“WHITER THAN SNOW”
Jeremiah 18:3-6
So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Isaiah 1:18
Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Meditation
Ever since Monday, one thing has kept knocking on the door of my brain – SNOW! Perhaps it’s been the same with you this week as well. So, with snow on the brain, I couldn’t help but think about the fluffy white stuff in conjunction with my worship preparation for today. (So, if you are reading this, then the winter storm did come, and we are using a different approach for worship today.)
Growing up in the Baptist church, I was quite accustomed to having an altar call to conclude worship services. Now, there were several hymns that fit the occasion to tug at the heart to enhance the possibility of someone coming forward if not a wave of people. Some of those hymns included, “I Surrender All,” “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus,” and “Take My Life and Let It Be.” But with snow on my mind, I couldn’t help but remember one such altar call hymn, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.”
The second stanza proceeds as follows:
Have Thine own way, Lord. Have Thine own way.
Search me and try me, Master today!
Whiter than snow, Lord. Wash me just now,
As in Thy presence, humbly I bow.
These words come from a woman named Adelaide Pollard. Here is her story.
After Adelaide Pollard graduated from the Boston School of Oratory (later Emerson College), she moved to Chicago. Adelaide hoped to teach at a girl’s school there. In her frail health, she was drawn to the Scottish-born faith healer John Alexander Dowie. He thought himself to be the Elijah who would proceed Christ’s return to earth. Dowie went outside Chicago and bought a 6,800-acre parcel of land and began building his new “Zion City.” But it turned out to be a flop.
Pollard’s next spiritual encounter involved an evangelist named Sanford. He was known for predicting the end of the world. Christ would return any moment he proclaimed. She then moved to New England and endeavored to aid him in his work. All the while though, she felt that God had called her to serve as a missionary to Africa. But that door remained closed for the present time, for she was unable to acquire the financial support needed. During this crisis of the soul, Pollard happened to attend a prayer meeting. During the service, she heard a woman pray: “It doesn’t matter what you bring into our lives, Lord. Just have your own way with us.”
This prayer-confession captivated Adelaide’s heart. As she rushed home, the Bible story of the potter and clay from the Old Testament Book of Jeremiah 18 flooded her mind. By bedtime, she had written out four stanzas. Four years later, George Stebbins composed music and provided the tune name, Adelaide. Ms. Pollard did go to Africa, but when World War I broke out, she was forced to Scotland and eventually back to America. For the rest of her life though, she continued to write, speak, and minister.
It is interesting to note, that over the years, some hymnal editorial boards have elected to change the “whiter than snow” lyric for this second stanza. Some decided to insert “brighter” for “whiter,” and one board completely changed the entire phrase to “Open mine eyes, my sin show me now.”
Comments from the United Methodist Board will give you some insight into why such changes were initiated. In the UMC hymnal, you will find the following: “Master” is changed to “Savior” and the “whiter than snow” lyric proceeds as “Wash me just now, Lord. Wash me just now.” The Rev. Carl Young, who served as editor, wrote the following: “The Hymnal Revision Committee debate on the latter change was intense and sustained. Those proposing the change stated that one does not have to be white, a North European, or Anglo Caucasian to be perceived as spiritually pure and socially acceptable. An African American member said, ‘You can wash me as much as you wish, but after you’ve finished, I’ll be just as black, which is beautiful.’ Those who wished to retain the original argued that the reference to washing was not about the pigmentation of human skin, but to the soul as in Psalm 51:7, ‘Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.'”
No matter which side of this lyrical debate you discover yourself to be standing, the message is quite clear – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, can cleanse us of our sin and wrongdoing. He can purge the corruption and pollution of our soul. He can mold us as a potter with clay. All we must do is bow humbly and ask.
So, as you look out on our community today, covered in snow and/or ice, a physical cleansing of the earth, just know that there is a spiritual cleansing available through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Just bow your head and ask. Amen.
Prayer for this day
Merciful God,
Have mercy on our souls,
according to your unwavering love
according to your abundant mercy
wipe away our sins and the guilt we have carried for so long.
Instead write on our hearts your love
Your boundaries for our lives
Your salvation that sets us free from our sins.
To live the abundant life you have for each of us.
Lord we would see Jesus,
We would love Jesus,
We would follow Jesus
We would serve Jesus.
Lord,
Create in us clean hearts,
Renew your spirit within us.
Do not turn us away from your presence,
do not take your holy spirit from us.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in us a willing spirit.
Write on our hearts, your love, O God.
Amen.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 