2 Chronicles 27:6

), that is, he walked circumspectly and with much caution, contrived how to shun that which was evil and compass that which was good. He looked before him, and cast his affairs into such a posture and method as made the regular management of them the more easy.

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) in wealth and power, and influence upon the neighbouring nations, who courted his friendship and feared his displeasure; and this he got by preparing his ways before the Lord his God. The more stedfast we are in religion the more mighty we are both for the resistance of that which is evil and for the performance of that which is good.

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So Jotham became mighty,.... Having built towers and castles, and fortified cities, and conquered his enemies: because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God; ordered, directed, and guided them according to the word and will of God, and walked as in the sight of God, having the fear of him continually before him.

THIS is a very singular expression which is used here concerning Jotham who is one of the kings of Judah who are commended as having done that which was right in the sight of the Lord. All of them had their faults, yet they were the best monarchs that sat upon the throne of Judah—and concerning Jotham it is mentioned as his peculiar honor that he "became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God." I want to draw your attention to this ancient king and specially to point out to you, first, the peculiar circumstances of Jotham's life. Secondly, thepeculiar distinction ofhis character. And then thirdly, thepeculiar honor ofhis career. He "became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God." I. So let us commence by considering THE PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF JOTHAM'S LIFE. And to begin with, he was the son of a good father and I should suppose, from the mention of his mother here, of a good mother, too. This is a good beginning for a young man and yet, mark you, there are many who have been trained in the ways of godliness who have not continued to walk in them. How often does it seem as if children were dead set against the very things which their parents have loved and although one would almost have expected that they would have gone in the right way, yet since Divine Grace does not run in the blood, we have deplorable proofs of human depravity even in those who can trace a long line of Christian ancestry. However, it was no small advantage to Jotham that he had godly patents. But it would have been no permanent and eternal advantage to him—it would rather have involved him in greater responsibility without corresponding benefits if it could not also have been said of him that "he prepared his ways before the Lord his God." And note, next, that he did not commit the great fault ofhis father, Uzziah.