But the High Places….

“Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah,.. and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem…  He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away…  Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel…” 1 Kings 22:41-44

“Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign… and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. [He] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away…” 2 Kings 11:21-12:1-3a

“In the second year of Joash the son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign.  He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem...  And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done. But the high places were not removed…” 2 Kings 14:1-3a

“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem…  And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away.” 2 Kings 15:1-4a

Interspersed by several evil kings, God placed a series of good kings on Judah’s throne. They followed godly role models of predecessors or priests, and did many right things in the eyes of the Lord. But their heart for God was not whole. The high places were not removed. Allowing the presence (and invitation) of false gods into the kingdom was a detrimental scourge on both king and people.

But I did…. But I didn’t… The call to Christian holiness is not an invitation to a scale-tipping balance toward good deeds. It is not an accounting of performance dos and don’ts. It is a call to full surrender, death to self and sin that enslaved, wholehearted following with single affection. It requires repentance and a thorough extricating from all that entangles, doing away with every shrine to strange worship and allegiance. (Exodus 20:3-5; Matthew 16:24; Luke 6:46; Romans 12:1; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 12:1-2; James 2:10)

What pet sin habits do we excuse, coddle, disguise? When are we casually flirting with little gods? What triggers do we ignore rather than avoid altogether? Are we cocky about our ability to stand strong and resist temptation, and therefore sloppy arming ourselves, removing it, or fleeing from it? (Matthew 16:23; Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7)

In devotion to Christ, where are our lingering high places? How are we justifying idolatrous thought-trails or behaviors by comparison with the past (I’ve improved) or others (I’m better)? Would we bring every decision and deed before the light of God’s standard and say purify!? How will we hold fast anew to God today? (2 Kings 18:1-8)

Father, give me sight to recognize high places I erect or tolerate in my mind, affections, and daily life, and the boldness to put them away and live fully, wholly for Thee.