7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:7-12
Recently, I found myself very frustrated. I was standing in my garage, broom in hand, sweeping what I thought was an already clean floor. When I sweep inside, I am usually able to get nearly ALL of the dirt, with so little left on the floor that it is barely noticeable. However, when I sweep the concrete of the garage, no amount of sweeping, blowing, or washing can ever seem to get it entirely and completely clean. In fact, the cleaner I get the garage, the more I see the “hidden” dirt that was under the work bench and the more I notice the ever-present cob-webs in the ceiling corners. There is always another layer of dust or dirt to sweep away.
I believe sin works in a similar way. We may work (by the power of the Holy Spirit, of course) to remove the biggest or worst layers of sin and filth in our lives, only to reveal that more sin is hiding underneath, in the crevices and hidden places of our lives. It’s a great thing to remove the biggest dirt, but our lives are never fully clean, no matter how hard we work or how much we try.
Only God can give us a clean heart. When experiencing and feeling the burden of his Sin, King David prays in Psalm 51 for God to grant him a clean heart, for God to wash him and make him clean.
God can and does make us clean, no matter how many layers of dirt and grime you have built up in your life. God does the impossible – he makes even our dirty garages (lives) clean. However, he does not use a broom, a rag, or any special cleaners. God washes us clean by the blood of His Son, Jesus. May we ever cling to Him and ask with David for clean hearts, right spirits, and the joy of the salvation that only God can provide!
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Amen. – Psalm 51:10-12
Written By: Pastor Koenig