Jotham’s Peaceful Reign.

Uzziah had been one of Judah’s best and greatest kings, serving God devotedly.  His biggest mistake had been letting his pride convince him he had the right to serve as a priest.  His son Jotham had acted for him after he contracted leprosy, and after his death, Jotham ascended the throne, as described in II Kings 15:32-33.  “In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.  Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

Like his father, Jotham was devoted to God. following his fathers’s policies, but he had learned from his fathers mistake, as II Chronicles 27:2 tells us.  “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.”  While the leadership sets the tone for any organization or nation, the people do not always fully subscribe, often just going along to avoid conflict. 

Centuries before, God had forbidden Israel to offer sacrifices in the high places because it was too easy and tempting to begin to worship the trees and rocks instead of God.  Despite Jotham’s best efforts, the people continued their tradition of worshipping in the high places, which had started almost four hundted years before, as II Kings 15:35 tells us.  “Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places…”

Jotham only reigned sixteen years, but he was a very good king during that time, accomplishing a great deal, as II Chronicles 27:3-7 describes.  “He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.  Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.  He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.  So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.  Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.”

While Jotham whole heartedly served the Lord, the people did not, and toward the end of his reign, other groups began to try to invade Judah, as II Kings 15-37 tells us.  “In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.”  Jotham ended up fighting several battles because of the people’s sin.   Even the best leaders cannot force people to do what is right, and sometimes they have to deal with the results of other people’s sin. 

Because Jotham fully served the Lord, there was not a lot of drama during his reign.  Compared to other stories it seems almost boring, and can be summed up as he served the Lord, and the Lord blessed him.  Those who were not as committed often have far more exciting stories.  In Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, the prodigal had a far more exciting life, but his brother was the better son.  Unfortunately we tend to focus on the excitement rather than on the spiritual attitude.   Drama frequently indicates an unspiritual attitude. 

Jotham was widely respected and when he died at a relatively young age, was buried along side the other respected kings, as II Kings 15:38 tells us.  “And 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 stead.”