Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life. – 1 Kings 15:14

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 14, 2016): 1 Kings 15

Leaders often seem to come in two basic forms. The most common leader is the one that conforms to our expectations. They are “just like us.” They share the same idea of right and wrong. Often these are the ones who we respect because of their willingness to “speak plainly what is on their minds.” There is no danger in doing that because the reality is that what is on their minds is also on ours. In a very real way, these are not leaders; they are social directors sharing the journey with us and giving us permission to do and believe what it is that we already want to do and what we already believe.

The much rarer form of a leader is one that challenges our preconceived perceptions. These leaders are often willing to “go against the grain.” They challenge what it is that we want to do and what it is that we already believe. They ask if there might not be another way – maybe even a better way. For me, during my lifetime, the best of these types of leaders was former President Jimmy Carter. A one term president, he often seemed to pass up on what was expedient to pursue what was right. But we didn’t actually recognize the greatness of the man until he became a former President. Then he revolutionized the path of transition from one presidency to the next, and totally changed what it meant to be a past President. His leadership skills and his desire to do what was right made him into an excellent statesman. And still, we found that in his presence, our preconceived notions continued to be challenged.

Asa was that kind of a leader. He refused to go along with the desires of the people. The author of Kings says that his “heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.” He began the process of shaping the nation back into the one of which God had dreamed. But the author of Kings also says that “he did not remove the high places.” Rather than being a failure of Asa, this was a failure of the people. The practice of the personal worship of other gods in nature and at the high points of the terrain had become ingrained in the actions of the people. Asa tore down the organized places of worship for these other religions, but to tear down the high places would have meant changing the hearts of the people. Asa was unable to do that, at least unable to do that to the extent that worship no longer took place in these “high places.” But Asa did begin the process of challenging the hearts and desires of the people when it came to the object of their worship. And for that reason, he is considered to be a good king.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 13