◄ 2 Kings 15:34 ►
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.
Study Bible
And he did what was right
This phrase indicates a moral and spiritual alignment with God's standards. The Hebrew word for "right" is "yashar," which conveys a sense of straightness or uprightness. In the context of the kings of Israel and Judah, doing what was "right" often meant adhering to the covenantal laws and commandments given by God. This phrase sets a positive tone for the king's reign, suggesting that his actions were in accordance with divine expectations.

in the eyes of the LORD
The phrase "in the eyes of the LORD" emphasizes the divine perspective on human actions. The Hebrew word for "eyes" is "ayin," which can also mean sight or presence. This expression underscores the belief that God is omniscient and evaluates the moral and spiritual conduct of individuals. It serves as a reminder that human actions are ultimately accountable to God, who sees beyond outward appearances to the heart's intentions.

just as his father Uzziah had done
This comparison to Uzziah, also known as Azariah, highlights a legacy of faithfulness. Uzziah was one of the kings of Judah who initially did what was right in God's eyes, although his reign ended with a downfall due to pride (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). The mention of Uzziah serves as both a commendation and a cautionary tale. It suggests that the king followed in the positive aspects of his father's reign, maintaining religious reforms and upholding the worship of Yahweh. However, it also implicitly warns of the dangers of deviating from humility and obedience to God. This familial connection underscores the importance of generational faithfulness and the impact of parental influence on spiritual leadership.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jotham
The king of Judah who is the subject of this verse. He is noted for doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD.

2. Uzziah (Azariah)
Jotham's father, who also did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, though he had his failings.

3. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Jotham reigned as king.

4. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, whose standards of righteousness are the measure for the kings' actions.
Teaching Points
Righteous Leadership
Jotham's reign is a reminder of the importance of leading with integrity and righteousness. Leaders today, whether in the church, community, or family, should strive to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

Legacy of Faith
Jotham followed in the footsteps of his father, Uzziah, in doing what was right. This highlights the impact of a godly legacy and the importance of passing down faith and values to the next generation.

Consistency in Faith
Despite the challenges and pressures of leadership, Jotham remained consistent in his faith. Believers are encouraged to maintain their commitment to God, regardless of external circumstances.

The Standard of God's Eyes
The phrase "in the eyes of the LORD" underscores that God's perspective is the ultimate standard for righteousness. Christians are called to align their actions with God's will, as revealed in Scripture.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jotham's example of doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD challenge you in your current leadership roles or responsibilities?

2. In what ways can you build a legacy of faith for the next generation, similar to how Uzziah influenced Jotham?

3. Reflect on a time when you faced pressure to compromise your faith. How can Jotham's consistency inspire you to remain steadfast?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure that your actions align with God's standards, as described in the Bible?

5. How can the accounts of other righteous kings in the Bible, like Asa, encourage you in your personal walk with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Chronicles 27
This chapter provides a parallel account of Jotham's reign, offering more details about his accomplishments and his faithfulness to God.

2 Kings 15:3
This verse describes Uzziah's reign, providing context for Jotham's actions by comparing him to his father.

Deuteronomy 6:18
This verse emphasizes doing what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, a principle that Jotham exemplified.

1 Kings 15:11
This verse describes another king, Asa, who also did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, showing a pattern of righteous leadership in Judah.
Sermons
Some Lessons from the History of KingsD. Thomas 2 Kings 15:1-38
A Good ReignJ. Orr 2 Kings 15:32-38
People
Abel, Ahaz, Amaziah, Amram, Aram, Argob, Arieh, Azaliah, Azariah, David, Elah, Gadi, Gileadites, Hoshea, Jabesh, Jecholiah, Jecoliah, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jerusha, Jotham, Maacah, Menahem, Naphtali, Nebat, Pekah, Pekahiah, Pul, Remaliah, Rezin, Shallum, Tappuah, Tiglathpileser, Tirzah, Uzziah, Zachariah, Zadok, Zechariah
Places
Abel-beth-maacah, Assyria, Damascus, Galilee, Gilead, Hazor, Ibleam, Ijon, Janoah, Jerusalem, Kedesh, Samaria, Syria, Tirzah
Topics
Sight, Uzziah, Uzzi'ah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 15:1-38

     5366   king

2 Kings 15:34-35

     7374   high places

Library
The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean! …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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