How did Jotham's strength relate to his walk with God in 2 Chronicles 27:6? A snapshot of Jotham’s reign • Jotham became king of Judah at twenty-five and reigned sixteen years (2 Chronicles 27:1). • He followed the righteous example of his father Uzziah, yet avoided Uzziah’s later pride (2 Chronicles 27:2). • He fortified cities, built towers, and subdued the Ammonites—clearly a strong ruler (2 Chronicles 27:3-5). The key verse in focus “ So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.” (2 Chronicles 27:6) Ordering his ways—what it looked like • Consistent personal obedience: He “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (27:2). • Purity in worship: He avoided the temple presumption that ruined Uzziah (26:16-21). • Integrity in leadership: Building projects and battles were conducted without corruption (27:3-5). • Daily alignment: “Ordered” (Hebrew kun) carries the idea of establishing, setting straight, making firm—Jotham deliberately set every decision under God’s authority. Strength defined—more than military muscle • Military success: fortified walls, victorious campaigns (27:3-5). • Political stability: neighboring nations paid tribute (27:5). • Personal character: inner resilience that kept him humble and untainted by idolatry. • Spiritual favor: God Himself backing his endeavors (cf. 1 Samuel 2:30; 2 Chronicles 15:2). Cause-and-effect pattern confirmed elsewhere • Uzziah: “as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success” (2 Chronicles 26:5). • Hezekiah: “every work…he began…seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). • Joshua: “be careful to do” … “then you will prosper and succeed” (Joshua 1:7-8). • Psalm 1:2-3: Delighting in God’s law brings fruitfulness and stability. • Ephesians 6:10: “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Lessons for our walk today • Strength follows surrender. Lasting power—spiritual, relational, even practical—flows from putting every area of life under God’s direction. • Daily ordering matters. Little decisions, consistently aligned with Scripture, accumulate into great stability. • God-given power doesn’t puff up; it stands firm. Jotham’s humility kept him from the pride that toppled others. • The principle is timeless: when we “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33), He supplies all needed strength. |
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