Psalm 51:15 O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise. I. THE FACULTY OF SPEECH, AND THE POWER OF EMPLOYING IT TO ITS RIGHT END, ARE THE GIFTS OF GOD. Is there anything among the abounding proofs of the fallen state of man more conclusive than the virtual declaration of practical infidelity everywhere to be heard — "Our lips are our own, who is Lord over us"? What is the general tenor of conversation among those who bear the Christian name, and who, in church, offer with their lips the psalmist's prayer — "O Lord, open Thou my lips"? "Is it in unison with the prayer they use; or rather, does it not discover a state of the affections diametrically opposed to the spiritual desires and devout aspirations breathed in the Liturgy in which they orally join? II. THE POWER OF EMPLOYING THE FACULTY OF SPEECH TO ITS RIGHT END, IS LOST TO FALLEN CREATURES, AND GOD ONLY CAN RENEW IT. The torpor, the pride, and the enmity of the human heart, in its unregenerated state, preclude the possibility of that devotion of the lips to the service of God, the restoration of which the penitent suppliant implored in the words of our text, But there is also a cause of sinful silence which continues to be operative after that the torpor of indifference has given place to spiritual sensibility. This cause is guilt — a consciousness of native and actual sin. The employment of the lips in praise must depend, therefore, on our apprehension of that atonement which alone can remove guilt from the conscience. "The Ephphatha" of a revealed Saviour is essential to the utterance of praise. Conviction of sin, and conversion to God, are the work of His Spirit; and these are necessary to the production of a grateful heart and its utterance in the new song of praise. III. THE RENEWAL OF THIS POWER OUGHT TO BE THE SUBJECT OF EARNEST PRAYER TO EVERY FALLEN CREATURE, AND IS SO TO EVERY PENITENT SINNER. Whatever may be the advancement made in knowledge and grace, all believers feel a remaining impediment in the spiritual faculty of speech, and long and wait for its removal. Our hearts are often dull and stupid, and never so grateful as we know they ought, and as we wish them to be. Sometimes a worldly spirit, and sometimes a sense of guilt, disqualifies us for the celebration of the praise which is due to our redeeming God. Our lips are too often closed again, after they have been once opened; and a repetition of the miracle of touching our tongue afresh with the finger of almighty love is as necessary as it was at first. The live coal, taken from the altar, must be continually laid on the mouth, in order that the lips may show forth the praise of Him who is the Lord of Hosts, the King of Glory. (T. Biddulph, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.WEB: Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise. |
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