Reflections on Zechariah 3

Zechariah 03 (Contemporary English Version)


1. I was given another vision. This time Joshua the high priest was standing in front of the LORD's angel. And there was Satan, standing at Joshua's right side, ready to accuse him.
   
2. But the LORD said, "Satan, you are wrong. Jerusalem is my chosen city, and this man was rescued like a stick from a flaming fire."
   
3. Joshua's clothes were filthy.
   
4. So the angel told some of the people to remove Joshua's filthy clothes. Then he said to Joshua, "This means you are forgiven. Now I will dress you in priestly clothes."
   
5. I spoke up and said, "Also put a clean priestly turban on his head." Then they dressed him in priestly clothes and put the turban on him, while the LORD's angel stood there watching.
   
6. After this, the angel encouraged Joshua by telling him that the LORD All-Powerful had promised:
   
7. If you truly obey me, I will put you in charge of my temple, including the courtyard around it, and you will be allowed to speak at any time with the angels standing beside me.
   
8. Listen carefully, High Priest Joshua and all of you other priests. You are a sign of things to come, because I am going to bring back my servant, the Chosen King.
   
9. Joshua, I have placed in front of you a stone with seven sides. I will engrave something on that stone, and in a single day I will forgive this guilty country.
   
10. Then each of you will live at peace and entertain your friends in your own vineyard and under your own fig trees.
    

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Chapter 3 moves into Zechariah's fourth vision in which Joshua, the high priest, is being accused by Satan. Any who might be tempted to toy with satanic practices should be aware that Satan is always the accuser. He may at times pretend to be a friend or an enabler of exciting feats, but he will eventually be your accuser before God of those activities into which he led you. Satan had undoubtedly been a player in the descent of Judah and Israel into idolatry and other sin that led to their exile.

While Satan was in his usual role as accuser, God was also in His usual role of extending grace and mercy. He rebuked Satan and through the angel instructed the others in the vision to take off Joshua's filthy clothes which represented his sin. This they did and also clothed him in "splendid robes" and a turban. As high priest, Joshua was representative of Israel, thus this whole scene was symbolic of Israel's forgiveness and restoration as a priestly nation. What does this mean to be a priestly nation? A priest is one who acts as mediator between man and God, taking God's message to man and offering up man's offerings to God. As a priestly nation, Israel was to act as mediator between all nations (the Gentiles) and God. It was a role in which Israel never got a good handle. Her inclination has always been to proudly hold herself aloof of Gentiles because of her special position with God rather than to see herself acting on behalf of Gentiles to bring them to God. But this is indeed God's intended role for her.

As the vision continued to unfold Joshua was given a couple of conditions to meet. He was to walk in the Lord's ways and to keep His instructions. If Joshua did this, he would be granted access to God along with the angels in this vision. Again, Joshua is representative of Israel, so these conditions and the promise of access apply to Israel. Then, in verses 8-10, the vision takes on a larger dimension. In these verses we become aware that this scene between Joshua, Satan, and the angels of the Lord, is symbolic of something much greater, something yet to come. It is pointing to the Messiah's second advent in which He will fulfill this priestly role for all nations, at which time believing Israel and believing Gentiles will be cleansed of their sin and the Messiah will reign supreme.