high places

I have been reading in 1 and 2 Kings in my Quiet Time lately. I started reading there because our Sunday School teacher is going through 1 Kings and he made me so interested and excited about studying these books! The books are going through the time in Israel's history when they were ruled by kings. As each new king is introduced it will start with either "he did what was right in the sight of the Lord" or "he did evil in the sight of the Lord". It is so sad that most of the kings did evil. Here is what I was challenged with though. There are examples of kings who did what was right BUT "the high places were not taken away" ( the high places being places where idol worship took place). There are many examples of that. Today I read about Josiah-an amazing king who reigned 31 years in Judah. (2 Kings 22-23). Not only was he credited with "he did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.", but he totally cleaned house! He was convicted after reading the Book of the Covenant and made a covenant in front of all the people of Jerusalem "to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book." (23:3) God blessed him "because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD....".

Okay, here is what I was challenged with. Not only did he make the covenant he also tore down the high places and destroyed all the wicked things and places that were used to worship other gods and practice sinful acts. Most of chapter 23 covers that. SO, are there "high places" in my life that need to be torn down? Would it be said of me that I did right in the sight of the Lord only I didn't tear down the high places? What are the high places in my life? ANYTHING that will give me or my family opportunity to elevate something else higher than my God or to choose to participate in something that God has said is wrong. I think it could be subtle. I don't want to overlook anything. Is it what I watch on tv or what I read or where I get advice? What about commercials on tv or ads on the internet? The way I dress? Am I allowing any "false god" to influence my thinking? I am thankful for a husband who is like minded and who also wants to please God. He is a great leader for our family.

God is consistent in His word that He blesses those who do what is right. I want not only for myself to be blessed but also for my family to be blessed. It is discouraging to see in the Kings how many times a godly king would have ungodly children. I want to be an example for my children and want them to also do what is right.

I'll end with the verse in 2 Kings 23:25 referring to Josiah.

"Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him." May it be said of the Currier family -except may the last part read "also many like him arose after...to many generations"!!