Monday, December 18, 2017

Zechariah 3

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.  Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” vv.3-4

Read chapter 3
Interesting scene here.  The Lord, Satan, and Joshua the High Priest are all standing in a room or area together, almost like a court scene seems like.  Joshua, who was the high priest at this time of the return from captivity in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, is pictured here dressed in filthy clothes.  But in this scene the Lord is fighting for Joshua against Satan and rebukes him.  At this the Lord then commands that Joshua's filthy garments be taken off and given rich robes to be clothed with instead.  This the Lord does as His picture of removing Joshua's iniquity, his sins.  Yes even as a high priest Joshua was sinful.  And this picture is true of us of our sins taken away and we become clothed in righteousness.  As Isaiah 64:6 describes this same picture: 
"But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away."
Those who belong to Christ, will find him ready to appear for them, when Satan appears most strongly against them. A converted soul is a brand plucked out of the fire by a miracle of free grace, therefore shall not be left a prey to Satan (Matthew Henry's Commentary). 
How do you see yourself clothed?  In rags or riches?

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