Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow – Psalm 51:7
Scripture reading: Psalm 51:7-9
David now stands in the right place. God ought to have destroyed him then and there. David has no defense. He sings and we ought to sing with him, “I have sinned, Lord, I am helpless, broken, and in pain! Cleanse me; I will be whiter than snow!” Have you ever been there? That place where the sense of sorrow and shame overcomes you so that it physically hurts? Then run to God the Father and cry out for cleansing.
Just a note about the hyssop. The hyssop branch was filled with many small branches and had leaves and was used in ceremonial cleansing. In Leviticus 14, we read that the priests used the hyssop to wash the cured lepers symbolically and from Numbers 19, to cleanse the repentant person who had touched or been near a dead body. With these words, we are asking, “Lord, I am a leper; my sin causes me to rot and decay, making me unclean. I cannot do anything about it. I need you to cleanse me! Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” Now we sing our confession of sin and faith in the grace and mercy of God!
Come now in Christ to receive forgiveness through faith in His purifying and cleansing blood that you may rejoice that all your sins are blotted out! Now, hear the joy!
Suggestions for prayer
Pray to repent, be washed, forgiven and to rejoice. Ask for faith to believe and comfort for your soul.
Rev. Al Bezuyen serves the Covenant Reformed Church of Toronto. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional.
