John Trapp on Nehemiah 1:8

Verſe 8. Remember I beſeech thee the word] It befalleth not the Lord to forget or remember (to ſpeak properly) for all things are preſent with him. Nevertheleſſe Metaphorically God is ſaid to do both; as when, being provoked by the horrid ſinnes of the Jews, he ſo puniſhed them as if he had forgotten that they were his people, or that he had ever made them any promiſes. And in this caſe God gives his Prophets and praying people leave to be his Remembrancers, Eſay 62.6, 7. Ye that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep not ſilence, and give him no reſt till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the earth. This, Nehemiah doth here moſt vigorouſly, and ſped accordingly: Let us do likewiſe. Caſt the labouring Church into Gods everlaſting armes, and inmind him of his promiſes: burden him with them,Pſal. 119.49. as that Martyr ſaid; put them into ſuit, they are nigh the Lord day and night, 1 Kings 8.59. Say, remember thy word unto thy ſervant, whereupon thou haſt cauſed me to truſt. And in the want of other Rhetorick urge this with repetition, Lord thou haſt promiſed, thou haſt promiſed, &c. He loves to be urged with his word, to be ſued upon his Bond, &c.

The word that thou commandedſt, &c.] The threatening is alſo to be acknowledged Gods word, as well as the promiſe; and the uprightneſſe of our hearts is, to be approving by (beleeving) the one, as well as the other. Sower and ſweet make the beſt ſawce; promiſes and menaces mingled, ſerve to keep the heart in the beſt temper, as Nehemiah's was.