, you are my God and my eternal Farther. I seek eternal union with you beyond all else. No matter what. Lord Jesus, you are my Lord and Saviour No Matter What. I seek to join with you every day of my life and I have invited you to into my heart repeatedly.
I am sure you have heard Anthony’s song which is also the song of your people crying out to free us from our godless oppressors. Oh Lord, I wish to add my solemn and repentant voice to the voice of your people in that I am experiencing deep sorrow concerning the Satanic destruction being done to our great nation. Oh Lord help me to rise above the hatred I feel for the Godless actors preforming the will of Satan as I attempt to hold fast to my personal prime directive, “Eternal Faith in you, my unseen God” for without you, I am but a silly and ignorant man. Amen.
I’d say God has pretty much given up on preachers and found somebody that can talk WITH people instead of down on them.
God continue to Bless Oliver Anthony, the town crier of modern times.
Sitting here weeping once again at the possibility that God is answering our cry! Only God can stop the insanity that has entered His creation in this day! Please God use Arthur Anthony as only You can…😢😢😢🛐
I heard the song that Oliver put out it was powerful. I watch how different people was listening to this song that you probably wouldn’t have thought would listen to it. They were agreeing with it. This country is hungry for God and we have been praying for God to hear our cries. I believe he has heard it. Thank you God for hearing and for answering. I believe awakening is coming soon and justice for the people.
My husband told me he turned down an 8 million dollar contract. Now that says a lot! PTL!
And GOD said, “many will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD, and I will say to them in that day depart from me, I never knew you! This song is not of GOD! All we need answers to is in GOD’S WORD! Not a cussin song! People STOP! WAKE UP! READ YOUR WORD!
Well, I can’t say I see the song or the singer as all that moving (but then I am not a country music fan). But I can say that seeing the skyrocketing popularity of any song (which, in truth, isn’t all that good, and the singer is just so-so) is not the norm. However, I’m not ready to claim God is the force behind it or the song is a spark of revival. That’s a stretch. Maybe it just struck a nerve with the people. Rather than assign my own meaning and mislabel what God is behind, I’ll take the position of early Christians who answered new converts question of “am I now saved.” “We’ll see.”
I see God using the meek, the humble, the weak, the hopeful to shed the light of truth on the darkness that surrounds us at this time. My prayer is that God will use this young man and his music as He sees fit so that God will be honored and glorified. That He will bring unity and a purpose to the millions who are angry and seemingly without leadership. That the remnant will gather together and lead the charge against the evil one. Bless Chris and keep him centered and focused. Amen and amen.
Bless him and save his soul in JESUS NAME! Amen!
If inspiration comes from God, we just got a big dose of it.
Listen to I’ve Got to Get Sober by the same guy. He’s a helper that we need right now.
I’m so thankful I saw and sensed the hand of God! I’ve heard His voice before in the 70’s and when you do hear it…it’s loud and clear! Now people just listen!
Glee where did you get the (we’ll see) answer? Do you remember? I will use it from now on; because ONLY a continually changed life (to ANY degree) is an obvious evidence of salvation! Also the greater # of amens before and after your comment is another evidence of christian faith in america being country wide but narrow and an inch deep!
Let’s just say this AJ…God uses the strangest things to awaken both the “saved & unsaved”. He used Prez. Trump to reinforce & uphold religious freedoms, appoint both God fearing, Constitution supporting judges (300+) in 4 years, etc. Now Trump is rough around the edges, especially verbally & while I don’t condone vulgar words – I can still see God using him. God used Samson, Saul (Paul) who was vulgar at times – He is not restrained in carrying out His purpose by our faults. Remember that God has used coarse & unpolished people to achieve His purpose…. because it’s HIS purpose & will. Remember – “we see in the mirror or through the glass darkly” as scripture says. God, if He chooses, can even use a corrupt, compromised curmudgeon like Biden if He chooses to.
And all music or entertainment is NOT meant to be heard or seen by children. So if you struggle a bit with Anthony’s song, may I suggest you do battle with thousands of radio or TV entertainment across our nation & take issue with the filth they push out 24/7/365. Because those stations make Anthony’s song look like church choir material.
Amen! It’s clear that God used Trump and he has said some messed up stuff. Are we going to say God isn’t using this guy because he says a few cuss words. What other mainstream source do you know of that has called out the human traffickers with their islands of minors? That’s God working there.
When this revival gets going, there are going to be a whole lotta people who were formerly something Christians find distasteful that will come to Christ and will be using profanity while doing Kingdom work.
Exactly. Marvelous thing, this grace by which we stand, isn’t it?
I love this article for the heart challenge that it presents. Our perspective can reveal the pharasytical tendencies in our own hearts to think God wouldn’t use an imperfect person who says a few curse words and may not be a skilled artist. God’s priority is the condition of our hearts and if you can’t hear this guy’s heart above your criticisms we need to question the condition of our own hearts. If God required us to have all our ducks in a row before he could use us we’d all be drowning in the pond.
Exactly. Marvelous thing, this grace by which we stand, isn’t it?
“I believe that the Lord is sneaking the sound of revival and freedom into the hearts of the American people through the arts — yes, through music..”
Does the Lord do anything sneaky? If we know God’s Word we know from reading the Old Testament that those who grumbled and complained were reprimanded by God. Yes, many work hard to make ends meet. As a follower of Jesus I can only turn to Him and listen to His sermon on the mount. He tells us to store up our treasures in heaven. He tells us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. Where’s the joy? Where’s the praise? How does this song honor our Father God?
Hi, Dorothy! Yes, God sneaks things by us and the devil all the time. I suppose His greatest “coup” of all time would be the crucifixion of Jesus Himself. As it says in 1 Corinthians 2:6-9:
““However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8 NKJV).
God actually snuck the salvation of the world past “the rulers of this age” and past the devil! He is in the surprise attack business, the same way He is in the overt move business.
I believe that what we see here is a very current manifestation of Proverbs 25:2:
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
Blessings!
The definition of sneak:
: a person who acts in a stealthy, furtive, or shifty manner
Does the devil act in a shifty manner? Yes most definitely. Does God? Absolutely no. He prophesied centuries before hand about the Suffering Servant and His plan of salvation. Which is for all. He desires that none should perish but all come to repentance.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 shows that God clearly acted in a stealthy manner when He hid His purposes for Jesus’ crucifixion from the devil and from the rulers of this world. Proverbs 25:2 clearly says that God conceals things also. The Word of God itself contradicts your argument. I hope you can see the truth of God’s Word beyond your offense. Blessings!
Jamie, you are absolutely right. Stealthy is not a bad word. I love this song. I saw grown men cry when they were listening to it. Must have been some of those who worked hard and didn’t have a lot to show for it.
He does indeed choose the foolish things to confound the wise.
Thanks for your article.
Father God
Thank you that you know how to answer our prayers in ways that astound and humble, breakthrough impenetrable walls with the simplest cries from broken and contrite hearts. We lift up our gratitude with continued and renewed faith you have touched. Let salvation be loosed, our trajectory brought back from evil to your righteousness. In Jesus mighty and holy name.
I’m struggling with this theologically speaking. Listening to a song with profanity…bringing us closer the heart of God? I get the message you are trying to convey, but I also would not let my children listen to this and I shunned it from the first cuss word. I fear we have lost our compass in the Body of Christ if we think a profanity-laced song can ignite revival. Lord, help us.
Hi friend. Just a gentle reminder that, throughout the Bible, God used pagan, idol-worshipping kings to do His will. This should caution us all not to try to put God’s hand into our little boxes. He can use anything for His purposes, and He still does. Blessings!
Agreed! However, it seems that there has been an increase in recent times of excusing sinful behavior with this argument and a blatant disregard for holiness with this argument. Did any of the Old Testament prophets use what we consider cuss words today? Did God exalt Israel for their kings’ idolatrous practices? I appreciate the sentiment of the song, I really do. I just struggle with hailing someone as a prophet who uses profanity…it’s a sincere struggle. Blessings to you too.
I understand what you are saying. However, to stick to the facts, I never hailed anyone as a prophet, and this article does not do so either. And there were actually Old Testament prophets whom the Bible calls prophets and Nazarites, but they fornicated, but God still used them. This doesn’t excuse nor give permission for fornication, or for cussing. However, the truth of God’s Word still remains that the gifts and call of God are irrevocable, and God still uses everything for His will. Blessings.
This folk singer bluegrass guy is talented for sure. May his viral hit increase his income.
I am sorry to be contrary here but – while prayer is always good – this is not revival nor is it a new sound. Protest songs like this have been around for a long time in our culture, e. g. check The Eve Of Destruction from ‘65.
https://youtu.be/MdWGp3HQVjU?feature=shared
Thank you so much for clarifying. It is indeed helpful. I was responding to others in the comment section who are declaring him to be a prophet. I do think it is important how God uses whomever He desires whenever He desires, and I wasn’t seeking to put Him in a box. Perhaps I am responding from a weariness of seeing and hearing more questionable behavior in the Body of Christ…not necessarily your heart in the article, I affirm. We had to pull our children out of a Christian school last year because the culture hailed excessive alcohol use, profanity, etc. We don’t consider ourselves legalistic or “fundamentalists”…just desiring a radical, counter-cultural holiness to pervade the Body. The sentiment in Zechariah, where every utensil, pot and pan, doorpost…”Holiness Unto the Lord”…
Thank you again for clarifying and offering food for thought.
By the way … I do not let my child listen to it either, and I don’t play it very much either. Because I don’t want the profanity in my ear-gate. But, the point of this article is to point out how GOD is using this song. Nowhere in the article did we say that profanity is okay.
Blessings!
Jamie
Promoting this song for any reason is saying that profanity is “ok!” As far as all of the songs that he has sold, satan is great in promoting his own! Is this song of GOD? I don’t see it unless GOD HIMSELF speaks to me and tell me it is! I wouldn’t listen to it again nor allow my grandchildren to listen to it! I only listened because of this article to see if I was missing something, however I wasn’t missing anything! It’s just a cussing country song, with no anointing, of which there are many! And when are children of GOD supposed to be in unity with the world?
If you’re so sensitive to how real people talk and think you can’t hear what’s being said, what good does it do to be religious?
So true AJ!
Bingo!
God has found His prophet of our time and age in Oliver Anthony and He uses him as His instrument. Out of nowhere a modest man is sharing his pain and tears over the evil and wickedness around us. This pain is shared worldwide. And people everywhere have struggled to understand what is amiss and find the words to express their sense of loss and pain. This pain has been put upon us by people in high places. And has been growing inside of most of us since 9/11. That day created a rift in how most people perceived their lives and their future and their safety . It was a shift towards evil. A kind of iniciation created by evil and performed by evil. And since then more evil has been slowly pushed into our societies, seeping in little by little. America’s spirit was broken that fateful day in 2001 and what happens in America goes around the world. Evil meant it to be like this and had planned it for the world to lose direction, identity and faith in God. And this world change was planned to end what had happened 2 millenials earlier when the Savior of the world was born and 33 years later died on a Cross for our sins. This meant the death blow for the pagan invincable Roman Empire that then ruled the world. This pagan empire has worked tirelessly since to return to power in secrecy and in many counter measures to the revivals that happened as the word of God was preached all over the earth. The “end” of the age of the cross was iniciated on 9/11 and willed by the pagan empire that had crumbled under the feet of the risen Jesus Christ and the spread of God’s words. The powers of evil started their more visible return to worldpower around the age of Enlightenment. Slowly many hearts and minds fell away from God and towards worldly thinking. And the age of souless science and evolution and revolution began to conquer the world. Covid 19 was the crowning glory of the evil iniciation of 9/11. For a new age and a new century and millenium. (Corona means crown)
And in 2030 the pagan plan was to have united the world under a new banner called NWO. But since 9/11 God has opened His peoples’ eyes around the world and more so under the lockdowns and even some unknowns. He told them the same scriptures and connected them loosely so they all would have a sense of not being alone and thus God confirmed His prescence and hope and truth. And all these ministries and individuals, awake to God’s truth prayed like Daniel and slowly things changed and evil was exposed. And now God has raised up His prophet for the world.
And the great evil will fall and rivers of living water will flow from the hearts and words of men and women everywhere and begin the greatest revival ever . “Behold, I will do a new thing; Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it.? It will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. ” IS 43:19. It all starts with our tears.. .God is so amazing
He endureth forever
#Agenda 21#2030#Reset#UN#secret societies#ClubofRome#Vatican#GreenReset
I believe Oliver Anthony’s song, “Rich Men North of Richmond”, with its masterful lyrics, raw vulnerability, and piercing desperation, exudes what millions of Americans are experiencing in a country that is oppressively governed by the greed, pride and control of the elite. While I do not care for the curse words in the song, they project a cry that has jarred America with a naked truth. Those in power are committed to the demise of the land of the free and the home of the brave, with no heart for working Americans, who earn terrible pay. It is a shame.
I pray for discernment. This could very easily be an agitator
If God is using him in this way…then that is His plan! May God have mercy on His people!
Wake up! GOD is not using a cussing song to bring a revival!
I raise a HALLELUJAH!!!!! Yesssssss, God is reaching beyond “religion” and using voices to declare HIS heart!! I praise God for this man’s courage to write it and release it!!! Thank you, Jesus!!! Bring on MORE voices to raise a cry that reaches Heaven and shakes Your Throne!!! I cry as Esther did in chapter 7, verse 3-4….Father, If we have found favor in Your sight, O KING, and if it pleases our King, let our lives be given us at our petition, and our people at our request, for we have been sold, our people and us, to be destroyed, to be killed and annihilated. Hear from Heaven, O God! Hear the cries from Oliver that echoes the cries of us all! In Jesus Name!!!
One would think God has better taste in music than that this…..
Yes it struck a chord with people, it is not a masterpiece.
Shhhhhh…. Acts 5:39
AMEN Sister!!
Great pull…. :^)
If it’s of man – it is of no consequence. And it will falter and die eventually.
But if it’s of God – it will resonate, and grow, and spark, and multiply, and….
Look out!!
Oh it did strike a chord, in your eyes it may not be a masterpiece but in God’s hands it most certainly is. I’m a woman of prayer and this song is an answer to many many prayers for The Lord to look down at what’s going on in this world, often I just look up to heaven and ask HIM do you see what they are doing knowing full well HE does but crying out for those who are in pain, captivity, and feeling helpless to the overlords of evil. This song is HIS Masterpiece!
Laura Sina
August 26, 2023
Oh it did strike a chord, in your eyes it may not be a masterpiece but in God’s hands it most certainly is. I’m a woman of prayer and this song is an answer to many many prayers for The Lord to look down at what’s going on in this world, often I just look up to heaven and ask HIM do you see what they are doing knowing full well HE does but crying out for those who are in pain, captivity, and feeling helpless to the overlords of evil. This song is HIS Masterpiece! Oh Father thank you please continue to use you humble servant Chris for your glory and free the captives from the enemy!
Hello. I am not sure if you are the real Oliver Anthony who sings this song or not, since sometimes people on the internet comment using other people’s names. 🙂 However, in case you are, I will say this …
1) Thanks for reading this article. We are praying for you, and we appreciate your music and especially your transparency.
2) One could also think that God would have better taste in children than us fallen human beings, but yet by His grace He saved us, filled us with His Holy Spirit, and made us kings and priests unto Himself. Funny and marvelous thing, this grace by which we stand. 🙂
3) All creativity is given by God, including yours. The power of God is flowing through you and I pray He blesses and comforts you in every way, making all your dreams come true–including those for health and freedom and farming and everything else.
Many blessings to you! I do believe God is using you mightily to help set America free.
Jamie Rohrbaugh
**And if you aren’t the real Oliver Anthony and are instead just a random person mocking the artist or the song, stop it. That’s me, being nice. Blessings!**
No one ever said it was…it’s the cry of the people! Man…reading these responses makes me even more sure God is using the profound to reject the wise!
Dear Jesus we thank you for working in America to Open the Eyes of those that are being deceived and for using unexpected ways to reach us. I think you Jesus for loving us. And I pray a blessing over this young man and his song in Jesus name
dear LORD GOD please let this song resonate with those who are not of your fold, so that they’ll be open to hearing about YOUR saving grace and there by seek to become one of YOUR friends
Thank YOU, JESUS
II Peter 2:22
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Yes, this is a move of God. May Oliver Anthony be blessed and fulfill all the calling and destiny of God on his life.
Another. independent musician who has been composing and singing for the people is Five Times August. He has great videos which provide visual context for the words. “ I Will Always Fight for You” is about protecting the children. “Jesus, What Happened to Us?” is a cry of the heart.
Father God,
All glory and honor belong to You. Thank You for Your creativity and kindness in raising up these musicians truly for such a time as this. Keep Your hand on them LORD. Fulfill all Your plans and purposes for their lives. In Jesus name may it be so.
Jamie, I’m so glad you covered this! I never like profanity, but it’s clear the Lord uses imperfect people to accomplish His goals!
Lord, wake up America in every way You see fit! Shatter the shackles being formed even now!
SMH! Sad! 😥😔😟