SCRIPTURE: ZECHARIAH 3
CLEAN GARMENTS FOR THE HIGH PRIESTS (vs. 1-10)
Zechariah saw Joshua, the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing with him at the right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan: “The Lord rebuked you Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” (v. 2).
Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The God put on rich garments on Joshua because his sins have been taken away. Then a clean turban was put on his lead. Then the angle of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the Lord Almighty says ; “If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.” (vs. 6*7)
God was going to bring his servant, the BRANCH. He set the stone with 7 eyes with an engraved inscription. The Lord Almighty will remove the sins of this land in a single day. And they will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.
THOUGHTS:
The forgiveness given by God involves the following procedures:
- He rebukes Satan and the Spirit convicts us back to God in love.
- He removes our sins and clothes us with the robe of righteousness.
- He restores the ministry. Just as Joshua was restored and cleaned, so Israel will be cleaned and restored when Messiah came to reign.
Satan accused Joshua of wearing filthy clothes. He was also accusing us of our sins before God. But God’s mercy and forgiveness will remove our sins by clothing us with his goodness and righteousness. All we need to do is to repent and ask God to forgive us.