From the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Justice Ginsburg and Euthanasia, to health care reform that would endanger our weakest, many American Catholics are waking up like Rip Van Winkle to discover on November 4th of last year they may have sacrificed their own skins to the wolf.
In the wake of a misplaced idealism and terrifying new socio-political reality, most of us would not dream of how clearly God speaks to the world’s current political and intellectual philosophies in the Bible, but there is a fascinating illustration in the Book of Job that has never been more timely.
The Scriptures call it “leviathan,” also translated and used somewhat interchangeably with the terms “dragon,” “serpent,” and “sea-monster.” 
Usually thought to be a crocodile, whale or some other large sea creature according to the definition, it is from the root, lavah, meaning “to twine together” (Def. 3867. The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words. 1996). A leviathan, therefore, is a wreathed or twined animal, a serpent (Def. 3882. Strong’s; Is. 27:1).
In Job’s terrifying symbolism, however, leviathan is far different from an ordinary crocodile, or any animal at all. The beginning of the chapter is an epic description of leviathan as a magnificent, but familiar beast. By the end, however, it is a fire-breathing dragon, a powerful symbol of evil, destruction, and chaos broiling in the massive seas of the people. Chapter 41 particularly highlights Job’s utter impotence before leviathan:
“Lay hands on him; think of the battle; you will not do it again! Behold, the hope of a man [to subdue leviathan] is disappointed; he is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he that can stand before me? In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him. Upon earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He beholds everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride" (8-11, 22, 33-34).
In a series of rhetorical questions, God emphasizes man’s inability to capture or control such an invincible, terrifying enemy, while simultaneously illustrating His own indifference to the terror leviathan provokes. Through the context of the Book of Job we understand that God alone possesses the power to conquer it.
In the prophets, the terrible sea monster is used to symbolize the Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian world empires, characterized by wealth, world government (the known world), idolatry, apostasy, and oppression of God’s people. The Scriptures are saying, in highly poetic language, that the ruling spirit of world government is leviathan, the same serpent that has made spiritual war with God’s people from the foundation of the world (Rev. 12:1-9).
In chapter 20 of Revelation we learn this serpent is none other than Satan himself, and it is for all of these reasons that the Church Fathers understood Job 41 to be speaking of the devil in poetic and mystical language.
St. Paul calls Satan the ruler and god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2, 6:12), depicting evil’s personal influence in earthly institutions, thought, and governments. An echo of Job 41:34, Leviathan is said to gaze with superiority upon all who are haughty, rebellious and proud, insidiously and personally inciting both private and public rebellion against God and His Church’s holy teaching.
What is so chilling for us presently, however, is because its definition includes the twined relationship between creditors and lenders, the root from which leviathan springs, lavah, is often used in the Scriptures to denote indebtedness, especially financial indebtedness (Def. 3867. Strong’s; Ex. 22:25, Ps. 37:21). This is an interesting association with Leviathan’s ruling influence, because it implies that Satan uses the accumulation of debt to influence and control the masses of people.
The insatiable American appetite for comfort has led to an abdication of personal responsibility and an evil reliance on government to do for us what is our inalienable obligation, both for ourselves and our neighbors. Consequently we are mired deeply in debt, financially and morally, individually and collectively looking for “an elixir against earthly adversity.”
Ultimately leviathan is a portrait of chaos at the beginning of God’s creation and of Satan at the consummation of the ages (Ps. 74:14, Baruch 29:4, Esdras 6:49-52). All of this is highly poetic, ancient Hebrew imagery, but it is symbolic of a sinister, current reality. It is our inherent attitude of rebellion toward God and the Church that has brought about our modern moral chaos, allowing the darker side of globalization to insinuate its ominous finger in every facet of our lives. The only remedy is total individual repentance:
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14).”
We Americans have projected and traded our personal debt, both financial and moral, for a more ominous national debt, a symptom of a sinister willingness to be slaves to the ruler and God of this world. The only alternative to the saving grace of repentance is to be devoured by arrogant Leviathan.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Kudos to CE for the excellent articles today!
Sonja has done an excellent job of pulling together an article that edifies and enlightens.
Sadly, I think that the remedy of total individual repentance will be next to impossible — and that is completely tied to Dr. Kengor’s article in CE’s “The Edge.” Moral relativism abounds and is encouraged at every step of the way. Even within our own Church we are divided — with such prominent Catholics such as the late Senator Kennedy, Pelosi and Biden supporting very anti-Catholic laws and legislation.
I am reminded of Moses’ conversation with God … “What if I find 10 good men….”
May God have mercy on our nation.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I must second Cheryl’s comment. I just came form the other article she mentions to read this one and oh what an effective combined lesson. Pray God that we will find our salvation in you, let us not bind ourselves to this world and our own desires but help us to turn our eyes upon you and find Love! AMEN
If you have not read the other article go there now.
Kevin
October 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
“…the ruling spirit of world government is leviathan.” One can readily perceive this in the machinations of the UN, which spreads corruption and evil under the guise of working for peace and the common good.
This makes me wonder again at the strange passage in “Caritas in Veritate” where Benedict calls for at least some aspects of world government “with teeth”. I have a lot of trouble imagining any form of this kind of political power which the Church would not regret advocating.
Does anyone know what on earth the Holy Father had in mind when he recommended such a thing?
October 27th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Here is the sentence that Joe DeVet is referring to in Caritas in Veritate:
“In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth.”
October 27th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
“Family of nations” certainly refers to something contingent upon the concept of subsidiarity. It does not mean world government or anything like it, no matter that some within the Church might choose to corrupt Pope Benedict’s words. A family of nations cooperates. It shares a common culture and a common goal. I view it as the Holy Father’s hope that we can rejuvenate the elder notion of Christendom — that collection of Christian nations that, no matter the squabbles and no matter the internal conflicts, affirmed the same common belief in a savior who died for us and who demands from us obedience to his commandments if we are to claim to love him.
Christendom was a “family of nations” with teeth. Christendom united to resist the Muslim military invasion of Europe at the turn of the last millennium. Christendom stood together at Lepanto with teeth and smashed the Ottoman fleet that threatened the Christian nations. Christendom held together even through the colonization of the New World and though separated, still managed to bring the Faith to those who knew it not. Such self-defense and evangelization efforts are also examples of a “family of nations” with teeth.
We ought to aspire to something equally grand.
October 28th, 2009 at 1:57 am
First, I’d like to state my apprection for the content and quality of the article. I believe that there should more notice brought to the subject of Satan’s deeds and works.
I do, however, in my opinion, believe Ms. Corbitt limited her diagnosis (financial indebtedness) in her exploration to the nature of Satan’s plan. Indeed, financial debt can be the source of destruction to nations, as well as, families, but, what is at the root, the catalyst, that grows into the form of debt?
In the Garden of Eden the original man and woman are tempted by Satan, in the form of the serpent, and the result was that they betrayed God, were disobediant, thus establishing original sin and caused themselves and mankind to be seperated from being in communion with God. This original sin established mankind’s indebtedness which throughout history would spawn and ferment into many forms, including financial indebtedness, but, what was the catalyst to the origin of sin which has enabled the serpent to grow into dragon (or Leviathon) which twines together humans restricting them from being (and desiring to be) in communion with God?
There is debate to the subject of what exactly was, and is, the catalyst to sin. Some believe and contend that is was purely the act of disobediance, while others believe and contend that it was pride. But, what was it that created the temptation, and disobediance, and pride? I believe the answer was provided within the article.
“Behold, the hope of a man [to subdue leviathan] is disappointed; he is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he that can stand before me? In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him. Upon earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He beholds everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride”.
Upon earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.
Did original man and woman have fear when they were in communion with God. Since scripture teaches that God is love and that there is no fear in love, then presumably, original man and woman did not have fear whilst being in communion with God. If man were to have fear in his heart then they could not exist in being in communion with God as there is no fear in God.
Some believe that fear has come as a result of the original sin, but, it should be considered that fear was introduced to man by the serpent and acted as the catalyst towards man’s temptation.
Genesis 3:4-5
But the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die!
No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad.”
The lie by Satan creates a conflict which initiates a fear within the woman to question what is the truth. The fear of being wrong or wronged. The fear becomes compounded by Satan’s explanation which provokes the temptation. Satan burdened her/them with the fear of being without the provisions of the forbidden fruit. Their sin, the origin of all sinfulness, was succumbing to their fear and alleviating it by willfully serving themselves. It was fear which impeded their consciousness and hindered them from remaining in communion with God.
It has been the proliferation of fear throughout human history that has enabled the serpent to grow into the beast of all burdens, the dragon, ruler of the world. When we examine the sins of the world and analyze what is the catalyst to these sins we discover the result is, as it was in the beginning, fear.
For example, Greed (the financial twining) comes from the fear of not having wealth and the spoils that come with it. Commercialism exploits this particular fear. We place ourselves in debt in the effort of keeping up with the Jones’s. We’ve corrupted ourselves through credit cards due to the fear if we don’t purchase a particular item that we will somehow be incomplete without it.
The pattern of being influenced by a fear (the fear of being without) and then making a self serving choice towards alleviating the fear can be applied to all instances of sin, however great or miniscule.
Consider the great sin and indebtedness of abortion. There have been 1 billion abortions which have occurred in our world. What motivated these women to choose to not bring their babies into the world? They were afraid. Afraid what their parents might think, afraid they couldn’t afford it, afraid that it would interfere with their lifestyles or plans, afraid that their spouses or boyfriends would leave them, afraid that they wouldn’t be a good mother, etc… And, they make the difficult choice while fear impedes their consciousness to alleviate their fears when the choose abortion. The pro-choice institution is built upon the fear of being without personal freedom and the fear of being controlled.
Fear exists everywhere and in everyone. And, the orchestrator of fear goes about his plan virtually ignored because we are too afraid to acknowledge his existence. The realization that he rules the world is frightening.
We have, however, been provided the antidote in Jesus Christ. Not only did the Christ conquer death, but, He also conquered fear. He was fully aware of the torment and torture that He would endure through his Passion and Cruxificion. He expressed his human nature and the fear which resided in it, the origin of sin, as blood poured through His sweat and by His request to His Father, “If it is possible, let this cup pass from me;”. However, he concludes His request with His willful choice of not succumbing to His fear and seeking to alleviate it for His own sake, but, rather expresses His desire to do the will of the Father. His acceptance of His fate conquered fear which defeated sin and defeated the consequence of sin, death.
To combat the fear of this world and the objective of the enemy of mankind it is imperitive to have Christ in us. Without Christ we will always be subjects of fear.