Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life. – 2 Chronicles 15:17

Today's Scripture Reading (February 18, 2026): 2 Chronicles 15

Leaders often seem to come in two basic forms. The most common leader is the one who conforms to our expectations. They are "just like us." They share the same idea of right and wrong, and often we respect them because of their willingness to "speak plainly what is on their minds." There is no danger in doing that because, in reality, 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 we already want to do and believe.

The much rarer form of a leader is the one who challenges our preconceived perceptions. These leaders are often willing to "go against the grain." They challenge what we want to do and what we already believe. They ask whether there might not be another, maybe even a better, way. In my lifetime, one of the best of this type of leader was former President Jimmy Carter. Carter was a one-term President; he often seemed to reject expedience in favor of what was right. Yes, he was naïve and made mistakes, but they were honest ones, unlike the more calculated errors of some who followed him. But we didn't recognize the man's greatness until he became a former President. It was only then that we recognized his character as he revolutionized the transition from one presidency to the next and completely changed what it meant to be a former President. His leadership skills and his desire to do what was right made him an excellent statesman. And yet, we still 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 people's desires or expectations. The author of Kings says that his "heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life." He began the process of restoring the nation to 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 personal worship of other gods in nature and at the high points of the terrain had become ingrained in the people's actions. 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 at these "high places." But Asa did begin the process of challenging the hearts and desires of the people regarding the object of their worship. And for that reason, he is considered to be a good king.   

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 16

See Also 1 Kings 15:14