20250206

in his shadow

2 Chronicles 27:1-9

2 Chronicles 27:1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok.
2 Chronicles 27:2 He did what was right in Yahveh’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he didn’t enter Yahveh’s sanctuary, but the people still behaved corruptly.
2 Chronicles 27:3 Jotham built the Upper Gate of Yahveh’s temple, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.
2 Chronicles 27:4 He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
2 Chronicles 27:5 He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years.
2 Chronicles 27:6 So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeying Yahveh his God.
2 Chronicles 27:7 As for the rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, along with all his wars and his ways, note that they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
2 Chronicles 27:8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 27:9 Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.

in his shadow

Jotham spends ten of his 16 years as king with his father as a leper king, in his shadow. Those ten years were a constant reminder and warning for him not to presume upon his own authority, as his father did. Many have family that have made mistakes, and have had to face the consequences of those mistakes. The members of their family serve as warnings from God. Jotham heeded the warning that he saw looking at his father in his own shadow. He was faithful, and God made him mighty. But he did not enter the temple in any attempt to act as a priest, as his father had. His father was his lesson, and he learned it well.

LORD, help us to see the lessons you have given us within our own families.