When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. – 2 Chronicles 31: 1

The mysterious “Asherah pole” is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament.

And while there are several theories as to exactly what the Asherah poles represented, there’s one thing we know for sure:

The poles served as a spiritual obstruction between the people and God.

One time we see these poles and shrines erected is towards the end of King Solomon’s reign.

And for generations, every king after him kept the poles intact.

Scripture tells us that there were a handful of kings whose lives were pleasing in the Lord’s sight.

Yet in the same sentence the kings were referred to as having done good, Scripture includes the clause “but they kept the Asherah poles standing.”

The Israelites didn’t collectively resolve to abolish all the shrines and poles until King Hezekiah’s reign.

In today’s age, we obviously don’t construct literal Asherah poles, but many of us deal with figurative “Asherah poles” that weaken our relationship with the Lord.

It could be unforgiveness, money, jealousy, pride, sex, addiction, or something else.

Whatever it is, it’s something that if left standing will erode the quality of the relationship we have with our Father.

It’s up to us individually to determine what our unique Asherah poles are.

But when we recognize them, we have to pray to God to help us cut them down so we can worship in spirit and in truth!

Be blessed,

Alexia

Prayer: God, right now I’m really struggling with ___________, and I know it’s not pleasing to you. I pray that you would be my strength to help me destroy that obstruction so that my relationship with you will be authentic and pleasing in your sight. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.