So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.
1 Kings 11:6-8, ESV
Solomon rejected the Lord to pursue sinful desires and the ways of his foreign wives. In these verses we see Solomon returning to the old ways and building new high places of worship away from Jerusalem. High places were only acceptable places for the Israelites to worship while there was no Temple, but after Solomon had the Temple built all high places should have been destroyed. Prior to the Temple, high places should have only been used to worship the one true God (1 Kings 3:2). Yet here we see Solomon building even more high places to foreign gods in order to please the foreign wives he was warned against marrying.
High places is one of those terms used often in the Old Testament. For the majority of my life I
always viewed high places as simply that, a high place. I would envision the top of a mountain or hill when I would read about them. It was not until I went to Israel and was able to physically see them for myself that I learned the true meaning.
A high place is a platform, stage, or pulpit. A high place is not necessarily on a geographically
high location.
That new definition completely changed my thought process.
The Israelites, and pagan worshippers, were not always making a long trek up a distant mountain to worship. They were simply going up to a stage, platform or pulpit. They were physically exalting themselves above everyone else.
This so directly translates into our lives today. Look any stage or pulpit. They are typically
elevated above everything else around them. There is a clear distinction between them and everything else in the surrounding area. People are better able to see the person on the stage or
behind the pulpit due to their “high place”.
In a day and age where anyone with a social media account has a platform, we need to be even more aware of how we are using those opportunities. No matter the size of your platform (physical or virtual), people are watching. Someone is always watching you, even when you think they aren’t.
Is the temptation of your high place captivating your heart?
Are you still returning to your high place rather than going to the House of God?
How are you using your platform?
Solomon started out close to God and humble. Yet, because he defied God, gave in to sinful
desires, and refused to tear down the high places in his life, God tore the kingdom from him. If God has given you a platform, you would be wise to not build a high place for yourself in the midst of a God-ordained situation. God may have given it to you, but He can just a quickly tear it from you.
Take the time today, and everyday, to search your heart for any high places you may have built in your life. Ask God to reveal anything in your life that has defied and condemned Him.
Lord,
Captivate our hearts and bring to light any high places where we have replaced you.
Give us the wisdom and strength to tear down the high places in our lives. Help us use our platform to glorify You and not ourselves. No matter the size of our influence we give all glory and honor to You and You alone. When all is said and done, we want our legacy to point to You. Let us not be torn from You and Your plan.
In all we do, we worship you.
Amen.
Gracie Waldrop 