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Summary: The Vow of Jabez: A Warrior in Holy War
Review: The "Prayer of Jabez" is really the vow of Jabez (the "if" construction of 1 Chronicles 4:10 can be confirmed in the free Net Bible which is available on the internet). The prayer of Jabez starts with an "if" in the original Hebrew and also in the Ancient Greek Old Testament. Jabez was a man who, like Joshua and Sampson, enlarged Israel's holdings in Canaan by military conquest. Such is the context of his vow-prayer, that God would multiply his territory. That he was "more honorable than his brothers" is that he was a valiant warrior in the conquest of Canaan (like Joshua). This "warrior" context of the word honorable is confirmed in 1 Chron 11:21,25 where men are more honorable due to their fierceness in battle. For Jabez to be honorable meant that he was a valiant man of Holy War. The vow has a decidedly Abrahamic context. Abraham was promised Canaan, and now Jabez was obtaining the inheritance. The word for "multiply" in the promise made to Abraham is the same word translated "enlarge" in 1 Chron. That is, Jabez's vow has the land inheritance promised to Abraham in view. Christians no longer inherit the land of Canaan through military conquest, but they inherit the blessing of Abraham through the Spirit (in fact, Paul in Galatians calls the Spirit the inheritance!). Jesus has already enlarged the Abrahamic inheritance to its ultimate extent, and now we wait for it to be revealed in glory - when the heavenly realm is united with the Earth in the final new creation. The land that Jabez wanted to conquer (the Abrahamic Promised Land) was a shadow of the heavenly kingdom that Jesus has already secured (the Real Inheritance which is not of the Law, but Spirit). Thus, the prayer of the Christian is not for enlarged territory, as if Canaan was still our inheritance, but now we have a different prayer, namely: "Come Lord Jesus, Come!" We pray for Jesus to come and consummate that which he has already enlarged beyond measure. The vow of Jabez has a context which the book by Wilkinson must account for if it is going to do justice to the Ancient Near Eastern Israelites who were under the Theocracy and land-conquest edicts. Jabez was under the same theocracy, and his vow is packed with theocratic implications, especially given the literal Canaan that he helped to cleanse through battle (such battle that today would be condemned by the UN). God granted Jabez his request. In 1 Chronicles 2:55 we find that he had a city named after him, indicating that an inheritance in Israel was his indeed. To have a city in Israel under the Theocracy was to have a city in the very Kingdom of God. Jabez was a mighty man of war, honored by God for his zeal in battle, and his place in the Kingdom of God was established. This view of Jabez will be helpful as you read Wilkinson's book and try to determine for yourself if he is using the Old Testament wisely or out of context.
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Summary: A dangerous concept
Review: "The Prayer of Jabez", one of the most talked-about religious books in years, has its share of disciples and dissidents. Wilkinson presents this prayer, found buried in the midst of genealogies in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles, as "a key" to effective prayer life. He breaks the prayer into four pieces: a request for 1) blessing, 2) enlargement of territory, 3) God's hand with [him], and 4) being kept from evil. While Wilkinson does allude to the fact that these blessings are to be used for God's glory, the book did seem to have hints that those who pray the prayer will be more blessed than those who don't. One story makes reference to a room full of blessings that a man didn't receive simply because he never asked for them. The end of the book even offers that you should pray the prayer of Jabez for 30 days and notice the difference in your life. Thus, it is difficult to say that this book is simply a call to prayer in general. However, this book has some serious theological flaws. First, the only Scriptural source for information about Jabez consists of these two verses of Scripture in 1 Chronicles. We have no other information about Jabez other than his birth, the prayer, and the fact that God blessed him. Trying to extract ~70 pages of theology about this otherwise obscure character is very dangerous. Also, Wilkinson tends to bring more detail out of the prayer itself than is readily supported by the short text. Furthermore, the writer of 1 Chronicles likely never INTENDED for Jabez or his prayer to draw special attention. 1 Chronicles is primarily an historical account of the nation of Israel and is not meant to be doctrinal. Jesus--whom Christianity claims is the divine Son of God--never mentions this prayer; He instead gives His own model prayer which is significantly different. Paul, writer of over half of the New Testament books, does not make a reference to Jabez either. Throughout the histories of Judaism and Christianity, this prayer has remained obscure; are we to believe that now Bruce Wilkinson has uncovered a secret to prayer and the Christian life that has never been discovered?
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Summary: Breaking Through -- Really? For How Long?
Review: Some people have been saying, "Hey, it's gotten people to pray, so leave it alone" or "It's working, so what is wrong?" I think this is good that more people are praying, but how long will it last when it is based on faulty ideas about God and prayer...
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Summary: Increase Your "Territory"
Review: Using the story of Jabez from the book of Chronicles, this book shows how we can expand on what we now have. By understanding the simple prayer of a man named Jabez, the reader will see how prayer works to manifest a greater presence of God as well as expanding their own "territory". This story from the Old Testament will help you grow both mentally and spiritually. Jabez, whose name translates to "pain", needed a way to show he was responsible and trustworthy enough to handle God's anointing, if only he had the chance. He was able to pray to God and request his desires, in hopes that God would answer his prayers. Then in turn, Jabez showed God he was able to handle the territory expansion he is blessed with. This book provides more than "Christian hype", it provides insight and understanding into the world of prayer to Almighty God. It helps you to understand how to request and deal with responsibility you feel is warranted in your life. The Prayer of Jabez is great for any reader desiring a more intimate relationship with God. It is a beneficial addition to any library.
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Summary: A Slap in the Face of Jesus
Review: The real prayer of Jabez (the one in the Bible)is good. However the book by Mr. Wilkinson is a handbook that teach's one how to become selfish in their prayer life (as if we needed any help). Prayer is a gift from YHWH (God)to help us grow in our relationship with Him.
I couldn't get past the first sentence in the Preface before I noticed just how much this book is a blasphemy. Bruce says, "But I believe it (The Prayer of Jabez) contains the key ("the key" means there are no more keys) to a life of extraordinary favor with God". Some may not find any fault with this, but it is a slap in the face of Jesus. I say this because the prayer of Jabez doesn't ask the Lord to foregive anyone of sin. How can someone have extrodinary favor with God if sin is in the way?
Also, the the story of "Mr Jones" on pages 25-27 is one of, if not the most ridiculous illistration I have ever heard! Heaven is all about Jesus not playing football, or finding what we could have had on earth!
Bruce also says,"When we seek God's blessing as the ultimate value in life, we are throwing ourselves entirely into the river of His will and power and purposes for us" page 24. I have to ask what is ment by "blessing"? Does Bruce mean stuff, or Jesus Christ? If he means Jesus why doesn't he say it.
These are just a few reasons I DON'T condone this book. I'm sure if I space here I could write a book telling why I don't support this book by Dr. Bruce H. Wilkinson.
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Summary: It's no wonder greedy Americans love this book
Review: Here's the premise of "The Prayer of Jabez": there are millions of blessings (material and spiritual) that God wants to give us, but He can't give them unless we ask. Thus, we should ask for things from Him all the time--otherwise, when we get to heaven, we'll find a warehouse full of blessings that God was just waiting to give to us. Here are four reasons why I believe this book is unbiblical, troubling and even dangerous. First, Wilkinson's whole premise is based on a poor translation of Scripture. The book looks at only one verse, 1 Chronicles 4:10, and it only looks at the NKJV translation. The NKJV translates the verse, "O that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" Read your NASB, KJV or NIV (or any other translation), and you'll see that the verse is completely different from the one Wilkinson has based his entire book on. Here's the way the NIV reads, "Keep me from harm so that I WILL BE FREE FROM PAIN." I can only assume that Wilkinson used the NKJV over every other English translation because it sounds more noble to ask God to keep us from causing pain, rather than to ask God to keep us free from pain. Second, does this sound like a prayer that is glorifying to God? "Enlarge my territory! Make me rich! Make me famous! Keep me free from pain!" God is sovereign, and he can bestow wealth, fame and pain-free living on anyone He chooses. But is this the best prayer we can come up with? Which leads to my third reason why I believe this book is dangerous. It has more than a hint of gnosticism (that is, it claims secret knowledge that others haven't discovered). If this prayer is such a great prayer, why is it that neither Jesus nor the apostles (nor anybody else before Wilkinson) ever referenced it? When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he didn't say, "When you pray, pray like Jabez." Instead, he gave us the Lord's prayer. Fourth, Wilkinson teaches, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, that "greed is good." "Enlarge my territory, make me rich and famous, and I'll give all the glory to you, Lord!" Motives matter. And greed, covetousness, and a lust for fame are not ones that please God. As James said, "When you ask, you ask with wrong motives." It's no wonder that this book has sold millions. Wilkinson promises that by repeating this prayer, over and over again, God (now reduced to a cosmic bell hop) will give you what you ask for. I'm afraid that Christians (and even worse--non-Christians) will read this book and be duped into thinking that God wants us to be wealthy. When instead, the Sovereign God of the universe wants us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to Him.
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Summary: Not so much bless my physical needs but my spiritual needs
Review: This book revived my soul. i have seen where Christians say that is wrong to pray as such as this but you know what, this book opened my eyes to a new and deeper prayer life, it revived my prayer life. yes amzing things happened after i read and prayed this prayer, not because i asked God to bless me but i learned through this reading of the Prayer of Jabez to believe in my prayers. i loved it and even bought the Prayer of Jabez for Women and loved it as well, and then bought the Devotional for the Prayer of Jabez, it is awesome but if you have a mindset as such as it is wrong to ask for such then of course you would not get anything out of the book. i am thankful the book fell into my hands, for my prayer life would be obselete. So through the Prayer of Jabez I received God's Blessing through a renewed and blessed Prayer walk with Him!
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Summary: Disappointing with too much hype
Review: I had a hard time getting through the book, as I did not agree with much of what the author was saying. Any prayer to God is good and God hears all prayers, whether they are memorized and recited or spontaneous. No one prayer is better than the others. What is important is that God is a part of our daily life and all of our prayers are "good". I also was turned off on the chapter on the reference to Satan. Since we have free will and free choice, the decisions we make our own and not someone else's fault. We have to take accountability for all of them. I was also disappointed that this minister did not make mention in his book that God is a forgiving and loving God and when we do make "mistakes", we are still loved and forgiven. Reading books about Satan tempting us, etc. is getting old. We have the ultimate last say on our behaviors and our decisions. I think that it was Flip Wilson who used to say, "The devil made me do it." Yeah right. Wilkinson also makes reference to his ministry and the summer incident where if they don't get over 100 kids then it is failure for their summer ministry. What? What is that teaching children? Just getting one person to have a contemplative life is a success. It's not about the numbers. I also disagree with his statement that people don't ask God for things for themselves. Wilkinson makes the supposition that we feel guilty asking for ourselves. People pray all the time for themselves and for others. He also says, "God answers those who have a loyal heart and pray the Jabez prayer". God answers us all the time. He does not pick and choose. What people fail to understand is that the answers we receive may not be the ones we "want", but what is given to us in for our highest good. Also, our answers may also not come as quickly as we may like them to. It all comes down to faith. With all the hype surrounding this book, this book was a huge disappointment, filled with many inaccuracies.
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Summary: poor theology
Review: Dr. wilkenson should know better. I have to seriously question this mans knowledge of scripture.
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Summary: OK, but not a spiritual panacea
Review: Let me start this review by stating that I agree with the basic spiritual principles set forth in this book. I give it two stars not so much because of its content, but because of the way the book has been utilized by so many in the Christian community today. And, the author, I believe, shares some of the blame for its improper usage. The manner in which the author presents the "prayer" and prescribes saying it every day carries the potential of leading people to believe that recitation of the prayer itself carries some kind of supernatural power with it. I fear that far too many people out there are relying upon this book as some kind of spiritual cure-all, believing that as long as they say this prayer, everything's going to work out great for them. Well, the recitation of the prayer standing alone is obviously of no value. The only value of the prayer is that studying it can lead to a better attitude of the heart toward God and others, which in turn will lead you to a place where God is able to use you more effectively. But, you certainly don't need this little book to accomplish a changed attitude. Therefore, it has value in the same manner as any other Biblical study aid has value - to illuminate scriptural truths and allow you to internalize them. So, please do not use this book believing God has chosen to "zap" it with some kind of amazing blessing for all those who read it and say the prayer within. Living the way God wants you to live, obeying Him, resisting temptation, is simply a more complicated matter than saying this little prayer. ...
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