II Chronicles: Jotham

There are some unusual things about King Jotham. His story is short and recounts no major events. There was nothing earth-shattering or cataclysmic about his reign. A history book would summarize his years in a brief and boring paragraph. Jotham is also unusual because the Bible says nothing bad about him. Every statement is positive, with no revelation of any failures, as is the case for other godly kings.

Jotham "did right in the sight of the LORD" (II Chronicles 27:2).  There are no declarations or even implications of anything different. The most predictable statement about Jotham is that he "became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God" (27:6). This is precisely what a student of II Chronicles would expect - God's blessing on a king who followed Him.

God's blessing was expressed primarily in infrastructure and military terms. Jotham strengthened his country by building. He built a gate for the house of the LORD. He built a wall. He built cities. He built fortresses and towers. In addition to construction, Jotham also prospered militarily. He was victorious over the Ammonites, resulting in large payments of money and crops from Ammon every year.

Those are the sparse details of Jotham's reign. There is nothing dramatic, but clearly God blessed him. While leaders could easily be limited to prospering either at home or abroad, Jotham excelled in both areas. He was able to strengthen the infrastructure at home even while he waged successful wars. Jotham did more than what is specifically recorded; verse 7 refers to "all his wars and his acts." Whatever those multiple wars and acts were, they were done by a man who followed God and in a way that pleased God.

More significant than the specifics of what Jotham did are the specifics of what he did not do. Jotham's surroundings, specifically the people around him, were not perfect. "The people continued acting corruptly" (27:2). Jotham did not yield to public pressure. He continued to do what was right in spite of what was happening around him.

Jotham also had the example of his father to deal with. There was much good in his father, and Jotham did right "according to all that his father Uzziah had done" (27:2). Jotham observed what his father had done well, and he followed that example. Jotham knew where to draw the line, however. His father had made one major error when he entered the temple to offer incense. As closely as Jotham followed his father, he distinctly chose not to follow him in this area where his father had done wrong (27:2).

Jotham had to deal with the influence of those around him, but he did not allow himself to be controlled by them. He continued doing what was right in spite of how the people acted. He followed the example of his godly father, but only as far as his father followed God. The passage is careful to point out the difference and to clarify that Uzziah's failure in entering the temple (which displayed his pride) was not repeated by Jotham, indicating that Jotham was not proud to lift himself up. He did not fall into the weakness of his father. Jotham rose above the wickedness around him and the wrong example he had seen, and he determined to do what was right, no matter what anyone else did.

There is one more unusual aspect about Jotham's reign. This godly king, with nothing negative said about him, ordered his steps before the Lord and received God's blessing. Why then were his life and his reign so short? He reigned only sixteen years and died at age forty-one. This does not seem to fit the pattern of what happened with previous godly kings. Part of the blessing usually included a normal life span, whereas an early death was typically God's judgment.

One possible answer is that God does not always promise a long life. He does not promise to give blessing in the way man expects to see it. God does bless those who follow Him, but that does not necessarily equate to riches and peace and fame. Many men and women have served God faithfully, yet their lives were cut short. While Jotham's life was not lengthy, there is no doubt that God blessed Jotham and did what He desired in his life.

A second possible answer is that Jotham was a godly man in the midst of a corrupt people. Perhaps God delivered Jotham from that wicked atmosphere, taking him home as He did with Enoch. God would have rejoiced to have this rare godly man home with Him.

A third possibility is that God was simply moving His plan forward. The passage specifically mentions the corrupt actions of the people. God had repeatedly predicted His judgment on the people of Judah for their wickedness. There were times that God deliberately delayed that judgment and other times that He deliberately hastened it. If the people were so corrupt under a king that was so upright, perhaps God was removing that godly king whom the people were choosing not to follow. If the people refused to follow a godly man, God could have removed him so that His inevitable plan of justice would not be delayed toward people who deserved it.

From all appearances Jotham seems not to have had much influence. History records no major events. His people did not follow his righteous lead. Where it counted, however, Jotham was just right. He had the testimony before God that he did the right thing. He quietly and consistently followed God through the ordinary tasks of life, regardless of the influences that surrounded him. This inconspicuous king is an exemplary model of faithful godly living. The king who is barely mentioned is worthy of honorable mention indeed.