Freedom Calls

In a world that often measures devotion by outward acts, Psalm 51:15-19 pulls us back to the eternal truth of what God truly seeks. David cries out,

“O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.”

These words echo through the ages, finding resonance in the writings of some of the most profound Christian thinkers. Let’s explore their insights alongside this timeless passage.

C.S. Lewis: The Heart’s Surrender

C.S. Lewis, in his book The Problem of Pain, reminds us that God is not impressed by our grand gestures if they lack sincerity: “We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us.” David’s plea in Psalm 51 aligns with this—God doesn’t want the hollow shell of a burnt offering; He wants the raw, honest offering of a heart laid bare. Lewis understood that true praise flows not from a polished exterior but from a soul that has been broken open before its Maker. When we stop pretending and surrender what we are, not what we wish to be, God meets us there.

Watchman Nee: The Spirit’s Work

Watchman Nee, in The Normal Christian Life, speaks to the inward reality of this sacrifice: “God will not let me have anything of my own; He strips me of everything that is not of Him.” The “broken spirit” David describes isn’t something we manufacture—it’s the result of God’s refining fire. Nee would argue that our lips can only show forth God’s praise when our self-reliance is shattered, leaving room for the Spirit to move. Psalm 51:17’s “contrite heart” is the soil where God plants His grace, and from it springs authentic worship that pleases Him.

John Bunyan: The Pilgrim’s Humility

John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, knew the weight of a burdened soul. He once wrote, “He that is down needs fear no fall; he that is low, no pride.” Bunyan’s Christian, weighed down by his sin, finds relief only at the cross—a picture of the brokenness David pleads for in Psalm 51. When David asks God to “do good in Your good pleasure to Zion” and “build the walls of Jerusalem,” he’s not bargaining with God through sacrifices; he’s trusting in God’s mercy alone. Bunyan’s life and writings testify that humility before God is the gateway to restoration.

Charles Spurgeon: The Joy of Accepted Offerings

Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” brings a note of triumph to this theme. In one of his sermons, he declares, “A broken heart is the sweetest incense that God smells in all His temple.” Spurgeon saw Psalm 51:19—“Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering”—as the fruit of a contrite heart. When we come to God broken, He doesn’t leave us there; He builds us up, making even our offerings acceptable. Spurgeon reminds us that God’s delight isn’t in the bulls on the altar but in the transformed hearts that offer them.

Confirmation in Scripture

David’s words in Psalm 51 are not an isolated cry—they ripple through God’s Word. Consider Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV): “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit.’” Or Jesus’ own teaching in Matthew 5:3 (NKJV): “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The sacrifice God desires—a broken and contrite heart—ushers us into His presence, where He restores and rebuilds.

A Final Reflection

Psalm 51:15-19 is a roadmap to true worship: it begins with a plea for God to open our lips and ends with the promise of offerings that please Him. Lewis, Nee, Bunyan, and Spurgeon each illuminate this journey—surrendering our pretense, embracing God’s refining work, walking humbly, and rejoicing in His acceptance. Today, let’s ask ourselves: Are we offering God what we think He wants, or what He truly desires?