2 Chronicles 27:1-9 - Faithful Leader but Corrupt People

2 Chronicles 27:1-9

Jotham Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 15:32–38)

1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly.

3 He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers. 5 He also fought with the king of the Ammonites and defeated them. And the people of Ammon gave him in that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. The people of Ammon paid this to him in the second and third years also. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.

7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 So Jotham rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

Jotham reigned as a good king in Judah following his father Uzziah who started but did not end well because of his pride that led to his stopping to follow God in humility when he became strong.  Unfortunately, the people who were under his father inherited that corrupt king’s self-seeking and ended up remaining corrupt even when his son reigned in righteousness for sixteen years afterwards.  He was a faithful and godly leader of the people of the LORD, yet the example set by him did not sway the people from pursuing corrupt ways contrary to God’s word and will.  Jotham nonetheless did good, building cities and defending from the adversaries ate against the people of God.  He also became mighty like his father before him, but the difference was that he prepared his ways before the LORD; that is, he aligned his actions with scripture from a good and humble and loyal heart as his ancestor king David who was a man (Acts 13:22) after God’s own heart in faithful following to do his heavenly Father’s will.  We would do well to imitate this good example of willing and heartfelt obedience in setting our hearts to live according to the principles and intent of scripture given us as our guide to please our Lord.  This means also that we set the example as leaders or followers even if the people we live before as we face God remain corrupt by sin (Romans 8:20-21, 22) as all of creation has done since the Fall and continue until the day of final accountability in God’s righteous judgment.  We must remain faithful among the people even if others reject the good news of the Lord who has settled our accounts for eternity if we believe His atoning work and receive Him as the King of our hearts to lead us into righteousness to live before His face (Revelation 21:3, 22:4) forevermore.  We are called to follow anyway to set the example (1 Timothy 4:12) for those who hear and obey the gospel told and lived by us.