梦游圣经66本书

2026年8月8日 灵修

经文

「雅比斯求告以色列的神说：『甚愿你赐福与我，扩张我的境界，常与我同在，保佑我不遭患难，不受艰苦。』神就应允他所求的。」
——历代志上 4:10

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灵修分享

《历代志上》第四章大部分都是犹大支派的家谱，一连串记载着许多人的名字。然而，就在这些名字之间，圣经却突然停下来，用两节经文介绍雅比斯，并完整记录了他的一段祷告，然后才继续回到家谱。

为什么圣经要特别记下雅比斯？

因为神要我们看见，祂所记念的，不只是一个人的名字，更是一个人的生命。

雅比斯的名字意思是「痛苦」。他的母亲说：「我甚是痛苦生下他。」（历代志上 4:9）这个名字可能伴随他成长，也可能成为他一生背负的标签。

然而，圣经并没有让「痛苦」成为雅比斯人生的结局。

相反地，经文说：「雅比斯比他众弟兄更尊贵。」

他的尊贵，不是因为出身，不是因为财富，也不是因为地位，而是因为他懂得来到神面前。

雅比斯向神祷告说：「甚愿祢赐福与我，扩张我的境界，常与我同在，保佑我不遭患难，不受艰苦。」

这不是一个只求成功的祷告，而是一颗寻求神的心。

他知道，一切祝福都来自神；真正的扩张必须出于神；最大的福分不是拥有更多，而是神常与他同在；真正的保守，也不是没有困难，而是不偏离神的道路。

圣经最后简单却有力地记载：

「神就应允他所求的。」

《历代志》原是写给被掳归回的以色列百姓。他们经历亡国、被掳和失败，许多人可能觉得自己的历史已经结束。

然而，作者在家谱中插入雅比斯的祷告，仿佛告诉每一位读者：过去不能决定未来，人的名字不能决定人生，唯有神能够改写生命。

这也是神今天对我们的心意。

也许我们曾被失败定义，被伤害捆绑，或被别人贴上各种标签，但神不要我们一直活在过去。祂邀请我们来到祂面前，认识祂的爱，在祂里面得着真正的自由，活出祂起初为我们预备的生命。

神所记念的，不是我们的过去，而是我们是否愿意像雅比斯一样，转向祂、寻求祂、信靠祂。

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祷告

亲爱的天父，感谢祢认识我，也记念我。感谢祢不让我的过去、失败或别人给我的标签定义我的生命。帮助我像雅比斯一样，凡事先来到祢面前寻求祢。愿祢按祢的旨意赐福我的生命，扩张祢所托付给我的境界，常与我同在，保守我走在祢的道路上。愿我的一生荣耀祢，成为别人的祝福。奉主耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

The One God Remembers

August 8, 2026 Devotional

Scripture

“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.”
—1 Chronicles 4:10

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Devotional Reflection

Most of 1 Chronicles chapter 4 consists of the genealogy of the tribe of Judah, recording a long succession of names. Yet in the midst of these names, Scripture suddenly pauses to introduce Jabez in two verses and records his prayer in full before returning to the genealogy.

Why does the Bible make a special point of remembering Jabez?

Because God wants us to see that what He remembers is not merely a person’s name, but a person’s life.

The name Jabez means “pain.” His mother said, “I gave birth to him in pain.” (1 Chronicles 4:9) This name may have followed him as he grew up and may even have become a label he carried throughout his life.

Yet Scripture does not allow “pain” to become the final chapter of Jabez’s life.

Instead, it says, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.”

His honor did not come from his background, his wealth, or his status, but from the fact that he knew how to come before God.

Jabez prayed to God, “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.”

This was not merely a prayer for success, but the expression of a heart seeking God.

He knew that every blessing comes from God; true expansion must come from God; the greatest blessing is not having more, but having God continually with him; and true protection does not mean the absence of difficulties, but not straying from God’s way.

The Bible concludes with a simple yet powerful statement:

“And God granted his request.”

Chronicles was originally written for the people of Israel who had returned from exile. They had experienced the fall of their nation, captivity, and failure, and many of them may have felt that their story was already over.

Yet by placing Jabez’s prayer within the genealogy, the writer seems to be telling every reader: the past cannot determine the future, a person’s name cannot determine their destiny, and God alone can rewrite a life.

This is also God’s desire for us today.

Perhaps we have been defined by failure, bound by past hurts, or labeled by others in different ways. But God does not want us to remain trapped in the past. He invites us to come to Him, to know His love, to find true freedom in Him, and to live out the life He intended for us from the beginning.

What God remembers is not our past, but whether we are willing, like Jabez, to turn to Him, seek Him, and trust Him.

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Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for knowing me and remembering me. Thank You that You do not allow my past, my failures, or the labels others have placed on me to define my life. Help me to be like Jabez, coming first to You and seeking You in everything. May You bless my life according to Your will, enlarge the territory You have entrusted to me, remain with me always, and keep me walking in Your ways. May my whole life bring glory to You and become a blessing to others. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray, Amen.