2 Chronicles 27

“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. 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.” 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 (NKJV)

The story of King Jotham is short and relatively straightforward. He honored the Lord, and the Lord responded to Jotham’s faithfulness by securing his kingdom. Perhaps you were wondering (as was I) how a king could be pleasing to God yet not enter the Lord’s temple for the entire duration of his reign. The answer to that question is found in the story of Jotham’s father, King Uzziah, at the end of yesterday’s chapter.  

King Uzziah who also did well in the sight of the Lord, but toward the end of his reign, Uzziah grew proud and began to take his worship of the Lord less seriously (and himself too seriously). Uzziah’s pride culminated in entering the temple and trying to participate in activities that the Lord had set apart exclusively for the priests He had chosen.

“But when he (Uzziah) was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.’ Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him.” 2 Chronicles 26:16-20  (See also: Leviticus 10:1-3) (NKJV)

So, with the memory of how his father’s spotless reputation became spotted with leprosy still fresh on his mind, Jotham decided not to tempt his own fate by standing before the Lord. It was an overreaction. And that’s a shame because God’s Word is clear that children are not to be punished for the sins of their fathers. (Ezekiel 18:20)  Furthermore, God’s testimony of blessing in response to Jotham’s faithfulness was clearly displayed, to the point where Jotham should not have been afraid of Him.  (2 Chronicles 27:6)  Perhaps Jotham’s lack of faithful public worship aided the people’s apostasy and his own son’s idolatry.

Aren’t you thankful that, through Jesus, we may boldly approach the Throne of Grace? (Hebrews 4:16)