But the High Places Were Not Taken Away

Day 106 – A Year in the Bible – 2 Kings 10-12

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2 KINGS 10 – JEHU DESTROYED BAAL OUT OF ISRAEL

But Jehu Took No Heed to Walk in the Law of the LORD God
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
2 Kings 10:28-31

Jehu did much that the Lord wanted him to do, and God made him a promise that his children to the fourth generation would sit on the throne of Israel. But – but this chapter ended by telling us that Jesus took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord with all of his heart. How often do we follow some of God’s instructions, and God blesses us, and we turn around and compromise. We take no heed to continue to walk in the law of the Lord. We do that…again and again. Help us, Lord. Please help me!

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2 KINGS 11 – HE BROUGHT FORTH THE KING’S SON AND PUT THE CROWN UPON HIM

God Save The King
And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain.
2 Kings 11:12-16

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2 KINGS 12 – HIGH PLACES

Jehoash Began to Reign
In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. – 2 Kings 12:1-3

Jehoash was third of eight kings over Judah.

“all his days” – This means all the days of Jehoiada–as long as he was alive to keep Jehoash from doing wrong. When Jehoiada died at the age of 130, Jehoash did evil in God’s sight and brought judgment upon his people as well as himself. For this, God let a small band of Syrians conquer a large army of Israel.

“But the high places were not taken away” – High places, very simply, were places of worship on elevated pieces of ground. High places were originally dedicated to idol worship. The Israelites, forever turning away from God, practiced Molech worship and built high places for Baal. Although King Solomon built the temple of God in Jerusalem, he later established idolatrous high places for his foreign wives outside of Jerusalem. Solomon’s compromise caused him to lose the kingdom.

Israel was to destroy all such places.