This Is Not Just Politics—It’s Spiritual War
I’ve Seen Too Much to Pretend We’re Okay.
As I read through the Book of Ezekiel, I can’t help but notice unsettling parallels between ancient nations under judgment and modern America, including right here in Idaho. The comparisons aren’t exact, but the patterns are too familiar to ignore.
Ezekiel didn’t just speak to Jerusalem. His voice thundered over entire regions, nations that had grown proud, corrupt, and spiritually numb. Nations that, like ours today, trusted more in wealth, politics, and military strength than in God, truth, and righteousness.
Here are a few sobering parallels I see today:
1. Idolatry in a New Form
Ezekiel 8:10–12 – Leaders worshiped idols in secret and said, “The Lord does not see us.”
Modern Idaho/America:
Idolatry today wears a new face. We may not bow to golden calves, but we worship government handouts, political personalities, celebrity influencers, and digital screens. In Idaho, federal money has become an idol for some agencies and schools chasing grants instead of standing for principle. We say we’re self-reliant, but how many of our programs depend on D.C. in debt dollars?
2. Corrupt Leadership and False Prophets
Ezekiel 22:25–28 – The prophets whitewashed sin, and the leaders were like wolves tearing their prey.
Modern Idaho/America:
Too many politicians talk about transparency but vote in ways that grow government and silence dissent. In Boise, we see agencies ballooning in power while legislators are pressured to “play nice” and fall in line. Meanwhile, some pastors avoid speaking truth on gender, marriage, or life because it might offend. Just like in Ezekiel’s day, we’ve traded prophetic courage for political correctness.
3. National and State Pride Becoming Arrogance
Ezekiel 28:5–6 – “By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth.”
Modern Idaho/America:
America is proud of her prosperity and Idaho too. But pride has crept in. We boast of our economic growth and booming housing markets, but how often do we thank God for His provision? The housing crisis, skyrocketing property taxes, and crumbling rural infrastructure show that unchecked growth without godly wisdom leads to imbalance, not blessing.
4. Moral Confusion and Sexual Immorality
Ezekiel 16 – Jerusalem was compared to a harlot, trading the covenant for sensual pleasure.
Modern Idaho/America:
The line between good and evil is now blurred. Children are being taught gender confusion in some classrooms. Public libraries host drag queen story hours. And instead of safeguarding our kids, some leaders defend this in the name of “tolerance.” We’ve wandered far from biblical truth. We’ve forgotten that freedom without morality becomes bondage.
5. Injustice and Exploitation in High Places
Ezekiel 22:29 – “The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy.”
Modern Idaho/America:
We’re told equity and inclusion are the goals but who’s really benefitting? In Idaho, rural schools are underfunded while billions flow into pet projects, consultants, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) programs. Federal rules tied to funding often strip away local control and parental rights. Who really has a voice anymore the taxpayer or the bureaucrat?
6. A Call to Stand in the Gap—Will Anyone Answer?
Ezekiel 22:30 – “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me... but I found none.”
Modern Idaho/America:
God is still searching. Not for perfect people, but for willing hearts those who will speak the truth in love, hold the line, and lead their families and communities back to Him.
In Idaho, I’ve seen brave parents standing up at school board meetings, young legislators resisting pressure to compromise, and everyday citizens getting involved. That gives me hope.
But we need more.
Final Reflection: Are We Listening?
Ezekiel’s message is clear: when a nation forgets God, judgment follows. Not because He hates us but because He loves us enough to call us back.
As I reflect on the life-altering disaster that will forever mark the Texas Hill Country, I am struck by the weight of each life lost and the lasting impact this tragedy will have on so many. Just a week before, we mourned the loss of two brave firefighters taken by a senseless act of violence from a lost, hurting individual. And before that, a father who took the lives of his own daughters.
These aren’t just stories they’re cries from a nation in distress. Each one a grim reminder of the spiritual darkness pressing in on families, communities, and hearts. They expose the fragility of life, the depth of our brokenness, and the desperate need for healing that no legislation or government can fix.
In the midst of all this, I’m reminded just how precious and fleeting life truly is. We chase distractions, argue politics, and scroll through our days until grief stops us in our tracks and reminds us what really matters. These are not just isolated tragedies they are symptoms of a nation that has turned its back on God.
This is why Ezekiel’s call still echoes today.
God is still searching for someone to stand in the gap. For a people who will humble themselves, turn from wickedness, and seek His face. As 2 Chronicles 7:14 declares:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
That’s our hope. That’s our charge.
We don’t need more programs. We need repentance. We don’t need more talk. We need prayer. And we don’t need more power we need humility.
Let it begin in Idaho. Let it begin in our homes. Let it begin in me.
Will you stand in the gap?
OH Almighty YHWH,
We come before You with heavy hearts, burdened by the brokenness we see around us in our communities, our nation, and even within our own hearts. Lord, we confess that we’ve wandered far from Your truth. We’ve trusted in our own strength, glorified what is evil, and turned a blind eye to injustice.
But today, we pause.
We humble ourselves.
We cry out not just for comfort, but for conviction.
Heal our land, O YHWH.
Raise up bold voices who will stand in the gap, speak truth without fear, and lead with compassion and courage. Bring revival to the church, awakening to the nation, and restoration to the family. Protect the innocent, comfort the grieving, and draw the lost back to Your heart.
Let us not be found silent when You are calling for someone to speak. Let us not be passive when You are calling us to act.
Let us be Your remnant.
In the name of Jesus Christ our only hope and Redeemer we pray,
Amen.
You speak the bold truth, you are a rare politician indeed, one that has eyes to see and not afraid to speak what you see. I will stand in the gap with you.
That it is for sure!