Psalms 51:15

15 Lord, let me speak so I may praise you.

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 do wrong, and sinners will turn back to you.
14 God, save me from the guilt of murder, God of my salvation, and I will sing about your goodness.
15 Lord, let me speak so I may praise you.
16 You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don't want burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.