2 Chronicles 27:6 KJV
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
Matthew Henry says of Jotham
I. He reigned well.
II. He prospered and became truly reputable.
III. He finished his course too soon but finished it with honour.
When we read of the history of the Kings there is an interesting stage that is set between the relationship of the Lord and these men.
First; it is obvious that God's hand was strong in the lives of men of that day. God blessed the land when the king did right; God brought curses when they did wrong. Uzziah was a great king: but when he offered incense in the temple, a function that did not belong to him, and when he became angry when confronted, God immediately and obviously chastened him. Jotham "became mighty", the Bible says, specifically "because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God."
On the other hand, the Lord did allow Jotham to die young knowing that the next king would be a wicked one. Perhaps that is because even though Jotham was a godly man, "the people", verse 2 says, "did yet corruptly." God may have removed Jotham and established Ahaz to chasten them for their corruption.
What seems apparent to me is that God's great concern is His ultimate plan to reconcile mankind to Himself. Good men like Jotham die and they often die too soon so far as men see it. But God is always at work and the ultimate fulfillment of His great plan for the ages will reveal His work in raising one and putting down another is glorious.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
Matthew Henry says of Jotham
I. He reigned well.
II. He prospered and became truly reputable.
III. He finished his course too soon but finished it with honour.
When we read of the history of the Kings there is an interesting stage that is set between the relationship of the Lord and these men.
First; it is obvious that God's hand was strong in the lives of men of that day. God blessed the land when the king did right; God brought curses when they did wrong. Uzziah was a great king: but when he offered incense in the temple, a function that did not belong to him, and when he became angry when confronted, God immediately and obviously chastened him. Jotham "became mighty", the Bible says, specifically "because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God."
On the other hand, the Lord did allow Jotham to die young knowing that the next king would be a wicked one. Perhaps that is because even though Jotham was a godly man, "the people", verse 2 says, "did yet corruptly." God may have removed Jotham and established Ahaz to chasten them for their corruption.
What seems apparent to me is that God's great concern is His ultimate plan to reconcile mankind to Himself. Good men like Jotham die and they often die too soon so far as men see it. But God is always at work and the ultimate fulfillment of His great plan for the ages will reveal His work in raising one and putting down another is glorious.
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