The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 67

essential characteristic of acceptable prayer; and the attitude of kneeJinc, is the bodily expression of it. " II. '!'JIAT JABEZ WAS INTELLIGENT AND THOUGHTFUL. The prayer shows that he had formed a sensible estimate of life. To.him it was a scene of toil and struggle and evil ; it seemed to be full of work, duties, responsibilities, cares, and trusts; and for it all he recognized the need of a guiding and upholding hand. Illustrate by our Lord's fiaure of the man wbo proposed to build, sitting down first and counting the cost. 'fhe ~an may discover no need for prayer who rushes heedlessly into life, only intending to do the best he can under the various circumstances that mav arise. But he who looks thoughtfully out over life, and intelligently anticipates its duties and cares, will be sure to feel the importance and helpfulness of prayer, and, with Jabez, will turn to God, saying, " Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed! " Compare Moses praying, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence;" and Joshua's resolve, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." III. THAT JABEZ WAS, IN A GOOD SENSE, AMBITIOUS. His piety did not crush dmvn the high imaginations and glowing hopes of his young heart. He prays God to help him "enlarge his coast,'' or landed estate; to extend his possessions, to increase his wealth, and to advance his influence. Religion seeks to sanctify our ambitions, but not to crush them. VI'e may pray to God about our plans and schemes for worldly advance- ment, if only we keep the spirit of full loyalty to God and submission to his will; and to pray freely and constantly about our common human affairs is the best way to ensure our winning and keeping the right spirit whatever we may attain. IV. THAT JADEZ WAS HAPPY. In spite of the melancholy tone that was on him; in spite of the sorrow clinging to him from his birth. '!'his ensures our happiness-the accomplishment of our life-aims, when those aims are right ones. "Goa granted Jabez that which he requested." He bad: 1. Success in life given him, so that he might add field to field, and become "more honourable than his brethren." 2. Evil warded off from him. In "going out and coming in,'' the preserving hand of God kept him safe. 3. God's blessing sanctifying his successes; by that term meaning the satisfying and comforting sense of the Divine approval and acceptance. It may be impressed that such a prayer indicates the personal piety of Jabez, and suggests that he made a full conse- cration of himself to the God of bis fathers in early life. Plead for such a whole- hearted decision, and such a spirit of prayerfulness, on the very threshold of life. It is well if, before the foot falls on the first step of life, the heart goes up to God, saying, "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed I "-Il. 1'. Ver. 13.-0tlmiel's adventure; or, the impulse of promised rewards, For the story, see Josh. xv. 16, 17; Judg. i. 12, 13; iii. 9. The point of the narrative, for the sake of which it is preserved, appears to be this: Othniel acted, vigorously and successfully, under the impulse of offered reward. The daughter of one so honoured as Caleb was a prize indeed worth winning, and she was to bo given to the man who, by his valour and skill, could take the city of Kirjatb-sepber. Compare the offer of reward which David made on the occasion of the siege of Jerusalem (eh. xi. G). Some interest attaches to Kirjath-sepher as meaning the "Dook-towu," and suggesting the existence of a literature at that time among the Canaanites. Its earlier name (.Debir, oracle) may indicate that it was a national sanctuary where the national records were preserved; and, if so, we may be sure that it was securely walled and stoutly defended. The incident may be used to introduce the consideration of the appropriateness of offering rewards, as an incentive to the doing of duty, and in the higher spheres of morals and religion, where all the quality of actions must depend on tbe motives for which they find expression. In relation to the education and training of the young, the subject of rewards is frequently discussed; some urging that childhood needs the help to effort and perseverance which may be found· in the promise of reward; while others contend that a child is deteriorated, and led to adopt false sentiments for life, who is impelled to exertion by the hope of what is to be gained by it, and not to act_ or to abstain from acting because the thing required is riglit. It may, however, be f,url)'. contended that, besides the proper and high motives of duty and right, we may thanklully accept the aid of auxiliary motives, and that among those may be set ID e. first place the promise anu the hope of rewnru. Ilut it would seem to sctlle thr question, that we can  58 THE PIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONlCLtS. [ott. xv. 1-Ml.