Zechariah Chapter 3:1-10.
4th Vision – Joshua the High Priest.

God has stated that He has chosen Jerusalem and the people of Israel and returned them from exile, though only about 50,000. How can this be when Israel has been so sinful before God who had caused their punishment in exile? How could they be used of God again to minister the blessing of God to the nations? Something must happen to them once again to become a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6.

This vision shows in symbolic but vivid picture the salvation of Israel from inner pollution, defilement and moral sin. Repentance, forgiveness, salvation and eventually Messiah’s Gospel would be taken to the Gentiles through Jewish men.

Joshua was the High Priest returned from exile 16 years before with Zerubbabel among 49,697 returning exiles from captivity in Babylon. The ‘Angel of the Lord’ is the second person of the trinity. Joshua stands before the Lord representative of all Israel. What the Lord will do for Joshua He planned to do for all Israel returned as a nation, though as nearly always, a remnant. The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem and the nation of Israel rebukes satan, speaking of His choice, verse 2. Satan might say, you cannot choose them, they have sinned and he accuses Jerusalem and the people of their sin, but after the Lord’s rebuke, satan is silenced and there is no further word from him! God intends to cleanse Joshua and thus Israel and that silences satan! Zechariah 3:9; Jeremiah 50:20; Isaiah 33:24.

Satan us called the accuser of the brethren, but it is God who justifies, Hallelujah! Romans 8:33-34. Isaiah 50:8-10. Satan hates God and His people and attempts to frustrate the purposes and mercy of God for Israel and the nations.

Verses 1 & 2 – Joshua is standing in his High Priestly ministry. Deuteronomy 10:8, “The Lord separated the tribe of Levi (priests) to bear the ark of the Covenant of the LORD to stand before the LORD to minister unto Him and to bless in His Name”. 2nd. Chron.29:11, “My sons, be not now negligent; for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him and that you should minister unto Him”. God chose because He loves. Deuteronomy 7:6-9. Jeremiah 31:37; Leviticus 26:44. Eph.1:4. John 15:16-19.

‘Plucked from the fire’- suffering in Babylon, fires of the Holocaust. Haven’t they suffered enough? There is one suffering greater than all, to come. Jeremiah 30:7. Then Messiah will come again. Israel is like the burning bush, subject to fire but not consumed away. The dross is consumed, but there is no destruction of the nation. Malachi. Egypt had been an “iron furnace” for the Hebrews, Deuteronomy 4:20. Babylon was another. Isaiah 48:10; READ Isaiah 4:3-4. NB.

Verse 3 – Heb: ‘tsoyim’ – word is the strongest expression for filth of the most loathsome kind. Satan may have sought the rejection of Israel by God as the priestly nation, or to attack God’s holiness of character – how could a holy God receive such a people again to Himself. They have sinned grossly. How could He receive their worship and service? He that keeps Israel, neither slumbers nor sleeps. Psalm 121.

The Hebrew for ‘rebuke’ is strong rejection and suppression of Satan’s accusation. The rebuke of God is with power, a withering word of authority, as when Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and he departed from his victim.

Verse 4 – Clothed with garments of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10. Possibly Joshua is given a new High Priest’s outfit; symbolising Israel re-appointed as a Kingdom of Priests unto God. Reinstatement and reconsecration to the calling as a holy nation. See v.5.

“I will take away the stony heart and give you a heart of flesh”. Ezekiel 36:24-29.

Verse 5 – Turban, clean mitre, the head-dress of a princely person and kings, not for anyone to wear. A tiara worn by the High Priest. This turban was the glorious complement of the High Priest’s clothing. He carried his office upon his forehead. A plate of pure gold was attached with the words engraved upon it. Exodus 28:36. See ch.29:6. Zechariah sees in this symbolic vision, the day in which Israel will be priests of the LORD and ministers of our God. Isaiah 61:6. The clothing of righteousness is necessary to be received into the presence of the King. Matthew 22:1-13. Revelation 19:7-8 – righteous dress, clean, white. In the world there are those dressed as kings but are not kingly; priests who are far from priestly – but not so in the Kingdom of God. There will be no deceptive appearances there.

Verse 7 – Responsibilities, blessings, privileges given to those who walk with God obediently.

Verses 8-10 – One of the richest and most beautiful of Messianic passages in the O.T.

‘My Servant’ – is the title given to Messiah in the latter chapters of Isaiah. Isaiah 42:1–6; Ch.49:6 Especially ch.53; Ch.52:9-13.

BRANCH: Netzer (Nazareth). Also see Zechariah 6:12. Priest, King and Messiah. Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ch.33;15-16. Out of David’s line.

THE BRANCH

  1. Isaiah 4:2; ch.40:9. All 4 uses of the term ‘BRANCH’ suggest the one and only Son of God. (JOHN’S GOSPEL). SON

  2. Jeremiah 23:5-6, ch.33:15-16. Zechariah 9:9. Son of David – Isaiah 9:7. SOVEREIGN. (MATTHEW’S GOSPEL)

  1. God’ Servant – the Branch. Zechariah 3:8. Isaiah 42:1; ch.52:13; ch.53:11. SERVANT. (MARK’S GOSPEL). RIGHTEOUS SERVANT.

  2. The Man, whose Name is the Branch. Zechariah 6:12, (READ ch.6:11-15). Son of Man ‘Behold, the Man’, John 19:5. Jesus said these words, not Pilate, whose name is in italics. SON OF MAN – SAVIOUR.

Five times Messiah is designated ‘Branch – the Son’, as ‘Root’; ‘Offspring of David’; ‘Stem’; ‘Sprout’; ‘Shoot’ – with reference to David or Jesse. Also Messiah is Key of David in Revelation 3:7.

Verse 8 – Reference to No.3 above. ‘My Servant – the Branch’. He will bring in perfect righteousness on the ground of which Israel shall be justified and the iniquity of the land removed in one day. Zechariah 3:9.

Zechariah ch.6 reminds us that the Branch is a Ruler and a Priest upon His throne, v.13.

Verse 9 – Stone. Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:26; Genesis 49:24. ‘Seven eyes’. Perfection of seeing things perfectly right. Revelation 5:6. Messiah is the precious Cornerstone. God the Father has perfect watchful care of His Son (Jewish view). The Father equips Messiah, His Son, for perfection in office, the Mediatorial work of redemption in spiritual glory and beauty which God the Father bestows upon Him – an anointed office, all in the fullness of the Spirit. He alone will remove Israel’s iniquity in one day. That day is still to come – Israel’s national day of repentance and redemption, their great Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. Zechariah 12:10-13:1. The Spirit of God will apply the blood in that Day. Leviticus 16:30. It will have been their High Priest’s offering of his own blood. (Hebrews).

Verse 10 – The Day of Peace. The Millennium by description. (David Baron: Zechariah. p.12).

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