THE PRAYER OF JABEZ


A. "AND JABEZ WAS MORE HONORABLE THAN HIS BRETHERN; AND HIS MOTHER CALLED HIS NAME JABEZ, SAYING BECAUSE I BARE HIM WITH SORROW" - I CHRON. 4:9
  1. This is the brief and mysterious preview to one of the most thought provoking prayers in the Bible:
    1. The brief statement about the life of Jabez, his relatives, and environment remains by enlarge a mystery
    2. Yet, the two verses about Jabez, in the chronology of the Israelites is like an oasis in the desert
  2. Yet one is fascinated by:
    1. By the simplicity of the Bible record of Jabez and his prayer - stated in two verses
    2. Full of pathos and rich in instruction in the Bible art of prayer
B. LET US CONSIDER, PRAYERFULLY, THE BACKGROUND TO THE PRAYER OF JABEZ
  1. Three features of his life:
    1. It was begun in special sorrow - "Because I bare him with sorrow" - possibly his father had died before his birth, or their estate may have been so reduced to make another child a burden rather than a blessing
    2. It was characterized by special piety. He made prayer the basis of his hopes and plans - "He called on the God of Israel"
  2. He was more honorable than his brethern:
    1. We have no further information in the Bible as to his brethern or their occupations
    2. Whatever their lives may have been, Jabez excelled; he was more honorable. That was true of Joseph and his brethern; and that is true of all who make prayer the life of the soul
    3. Faith in God does not diminish either our honors or our success, rather it enhances them. Men of fame were those who had faith in God and respect for the word of God.
C. THE LESSON WE MAY GLEAN FROM
  1. We learn:
    1. That which has an unpromising beginning may stand up among the best; Examples: The story of Joseph had a sorrowful beginning but it had a happy ending for Egypt, for his family, and for himself - Ps. 105:17-22; that was true of Moses - Ex. 2; 3; 7; 8:14; the prophet Jeremiah had a terrible time among his people, and at times it looked to him as if sorrow would swallow him up, but he triumphed in the end
    2. That is perfectly right to ask the Lord for material blessings in the hope of obtaining them. It is true though that Solomon asked for wisdom and guidance, yet, the Lord bestowed also the material blessings on him - I Kings 3:9-11
    3. It is true, also, that our Lord teaches us to seek the kingdom of God first, and the other temporal things will be given to us - Matt. 6:24-33
  2. We learn further:
    1. That when we pray in harmony with the will of God, God will grant our petition - I John 3:22
    2. That our heavenly Father loves to bless those who seek Him earnestly in prayer - Jer. 33:3
    3. That we lack the blessings of heaven - because we fail to ask for them - James 4:1-3
  3. He called on the God of Israel:
    1. The God of his fathers, who had God's promises - Rom 9:1-3
    2. The God who had often worked great miracles in the midst of his people - the parting of the Red Sea - Ex. 14:21-27; feeding a whole nation with manna for forty years - Ex. 16:35; "consuming the sacrifice of Elijah, including the water, and the stones, and the dust" - I Kings 18:38
    3. The God of great compassion to those who are in need of his mercies - Ps. 78:38; Deut. 30:3; Lam. 3:32; Matt. 15:32
    4. The God, whose promises in Christ are yea and amen - 2 Cor. 1:20; Gal. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4
    5. This, I believe, is at least a part of the background to the great prayer of Jabez - a prayer that embodies great truth about the science of successful prayer.


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