2 Kings 15:32-38 ESV
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 37 In those days the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

- - - - - -

33 Siya'y dalawampu't limang taon nang siya'y nagsimulang maghari, at siya'y naghari ng labing-anim na taon sa Jerusalem. Ang pangalan ng kanyang ina ay Jerusha na anak ni Zadok. 34 Siya'y gumawa ng matuwid sa mga mata ng PANGINOON, ayon sa lahat ng ginawa ng kanyang amang si Uzias. 35 Gayunma'y, ang matataas na dako ay hindi inalis. Ang bayan ay patuloy na nag-alay at nagsunog ng insenso sa matataas na dako. Itinayo niya ang pintuang-bayan sa itaas sa bahay ng PANGINOON. 36 Ang iba pa sa mga gawa ni Jotam, at ang lahat niyang ginawa, di ba nakasulat ang mga iyon sa Aklat ng mga Kasaysayan ng mga Hari ng Juda? 37 Nang mga araw na iyon, pinasimulang suguin ng PANGINOON laban sa Juda sina Rezin na hari sa Siria at si Peka na anak ni Remalias. 38 Si Jotam ay natulog na kasama ng kanyang mga ninuno, at inilibing na kasama ng kanyang mga ninuno sa lunsod ni David na kanyang ninuno. Si Ahaz na kanyang anak ay nagharing kapalit niya.

GOD’S TOLERANCE IS NOT GOD’S APPROVAL

King Jotham was a good king following the footseps of his father Uzziah’s earlier reign. And, perhaps, he learned a lesson to what happened to his father, he did not enter into the temple of the Lord. According to 2 Chron 27:2, “And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices.”

He was commended for learning what should he not follow about his father’s actions in temple worship. Indeed, children are watching their fathers’ lives so that they can learn from their mistakes themselves. His father Uzziah’s pride that resulted to leprosy was too serious to ignore. Perhaps he learned to follow God because of fear of the consequence but not by his love for God.

He was blessed to become powerful for he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God” (2 Chron 27:6). He fortified his kingdom by rebuilding the Upper Gate of the temple. And, he built the wall at the hill of Ophel and towns, forts, and towers (2 Chron 27:3–4). However, he failed to remove the high places so the people could continue to make sacrifices there (2 Kings 15:35).

God is the strength of the kingdom suppose to be. But, Jotham had played enough politics taking for granted the effect of the worship of idols. For him, there was no problem for the people and his kingdom are doing well. The good result of our compromising actions and decisions don’t make them right, do they? It’s sad when God’s tolerance is mistaken as God’s approval. Just that God has blessed us materially doesn’t mean that he approved the means for it. Grace is not permissive to continue sinning but power to overcome sin.
Watch in YouTube:

Listen and FOLLOW on podcast
Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify
Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast
Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcast
Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audible

Follow us in various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio

#gospellightfilipino
#godswordfortoday
#bookof2Kings