2 Kings 15:35

Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord.

2 Kings 15:35 (KJV)

Context

Jotham ruled Judah for sixteen years. The Bible says he did what was right in the Lord’s sight, yet the high places remained. These were elevated sites where people sacrificed and burned incense to false gods. God had commanded worship at the temple in Jerusalem, not at these places. The high places often had altars and idols, and their continued use showed that the people were not fully devoted to true worship.

Meaning

The verse records two facts about Jotham’s reign. First, he did not remove the high places, so the people continued their unauthorized worship. Second, he built the higher gate of the house of the Lord, showing his care for the temple. This combination reveals a king who honored God in some ways but left a serious problem untouched. His building project was a positive step, yet it did not address the deeper issue of false worship sites.

Biblical connections

Jotham’s partial obedience stands in contrast to kings like Hezekiah, who later removed the high places (2 Kings 18:4). The temple was the appointed place for sacrifice, and worship elsewhere led people away from exclusive devotion. Building the gate was good, but it did not correct the underlying problem. The persistence of high places reflects a spiritual decline among the people, showing that true worship requires both the right place and the right heart.

Application

This verse warns against partial obedience. It is possible to do many right things and still leave areas of compromise. Believers must examine their own lives for “high places“—habits or practices that compete with exclusive devotion to God. These may be attitudes, priorities, or activities that take the place of wholehearted worship. God calls for complete faithfulness, not selective reform.

Reflection

Jotham’s example challenges leaders and individuals alike. Supporting the temple while tolerating idolatry was not enough. His failure to remove the high places is noted as a shortcoming, even for a king who otherwise did right. Let this verse prompt honest self-examination and a renewed commitment to worship God alone, in spirit and in truth.