High Places

By: Adam McClendon

2 Kings 12:2–3: And Jehoash 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; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.

 
From all accounts, Jehoash had a heart to serve the Lord.  The Bible declares that he did what was “right in the eyes of the Lord.”  Jehoash repaired the house of the Lord demonstrating his sincere desire to honor God, and yet, somehow, he missed the pagan high places.  These pagan high places were designed for the worship of false gods.  It is unclear why or how Jehoash missed these centers of pagan worship.  It could be that these high places were so entrenched in the culture that Jehoash did not even recognize them as wrong, maybe he had fond memories of visiting them earlier on in his childhood, maybe the priest who advised him told him that they were okay and he took the priest at his word without checking the records of the law for himself, but again, the text just doesn’t say.  What the text does clearly say is that although he did much that was right he never purged idolatry from the land as instructed.

So, all this makes me wonder.  If a king doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord could miss such blatant idolatry, couldn’t I?  What high places do I blindly tolerate or indulge?  What sinful areas of my life are so culturally accepted that I don’t even question their legitimacy?  What evidences of idolatry have been dismissed due to the inaccurate teachings of trusted men? 

 

The reality is that I’m sure they are there.  The real question is, “Am I willing to tear any pagan high places in my life and heart down despite the social implications and personal cost?”  If I am willing, then I can seek God and he will help reveal them to me and empower me to get rid of them.  God wants me to be holy (1 Pet 1:14-16).  So today, may God open my eyes to the high places of my life and heart, may he embolden me to seek them out, and empower me to tear them down walking in greater conformity to the image of his Son. 

Prayer:

Revealing God, today, would you help me to see any idolatrous areas of my life?  Open up my eyes to those missed high places, and humble me to the point of repentance.  Turn me from my ignorant sins and give me a greater understanding of what it means to walk in holiness today.  God thank you for giving me your word and help me to constantly turn to it as the ultimate guide for all matters of life and faith. 

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