1 Kings 15:14

KJV

But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the high places {H1116} were not removed {H5493}: nevertheless Asa's {H609} heart {H3824} was perfect {H8003} with the LORD {H3068} all his days {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted with ADONAI throughout his life.

Berean Standard Bible

The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.

American Standard Version

But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Jehovah all his days.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Kings 15:14 offers a profound theological assessment of King Asa's reign, capturing the central tension between his commendable personal devotion to Yahweh and the incomplete nature of his religious reforms in Judah. While Asa's heart is unequivocally declared "perfect" in its loyalty to the LORD throughout his life, the verse concurrently acknowledges a significant lingering issue: the persistent presence of the "high places," which remained unremoved, symbolizing a partial obedience despite a sincere core commitment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a pivotal summary statement within the broader narrative of King Asa's reign, which spans [1 Kings 15:9-24](/1_kings/15-9-24 "1 Kings 15:9-24 - Reign of King Asa"). It follows a detailed account of Asa's initial, zealous reforms, including his purging of male cult prostitutes, the removal of idols, and even the deposition of his idolatrous grandmother, Maachah ([1 Kings 15:12-13](/1_kings/15-12-13 "1 Kings 15:12-13 - Asa's Reforms")). The preceding verses laud his efforts to restore proper worship. However, verse 14 introduces a crucial qualification, setting the stage for a nuanced understanding of his piety and foreshadowing the later challenges and inconsistencies that would emerge in his life, particularly his reliance on human alliances rather than the LORD in his later years, as detailed in [2 Chronicles 16:7-10](/2_chronicles/16-7-10 "2 Chronicles 16:7-10 - Asa's Reliance on Aram"). This verse effectively encapsulates the spiritual high point and a persistent flaw of his otherwise largely righteous rule.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Asa ruled the Southern Kingdom of Judah for 41 years (c. 913-873 BC). His reign followed a period of significant spiritual decline under his predecessors, Rehoboam and Abijam, who had largely tolerated or even promoted idolatry. The "high places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were localized cultic sites, often on elevated ground, used for worship. While many were dedicated to pagan deities like Baal or Asherah and were rightly targeted for destruction, some may have been used for Yahweh worship, albeit in a manner inconsistent with the Deuteronomic command for centralized worship at the Temple in Jerusalem (see [Deuteronomy 12:2-5](/deuteronomy/12-2-5 "Deuteronomy 12:2-5 - Command for Centralized Worship")). The continued existence of these high places, even those ostensibly dedicated to Yahweh, represented a compromise with God's prescribed worship and a lingering potential for syncretism, reflecting the deep-seated nature of these practices within Israelite society.

* **Key Themes:** The verse profoundly contributes to several key themes within the book of Kings and the broader Old Testament. It highlights the theme of **Incomplete Reform**, illustrating the persistent difficulty of fully eradicating deeply ingrained religious practices, even under a committed leader. Despite Asa's significant efforts, a full return to God's prescribed, centralized worship was not achieved, underscoring the challenge of holistic obedience. Furthermore, it introduces the critical theme of **Heart Devotion vs. External Action**, emphasizing that "Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days." This suggests that God's primary evaluation is often of the sincerity and totality of one's inner commitment, even when outward actions are not entirely flawless. This divine perspective on the heart is a recurring motif, as seen in [2 Chronicles 16:9](/2_chronicles/16-9 "2 Chronicles 16:9 - God's Eyes on Perfect Hearts"), where the LORD's eyes search the earth for those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. Finally, the verse subtly points to the **Persistent Spiritual Battle** against compromise and syncretism that Israel faced, a struggle that often required successive generations to address and which ultimately contributed to the nation's downfall.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **High places (Hebrew, _bâmâh'_):** From an unused root (meaning to be high), referring to an elevation or cultic site. These were localized places of worship, often on hills, which, even if ostensibly used for Yahweh worship, represented a deviation from the divinely ordained central sanctuary in Jerusalem. Their continued presence symbolized a compromise with God's prescribed worship and a lingering potential for syncretism, despite Asa's broader reforms.
* **Removed (Hebrew, _çûwr'_):** A primitive root meaning "to turn off" or "to take away." The text's declaration that the high places "were not removed" signifies a specific failure on Asa's part to fully eradicate these unauthorized worship sites. It indicates a deliberate omission or an inability to complete the comprehensive religious purge expected of a righteous king, highlighting an area where his reform efforts fell short of God's ideal.
* **Perfect (Hebrew, _shâlêm'_):** From the root meaning "to be complete" or "sound." In this context, it describes Asa's heart as "whole," "complete," or "sincere" in its devotion to the LORD. This term does not imply sinless perfection but rather an undivided loyalty and singular focus on Yahweh, indicating that his inner commitment was genuine and uncompromised by idolatry, despite the acknowledged external flaw of the unremoved high places.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the high places were not removed:"** This initial clause presents a significant qualification to Asa's otherwise positive assessment. It highlights a glaring omission in his otherwise commendable religious reforms. Despite his zeal for Yahweh, he failed to eradicate these local cultic sites, which represented a deviation from the prescribed central worship and a persistent spiritual vulnerability for the nation. This clause introduces a note of imperfection into an otherwise glowing report.
* **"nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days."** This second clause offers a powerful counterpoint and commendation. The conjunction "nevertheless" underscores the surprising and significant truth that, despite the failure to remove the high places, Asa's core spiritual disposition was one of complete and undivided loyalty to Yahweh. This statement emphasizes the sincerity and steadfastness of his personal devotion, indicating that God evaluated his inner commitment as genuine and wholehearted throughout his entire reign, even with the acknowledged external flaw.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Juxtaposition** and **Concession** to convey a nuanced assessment of King Asa. The opening clause, "But the high places were not removed," presents a clear negative, highlighting an incomplete aspect of his reforms. This is immediately followed by the contrasting positive affirmation, "nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days." The use of "But" and "nevertheless" creates a powerful **Antithesis**, setting up a tension between outward action and inward disposition. This literary technique allows the narrator to offer a complex portrait of Asa, acknowledging both his significant spiritual achievements and a persistent flaw, while ultimately prioritizing the purity of his heart. The verse functions as a concise **Summary Statement**, encapsulating the spiritual trajectory and primary characteristic of Asa's reign.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse offers profound insights into God's assessment of human faithfulness. It reveals that while God desires complete obedience and the eradication of all forms of idolatry and compromise, He also deeply values the sincerity and undivided loyalty of the human heart. Asa's failure to remove the high places represents a significant lapse in comprehensive obedience, yet his internal devotion is affirmed as "perfect." This highlights a tension often present in the lives of believers: the struggle between ideal obedience and the reality of incomplete sanctification. It suggests that while external actions are important, the purity and singular focus of one's heart toward God are paramount in His eyes. This theological principle underscores the importance of internal transformation as the wellspring of true worship and obedience, even as we strive for outward conformity to God's will.

* [Deuteronomy 12:2-5](/deuteronomy/12-2-5 "Deuteronomy 12:2-5 - Command to Destroy High Places")
* [2 Chronicles 16:9](/2_chronicles/16-9 "2 Chronicles 16:9 - God's Eyes on Perfect Hearts")
* [Psalm 51:10](/psalms/51-10 "Psalm 51:10 - A Clean Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of King Asa challenges us to examine the depth and sincerity of our own devotion to God. While we are called to pursue holiness in every area of our lives, Asa's example reminds us that God looks beyond mere external performance to the condition of our hearts. Do we have "high places" in our lives—areas of compromise, lingering sin, or divided loyalties that we have not fully surrendered or removed? These might be subtle forms of idolatry, unaddressed habits, or areas where we rely on self-sufficiency rather than God. The verse encourages us to cultivate a heart that is "perfect" (whole, undivided) in its commitment to the LORD, even as we diligently work to align our actions and environments with His will. It's a call to honest self-assessment and continuous spiritual purging, recognizing that true piety involves both inner devotion and outward obedience, even if the journey towards complete sanctification is a lifelong process.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "high places" in my own life that I have not fully removed or surrendered to the LORD?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart that is more "perfect" or undivided in its devotion to God, even amidst my imperfections?**
* **In what ways might my outward actions or spiritual practices not fully reflect the sincerity of my inner commitment to Christ?**

### FAQ
**What exactly were the "high places" and why were they a problem?**

Answer: The "high places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were elevated sites, often natural hilltops or artificial mounds, used for religious worship. They were a problem for several reasons:
1. **Pagan Association:** Many high places were originally built or adapted for the worship of Canaanite deities (e.g., Baal, Asherah) and involved practices abhorrent to Yahweh (e.g., child sacrifice, cultic prostitution).
2. **Decentralized Worship:** Even when used for Yahweh worship, they violated God's command for centralized worship at the single sanctuary He would choose (initially the Tabernacle, later the Temple in Jerusalem). This command, found in [Deuteronomy 12:2-5](/deuteronomy/12-2-5 "Deuteronomy 12:2-5 - Command for Centralized Worship"), was intended to prevent syncretism, maintain doctrinal purity, and ensure the proper administration of sacrifices and rituals.
3. **Syncretism:** The very presence of these local shrines, even if dedicated to Yahweh, often led to the blending of pure Yahwism with pagan customs and beliefs, diluting the unique identity and worship of Israel. Their continued existence represented a lingering spiritual compromise.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
King Asa's "perfect heart" yet incomplete reform finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Asa's struggle with the "high places" represents humanity's perpetual challenge with partial obedience and the lingering effects of sin. In contrast, Jesus' heart was not merely "perfect" in loyalty, but perfectly obedient in every action, without any "high places" of sin or compromise. He perfectly fulfilled the Law, not just in spirit but in every detail, as He declared in [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law"). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ effectively "removed" all the "high places" of sin and false worship from our lives, not just externally but fundamentally, by cleansing our consciences and empowering us to worship God in spirit and truth ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")). The New Covenant, inaugurated by His blood, establishes a new "temple" not of stone, but of believers, where the Holy Spirit indwells, enabling a holistic and undivided devotion that Asa could only strive for ([1 Corinthians 6:19-20](/1_corinthians/6-19-20 "1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Believers as Temples of the Holy Spirit")). Thus, what was an ongoing struggle for Asa becomes a completed work in Christ, allowing those who believe in Him to truly have a "perfect heart" in God's sight, not based on their own flawed obedience, but on the imputed righteousness of the One who was truly whole and complete.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 22:43

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing [that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; [for] the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

1 Kings 8:61

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

1 Kings 15:3

And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.

2 Kings 12:3

But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

2 Kings 14:4

Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

2 Chronicles 14:3

For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

2 Chronicles 15:17

But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.