Nehemiah 13:31

And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Nehemiah 13:31 (KJV)

Context

Nehemiah 13:31 closes the book of Nehemiah with a summary of his final reforms among the returned exiles in Jerusalem. In the preceding verse, Nehemiah 13:30, he records that he purified the people from foreign influences and re-established the courses of the priests and Levites. This final verse continues that summary, mentioning two specific provisions: the wood offering and the firstfruits.

Meaning

The wood offering supplied fuel for the altar at appointed times, as detailed in Nehemiah 10:34, where the people cast lots to determine who would bring wood to the temple. This wood was necessary for the continual burnt offerings on the altar. The firstfruits were the first portion of the harvest, brought to the temple to acknowledge that the land’s produce belonged to God. By arranging these offerings, Nehemiah sought to sustain ordered worship rather than merely improve the city’s outward appearance.

Nehemiah’s closing prayer, “Remember me, O my God, for good,” is a recurring petition in his writings (see Nehemiah 5:19, 13:14, 13:22). It is not a request for mere recollection, but a plea for God’s favorable attention and blessing. Nehemiah is asking God to look upon his faithful service and to reward him with good. This is not a claim that he had earned salvation or placed God in his debt. It is the prayer of a servant who knows that human recognition is insufficient and entrusts the final assessment of his labour to the righteous and merciful Lord.

Application

Faithfulness often consists of maintaining ordinary duties that enable worship and community life to continue. Nehemiah encourages believers to combine prayer with responsible action, to correct neglect without seeking applause, and to leave their reputation in God’s hands. The book closes not with confidence in human achievement, but with dependence upon divine favour.