Nehemiah 1:5

5 And I said, Nay, I pray thee, O Lord God of heaven, the mighty, the great and terrible, keeping thy covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to those that keep his commandments:

Nehemiah 1:5 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 1:5

And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven
He prayed not to the host of heaven, the sun in it, as the Persians, but to the God of it, in an humble supplicant manner:

the great and terrible God;
who is to be feared, and had in reverence of all his creatures, because of his greatness and glory, being God over all, blessed for ever, and his name holy and reverend:

that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him, and observe his
commandments;
who keep them from a principle of love to him; to those he has made gracious promises in his covenant, which he truly and faithfully performs; and the consideration of these perfections in God animates and encourages good men in prayer to him.

Nehemiah 1:5 In-Context

3 And they said to me, The remnant, those that are left of the captivity, there in the land, in great distress and reproach: and the walls of Jerusalem thrown down, and its gates are burnt with fire.

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, and continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5 And I said, Nay, I pray thee, O Lord God of heaven, the mighty, the great and terrible, keeping thy covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to those that keep his commandments:

6 let now thine ear be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, this day day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and make confession for the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and the house of my father have sinned.

7 We have altogether broken with thee, and we have not kept the commandments, and the ordinances, and the judgments, which thou didst command thy servant Moses.