King Jotham

Isn’t it interesting to read through I & II Kings and I & II Chronicles in the Bible? It is one of the few places where in just a sentence or two, you can see what God thought of someone’s life. We read about those who “did evil in the eyes of the LORD” and those who “did right in the eyes of the LORD”. Sometimes these kings did well for a time, but they did not follow God “wholeheartedly”.

As I was doing my homework for a Bible study I’m involved in, I was directed to the life of Jotham. He is described in II Chronicles 27 and II Kings 15:32-38.

II Kings describes Jotham in this way:

“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there…” (II Kings 15:34-35)

II Chronicles speaks of Jotham as well:

“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 16 years…He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the LORD and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel. He built towns in the Judean hills and forts and towers in the wooded areas.” (II Chronicles 27:1-4)

Now, maybe I’m intrigued with Jotham because I’m also 25 years old. Or maybe that’s just one more reason he’s standing out to me right now. At 25 years old, Jotham was given one of the greatest responsibilities in the kingdom of Judah. He was to rule over the people and direct them. Now, obviously, the people ultimately made their own choices, but leaders have such influence. Leaders can both point out the good and do their best to stop the wrong.

So, at first glance, Jotham did a good job! He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just like his dad. But something was missing. He did not remove the high places. Those were places that had been set up to worship other gods. False gods, in fact. And Jotham did not stop his people from worshiping that which was false. He did not stop the wrong.

A little further on in this passage, we find this verse:

II Chronicles 27:6 “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.”

Jotham was walking steadfastly before the LORD. That’s awesome! God blessed the works of his hands and allowed him to grow powerful.
But know what most sticks out to me? He walked BEFORE the Lord.
We can see from the previous descriptions of his life that Jotham knew the right things to do. He did them. But maybe he didn’t go above and beyond the simple “rules of right living” to get to know the “Ruler of right living”.

What would Jotham’s life have looked life if he had walked WITH the Lord?
Would he have removed the high places and stopped those who were giving glory to someone else?

Before and With are two very different words. Maybe I’m majoring on minors here, but this seems like such an important concept.

If I walk before the Lord, I am doing right things and am, in a sense, performing to please God. He’s watching me. But it’d be hard not to assume that God is like “big brother” in this way.

If I walk with the Lord, I am also striving to do right things. I am also trying to please God. But the purpose would not be to satisfy a “big brother” who is watching me. It would be to please a God who I intimately know.

Galatians 5 speaks of the “fruit of the Spirit” – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. A bit later on it says this:
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)

God wants us to know Him intimately. He wants us to not just live before Him, but to live our lives WITH Him. And when we are with Him, we know what is on His heart and what things he might desire us to do – like tearing down the high places – besides just keeping His rules.

At the end of my life, I would like to be described with a sentence like King Jotham’s. I would like God to say that I did right in His eyes. I would love to walk steadfastly. But even more than that – I would like Him to say that I walked with Him.