When I was a kid, I was terrified of high places.  I remember one particular time, when I was about 8 or 9, we visited family in Jacksonville, FL.  We had to go over one of the several drawbridges that span the St. John’s River.  I found a secure place in the floor board of the car as we crossed on the bridge.  Yes, the days before mandatory seat belts.  I remember many other such incidences on family vacations in the mountains as well.

While I am still not the most comfortable in high places, I am a little better.  In fact, I love going over the SOME of the scenic bridges now. And I enjoy flying and sitting in a window seat.  

High Places in the Bible

In several places, the Old Testament mentions landmarks called “high places.”  Initially, they were elevated landmarks where Canaanites worshipped their many false Gods.  As the Hebrews prepared to enter the Promised Land, God warned His people against a fascination with those high places.  If they were not careful, they would drift into the idol worship of the indigenous pagans.  

In the time of Judges, the dangers of that warning started to become a reality.  God’s people either abandoned following God altogether or tried to synchronize their worship of Yahweh and the local pagan worship.  In the time of the Kings, each kings life was often summarized by how they dealt with the high places.  Many of the kings were said to have walked in the ways of Yahweh, except they didn’t remove the high places. Things most often did not end well with these kings.

We also read of evil kings who didn’t walk in the ways of Yahweh. Many of these deliberately and actively participated in pagan worship at the high places.  And a scant few were good kings who followed the way of Yahweh and did their best to destroy all these elevated places of pagan worship.

High Places After the Temple

Once Solomon completed the building of the Temple, all worship of Yahweh was to take place there.  Eventually, the high places became a convenient substitute for worshipping Yahweh in Jerusalem.  The people felt that as long as they were worshipping Yahweh, it didn’t matter where and how they worshipped.

The problem with that was God has stipulated how and where worship was to take place.  They didn’t get to worship Yahweh in their way.  In fact, that is not Yahweh worship; it is self-worship. 

High Places Today?

Historically worship in the high places fell into at least one of three sins.  First, high places became the location to worship something other than Yahweh.  Or the high places became a place to worship something along with Yahweh – social syncretism.  More subtly, the high places became a place for self-styled worship – worshiping God in a way that was preferable or convenient for the individual.

Sadly, sadly I see a contemporary, figurative version of all three of these worship sins a lot these days.  The devil is still up to his same old tactics, telling us there is a better way than God’s way.  And in our fallenness, we continue to fall for it.

Substitution

For some, high places such as politics, work, travel, or personal pleasure have replaced God.  These high places falsely promise that these pursuits will fill them with something they will only found in Jesus. This kind of high place worship can even happen to professing Christians.  They gradually squeeze God out of their lives to make room for these other promising pursuits.

Syncretism

Some worship at the high place of syncretism.  They profess to be Christians. They try real hard to be “good” people, and even go to church a pretty good bit.  These worshipers know the “God lingo” and can answer all the religious questions.  But when push comes to shove, most of their life is motivated by pursuits other than God.  They have fallen for the devil’s lie that you can have Jesus PLUS the world.  But Jesus said the one who denies himself would be the one who truly finds life (Matthew 16:24-28).

Self-Worship

Still others insist that on worship tailored to their own preferences and likes.  They want to sing their favorite style of music.  They want preachers who preach what they want to believe (2 Timothy 4:3-4).  Nowadays people choose churches in the same manner they choose restaurants.  They look for a menu that whets their appetite.  Do you think I am exaggerating? How many pastor’s and worship leaders have faced the criticism, “I’m not being fed”?

The Way Forward

So what do we do with all of this?  Let me suggest 3 safeguards to keep high places out of your life.

First, pray Psalm 139:23-24 often, daily even.  Ask God to examine you from the inside out.  Ask Him to reveal where you may be drifting and show you how to be right.

Second, prioritize Jesus over yourself (John 3:30).  Remind yourself everyday that HE is Lord.  Recall the privilege you have to call Him Lord.  Be thankful for the grace of God that brought you from death to life.  

Third, practice the truths that God will give you everything good and that He will withhold nothing good from you. (Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:28-32, James 1:17)

You can believe His Word.  And you can trust HIM.  God is good.  There is no need to look elsewhere.  He has given you an abundant life in Jesus.