GRACE GAZETTE
Volume VIIIssue 13
Published occasionally for Zion’s mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

HYSSOP

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7

Men are quite amazed when looking into the vastness of the heavens and trying to comprehend the immeasurable distances that have been brought closer by the Hubble Telescope. There are many who think that man in his "infinite" wisdom and knowledge must keep probing ever farther into outer space in order to keep making discoveries. The implication is that he has already uncovered all of the greatly significant mysteries on this earth in which we dwell and so now he turns his attention heavenward.

Such is the pride of man that it is difficult for him to agree with Solomon, "Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us." (Ecc 1:10) Man in his natural state is lifted up with a sense of his own (as he sees it) intrinsic worth to the human race and to the world in general and cannot at all think that everything about his existence is vanity. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." (Ecc 1:2)

So on he goes "discovering" this and that mystery and seeking to overturn rocks that as of yet lay undisturbed, thinking that he has exhausted the well of knowledge which is at his fingertips. He has little time for the consideration of the mundane preferring to focus on the "big" picture which must (he assumes) contain the more important truths.

Man is easily impressed by those things which are bigger and better and is seldom satisfied with "small" when he can have "super king size". Yet the LORD has plainly revealed man's folly in despising the day of small things. (see Zech.4:10; I Kings 19:10-12) Nothing in GOD's creation can be considered "insignificant" for all things have a purpose and were created and directed by HIM to fulfill the exact design which HE intends. There is great wonder and amazement at the selection and function of those things which GOD is pleased to bring forth. HIS attention to detail reminds us that HE overlooks nothing but sees all. Even to remind us that every idle word spoken by men must be accounted for. (see Mat. 12:36)

The hyssop plant is a good example of GOD's design and use of something that to men is but a useless weed. The first mention of the hyssop plant is found in Exodus 12:22 where the LORD directed the children of Israel to use it to apply the blood to the doorposts and lintels of their dwellings so that the death angel might "passover" them. What folly would have been wrought in Israel had they disregarded HIS directions and used some other device to apply this blood. Even as Saul disregarded the plain command of the LORD, (see I Sam. 15:3-12) because he thought he had a better plan. Or as Moses when he struck the rock rather than speaking to it as the LORD had said. (see Num.20:8-12) For this transgression he was not allowed to enter the promised land.

Surely, in the thinking of men, GOD should have selected a more stately plant for this august ceremony (applying the blood) than a weed which was found growing in a crack in the wall. (see I Kings 4:33) Why it was not even cultivated and groomed by the hands of men! It had no particular beauty or special fragrance that would have made it appealing to them. It was simply that which was designed by GOD for this solemn use, and nothing else would do.

In this Hyssop plant we can clearly see CHRIST and the establishment of HIS kingdom in the earth, for:

HE has no appeal to the flesh. "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." (Isa 53:2) Though religious men often speak HIS name, even calling HIM, Lord on occasion, (see Mat.7:21) yet only those who have been taught by the SPIRIT as to who HE really is shall willingly embrace HIM and declare HIM to be the one true and living GOD and source of all righteousness. "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1Cor 12:3) While religious men may speak HIS name and choose to follow HIM in a convenient way, those who are led by HIS SPIRIT can do nothing less than cling to HIM as their only HOPE. "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."(John 6:68)

HIS kingdom is not of this world. "But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Heb 9:11-12) The people of GOD look for no satisfaction in this world, for they confess that they are"strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Heb 11:13) and that they look "for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Heb 11:10)

HIS shed blood is the foundation of his people's hope. "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." (Heb 9:19-24) "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God." (Heb 10:9-12)

The benefits which HE purchased for HIS people are applied by the same hand that bled. The hyssop plant was to be used at the passover to apply the blood of a lamb. But our LAMB is not only the SUPPLIER of righteousness for HIS people but is the APPLIER of it as well. HE has not imputed sin to those whose sins are covered in HIS blood. HE has applied HIS righteousness to them and shall present them faultless before HIS FATHER.

Yet HE also applies this blood to their heart and conscience as HE is pleased to give them faith to believe what HE has done for HIS own. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb 10:16-22) LORD, purge me with HYSSOP and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

mam