TEARING DOWN THE HIGH PLACES

Israel's path toward idolatry can be traced back to the days of Solomon. He built many altars and high places in Jerusalem to honor the false gods worshipped by his heathen wives. After Solomon's death, and the subsequent division of the kingdom, idolatry quickly overspread the northern kingdom of Israel, due mainly to the almost unbroken succession of corrupt kings. In the South, many of Judah's kings were righteous and sought to suppress idolatry and delayed its spread.

Some 350 years after the reign of Solomon a young man named Josiah became king of Judah. Fourteen men had occupied the throne between Solomon and Josiah. These included such notable men as Asa, Joash, and Hezekiah. There were many good men in this group, and they had ruled Judah well. Asa, for instance, is highly praised for his faithfulness. "And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father." (I Kings 15:11) Yet there is one negative mentioned about all of the righteous kings of Judah. The high places which Solomon had built were not destroyed.

Finally, after they had disgraced Jerusalem for 350 years, Josiah destroyed these high places. "And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men." (II Kings 23:13-14)

What was so significant about this? While these high places remained they legitimized idolatry and basically made it equal to the worship of God. After all, Solomon built the temple of God as well as the high places for these idols. This certainly must have been confusing to people who lived during the next 350 years until these high places were finally destroyed by Josiah. How were they to know which god to serve? These high places served as temptations for the people to stray into idolatry. As long as they remained the worship of God was in danger.

How were the priests supposed to convince the people to abstain from idolatry when so close at hand were monuments to these idols which had stood for over three centuries? Jerusalem's high places certainly contributed to the spread of idolatry throughout Judah. There is just no way their presence could not have affected the people.

Many people also have "high places" in their lives today. Things which, as long as they remain, jeopardize their service to God. For example a group of friends can be a "high place" for a person. Far too often someone does something which they shouldn't do when they are with a group of friends. This is so-called peer pressure. The person will then regret what they did and promise their self they will never do it again. But yet the high place remains. They continue their association with the group that caused the problem in the first place.

Another person might have trouble controlling their sexual urges and thoughts. They want to exercise self control, but so often fail. They may well have a "high place" in their life which is the cause of their problem. Perhaps its what they watch on television, what they read, or the music they listen to. So many of these things are filled with glorified images of immoral behavior and can cause a persons thoughts to turn in that direction.

Too often people underestimate the influence things have on them. The Apostle Paul gave a warning about this very thing. "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." (I Corinthians 15:33) The word communications here means relationships with others. The idea here is simple. There is not a single person who is immune to the influence of others, although so many people feel that they are. Anyone who feels that they can continually keep company with worldly people and not have it weaken them is as Paul said, "deceived."

We must constantly reevaluate our lives and try to find the high places. And once we have found them we must then tear them down and make sure they are not rebuilt. And in their place we need to put something of value. Fellowship with other Christians. Study of the Bible. Visiting the sick, and so on.

Your high place might be a friend, your job, the television, or anything else in our life. The idea is that if it causes you to be exposed to evil it will eventually weaken you. Paul gave us the best advice about these matters. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)