Cleansing by the Appointed Means

In this part of the sermon: Martin addresses the repetition of David's plea from Psalm 51:2 in verse 7, arguing that not all repetition in prayer is vain. He distinguishes between heathen repetitions for…

Martin uses the example of Roman Catholics saying 'Hail Marys' to accumulate merit, contrasting it with sincere, heartfelt repetition in prayer that is pleasing to God.

Our Lord said in Matthew chapter 6, Use not vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. You see, they repeat their prayers like the Roman Catholics do, with the thought that so many prayers, well that piles up so much weight, in the balances of obtaining the blessing of God. The more prayers, the more blessing. They think they shall be heard for their much speaking.

4:03 - 4:30 Read in full sermon

The point: When you come to confess, never feel condemned that confessing things you've already confessed, or pleading for things you've already pled for, is vain repetition.

The ceaseless, repetitive praise of the seraphim in heaven is used to illustrate that repetition born from constant engagement with God's glory is not vain but pleasing to Him.

That's wonderful repetition. In fact, that's repetition that's pleasing to God. That's akin to the repetitious praise of the seraphim who cry one to another day and night. What do they cry?

5:39 - 5:51 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first couplet, 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean,' is analyzed. Martin explains the historical use of hyssop in Old Testament cleansing rituals (Passover, covenant…

The historical account of the Passover, where hyssop was used to sprinkle atoning blood on doorposts, is used to show hyssop as an instrument of protection from God's judgment.

Exodus 21, I'm sorry, Exodus 12, verses 21 and 22. Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover, and ye shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin, and none of you shall go out at the door of this house until the morning. Hyssop here, in its first usage, was the instrument by which the atoning blood was sprinkled upon the doorposts so that when the death angel came, you remember the ...

9:29 - 10:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Purify me by the appointed means. This is the core of David's prayer.

The Old Testament ritual for cleansing a leper, involving two birds, blood, water, and hyssop, is used as a type to explain David's prayer for ceremonial and spiritual cleansing from sin.

This was a holy God entering into covenant with a sinful people, just as it was a holy God passing over sinful people and God is propitious, God is merciful toward His people on the basis of blood, but blood in both cases that was applied with hyssop. It was the instrument of the sprinkling of the blood of atonement. And then you have the passage in Leviticus 14 concerning the cleansing of the leper where hyssop is mentioned again. There were the two birds, the one bird was slain over running water and then the other bird that was taken and dipped into the combination of blood and water and se...

12:02 - 13:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second couplet, 'Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,' is examined. Martin distinguishes between two Hebrew words for 'wash,' highlighting that David uses the word…

The analogy of oriental women washing clothes by pounding them in a stream is used to explain the Hebrew word for 'wash' (kabash), signifying a thorough, permeating cleansing, not just a surface wash.

longer condemns me a conscience that no longer hounds me I'll be able to come into the presence of God with delight and with devotion followed with a triumphant affirmation now notice the second couplet and first of all you have another petition having prayed purify me with hyssop he now cries wash me and I shall be whiter than snow now what did David mean one word means to simply cleanse the surface of a thing or a person when they washed the pots and pans and basins that were used in the worship of the Lord that word is used when Naaman was told to go wash in the Jordan River seven times and...

20:54 - 22:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: David's affirmation 'whiter than snow' is presented as a pinnacle of faith, surpassing even Isaiah's poetic language. Martin discusses the joining of blood (hyssop) and water…

Martin describes his commentators as 'broken reeds' when they failed to provide sufficient insight into the symbolism of water in cleansing, illustrating his personal struggle for understanding.

And as you read through all of the types and symbols, God is declaring that His work of purification is by blood, and by water. And all that which is symbolized, or what is symbolized fully in the water, I confess, that I don't have all the light I wish I had. And this is one point where the commentators disappointed me. They were like that broken reed that you read about in the Proverbs.

28:24 - 28:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Confess your sin to God, crying out 'Purge me with hyssop,' and cleanse me by the blood of Christ, again.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about finding comfort and scriptural validation in McIntyre's book, which affirmed that re-confessing past sins is not unbelief but a scriptural practice, like David's prayer.

As an old man, David looks back and says, Remember not against me the sins of my youth. He lets his confession go all the way back to his young days. If you found that in your experience, I'll never forget the comfort that came to me when I was reading McIntyre's book on the hidden life of prayer, on the section on confession. And he was dealing with the fact that it's scriptural to go back over some ground that you've already covered.

33:44 - 34:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine whether you have known at least something of the realized presence of God in the past week, and if not, consider the role of unconfessed sin.

The experience of 'realized fellowship, friendship, and communication' with one's spouse is used as an analogy to help the audience understand what 'realized communion with God' feels like.

Well, let me ask another question. Have you known what it is to have something of the realized fellowship, friendship and communication of your wife? I don't see any of you that look quite as beat out as you often look if you had a whole week in the office with each other. You all look pretty lovey-dovey, you husbands and wives.

38:31 - 38:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Overcome the human heart's tendency to build up its own merit and trust solely in the blood of Christ for cleansing.

Martin hesitantly quotes Luther's phrase 'sin boldly' (or a similar sentiment) to illustrate the radical nature of trusting in Christ's blood alone for forgiveness, even when it sounds heretical if taken out of context.

But I'll tell you what I thought I might say. Luther, you're not a child of God. You're not a child of God. You're not a child of God.

47:06 - 47:11 Read in full sermon