Thought for the Week: 1 Chron 4

God Answers Bold Prayers

Chronicles give a priestly account
on the history of God’s people,
a sort of divine commentary on
the kingdom period. It carefully
weds the nation’s history with the
active hand of God in Israel’s affairs.
Chronicles centers on the southern
kingdom of Judah. First Chronicles
opens with a lengthy genealogy
tracing the line of David all the way
back to Adam. The genealogies
provide clear evidence of God
at work throughout history,
by selecting a people for Himself
and then protecting a family within
that people to provide leadership.

Lord, we Boldly Seek Your Blessing:
The sons of Judah were Perez,
Hezron, Carmi, Hur and Shobai.
And Reaiah the son of Shobai
begot Jahath, and Jahath
begot Ahumai (1Chr 4:1-2).
Now Jabez was more honourable
than his brothers, and his mother
called his name Jabez, saying:
“Because I bore him in pain.”
And Jabez called on the God
of Israel saying: “Oh,
that You would bless me indeed
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me &
that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”
So God granted him what
he requested (1 Chron 4:9-10).

Lord, thank You for putting Jabez
and his bold prayer in scripture.
Thank You Father for loving us
and being accessible to us
as You were to Jabez of Judah.
Thanks for Your good plans and thru
prayer we can appropriate them.
Let me Lord never take the privilege
of prayer for granted; and thank
You for hearing my prayers. Amen.

Lord, I thank You for Your goodness
and all that You’ve been giving me.
I pray for Your continued blessings,
provision, guidance and protection.
I pray Lord that Your presence will
always be with me wherever I go.
Grateful You are pleased to share
Yourself and Your kingdom with me.
Prompt me Lord to give back to You
by helping & blessing others. Amen.

Lord, I will love an easy life, free of
trouble but You don’t promised that.
For Your goal for us is not purely
earthly bliss, but Your glory
brought about thru our maturity.
So give me wisdom and courage
Lord so that I am willing to walk
with You wherever You may lead.
Trust that when I seek You and
Your kingdom, all these things
will also be given to me. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Chronicles (Mar 19)

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of 1 Chronicles is to show King David being placed in
position of authority to embody
the reign of God over his creation.
For David had a heart for the Lord
and led Israel into a glorious season.
On Monday, we learn from 1Chron 4
that God Answers Bold Prayers.
On Tuesday, we learn from 1Chr 14
that God Replies to Our Queries.
On Wednesday, we learn fr 1Chr 17
that God Does More Than Imagined.
On Thursday, we learn from 1Chr 21
that God Is Holy Yet Also Gracious.
On Friday, we learn from 1Chr 28
that God With You Boosts Courage.
On Saturday, we learn from 1Chr 29
that God the Source of Wealth.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You;
for You truly keep Your promises;
for You are gracious and with us;
for You answer bold prayers, and
perform more than imagined. Amen