“And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done. He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the LORD all his days.” 1 Kings 15:11-14
Devotional Thought For The Day
I believe that we are often naive in our understanding and assessment of the wretchedness that all too often prevailed even in the land of Israel in the days of the kings. Reference to the “cult” prostitutes, and what is known about ancient polytheistic idolatry, informs us as to what took place where there were “idols” and in the “high places.” These were fertility cults, where to gain the favor of the “god” one paid the prostitutes and engaged in intercourse with them, “insuring” that the land and crops would be fertile and abundant. The reference to “male cult prostitutes,” or “sodomites” as the King James translates, informs us that this idolatrous behavior also involved homosexual prostitution – for those who were so inclined. Note the plurality and pervasiveness of this in our reference – there were many such idolatrous cults in Israel. How could we have learned of this in Sunday School? And many have not taken time to learn the more abominable “adult” aspects of the grim history recorded in Holy Scripture.
As we consider our own culture and time there are many parallels, although “modern” idolatries are far more subtle. We live in a time when these idolatries and the immorality that accompanies them are striving to gain main-street acceptance. We often find this incomprehensible and frightful – and think that surely the whole nation is sinking into a cesspool. However, a proper understanding of what life in ancient Israel often degraded into helps us to put things in perspective. It is hard for us to imagine such ignorance and degradation occurring even in Israel, among God’s chosen people, but the biblical record, as depressing as it may be, is filled with such descriptions. This also helps us to understand why the prophetic deprecations are so scathing, and why God’s judgment ultimately fell hard upon His own people. It was well earned and deserved – especially in view of the constant prophetic calls to repentance, restoration in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness, and renewal to decency. The same call must go out, and is going out, in our time and place.
It is heartening to read of Asa – and a few of the other kings – who was a true believer and devoted follower of God. We must also take heart that there are many true believers left in our communities and nation, people who remain deeply devoted to God. It is a time to band together and strengthen our bonds with one another, rejoicing in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness toward us, recommitting ourselves to both repentance and newness of life, and standing firm for God’s call to all people to repent and seek refuge in His gracious mercy and forgiveness. We should not think of Asa as being sinless, or a complete paragon of virtue. He was a sinful human being just as we all are; but he was also a repentant believer in God’s gracious love, one who was moved by God’s love to a genuine love for God and the desire and courage to use his office for the advancement of God’s kingdom. We have the same opportunities today, to use our place and influence for God’s causes, steady and committed to His goodness and love, calling all to join us in repentance and in God’s salvation, and restoration to a life of decency and good. May God grant us to be like Asa, and to “do what is right in the eyes of the LORD.”
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You are more fully aware of the decadence that has always existed since mankind’s fall into sin, and the sinful perverseness that exists in all hearts and minds. Keep us humble in our own repentance, and fill us with the assurance and joy of Your salvation, and of Your great love for us. Wean us away from works of darkness and into the service of love. Help us to do all that we can to serve Your will and purposes, calling all to repentance and into Your glorious kingdom. Bless all efforts at renewal to true decency and goodness. Amen.