Cleanse Me With Hyssop (W.o.W. Rewind)

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

Hyssop was a type of plant that God’s people used for ceremonial cleansing. We think it grew in leafy or spriggy bunches allowing Israel to use it almost like a paintbrush. This is the plant they used to paint the blood on their doorposts in Egypt when God struck down the firstborn. But, more to the point, they also used hyssop in purification ceremonies. You can read about this in Numbers 19 or Leviticus 14. But basically, if a person had an infectious skin disease or if they had touched a dead body, then they were declared unclean. They were cut off from the people and the sanctuary of God. And before they could return, they had to be cleansed. The cleansing ceremony involved dipping a bunch of hyssop into water mixed with either sacrificial blood or ashes and then sprinkling it on the person.

Most of us read right over “cleanse me with hyssop” in Psalm 51:7 without giving it a second thought. But when you know this background, you realize that this is a powerful image. David is saying, “I feel unclean. I’m unworthy to come before you, Lord. I’m as polluted as someone who has touched a dead body or who has leprosy. Make me clean again, Father, so I can enter Your presence!”

This is a powerful reminder that sin has consequences. It threatens your intimacy with God. David understood this. In verse 11 he asks God, “Don’t cast me out of your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” This is a reference to King Saul, whose sin resulted in him being rejected as king and losing the Spirit’s anointing. David doesn’t want the same thing to happen to him, but he fears it will... because of his sin. 

Even after you are saved, your sin matters! Your spot in heaven may be secure but your intimacy with God must be maintained. Sin separates you from God. It stuffs cotton in your ears and makes it difficult for you to hear His voice. It smears mud on your eyes and makes it hard for you to see His glory. It turns your heart of flesh into a heart of stone so that you are no longer drawn to love the things of God. And it offends God and makes Him want to move away from you. 

Some of you are like David today. You know that you have rebelled against God's commands and sinned against the Lord. You are unclean; and your relationship with God has been affected. Pray the words of David from Psalm 51:7 today. ASk God to cleanse you with hyssop, then you will be whiter than snow.

For further reading...

• Psalm 51- Read all of this confession psalm to learn more about sin and forgiveness.

God is Still Calling

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:1–3

When God first began to call a people for His name, He didn’t start with an existing nation or people group. No. He began with one man (likely a pagan) named Abram. God called Abram to leave his country, his people, and his extended family to go to a land God would show him. Why? Because God had a special plan for his life. 

To that end God makes Abram certain promises in the passage above:

1. God will make Abram into a great nation.

2. God will make Abram’s name great.

3. God will bless those who bless Abram and curse those who curse him.

4. All peoples on earth will be blessed through Abram.

Those are some pretty big promises! And a little later in verse seven of the same chapter God adds another. "The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” (Genesis 12:7)

5. God will give the Land of Canaan to Abram’s offspring.

God gave all these promises to Abram and his wife Sarai. And He called them to step out in faith, follow Him and trust Him to keep His Word.

Do you know that God works the same way today? Even now, He’s calling people to step out in faith, to believe His promises, and to obey Him. Is the Lord calling you? 

Have you heard Him calling you to salvation? Have you heard Him calling you to ministry or some other great faith adventure? If so, step out in faith like Abram did. Obey God and see what He will do.

You Have An Enemy

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1

Genesis 3 never directly identifies this serpent as Satan, but we have every reason to believe that’s exactly who it was. First, the fact that this snake talks suggests that there is some spiritual being operating behind the scenes. And it begs the questions “Who could that be?” As we read the rest of the Bible, we find that there is a spiritual being who opposes God, deceives His people and tempts them to sin. He is called Satan. The conduct of this serpent in Genesis 3 is perfectly in keeping with what we know of him. 

Second, several New Testament passages seem to identify Satan with this serpent. Revelation 12:9, for example, describes Satan as, “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” So, I think we have every reason to believe this serpent was Satan.

And that's important, because if this serpent was Satan... then he's still around. And that means that this passage serves as a warning for you and I still today. 

Genesis 3 is the first passage in all of Scripture that reveals to us that we have an enemy… someone who is actively working to separate us from God, to draw us into sin and destroy us. It’s important that you don’t forget that. It’s pretty easy for a snake to hide in the grass and wait to strike when you don’t know he’s there, but the Fall teaches us that he is there and it warns us to be careful.

This same warning is echoed throughout the Bible in passages like 1 Peter 5:8.

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Are you aware today that you have an Enemy? There is an intelligent and powerful being who is trying to deceive and tempt you… who is working to lure you into sin so he can destroy you. You are under attack! Beware! Be careful! Don’t allow yourself to be deceived like Adam and Eve were.

Creation is Revelation

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

This is how the Bible begins… with a simple but bold declaration that God created all that exists. But does the Doctrin of Creation really matter?

As it turns out... it really does. There are many ways in which Creation sets the stage for the rest of the biblical story, but one of the most important ways it does this is by giving us our first revelation of who God is. Creation reveals quite a bit about God to us!

First, it reveals that God is powerful. Genesis 1 tells us that God spoke creation into existence. He created by His Word. God simply said “Let there be light," and there was light. He said, "Let dry ground appear.” And it did appear! And God did the same with the sun, the moon, the stars, the plants and the animals. He simply spoke them into existence. That’s power!

Second, creation reveals God’s glory to us. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” In the same way that the moon has no light of its own but only reflects the glory of the sun, creation itself is only glorious because it reflects the glory of God. The evidence of God’s glory is all around you!

Third, creation reveals God's goodness. God didn’t have to make food taste good. He didn’t have to create beauty. He didn’t have to give us the ability to feel happiness or joy or pleasure... but He did.

Fourth, and finally, creation shows God’s wisdom. Who but God could have designed the eye? Who but God could have set the planets on their courses through the heavens? Who but God could have set the tides and currents in motion? There is such order and such wisdom to creation that God’s wisdom is unassailable.

I could go on. Creation reveals even more than this about God’s nature. But for now let me ask... when was the last time you looked up at a clear sky or out over a planted field and glorified God? Your worship shouldn’t be contained to the church sanctuary. If you will only open your eyes, you’ll find that there are more than enough reasons to praise God all around you. Don’t let all that creation reveals to us about who God is go to waste. Take it in and worship the Lord.