Why is it important to "defile the high places" in our spiritual journey? The Story that Frames Our Study: Josiah’s Bold Move 2 Kings 23:8 — “Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and defiled the high places from Geba to Beersheba…” High Places in Scripture: What Were They? • Open‐air shrines, often on elevated ground • Used for sacrifices, incense, and cult practices God never authorized • Symbols of compromise—mixing true worship with surrounding culture (Deuteronomy 12:2–3) What “Defile” Means and Why Josiah Did It • Hebrew verb carries the idea of polluting, rendering unfit for further use • Josiah literally tore down, burned, ground to dust, and scattered (2 Kings 23:15) • Purpose: make sure worship could never be revived there again Why We Must Defile Our Own High Places 1. Purity of Worship – God demands exclusive allegiance (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 6:5). 2. Protection from Spiritual Drift – Small compromises grow into entrenched idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). 3. Freedom from Bondage – Idols enslave; destroying them restores liberty (John 8:36). 4. Platform for Renewal – Revival followed Josiah’s purge (2 Kings 23:24–25). God moves where hearts are undivided. 5. Witness to Others – Radical obedience invites others to return to covenant faithfulness (Matthew 5:16). Modern High Places: Recognizing the Danger • Materialism and greed • Sexual immorality and entertainment that celebrates it • Pride, self‐promotion, image management on social media • Reliance on human strategies instead of prayer • Unforgiveness, bitterness, cherished grudges Practical Steps to Defile Them Today • Identify: Ask the Spirit to spotlight any rival loves (Psalm 139:23–24). • Renounce: Verbally reject their lordship; confess sin (1 John 1:9). • Remove: Delete, unfollow, discard, or distance—whatever severs the attachment (Acts 19:18–19). • Replace: Fill the cleared ground with Scripture, worship, fellowship, service (Colossians 3:16). • Guard: Stay alert; new “high places” can rise subtly (1 Peter 5:8). God’s Promise on the Other Side of Obedience 2 Chronicles 31:21 — “...he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. So he prospered.” Tear them down, grind them to dust, and enjoy the unhindered presence of the living God. |
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