1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."
MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY:
The most remarkable person in this chapter is Jabez.
We are not told upon what account Jabez was more honourable than his brethren; but we find
that he was a praying man. The way to be truly great, is to seek to do God's will, and to pray
earnestly. Here is the prayer he made. Jabez prayed to the living and true God, who alone can
hear and answer prayer; and, in prayer he regarded him as a God in covenant with his people.
He does not express his promise, but leaves it to be understood; he was afraid to promise in his
own strength, and resolved to devote himself entirely to God. 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. As the text
reads it, this was the language of a most ardent and affectionate desire, Oh that thou wouldest
bless me!
Four things Jabez prayed for.
1. That God would bless him indeed. Spiritual blessings
are the best blessings: God's blessings are real things, and produce real effects.
2. That He
would enlarge his coast. That God would enlarge our hearts, and so enlarge our portion in
himself, and in the heavenly Canaan, ought to be our desire and prayer.
3. That God's hand
might be with him. God's hand with us, to lead us, protect us, strengthen us, and to work all our
works in us and for us, is a hand all-sufficient for us.
4. That he would keep him from evil, the
evil of sin, the evil of trouble, all the evil designs of his enemies, that they might not hurt, nor
make him a Jabez indeed, a man of sorrow. God granted that which he requested. God is ever
ready to hear prayer: his ear is not now heavy.
DEVOTIONALS
