Psalms 51:15-17

Psalms 51:15-17. O Lord open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

What a sweet verse that is! Have you got a broken heart tonight, dear friend, and do you feel almost ashamed to bring it, because it is in such a broken condition? It is in the best possible condition. I have read accounts of meetings of God’s saints met by the ten days together, and talking all about great things that have been done for them and from the first to the last no indication of a broken heart or of a contrite spirit. I confess I could not understand it, and did not want to understand it. I would rather stand with the poor publican behind the door five minutes, and say, "God be merciful to me a sinner," than sit ten days with perfect brethren to magnify and glorify God about what I thought he had done for me, because I am persuaded that in the latter case I should be always in danger of magnifying myself, rather than God; whereas in the former case I should be near the truth, and near where I ought to be. Oh! keep you to this, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."