A Changing of the Garments

Zech 3:1-10 - I can’t help but see in this passage a one-time event and an on-going event.  If you haven’t already done so, please read Zechariah Chapter 3.  I’ll wait… Great; now let’s continue.  This is a prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled.  It describes the nation of Israel’s future cleansing and restoration as a priestly nation and the coming of the Lord Jesus to set up His righteous kingdom.  Joshua as high priest represents the people of Jerusalem, the Angel of the Lord represents Christ and Satan represents, well uh, himself.  The scene is Joshua is presenting Israel before the Lord as high priests often do.  Satan is also presenting, only he is presenting adversely against Israel (God’s people) as Satan often does.  The Lord then reprimands Satan for his accusations against Israel and describes Israel (Jerusalem) as His chosen brand that is plucked out of the fire.  In their time, a brand plucked from the fire was a stick pulled from the fire for the purpose of raking and stirring the coals.  God is rebuking Satan for Satan was trying to accuse Israel of being unworthy and filthy with sin.  Yet God reminded Satan that, in His grace and mercy, He pulled them from judgment (fire) and set them aside for His use.

Reading on in verse 3, we see the vision a little more clearly.  Joshua is described as wearing filthy garments while standing before the Angel of the Lord.  This is huge.  A high priest would never stand before the Lord in filthy garments.  Especially the garments described here since they are described as having human excrement on them.  This would be forbidden in their culture.  In fact, the priests were required to wash several times before being clothed with ordinary garments.  This is a picture of the filth of Israel’s sin and Joshua is presenting the sins of his nation before Christ.  I imagine the horror felt in the hearts of those hearing this vision.  They knew fully what it meant.  If their sin was brought in the presence of God, there could only be one of two results.  Either their sin would be forgiven and peace with God would abound or their sin would not be forgiven and wrathful judgment would descend upon them grinding them to powder.

Then something incredibly beautiful happens in verse 4.  The Angel of the Lord commands the angels standing by to take away the filthy garments and clothe Joshua with a change of raiment.  He takes the excrement stained garments and replaces it with the Festival Robe (an elaborate gold laden robe worn by the high priest after the atonement was accepted).  This must have boggled their minds a little bit.  There is something missing in this vision.  The Lord can’t just take away the filth of their nation and cleanse them without a sacrifice; right?  In their eyes, this would be an unjust act and might be even more condemning than the high priest standing before God in filthy garments (Exodus 34:6-8 & Proverbs 17:15).  If God is just, He cannot just do this or He contradicts Himself and His own word making Him a liar.

The answer comes in verses 8 and 9.  The Lord says He will bring forth His Servant, the Branch the Engraved Stone to remove the iniquity of the land in one day.  The Messiah is described in Isaiah 52:13-15 as Jehovah’s Servant, Isaiah 4:2 describes Christ as the Branch that comes to restore Israel and Isaiah 28:16 describes Christ as the precious Cornerstone the foundation that will be laid in Zion (Israel).  This can be none other than Christ who takes away the iniquity of the sinner and cleanses the sinner with righteousness.  Romans 3:23-25 explains how Christ is the required sacrifice that is missing in this vision.

Now, how is this one-time event an on-going event at the same time?  Even though this is in reference to future Israel, it is also an example as to what happens to all those who are chosen as God’s people and believe in Him by faith.  Salvation comes in the very same way now as it did then and will come in the very same way when it is time for Israel to repent; by faith.  Joshua is standing before the Lord just as we are standing before the Lord; filthy and in need of cleansing.  Satan is accusing Joshua before the Lord just as Satan is accusing us before the Lord.  My friend, we stand in judgment before the Lord and Satan would love to find some sort of accusation that would stick and condemn us forever.  However, we are plucked from the consuming fire of the Lord’s judgment, stripped of our filthy garments and clothed in His righteousness.  Notice that all of this is done out of His sovereign choice and not out of their merit or works.  That is the beauty of this one-time event.

As for the on-going event, Satan is constantly accusing even after we are plucked from the fire.  However, Christ is constantly interceding and rebuking Satan.  So how should we live in the midst of an accusing adversary and an interceding Savior?  The answer to this question is found in verse 7.  Since we have been plucked from the fire and set aside for His purposes, we must learn to walk in His ways and keep His charge.  To walk in His ways is commanded many times in Scripture and simply means that your manner of life is patterned after the manner of His life.  It is always found in the imperfect mood which means it is an on-going command that has not been brought to perfection.  To keep His charge (imperfect mood as well) simply means to guard His commands which is also commanded all throughout Scripture.  Because you were plucked from the fire and regardless of Satan’s accusations, you continue to live your life patterned after His perfect obedient life until He comes to set up His kingdom where we will be in His presence for eternity.  Amen.