King Jotham

King Jotham, the son of Uzziah (Azariah) and father of Ahaz, was the 11th king of Judah, reigning for 16 years (circa 750–735 BC). His reign is documented in 2 Kings 15:32-38 and 2 Chronicles 27, and he is often considered one of the few godly kings of Judah.

Jotham is described as doing "what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 15:34). Unlike his father Uzziah, who was struck with leprosy for unlawfully entering the temple (2 Chronicles 26:16-21), Jotham carefully obeyed God’s law and did not attempt to take on priestly functions. His faithfulness resulted in prosperity, as God strengthened his kingdom. He built the Upper Gate of the Temple, fortified cities, and strengthened Judah’s military defenses (2 Chronicles 27:3-4), demonstrating wisdom in governance.

His reign shows that while God sovereignly rules over history, He calls leaders to be faithful stewards of their authority. Jotham’s success highlights how divine providence and human responsibility work together.

Despite Jotham’s personal faithfulness, the people continued in corrupt practices (2 Chronicles 27:2). This indicates that even righteous leadership does not guarantee national righteousness.

This aligns with the biblical pattern seen throughout Israel’s history: godly kings like Jotham and Hezekiah could restrain sin’s outward expression but could not change the hearts of the people. True transformation only comes through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 3:5-6). Jotham’s reign serves as a reminder that while civil leaders can promote righteousness through laws and policies, only the grace of God can change hearts.

During Jotham’s reign, Judah’s enemies, particularly Rezin, king of Aram (Syria), and Pekah, king of Israel, began rising against Judah (2 Kings 15:37). This foreshadowed the greater judgment that would come under his son Ahaz, when these nations would attack Jerusalem (Isaiah 7). This period marks the beginning of God’s judicial discipline on Judah due to persistent sin.

From a Christ-centered perspective, Jotham points to Jesus, the true and perfect King. While Jotham was faithful, he could not save his people from judgment. Christ, however, fully obeyed God’s law and bore the wrath for His people’s sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Judah’s failure under Jotham highlights the need for a greater King—one who can truly transform hearts and establish a perfect kingdom (Hebrews 8:6).