WHITER THAN SNOW

WHITER THAN SNOW

Psa. 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Today is a strange day, we are actually at home anticipating a winter storm in New Orleans. I can’t decide if this is global warming or some strange prophetic manifestation. As I was imagining how everything would look if it actually snows, my mind began to wander to a cherished childhood memory. My dad used to listen to Tennessee Earnie Ford albums, especially his old hymns. One of those albums was recorded at the prison in San Quentin with the prisoners’ choir. I used to play that album over and over again when I was seven years old. I would lay on the living room floor and just take in the music. I can still hear those prisoners singing my favorite song on that album, “Whiter than snow, whiter than snow; wash me and I will be whiter than snow”. The power of words, eyes specially scripture is quite amazing. That has been over fifty years now and I still hear those famous words from Psalm 51 in my head. Here is a portion of that song the prisoners were singing on that recording.

James L. Nicholson

WHITER THAN SNOW

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice;
I give up myself, and whatever I know—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet,
By faith for my cleansing, I see thy blood flow—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait;
Come now and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee Thou never said’st “No”—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
Oh, glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.

The power of that song was actually the testimony of Jesus. These men had obviously lived a difficult, dark life. In that choir were ex-criminals; thieves, murderers, extortioners, you name it, they had probably done it. They had tasted the power of the blood of Jesus. Though their sins had been like scarlet, Jesus had washed them and they were now whiter than snow.
I don’t know if it will snow today but thinking about it is good enough. Wash me Lord and I will be whiter than snow.