“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.”

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These are powerful words that King David wrote in desperation.

Psalm 51 is a famous psalm, written by David after he was confronted for his sin of the rape of Bathsheba and murder of Uriah.

It is a hail mary attempt to receive forgiveness, because the penalty for these sins are death. There is no sacrifice under the Law for the forgiveness of these sins.

David comes to God and repents of His sin in therese verses 7 and 8.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

God and God alone can purify us, and when He does purify us we are truly pure. We are truly cleaned.

We have the luxury of being on this side of the cross, where this prayer is heard and answered by God, guaranteed by the blood of Christ.

Repentance is often thought of as something that is grueling and hard to do.

We’re scared to repent and bring our sin to God, but this sureness of forgiveness should change our tune.

“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.”

Even in the midst of the consequences of our sin, and discipline we may face, we ask God to give us joy and cause to worship.

Repentance restores our relationship with our Lord, which should be our highest joy.

Coming to God in repentance is not to be a grueling and fearful thing. It is a joyful thing as we bring our burdened heart to the feet of Christ, and receive forgiveness.

Find the joy in repentance in your life.

Grace and peace.

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