John Trapp on Nehemiah 1:4

Verſe 4. And it came to paſſe when I heard] It was not without a ſpecial providence that theſe good men thus met, and by mutual conference kindle one another: and that thereby God provided a remedy. Things fall not out by hap-hazard, but by Gods moſt wiſe diſpoſe and appointment.

That I ſate down and wept] He was even preſſed down with the greatneſſe of his grief;Expletur lachrymis, egeritur que dolor, Ovid. whereto he gave vent by his eyes, Zeph. 3.17, 18. God promiſes much mercy to ſuch to whom the reproach of the ſolemn aſſemblies was a burden. Nehemiah cannot ſtand under it, but ſits down and weeps.

And mourned certaine dayes] Viz. For three moneths ſpace: for ſo long he was preparing himſelf to petition the King, chap. 2.

And faſted and prayed] This was a ſure courſe, and never miſcarried, as hath been noted, Ezra 9.

Before the God of heaven] With face turned toward his holy Temple, 1 Kings 8.44, 48. with heart lifted up to the higheſt heavens, thoſe hills whence ſhould come his help.