Lessons from the Battlefield, part 6: Jotham - not just his daddy's boy

2 Chronicles 27:1-6

 

Jotham, Uzziah’s son, became king after the death of Uzziah and reigned for sixteen years.  He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done.  He was faithful all the days of his life.  Jotham, however, did not become so prideful that he became presumptuous, as his father had done.

 

What was it that Uzziah had done?

S.

Sought the Lord

F.

Fought with God’s help

B.

Built towers in the wilderness and kept a sharp lookout for danger

K.

Kept the army equipped and ready for danger

D.

Delegated authority to capable people

Made engines of war invented by skillful men

 

In addition, to what Uzziah did, Jotham built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, built extensively the wall of Ophel, built cities in the hill country, built fortresses and towers, fought with the Ammonites and prevailed.

 

The summary of Jotham’s life is this:

 

He became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord.

 

What does it mean to "order your ways before the Lord"? Jotham looked at his father's life, saw his successes and his failure, and recognized the source of both. He chose, every day for his entire reign as king, to do things God's way, every time. He did more great deeds than his father had done. Pride was likely a temptation, but he knew firsthand what the price would be, and he chose humility. He chose obedience. He chose discipleship. 

If we want the kind of life Jotham had, one that pleases God, we need to do what he did. 

Choose humility

Choose obedience. 

Choose discipleship. 

Every single time.