The High places were not taken away

The reading about Azariah the King, who started ruling at Sixteen in 2 Kings 15:1-5 is startling. He loved God and did right as his Father Amaziah did. His only wrong was that he did not take down the high places; people sacrificed and burnt incense for them. God smote him.

Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. 2 Kings 14:4

This is scary. He left an object of temptation that made people stumble. He was young and may not have known much, but that was not an excuse. His advisers should have known better. Bringing it down to ourselves will convict us more.

As their names are “ High Places”, so are they. High places of gods other than the True GOD. They stand tall and inanimate but demand worship and reverence. High places stand between people and God. They are false proxies. Jeroboam made the high places to take the hearts of Israelites away from God.

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 1 Kings 12:28

These are not only physical idols but could be the high places of men, friends, work, achievements, prowess, fashion, lies, dishonesty, immoral life, secret sin, murder, hatred, gossip, sowing discord among brethren, stealing, greed, culture, pride, bad habits, contentions, and self, and it could be anything. The simple arithmetics is: “Whatever you keep around you that easily takes you away from God is a high place”. You fall back on them because you are used to them.

There are some modern-day Azariah among us. A Christian who loves God but runs a compromising business like alcohol, brothel, scam sites, hot fashion industries or any business that will lead anyone to sin will attract God’s frown. Engaging in actions that will expose others to sin or compromise is allowing the high places. A minister who sets up a church but does not teach the fear of God and holiness will make the people stumble. A modern-day Azariah is someone in a position that people look up to who sets a bad example.

Making room for evil to thrive in church will attract God’s frown. Loving God with all our heart, yet under the bondage of worldliness, will lead others to sin. Not giving up anything that competes with our loyalty to God is doing the same as Azariah did and a high place of idolatry. Holding on to anything hindering us from coming to the fullness of the knowledge of God is acting Azariah.

It doesn’t matter what message you preach; the high places of idolatry still stand tall over them. They cannot give up certain things and lifestyles for God, yet they love Him.

Our prayer is to have our eyes open to see the high places in our lives and pull them down, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.