May God Remember Your Good Works
. . . Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, and had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles . . .
But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem . . . I had returned to the king.
Some time later, I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.
I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them . . . So I rebuked the officials . . .
All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms . . . They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.
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 13:4-14
But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem . . . I had returned to the king.
Some time later, I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.
I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them . . . So I rebuked the officials . . .
All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms . . . They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.
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 13:4-14
Nehemiah was given a vision by God to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and secure the well-being of God's people who were living in disgrace. The wall of their city was broken down and the gates of the city had been burned. They were vulnerable to enemy attacks. Nehemiah and the Jews faced fierce opposition from various detractors who were incensed by the fact that someone had come to seek the welfare of the Jews. Tobiah was one of those enemies.
It was a rather daunting and seemingly impossible task but God saw them through and the task was completed with great fanfare and celebration. Nehemiah put people in charge of Jerusalem and the house of God before returning to serve the king who had given him permission to travel for the task of rebuilding the wall. Years later, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem only to realize that the reforms he had put in place had been neglected, and even Tobiah, who had opposed the rebuilding efforts, had now been given a place of residence in the house of God.
Needless to say, Nehemiah threw him out and restored all the measures that needed to be put in place to ensure that the law of God was being kept. Nehemiah concluded the task on his second visit to Jerusalem with these words: "So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me with favor, my God. Nehemiah had a habit of reminding God that he had served Him faithfully. He had a habit of reminding God not to forget his "good works."
The Bible records these words in Malachi 3:16, "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name."
God has a book of remembrance for all the faithful deeds we render to Him. May God remember all your good works and bless you mightily. Your labor will not be in vain.
It was a rather daunting and seemingly impossible task but God saw them through and the task was completed with great fanfare and celebration. Nehemiah put people in charge of Jerusalem and the house of God before returning to serve the king who had given him permission to travel for the task of rebuilding the wall. Years later, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem only to realize that the reforms he had put in place had been neglected, and even Tobiah, who had opposed the rebuilding efforts, had now been given a place of residence in the house of God.
Needless to say, Nehemiah threw him out and restored all the measures that needed to be put in place to ensure that the law of God was being kept. Nehemiah concluded the task on his second visit to Jerusalem with these words: "So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me with favor, my God. Nehemiah had a habit of reminding God that he had served Him faithfully. He had a habit of reminding God not to forget his "good works."
The Bible records these words in Malachi 3:16, "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name."
God has a book of remembrance for all the faithful deeds we render to Him. May God remember all your good works and bless you mightily. Your labor will not be in vain.
Prayer: Lord, please remember my faithful deeds for your Kingdom and pour your favor and blessings on my life. Amen.