Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Chronicles
Book: 1 Chronicles
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Genealogies.
- In this
Chapter we have a further account of
Judah, the most
numerous and most famous of all the tribes; also an account of
Simeon. 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.