Nehemiah 5:19 (ESV Strong's)
19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
Will God Remember Our Good Deeds?
In the above verse, Nehemiah, the governor of the returning remnant asks God to remember the good deed that he was doing in the midst of the people. Nehemiah was sent to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. The work was gigantic and the obstacles even bigger. The resistance was constant and personal. Yet, Nehemiah continued to persevere. The above verse is not the only time he asks God to remember his good deeds. Note:
Nehemiah 13:14 (ESV Strong's)
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.
Nehemiah 13:22 (ESV Strong's)
22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.
Nehemiah 13:31 (ESV Strong's)
31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
He even asks God to remember how the bad deeds of his enemies had tried to slow the work:
Nehemiah 6:14 (ESV Strong's)
14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
It should be noted that God DOES NOT FORGET. In fact, the writer of Hebrews states this explicitly:
Hebrews 6:10 (ESV Strong's)
10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Those works that we do for the “love of the name of Christ” will never be forgotten or overlooked by God. God is NOT unjust to overlook our work. God remembers our situations and our work and His covenants with us:
Genesis 8:1 (ESV Strong's)
1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.
Genesis 9:15 (ESV Strong's)
15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
So, when then did Nehemiah pray earnestly for God TO remember? This was not a reminder to God as though He would forget, but more of a reminder to God in regard to the background of those accusing Nehemiah of no good and of little integrity. Nehemiah’s enemies tried to disparage him. That is the context in each of these “reminders.” As we read the book the author (Nehemiah) is drawing a contrast between His motives and the motives of his attackers. Nehemiah knows that God will not forget His good works. Nehemiah does not know if the words of his enemies will be believed over and against those good works. So, Nehemiah simply commits his works to God and allows God to be his defense. Here is how Peter said it in his epistle to the church:
1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV Strong's)
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Nehemiah committed himself to “Him who judges justly.” That was the purpose of the reminder to God.
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