This may well be the summary of our petitions we need no more to make us happy than this Remember me, O my God, for good. The best services to the public have been forgotten by those for whom they were done, therefore Nehemiah refers himself to God, to recompense him. Here are Nehemiah's prayers on this occasion He prays, 'Remember them, O my God.' Lord, convince and convert them put them in mind of what they should be and do. Some, more obstinate than the rest, he smote, that is, ordered them to be beaten by the officers according to the law, ( deuteronomy 25:2 deuteronomy 25:3 ). Nehemiah showed the evil of these marriages. In the education of children, great care should be taken about the government of their tongues that they learn not the language of Ashdod, no impious or impure talk, no corrupt communication. Verses 23-31 If either parent be ungodly, corrupt nature will incline the children to take after that one which is a strong reason why Christians should not be unequally yoked. He felt and confessed himself a sinner, who could demand nothing from God as justice, when he thus cried unto him for mercy. The courage, zeal, and prudence of Nehemiah in this matter, are recorded for us to do likewise and we have reason to think, that the cure he wrought was lasting. He shows that sabbath-breaking was one of the sins for which God had brought judgments upon them and if they did not take warning, but returned to the same sins again, they had to expect further judgments. Nehemiah charges it on them as an evil thing, for so it is, proceeding from contempt of God and our own souls. We must answer for the sins others are led to commit by our example. Those little consider what an evil they do, who profane the sabbath. No wonder there was a general decay of religion, and corruption of manners among the Jews, when they forsook the sanctuary and profaned the sabbath. Religion never prospers while sabbaths are trodden under foot. Verses 15-22 The keeping holy the Lord's day forms an important object for their attention who would promote true godliness. Yet he was rewarded, and his good deeds recorded. 'Wipe not out my good deeds ' not, Publish them, or record them. He here refers to God, not in pride, but with a humble appeal concerning his honest intention in what he had done. It pleased him to think that he had been of use to revive and support religion in his country. Nehemiah on every occasion looked up to God, and committed himself and all his affairs to Him. He delayed not to bring the Levites to their places again, and that just payment should be made. Both ministers and people, who forsake religion and the services of it, and magistrates, who do not what they can to keep them to it, will have much to answer for. The work is neglected, because the workmen are. A maintenance not sufficient, makes a poor ministry. They were gone to get livelihoods for themselves and their families, for their profession would not maintain them. The Levites had been wronged their portions had not been given them. Verses 10-14 If a sacred character will not keep men from setting an evil example, it must not shelter any one from deserved blame and punishment. When sin is cast out of the heart by repentance, let the blood of Christ be applied to it by faith, then let it be furnished with the graces of God's Spirit, for every good work. Those that would drive sin out of their hearts, the living temples, must throw out its household stuff, and all the provision made for it and take away all the things that are the food and fuel of lust this is really to mortify it.

We profit, when we are thus wrought upon to separate from evil. See the benefit of publicly reading the word of God when it is duly attended to, it discovers to us sin and duty, good and evil, and shows wherein we have erred. Verses 1-9 Israel was a peculiar people, and not to mingle with the nations. (1-9) Nehemiah's reform in the house of God.

Bible study book nehemiah