October 2003

HINDS’ FEET IN HIGH PLACES

Part 14

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places!”

(2 Sa 22:34)

          Scripture imputes Israel’s leaders for not removing their idol-worshipping “high places” and also rebukes her people for offering sacrifices and burning incense there! 1 Kgs 15:11-14 says,
          “Asa did right in the eyes of the Lord, like his (fore)father, David. He ousted the sodomites from the land, and removed all the idols his fathers had made. Also Asa deposed Maachah his mother, from being queen, for she had made an idol in a grove; then he destroyed her idol and burned it by the brook Kidron. Although THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT DESTROYED, Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.” 1 Kgs 22:42-43, “Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he began his 25 year reign in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shillhi. Jehoshaphat kept all the ways of Asa, his father, unswervingly doing right in the eyes of the Lord: but still THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT DESTROYED, and the people sacrificed and burned incense there.” 2 Kgs 14:2-4, “Amaziah was 25 years old when he began his 29 year reign in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. Amaziah did right in the sight of the Lord; yet not like his father, David; for he did according to all things as his father, Hoash, did. And still,
          THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT DESTROYED!” 2 Kgs 15:2-5, “Azariah, son of Amaziah, was 16 years old when he began a 52 year reign in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all his father Amaziah did; but THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT DESTROYED: and the people still continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places! And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house.” 2 Kgs 15:32-35, “Jotham was 25 years old when he began his 16 year reign in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
          He did right in the sight of the Lord, and he did all that his father Uzziah did. He even built the higher gate of the Lord’s house; but still, THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT DESTROYED, and the people sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.”
          History repeats itself as these five leaders are extolled for “doing right in the sight of God”; but their accounts have two other things in common: 1) none of them destroyed the high places; and 2) the names of all their mothers are mentioned! Women are sparingly identified in Scripture- especially in the Old Testament, so this inclusion seems significant. Let us investigate the Hebrew meanings of these five names.

Maachah [4601] “depression, being pressed,
bruised, and pierced.”
Azubah [5806] “desertion, forsaking.”
Jehoaddan [3086] “Jevovah-pleased.”
Jecholiah [3203] “Jah will enable.”
Jerusha [3388] “possessed.”

          In Scripture, the number 5 = grace, whereas women symbolize the soul (individually) or the church (corporately). Now since all souls are saved by Grace, we can see here the process by which all mankind shall “pass from death (carnal-mindedness) to Life (spirit-mindedness)!” (1 Jn 3:14) First we are pressed, bruised and pierced, causing deep depression in our carnal minds! And sometimes, in our darkest hour of fiery testing, we experience the sensation of feeling deserted and forsaken by God! But Isa 53:10 says of Jesus (and us), “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him!” Our Creator knows “Jah will enable” all His created ones to return to Him from this earthly exile to which we were all subjected! For God surely knows that:

WITHOUT DIVINE ENABLEMENT,
NO SOULS WOULD BE SAVED!

          Our Lord says in Jn 6:63, “The flesh profits nothing”; so none can save himself! In Jn 15:5 our Lord and Savior says, “Without Me [i.e., Jesus Christ- which is God’s “Saving Anointing”], you can no nothing!” When this amazing odyssey is completed, we are fully “possessed” by the holy, righteous Love of the Living God! Finally complete victory was accomplished by Hezekiah, [2396 “strengthened by Jah”] who was the 25 year old king that reigned over Jerusalem 29 years; and his mother’s name was “Abi”[lit, “fatherly”, taken from the same root as “Abba”]! He also “did right in the sight of the Lord” as did his father, David (lit. love); but Hezekiah did what none before him was divinely enabled to do...

“HE DESTROYED THE HIGH PLACES!”

          Furthermore, “He smashed every image, cut down every grove, and broke into pieces the brazen serpent that Moses made: for till that day, the children of Israel burned incense to the icon Moses called ‘Nehushtan’ (lit. “little brazen serpent”). Hezekiah trusted the Lord God of Israel more than all the kings of Judah after and before him! He clung to the Lord and followed Him and kept the Commandments He gave to Moses. So the Lord was with him; prospering him wherever he went! Hezekiah opposed the king of Assyria and would not serve him; he smote the Philistines, even the ones in Gaza, and all of its borders- from the tower of the watchmen, to the fenced city!” (2 Kgs 18:4-8)
           What a victorious Plan! The sons of God are that “Hezekiah Company” that shall soon be “Strengthened by Jah” to finally rid the earth of all its “high places”, so His people can finally be delivered from their bondage to ritualistic idolatry! After God’s Perfect Plan of Creation plunges every man’s soul in the sewer of sin for a season, His Perfect Plan of Reconciliation and Salvation redeems each soul and washes it in His sparkling River of Life! Though God lets our carnal minds erect idols in this world, and even offer sacrifices and burn incense to them on those “high places” in our hearts; our spirits “do right in the sight of God” till “The Daystar (Saving Anointing) arises in our hearts!” (2 Pet 1:19) And when that Bright and Morning Star does appear, we are blessed with Divine Enablement to “DESTROY OUR HIGH PLACES” once and for all! Then, beloveds, we shall be free forevermore! We will be possessed of our Creator, Who is the Savior of the world! Hallelujah!