Zechariah 3

Zechariah 3:1-7

Here is, 1. A vision relating to Joshua, as the representative of the church in his time. (1.) He is accepted by Satan, but is brought off by Christ, ver. 1. 2. (2.) He appears in filthy garments, but has them changed, ver. 3. 4. 5. (3.) He is assured of being established in his office, if he carry himself until, ver. 6. 7. 2. A former relating to Christ the Branch, who should be endowed with all perfections for his undertaking; should be carried triumphantly through it, and by whom we should have pardon and peace, ver. 8, 10.

1. AND he shewed me ‘Joshua the high-priest, standing before ’the angel of the LORD, ‘and Satan standing at his right hand; to refill him. 2. And the LORD said unto Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan, even the LORD: that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee: ‘it not this a brand plucke out of the fire? 3. Now Joshua was clothed with ‘filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused ’thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with ‘change of raiment. 5. And I said, Let them ‘set a fair mitre upon his head: so they set a fair mitre upon his head: and clothed him with garments: and the angel of the LORD stood by. 6. And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, 7. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, If thou wilt walk my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

Joshua the high-priest is here in vision shewed to Zechariah as standing before the Lord, the angel of the covenant, and he appears the representative of the priesthood and people to whom he manifested, who were defiled with guilt, and endowed by corruption; from both of which God here in the person of Joshua promises to deliver them.

1. He appears as a criminal before his great judge, and his accuser laying heavy charges against him; but he is acquitted.

He

He stood before the angel of the Lord, and Satan at his right hand to cross him, to oppose him in his work, and raise difficulties to discourage him; and none more effectual than the accusations of guilt he laid against him: but the Lord Jesus Christ is his advocate, his judge is his friend, and said unto Satan, the Lord retake me, Satan. Which may be considered as the Redeemer’s prayer to his father, to confound and silence this malicious adversary; or as his declaration what should be, the Lord shall retake me, and avenge this remity against his people; for he hath the Son of Jerusalem, and therefore every tongue that riseth in judgment against her he will condemn; no charge can be against God’s elect. But not this a brand pluck out of the fire? as Joshua and the people had been out of their captivity; and as all the people of God are when called out of a state of sin and guilt, in which they were exposed to the wrath of God, and it is full for the thence of hell; but, being now rescued by foregoing grace, in vain doth the enemy of souls attempt to kindle that fire which the blood of Jesus hath extinguished. Nate, (1.) None ever stood up zealously for God, at whose right hand Satan did not place himself as an adversary. (2.) There is enough in the hell of men to afford ground for accusation, if we had not a better righteousness than our own to plead in arrest of judgment. (3.) They who put their cause in Christ’s hands need not fear the accuser of the brethren, they shall be justified from all things. (4.) The best way of answering the Devil’s accusations is by looking up to God in prayer, and saying, the Lord retake thee, Satan. (5.) Every child of God is a brand pluck from the fire. How often have we stood on the brink of everlasting burning; and lo! Jesus rescued us from ruin. (6.) The Lord’s past mercies, which we have experienced, are an earnest of his present care: they shall never be burnt, whom he hath once plucked from the fire.

2. He appears in filthy garments, as one polluted; and no doubt, as a sinful man, he had abundant cause to confess his shame. Some suggest this was on account of the strange wives the priest had taken, and some of them his own sons, Ezra v. 18. but he seems rather to represent the state of the people in general, whose best righteousness was but as filthy-ops, for, his-6. but the Lord takes care for his cleansing. The angel looked on him not with anger but compulsion, and commanded his attendant ministers to strip off the filthy garments, the meaning of which he explains to his comfort. Behold, I have caused the iniquity to pass from that; the guilt of it is pardoned, the power of it is subdued. God sanctifies by his Spirit all those whom Jesus hath washed from their sins by his blood, and thus prepares them as a holy priesthood. And I will state that with change of raiment, that he might appear lovely, as before loathsome. And thus doth Jesus array all his people in that divine righteousness which is without spur, and adorn them with those graces of his Spirit which make them all glorious within: and this is the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in our eyes. Arrived in priestly robes, Joshua now looks great; for, at the Lord’s command, the farcobocial mitre is set on his head, and the priestly garments for beauty and glory are put upon him: and though, from his former pollution, he might fear he should be turned out of his office, he is solemnly confirmed in it, v. 6. The angel of the Lord prayed unto Joshua, saying, that faith the Lord of hosts, If thee will walk in my ways, in all the paths of righteousness and truth preclothed in God’s word; and if thou with keep my charge, faithful in his farcobocial office, vigilant, active, laborious; then thou shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, precluding over the temple and its service, and enjoying all the honours and advantages resulting from that high flatton; and I will pray thee places to walk among those that stand by, highly respected by his fellow ministers in the temple, or made a comparison of glorified saints and angels at last, as the reward of his fidelity. Nate, (1.) The ministers of God have a solemn truth committed to them, and they must look well how they discharge it. (2.) They who are faithful to Jesus shall be exalted in his better temple, and made to walk with him in white in glory everlasting, for they are worthy.

3. Hear now, O Joshua the high-priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men you wondered at: for behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 9. For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua: upon one stone shall be seven eyes, behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, faith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10. In that day, faith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig-tree.

4. 8.—10. The priesthood of Joshua was typical of Christ, the great high-priest of our profession, and from him derived all its efficacy. To him therefore Joshua and his fellows are directed to look. Hear now, O Joshua, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men wondered at for their singularity, or their strange deliverance from captivity; or men of a sign, types of the priesthood of Jesus. Nate, Christ’s redeemed ones

are men wondered at by others for their holy ways, which appear strange to a carnal world; and they are a wonder to themselves, when they reflect on God’s astonishing grace, and what he hath done for their souls.

The promise given to them is the sending the expected Messiah, who is here described,

1. As the Branch. Behold I will bring forth my servant the Branch; the Branch from the root of Jette, who should be born in the fulness of time; weak to outward view as a tender rod, yet filling the world with fruit: God’s servant, who should fulfil all his pleasure, and perfect the work of salvation whereunto God had appointed him.

2. As the afore, the precious corner-stone of the spiritual temple, and the rock of offence to all who humble at the word. It is said before Joshua, that he may build thereon, as the only sure foundation of the sinner’s hope. Upon or in one stone shall be seven eyes, denoting either the perfection of his wisdom and the fulness of his grace to discover and supply all the wants of his people; or this may refer to the eyes of all believers, which are directed to him, that out of his fulness they may receive grace for grace; behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, faith the Lord of hosts, alluding probably to the engraving and publishing the corners of the temple, and may signify that Christ should be adorned with all gifts and graces for the discharge of his office as Mediator; or it may refer to the priests of the instruments in his flesh by which he suffered; or perhaps to his exaltation after his resurrection, when he was crowned with glory and honour.

3. He shall have his people by one oblation of himself once offered. I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day, even in that day when Jesus on the cross cried, It is hisified, and gave up the ghost, completing the work of atonement, and securing the eternal redemption of his people.

4. In consequence of this, his people shall enjoy great peace of conscience, and rejoice together in the salvation of God. In that day of gospel grace, shall ye call every man his neighbour under his vine and under his fig-tree. For, when iniquity is taken away, the soul sits happy under the shadow of Jesus, and invites all around to come and taste how good the Lord is, to join in his ordinances, and maintain sweet communion with him and with each other; a foretake of that blessed state, where the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds.