(POTB) - Prayer of Jabez

Read:

Introduction:

1 & 2 Chronicles is part of the Historical Books of the Old Testament. In the Jewish Tradition it is only one book.

In the early chapters of 1 Chronicles, the author gives us the largest collection of Hebrew names in the Bible. To the Hebrew reader a name meant a great deal. …often reflecting the circumstances of the birth but also believing that the name may well signify the character, personality, vocation and even destiny of that child. (Jeremiah, p. 523)

This little snippet of a prayer and interruption to the genealogies is in my opinion one of the most powerful passages in the Old Testament.

Bruce Wilkinson who wrote, “The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking through to the blessed life” says, “If you were to ask me what sentence— other than my prayer for salvation— has revolutionized my life and ministry the most. I would tell you that it was the cry of… Jabez.”

Jabez was obviously different from his brothers, “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren:”

I don’t think it was just a coincidence. Very few other’s are found praying such bold and impossible prayers in the Chronicles.

Some have said, “There is really very little difference between people—but that little difference makes a great deal of difference.”

Jabez is sometimes referred to as “The Bible’s Little Big Man.” He is hiding in the least read section of one of the least read books of the Bible.”

Jabez prayer can be divided into three sections.

1. A Prayer of Dedication -

This prayer is a vow - one thing that is very unusual is that most vows have two parts, the part the one praying will do, and the part they are hoping God will do.

The Chronicler does not give us Jabez’s part. Some speculate it was so well known they just wanted to preserve his prayer and God’s answer.

But with a prayer like this - Where Jabez cries out to God - he seems desperate - no doubt He vowed to give God himself similar to how Jacob prayed in Genesis.

Prayers reach almost unlimited potential when they are coupled with a dedicated heart and life -

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (, KJV 1900)

This is promised only to those who have consecrated their all to God according to Paul in this passage.

2. Prayer of Supplication

Supplication is praying for things you need or want. Jabez prays for four specific things.

To be blessed

To have an enlarge coast

God’s Hand upon Him

To be kept from evil

3. Prayer of Identification

Part of Jabez’s last prayer to be kept from evil also included a prayer of identification...

I want you to get this prayer -

The KJV uses the phrase, “That is may not grieve me!”

I think the NIV is a little closer to the Greek Context here when it translates it:

“Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

I intentionally left out the description of Jabez’s name until now - it means pain or sorrow -

Jabez is praying - “I don’t want to be known as pain or sorrow anymore. I want something different I want to be known as blessed”

I love how the scripture ends abruptly with:

And God granted him that which he requested.”

CONCLUSION _

I want us to pray this prayer together tonight - feel free to read it right from your Bible as you pray.

Are you known as something hurtful, something hindering you?

Let God change your identification to BLESSED!!!

Let’s pray.