In Second Chronicles, chapter twenty, verse thirty-three, high places were elevated spaces for idolatrous worship activity. God wanted His people to destroy these places lest they fall into such worship, as in Numbers thirty-three, verse fifty-two. The presence and temptation of the high places represented in the land testified to Judah’s lack of sincere love and loyalty to the Lord God and His covenant.
Jehoshaphat kept close to the worship of God and did what he could to have his people close to it. But after God had done such great things for him, giving him not only victory but wealth. Then, the King of Judah joined himself with a wicked king. What could he expect but that God would be angry with him? Yet it seems he took the warning, for when Ahaziah pressed him to join him, he would not, as in First Kings twenty-two, verse forty-nine. The alliance dissolved, and the Divine rebuke had its effect, at least for a season.
The fault was not in Jehoshaphat, but in the people, who, though they did worship the true God, yet would not be confined to the temple, but for their convenience, or from their affection to their ancient custom, chose to worship him in the high places; which Jehoshaphat being in a corner to devise at, lest those people, being debarred from that dearly-beloved practice, should fall into neglect of God and his worship. However, this could have been different if Jehoshaphat had not paid attention to the ungodly company. Let us be thankful for any losses that may have prevented our immortal souls’ loss. Let us praise the Lord, who sought after us and left us not to perish in our sins. Neither have the desire to mix with the immoral people who have no intention of serving God.