I shall be whiter than snow

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” Psalm 51:3

I feel like this is the one verse in Psalm 51 that I most relate to, especially in the last several weeks. My mind so often wanders to all the sins I have committed and all the nastiness in my flesh. However, as is true in most cases, it's a bad idea to take this verse by itself. All of Psalm 51 is excellent, but here are a few of the verses that stick out the most to me:

“Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

Perhaps it would be helpful to keep in mind as we read these verses that God answers prayers that are according to His will. And the purification of His children is certainly according to God's will. So, as I cry out to the Lord, I am assured that He will indeed purify me. He will indeed wash me. And I will be clean. I will be whiter than snow.

“Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which You have broken rejoice.” Psalm 51:8

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:2

About a month ago, the Lord revealed a ton of sin and ways I have been walking according to the flesh. This conviction led to brokenness. And that is good. However it has also led to a lot of condemnation which is not good (check out Romans 8:1, it's good news). So, brokenness good, condemnation bad. We'll come back to condemnation. As I cry out to the Lord to purify me, to wash me, to create in me a clean heart, I can also ask Him to make the bones which He has broken rejoice. Because this brokenness, while painful, is excellent because it shows me that in my flesh no good thing dwells (Romans 7:18). It brings me to Galatians 2:20. It brings me to complete and utter dependence upon Christ for everything. Not a single bit of goodness can come from my flesh. The only good thing in me is Jesus Christ.

As I have struggled with condemnation, the Lord has led me to Romans 8:2. It is the law of the Spirit of LIFE in Christ Jesus that has set us free from the law of sin and of death. As I meditated on this verse, the Lord brought me to John 8:1-11, the story of a woman caught in adultery. This woman was guilty and she knew it. She deserved to die and she knew it. I can just imagine the weight of the law of sin and death that weighed upon her. She was literally about to be stoned. But Jesus set her free. I often feel that weight of the law of sin and death. You know, you sin you deserve death. I know that I have sinned, and I know that I deserve to die. So as I continue to see sin in my life, even though I know the price has been paid by Christ, I still feel like I should die. But as with the woman caught in adultery, I have been set free. I am no longer bound by the law of sin and of death. Instead, I am bound by the law of the Spirit of life.