Knowing the Lord and taking action

2 Chronicles 27

Photo by Letizia Agosta on Unsplash

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• Summary

In this chapter we read about the reign of Jotham, who came to the throne when his father Uzziah developed leprosy.  Jotham had a fairly short reign - he was 25 years old when he ascended to the throne and 41 when he died.

Jotham was blessed with much success during his reign because he 'prepared his ways before the LORD his God'.  He had building work done in the temple, on the wall of Ophel, cities built in the mountains and castles and towers in the forests.  He won a battle with the Ammonites who then paid him silver, wheat and barley for three years. 

However, in contrast to his father who became proud of his success and thought he could do what he wanted, Jotham did not enter into the temple of the Lord - I am not sure if this means he didn't enter in to try and burn incense like his father did, or whether it means he didn't actually go to the temple for worship.  This is a little puzzling as he was doing that which was 'right in the sight of the LORD', but it is followed by a short sentence, 'And the people did yet corruptly' (verse 2) suggesting that the land was not following their King in how he was living his life.  2 Kings 15:32-38 also tells us that the places for pagan worship were being used by the people for sacrifices and burning incense.

• Thoughts

As I read this account - another record of how the Lord blesses those who follow his ways - I was reminded of the verse for the day in our morning family worship:

'...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits'
(Daniel 11:32).

Daniel is speaking of a people in a time of persecution but who 'know' their God and this gives them strength to do great things - or as my study Bible suggests - take action.  Jotham, we are told, 'prepared' his ways before the LORD his God and became mighty.  There seems to be a connection here.  The Holy Spirit prepares the heart to receive the things of God, and as this heart comes to know the LORD so it trusts in him, draws strength from him and takes action.

Do you have ideas of things you would like to achieve? But perhaps you doubt whether to do them and think you will mess up, or you wonder whether it is from the Lord or just something which attracts you.  

I have often thought of the verse in Deuteronomy 1:21, 

'Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee:go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, nether be discouraged' 

The Lord had told the Israelites by Moses that he was giving the land of Canaan to them and that he would be with them.  Here Moses is encouraging them.  Often we do not have a clear word of what we are to do, but circumstances and opportunities open up before us. We can also seek counsel from those who follow the Lord, and ask them to pray with us about these things when appropriate.

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

In these two verses from Daniel and Chronicles we are encouraged to pray for the work of the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord's word and guidance; let us spend time reading our Bibles, pondering what we read as we go through the day, pray over those words that linger with us, that we may come to know the Lord more, be encouraged and strong in him, and go forward performing those things which he has put in our hearts, for his glory.