2 Chronicles 15:17

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

But the high places {H1116} were not taken away {H5493} out of Israel {H3478}: nevertheless the heart {H3824} of Asa {H609} was perfect {H8003} all his days {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the high places were not removed from Isra'el. Nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted throughout his life.

Berean Standard Bible

The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 15:17 provides a profound and nuanced evaluation of King Asa's reign, simultaneously highlighting his unwavering, wholehearted devotion to Yahweh while acknowledging the persistent challenge of deeply entrenched idolatrous practices within Israel. This verse encapsulates the tension between a leader's sincere and consistent commitment to God and the incomplete eradication of spiritual compromises within the nation, ultimately affirming God's gracious assessment that prioritizes the integrity and singular focus of the human heart in evaluating faithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse functions as a pivotal summary and qualified commendation of King Asa's reign, particularly following a period of significant spiritual revival. Asa's initial reforms, detailed in [2 Chronicles 14:3-5](/2_chronicles/14-3-5 "2 Chronicles 14:3-5 - Asa's Early Reforms"), saw him remove foreign altars and Asherah poles. A miraculous victory over the Cushites (2 Chronicles 14:9-15) then prompted the prophet Azariah to deliver a powerful message of encouragement and warning (2 Chronicles 15:1-7), which inspired Asa and the people to renew their covenant with God (2 Chronicles 15:8-15). This covenant renewal led to further purges of idolatry, including the removal of his grandmother Maacah's detestable idol. Verse 17, therefore, serves as a concluding statement on Asa's overall faithfulness during this period of reform, providing a balanced perspective before the narrative shifts to his later failures and reliance on human alliances in [2 Chronicles 16](/2_chronicles/16 "2 Chronicles 16 - Asa's Later Failures and Death").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "high places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were elevated sites, often on hills or mounds, used for religious worship. While some may have served as legitimate places of Yahweh worship prior to the centralization of worship in Jerusalem (e.g., [1 Samuel 9:12-14](/1_samuel/9-12-14 "1 Samuel 9:12-14 - Samuel at the High Place")), they increasingly became associated with syncretistic practices, blending Yahweh worship with Canaanite rituals, or were entirely dedicated to pagan deities. God's law explicitly commanded centralized worship at the Temple to prevent such spiritual corruption ([Deuteronomy 12:5-14](/deuteronomy/12-5-14 "Deuteronomy 12:5-14 - Centralized Worship Command")). Their persistence throughout Israel's history, even under reform-minded kings like Asa, indicates their deep cultural and religious entrenchment. These local shrines often appealed to popular traditions and convenience, representing a constant temptation to compromise the exclusive worship of Yahweh. Asa's inability to fully eradicate them underscores the profound challenge of spiritual cleansing in a society deeply influenced by paganism and resistant to complete obedience.

* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several crucial themes within the Chronicler's narrative. First, it highlights the theme of **Incomplete Reform**, demonstrating that even zealous and divinely-empowered efforts to purify worship can encounter deeply entrenched resistance and leave lingering areas of compromise. The "high places" symbolize these persistent spiritual blemishes that defy total eradication by human means alone. Second, the verse underscores the theme of **Wholehearted Devotion**, as Asa's "perfect heart" signifies a sincere, undivided, and unwavering commitment to God. This "perfection" denotes integrity and singular focus, distinguishing him from kings whose loyalty was divided or wavering, and it is a key criterion for divine favor in the Chronicler's theology, as seen in [2 Chronicles 16:9](/2_chronicles/16-9 "2 Chronicles 16:9 - God's eyes on those with perfect hearts"). Third, the verse offers profound insight into **Divine Assessment**, revealing that God looks beyond external imperfections or incomplete victories to the genuine disposition and fundamental direction of a leader's heart. While complete obedience is desired, God graciously acknowledges and commends true sincerity and consistent effort in faithfulness, as He did with David in [1 Kings 11:4](/1_kings/11-4 "1 Kings 11:4 - David's whole heart").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **High places (Hebrew, H1116, _bâmâh_):** This term, derived from a root meaning "to be high," refers to elevated sites or shrines used for religious worship. While the KJV uses the plural "high places," the underlying Hebrew root (H1116) is singular (_bâmâh_), denoting an elevation or height. In the context of Israelite worship, these sites, often on hills, became problematic because they were frequently associated with syncretistic practices, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan rituals, or were entirely dedicated to foreign deities. Their continued presence represented a persistent spiritual compromise and a deviation from the centralized, pure worship commanded by God at the Temple in Jerusalem.
* **Perfect (Hebrew, H8003, _shâlêm_):** This word, from the root _shâlam_ (meaning "to be complete" or "whole"), conveys a sense of completeness, wholeness, integrity, or being undivided in loyalty. When applied to the heart, as it is here concerning Asa, it signifies a sincere, unreserved, and unwavering devotion to God. It does not imply sinlessness or absolute perfection in action, but rather a fundamental commitment, a consistent desire to obey and please the Lord, and a singular focus on Yahweh, in contrast to those whose hearts were divided or inclined towards idolatry.
* **Days (Hebrew, H3117, _yôwm_):** This common Hebrew word for "day" is used here in the plural ("all his days"), indicating the entire duration or span of Asa's life or reign. Its inclusion emphasizes the consistent and enduring nature of Asa's "perfect heart." It highlights that his devotion was not a fleeting moment or an occasional act, but a sustained orientation of his inner being throughout the majority of his time as king, particularly during the period of reform and faithfulness described in [2 Chronicles 14-15](/2_chronicles/14 "2 Chronicles 14 - Asa's Early Reign") and [2 Chronicles 15](/2_chronicles/15 "2 Chronicles 15 - Asa's Covenant Renewal").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:"** This initial clause presents a significant qualification or limitation to King Asa's otherwise commendable reforms. Despite his earnest efforts to purify the land and the national covenant renewal, the local, often syncretistic, worship sites remained. This indicates the deep-seated nature of such idolatrous practices, perhaps due to popular attachment, the sheer number of sites, or the practical difficulty of enforcing a complete purge across the entire kingdom. It serves as a stark reminder that even significant spiritual revivals can leave lingering areas of compromise and resistance to full obedience.
* **"nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days."** This second clause offers a profound commendation that stands in stark contrast to the preceding critique. The conjunction "nevertheless" (אַךְ, _'akh_) introduces a strong emphasis, highlighting that despite the failure concerning the high places, Asa's fundamental disposition, his core loyalty, and his inner commitment to God remained pure and undivided. "All his days" refers to the consistent orientation of his heart throughout his reign, particularly in his devotion to Yahweh, even if his later actions (e.g., relying on physicians over God, [2 Chronicles 16:12](/2_chronicles/16-12 "2 Chronicles 16:12 - Asa's Illness and Mistake")) showed specific lapses. This highlights God's gracious assessment, which values the sincere, underlying commitment of the heart above all else.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Juxtaposition** and **Contrast** to present a nuanced and balanced assessment of King Asa's reign. The opening clause, "But the high places were not taken away out of Israel," states a clear limitation or failure in his reforms, acknowledging the persistence of idolatry. This is immediately followed by the contrasting "nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days," which offers a powerful commendation of his inner integrity and consistent devotion. This literary technique highlights the complexity of human faithfulness, demonstrating that God's evaluation considers both outward actions and the inward disposition of the heart. The phrase also implies a form of **Divine Commentary**, as the inspired narrator offers a theological judgment on Asa's reign, balancing his successes with lingering imperfections, thereby guiding the reader's understanding of true piety.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates God's primary concern for the heart's disposition, even amidst imperfect obedience. While God unequivocally demands exclusive worship and the eradication of all idolatry, He graciously acknowledges and commends genuine, undivided devotion. The persistence of the "high places" serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle against sin and compromise, not only in society but also within the individual believer and the covenant community. It underscores that sanctification, both individual and corporate, is a progressive process, not a single event, and that deep-seated spiritual issues can be remarkably resistant to complete removal. Ultimately, this passage points to a God who discerns true sincerity and values a heart wholly committed to Him above all else, offering both a challenge to pursue complete obedience and comfort in His understanding of human frailty.

* [1 Kings 8:61](/1_kings/8-61 "1 Kings 8:61 - Solomon's call for a perfect heart")
* [Deuteronomy 6:5](/deuteronomy/6-5 "Deuteronomy 6:5 - Love the Lord with all your heart")
* [Psalm 51:10](/psalms/51-10 "Psalm 51:10 - A prayer for a clean heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
King Asa's story in 2 Chronicles 15:17 offers profound and enduring lessons for believers today. Just as Asa wrestled with the persistent "high places" in Israel, we too face areas in our lives—whether they are ingrained habits, subtle attitudes, or lingering idols—that resist complete transformation, even after significant spiritual renewals or commitments. This verse reminds us that true faith is not about achieving sinless perfection, but about cultivating a heart that is sincerely and wholly devoted to God. Our Heavenly Father, in His gracious assessment, looks beyond our outward imperfections and incomplete victories, valuing the genuine intent and unwavering commitment of our hearts. We are called to strive for this "perfect" or undivided devotion, continually seeking to align our will with His, knowing that the journey of sanctification is ongoing and requires persistent effort against the lingering "high places" in our own spiritual landscape. This calls for both diligent self-examination and humble reliance on God's grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "high places" might still exist in my own life, subtle areas of compromise or divided loyalty that I need to address through prayer and intentional action?**
* **How does the concept of Asa's "perfect heart" challenge or affirm my understanding of what God truly values in my walk with Him, especially concerning my motives and inner disposition?**
* **In what practical ways can I cultivate a more "whole" or undivided heart towards God in my daily life, ensuring my devotion is consistent "all my days"?**

### FAQ
**What exactly were "high places" and why were they problematic?**

Answer: "High places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were elevated sites, often on hills or mounds, where altars were set up for religious worship. While some may have been used for legitimate worship of Yahweh in earlier periods (e.g., by Samuel, [1 Samuel 7:17](/1_samuel/7-17 "1 Samuel 7:17 - Samuel's circuit and altar")), they became problematic primarily because they fostered syncretism—the blending of Yahweh worship with pagan practices—or were entirely dedicated to foreign deities like Baal or Asherah. God had commanded centralized worship at the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem to ensure purity of worship and prevent idolatry ([Deuteronomy 12:5-14](/deuteronomy/12-5-14 "Deuteronomy 12:5-14 - Centralization of Worship")). The high places represented a persistent deviation from this command, leading to spiritual compromise and the corruption of true faith. Their continued existence indicated a failure to fully obey God's command for exclusive worship.

**Does "the heart of Asa was perfect" mean he was sinless?**

Answer: No, "perfect" (Hebrew: _shalem_) in this context does not mean sinless perfection. Rather, it signifies completeness, integrity, or undivided loyalty. It describes a heart that is wholly devoted to God, sincere in its commitment, and consistently oriented towards Yahweh. Asa was not without flaws; later in his reign, he made errors, such as relying on the king of Aram instead of God ([2 Chronicles 16:7-9](/2_chronicles/16-7-9 "2 Chronicles 16:7-9 - Hanani's rebuke of Asa")) and failing to seek the Lord in his illness ([2 Chronicles 16:12](/2_chronicles/16-12 "2 Chronicles 16:12 - Asa's illness and mistake")). However, the chronicler's assessment here emphasizes that his fundamental disposition, his core loyalty, and his overall life's direction were genuinely for God, setting him apart from many other kings whose hearts were divided or turned to idolatry. It speaks to the consistent, sincere orientation of his will toward God, despite specific failings.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
King Asa's "perfect heart" in 2 Chronicles 15:17, while a profound commendation of his sincere devotion, ultimately points beyond him to the only truly perfect heart and life—that of Jesus Christ. Asa's inability to fully eradicate the "high places" highlights the persistent struggle against sin and idolatry that no human king or reform could ultimately overcome. The lingering presence of these spiritual compromises in Israel underscores humanity's inherent inability to achieve complete purity and perfect obedience through its own efforts. Only Christ, our perfect High Priest ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, our sinless High Priest")), lived a life of absolute and unwavering devotion to God, fulfilling all righteousness ([Matthew 3:15](/matthew/3-15 "Matthew 3:15 - Jesus fulfills all righteousness")). He is the one who completely disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities that held humanity captive to idolatry and sin, triumphing over them on the cross ([Colossians 2:13-15](/colossians/2-13-15 "Colossians 2:13-15 - Christ's triumph over sin and powers")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ removes the "high places" of our hearts, cleansing us from all unrighteousness and enabling us to worship God in spirit and truth ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True worship in spirit and truth")). Our "perfect heart" before God is not earned by our own incomplete efforts, but is a gracious gift, as we are made the righteousness of God in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Our righteousness in Christ")), allowing us to approach God with sincere and undivided devotion, empowered by His Spirit to walk in newness of life ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life in Christ")).

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

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.

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.

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 14:5

Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

1 Kings 11:4

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.

Deuteronomy 12:13

Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: