2 Chronicles 33:17 – “The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
This verse reflects a complex situation in Judah after King Manasseh’s repentance. While Manasseh had removed idols and restored worship at the temple in Jerusalem, the people still worshiped at the high places—altars that were traditionally used for idol worship. However, they were now offering sacrifices only to the Lord. This shows that while there had been some return to the true worship of God, the practices were still mixed with old habits and traditions. They were no longer worshiping idols, but they were not yet fully following the instructions God had given about centralized worship at the temple in Jerusalem.
In the Bible, God had instructed the Israelites to worship only at the temple in Jerusalem, which was to be the central place of worship (Deuteronomy 12:5-14). The continued use of the high places, even if directed toward the true God, was still a form of disobedience because it didn’t follow God’s command for worship. This verse shows that while progress had been made in returning to God, there was still work to be done in bringing the people fully back to the way God had commanded them to worship.
Historical Context
Manasseh had led the nation of Judah into serious idolatry for many years, promoting the worship of foreign gods and defiling the temple with idols. After his captivity in Babylon, he repented and made significant changes by removing idols and restoring the altar of the Lord. However, his long reign of promoting false worship had left a lasting impact on the people.
The “high places” were often local altars on hills or elevated areas where people would worship idols. Even though Manasseh removed the foreign gods, the people continued using these high places, but now they directed their worship toward the true God. The high places had been associated with idol worship for so long that it was difficult for the people to break free from these practices, even after Manasseh’s reforms. Their worship was mixed, indicating that while their hearts were turning back to God, they still hadn’t fully aligned their practices with God’s instructions.
Theological Implications
This verse reveals an important theological point: partial obedience is not full obedience. The people were worshiping the true God, which was good, but they were doing it in ways that were not fully in line with God’s commands. True obedience involves not just worshiping the right God, but also worshiping Him in the right way—according to His Word.
This reminds us that God cares not only about the object of our worship but also about how we worship Him. He had specifically instructed the Israelites to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, and by continuing to use the high places, the people were still holding on to old patterns of worship that God had forbidden.
Theologically, this points to the human tendency to hold onto traditions or practices that may be comfortable or familiar, even when they don’t fully align with God’s commands. God desires complete obedience, which means aligning our lives and worship with His will, not just in part but in full.
Literary Analysis
The phrase “but only to the Lord their God” in this verse highlights a shift in the people’s worship, indicating that they were no longer worshiping foreign gods. This shows progress in their spiritual lives, but the mention of “continued to sacrifice at the high places” signals that their worship was still compromised. The tension between these two clauses—worshiping the true God but in the wrong way—sets the stage for ongoing reforms that would eventually be carried out by future kings.
The use of the word “however” suggests that while there had been positive change, there was still an underlying issue that had not been fully resolved. This word invites the reader to see the mixture of improvement and lingering disobedience, which characterized much of Israel’s history.
Relevant Biblical Cross-References
- Deuteronomy 12:5-6 – God commands the Israelites to worship only at the place He would choose, which would later be the temple in Jerusalem, prohibiting the use of high places.
- 1 Kings 3:3 – Solomon is described as worshiping the Lord but also offering sacrifices at the high places, showing that this was a long-standing issue for Israel.
- 2 Kings 12:3 – Despite reforms under King Jehoash, the high places were not removed, showing how difficult it was to fully eradicate this practice.
- John 4:23-24 – Jesus teaches that true worshipers will worship God “in spirit and in truth,” emphasizing the importance of worshiping God in the right way.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For Christians today, this verse serves as a reminder that it’s possible to worship the true God but still hold onto practices or traditions that don’t fully align with God’s Word. We may be sincere in our worship, but God calls us to worship Him in both spirit and truth. This means aligning our worship practices and our lives with the teachings of Scripture, not simply following traditions that may have sentimental or cultural value but lack biblical grounding.
It also challenges us to examine our own lives for areas where we may be offering God only partial obedience. Are there areas where we are holding onto old habits or traditions that need to be surrendered to fully align with God’s will? This verse encourages us to strive for full obedience in our worship and walk with God.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
God’s love is seen in the fact that He was patient with the people of Judah as they slowly returned to Him. Even though their worship was still incomplete and imperfect, God did not abandon them. His love is patient, and He continues to work with us even when our obedience is not yet full. This shows that God is merciful and understanding of our human frailties, gently leading us toward greater faithfulness and maturity.
However, God’s love also includes His desire for our full obedience. He knows that partial obedience or compromised worship will ultimately hold us back from experiencing the fullness of life and relationship with Him. Out of His love, He calls us to leave behind anything that hinders our complete devotion to Him.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
This verse points forward to the perfect worship that Jesus came to establish. In His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus explained that true worshipers would no longer be tied to specific locations like Jerusalem or the high places (John 4:21-24). Instead, worship would be about the heart—worshiping God in spirit and in truth. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for us to approach God directly, without the need for physical altars or high places.
Jesus fulfilled the law and opened the way for us to worship God in the fullness of truth. Through Christ, we are called to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), aligning every aspect of our lives with God’s will.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Are there areas in your life where you feel you are offering God only partial obedience? How can you align more fully with His will?
- What “high places” in your life might represent old habits or traditions that need to be surrendered to God?
- How does this verse challenge us to think about the way we worship God today? Are we worshiping in spirit and in truth, as Jesus taught?
- What does God’s patience with the people of Judah teach us about His love and patience with us when we are slow to fully obey?
- How does Jesus’ teaching on worship in John 4 help us understand the kind of worship God desires from us today?
This verse from 2 Chronicles reminds us that God desires not just worship, but worship that is fully aligned with His Word. While the people of Judah were beginning to turn back to God, their worship was still mixed with old practices. Today, we are called to examine our lives and worship to ensure that we are offering God our full obedience, worshiping Him in the way He desires—through Christ and in the truth of His Word.