Mentioned 117 times, high places were centers for Canaanite idol worship that the Jews were commanded to tear down. But instead, these high places became idols that subtly seduced God’s people year after year—they couldn’t stay away! 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. What artificial thing have you elevated in your life? What is keeping you from giving your whole heart to God? Alcohol, marijuana, fear, rejection, lust, greed? What is still set up in your life as a high place?
2 Chronicles: 31 So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. 33 Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
High places may cause you to back slide.
By contrast, the Jews were casual about idolatrous high places for 800 years. Solomon is a good example. As he grew older, his wives “turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God” (1 Kings 11:4). And then he built a high place for his wives. Like Solomon, we might give ourselves permission to flirt with temptation but still try to retain a vibrant heart for God. But Solomon couldn’t—and we can’t either. The more we entertain worldly high places in our hearts, the more our love for God slips away. Pray, “Lord, help me to love You and hate sin.” Have you considered actually hating sin.
Psalm 36:4 describes the wicked man by saying, “He plans wickedness upon his bed … he does not despise evil.” Don’t give yourself permission to flirt with temptation! Ask God to give you a hatred of sin. The Hebrews who were saved out of Egypt didn’t hate sin. It cost them their lives.
1 Corinthians 10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come…. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Cross over to the promised land
If you remember none of them crossed over to the promised land only their children. We must see how important it is that we destroy idolatry in our heart as the new covenant is in God’s only son’s blood. Jesus said, narrow is the gate and difficult is the way to eternal life and few find it. He also said, depart from me you workers of inequity I never knew you.
Overcome idols with the help of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. One of the meanings of the Hebrew word for “holy” is “different” or “apartness.” We are called to be different from the world.
Mark 12:29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. So it is time to tear down the idols in your life and direct your heart fully toward the Lord your God! Repent and start destroying the high places in your life. Troy Rockers
