O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Nathan's rebuke roused David from a spiritual torpor into which he had sunk for a long time. Seeing the magnitude of his guilt, he turns to God's infinite mercy as his only ground for hope, knowing he deserves multiplied condemnation and might justly be cast off forever.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 51:1-19
O Lord, open thou my lips. He is so afraid of himself that he commits his whole being to the divine care, and fears to speak till the Lord unstops his shame silenced mouth. How marvellously the Lord can open our lips, and what divine things can we poor simpletons pour forth under his inspiration!
David had hidden behind the excuse that he did not strike the blow himself, but now conscience cries out: he is the murderer. He hears the blood calling to God for vengeance and turns to plead for mercy. His tongue shall then sing loudly of God's righteousness, for that is the salvation the Lord brings, deliverance from sin itself.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 51:14-19