Nehemiah 1:5

“And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, etc.] 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…”

“1:5-11 Nehemiah’s prayer includes praise (1:5), confession (1:6-7), remembrance of God’s promises (1:8-9), and petition (1:10-11). Nehemiah recognized that Israel’s current situation was not a failure of God’s covenant of unfailing love. Israel’s persistent sin had brought about the punishments entailed in the covenant.”

“the great: Neh 4:14; Deu 7:21; Ch1 17:21; Psa 47:2; Dan. 9:4-19 keepeth: Exo 20:6; Deu 7:9; Kg1 8:23; Heb 6:13-18 Nehemiah 1:6”

“Nehemiah's prayer, as given in these verses, comprises the prayers which he prayed day and night, during the period of his mourning and fasting ( Neh 1:4 comp. Neh 1:6), to his faithful and covenant God, to obtain mercy for his people, and the divine blessing upon his project for their assistance. Neh 1:5 The invocation of Jahve as: Thou God of heaven, alludes to God's almighty government of the world, and the further predicates of God, to His covenant faithfulness. "Thou great and terrible God" recalls Deu 7:21, and "who keepest covenant and mercy," etc., Deu 7:9 and Exo 20:5-6. Neh 1:6 "Let Thine ear be attentive, and Thine eyes open," like Ch2 6:40; Ch2 7:15 \- לשׁמע, that Thou mayest…”