JABEZ PRAYER
TEXT : 1 Chronicles 4:1-10
I. The reason of his name: his mother gave him the name with
this reason, Because I bore him with sorrow, v. 9. All children are borne with
sorrow (for the sentence upon the woman is, In sorrow shalt thou bring forth
children), but some with much more sorrow than others. Usually the sorrow in
bearing is afterwards forgotten for joy that the child is born; but here it
seems it was so extraordinary that it was remembered when the child came to be
circumcised, and care was taken to perpetuate the remembrance of it while he
lived. Perhaps the mother called Habez, as Rachel called her son Benoni, when
she was dying of the sorrow. Or, if she recovered it, yet thus she recorded it,
1. That it might be a continual memorandum to herself, to be thankful to God as
long as she lived for supporting her under and bringing her through that
sorrow. It may be of use to be often reminded of our sorrows, that we may
always have such thoughts of things as we had in the day of our affliction, and
may learn to rejoice with trembling. 2. That it might likewise be a memorandum
to him what this world is into which she bore him, a vale of tears, in which he
must expect few days and full of trouble. The sorrow he carried in his name
might help to put a seriousness upon his spirit. It might also remind him to
love and honour his mother, and labour, in every thing, to be a comfort to her
who brought him into the world with so much sorrow. It is piety in children
thus to requite their parents, 1 Tim 5:4.
II. The eminence of his character: He was more honourable
than his brethren, qualified above them by the divine grace and dignified above
them by the divine providence; they did virtuously, but he excelled them all.
Now the sorrow with which his mother bore him was abundantly recompensed. That
son which of all her children cost her most dear she was most happy in, and was
made glad in proportion to the affliction, Ps 90:15. We are not told upon what
account he was more honourable than his brethren, whether because he raised a
greater estate, or was preferred to the magistracy, or signalized himself in
war; we have most reason to think it was upon the account of his learning and
piety, not only because these, above any thing, put honour upon a man, but
because we have reason to think that in these Jabez was eminent. 1. In
learning, because we find that the families of the scribes dwelt at Jabez (ch.
2:55), a city which, it is likely, took its name from him. The Jews say that he
was a famous doctor of the law and left many disciples behind him. And it
should seem, by the mentioning of him so abruptly here, that his name was well
known when Ezra wrote this. 2. In piety, because we find here that he was a
praying man. His inclination to devotion made him truly honourable, and by
prayer he obtained those blessings from God which added much to his honour. The
way to be truly great is to be truly good and to pray much.
III. The prayer he made, probably like Solomon's prayer for
wisdom, just when he was setting out in the world. He set himself to
acknowledge God in all his ways, put himself under the divine blessing and
protection, and prospered accordingly. Perhaps these were the heads on which he
enlarged in his daily prayers; for this purpose it was his constant practice to
pray alone, and with his family, as Daniel. Some think that it was upon some
particular occasion, when he was straitened and threatened by his enemies, that
he prayed this prayer. Observe,
1. To whom he prayed, not to any of the gods of the
Gentiles; no, he called on the God of Israel, the living and true God, who
alone can hear and answer prayer, and in prayer had an eye to him as the God of
Israel, a God in covenant with his people, the God with whom Jacob wrestled and
prevailed and was thence called Israel.
2. What was the nature of his prayer. (1.) As the margin
reads it, it was a solemn vow—If thou wilt bless me indeed, &c. and then
the sense is imperfect, but may easily be filled up from Jacob's vow, or some
such like—then thou shalt be my God. He did not express his promise, but left
it to be understood, either because he was afraid to promise in his own
strength or because he resolved to devote himself entirely to God. 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 thy
command and disposal for ever." (2.) As the text reads it, it was the
language of a most ardent and affectionate desire: O that thou wouldst bless me!
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary )
