Daily Devotional for Friday, June 26

Jotham, Judah’s Eleventh Ruler

“In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done,” 2 Kings 15:32, 34.

In the field of professional sports, there have been many great players that have set many records. All of these players came into the professional leagues already having great talent. Even if they have a natural talent, they all grew in their talent by coaching and mentoring that they received during their younger ages. However, many come into the professional leagues thinking that they are already great and seem to know all that there is to know about their sport and position. Not until they humble themselves and become open to further training and hard work will they ever truly become great.
King Jotham already had a leg up on other new kings in that he had already ruled in his father’s stead due to his father’s leprosy that the Lord had inflicted on him (2 Kings 15:5). Although, like his father, he still allowed idol worship in Judah. In battle, he had prevailed against the Ammonites and became rich and known as a strong king. We are told, “So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6). What made him stand out as a great king was not because of his own natural talent or the training he had prior to becoming king, but it was his humbleness in serving the Lord and His people as king. What made him great is the same for us today as it was for him, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).

THOUGHT
Would you like to become great? Follow the same game plan; “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10).

Tim Chambers