High Places (Lev. 26:30)
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(Lev. 26:30) "And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you." Strong language to the people of God. And remember, these are the people of God. They are redeemed.
These high places are associated with idolatry. Once the people of Israel entered into the promised land they will be confronted with the high places of the heathen. (Num. 33:52) "Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land...and quite pluck down all their high places."
God knew His people. Thus He said 'your high places'. (Lev. 26:30) He knew His people were prone to idolatry and that they would develop their own 'high places' just as the heathen had. For, after all, they were originally taken out of idolatry. (Gen. 11:26-27) (Josh, 24:2) "...Your fathers dwelt on the other side...even Terah, the father of Abraham...and they served other gods."
So, we find Joshua here, (Josh. 24), at the end of his days speaking to Israel. And at this time God has already brought many victories over His enemies in the promised land using this people Israel. Yet we find Joshua is ready to wash his hands of this people as they are so given to idolatry. Thus he makes the statement in (24:14) "...fear the LORD...and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt...." Either that or choose which gods you will serve. Those on the other side of the flood or those here in the promised land. (Josh. 24:15)
Of course the people were just aghast that they would do such a thing. (Josh 24:16) And they forcefully said they would serve the LORD. (24:21) To which Joshua told them then they must put away their idols. (24:23)
Strange isn't it, how that they should be so surprised at Joshua's statement yet all the while having idols in their possession.
Quantrill
These high places are associated with idolatry. Once the people of Israel entered into the promised land they will be confronted with the high places of the heathen. (Num. 33:52) "Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land...and quite pluck down all their high places."
God knew His people. Thus He said 'your high places'. (Lev. 26:30) He knew His people were prone to idolatry and that they would develop their own 'high places' just as the heathen had. For, after all, they were originally taken out of idolatry. (Gen. 11:26-27) (Josh, 24:2) "...Your fathers dwelt on the other side...even Terah, the father of Abraham...and they served other gods."
So, we find Joshua here, (Josh. 24), at the end of his days speaking to Israel. And at this time God has already brought many victories over His enemies in the promised land using this people Israel. Yet we find Joshua is ready to wash his hands of this people as they are so given to idolatry. Thus he makes the statement in (24:14) "...fear the LORD...and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt...." Either that or choose which gods you will serve. Those on the other side of the flood or those here in the promised land. (Josh. 24:15)
Of course the people were just aghast that they would do such a thing. (Josh 24:16) And they forcefully said they would serve the LORD. (24:21) To which Joshua told them then they must put away their idols. (24:23)
Strange isn't it, how that they should be so surprised at Joshua's statement yet all the while having idols in their possession.
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Yes, they would be located on hills where some type of deity worship took place of which statues and images were part. That was the heathens high places which Israel was to destroy. (Num. 22:41)
But there appears to be a legitimate use of high places for the worship of God. But it would not involve the use of images. (1 Sam. 9:12-13, 19) And this occurred before Jerusalem was established as the place where formal worship of God was to be made.
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God would establish Jerusalem as the place where He was known and worshiped. (2 Chron. 6:6) And so David had to first conquer this Jebusite stronghold. (2 Sam. 5:6-10) And he later brought the Ark into Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 6:12-17)
Later, God established the very spot in Jerusalem upon which His name and presence would be known and where He was to be worshiped. This occurred during the plague God sent against Israel due to David's sin in numbering the people. (2 Sam. 24) When the plague reached Jerusalem God stopped it at the threshing floor of Araunah. (24:16) David was now instructed to build an altar there unto the LORD. (24:18) And so he did. (24:25) And so the place of sacrifice was now settled.
But, Israel had been used to the 'high places' as the place to offer sacrifice. And this would not easily cease for we find Solomon still using the high places. (1 Kings 3:2-3) God in His graciousness met Solomon there and honored his request. But it was Jerusalem and the threshing floor of Araunah that was chosen by God as the place. And Israel needed to move away from the high places and direct her attention to that place in Jerusalem.
Quantrill
Later, God established the very spot in Jerusalem upon which His name and presence would be known and where He was to be worshiped. This occurred during the plague God sent against Israel due to David's sin in numbering the people. (2 Sam. 24) When the plague reached Jerusalem God stopped it at the threshing floor of Araunah. (24:16) David was now instructed to build an altar there unto the LORD. (24:18) And so he did. (24:25) And so the place of sacrifice was now settled.
But, Israel had been used to the 'high places' as the place to offer sacrifice. And this would not easily cease for we find Solomon still using the high places. (1 Kings 3:2-3) God in His graciousness met Solomon there and honored his request. But it was Jerusalem and the threshing floor of Araunah that was chosen by God as the place. And Israel needed to move away from the high places and direct her attention to that place in Jerusalem.
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The 'high places' of Israel continued to exist and be used by Israel. Then, the most unbelievable thing happend. Solomon, that man of God, who loved God (1 KIngs 3:3), and was loved by God, ( 2 Sam. 12-24) blessed by God, turned away from God to serve other gods. Not only was the high places of Israel a problem, but now Solomon built high places to false gods. (1 Kings 11:1-8)
As a result, God was very angry and judgement would come. (1 Kings 11:9) The Kingdom would be divided (1 Kings 11:33-38). Thus Jeroboam who became the King of the ten tribes in the north, immediately set up 'high places' for them to sacrifice and worship at. These were not high places for false gods. These were high places for the very God who brought out Israel from Egypt. (1 Kings 12:28-31) Because the 'high places' had not been abandoned by Israel when they should have, this would have been viewed as natural and acceptable to them. Only it was idol worship.
This was not worshiping another god, which was forbidden by the first commandment. (Ex. 20:3) This was using images as a method to worship the true God, which was forbidden by the second commandment. (Ex. 20:4-5) But not only was the ten northern tribes guilty of this, but also the two southern tribes were equally guilty and they dwelt in the area of Jerusalem. (1 Kings 14:22-23)
The point is this was not another god Israel was trying to worship. It was trying to worship the true God in a false way. It was trying to use the world's methods of its worship to its gods, to worship the true God.
Quantrill
As a result, God was very angry and judgement would come. (1 Kings 11:9) The Kingdom would be divided (1 Kings 11:33-38). Thus Jeroboam who became the King of the ten tribes in the north, immediately set up 'high places' for them to sacrifice and worship at. These were not high places for false gods. These were high places for the very God who brought out Israel from Egypt. (1 Kings 12:28-31) Because the 'high places' had not been abandoned by Israel when they should have, this would have been viewed as natural and acceptable to them. Only it was idol worship.
This was not worshiping another god, which was forbidden by the first commandment. (Ex. 20:3) This was using images as a method to worship the true God, which was forbidden by the second commandment. (Ex. 20:4-5) But not only was the ten northern tribes guilty of this, but also the two southern tribes were equally guilty and they dwelt in the area of Jerusalem. (1 Kings 14:22-23)
The point is this was not another god Israel was trying to worship. It was trying to worship the true God in a false way. It was trying to use the world's methods of its worship to its gods, to worship the true God.
Quantrill
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Because Israel was attempting to worship the true God, her God, in a false way, through images, she would not have images of heathen gods. No. Her images must in some way be associated with the true God. They must not appear as foreign. Even the gold calves that Jeroboam set up , (1 Kings 12:28-31), can be connected to the gold calf that Aaron made for Israel. (Ex. 32:1-6) And when good king Hezekiah brought revival in Israel and destroyed the high places, we find the bronze serpent, the very thing God used at one time to heal His people, was now a thing of idolatry in the high places. (2 Kings 18:4)
Throughout Israel's, history the 'high places' would be a problem. And just because a king was good, he didn't always take away the high places. (1 Kings 15:14) (1 Kings 22:43) (2 Kings 12:3) (2 Kings 14:4) (2 Kings 15:4) etc. etc. It would only be in times of great revival sent by God that would cause their destruction. Once by Hezekiah and once by Josiah. (2 Kings 18:4) (2 Kings 23:15-20)
This worship was so intertwined with the true worship that it was almost impossible to root out. So much so that when it is attacked or destroyed the world will view you as having destroyed your own faith. Note the Assyrian messengers statement to Hezekiah when Hezekiah stood up against them. (2 Kings 18:17-22) "...But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? These messengers are saying, your God is not going to help you for you have been destroying His altars. Hezekiah was viewed as having set up a false alter instead. And you can bet that there were many in Israel who were thinking the same thing.
Quantrill
Throughout Israel's, history the 'high places' would be a problem. And just because a king was good, he didn't always take away the high places. (1 Kings 15:14) (1 Kings 22:43) (2 Kings 12:3) (2 Kings 14:4) (2 Kings 15:4) etc. etc. It would only be in times of great revival sent by God that would cause their destruction. Once by Hezekiah and once by Josiah. (2 Kings 18:4) (2 Kings 23:15-20)
This worship was so intertwined with the true worship that it was almost impossible to root out. So much so that when it is attacked or destroyed the world will view you as having destroyed your own faith. Note the Assyrian messengers statement to Hezekiah when Hezekiah stood up against them. (2 Kings 18:17-22) "...But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? These messengers are saying, your God is not going to help you for you have been destroying His altars. Hezekiah was viewed as having set up a false alter instead. And you can bet that there were many in Israel who were thinking the same thing.
Quantrill
