(text and notes from Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale 1996)
There was a man named Jabez who was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
(1 Chronicles 4:9-10)
Jabez acknowledged God as the center of his work. When we pray for God’s blessing, we should also ask him to take his rightful position as Lord over our work, our family time, and our recreation. Obeying him in daily responsibilities is heroic living.
There were 44,760 skilled warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives. Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. So they lived in their land until they were taken away into exile.
(1 Chronicles 5:18-22)
The armies of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh succeeded in battle because they trusted God. Although they had instinct and skill as soldiers, they prayed and sought God’s direction. The natural and developed abilities God gives us are meant to be used for him, but they should never replace our dependence on him. When we trust in our own cleverness, skill, and strength rather than in God, we open the door for pride. When facing difficult situations, purpose and ask for his guidance and strength. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the LORD our God.”
So the descendants of Aaron were given the following towns, each with its surrounding pasturelands: Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holonn, Debir, Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh.
(1 Chronicles 6:57)
God had told the tribes to designate specific cities to be cities of refuge (Numbers 35). These cities were to provide refuge for a person who accidentally killed someone. This instruction may have seemed unimportant when it was given – the Israelites hadn’t even entered the Promised Land. Sometimes God gives us instructions that do not seem relevant to us at the moment. But later we can see the importance of those instructions. Don’t discard the lessons of the Bible because certain details seem irrelevant. Obey God now – in the future you will have a clearer understanding of the reasons for his instructions.
After Shaharaim divorced his wives Hushim and Baara, he had children in the land of Moab.
(1 Chronicles 8:8)
Divorce and polygamy are sometimes recorded in the Old Testament without critical comments as they are here with Shaharaim. This does not mean that God takes divorce lightly. Malachi 2:15 says to “remain loyal to the wife of your youth. ‘For I hate divorce!’ says the LORD, the God of Israel.” Jesus explained that although divorce was allowed, it was not God’s will: “Moses permitted divorce as a concession to your hard-hearted wickedness, but it was not what God had originally intended” (Matthew 19:8). Don’t assume that God approves of an act because it isn’t vigorously condemned in every related Bible reference.
The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the LORD.
(1 Chronicles 9:1)
Although not every person in Judah was unfaithful, the entire nation was carried away into captivity. Everyone was affected by the sin of a few. Even if we don’t participate in a certain widespread wrongdoing, we will still be affected by those who do. It is not enough to say, “I didn’t do it.” We must speak out against the sins of our society.
But when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, their warriors went out and brought the bodies of Saul and his three sons back to Jabesh. Then they buried their remains beneath the oak tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.
(1 Chronicles 10:11-12)
The actions of the valiant warriors who brought back and buried the bodies of King Saul and his sons should encourage us to respect our God-given leaders. David showed respect for Saul’s position, even when Saul was chasing him to kill him (1 Samuel 26). How easy it is to be critical of those in authority over us, focusing only on their weaknesses. We cannot excuse sin, but we should respect the positions of those in authority whether at work, at church or in the government. 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 gives advice for honoring church leaders. Romans 3:1 gives advice for relating to government leaders.
So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obey the LORD’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the LORD for guidance. So the LORD killed him and turned his kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
(1 Chronicles 10:13-14)
Saul’s unfaithfulness was both active and passive, he not only did wrong, but he also failed to do right. He actively disobeyed by attempting murder, ignoring God’s instructions, and seeking guidance from a medium. He passively disobeyed by neglecting to ask God for guidance as he ran the kingdom. Obedience, too, is both passive and active. It is not enough just to avoid what is wrong; we need to actively pursue what is right.
Agrippa interrupted him [Paul], “Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?” Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
(Acts 26:28,29)
Paul’s heart is revealed here in his words: He was more concerned for the salvation of these strangers than for the removal of his own chains. Ask God to give you a burning desire to see others come to Christ – a desire so strong that it overshadows your problems.
I am worn out from sobbing.
Every night tears drench my bed;
My pillow is wet from weeping.
My vision is blurred by grief;
My eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
(Psalm 6:6,7)
Pouring out his heart with tears, David was completely honest with God. We can be honest with God even when we are filled with anger or despair because God knows us thoroughly and wants the very best for us. Anger may result in rash outward acts or turning inward in depression. But because we trust in our all-powerful God, we don’t have to be victims of circumstance or be weighed down by the guilt of sin. Be honest with God, and he will help you turn your attention from yourself to him and his mercy.
End the wickedness of the ungodly,
But help all those who obey you.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
O righteous God.
(Psalm 7:9)
God looks “deeps within the mind and heart.” Nothing is hidden from God – this can be either terrifying or comforting. Our thoughts are an open book to him. Because he knows even our motives, we have no place to hide, no way to pretend we can get away with sin. But that very knowledge also gives us great comfort. We don’t have to impress God or put up a false front. Instead, we can trust God to help us work through our weaknesses in order to serve him as he has planned. When we truly follow God, he rewards our efforts.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers –
The moon and the stars you have set in place –
What are mortals that you should think of us,
Mere humans that you should care for us?
(Psalm 8:3,4)
To respect God’s majesty, we must compare ourselves to his greatness. When we look at creation, we often feel small by comparison. To feel small is a healthy way to get back to reality, but God does not want us to dwell on our smallness. Humility means proper respect for God, not self-deprecation.
LORD, have mercy on me.
See how I suffer at the hands of those who hate me.
Snatch me from the jaws of death.
Save me, so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates,
So I can rejoice that you have rescued me.
(Psalm 9:13,14)
All of us want God to help us when we are in trouble, but often for different reasons. Some want God’s help so that they will be successful and other people will like them. Others want God’s help so that they will comfortable and feel good about themselves. David, however, wanted help from God so that justice would be restored to Israel and so that he could show others God’s power. When you call to God for help, consider your motive. Is it to save yourself pain and embarrassment or to bring God glory and honor?
Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.
(Proverbs 18:21)
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