2 Chronicles 27:1

2 Chronicles 27:1 says, Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.  Jotham started to rule when he was twenty-five and ruled until he was forty-one, which is a fairly young age to have his reign end.  We aren't guaranteed a long life even if we are following God.  Verse two adds, And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And the people did yet corruptly.  Though Jotham did what was right in the sight of God, he didn't go into the temple to burn incense as Uzziah his father did.  He could not get the people to mend their ways though.  We really can't force others to mend their ways spiritually but can only make sure that our ways follow the path that God leads us down.  Matthw Henry points out that we aren't told a lot about Jotham's reign compared to what we are told about those who did wrong in God's sight, and people today may not long note what we have done for God, but we need to just continue to follow His will whether they do or not. Verse three continues, He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.  Jotham repaired the house of God, and we need to repair the house of God, our bodies as followers of Christ, by building up the things done for Him, but also by tearing down the things that go against His commandments.  Verse four states, Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.  Jotham also carried out may building projects to improve Judah.  We need to be involved in plans that build up the kingdom of God in the community and the country and not just in the confines of the church building.  Verse five adds, He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.  Jotham also engaged in a war with the Ammonites, and he won, I believe because he was following God's leadership.  I do know that if we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we are always going to be victorious spiritually, even if we are defeated physically.  The Ammonites brought Jotham gifts for three years after he defeated them.  We cannot serve God expecting people of the world to bring us gifts if we defeat those who do not serve Him, but our reward is everlasting life with God.  Verse six continues, So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.  It is clearly stated here that Jotham did not become great because of his own abilities, but because he followed the ways of God.  If we begin to rely on our own strength and not the power of the Holy Spirit, we will not be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse seven says, Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.  As already stated, we are not given a long account of Jotham's reign, but like all kings before him and all kings and rulers since, he died and was buried.  We will likewise all die one day unless Jesus returns first, whether we are in a position of power in the world or not.  Verse eight adds, He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.  Verse eight just repeats how old Jotham was when he started to reign and how long he reigned.  Verse nine continues, And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.  After Jotham died, he was buried with the other kings and his son Ahaz became king.  As Christians, our King, Jesus Christ will never die and be replaced.  We must therefore always look to bring honor and glory to Him.