2 Chronicles 15:17 “But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.”
Observation: Asa was a good king of Judah, a good man. His heart was to pursue the Lord wholeheartedly. Verses12-15 detail the national covenant Asa led the southern kingdom to establish, agreeing they would seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. Verse 15 says all Judah rejoiced over their oath to seek the Lord. But Asa wasn’t perfect. Verse 17 is key: the high places were not all removed; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.
Application: I am impressed by the abundance of grace the Lord poured out on Asa. He recognized that not all the places of idol worship had been torn down, yet God still saw the condition of Asa’s heart, that it was good. Later, in 1 Chronicles 16:7-10, the Lord sent a messenger to bring a word of correction to Asa, wounding Asa’s kingly pride. In anger, Asa had the messenger imprisoned. So, he wasn’t perfect.
God’s grace as extended to Asa is echoed later in Colossians 1:28 where Paul writes, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” Oh to be complete in Christ! And even if I am complete in Him, which I am, does that mean I am perfect? Far from it. But like Asa, whose heart was good even as he failed in some aspects of his walk, I have been covered by God’s grace and have been made complete. I will never be perfect this side of eternity, but God sees the heart and is pleased.
Prayer: Lord, I do want to identify and remove every high place in my life, every place of stumbling. But even so, I pray most of all that You would find me, though not perfect, to have a heart that is blameless all my days, like Asa.