Nehemiah 13: Remember Me
Verse of the Day: (13:31) And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
1. Read (13:1-3)
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; (13:1)
A reader may not be a leader, but all God’s leaders are readers, especially of God’s Word. Israel read the book of Moses and discovered that the Ammonite and the Moabite were not allowed to be with them unless they would repent of their sins of unbelief and wickedness. Indeed, let us read, meditate and apply God’s Word in our hearts that all who know us, may come to know Christ through our sharing and testimony. (Ephesians 3:1-7)
2. Rulers (13:4-13)
Then contented I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. (13:11)
While Nehemiah was away from Jerusalem, Eliashib, the priest, had allied himself with Tobiah, the Ammonite, and had forsaken and defiled God’s house by allowing Tobiah, an unbeliever, to stay in the chamber of God’s house where the people’s gifts to God to be distributed to those who served Him were stored, in other words, Tobiah had accessed to these gifts. Upon his return, Nehemiah was very grieved when he heard of the corruption of Eliashib, and immediately he threw out Tobiah from the chamber. He then confronted the leaders to return all the offerings to those who served God in His house, and to resume the worship of God. Indeed, let us serve God and flee from evil. (Romans 13:1-4)
3. Remember (13:14-31)
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. (13:14)
Nehemiah commanded the people never to marry the unbelievers as they would compromise their belief, and to stop working on the Sabbath day, but instead they should worship God for who He is, and what He has done for them. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) At the end of Nehemiah’s life, he prayed to God to remember him and the works he had done for Him. Indeed, God shall remember the works that we have done for Him as He remembered the criminal at the cross who cried in repentance to Him, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Jesus replied, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39-43) What a day it shall be when we get to heaven as God calls our names from His book of life, and we shall behold His wonderful face, and also those of our loved ones who had gone ahead of us! (Revelation 20:11-15)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please remember me for all that I have believed in and done for You.
