March 21, 2018 Wednesday

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” (Psalm 51:7-12 NKJV)

            David’s prayer is so amazing and shows such a familiarity of God’s presence and working in his life.  It seems as though this is a constant process David goes through that is fully expressed in his sin with Bathsheba. 

            Nathan calls David on his sin in a way that causes David to seem the destructive nature of that sin.  Indeed this could be when God broke is bones.

            Hyssop was used for medicinal as well as religious purposes.  It could be used to spray either blood or cleansing water on a congregation as a sign of God’s forgiveness .

            Washing was part of the ritual cleansing of the Jews to come into the presence of God.  The Church would use Baptism.

            The joy and gladness comes from a redeemed heart but it also is a reminder that heaven celebrates when a human being returns to God.

            After sin we need to be re-created as God gives us a new heart and conscience which allows the Holy Spirit to dwell with us!  This is so important that David expresses this as part of being cast from God’s presence.

            David expresses that the result of forgiveness is receiving the joy that comes with salvation and the support and help to like a new life from God.

            Have you felt the pain of your sin and the consequences like this?  Have you thought about the process of sin and forgiveness as David did?  Do you cry out for forgiveness and God’s presence?

            Today was not as bad but still worse than I used to be.  Maybe this is the new norm.  If so than Blessed be the Name of the Lord.  For God’s goodness is always with me.