Whiter Than Snow

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)

David had committed adultery with the wife of one of his bravest soldiers while the man was off in battle. When David discovered that she was pregnant he sent word to the battle field to have her husband come home, hoping the man would spend the night at home. He never went home. When David realized the attempt to cover his sin had failed, he had the husband killed. We find David’s prayer of confession in the fifty-first psalm.

The hyssop plant was used in the first Passover in Egypt. When the lamb was killed, the blood was drained into a bowl and the hyssop was dipped in the bowl of blood and then using the hyssop, was sprinkled over the door and on both side posts. Hyssop was used in other sacrifices in the same way. David was pleading the blood to cleanse his terrible sin.

The recent snow on the ground is glistening white, bright white. David said if he could be washed in the blood he would be whiter than snow. Look at the words of this old song.

Whiter Than Snow

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat;

I wait, blessed Lord, at thy crucified feet;

        By faith, for my cleansing I see Thy blood flow:

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

Chorus

Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow;

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