Psalms 51:15

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell about your praise.

Psalms 51:15 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 51:15

O Lord, open thou my lips
The Targum adds, "in the late"; which were shut with a sense of sin, with shame of it, and sorrow for it; and though they were in some measure opened in prayer to God for the forgiveness of it, as appears by various petitions in this psalm, yet he still wanted a free spirit and boldness at the throne of grace, which the believer has when his heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience by the blood of Christ; and especially his lips were shut as to praise and thanksgiving; the guilt of sin had sealed up his lips, that he could not sing the praises of God as he had formerly done; and only a discovery of pardoning grace could open them, and for this he prays:

and my mouth shall show forth thy praise:
the praise of his mercy, grace, goodness, truth, and faithfulness, in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; see ( Psalms 103:1-3 ) .

Psalms 51:15 In-Context

13 [Then] I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you.
14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, my savior. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness!
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell about your praise.
16 You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one [to you]. You are not pleased with burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.
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