2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 27: Jotham walks before the LORD

Begin in prayer

Before we read this short chapter about King Jotham, let us pray. Ask God to show us what it is to live before Him, and to lead us to Jesus, who did so without sin.

Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!

Psalm 119:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us what it means to live before You, and lead us to Jesus, who lived before You without sin. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Jotham becomes king at twenty-five, and he reigns sixteen years in Jerusalem. He does right in the LORD's eyes, as his father Uzziah did, but he does not enter the temple of the LORD. The people still act corruptly. He builds the upper gate of the LORD's house, cities in the hill country, and fortresses and towers in the forests. He fights the king of Ammon and prevails, and Ammon pays him silver, wheat and barley for three years. The text says Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

As you read 2 Chronicles 27, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

Jotham became mighty because he lived before the LORD his God.

Jotham's story is short, and the chapter gives one reason for his strength (verses 1 to 9). The text says, “Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God” (verse 6). It does not credit his wisdom or his luck. His father Uzziah grew strong, and then his heart was lifted up, and he went into the temple (2 Chronicles 26 verse 16). Jotham did right as his father had done, but he did not enter the temple (verse 2). He built the upper gate of the LORD's house and fortresses, and he prevailed against Ammon (verses 3 to 5). Even so, the people still acted corruptly, so one good king did not make a good nation (verse 2). This is a true word about Jotham, and it is no rule that a godly life always brings power. Only Jesus ordered every step before the Father without sin, and sinners come to God through Him.

How does 2 Chronicles 27 show us that Jotham became mighty because he lived before the LORD his God?

Jotham did right, and he did not enter the temple.

Jotham was twenty-five when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years (verse 1). He did right in the LORD's eyes, as his father Uzziah had done (verse 2). He did not enter the LORD's temple, as Uzziah had (verse 2). The people still acted corruptly (verse 2).

Jotham built the LORD's gate and prevailed against Ammon.

Jotham built the upper gate of the LORD's house and much of the wall of Ophel (verse 3). He built cities in the hill country and fortresses and towers in the forests (verse 4). He fought the king of Ammon and prevailed (verse 5). Ammon gave him silver, wheat and barley in the first, second and third years (verse 5).

Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD.

The text says Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God (verse 6). His strength is explained by the God he walked before. Jotham reigned sixteen years, and he slept with his fathers (verses 8 and 9). His son Ahaz reigned in his place (verse 9).

Jesus lived before the Father without sin.

Hebrews says Jesus has been tempted in all points like us, yet without sin (Hebrews 4 verse 15). Peter says He did no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth (1 Peter 2 verse 22). Jotham ordered his ways before the LORD, and Jesus did so perfectly.

Memorise

So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.

2 Chronicles 27:6

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, how can I stand before God with my sin, and have I trusted Jesus?

Jotham “ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.” Jesus lived before His Father without a single sin. Peter says He did no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth (1 Peter 2 verse 22).

We cannot order our ways perfectly, and one sin is enough to separate us from God. Jesus lived the life we could not live. At the cross He suffered for His people, and the debt was fully paid. He rose from the dead on the third day.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and counted as righteous before God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jotham became mighty because he lived before the LORD, and that Jesus lived before God without sin. Parents, the people still acted corruptly in verse 2, so one good king did not make a whole nation good. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for Jesus, who lived before Him without sin, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.

Psalm 18:35

Father, thank You that Jotham became mighty as he walked before You. Thank You for Jesus, who lived without sin, died for sinners and rose. Please help us to leave our sin and trust Him. Amen.