#574 Jotham the Finisher

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, 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 eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices.3 He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord and did much building on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the Ammonites gave him that year 100 talents[a] of silver, and 10,000 cors[b] of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 27 ESV

He mimicked the good things that his father had done, and he learned from the bad. He did not violate the position of the priest, offering himself up to such duties as he was not fit. He did well, and there is nothing here recorded against him, but rather against the people during his reign. They had this witness before them, a good king, a Godly king, it says that he became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord. He brought his problems and his questions to the Lord, that he may better discern his way. Not only was he made great, but his people enjoyed the prosperity of his time, had his Godly example before them and his just rule. This was also the time of some of the greatest prophets in the land, the temple had been shown important again, respected by their king, yet the people still followed corrupt practices. When we see the end of Uzziah, made a leper for an example against such vain practices, how is it that only one man seems to have learned from the example of the prior king? If one goes before us and does well, we should imitate, but if he falls in the end then we should stop ourselves long before that ledge, and we should look into the way that was laid out before us. His son did, but the people are still hardened towards the Lord. I am writing this to myself, because I sat in seats both close and far away from the stage before, witnessing the end of dramas and follies, and then I went from there into the night and acted them out for myself. It was not always or even my own vomit, but often the foolishness of others I returned to.

The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name. 3 John