Week 21 2 Chronicles 27
Jotham’s story is a short one but it gives me enough info to form a decent opinion.
For one thing Jotham: did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Uzziah, had done. So far so good. And since the chronicler figured that I’d know about Uzziah he goes on to add that: unlike Uzziah Jotham did not enter the Temple of the Lord (which means Jotham didn’t try taking over a priest’s job & so he avoided getting leprosy & wasn’t ostracized for the rest of his life – like Uzziah). Still so far so good.
However…the people continued in their corrupt ways (and Kings adds a couple of details about this: Jotham did not destroy the pagan shrines, where the people offered sacrifices and burned incense.)
But overall: King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.
On balance the report on Jotham is pretty good! He acted positively and well. And the only complaint is that he didn’t take counter-measures to deal with corrupt public religious practices.
In 2021 I classed Jotham as a middler – but I think he’d have to be a top-drawer middler. I’m still in a quandary about what weight to assign a good king who reigned over a state that was apathetic & disloyal to the Lord. How much of that is on them? How much on the king?
Note: quotes from 2 Chronicles 27:2 2 Kings 15:35 2 Chronicles 27:6 (NLT)