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Ideally, parents should model
what their children should be and children should follow in
their footsteps. When the father and mother provide
a good model, that's not a problem. When father or mother provide
a bad model, there is no question about what the children should
do. What happens, however, when the
father provides a mixed model? Well, that can be very confusing
to a child. There's a case in the Old Testament
of a father who did just that. The question is, what did his
son do? The story is recorded in 2 Chronicles,
chapter 27. So join me, if you will, in that
very short chapter, and let's look at this interesting lesson. The question is, how did the
son handle the situation when he was given a mixed example
by his father? I'm going to start with chapter
27, verse 1, that tells us about a king's life. The second part
of this chapter deals with his death. But the first part, actually,
the chapter is divided into those two parts, his life and then
his death. So we're going to start with
his life. Jotham was 25 years old when he became king and he
reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. Now, his father was Uzziah. This is Uzziah's son. The reign
of Uzziah's son began in 750 BC, and hence it overlapped his
father by about 11 years. One author has pointed out this
fact is understandable in light of Uzziah's incapacity in the
last years of his life, which we're told about in the previous
chapter. Jotham also co-reigned with his
son for four years, so that the reference to the length of reign
as 16 years does not include that period. His dates as principal
ruler were the 16-year period between 750 and 735 BC. Verse 2 says, and he did what
was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his
father Uzziah had done, although he did not enter the temple of
the Lord, but still the people acted corruptly. Jotham was a
good king. He did not inappropriately violate
the holy place that his father had done." In other words, he
followed the good example of his father and not the bad. One author has said, his record
was nearly blameless, but the people still were unfaithful
to the Lord. Matter of fact, the last part
of verse 2 says, the people still acted corruptly. The Hebrew word
translated corruptly means corrupt, to destroy, to go to ruin, to
decay. Spiritually, they were in a decaying
state. So this king followed his father's
example, except his father's sin. However, the high places
were not removed and he does not appear to have been a reformer.
He did little to prevent the people from acting corruptly
So we're told in verse 2, he did what was right in the sight
of the Lord, but the people acted corruptly. Verse 3 says, he built
the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and he built extensively
on the wall of Ophrol. His building projects included
repairing the upper gate of the temple, and reconstructing a
part of the wall that encompassed the old city of Jerusalem. Verse four says, moreover, he
built cities in the mountain of Judah and the forest he built,
fortresses and towers. Again, like his father, Uzziah,
He enjoyed peace so that he was able to build and improve his
capital and the surrounding cities. But verse 5 goes on to say, he
also fought with the kings of the Ammonites and defeated them.
And the people of Ammon gave him in that year, 100 talents
of silver, 10,000 cores of wheat, 10,000 of barley. The people
of Ammon paid this to him in the second and third year also."
In other words, his neighbors to the east submitted to him
and paid him tribute. Evidently, the Ammonites had
sacked off, slacked off, I should say, in their payment of tribute,
so he began to conquer them. They were required to pay, this
text says, 100 talents of silver, which is quite a bit, by the
way, it amounts to three tons, 10,000 cores of wheat, which
is 62,000 bushels, and 10,000 of barley. This they did for
three consecutive years, after which perhaps the burden was
lessened. At any rate, this king strengthened,
his strength lay in the fact that he considered the Lord in
all that he did. So verse six says, so Jotham
became mighty. because he prepared his way before
the Lord his God." He became mighty, a Hebrew word which means
to strengthen, prevail, be strong. So the author clearly states
the reason that he became strong is he ordered his way, he conducted
himself before the Lord his God. Verse 7 says, Now the rest of
the acts of Jothan and all of his wars and ways and deeds are
written in the book of Kings of Israel and Judah. Building
projects and political success were two marks of the divine
blessing on this king. The rest of his affairs could
be found in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah, perhaps
some of which were preserved in the books of 1st and 2nd Kings
in our Bible. So this is his life. He had a
father who gave him a mixed example and he basically followed the
good and he didn't commit the one sin that his father had done. That's his life. In verses 1
to 7, we are given his life. The next couple of verses, which
conclude the chapter, tell us of his death. He was 25 years
old when he became king, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. Now, this has already been pointed
out, that when he was 25 years old, he became king of the southern
kingdom. Notice he says he ruled in Jerusalem. So, this is actually a repetition
of verse one. But the last verse says, so he
rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David,
and then Ahaz, his son, reigned in his place. When he died, he was buried in
Jerusalem and, naturally, his son took his place. Now, as I've pointed out, this
is a very short chapter, the sum of which is simple. Jotham
emulated his father's good example and eliminated his father's bad
example. That's the lesson of these short
nine verses. Here is a king who had a father
who had a mixed model. He followed the good part and
he avoided the bad. He emulated the good example
and he eliminated the bad example. One author said, the record of
his reign is intended as a model for what might have been He followed
his father's good example. He did that which was right in
the sight of the Lord, verse two. He built like his father,
verses three and four. He battled like his father, verse
five. But he did not make the tragic
mistake of his father, verse two. So a father's example is
interesting in this case because it was a mixed model and his
son followed the good and eliminated the bad. A father's example comes
in three forms. It's either all good, all bad,
or a combination of both. Whether or not they are aware
of it, there's an old adage that says, like father, like son. That doesn't necessarily mean
it's true in every case, but unfortunately, it's true in a
lot of cases. Sons, of course, are responsible
for their own conduct. They do not have to choose the
example of their father, or they can pick and choose the part
of the example of their father that they want to follow. This
king wisely chose to emulate the good example of his father
and eliminate the bad example of his father. Sons would be
wise to follow in the footsteps of this wise king. What happens when a son does
not have a father to follow? My mother and father were divorced
when I was six years old. Consequently, I do not have an
example of a father to follow. In those cases, some have a spiritual
father whose example they can follow. In my case, the pastor
who led me to Christ was an example that literally molded the rest
of my life. In the first place, He was the
most zealous, ardent, consistent soul winner I've ever known.
No doubt my passion for evangelism came from the Spirit of God,
but my spiritual father was a human example for me to follow. In the second place, he was a
Bible teacher. Again, no doubt, the Holy Spirit
gave me the spiritual gift of teaching and motivated me to
teach the scripture in an expository fashion. But sitting under the
ministry of my spiritual father was the human example that had
an enormous impact on me personally. As a matter of fact, I've often
pointed out that I became a Christian when I was 18 years old. I was
about to graduate from high school. This pastor that I've just described
led me to Christ and I, sitting under his ministry, felt I wanted
to do what he was doing and the way he was teaching the scripture.
And yet I was very obsessed with the gospel and leading people
to Christ. So I went to school, college
and seminary, and then spent 13 years traveling about the
country as an evangelist. I was doing what my spiritual
father did. And then I became a pastor and
started teaching the Bible. like my father did. So, my point
is simply this. Some sons have a father with
a good model, and some sons have a father with a bad model, and
some sons have a father with a mixed model, as the one in
this passage, and some sons don't have a father. So what do you
do in that case? Well, in my case, I found a spiritual
father, or at least the Lord brought one along and literally
impacted and molded the rest of my life. There's a biblical
example of a spiritual son following a spiritual father. Paul opened
his second letter to Timothy by saying, Paul, an apostle of
Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life
which is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, a beloved son, grace,
mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus
our Lord. I just quoted from 2 Timothy
1, verses 1 and 2. Paul was Timothy's spiritual
father. Timothy was his beloved spiritual
son. So there's a case of a man who
apparently didn't have a father, and had a spiritual father that
became his model. Later in 2 Timothy, Paul says,
and again I quote, but know this, that in the last days perilous
times shall come, for men should be lovers of themselves, lovers
of money, boasters, proud, blasphemies, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control,
brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headlong, haughty, lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness
but denying its power. From such people turn away."
That's a quotation from 2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 to 6. They're
bad examples of what goes on in the world that no son or daughter
should follow. Follow Paul's advice and from
such bad examples, turn away. Still later in the same passage,
Paul goes on to say, "'But you have carefully followed my doctrine,
"'manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, "'love, perseverance,
persecution, affliction, "'which happened to me at Antioch, Iconium,
and Lystra. "'What persecutions I endured. "'And out of them all, the Lord
delivered me.'" 2 Timothy 3.10. Notice that Timothy carefully
followed Paul's teaching and manner of life, that is, what
Paul said publicly and what he did privately. Timothy followed
Paul's exhortation and Paul's example. Notice also that the
specific qualities that Timothy carefully followed, purpose,
faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance, enduring persecution,
and affliction. If you do not have a biological
father, or a spiritual father who provides an example for you
to follow. Find a believer who has the qualities
that Timothy found in Paul and follow that example. In the final
analysis, the ultimate example is Jesus. Peter says, for to
you we're called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example that you should follow in his steps," 1 Peter
2.21. In fact, Paul says, imitate me
just as I also imitate Christ, 1 Corinthians 11.1. The two great
godly virtues to emulate are righteousness and love. Using these terms or similar
terms, These two virtues are mentioned throughout the scripture. The psalmist says, for your mercy
is great above the heavens and your truth reaches to the clouds. Psalm 108 verse four. Here, God's
mercy and truth are praised. As God's children, believers
are to be godlike. Micah said, he has shown you,
oh man, what is good. And what does the Lord require
of you? But to do justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6, 8. Jesus said,
woe to the scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites, you pay tithes and
do all those kinds of things, but you neglect the weightier
matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith. These you ought
to have done without leaving the others undone. Matthew 23,
23. Paul said, but speak truth in
love and grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ,
Ephesians 4.15. Just speaking the truth is not
the issue. Believers are to speak the truth
in love. A lady once told Winston Churchill,
you're drunk. Churchill replied, you're ugly,
but I will wake up sober in the morning. Now that may be speaking
the truth, but it's not speaking the truth in love. Churchill
did not have her best interest in mind. It was a put down, not
a build up, which is the meaning of edify. To have Christ-like
maturity, believers must be righteous, Hebrews 5.13, and loving, Ephesians
4.15. Paul said, But you, O man of God, flee these
things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
gentleness, 1 Timothy 6.11. And flee also youthful lusts,
but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, and those who call
on the Lord out of a pure heart, 2 Timothy 2.22. When Paul summed up the spiritual
qualities to be pursued, He mentions different attributes in these
lists, but the two characteristics that are the same in both lists
are righteousness and love. Now, what I've done is quote
passage after passage to say that the qualities, the spiritual
virtues that we are to emulate are basically righteousness and
love. those were not manifested as
an example in your father, then find another believer who manifest
them. But the point is, those are the
qualities we should develop in our lives. Find an example that
will help you do that. Father, thank you for giving
us your word and telling us the direction in which we should
go. But Lord, thank you for giving us examples, sometimes our own
parents, and certainly examples outside of the family, and for
giving us the grace to do as Paul said, follow them even as
they follow you. In Jesus' name, amen.
14-25. Following in The Father’s Footsteps
Series 14 - 2 Chronicles
| Sermon ID | 101423175612714 |
| Duration | 21:35 |
| Date | |
| Category | Teaching |
| Bible Text | 2 Chronicles 27 |
| Language | English |
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