The Prayers of Jabez and Agur

1 The Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4,9.10) (Text):

And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez ,saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 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. (1 Chron. 4,9-10 AV)

1. honour, honourable (V. 9)

a) honour, glory of men (negative): Gal 5,26; 1 Thes.2,6; Gal 1,10

b) honour of men (positive): Phil 2,29-30; 1 Tim 5,17; 1 Sam. 9,6; 1 Sam 22,14

c) honour of God: 1 Sam 2,30b; john 12,26b

2. bless me indeed (richly) (V.10) - Gen 32,26; Judges 1,12-15

3. enlarge my borders (territory) - Joshua 1,3; Deut. 26,1;33,23

4. thine hand might be with me

Is 41,10; Ezra 7,9

5. keep me from evil

Job 1,1.10; 1 Tim 6,10; cf Joseph and Samson

2 The Prayer of Agur(Proverbs 30,7-9) (Text):

Two [things] have I required of thee; deny me [them] not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain]. (Proverbs 30,7-9 AV)

Two things required:

1. Remove from me: (a) vanity (falsehood,deception): Job 35,13; Ps 12,2; 24,3-5; cp. Ecclesiastes

(b) lies: Prov 6,19; Rev 22,12; Gal 4,16; Eph 4,15

3. 2. Give me: (a) neither poverty (Prov 20,13; 24,34; Ps 40,17; 2 Cor 8,2)

(b) nor riches (Mt 19,23; 1 Tim 6,9.17)

Reason:

(a) lest I be full ... (Deut 6,11-12)

(b) Lest I be poor ..

The Prayers of Jabez and Agur

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