Psalms 8:1 and 5:1-3

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in 1 Chronicles 4. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse 10:

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.

Jabez is a name derived from a Hebrew word meaning “sorrowful” (1 Chronicles 4:9). Although he is named in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:1-10, Jabez’s father is unnamed; his mother is mentioned but not named. His brethren are mentioned but not named, or connected in any direct way to a particular family in Judah. Who is Jabez?

The Spirit refers to the “families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez” (1 Chronicles 2:55). Jewish tradition says that this dwelling of scribes is named after Jabez, either because he founded it or because the city was named after him, because he was a man of reputation who dwelt there.*

The best we can ascertain from the record is that Jabez was an outsider who was reckoned in the family of Judah, although not descended from him. Jabez was likely a Gentile included in the lineage of Christ, as were other Gentiles, such as Rahab and Ruth. He prefigures the broader inclusion of Gentiles into Israel in the New Testament (Romans 11:17-21).

Along the still waters, I thought of Jabez, a Gentile scribe (teacher) of the Torah, whom God reckoned to have been “more honourable than his brethren,” who “called on the God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 4:10). He prayed that the God of Jacob would bless him, enlarge his coasts, that His hand would be with him, and that He would keep him from evil, that it might not grieve him. His mother named him Jabez because of the sorrow that was associated with his birth. While the name and this verb are not directly connected, they are juxtaposed in such a way that they form a play on words. This suggests these two terms are an intentional pun! (Something called paranomasia.)

Jabez pleaded with the GOD of Jacob, who changed his name to Israel (Genesis 32:38), that he would not live out his name, but would instead be blessed and protected from evil in this world. God granted his prayer. He did not change his name, but made his name a blessing.

I was delighted to see this insertion of New Testament blessedness into the Old Testament genealogy of Christ, a forecast of our own privilege in Jesus to have access to the blessedness promised to all nations through Abraham (Genesis 12:3). Whatever our family heritage, be it noble, or not, be our beginnings sorrowful or not, we may set our hearts to be honourable before the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and receive His favor. And we more so, since we are born unto God by His Spirit, and given the Spirit whereby we cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). Jabez prayed to “the God of Israel,” and we may pray in Jesus’ name to the “God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” addressing him not as “the God of Israel,” but as our GOD and FATHER! (Ephesians 1:3-6 and 1 Peter 1:1-5).**

Claim the prayer of Jabez as your own inheritance in Christ. But don’t presume on Him or on your relationship to Him. Strive “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12; see also Colossians 1:10—“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God,” and remember Colossians 1:13—honor Him who has translated you into His kingdom). Distinguish yourself as among those who name the name of Christ, departing from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19).

In the valley shadowed by His Cross, I heard again the daily call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). It is the honorable thing to do; He gave His life for us, let us live ours for Him. It is, after all, our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2).

At the table, I asked Him to bless me indeed, to enlarge my coasts, and that His hand would be with me, to keep me from evil that it might not grieve me. He quickly reminded me that He has prayed: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). His countenance, shining as the sun in its strength, did not hide His eyes as a flame of fire, as He searched me and as He reached His hand to take the anointing oil I saw the marks of His wound, and bowed my head as He anointed me with His oil. I presented to Him my cup, and prayed thanks-giving to Him as He poured into it His grace sufficient for this day! Goodness and mercy tapped me on the shoulder. I looked up and noticed He was moving from the table into the harvest. I grabbed my cup and hurried to His side.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v71yp4w-shepherds-pasture.html

[*Jewish tradition says Jabez became a man renowned as a scribe who founded a school of the Torah. The Spirit tells us “These are the Kenites that came of Hamath, the father of the house of Rechab” (1 Chronicles 2:55). Numbers 24:21, with Judges 1:16, tells us these families descended from the Kenite, who are descended from Hobab (AKA Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law), whose descendants were incorporated into the tribe of Judah. Jewish tradition holds that Jabez is a descendant of Moses’ father-in-law, the Midianite priest Jethro, who was reckoned among the descendants of Judah. This might explain why Jabez is not identified as a son of any descendant of Judah, yet is named in his genealogy. His mother is not named because she is also not an Israelite, but a descendant of the Kenites. Jabez was an outsider.]

[**Ephesians 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

1Peter 1:1 ¶ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1Peter 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.]