Nehemiah Preserved the Record

Synopsis     Nehemiah 7:31-60     7/29/2020 

Nehemiah led the returned exiles in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. However, there were men and women who had returned from exile many years before him. And so, he chose to include the census taken when they returned as part of his official record. 

Nehemiah Preserves the Record 

Nehemiah included the names of the first exiles to return in his official record. He wanted to ensure they were not forgotten. 

We Work to Remember 

When a loved one dies in my family, we generally inscribe the person’s name, birthdate and dying day on a stone marker near their grave. Sometimes, we return to the grave to remember and reflect on who the person was.  

But I’m often struck by the inadequacy of this effort. Even stones of granite seem to fade over decades and centuries. And even those who make effort seem to eventually forget. 

But God never forgets. His eternal perspective and His ongoing presence never leave.

And this only makes sense. After all, you are an eternal being. So, for Him it’s never a matter of forgetting. He is always with you. Forever, your name is written in the palm of His hand.  

You cannot be forgotten.  

“See, upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you;your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:16