Joy - Part 3

Today, I'll take a look at Psalms 51:7, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Hyssop is a plant that was often used in the Old Testament to dip in blood as part of the Jewish sacrifices. Interestingly, it was also used to paint blood on the doorways of the Israelites before the visit of the death angel and just before their escape from Egypt. These are such great pictures for the New Testament Christian. Hebrews 9 offers several verses that clarify the picture these Old Testament rituals paint for the New Testament believer:

Hebrews 9: 15-28: And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Again, those of us who have accepted Jesus' sacrifice for the punishment of our sin have so much in which to rejoice!

There is an important point to remember in our rejoicing. God does view us through the blood of Jesus as redeemed and holy, but let us be mindful of the importance of living holy lives. Though our standing in Christ is unmovable, our state in life is always changing. Simply stated, unconfessed sin will rob our joy. Ps 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." When our daily relationship with God is blocked -- stopped up as referenced in part 2 of the joy blogs -- we cannot possibly have joy.

One last thing to consider... If you are familiar with the Old Testament sacrificial system, and the care the priests took to cleanse themselves before entering into the Holy of Holies, you know how vital it was that their cleansing be carried out correctly. The priests would die immediately upon entering into the presence of God were they not properly cleansed. Friend, if you are a Christ-follower, the Bible says the presence of God dwells IN us. Let's ponder that today. Every day I deserve death as I am in the presence of the Holy God. Every day, His mercy and grace give me life! Am I careful to be clean in the presence of my Savior? Am I joyful at the gift of His great mercy? Thank you, Jesus!