Unset Hearts

2 Chronicles 20:33
The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

This rather sad verse comes after this much happier one: "He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD." And I don't understand the contradiction between this heart and 17:6, which says that Jehoshaphat did remove the high places. Did he, or didn't he? Did he not get them all? Did the people sneak out and build new ones after he took the old ones down?
That last might be a possibility, given the second part of the verse. As good as the king was, the people still had individual responsibility for their own hearts.
This is the chapter where God defeated the armies attacking Judah, and it has some great parts in it. Everyone from Judah, whole families, came to Jerusalem for guidance and protection. God replied in a big way.
After the king's prayer, the prophet Jahaziel was inspired and spoke up, saying things like "For the battle is not yours, but God's. . .You will not have to fight this battle." The army was led by men singing "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." And it turned out better than anyone could have imagined.
Still, the writer had to note that the people hadn't chosen to set their hearts on Yahweh. When they were scared witless, they flocked to Jerusalem and listened to their king's godly words, and they even fell down in worship.
But their hearts weren't set. Maybe it is important to keep that in mind, so we are not shocked when God's patience finally, finally runs out.

Wholehearted Judges

2 Chronicles 19:9
He gave them these orders: "You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD.

Here Jehoshaphat is appointing judges for Jerusalem. Among them were Levites and priests, and the king's instructions hold them responsible for the spiritual well-being of the people. Their every judgement was to include a sermon.
I love this. So whole-hearted is Jehoshaphat himself that faithfulness is the first item in his job description for the judges.
God, make me so whole-hearted that You are my first thought.

Set Your Heart on Seeking God

2 Chronicles 19:3
There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God."

This follows a rather cinematic chapter featuring four hundred false prophets, one true prophet, the death of Ahab, and a close call for Jehoshaphat.
Why did this true-hearted king have anything at all to do with the dreadful Ahab? Could this be the flesh talking? Kings made alliances with other kings. Kings went to war for fun and profit. Maybe Jehoshaphat did what kings do without much reflection.
Yet he asked for a true prophet, unimpressed by the showmanship of Ahab's pet prophets. But after hearing from him, he went on with the ill-conceived project, escaping alive only by God's intervention.
Today's heart came from Jehu the prophet, who met him as he returned home. Jehu promised him the wrath of God, but it seems Jehoshaphat was inspired to do better. He appointed judges and urged them to do right; when several armies threatened, he responded by leading Judah in revival.
Some good in him, indeed. He had his heart set right, and he was drawn back to the righteous path.

Devoted, Furthermore

2 Chronicles 17:6
His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

This is Jehoshaphat, son of Asa. He went his father one better and removed the high places. Verse 3 says, "The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed."
I think this shows another aspect of the flesh vs. spirit split. The good actions are reckoned to Jehoshaphat's credit separately from his heart's devotion, just as Asa was said to be fully committed, though he didn't remove the high places.
It is hard for me to not focus on actions, mine and others. And I can't know hearts as God does. I can know my heart, and I want to devote it to the ways of the LORD.

Fully Committed

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

Talk about the flesh. That was a very appropriate analysis. In the flesh, Asa took all his silver and gold and gave it to the king of Aram as a bribe to take on Israel for him. It seemed to work, in the short run. The sad thing is, when you act in the flesh, you never get to see the blessings God had ready for you.
I have to remember that God is always looking for those with fully committed hearts. Asa was one, so he was in line for God's strength, until he decided to rely on a pathetic little hoard of silver and gold instead.
My job is to fully commit my heart. God is just looking for the opportunity to do the rest.

High Places

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

I seem to remember something like this from Kings. Today I want to look at things fresh, so I will not look it up. In an interesting way, it relates to the exchanged life conference I went to. I'm trying to look at everything with that prism, and in the fully committed heart, I see the life in Christ.
Heart can mean the essence of a person, and Asa's belonged to God. All his life. I like that addition. Too many of the good kings lost their way in later life. All his life.
Yet there is the matter of the high places. That speaks to me of the flesh, and the sin that remains in us, though not part of us. Oddly, I feel more kindly to Asa. The high places are fleshly ways of coping, of incorporating some earthly wisdom into our search for God. The high places made a certain sense. Perhaps they were magic places, where people felt the spirits around them. They appealed to the senses.
Though Asa was so fully in God, his flesh said leave the high places.
God, please keep showing me the high places I've left.