Zechariah 3:1-10

     In the opening verse Joshua was seen standing before the Lord as high priest and Satan was standing beside him accusing him of being unqualified for service (Zec 3:1). But the Lord defended Joshua because he was His chosen servant, a symbol of the nation (Zec 3:2). Now Joshua was, in fact, filthy, as his garments were covered with excrement (Zec 3:3), but the Lord had those garments removed and new garments placed on him (Zec 3:4a), and said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes” (Zec 3:4b). Zechariah knew the high priest also wore a turban with a gold plate on the front, so he spoke up, saying, “Let them put a clean turban on his head” (Zec 3:5a). So the angels “put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by” (Zec 3:5b). Here is a picture of forgiveness and restoration to service, as the Lord had removed Joshua’s filth and clothed him in clean garments. Positional righteousness prepared him to walk in practical righteousness. It is true that God does not call the qualified, but qualifies those called for service. God informed Joshua that if he would walk in obedience to the Lord and fulfill his priestly duties, he would have charge over the temple and its courtyards, and God would grant him access to His heavenly court (Zec 3:6-7). This picture of Joshua, the high priest, being forgiven and restored to service would have encouraged the Israelites greatly, for the priesthood was not operational during the Babylonian exile, and the people could not worship as God had prescribed. This cleansing would, in turn, impact the other priests, who ministered under Joshua’s supervision and who served as a type of Messiah, the Branch, who was to come (Zec 3:8). God references “the stone” set before Joshua, which is likely the temple cornerstone. Apparently, this stone was to serve as a physical marker that represented God’s omniscience, signifying His awareness of all Israel’s sins and struggles. The Lord stated, “I will engrave an inscription on it” which said, ‘I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day” (Zec 3:9). Here is a concrete statement that promises God will remove all Israel’s sin in one day. “Some say this refers to the day of Christ’s crucifixion, but it is more likely a reference to the day of His Second Advent when at the end of the future Tribulation period the merits of His death will be applied to believing Israel (Zech. 13:1).”[1] Lastly, the Lord spoke of a future day, in which “every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree” (Zec 3:10). These promises of a restored priesthood, a rebuilt temple, and future peace, would certainly have encouraged the Israelites, who, while in Babylonian captivity, perhaps questioned whether their theological heritage would ever be restored. This message is very relevant to us because we too are God’s children and servants who serve as a kingdom of priests (Rev 1:6) and are called to live holy lives before the Lord. Scripture states, “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘you shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet 1:15-16). Living holy lives in conformity to God’s character and will is an ongoing choice to learn and live God’s Word in all aspects of our lives, always sowing to reap, and reaping what was sown.

 

[1] F. Duane Lindsey, “Zechariah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1554–1555.