2 Chronicles 27:1-9: a reflection

1Jotham 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. 2He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. However he didn’t enter into the LORD’s temple. The people still acted corruptly. 3He built the upper gate of the LORD’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel. 4Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers. 5He also fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. The children of Ammon also gave that much to him in the second year, and in the third. 6So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. 7Now 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. 8He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

The reign of King Jotham is summed up briefly, but one line captures the secret of his stability: So Jotham became strong, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. He did what was right, he built and fortified, he prevailed over his enemies; and the reason given for his growing strength is this: he ordered his ways before the LORD. His life was arranged, directed, ordered with reference to God, and out of that came strength.

Notice the connection the text draws: he became strong because he ordered his ways before the LORD. His strength was not simply the result of good fortune or personal ability; it flowed from a life ordered before God, lived with reference to him, directed by his ways. A life so ordered, aligned with God and his will, grew steady and strong; the ordering before God was the root of the strength.

That connection holds for us as well. A life ordered before God, arranged and directed with reference to him, walking steadily in his ways, grows strong and stable; while a life not so ordered, lived without reference to God, is prone to instability and collapse. The strength and steadiness we long for come not first from our own efforts or circumstances, but from ordering our lives before God. Order your ways before the LORD, as Jotham did. Arrange your life with reference to God, direct it by his ways, walk steadily before him; and let your strength come, as Jotham's did, from a life ordered before God. The one whose ways are ordered before the LORD grows strong; order yours before him, and be steadied.

Lord, the reign of Jotham is summed up with one revealing line: he became strong, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. His strength flowed not simply from good fortune or ability, but from a life ordered before you, lived with reference to you, directed by your ways. Let that connection hold for me. A life ordered before you, arranged and directed with reference to you, walking steadily in your ways, grows strong and stable; while a life not so ordered, lived without reference to you, is prone to instability and collapse. The strength and steadiness I long for come not first from my own efforts or circumstances, but from ordering my life before you. Help me order my ways before you, as Jotham did. Help me arrange my life with reference to you, direct it by your ways, and walk steadily before you; and let my strength come, as his did, from a life ordered before you. Steady me, Lord, as I order my ways before you.