The high places
Today's readings
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"Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. " 2 Chron 15:16-17
It is hard to read the accounts of the Kings of Israel and Judah. I confess that I often have to surpress a desire to smack them for their folly. I look at the account of Asa today and applaud his efforts to bring the people back to the worship of the True God. But it haunts me that the high places remained. It haunts me because I am no better than he and often worse. Scripture reminds me through this account that even with my best intentions I am still at war woth God and seeking other "gods" in my sinfulness. The high places remain in my heart when I try to do it myself. And yet we serve a God who loves us and who has a plan. In His Mercy He sent His Son Jesus Christ who died in our places to pay the penalty for those remaining high places. With His help we can declare victory and be restored to the true worship. May God forgive me and us for our sins today and keep us on the path to righteousness.
posted by Frank @ 8:56 AM
1 Comments:
Frank,
I was thinking the same thing as I read through this passage. It's a familiar pattern. The good kings start out well, and receive the Lord's blessing for following Him. As things "go well" they somehow forget who gave them their peace and prosperity and fall away.
How much am I like that? When things go "badly" from my perspective, I tend to run to the Lord for help...yet the times of coldness come when I think I have everything under control. I must learn gratitude and humility to the Lord for what He has done in all situations, recognizing his preeminence.
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