Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Matthew 1:9

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“And Uzziah begot Jotham, and Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah” (CG).

The previous verse finished with the words, “and Joram begot Uzziah.” The ongoing genealogy continues with, “And Uzziah begot Jotham.”

The first note of Jotham replacing his father is noted in 2 Kings 15:7. However, the main commentary on his time as king is recorded later in 2 Kings 15 –

“In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 However the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord.” 2 Kings 15:32-35

The name Jotham means Yehovah is Upright. He was a good king according to the overall record of his reign. Next Matthew records, “and Jotham begot Ahaz.”

In Judah’s record, there are good kings and there are bad kings. In this case, the guy was a dud. He is first noted in 2 Kings 15:38. However, the main record of his time as king begins in 2 Kings 16. There it says –

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father David had done. 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed he made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.” 2 Kings 16:2-4

The record of King Ahaz continues through all of 2 Kings 16. He is also mentioned in Isaiah’s famous prophecy concerning the coming Messiah highlighted in Isaiah 7:14. His name means He Has Grasped or Possessor. As noted, he is remembered as a bad king. With that, Matthew continues with, “and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.”

Hezekiah is first mentioned in 2 Kings 16:20. The record of Hezekiah’s reign begins in detail in 2 Kings 18, and it continues through 2 Kings 20. Of him, the record says –

“Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.” 2 Kings 18:1-3

As such, he is considered a good king of Israel. It was during his reign that the northern tribes of Israel were taken into exile. His name means Yah Strengthens.

Life application: In these three kings we have two generally considered good and one whose record defines him as bad. These people made their choices in life, just as each one of us must do. A large portion of our responsibilities extends beyond our immediate selves as well.

If we have children, it is our responsibility to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. If we fail to do that, the chances of them turning out to be losers will be much greater than if we are careful to do so. And yet, there are bad children that come from good parents and good children that come from failed parents.

Even good parents who instruct their children may be a bit overbearing in how they do so. One cannot beat Jesus into a child. Rather, parents need to live out their lives loving Jesus, directing their children to Him, but not forcing Him upon them. As with any normal relationship, people tend to turn against being forced to do things.

There is no set answer in how to raise children because each is an individual who will eventually make his or her own decisions, but the more attention we give in raising them in a proper and godly manner, the better the chances are that they will eventually also follow the Lord.

Time is short and children grow up fast. Don’t delay doing what you should be doing, and be sure to continue doing it all your days. Little eyes are watching. Little minds need to be filled. Do your best while you have the time. Tell the next generation about the goodness of the Lord. This early and often instruction will at least set the next generation on the right path.

Lord God, help us as we raise the next generation of children. The world is getting more and more opposed to the message of Jesus. Perversion is everywhere. The odds are stacked against our children, and we need to be alert and responsible in how we raise them. Help us in this, please. Give us wisdom and strength to bring them to a right understanding of our precious Lord. Amen.