Daily Devotional Monday 11th September 2023

by William Moody

Zechariah 3

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan1 standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand2 plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.

And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes,3 I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

Footnotes

[1] 3:1 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary
[2] 3:2 That is, a burning stick
[3] 3:9 Or facets

(ESV)

Satan is the great accuser (v1). He helps bring sin into people’s lives and then accuses us. Here the high priest Joshua is his target, but he is rebuked by the Lord (v2). Joshua has his garments of sin replaced by pure clothes (v3-5). This is what Jesus does for all who trust in Him. Our lives, with garments of sin, are replaced with pure clothes in which we serve the Lord.

Joshua’s right response to this was a life of faithful obedience (v6-7). This needs to be our response to salvation too.

This chapter finishes with mention of a branch and a stone (v8-9). The branch points to Jesus the great descendant of David who would bring salvation to His people (Jeremiah 33 v15). This is where Joshua’s cleansing comes from.

The stone also must refer to Jesus (Psalm 118 v22). The seven eyes seem weird, but speak of this being a living stone. Jesus in Revelation 5 v6 is referred to as a Lamb with seven eyes. Jesus is the one who has perfect sight and knowledge (7 = perfection).

Jesus is the one who knows all that we need and who alone can bring us into a state of peace and fulfilment (v10). Jesus alone is all-sufficient. Do you believe this?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.