It Ain't Over Yet

O. T. #980  "It Ain't Over Yet"
May 12, 2017
2 Chronicles 27
Howbeit he entered not into the Temple of the LORD.  2 Chronicles 27:2

LET IT GLOW

Even though we mess up, stumble into sin, it ain't over yet folks. (Forgive my improper English, but I'm just a country gal at heart.)We can start over today following God when we didn't yesterday. He picks us up and forgives, dusts us off, then sets our feet us on the right road. It is not over until we take our last breath, is it? We can still do good. Jotham did.

As I read in my NLT Chronological Bible, there were several prophets which God used to warn Israel and Judah of His coming judgment if they did not turn from their idol worship and back to Him. During Jeroboam II king of Israel's reign, Jonah preached to Ninevah and they repented; Amos warned of Assyria's captivity if they did not repent and turn from idol worship, which did not happen; Hosea finished his ministry before Samaria fell to Assyria in 722 B.C.
This was during the same time that Uzziah was king in Judah. Prophet Isaiah had a vision of the Lord in all His holiness in the Temple and surrendered to spread His Word of oncoming judgment if Judah did not repent of idolatry, too. He preached during the reign of 4 kings-Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. There is our history lesson for the day.

Now, onto the next king of Judah. Jotham was Uzziah's son who became king following his father's death. Falwell suggests that Jotham co-reigned with his father during Uzziah's last 11 year.

What do we know about Jotham?

• He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned for 16 years. (verse 1)
• He was the last of the 4 consecutive good kings of Judah. ((verse 1)
• He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. (verse 2)
• Jotham did not enter the Temple.
• His people did corruptly. They continued to worship idols in Judah.

Why in the world did this king not enter into the Temple to worship God? Obviously God wanted thi known since it appears here in the Word.

McGee suggests it was due to his background. Jotham's father sinned by burning incense in the Temple. That was only allowed for the priests of Aaron's line to perform. Uzziah became a leper in the Temple and was cast out for the rest of his life. Perhaps Jotham did not grow up in the right atmosphere. Maybe he had a root of bitterness or prejudice because of that.
We can only speculate. So many times preachers kids drop out of church when their dad is treated badly by church members or leaders. Forgiveness is not involved in the healing in such cases.

Are we staying focused on worshiping and serving Jesus, even when/if  our heart gets broke by others?
Jesus loves us. His eyes see all. He will make everything right, eventually. Keep walking (by faith), dear one. Lift up your head; it ain't over yet, as the song says.

LET IT GROW

King Jotham did accomplish some good things in Judah:

• He rebuilt or restored a high gate at the northern side of the Temple.(verse 3)
• Also, on the southern side of the Temple, the wall of Ophel he built on a spur of the hill. (Falwell)
• Jotham built cities in the mountains of Judah as well as towers and castes in the forests. (verse 4) Certainly, this was the land flowing with milk and honey-the Promised Land.
• He fought against the Ammonites and won. They had rebelled and stopped paying tribute. (verse 5) Over the next 3 years he received tribute of 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of both wheat and barley.
• He kept the nation strong militarily as his father did.

Can we still do good things even if our heart is not in the right place? Even if God is not controlling us? How much better it is when we follow the Lord Jesus and obey His will for our life. Could it be that when we get older we realize this?

LET IT GO

Follow Jesus by faith.

Do good when the opportunity arises, while I am able.