2 Kings 17:32-33
They worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought. (NIV)

In ancient Israel, it was common for people to try to have the best of two worlds. In public, they would be devoted followers of Yahweh God, and be very particular to law of Moses. In private, they would have their own ways of worship and lifestyle, and this would often be done in “high places”; areas in their lives set aside to worship and live as they wanted in the privacy of their homes.

When we read the history of Israel, it is very easy to get a mindset of, “Well, what are these people doing now? What more does God have to do for them to get them to follow Him wholeheartedly?”

I admit, I’ve had these thoughts when reading the historical or biographical poritions of scripture. Then the Holy Spirit started to personalize those passages for me.

Let me do that for you and modernize this passage a little bit.

2 Kings 17:32-33 (P. John’s amplified modern translation)

“They worshipped the Lord, but they also had in their houses many forms of entertainment, to which they devoted themselves in spite of the warnings to avoid these very things found in God’s Word. They followed their soap operas, their sitcoms, and their reality TV. In addition, they even provoked the Lord to anger with their HBO and Sin-a-max (purposefully misspelled). They worshipped the Lord, but they served and looked just like the nations they were called out of to be a witness. Although they attended church on Sundays, and carried huge study bibles to show their religiosity to everyone, they provoked the Lord to anger by also worshipping the world that His Beloved Son died to save them from.”

Let me ask the question, “What are we doing now? What more does God have to do to get us to follow him wholeheartedly?”

Before people think I’m being “holier than thou”, this is something that the Lord has been hitting me heavy on. I was in staff prayer this morning with the Prayer House staff and was praying over this community and begging God for a revival to break out, for people to understand their need for Christ, and for Jesus’ name to again be held in honor instead of being a common curse word.

God’s reply was simple- His people, particularly those in church leadership, need to get rid of their high places, and then He will move. (2 Chron 7:13-15)

What high places are in your life? If God suddenly appeared in your TV room, would you be ashamed by what is on the screen? Do you give more in time and treasure toward entertainment then toward making sure that the church has enough help and/or money to serve it’s community, and spread the Gospel throughout the world through missions? If God did an audit on your checkbook, would He find that the money He gave you to steward was being used wisely and for eternal purposes?

Just a few questions that God is asking me…and I freely admit it has challenged and convicted me.

How about you?

Love and blessings,

John A. Oscar
Evangelism Pastor
Prayer House Assembly of God