2 Chronicles 27:1-9 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Features of an honourable life: Jotham.

But little of Jotham's reign is recorded in Scripture, and his name is seldom on our lips. But he was a man of worth and wisdom; and, considering the comparative brevity of his life, we may say that he contributed much to his country. We learn from the account in the Second Book of Kings ( 2 Kings 15:5 )—

I. THAT HE SERVED A USEFUL APPRENTICESHIP . We find that, for some time during his father's illness, he, "the king's son, was over the house, judging the people of the land." This was an admirable arrangement for the country and for the young prince; for it had the advantage (which the son could not fail to obtain) of the experience of Uzziah; and he was learning the great art of ruling, while his responsibility was shared by one much wiser and stronger than he. It is an excellent thing for the you-,g, in every sphere, to be placed where they can be gathering wisdom before they carry the heavy burden of a weighty responsibility.

II. THAT HE FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A WISE AND GOOD MAN . ( 2 Chronicles 27:2 .) (See previous homily on "Uzziah and Jotham, father and son.")

III. THAT HE WORKED IN A WISE DIRECTION — FROM WITHIN OUTWARD . First, "he built the high gate" of the temple ( 2 Chronicles 27:3 ); that was beginning at the very centre, at "the house of the Lord," which was morally, if not geographically, the central spot in the kingdom. Then he made some additions to the wall of Jerusalem ( 2 Chronicles 27:3 ). Then, moving outward, he built fortified cities in the mountains, and castles in the forests of Judah. And. then, going further afield, he warred with Ammon, and compelled it to pay tribute ( 2 Chronicles 27:5 ). This is the true order. Let solicitude and activity begin at the centre; let them begin at the very centre—at a man's own heart and character; let them move outward—to those in the home circle, to the kindred, to the Church; and then to those still further away—to fellow-countrymen, to fellow-men everywhere. A circumscribed activity is altogether a mistake; but we must begin with ourselves, becoming right at heart, and then we may and should move outward in our sympathies and our endeavours.

IV. THAT HE ATTAINED GREAT POWER BY MAINTAINING HIS GODLY CHARACTER . ( 2 Chronicles 27:6 .) (See succeeding homily.)

V. THAT HIS LIFE WAS DARKENED BY MANY SHADOWS AS WELL AS BRIGHTENED BY MANY BLESSINGS .

1 . He could not effect all the reforms he would have liked to carry out, and he had to witness some evil-doings which must have grieved his spirit. "The people did yet corruptly" ( 2 Chronicles 27:2 ).

2 . Foreign invasion began to threaten the kingdom ( 1 Kings 15:1-34 :37).

3 . He found himself sick unto death at an age (forty-one) when he might have expected to do great things, and to be much to the people whom he ruled. It was an honourable and useful life that Jotham lived; one to be remembered and to be followed in its salient features. Like him