Psalm 51 #4

August 4, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

In Psalms 51, David pours out his heart in repentance. In verse seven, he asks God to do two things purge and wash. Let’s take a look at these requests. In Psalm 51:7, David begged, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” [ESV]

 

The idea of purge is a difficult one. Technically the Hebrew word translated here means “to miss.” Ironically this is what our word “sin” means. I think to get the right meaning we need to look at the whole image. The key to understanding this request is “hyssop.”

 

Hyssop is an edible plant in the mint family. Its oil smells like camphor. Traditionally, it has been used to treat a variety of ailments including breathing problems (webmd.com). It is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. It holds promise for all sorts of things like asthma, cancer, age related conditions, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. (Dan Brennann, MD, Nov. 9, 2020… webmd.com). It makes sense that this herb is used in Scripture for forgiveness and purifying.

 

In Exodus 12:22, hyssop is used as the brush to paint the blood of the Passover lamb on the lintel and doorposts. In Leviticus 14 it is used in the ceremonial cleansing of the leper and a house infected with mold. In Numbers 19 hyssop was used for the ceremonial cleansing of someone who has contacted a dead body. John 19 describes how the soldiers used of hyssop to offer Jesus sour wine (vinegar) at His crucifixion. Hebrews 9 reminds us that in instituting the new Jewish religion, Moses used hyssop to sprinkle people with blood and water. Hyssop seems to be a key image in initiating, protecting, and cleansing in David’s time.

 

Washing was done by trampling the garment. This is very similar to the action of the modern washing machine. Roughly 250 years later, the prophet Isaiah would use this image, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” [Isaiah 1:18 ESV] With so much red on our ledger, how can we become white as snow or like wool?

 

Maybe I’m taking the analogy to far, but snow is an ice crystal formed around a dirt particle. It’s like God is saying that He would build something spectacularly beautiful around the grim and garbage of life. Not that God hides our sins, rather transforms us despite the sin.

 

David continues, “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.” [Psalm 51:8 ESV]  It seems harsh to have the image of broken bones, but as a shepherd, David understands this image. A shepherd would break the leg of a sheep with the tendency to stray. When you see the image of a shepherd carrying a sheep, that’s why. Then again maybe that story is just antidotal, most likely a myth (sheep 101.info), but it fits the verse.

 

Or maybe what fits is, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” [Proverbs 17:22 ESV] When we are out of sync with God, we are out of sync with life. The pain feels like our bones are being broken, crushed and dried out.