 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices. 3 He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord and did much building on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the Ammonites gave him that year 100 talents of silver, and 10,000 cors of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
Meditation The gracious invitation of wisdom literature is for those who know God’s steadfast love to have a straight path to walk in His steadfast ways. Celebrating confidence in God’s word, Psalm 119:5 invites believers to keep God’s statutes to stay steadfast in our steps. Likewise, Proverbs 3:4-5 invites us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, knowing He will make our path straight. Grace gives believers ground to re-order our ways to walk in wisdom. King Jotham had a short reign which reinforced this huge invitation. He “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2) and “became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God” (6). King Jotham experienced victory and triumph when He walked in the ways of the Lord. Likewise, when we walk in God’s wisdom we can welcome these realties, too. Through the work of King Jesus believers have victory over sin and triumph over the troubles of the world, power to reorder our ways. To walk in wisdom is to redemptively reorder our ways and welcome a path to fruitfulness and fullness of life (Psalm 1:1-3). Responding to God’s grace and growing in sanctification, step by step, believers are sowing seeds for a future harvest, what Paul calls sowing to the Spirit (Galatians 6). Ordered ways committed to walk in the ways of God, will grow fruit from the Spirit of God to display the victory and triumph of God through the person and work of Jesus. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading? What observations do you make from the text? -Which promises from ordering your ways for the Lord, responding to His grace by walking in His ways, are most inviting to you? Do you believe God wants you to experience His blessing by ordering your ways under His authority? He does! -Jesus offers grace to give us ground to find the path of God’s promises, to walk in the ways of God, to display the victory and triumph of God. Where do you need to re-order your ways? Be specific. Key Verse 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. Comments are closed.
|