What does "open my lips" imply about our dependence on God for worship? The Verse in Focus Psalm 51:15: “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.” What “Open My Lips” Literally Communicates - David is not merely asking for courage; he is asking God to cause his mouth to function for praise. - The request treats God as the direct agent: if God does not act, true praise will not happen. - Scripture presents this as a factual, literal dependence, not a poetic exaggeration. Key Truths About Our Dependence on God for Worship • God is the Initiator - Isaiah 6:5-7: Isaiah cannot speak God’s praise until the seraph touches his lips with a live coal. - Luke 1:64: Zechariah’s “mouth was opened” by God, and he immediately blesses Him. - Worship begins when God enables the worshiper, underlining that praise originates with Him. • Human Inability Without Divine Help - Romans 3:10-14 details mouths “full of cursing and bitterness”; only God transforms speech for praise. - John 15:5: “Apart from Me you can do nothing,” including worship. • Humility and Confession - Psalm 51’s context is repentance; David admits he cannot even start praising without grace. - Genuine worship flows from brokenness, confessing total reliance on God’s cleansing work. • The Spirit’s Empowering Role - Ephesians 5:18-20 links being “filled with the Spirit” to “speaking to one another with psalms… singing and making melody.” - God’s Spirit literally “opens” lips by filling hearts with gratitude that overflows. • Continuous Need, Not One-Time Help - Psalm 34:1: “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.” Constant praise implies constant divine enabling. - Dependence is ongoing; every act of worship consciously leans on God’s daily mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23). Practical Implications for Worshipers - Approach worship acknowledging utter dependence on God’s grace to speak, sing, and serve. - Begin gatherings or personal devotions by echoing David’s plea, recognizing it as literal need. - Expect the Holy Spirit to supply words and attitudes that honor Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3). - Guard against self-reliance in worship planning or performance; effectiveness rests on God’s opening work. Summary Statement “Open my lips” teaches that every syllable of true praise is God-empowered; believers are entirely reliant on Him to worship acceptably, continually seeking His enabling to declare His glory. |
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