First and Second Chronicles are a brief retelling of the
events which occur in 1 and 2 Kings. First Chronicles serves as a commentary on
the events of 2 Samuel and emphasizes the religious history of Judah and
Israel. Second Chronicles serves as the commentary for 1 and 2 Kings and
highlights the importance of the temple and the religious revivals in Judah
while the kingdom of Israel in ignored. As I read through these books, one
thing stood out: prayer. In particular three prayers which are examples of how
God can work in our lives if we ask him. With an honorable man named Jabez, we
see the power of a simple prayer. With King David, we see a formula in which to
pray. With King Asa, we see asking for the impossible in prayer can allow it to
become possible.
Jabez is a man who is remembered for a simple prayer with a
big impact. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.
His mother had named him Jabez, saying “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez
cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my
territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be
free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” By asking God to bless him,
Jabez was acknowledging God as the true center of his life and his work. When
we pray for God’s blessings, as Jabez did, we need to pray that He take his
rightful place as Lord of our homes, our workplace and our lives. The
protection Jabez was asking for wasn’t just from the outside world which is
full of evil and pain but also internally. The evil and pain which starts from
within us in our motives, desires, thoughts and actions. This simple prayer is an
example of what can happen when we recognize that God provides all. He provides
the means for success, protection from harm and guidance in our lives. If we
just ask him to.
David was known as a man of prayer. His prayer in 1
Chronicles 29:10-19 is an example of how we can pray. First, he opens his
prayer with praise. In verse 10, he says, “Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our
father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Second, he recognizes God’s
power and glory. He recognizes the God is powerful, majestic and splendor
(verse 11). He acknowledges that everything comes from the Lord from their
wealth to their honor (verse 12). Third, he prays for the people. In verse 18, David
prays that God would “keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever”
and “keep their hearts loyal” to Him. He also prays for his son, Solomon, the
next king of Israel in verse 19, “And give my son, Solomon the wholehearted
devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees.” Wholehearted devotion is complete dedication
to God. To serve God above all else. David’s prayer follows a simple formula:
praise to God, recognize God’s power, and make our requests. When we praise God
and recognize his power before we make our request, we acknowledge that God has
the authority to grant our requests and everything we have comes from him.
Asa was a king up against the Cushite army. Knowing that his
army had no chance against this army without the power of God, he calls out to
Him. His prayer in 2 Chronicles 14:11 says, “Lord, there is no one like you to
help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on
you, in your name, we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our
God, do not let man prevail against you.” The Lord provided the victory (verse
12). Asa uses a similar formula as King David. He praised God and acknowledged
His power. Then he made his request. King Asa is an example of when facing
battles that seem impossible, don’t give up. To paraphrase a common saying,
when the going gets tough, the tough get praying. Asa knew he could not do it
on his own. He need the power and glory of God behind every swing of his army’s
swords. The secret of victory is first to admit the futility of unaided human effort
and to trust God to do the rest. God’s power works best though those who
recognize their limitations. It is those who think they are able do anything
without God are the ones in the greatest danger.
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