2 Chronicles 31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
When the people had finished the religious reforms and the spiritual renewal of the Passover Feast, the renewed people went out through the land and broke the images, cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and altars. This was the natural response to the thoroughgoing return to true faith and worship of the Lord alone. The positive result was that the people were sanctified, the land was purified, worship reestablished, and the kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity.
This is a like picture of what needs to happen in our souls and in our faith communities in response to the pure Gospel. We respond to the reminder, to the renewal, and celebration of what God has done for us in Christ. The weekly Divine Service is designed to bring us to thorough repentance and faith. And we do not miss a day of soul-searching faith.
We root around in the kingdom within looking for idols in the mind that displace or distract from fearing, loving, and trusting God above all things. Then we cut them down and destroy them in the name and through the blood of Christ. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ [2 Corinthians 10:5].”
This destructive action is “once and done” at the cross, but it must be repeatedly remembered in our deceitful minds and stubborn hearts to be applied daily to our hearts and lives. Because of our sinful nature renewal and cleansing must be constantly going on in us. For this reason we respond to the gospel by going to church weekly and spending time alone with God daily.