Go Wash Again

Wash me and I shall be
whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7

I can remember really struggling with the hand washing before a meal when I was about it. It really came to a crisis point then. Mother would tell me to wash my hands which I did. However, upon checking, she was clean hands...at least on one side. I then had to go wash again so that both sides of my hands were clean. She could also tell if I had used soap by looking at the towel on the rack. If I hadn't used soap, the towel revealed where the dirt on my hands had gone.

Since that time, I've learned the importance of clean hands. Working in a hospital and doctor's office taught me that I would have to wash my hands what seemed like every ten minutes. As hard as we may try though, our newly washed hands don't stay that way. We have to wash them consistently to keep them clean and even then, we can never wash them to where they are totally germ free.

We are all very well acquainted with David, the second king of Israel. He had everything going for him, we know the unfortunate events that occurred in his life, much of his own making. Through a long sage of events and heartaches, David managed to survive even when God's prophet called him out regarding his sin. Rather than rationalizing and making excuses, David went before God in true repentance. We get just a glimpse of David's sorrow over his with Bathsheba. For instance, David cries out to God:

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. (v 2)

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow. (v 7)

I don't get the impression from David in his prayer that he thought just one side of his sin would be cleansed or any of it left on a towel. I get the impression that the cleansing God does is thorough, even to the point of a clean that is whiter than snow. How can anything be whiter than snow, but God can do anything.

Jesus did a lot of washing that we can list here. He put clay on the blind eyes of a man and told him to go wash it off. When the man did, he found he had perfect vision for the first time in his life. He also chose during that eventful Passover meal with his disciples, to wash the feet of the disciples. Culturally during that time, even slaves weren't required to wash the dirty feet of anyone. Jesus chose to do this task. Probably the disciples' feet had already been washed as they entered the room but now, Jesus chose to wash their feet. It would appear that the washing wasn't so much for the purpose of cleaning dirty feet but was more symbolic of being a servant.

Paul spoke of washing as he wrote to the Corinthian church. At one point, he spoke why the unrighteous won't inherit the kingdom of God. In I Corinthians 6:11, he wrote:

And such were some of you: but ye are
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.

Notice that washing is listed first. The sin problem has to be taken care of or there can be no sanctification or justification. Washing of one's sin is just that important.

Paul also wrote to the Ephesians with regard to washing. He spoke of how husbands are love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it...

That He might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water by the word. (5:26)

Recently heard something interesting I don't think I'll ever forget. Brian and I were in a conference where Michael Card, the composer (El Shaddai) and in-depth Bible teacher was speaking. He turned to a portion of Scripture and asked us to not turn to it with him. As I recall, it was a lengthier portion of Scripture. As he said we didn't have to turn to it, he said:

“Let me wash you with the Word.” I had already turned to the Scripture and had it on my lap but found myself relaxing and taking in that Scripture like I've not done before when hearing Scripture read. “Let me wash you with the Word”...I think even when we sit with our Bibles open in the privacy of our own special sitting spot, I believe that statement is at the heart of what the Holy Spirit wants to do with His Word in us.

How is all of this possible? Read with me Revelation 1:5:

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead, and the
prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him
that loved us, and washed us from our
sins in His own blood....

All is made possible through Jesus, His dying for us, raising from the dead in victory and providing us with victory in our lives through His washing us and cleaning us up.

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.

AMEN