Leaders, especially those who are elected through a democratic process, usually reflect the spiritual and moral character of a nation. Those who obtain power through deception often come from cultures built on lies. The same holds true for materialistic or violent leaders.

Other times, God puts people in power to carry out his judgment. God referred to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar as "my deputy" (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6) and "my servant" (43:10), whom he used to punish the people of Judah for their disobedience. Habakkuk acknowledged the same reality.

When the Ottoman Empire threatened Europe, Martin Luther declared, "The Turk is the rod of God's anger against the apostate church, so opposition to it must begin with repentance, prayer, and preaching God's Word." If a political leader's behavior or stance on issues contradicts what we believe the Bible teaches, we need to step back humbly and ask, "Is God showing us something about our spiritual state?"—and then repent of any sin he reveals.