1 Kings 22:43
He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to get stuck on Jehoshaphat's goodness, but this verse highlights a critical nuance: even those walking closely with God can have blind spots or areas of compromise. While he was commended for his devotion and faithfulness, the persistent presence of the high places reveals that "doing what was right in the sight of the LORD" didn't always mean perfect obedience, leaving room for ongoing reform.
This verse describes the reign of King Jehoshaphat, following the story of his father, Asa. While Jehoshaphat generally followed God's ways and was commended for his faithfulness, the narrative highlights a persistent problem: the people continued to worship at the high places, a practice that compromised their devotion to the Lord. This sets the stage for later events where this unresolved issue would become more significant.
It's easy to think that doing 'what is right in the sight of the LORD' means achieving flawless obedience. But this verse shows us a more nuanced picture of faith.
King Jehoshaphat is commended for walking 'in all the way of Asa his father' and 'doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.' This wasn't a half-hearted effort; it was a dedicated pursuit of godly living, mirroring his father's commitment.
However, the text immediately adds a crucial detail: 'Yet the high places were not taken away.' This highlights that even a king praised for his righteousness had areas where his obedience was incomplete. It's a powerful reminder that faithfulness isn't about being perfect, but about a persistent, wholehearted devotion to God, even when there are areas needing refinement.
Why did the 'high places,' centers of idolatrous worship, persist even under a godly king? This reveals a stubborn cultural and spiritual reality.
The 'high places' were geographically elevated spots often used for worship, which, in Israel's history, became associated with Canaanite religious practices and idolatry. Even though King Asa (Jehoshaphat's father) had made efforts to remove them, they clearly persisted. Jehoshaphat, despite his own righteousness, didn't fully eradicate them.
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This shows the deep-seated nature of cultural sin and the difficulty of completely uprooting practices that have become normalized. The people 'still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places,' indicating a spiritual inertia and a lingering pull towards practices that God had forbidden. It challenges us to look beyond outward conformity and consider the hidden or normalized sins within communities and our own hearts.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God of Israel, revealing His eternal, self-existent, and faithful character to His people.
bamah · Hebrew Noun
Elevated locations often used for worship, frequently associated with Canaanite idolatry and forbidden in the Mosaic law, which required worship at the central sanctuary.
zabach · Hebrew Verb
To set apart, dedicate, or offer up a gift, animal, or substance to God as an act of worship, atonement, or thanksgiving.
minchah · Hebrew Noun
A general term for gifts or tributes brought to a superior; in a religious context, it refers to items presented to God, often as a burnt offering or grain offering.
The persistence of the high places, even under generally righteous kings like Asa and Jehoshaphat, highlights the deep-seated nature of popular religious practices that often ran counter to the centralized worship commanded by God.
c. 911-870 BC
Reign of Asa
King Asa of Judah implemented religious reforms, removing idols and promoting the worship of the Lord. However, he did not fully eliminate the unauthorized places of worship known as 'high places'.
c. 870-848 BC— this verse
Reign of Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, is described as following his father's righteous path, yet the high places remained a persistent issue during his reign, and the people continued to worship there.
c. 848-841 BC
Reign of Jehoram
Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, continued the Davidic line but veered away from his father's godly example, eventually leading Judah into deeper spiritual decline.
c. 841 BC
Reign of Ahaziah
Jehoram's son, Ahaziah, reigned for only one year and followed the wicked ways of his father's house, further exacerbating the religious issues in Judah.
c. 835-786 BC
Reign of Joash
After a period of usurpation, Joash began his reign with godly advisors and renewed the Temple. However, the practice of sacrificing at high places persisted.
This passage describes Asa, Jehoshaphat's father, removing the high places, directly contrasting with the statement that they were *not* removed under Jehoshaphat, highlighting a point of incomplete obedience.
Deuteronomy 12:2-7This Old Testament law strictly commands Israel to worship God *only* at the central place He chooses, condemning the practice of sacrificing on high places, which Jehoshaphat failed to fully eradicate.
2 Kings 12:1-3This passage shows King Joash following the Lord's ways like Jehoshaphat, but also failing to remove the high places, illustrating a recurring pattern of partial obedience among otherwise righteous kings.
Ezekiel 20:28-29This prophetic passage criticizes Israel for continuing to offer sacrifices and make their offerings on high places, even after entering the Promised Land, underscoring the persistent temptation to worship in unauthorized ways.
It's easy to get stuck on Jehoshaphat's goodness, but this verse highlights a critical nuance: even those walking closely with God can have blind spots or areas of compromise. While he was commended for his devotion and faithfulness, the persistent presence of the high places reveals that "doing what was right in the sight of the LORD" didn't always mean perfect obedience, leaving room for ongoing reform.
This verse describes the reign of King Jehoshaphat, following the story of his father, Asa. While Jehoshaphat generally followed God's ways and was commended for his faithfulness, the narrative highlights a persistent problem: the people continued to worship at the high places, a practice that compromised their devotion to the Lord. This sets the stage for later events where this unresolved issue would become more significant.
This verse describes the reign of King Jehoshaphat, following the story of his father, Asa. While Jehoshaphat generally followed God's ways and was commended for his faithfulness, the narrative highlights a persistent problem: the people continued to worship at the high places, a practice that compromised their devotion to the Lord. This sets the stage for later events where this unresolved issue would become more significant.
"He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places." — It's easy to get stuck on Jehoshaphat's goodness, but this verse highlights a critical nuance: even those walking closely with God can have blind spots or areas of compromise. While he was commended…
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