In the final chapter of Nehemiah he asks the Lord four times ‘to Remember’ – it is a valid way to pray.
Chapter 12 ends with the dedication of the newly completed wall, led by Ezra and Nehemiah, with choirs walking on the walls with them. They committed the new defences of their city to the Lord with praise and worship.
13 ON THAT DAY the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, 2 because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.) 3 When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent. Nehemiah 13
Israel SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM EVERYONE WHO displeased God. They needed the protection and blessing of God on those who had returned to the Land.
14 REMEMBER me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services. Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah had returned to the king of Babylon after twelve years Nehemiah 13:6 and while he was away the enemy had been busy. The Priest Eliashib had given over a Temple storeroom to Tobiah, an enemy of Israel. On his return Nehemiah threw his belongings out and restored the room. Priests like all of us can be good or wicked. Nehemiah also had to reinstate the tithes to the Temple,
11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, ‘Why is the house of God neglected?’ Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
The next issue that arose was the desecration of the Sabbath, people were working and trading on it. ( Jesus said, ‘the Sabbath was made for man, (a rest day to pause and reflect)’ Mark 2:27 Once again it was Nehemiah who put an end to their disobedience. Nehemiah had to enforce his orders to the Jews and outsiders, just telling people wasn’t enough.
22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.
REMEMBER ME FOR THIS ALSO, MY GOD, AND SHOW MERCY TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR GREAT LOVE.
Nehemiah also had to address the matter of Jews who had intermarried, made Covenant, with those from the pagan nations around them. Solomon’s sin was cited in this regard. Nehemiah 13:26
28 One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest (same family of the defiling Priest) was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I DROVE HIM AWAY from me.
29 REMEMBER THEM, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
The final words of the Book of Nehemiah were a sort of catch-all phrase by Nehemiah, who so craved the Favour of His God in the midst of all the difficulties he faced.
REMEMBER ME WITH FAVOUR, MY GOD.
A beautiful ending to a life of many trials, spanning from Babylon to Jerusalem.
May God Remember us and all the good things we’ve done for Him this day. Amen