daily bible readings

Jotham’s reign is described in short and rather concise terms. The detail is left out so that the big picture is captured and seen clearly. He seems to be much like his father Uzziah, often obeying the Lord and walking steadfastly before Him but with a hint that not all is quite right. The comment by the Chronicler in 2 Chronicles 27:2 “The people, however, continued their corrupt practices,” is suggestive that even though Jotham is described as a good king, but something is desperately wrong in the kingdom!

The narrative recount of Jotham (750-731BC) is, as we said, brief. He is described as a good king much like his father Uzziah but no hint of sacrilege is  hinted at. The narrative follows the very usual pattern of introducing a king at his age of accession and the length of his reign. The name of the kings mother is given and then a summary of his reign. Jotham is said to have been a good king who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done.” (v2).

Given the positive reporting of Jotham’s reign, the comment about the people that ends verse 2 has to be noted. We read in that verse, “The people, however, continued their corrupt practices.” The Chronicler does not seem to condemn the king for the sins of the people. But, something is drastically wrong in the kingdom. All is not what it seems.

Perhaps this comment can be understood in the light of the returned exile seeking to understand their recent history and their fall from grace. Having heard the historical recount from chapter 1, it probably would have been very easy for the returnees to blame their fate on the kings who sinned against God. The ending of verse 2 contradicts this and sets straight any possible misconceptions.  While the fate of the nation is largely dependant on the king’s attitude towards God, the people are not without blame or role in this. If the people choose to follow a good king, they will be blessed. If they choose to rebel and prove faithless towards God they will be held responsible to some degree. As J.A Thompson notes in his NAC Commentary on 1 and 2 Chronicles, “Instead, the people can contradict the attitudes of their rulers, whether the ruler be the wicked Athaliah or the good Jotham. The rulers of Israel were tremendously important in determining the attitudes and destiny of the nation, but the citizens could not be absolved of responsibility for their actions and attitudes.”

The reporting of the people’s continuing sin in the middle of Jotham’s godliness (v1-2a) and the blessings given to him by God (v3-4) suggest strongly that God held the people responsible for their sinful choices. The king could not be blamed in this instance. 

As we have seen so far, the blessings of God are poured out on the king’s faithfulness and covenant fidelity. In 2 Chronicles 27:3–4, we read of Jotham’s success, a mark of God’s blessings. “Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel. 4 He built towns in the Judean hills and forts and towers in the wooded areas.”

Prayer:

Adoration:

• Adore God for His covenant faithfulness to us through Christ Jesus.
• Adore God that He can be trusted and relied upon at all times. He will never prove to be faithless.

Confession:

• Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for His forgiveness.

Thanks:

• Thank God that the best king, Jesus, has come into the world and that He has done what no king could ever do - obey God fully and pay for our sins by offering himself as the perfect and once for all offering for sins.
• Thank God that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Supplication:

• Ask the Lord Almighty to grow the covenant faithfulness of the leaders in your church- Small Group Leaders, Ministry Leaders, Pastoral Care Leaders, teachers and so on.
• Pray that your church would grow in holiness and righteousness.

Discussion Questions

1. Jotham, a good king, gets only 9 verses in his historical recount. Ahaz, in chapter 28, who is a very bad and wicked king, gets 27 verses. Why does the writer spend so much time on bad kings and so little time on good kings?
2. Why would the people continue in their corrupt practices?
3. What do you learn from Jotham’s reign?