TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7 NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• When you read this verse from Psalm 51, have you ever wondered, “What is hyssop? Why did David ask to be purged with it?” I am proud of myself for knowing it’s a plant, especially given my tendency to kill vegetation and flora.
Hyssop is a common, sturdy plant in the Middle East, used as a paintbrush when the Israelites painted their door with blood for the Passover, as well as for purification ceremonies as outlined in Leviticus. Even the drink that the Romans offered Jesus on the cross was offered on a stalk of hyssop. There were practical purposes to the use of the plant, but there is also some significance.
The hyssop’s frequent use and purpose in Scripture demonstrates a purity associated with it. So when David prayed, “Purge me with hyssop,” it was a prayer for purification. He had sinned with Bathsheba and was remorseful and repentant. The hyssop of course, doesn’t do the cleaning, but it is symbolic.
Every time it is used in Scripture, there’s blood involved. Hyssop painted blood on the doors for the Israelites. The ceremonial cleansing of mold and skin diseases in Leviticus involved hyssop dipped in sacrificial blood. And even when Jesus was offered wine on a stalk of hyssop, he was bleeding for the sins of the world.
David’s prayer to be cleaned with hyssop is also a cry for the cleansing that comes from sacrificial blood. It’s a prayer we can all relate to…. The need to be made clean and whole. And we also know from Scripture — that God wants to clean us. All we need to do is repent.
And thanks to Jesus, we have the perfect, sacrificial blood that will cover all our sins.
In 1 John 1:7, we’re reminded, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Then, Revelation 1:5 says of Jesus, “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
David knew he needed atonement through blood and so do we. The blood of Jesus that was shed for you and me enables us to claim forgiveness and the clean heart and purification for which David pleaded.
Today, as you pray, pray David’s prayer too and ask to be made clean. Hopefully, you already know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but if you don’t — please ask Him into your heart. Give your life to Him and repent of your sins. Let Him make you clean. Time is short. We are seeing Biblical prophecy play out before our very eyes. There is no better time than right now to ask Jesus into your heart.
And for those of us who have accepted Him, we must keep our hearts pure. We must confess and repent of our sins too in order to restore our fellowship with God. Pray for Him to purge you too with hyssop and be made clean by the blood of the Lamb.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
