1 Chronicles 4:9-11 A diamond among the gravel Asking God to do something God-sized in/through us

Danny Parker

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1 Chronicles 4:9–11

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A diamond among the gravel Asking God to do something God-sized in/through us

Lots of ways to stand out in a crowd. Streak across the Superbowl. Act foolish and be the crowd clown. Trip and knock over a table full of food.

Chronicles – priestly account of divine history - written by Ezra/priestly scribe

purpose - see God at work in history of Israel – What God des in the life of those faithful to Him

The first book of Chronicles begins by honoring the people that followed God. We are bored – not if you were one of them.

The first generations on the earth 1:1-2

The great Noah and his sons 1:4; 1:5 Europeans, 8 Africa, 17 Semites of the middle east

The Abraham and sons 28-27 The children of Israel 2:1

The great tribe of Judah kings / messiah 2:3

Of course the greatest family was David’s – the tribe of kings and forerunners of messiah. 3:1

Another list of more obscure people of the line of David 4:1

Then suddenly, Not us just who he was from or who he begat – in the midst of geneology God gives us something out of his life – something that sets him apart. Even in this list of faithful people.

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “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.

Much (too much) has been said about Jabez. The name it / claim it crowd have done the passage much harm.

But let’s not just throw the passage away. This account is not about me claiming something great for me. It is about asking God by faith to fashion my character and life in a way I might shine forth in this dreary world for Him.

Jabez stands out in the crowd. He is like a diamond found among the gravel. Let’s see why?

I. A diamond among gravel: Worthy of Honor

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers …

A. Stood out

1. Uncertainty about everything but his honor

a) Grammatical connection – but connect to what?

b) Unsure even whose son he is

c) Unsure what the circumstances are

d) Unsure of what all he did or became

2. Interruption based on his uniqueness

a) No real connection to what came before – interruption and changed focus – like “yes, I remember him.”

b) Remember the person (all else fades and becomes unimportant)

3. Heavy – respected – like Boaz – inside out

B. Honorable before others

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers

1. Contrast to the crowd

2. More so than family

3. Perhaps those in the list of genealogy (even of worthy)

C. Honorable before God

1. To God (ultimate author – focus of the scribes)

a) Faith – not self dependence – trust Him

b) Commitment – personal response - Single focused dedication - Priority

II. A diamond among gravel: In spite of the past

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 9 …, and (however) his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”

A. Current honor contrasts to the past

1. However? (the same one) His mother had called him

2. Major contrast – put noun first – disjunctive conjunction

3. We remember his honor – but it did not start this way

B. A past legacy of reproach

1. His name

a) Meaningful names – Solomon “peace”, Isaiah “May God save” Deborah “bee”

b) Play on words – pain / Jabez (yabets) יַעְבֵּץ JBZ vs. JZB עֹצֶב (yotsev)

2. His mother

a) Pain at birth / Pain during child rearing?

b) Expected to cause pain to me

III. A diamond among gravel: Cryed out to God

A. Did not want to live out expectations

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 10And (so as a result) Jabez called (cried out to) on the God of Israel …

1. (SO – AS A RESULT)

a) No hope in family

b) Or I messed up my relationships but can still turn to God

B. Turned to God

1. Source of hope in God

2. Passionately

3. A vow form

a) His promise not mentioned (key for recorder is turning to God not promises)

C. Reflected dependence

1. Dependence

a) Insufficient to deal with problem

b) Turned to God not self

IV. A diamond among gravel: Trusted God to act

Prayer is a major emphasis of Chronicles (II Chr 7:14) – and God acts in answer to prayer

Anyone who responds to God in prayer receives His help

A. For significant blessing

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 10 … saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, …

1. Passionate desire (cried out – OH!)

2. That which only can come from God (you)

3. Bless exceedingly as only can come from God

4. Prosper him to give a full life

B. For Expanded influence

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 10 … and enlarge my territory, …

1. Multiply my borders – expand my coast

2. Magnify my influence

3. Perhaps to overcome the enemy who occupied the land

4. Influence for God – prosperity tied tightly to godliness - same

C. For God’s empowerment

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 10 … that Your hand would be with me, …

1. Strength – hand set Israel free

2. Guidance – lead

3. Presence – be with me

D. To be Kept from evil

(NKJV) 1 Chronicles 4 10 … and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” …

1. Play on words

a) Humble from past – need help to not cause/get pain

b) Sin source of pain

c) Not live up to name

2. Pain

a) Personal harm to self – sin

b) Harm to others

“that I may have no more sorrow,” there is an allusion to the meaning of his name, Jabez, signifying “grief”; and the import of this petition is, Let me not experience the grief which my name implies, and which my sins may well produce.