Prayer for Divine remembrance.
"Think upon me, O my God," etc. This and other similar prayers of good Nehemiah strike us at first as unseemly; and certainly they are more consonant with the spirit of the Old Testament than that of the New. Our Lord teaches us to say after our best works, "We are unprofitable servants, we have done that which was our duty to do." Besides which, the sense of sin on the one hand, and of entire indebtedness to Divine grace for all the good we have and do on the other, foster a humility which prevents the complacent thought of our good deeds, especially before God. Still the doctrine of reward according to works belongs to the Christian equally with the Mosaic religion. We are taught to hope for future recompense of the good we have done; and there can, therefore, be no essential impropriety in at times praying for it. It is a probable supposition (Ewald) that Nehemiah Wrote these prayers after he had learned by painful experience how little of appreciation, gratitude, or reward he could expect from men. "They forget or neglect me, or requite me evil, but do not thou be unmindful."
I. WHO MAY OFFER SUCH A PRAYER. Those who have served God's people, and therefore God himself—
1. With sincere regard for God. His will, approval, recompense. They whose good works are done" to be seen of men" "have their reward," but may not look to God for it.
2. Disinterestedly. Not from selfishness or ambition.
3. Devotedly. With great zeal.
4. Abundantly. Rendering great service.
5. Self-denyingly. At considerable sacrifice of ease, time, strength, substance, etc.
6. Un-weariedly.
II. WHEN SUCH A PRAYER IS SUITABLE.
1. When reward cannot be expected from men. Either on account of their want of appreciation of what is done for them, or inability from poverty or otherwise to requite it suitably.
2. When men show positive ingratitude, or return evil for good.
3. Even when men remember and reward. For the godly man feels that without the Divine favour all that man can give will be vain and unsatisfying.
III. WHY A FAVOURABLE ANSWER MAY BE EXPECTED. Because of—
1. The relation of God to his praying servant. "My God."
2. The Divine character. Righteous, and loving righteousness; good, and approving the good (see Hebrews 6:10).
3. The union which exists between God and his people. So that he regards what is done to "this people" as done to himself.
4. The Divine promises. Such as Matthew 10:42; Matthew 25:34-40.
HOMILIES BY W. CLARKSON