The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 74

giYen to the tribe of Judah on account of its connection with the promised Christ, Before tracing further the genealogy of the sons of Israel, an entire chapter is devoted to the family of David. 'l'his is just as it should be-still further prominence bein"' given to every one and everything that foreshadowed the true David, the Lord Jcsu~ Christ. The line of David is drawn all through the third chapter, through a succession of good and bad monarchs. The Lord's eye is on his beloved Son; and the stream that leads to him winds its way through wastes and stagnant pools and dark morasses lying on either side-everything marked which in any way stands connected with it but beyond this as unworthy of notice. We can now devote attention to one of God's children in particular, and recorded in this chapter-Jabez. In the midst of a g~nealogy of_some exte_nt, the ~pirit of God singles one out for notice, and lingers over 1t ,nth delight. It 1s a bright gem on an apparently hard and uninterestin" surface shining with brilliancy. It is a name, however, fully confirming all we hav: hitherto referred to. It would have no notice in the inspired Word but for what there is of God in it. ,ve know much of God in Jabcz, very little of who or what he was. Of what he was in relation to the world, in relation to bis fellow-men, or to society, or to business, we know little. Of what be was to God there is much said and much known. ,vhat matters the rest? We may be sure that was all right. For if men are right towards Christ we may take the rest for granted. It is this that gave Jabez a name in heaven. This made him worthy of a record in the Book of God. Dut for this be would have been unnoticed and unknown. And what is said of him? "Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Beca.11se I bare him with sorrow." God's sorrowing ones are genernlly God's more honourable ones. It is through sorrow we reach our joys. "Ye now therefore have sorrow, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." It is God's order-sorrow the portal to joy. The darkness first, then the light; tribulation here, then the kingdom; discipline here, then the glory. God's secret place is darkness. The pavilion round about him are "dark waters and thick clouds "-the dark waters of sorrow, the thick clouds of bafiling enigma and unfathomable mystery. But inside this pavilion of darkness and cloud there is always a brightness (Ps. xviii. 11, 12). This brightness is the unchanging love of him who is "the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of bis person." Under his shadow the dark waters and thick' clouds will all in due time disperse. Yes, every thick cloud and every dark waterflood will melt before his love, who is" the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Before the air can be cleared and the calm stillness of nature be felt, the thunder-clouds must gather and the lightning-flash be seen. The stillness of nature comes heralded by tokens of terror. It is the order of God, both in nature and grace. ,v e see the darkness first, and call it" Jabez." We meet with bereavement and write" Jabez" upon it, though God makes it a blessed means of drawing us to fix: our affections on a world that can never pass away. ,ve meet with disappointment and vexation and worry, and write "Jabez" upon one thing after another. Yet all these things come out, in the wonder- working of God's providence, in the deep riches of his grace, as dealings "more honour- able,'' as blessings in disguise. 'fhoy are the discipline of his hand, bringing glory to him and blessiug to our own souls. "Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Dehind a frowning providenco He hides a smiling face." And what is the prominent feature in the character of this man of God noticed by the Holy Spirit? It is prayer. "And ~abcz called upon the God of Israel." ~abez was a man of prayer. In this aspect he 1s first presented to us. Oh that this was the marked feature in us all I A man of prayer means a man blessed of God. A man _of prayer means, in its truest sense, a man of God. It means a marked man-one d1s- tin"uisbed from others by communion with God, and carrying that mark about him in all his least and greatest acts. This is the man on whom the Holy Spirit loves to linger, and singles him out from a mere mass of genealogi~~ that have n~thing :worthy ,Jf notice, and holds him before us for a moment as the ono whom the Kmg del1ghteth lo h,Jaot1r." B1.1t on whom did Jabez call? Not on Gud; uot on au~tract deity; oo~ on. iv.1-43.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 65