𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐩?

I was reading my devotional today by Lysa Terkeurst – 𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.

I love how she breaksdown the Hyssop in the Bible. Why it’s used, and how it’s used. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7 ESV

The consequences of sin can be devastating. King David knew this truth firsthand.

Psalm 51 was written by David after he was confronted about an adulterous affair he had with a woman named Bathsheba.

David was horrified by just 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒎. There were consequences that could 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 be undone.

Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, was killed. And the baby Bathsheba had conceived with David (during the affair died.)

This man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) was utterly disappointed in himself, but he did exactly what we all need to do. He brought his sin and his pain to God. He invited hope into a situation he could have easily labeled hopeless. I believe God wants us to know today 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐.

Psalm 51 is such a beautiful example of a broken man in need of hope turning to God with confession, repentance, and in humility, asking for help. In Psalm 51:7, our key verse for today, David mentioned a very specific plant when he prayed, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (ESV).

The first time I read this I remember thinking whenever, the Bible mentions something specifically by name, like the hyssop here, it’s interesting to see why God so intentionally allowed that detail to be revealed. I wondered, Where else is hyssop specifically mentioned in Scripture? The answer was fascinating. Hyssop is a plant covered with beautiful purple flowers. And it shows up at some of the most profound moments throughout Bible history. It’s like a purple thread of hope woven throughout Scripture:

HYSSOP WAS THE PAINTBRUSH AT PASSOVER IN EXODUS 12:22.

In Exodus, we read about the problems placed on the children of Israel. Due to a chain of events set off by the jealousy of a few brothers (Genesis 27), the Israelites eventually ended up being held captive in Egypt. God sent Moses to ask Pharaoh to set His people free, but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Many plagues were then sent, but it wasn’t until God sent the plague of striking down the firstborn of both human and animal families that Pharaoh changed his mind.

But in order for God to pass over the firstborn of the children of Israel, He told them they must paint the doorframes of their homes with the blood of a lamb. And the tool He asked them to use was very specific—𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒑.

HYSSOP WAS THE PURIFICATION TOOL IN PSALM

David cried out to God and asked Him to use hyssop to 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒎.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐩?

A quick look at Leviticus 14 reveals hyssop was used for people with leprosy-those affected with a skin condition that caused them to be ostracized and placed outside of the city.

David was essentially someone needing to be cleansed.

Remember, 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑮𝒐𝒅. Just like people with infectious skin conditions were separated, 𝒔𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒏. 𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑜𝑑 when we live with an unrepentant heart.

David needed God to cleanse him from 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 and so do we. Which ties in with the last encounter with hyssop we’re going to talk about.

HYSSOP WAS PRESENT WHEN JESUS BECAME THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN JOHN 19:29.

If we turn over to John 19, we will see hyssop 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉.

As Jesus hung on the cross, He said He was thirsty. Then, in John 19:29, we’re told, “A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on 𝒂 𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒑 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉 and held it to his mouth” (ESV). Then He declared, “𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝,” and breathed His last breath (v. 30).

I love how hyssop weaves all of these moments together and points us straight to the hope we have in Jesus. Hyssop was there as the 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 at Passover. Hyssop was there as the 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 tool of David. And it was there when 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐛, providing the way for us to be cleansed and purified from all sin.

Oh, how I pray we will let this purple thread weave hope into our stories today. Jesus is the answer to the problems placed on us and the problems found within us. And when we know 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆, we can always see beautiful ahead of us.

Lysa’s Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we bring our every problem and need to You today, knowing You are the answer. Thank You for the hope we have in You because of the victory you won at the cross. In Jesus’ name, amen.

From “𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 – 𝐿𝑦𝑠𝑎 𝑇𝑒𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑡

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐩: 

1. Naturally rich in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds.
2. Traditionally valued for its cleansing and refreshing qualities.
3. A gentle herb that has been cherished throughout biblical times. 

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲?

-𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 & 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑:

Keep an association between the scent of hyssop and the nature of Christ’s sacrifice.

Let it draw your thoughts toward Him.

-𝑺𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆

Combine 2 drops hyssop + 1 tbsp clay + water for a pore-cleansing face mask.

-𝑨𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒚

Diffuse Hyssop for its bright and herbal aroma which supports clear breathing and mental alertness.

-𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

Adds a crisp, green accent to herbal and citrus blends.

What would the hyssop be used for in your life?