PRAYER OF JABEZ (2)

1 Chronicles 4:10

"Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!"

So, God granted him what he requested.

A Biblical-Theological ReflectionsThe Second Principal – The Prayer

The Prayer of Jabez - The tie into the Kingdom and its works.

Jabez Called on the God of Israel. The petition can be broken into more than a few parts. Each part has inferences and can be interpreted to have greater meanings.

Oh, that You would bless me indeed

As with the reference of Jabez’s name to the Fall, the appeal for blessing also alludes to the undoing of the curse. Blessing, after the Fall, is usually distinguished with cursing (Gen. 12:3). The prayer of Jabez tells us to some degree of the Old Testament understanding of the work of God's kingdom. The work of the kingdom is to bring about what God has already promised to do. It encompasses human effort, each one carrying out the task appointed to him. Jabez had been allotted a large territory, and Jabez prays for God’s help to accomplish that task. Observe that Jabez's prayer is founded on the promises of God. Jabez prayed for those things that God had already promised to give.

Jabez Understood God’s Favor as a descendant of David.  He knew the story of "the man after God’s own heart." He knew of the testimonies of stories such as David defeating Goliath.  Knowing the background stories to one of the greatest men to live on earth, Jabez understood what God's favor was all about. "Oh, that You would bless me ..."  

  §  Jabez understood that he had to pray for what God has already promised, and must know what things He had promised to give… as the text reads it was the language of a most ardent and affectionate desire: O that thou wouldst bless me! That God would bless him indeed: "That, blessing, thou wilt bless me, bless me greatly with manifold and abundant blessings." Perhaps he had an eye to the promise God made to Abraham (Gen. 22:17), In blessing, I will bless thee. "Let that blessing of Abraham come upon me." Spiritual blessings are the best blessings, and those are blessed indeed who are blessed with them. God’s blessings are real things and produce real effects. We can but wish a blessing: he commands it. Those whom he blesses are blessed indeed ……..to be cont’d

In Christ,

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org