John Trapp on Nehemiah 9:3

Verſe 3. And they ſtood up in their place] The people ſtood for reverence-ſake to the Word read (ſee chap. 8.5.) Or the Miniſters ſtood up in their Pulpits, where they repreſent God himſelf as his Embaſſadours; and ſhould therefore lay down all ſelf-reſpects and aimes at the Pulpit doore;Oecolamp. and be fully of his minde, who ſaid, I would not be found ſpeaking or doing ought that I thought Chriſt would not approve of, if he were corporally preſent.

And read in the book] Giving the ſenſe of that they read; and applying it cloſe to mens conſciences. This was preaching indeed: for as every ſound is not muſick; ſo neither is every Pulpit-diſcourſe, Preaching. Cura Paſtoralis eſt ars artium & ſcientia ſcientiarum, ſaith one, It is a matter of great skill to divide the word aright. See chap. 8.8.

One fourth part of the day] i. e. for three hours: from nine a clock to twelve. This warranteth our preaching Faſt-Sermons; though prayer be the chief buſineſſe of ſuch a day. See Jer. 36.6, 7.

And another fourth part] Sc. From twelve to three: thus beſides the ordinary morning and evening ſacrifices, they divided the day betwixt Preaching and Prayer, as thoſe did, Acts 6.4. And as the Prieſts of old taught Jacob Gods judgements, and put incenſe before the Lord, Deut. 33.10. The Jewes at this day boaſt that they divide the day (even the working-day) into three parts: the firſt ad Tephillah they ſpend in Prayer; the ſecond ad Torah, in reading the Law; the third ad Malachah, in their worldly buſineſſe. But you are not bound herein to beleeve them.

They confeſſed] Not without ſupplication for pardon, and power to do better.

And worſhipped the Lord their God] Inwardly and outwardly, giving him his due glory, and reſting upon him by a lively faith in the gracious promiſes: being fully perſwaded of this, that together with the forgiveneſſe of ſinne they ſhould have thoſe particular bleſſings which they ſued for, ſo farre as might ſtand with Gods glory, and the good of their ſouls.