John Trapp on Nehemiah 1:5

Verſe 5. I beſeech thee O Lord] Annah Jehovah: An inſinuating preface; whereby he ſeeketh firſt to get in with God ſpeaking him faire; as doth likewiſe David, in a real and heavenly complement, Pſal. 116.16. Obſecro Jehova, I beſeech O Lord, (I am thy ſervant, I am thy ſervant, the ſonne of thy handmaid) break thou my bands. So the Church, Eſay 64.9. Behold, ſee we beſeech thee, we are all thy people.

The great and terrible God] A great King above all gods. [non-Latin text not transcribed],Exod. 15.11. ſaith a Greek Father; glorious in holineſſe, fearful in prayſes, doing wonders, ſaith Moſes in one place: as in another, The Lord our God is God of gods, and Lord of lords; a great God, a mighty and a terrible. Verè verendus & venerandus. Deut. 10.17. Thus Nehemiah begins his prayer, and counts it a great mercy that he may creep in at a corner, and preſent himſelf before this moſt Majeſtick Monarch of the world, with greateſt ſelf-abaſement.

That keepeth covenant and mercy] That he may at once both tremble before him and truſt upon Him: he deſcribeth God by his Goodnes, as well as by Greatnes; and ſo helpeth his own faith, by contemplating Gods faithfulneſſe and loving-kindneſſe. God hath hitherto kept Covenant with heaven and earth, with nights and days, Jer. 33.20, 25. that one ſhall ſucceed the other: and ſhall he break with his people? No verily. Be ſure to keep faith in heart, or you will pray but poorly. And for this, learn in the preface to your prayers to propound God to your ſelves in ſuch notions, and under ſuch tearms and titles as may moſt conduce thereunto; pleading the Covenant.

That love him and obſerve his Commandments] That love to be his ſervants: Eſay 56.6. that wait for his Law, Iſa. 42.4. that think upon his Commandments to do them. Pſal. 103.18.