Psalms 51:15

15 Adonai, open my lips; then my mouth will 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 the wicked your ways, and sinners will return to you.

14 Rescue me from the guilt of shedding blood, God, God of my salvation! Then my tongue will sing about your righteousness

15 Adonai, open my lips; then my mouth will praise you.

16 For you don't want sacrifices, or I would give them; you don't take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God, you won't spurn a broken, chastened heart.