393. 1CH 4:10. THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

1Ch_4:10. The Prayer of Jabez

(a new-year’s sketch.)

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast; and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."’971Ch_4:10.

Scripture biography is oftentimes exceedingly concise, a few verses contain the leading traits and events of some illustrious individuals. But two persons in the world have been exempted from death, Enoch and Elijah; yet the history of Enoch’s character, piety, and removal, is thus given, Gen_5:22. Now of this description is the celebrated personage, the subject of our text. His whole biography is condensed into two verses, and he is never again referred to in the inspired volume. I was anxious that we should enter upon the Sabbath services of the new year, with some passage, that we all might feel to be appropriate and interesting. Let me then direct you,

I. To the Being he addressed.

II. The Prayer he presented; and

III. To the Success he obtained.

I. To the Being he addressed.

"He called on the God of Israel." Various terms are applied to Deity, all of which may be occasionally used with the greatest propriety. Now, do I feel the littleness of myself; am I oppressed with the greatness and majesty of Jehovah; then how proper is the title, the "God of Heaven," "God of Glory," "the God invisible and eternal." Or, do I feel full of gratitude for the divine goodness, then how applicable the title, "God of love, God of mercies, God of all grace!" Or, do I feel astonished with his providential interpositions, then how proper, the "God of Bethel!" Or, do I appreciate the forbearance of God, and his patience towards me; then I address him as the "God of pity, the God of patience." Or, am I elevated by the spiritual tokens of divine regards; then I address him as the "God of my salvation," the "God of hope, and the God of all consolations." But when Jabez addressed him as a devout Hebrew and worshipper of the true God, he worshipped him as the "God of Israel." Now as the God of Israel, his mind would revert to,

1. What he had done for Israel.

Separated them, called them, delivered them, highly exalted them. "Happy art thou, O Israel," &c.

2. To what he was then doing for Israel.

He was their constant defence and refuge; he was more to them than their munitions of rocks. Not only did he sup ply their temporal need, but he gave then, his word, and prophets, and ordinances.

3. To his covenant engagements on their behalf.

And of these this was the chief, the great promise of the Messiah; the deliverer, the restorer, and the glory of Israel. Now God’s Israel includes all the spiritual seed of Abraham, all true believers in Christ Jesus, God is the especial God of such. "This God is our God forever," &c.; "Happy is that people who is in such a case; yea, happy," &c. Yes, he is the God of all the families of the earth but he is peculiarly the God and portion of all who put their trust in him. Notice,

II. The Prayers he presented.

Now here notice four things,

1. For especial blessings;

"That God would bless him indeed." Now this might refer, I think, to the highest and chiefest blessings for the soul. Temporal bread is good and desirable, but heavenly is bread indeed. Blessings for the soul should be first sought; "Seek ye first," &c.; the best blessing is the favor of God, the love of God, the peace of God.

2. For temporal enlargement.

"Enlarge my coast." Now it is not improper to seek earthly good; many of the promises to the Jews were of this sort. "In all things by prayer," &c. Thus Jacob prayed and vowed at Bethel. We may lawfully pray for mental blessings, talents, gifts, &c.; or for bodily blessings, as health, food, &c. But these must be subordinately sought for, &c.

3. He sought the providential presence of God.

"That thy hand might be with me." He was sensible of his weakness, danger &c. Now we all need the divine hand to be with us; this will support and hold us up, this will keep and guide us, this will ever supply our wants this will establish our engagements and make them prosper, all will be well if the hand of the Lord be with us.

4. He implored preservation from evil.

"That thou wouldest keep me from evil." Many sorts of evils, natural and moral. This evidently refers to moral evil, same as in the Lord’s prayer, "Deliver us," &c., from the evil of the wicked one, evil of the world, especially the evils of our own hearts. It is happy to feel that our evils not only offend God, but grieve ourselves. Observe,

III. The Success he obtained.

"And God granted him," &c. Let us try to ascertain,

1. The cause of his success.

No doubt that the grace and goodness of God is the great cause. But God acts according to his own appointed means. Observe then, (1) Jabez prayed; many wish, desire, &c. (2) His prayer was agreeable to God’s will. (3) His prayer was fervent and believing. "O that thou wouldest," &c. Observe,

2. The extent of his success.

"God granted him that," &c. He obtained all he sought; blessed indeed. Coast enlarged, hand of God with him, preserved from evil, &c. "If ye have not," &c. "Hitherto ye have asked nothing," &c.

Application

1. Let me press these supplications as worthy of your serious attention; you need all these, you will need them all the year, &c. Oh! seek them now.

2. Seek them at the right source, from God, &c.

3. In a right way; humbly, through Christ, with all your hearts, and in full assurance of faith

Autor: JABEZ BURNS