Charles Spurgeon Commentary Nehemiah 4:4-5

"Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity; and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders." — Nehemiah 4:4-5 (ASV)

This was righteous indignation; but Nehemiah is not a perfect model for us. He was not only stern, but he mingled with his severity a measure of bitterness in his prayer that we must not imitate. Sometimes, when we have seen men plotting against God, seeking to ruin the souls of others, and trying to stop us in our endeavor to build up the church of God, we have felt such language as this trembling on our lips. It would be better, however, for us to bow the knee, in humble imitation of our Lord upon the cross, and cry, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.