Lessons on Jotham (4)—The Lord Notices All - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

The rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
2 Chronicles 27:7

Lessons on Jotham (4)—The Lord Notices All
In the short description of the reign of Jotham, we can identify many good things he did: he learned from the mistakes of his father, he stayed faithful to God despite the corruption of the people, and he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. But sometimes some details are more difficult to see; and here, there is one that only a careful study of the chronologies can bring to light. When Uzziah was struck with leprosy, Jotham's reign began as a co-regent for twelve years; and after that he reigned only four years alone. Then, his son Ahaz became co-regent for four years until Jotham died. This is why we read about the 20th year of his reign in 2 Kings 15:30, but these last four years were not counted to Jotham.

So three quarters of his reign—as the Spirit of God presents it—were in the shadow of his father Uzziah. But all these years were a good influence and training time: Jotham continued in the ways of his father. And even if he reigned in the shadow of his father, God saw what he did and recorded it in His book: we see a positive description of his reign, and the last four years of it, when his wicked son Ahaz became co-regent, are not counted to him. The Spirit of God leaves us with a gracious summary of his reign.

May this encourage us: the Lord takes note of everything we do for Him and forgets nothing. Every service, even if nobody notices it, will receive its reward when we "appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:10). Even if we feel we are working in someone else's shadow, or that no one seems to notice or have appreciation for what we do, let us not be occupied with that, but rather take great joy to continue to work as unto the Lord! He sees. He notices. He writes it in His book (so to speak). And one day, He will make His appreciation known to everyone when He tells you, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Mt. 25:21)!

Alexandre Leclerc