What were considered the high places in Israel? They were the altars, the places of sacrificing, and worship that were offered up to their foreign pagan gods.
Some of the kings were guilty of not removing the high places, even if they followed the Lord. As I read, I ask, “Why were these altars left? Why did they not all destroy them?”
Symbolically, what are the high places in our life that are still left in place? Is there something we idolize, give too much attention to?
King Amaziah, now the king of Judah, sent messengers to Jehoash, King of Israel with this challenge, “Come, meet me face to face.” (2 Kings 14: 8)
The king of Israel refused! However, the King of Judah, Amaziah, apparently did not take no for an answer, so he attacked Israel. Now, these two kings did face each other. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem and stole all the articles in the temple, and took hostages, and headed back to Samaria. Eventually, these kings died and two more kings were appointed.
Again, I ask, why did the generations still allow idol worship? Today, the practice of idol worship is still prevalent in certain false religions. As I learn more, I understand better why the Ten Commandments were given. The first commandment is “Having no false gods.” Our God must be number one in our heart and in our life.
(Shared from 2 Kings 14, Modified)
Micah prophesied about the mountain of the Lord’s temple being established. He said, “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains, it will be raised above the hills, and people will stream it.” (Micah 4: 1)
Yes, the high place of God is chief of all the mountains. Every high place that has been established, will not be able to stand higher against the Lord. All the enemies of Jerusalem will be defeated. “Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations.” (Micah 4: 13)
What’s Micah seeing? He’s seeing the high places in government and monarchy coming down. He sees, also, the kingdom of David will be restored under the Messiah.
(Shared from Micah 4, Paraphrased)
Paul is embracing His God of all comfort, in his hardships. He’s very honest about these afflictions, never pretending that his life was all peachy keen. He admits, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1: 8-9)
- Our hardships cause us to rely on God.
- Our weakness is the opportunity for God’s power to be displayed.
Always remember His promises. Paul tells them “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are yes in Christ. And so through Him the amen, is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1: 20)
Paul concludes that he is writing out of anguish of heart, not to grieve them but to let them know the depth of his love for them.
Jesus loves with a depth that has been expressed through His writing, through the precious Holy Spirit who inspired the scriptures to be written. His promises are yes and amen! Only through Him, the amen is spoken.
All the high places we have in our lives, those things that we think we couldn’t live without, should never be exalted or be above our love and allegiance to God.
The dedication and devotion the men of God pursued that we read about in the New Testament were never half-heartedly devoted, they were completely sold out for Jesus.
As we embrace the covenant of the New Testament commandment, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10: 27)
- We can’t love God and not love our neighbor.
- Jesus wants no half-hearted devotion because He knows it will limit us from His fullness.
- Embrace Him fully, you’ll receive Him in fullness.
- We gotta be, “All in!”
“IN Christ all the fullness of Deity in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head of every power and authority.” (Colossians 2: 9-10)
- Only IN Him, we are full–full of life, full of joy, full of love–full of the Holy Spirit.
There is no need for any counterfeit or other high place, since He is the highest place in our lives.
“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2: 9)
In our lives, has He been given that place?
(Shared from 2 Corinthians 2: 5-3: 18, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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