“Wash Me Throughly”

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:23 

In the King James Version of Psalm 51:2, the text uses a word that doesn’t even exist anymore: “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” If you type that verse on your computer, the automatic spellcheck will try to change that word to thoroughly. But that’s not how the KJV has it.  

Throughly is an old English way of saying, “Wash me through and through from my iniquity.” The old 1611 language may not be very popular anymore, but there’s a good idea here and it’s echoed in today’s Scripture: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.” In other words, “I don’t want God to do a surface job on my character—like sending me through an automated exterior car wash; I want Him to get rid of those deep-down, hidden sins that no one sees—and that I have possibly even hidden from myself.” 

Today, Lord, I pray with David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24). Thank You for forgiving me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness. Safeguard my heart and mind, and keep me pure.