The majority of the kings mentioned in the Bible did evil in the sight of the Lord.
But there were a few who did right but that was not enough.
They failed to completely destroy the "high places" in which the people would go to worship pagan gods.
Thus, they kept an open door for evil to exist among them and blocked God from blessing them.
Let's look at what happened.
o2 Kings 14:1-4: King Amaziah did right in the sight of the Lord BUT the high places were not taken away.
o2 Kings 12:2-3: King Jehoash did what was right BUT the high places were not taken away.
oI Kings 22:41-43: King Jehosaphat did what was right BUT the high places were not taken away.
o2 Kings 15:3-5: King Azariah did right BUT the high places were not removed.
The Lord struck the king with leprosy.
o2 Kings 15:34-35: King Jotham did what was right BUT the high places were not removed.
oIn 2 Kings 18:4 we finally come across a king who had the courage to remove the high places.
King Hezekiah broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden images, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent Moses had set up when he was alive so that the people would be healed.
However, the people started to worship that snake! o2 Kings 21:3-6: Unfortunately King Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, succeeded him and became king after his death.
Manasseh rebuilt those high places his father had destroyed.
o2 Kings 22:1-2 says Josiah at age 8 became king.
He did right in the sight of the Lord.
He destroyed in detail every wicked thing in high places.
There was nothing left.
2 Kings 23:4-25 gives in great detail everything Josiah destroyed.
The exception to the rule: In I Kings 3:2 the Israelites were allowed to temporarily sacrifice at the high places only because there was no house built for the Lord.
The problem is that Israel adopted the pagan custom of offering sacrifices at high places (elevated hilltops).
Pagans believed the closer they were to heaven, the greater the chance their prayer and sacrifices would reach their gods.
Since many of these high places were old Baal sites, this practice was expressly forbidden to the Israelites.
(The Spirit Filled Life Bible) Why do the high places need to be destroyed? Because according to Judges 2:1-3 their (pagans) gods shall be a snare to you.
High places can be symbolic for the things of the world.
It is idolatry.
High places is symbolic for anything that we continue to hold on to that we know we need to destroy or let go but refused to.
It can be an ungodly relationship.
It could be a habit or addiction.
It can be unethical practices.
It can be any form of immorality.
What about you? What high places have you kept alive in your life? How about in your business? What about in your family? In I Samuel chapters 2 and 3 Eli the priest had two sons whom he allowed to live like the devil especially in the house of the Lord.
God warned him of this abomination.
Eli failed miserably as a father to teach his children in the ways they should go.
He failed to teach his kids to respect, honor and reverence God almighty.
Eli allowed sin to live within his family.
This mistake cost him dearly because all three of them dropped dead instantly.
King Solomon is always known as being the wisest person that ever lived.
How often do you hear that he "did evil in the sight of the Lord?" (I Kings 11:6).
He messed up by marrying foreign ungodly women who worshiped other gods.
Thus they dragged him down with them.
Another lesson to be learned here is watch who you become yoked with.
So why remove those high places? After studying the Bible, it is quite obvious that high places are a hindrance to your relationship with God.
It allows sin to exist in your life and in those around you.
It has a ripple effect.
Don't be deceived in thinking that your sin only affects you and it's nobody's business.
That is a lie from the pit.
In Joshua 22:20 Achan sinned and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel.
Thus he did not perish alone in his iniquity.
That is a powerful statement.
Today, make the decision to consecrate yourself.
Stop living with one foot in the world and one foot in the church.
Get rid of high places in your life so that you can receive all the promises of God.
Then you will walk in His blessings.
Copyright 2008 Mary L.
Weinstein.
All Rights Reserved.