“Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did his father David… he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah… But the high places were not removed.”
(1 Kings 15:11-14)
As king over God’s people, Asa was responsible for destroying all evidence of strange gods from the land. And he did, even to the point of dismissing his grandmother from her post as queen mother on account of her idolatry. For this the Lord commended him.
Yet one issue remained: “the high places were not removed.” High places in this Old Testament context represented local shrines dedicated to idol worship. Asa was devoted to reforming Judah toward holiness – to upholding and adoring God’s character by destroying the idols. But he left the high places intact. He didn’t destroy all the evidence. He didn’t thoroughly remove every vestige of idol worship.
Solomon warns us that it’s the “little foxes” that destroy the vines full of tender grapes (Song of Solomon 2:15). It’s leaving the door of our heart slightly ajar, securing entrance for that “little sin” we hold onto and excuse away that prevent us from worshipping God “in spirit and in truth.” It’s not destroying the last vestiges of our idol worship – those closet corners of our life reserved for affections other than our Lord.
How thorough are you in your reformation of life before God? Are you satisfied with only a partial cleansing in your pursuit of holiness?
Only through Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed Messiah and Savior, do we find a complete and perfect reformation toward godliness (Hebrews 9:10). Our sanctification in this life is imperfect by degrees. Though we are wholly converted, we are not yet converted into that which is perfectly holy, as we must contend with sin as long as we inhabit an earthly body (1 Kings 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; Jas. 3:2; 1 John 1:8).
But like Asa, it is our responsibility before God to strive for holiness (I Peter 1:14-16) – to seek a full reformation of life and practice. We should destroy not only our idols… but their high places as well if we truly desire to adore God. In other words, beware of leaving the door of your heart open to even the remembrance of sin, even if just slightly, as the little foxes will find entrance.
- Whatever is truly right, Lord, is right in Your eyes according to Your Word. Men do not get to setup in the church what they want but are responsible to carry out what You have already prescribed. Asa’s times were times of reformation. He removed that which was evil – which is where reformation begins – and he instituted a great amount of correction that was very needed. I wonder what Asa would throw out, break down, burn, or cast aside in evangelical churches today that is against Your law and Your will?
- Lord, when Asa found idolatry in the court, he rooted it out immediately. Reformation must begin at home. Asa honors and respects his mother; he loves her well, but he loves God better. I must not only cease to do evil but learn to do well; not only cast away the idols of my iniquity, but dedicate myself and my all to Your honor and glory.
- Lord, Asa was pleasantly devoted to the service of God, and his sins did not arise from presumption. But his league with Benhadad arose from unbelief. Even true believers find it hard, in times of urgent danger, to trust in the Lord with all their heart. Do I do that? Unbelief paves the way for doing things the way the world would, and thus for going from one sin to another. It is a downward spiral that occurs if left unchecked. Unbelief often leads Christians down a path toward darkness and away from Your light towards the end of their days. They begin well and end poorly. Help me to begin well, run the race well, and finish in victory in Christ.
Further References for 1 Kings 15:11-14
1 Kings 14:24, 22:46; 2 Chron. 15:8; Deut. 23:17; 1 Kings 11:7; Rom. 1:26
