>
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” – David (Psalm 51:7)
David sinned, a man died, and a woman lost her baby.
His request for forgiveness reflects something we sometimes forget – God doesn’t offer excuse but cleansing.
“Hyssop” is a small bush with a very specific use in the David’s day. It was used to sprinkle blood for cleansing. First used at the passover to put lamb’s blood on the door post, it continued to be used for sprinkling blood on lepers, various instruments for God’s service, and people – all with the idea of cleaning.
David wasn’t asking to be excused for his actions but to be cleansed.
Jesus is our sacrifice. Like the passover lamb, his blood is figuratively sprinkled on our lives to save us from eternal death and to cleanse us from our sins.
God offers not to excuse but to cleanse.
– fritz
