Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the LORD and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel. – 2 Chronicles 27:3

Today's Scripture Reading (March 3, 2023): 2 Chronicles 27

It is a sad event for me every time I hear about buildings that have been destroyed and left in ruin. And that sadness is multiplied if the building is of historical significance. So many important buildings and historical sites have been lost during my lifetime because of war or terrorist attacks. With every act of violence, we lose important parts of our history. Too often, we are too willing to destroy something just because it has no meaning to us but is important to someone else. I hate what that says about us as a race, that maybe we just have no respect for the past and the places from which we have come.

But it is even sadder if the building happens to be a church. I am not saying that every church needs to be an architectural marvel. That is not my point or concern. But I believe every church building should look like it is loved and that someone cares for it. I say that, knowing that my church needs some significant care. And while I don't think a church building is the most important thing, I do believe that caring for the building is a sign of the health of our faith. A church might be built simply, I know mine is, but if God is important to us, then we will keep it in good shape.

Jotham rebuilds the Upper Gate of the Temple. It is a good sign for the spirituality of the nation. Not all the Kings of Judah had cared for the Temple, and many seemed content to ignore the central element of Judaism spirituality, but Jotham was not among them. For Jotham, the Temple was important, and he would do what he could to ensure he repaired the Upper Gate. But maybe even more importantly, Jotham restored the corridor that led from the King's Palace to the Temple. Jotham wanted to keep the lines of communication open between the Temple and the Palace, something that many Kings did not think was important. "He wished free access from his own house to that of the Lord. He would strengthen the link between the two houses – keep his line of communication open (to use a military figure) with the source of his supplies of strength and wisdom. This is one of the secrets of his prosperity and power" (Christopher Knapp)

But Jotham understood the purpose of the link better than his father Uzziah had. Uzziah took the connection between the Palace and Temple to mean that the King had the power and privilege to act as a priest. Jotham understood that that was not true. He wanted to keep close contact with the priests of the Temple, but he understood where his place was in the system. And Jotham would be careful not to overstep and commit the same sins as his father.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 28