Prayer of Jabez
Psalm 86
1. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
During some of the darkest days of the American Revolution, after the Continental Army had experienced several defeats, a farmer who lived near General George Washington’s camp decided to pay the soldiers a visit. As he approached the tents his overheard a voice raised in agonizing prayer. On closer inspection he saw it was General Washington, down on his knees in the snow, tears streaming down his cheeks, asking God for assistance and guidance. The farmer crept away and returned home. Once there he said to his family, "Its going to be all right. We are going to win!" "What makes you think so?" his wife asked. "Well," said the farmer, "I heard General Washington pray out in the woods today—such fervent prayer I have never heard. And God will surely hear and answer that kind of praying." Such was the prayer of a man named Jabez. Jabez was a man of honor, a man of faith and a man who prayed a simple, yet earnest prayer that gained God’s approval.
Everybody likes to be recognized. In fact it’s important to our own emotion health to have some recognition. That’s why children will shout out, “Watch me – watch me!” Everyone wants to be recognized – we want to stand out from the crowd. Perhaps that’s why so many people today are getting tattoos and body piercings – it’s a way to express our individuality and uniqueness. We have a need to be different – to be excellent – to stand out from everybody else.
(1 Chronicles 4:9-10) we find a man who stands out from the crowd. His name is Jabez. The first nine chapters of First Chronicles consists of genealogies. There are over 600 names listed there. Right in the middle of all these names God singles out one man for special recognition – and that is Jabez.
Did you know that God never meant for us to live an average life. He has designed us for excellence. He has created us for success. He wants us to live above the norm. Each one of us is uniquely created by Him and for Him. Instead of being one in a million, you’re actually one in about seven billion! There’s nobody else like you – you are unique.
We know very little about Jabez, except that he was more honorable than his brothers, and that his mother named him Jabez because she was in great sorrow at his birth. However, sorrow gives birth to joy, just as the most furious storm will give way to sunshine. Many times, we find that we must shed tears before we can feel joy. Those things that we do for Christ may cost us tears, because they take us through difficulties and disappointments. However, you can expect a blessing from serving God if you are able to carry on through difficulties.
1) He prayed that God would bless him.
Jabez prayed for God to bless him. He sought God’s blessing on his life. He was not worried about being selfish, he wanted God’s best and believed that God wanted to give it to him.
a. He remembered his ancestor Abraham, when the Lord said to him: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2)
b. Jabez also remembered his ancestor Jacob who wrestled with God. When God told him to release him, Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Genesis 32:26).
2) He prayed that God would enlarge his coast.
Jabez prayed that God would enlarge his borders. Jabez was from the tribe of Judah, which was the ruling class among the Hebrews. To increase his territory meant that his people would have more area to live in and that he would have more people to serve as a leader. He was not thinking of himself, he was thinking about the welfare of others. A leader is a servant of other people. Jabez wanted to be used by God more than anything else.
3) He prayed that God would keep him from evil.
Jabez prayed that God would keep him from evil. One translation misses the point, I believe, when it says, “Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” The New King James puts it like this: “Keep me from evil that I might not cause pain.” It is actually a play on words. His name meant pain. He had caused pain, but he did not want to cause any more pain. He wanted his life to be a blessing. He wanted to be protected from the harm of evil, but he also wanted to be kept from sinning, because he knew that sin causes pain. It brings pain into the world. It brings pain into the life of the one who commits it, and it brings pain into the lives of those whom the sin was committed against. But most of all, sin causes God pain.
Conclusion
Jabez prayed in faith and because of his simple prayer that we’re still talking about him thousands of years later.
He was a simple man of faith. There’s no mention in the Bible of Jabez having any special ability or talent or gift. The Bible doesn’t say that he was wealthy or educated. He was not a great prophet or a great preacher. He was not a wise ruler over some great nation. He was not famous for being so great warrior who could almost single-handedly win battles. He is not remembered for his great wealth. He is remembered – because he prayed to God in faith and God heard him and answered his prayer. But it’s his prayer that sets him above the norm. A simple prayer made him stand out in the Bible. Our prayers could help us stand out too – to live above the norm.
