Tag Archives: Bible Study

Aug 17 2013

The Prayer of Jabez

This was a study I did and presented it to the ladies at a women’s Bible study:

Back in those days concerns of financial success were more important then destiny

Chronicles was the last book included in the old testament Jewish Hebrew Bible
-was an Israelite writer
The promises God made still apply

1,000 B.C. during the reign of King David. David, Solomon God’s beloved chosen to sit on the throne(author of Chronicles had a vision “Restore the Kingdom” was the message)

Keeping genealogy and family line was very important and was a life and death issue.
-recognized by their family line not just accomplishments, conduct and honor
1Chronicles 4:9-10 Genealogy of David. People were recognized by their family line and Jabez was out of his generation and spoke out to God and He favored him.
If you had scandals in your past you could not be trusted; but if you had hero’s you were recognized as loving stuff of greatness. 500 names and all of a sudden Jabez’s name is mentioned.
-his name means born in pain
-a name was significant to the persons birth or destiny
-he wanted to be known as someone special or different and wanted to rise up and be significant
-he was taunted and didn’t want to live with his name
-money fame and celebrity in today’s world means more then destiny and are prioritized
-his name is changed because he made something of himself by crying out to God.

Oh Lord that you should Bless me indeed and enlarge my territory.

Bless means to endow with a beneficial power; indeed meaning emphasis indeed-and wanted a blessing that would break the curse of his name. He also wanted to be able to bless others. Enlarge his territory;wanting to step out and be counted. Land was everything-Currency, land and property were the currency of that time. Stretching his territory to the bigness that God had intended for Jabez.

Ridiculed because of his name therefore a person became the name and would play the role that was in the name. Jabez thought his life would be pain and he asks to change it.

Let your hand be with me.

He knew if God’s hand was with him he could do anything and not just for him but for God and on God’s terms.

Keep me from harm.

Kept free from harm and pain(keep me from evil do no wrong, teach me the right way). He did not want to be pain, hurt, sin etc. Accidents, injuries and diseases were a part of life in those days.

God could see that Jabez was a humble and penitent man. He was a God obeying man. So God granted his request.

He was an average man not like others who along with their name had a predetermined path and Jabez wanted to change that.

Loss of hope in the world today, God is hope. He created us with a purpose if we seek his face.
Our death of our dreams is the death of our hopes.
with God everything is possible! impossible is not in the vocabulary when you have faith in God. God did not create us to play games. He wants us to call out to him.
Jabez was a man who knew the key to changing his destiny and make an impact.
God calls to us and expects us to respond, if we don’t we are responsible not God. The moment you cry out to God your life will change forever. Change your world with Love.

 

King David in Prayer

King David in Prayer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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