Village Schools of the Bible

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ
By Max Frazier
PART 2: JABEZ, A BLESSED MAN
A Four Part Series

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson's little book, The Prayer of Jabez, continues to be among the best selling books in America. Since the tragic events of September 11 of last year, there seems to have been a renewed interest in communicating with God and seeking God's involvement in our lives. Perhaps that is why this little prayer from a relatively obscure Bible character continues to appeal to so many.

Although, with this study we begin our examination of the prayer itself, our interest is more focused upon getting to know the heart of the man who does the praying, namely Jabez himself. This prayer certainly does not rank with many of the others prayers recorded for us in the Bible, yet God was pleased to grant Jabez his request. I am convinced God's answer had more to do with the heart intent of Jabez rather than the prayer itself.

So, welcome to another study. Our focus will be upon that first request of Jabez - that God would bless him.

The Nature of Jabez's Prayer

Matthew Henry, in his commentary, states that this prayer of Jabez is in the form of a vow. He writes: He does, as it were, give God a blank paper, let him write what he pleases: "Lord, if thou wilt bless me and keep me, do what thou wilt with me, I will be at they command disposal for ever."

The Bible strongly indicates that Jabez was very passionate about his vow, about his request of God. The text proclaims that he cried out to the God of Israel. This implies a stirring that came from the deep recesses of his heart. This was not a casual request. This was not just a momentary thought. This was his longing. This was his greatest desire. This was his passion.

It seems that many times our prayers are so momentary. We are driven by the needs of the immediate. Jabez is more forward looking. Although I believe he sees his walk with God to be a day-by-day encounter, yet he also realizes that it is a long term relationship. His desire was to be blessed by God not just for the moment but for the length of the relationship.

Now, what was it for which Jabez prayed?

A Prayer for Blessing

The word "bless" is used over six hundred times in the Bible. It is an important word for us to understand. In the Old Testament, a blessing was always transmitted from the greater to the lesser. In Genesis 49, Jacob conferred a blessing upon his sons. Genesis 24:60 records Laban and Bethuel conferring a blessing upon a sister and daughter Rebekah: And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." A king could also confer a blessing upon his people. First Kings 8:14 records this of Solomon: While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.

In the Old Testament God is seen as the source of blessing. One of the functions of the Levites was to pronounce God's blessings upon the people. At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today (Deuteronomy 10:8).

Again, the Old Testament relates that God can thwart a blessing given upon another that is not honoring to Him. This is what we read in Malachi 2:2: "If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," say the Lord Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me."

We can conclude from these passages that a blessing is conferred upon those who are in a proper relationship with God. If I am not walking with the Lord, then I have no right to either ask God for His blessing or to expect that God would bless me. Thus, for Jabez to request God's blessing is a mark of a man who is in a right relationship with God and is positioned to receive whatever form that blessing might take.

The Purpose of a Blessing

A blessing comes from God for His glory. The Psalmist exclaims: The Lord remembers us and will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike. May the Lord make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the Lord both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord (Psalm 115:12-18).

I am reminded of those precious words of encouragement from Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount. There He told His disciples: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise (the King James translates this word - glorify) your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). A blessing is not solely for my own benefit. As I receive the blessing from God, I am to respond with praise to Him. I am to give Him glory. The blessing is not an end in itself. It is only a tool to further encourage my relationship with the Father. The blessing is not given to me to promote me, but that the Father might be promoted and lifted up in my life.

When Jabez prayed that God would bless him, it was not with selfish intent. It was not Jabez saying, "God, bless me so people will appreciate me more; so my friends will respect me more." The blessing comes to us that we might decrease so He might increase (John 3:30).

But, a blessing comes to us from God for our benefit, for our encouragement. One of the great chapters from the pen of the Apostle Paul is Ephesians 1. There Paul enumerates those blessings we have received from God that we often take for granted. Included among them are: being chosen by God before the foundations of the world (just think about that blessing for a moment and see if your heart is not full of praise to God), being adopted as His sons and daughters, being redeemed and forgiven, and having received the Holy Spirit as the seal (the earnest money, the guarantee) of our future inheritance. Is it no wonder that Paul begins that great chapter with these words of praise: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (verse 3).

Finally, a blessing comes from God to flow through us for the good of others. Listen to these words from the pen of David written after he had been confronted with his sin with Bathsheba: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit (Psalm 32:1-2). Now, what do those verses have to do with God using us to bless others. Friends, God's blessing can only flow through a clean vessel. God will not use a dirty cup. What David is saying here is this: if I want to be a blessing to others, then I must keep the vessel free from sin.

That thought forces us to ask the question: How can a person be in the place where God can bless him or her? I believe the answer is found in Psalm 1. There I find two significant truths that help me to answer that question. First, to be a person God delights to bless, one has to be a person who delights in the Lord. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:2). Here is a person who enjoys fellowship with God's people. Here is a person who feasts upon God's Word; for whom Bible study is exciting. Here is a person who is consistent in his or her life for Christ. For this person, Christ is the center around which every aspect of life revolves.

Second, to be a person God delights to bless, one has to be a person who turns away from evil. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers (Psalm 1:1). Here is a person who has his or her priorities properly aligned. Here is a person who daily practices choosing to serve righteousness rather than sin (Romans 6:11-14).

Conclusion

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me" and the Lord granted him his request. Jabez was aware of how God had blessed him in the past. And Jabez was aware of his relationship with God. Those thoughts propelled him to ask God for further blessings, not to advance the image of Jabez, but to impact others for the glory of God.

Allow me to challenge you to sit down and write out some of the many blessings you have received from God just today. Then ask yourself this question: If I were to be sold bold as Jabez and ask God for His blessings, what should I ask of God? Friends, how do you want God to bless you? Finally, close your time with a moment of prayer praising God for the blessings you have received and for those you expect to receive in the future.

In our next study our focus will be upon the second part of Jabez's prayer asking God to enlarge his territory. Until then, may you know the realities of God's blessings upon your life, and may you keep your vessel clean so that God can bless others through you.

Part One Return to The Philogian Archive Part Three