Pin It Now!
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7
Today's verse is actually a part of the prayer of repentance by King David. Click here to read the entire prayer.
As you can see, these are not empty words or words of guilt alone; these are sincere statements made by a repenting heart with a crushed spirit. He was not trying to elude from God's presence like Adam had once done. He came begging and crying back to God repenting for his sin. In verse 4 he says, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight". We can sense his agony here, his total surrender, his complete acceptance of what he had done was wrong.
As he was praying such he also asks to be cleaned by hyssop which is our discussion today.
What is hyssop?
Hyssop is a herb that was commonly used by the Israelites during their ceremonial cleansing and sprinkling. It is an emblem of purification process, purification from sin, purification from leprosy and the like.
Deep cleaning
David understood his heart needed a thorough cleaning with such importance as that of a ceremonial cleansing and so he requests thus. Let us pause right there. We too need such a cleansing. Many times we have taken things for granted and have valued ourselves a little too high. Let us open it all up today, let us come clean revealing the darkest deepest parts of our inmost being and make sure they are cleansed white as snow.
All we need to do is to ask. Happy cleansing to us all!
Today's verse is actually a part of the prayer of repentance by King David. Click here to read the entire prayer.
As you can see, these are not empty words or words of guilt alone; these are sincere statements made by a repenting heart with a crushed spirit. He was not trying to elude from God's presence like Adam had once done. He came begging and crying back to God repenting for his sin. In verse 4 he says, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight". We can sense his agony here, his total surrender, his complete acceptance of what he had done was wrong.
As he was praying such he also asks to be cleaned by hyssop which is our discussion today.
What is hyssop?
Hyssop is a herb that was commonly used by the Israelites during their ceremonial cleansing and sprinkling. It is an emblem of purification process, purification from sin, purification from leprosy and the like.
Deep cleaning
David understood his heart needed a thorough cleaning with such importance as that of a ceremonial cleansing and so he requests thus. Let us pause right there. We too need such a cleansing. Many times we have taken things for granted and have valued ourselves a little too high. Let us open it all up today, let us come clean revealing the darkest deepest parts of our inmost being and make sure they are cleansed white as snow.
All we need to do is to ask. Happy cleansing to us all!
For a more in depth discussion on the topic of hyssop, "it is finished" and the passover, I strongly recommend listending or reading the book, "The 4th Cup" by Scott Hahn. You will be surprised of the historical significance of everything that was done...starting at the last supper.
You can listen to a podcast at this link: http://catholicmentoday.org/2009/01/07/the-fourth-cup-by-dr-scott-hahn.aspx