O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. Ps. 51:15.

Who would have thought that David, the man so highly favored of God, so wonderfully preserved, the man after God's own heart, should in an unguarded hour, be seduced, surprised, and led captive by the devil?

From gazing he proceeds to adultery, from adultery to murder, and from there to such a stupid frame of mind that an express message from God was needful to convince him of his sin.

From these few remarks, I must first consider the mournful case which too often happens in the Christian life and then the cure. The sad result is the believer's mouth is stopped; his lips are closed, so he can no longer shew forth the praises of God.

The backsliding believer who has formerly known the goodness of God: has rested in His love, and rejoiced in His salvation, has "tasted that the Lord is gracious," I Pe 2:3, and walked with comfort in the way of God's commandments.

He has now by some unguarded conduct grieved the Spirit of God, and He has withdrawn. Therefore, the backslider now sits in darkness and silence and can only sigh out this prayer, "O Lord, open thou my lips." "Alas!" says the believer that has sinned, "O that it was with me as in times past!" Job 29:2.

O what a change the believer has seen! He has grieved the good Spirit of God by which he was sealed. Now the Lord hides Himself and stands afar off, and he has lost the power of prayer.

Those precious promises which once were the joy of his soul have no longer any power or sweetness. He has lost the freedom in speaking with and about his lovely Lord.

Amen.