The High Places

As I was reading through the books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Old Testament, something stood out.

There were many bad kings in Israel and Judah.

And a few godly ones.

Too few, in fact.

But even the best of them only followed God so far.

For some reason they left many of the high places standing.

What exactly were the high places?

The high places were features of Canaanite religion, and the conquering Israelites were commanded to destroy them when they entered Canaan (Numbers 33:52; Deut. 33:29).
—New Unger's Bible Dictionary

They were the places where the people worshiped other gods.

God wanted them destroyed because they would draw the Israelites away from Him.

Deuteronomy 7:16 (ESV) "And you shall consume all the peoples that the Lord your God will give over to you. Your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you."

Our God is loving, kind, merciful, patient, gracious, forgiving.

But He's also holy, just, righteous, and.... jealous.

Exodus 34:14 (ESV) "...for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God"

New Unger's Bible Dictionary also says this:

"After Solomon, who grievously sinned in erecting high places for his heathen wives (1 Kings 11:1-8), this heathenistic institution prevailed among many kings of the Davidic line. Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son, made high places in the mountains of Judah (2 Chron. 21:11), as did Ahaz. Hezekiah broke them down (2 Kings 18:4, 22); Manasseh, in his idolatrous orgy, re-erected them (2 Kings 21:3). They were again destroyed by Josiah (2 Kings 23:5, 8, 13)."

King Josiah was awesome.

He was the one who really wiped out the high places.

No mercy.

I want to be like him.

Do I have some high places in my life?

Places where I worship money.

People.

Pleasure.

Praise.

A job.

Security.

Whatever.

At the end of the day partial obedience is disobedience.

God knows if I don't wage war on the high places they'll just sit there.

Ready at a moment's notice to welcome me back.

And destroy my life.