Let It Snow!

Purge me with hyssop, and  I

shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:6

I'm not sure, but for the many who have grown up in areas accustomed to snow, I can't help but wonder if a good snow doesn't take us back to those bygone days of childhood. I think I was about six years old and received the biggest shock in my life up to that point. Overnight, we had a huge snowfall. We lived in a house with a nice front porch but at the time, there were about 10 steps leading up to the porch. My mother had bundled me up with the galoshes, heavy coat with matching leggings, gloves and warm hat. She said she was getting my sled out of the garage to take me on a ride. I waited fairly near the bottom step, anticipating my ride on my sled. Suddenly, my mother stepped out on the porch, bundled up as well with sled in hand. Suddenly, in a funny, but loud voice, she called, “Look out below.” Much to my amazement as I looked toward the porch, there was my mother laying on her stomach on MY sled and down she came on those ice-covered steps. After a safe landing, she rolled off the sled, sat up and just began to throw snow all around her like she was a young girl again. I was one shocked little girl and even at that age, I must admit that I looked around to make sure no neighbors witnessed this spectacle.

Snow can be such a hazard but it can also be a lot of fun. As I got older, we had a certain hill near our house that all of the kids in the neighborhood gathered at on those days when snow was packed several inches on that street. We rode down Kolesar hill like there was no tomorrow. Sometimes my Dad would pull my sister and me on our sleds behind his car. He would drive very slow around a couple of nearby blocks. If anyone saw a parent doing that today, he would be reported to Child Protective Services but it sure was fun.

Psalm 51 is such a classic Psalm written by David. Talk about someone who had everything going for him...God's chosen servant, king, wealth, anything he wanted at his finger tips. In a moment of weakness, all he had amassed just wasn't enough and he fell into sin with a neighbor woman. He should have been with his army that had already gone to battle but he chose to stay home. He was in the wrong place...wrong time...and it got him into trouble. We all know the story of David's fall into deep sin but God didn't give up on David.

This is a psalm of repentance. There is hardly a piece of literature like it anywhere. In, day, it is rare to see a person who in such a public way, repents of sin and as king, David's repentance was obvious not only to God but also to his people as well.

Have you ever thought how white snow is? For a long time, I didn't realize that there are so many shades of white. Walk into a bridal salon and walk through the racks where so many beautiful dresses are hanging. It's easy to notice all the shades of white that are available to a bride. I would like to suggest, however, that I don't believe there is a white color whiter than snow. Wake up in the morning to a fresh, fallen snow where no one has walked on it and there hasn't been time for anything to mar the surface. Then, let the sunshine peek through for a few minutes, sunbeams that dance on that perfect surface and it is totally blinding. With bright sun on that brilliant, white surface, the human eye can't tolerate to look at it.

I think to the transfiguration with Jesus on that mount where Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, the white light almost blinding. Remember Paul on the road to Damascus, blinded by the bright light of Jesus' presence. Sun on snow must be something like that.

Look at some of the phrases David wrote in Psalm 51 and I wonder if you and I have ever experienced a repentance as deep and sincere as Davids:

Have mercy upon me, O God v1

Wash me v2

Create in me a clean heart v10

Renew a right spirit within me v10

Cast me not away from Thy presence v11

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation v12

There are times we are so busy keeping track of the sins of others, that we don't do anything about our own sin. I had to ask myself when the last time was that I went before the Lord seeking forgiveness for my sin and renewal of my spirit. Sometimes when I seek God's forgiveness, I don't take total, personal responsibility for my offenses toward Him. After all, aren't there people who cause us to sin....or....the devil made me do it? David knew his sin was his own with no one to blame but self.

The verse I love in this chapter though is where David pleads for God's cleansing. Verse 7 says: “ ...wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”    Only God can wash us so that we are whiter than snow and David knew that.  I just can't remember anything whiter than a sun drenched yard covered with new fallen snow......that's WHITE. God wants me to be just that clean and free of sin.  This thing of confession and repentance I'm afraid isn't as much a part of my spiritual practice as it ought to be. My personal prayer for this day is:

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole,

I want Thee forever to ransom my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.