Yesterday I was studying Leviticus 26 and was again drawn to verse 19 where it talks of Israel losing the "pride of power".  This chapter is indeed a key prophecy of Israel's fortunes throughout history. It is little understood today. But you cannot fully appreciate the current state of America's role in the world without a working knowledge of this chapter and espcially the implications of this statement about the use of power.

Everything about the congressional debate over the Iraq war comes into clearer focus. The strong, almost irrational desire, on the part of the Democrats to pass a resolution about the 1915 Armenian massacre in Turkey is a case in point. Everyone agrees that something horrible happened in that period as the creaking Ottoman Empire was collapsing. But to pass this resolution in time of war, attacking a key ally in that war evades common sense. It is a symptom of hesitancy and uncertainty about ones global status and position.

This is not to take sides on this war or to condone the Bush administration's policies. It is only a comment about the reality of geopolitics. Prophecy also deals with geopolitics and in some ways Leviticus 26:19 is a comment on the subject. Because America is laden down with deep moral and spiritual sin God's judgments in this chapter directly apply to its modern role in the world. It is a plain warning of what is wrong and what will happen to our country in the future.

This article in The Australian echoes the concern of even a staunch American ally over the judgment, commitment and wisdom of America in using its  power on the global stage. Here is a selection:

The US and the American people are experiencing a crisis of confidence. The country is bitterly divided and uncertain as to how it should proceed. Obsessed by immediate problems, there is little evidence of far-reaching strategic thinking, or of that much prized American commodity, vision. In the rest of the world, anti-Americanism is at an all-time high. But it is not so much that the US is feared and hated; a superpower can comfortably cope with a lot of that. What is more serious is the loss of respect and credibility that is evident, the diminished prestige and authority, and consequently a reduced ability to lead, persuade or overawe.

Read the whole article here. We are in challenging times and we need to return to the Bible for an understanding of how the world works and what lies ahead.