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2 Chronicles Chapter 27 (ESV)

1 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.

REFLECTION:

Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except he did not enter the temple of the Lord, did not do as his father Uzziah who trespassed into the temple and offended the priesthood (26:16). Roughly speaking, Jotham could be regarded as a good king and God made him more powerful (27:6). But the people still followed corrupt practices (27:2). As faithful disciples of the Lord, sometimes we are lonely in the circumstance we are in. It could be because you cannot find anyone who shares your faith, or those you lead may not follow your godliness. However, this should not affect your dedication to live for God. Reflect how you could do better than Jotham that surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life when you dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

PRAYER:

Come before God in quietness and tell Him all the frustrations and difficulties. Ask God to comfort your heart, give you peace and joy, give you more faith, make you stand firm and not be influenced by the circumstance, so that you are willing to stay close to God, walk with Him, and serve Him faithfully.

HYMN:

Psalm 23 – Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy – youtu.be/Mo3HgtT_OiE?si=TfLUYFLoP9abCHOh