The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. (1 Kings 22:43)
Expanded Passage: 1 Kings 22:43
The name Haiti comes from the Taino language, meaning “high land” because of its numerous mountains. According to their beliefs, many Haitian Christians go to these high places and pray for several days to grow closer to God. Some would experience spiritual blessings. However, others excessively use these elevated spaces and develop a form of idolatry, believing they are the only areas where they can come into contact with God.
In Israel, there were many high places throughout the country, even in Jehoshaphat's time. They were liturgical strongholds dedicated to many pagan gods and constantly represented a source of temptation for the Israelite people to turn away from God and indulge in idolatry. People from the surrounding nations did believe that when they worshiped their deities at elevated places, they could get more connected to the divine. Despite having righteous behavior, one problem remained unsolved during Jehoshaphat’s reign: the high places. Long before this, God commanded his people to get rid of the high places and not to follow the idolatrous practices of neighboring nations (Deut. 12:2–3).
Sometimes we are tempted to limit God's presence to one place and believe we can only reach a higher dimension with him in that location. This overemphasis on place is also a form of idolatry we must separate ourselves from to deepen our relationship with God.
Steer clear of the places preventing you from serving God wholeheartedly.
Handy Calixte is the national director of Christian education for L’Église Wesleyenne d’Haïti. He is pursuing an MDiv at Wesley Seminary and studying biblical Hebrew at Israel Institute of Biblical Studies.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
