This is such a neat chapter – and blessedly short! I fear I have much to say on this chapter and
if it were any longer I wouldn’t be able to say it all!
Joshua the Priest
In the vision, Zechariah is shown Joshua – the high priest at the
time of Zerubbabel – standing before the Lord.
This word “standing” is an interesting word. It is a technical word for what the priests
were called to be before God. The word
has an interesting mix between abiding with God and doing one’s expected duties
before God. So we shouldn’t think that
Joshua is simply standing there as a defendant before a judge. Joshua is abiding there. He is working before the Lord. He is going through what the Lord has asked
Him to do. Abiding doesn’t always mean complete rest. Abiding can simply mean going through the mundane
simply because that is all God has asked us to do.
Satan the Accuser
Here we have one of the few mentions of Satan in the Bible –
especially with regard to Satan being an active player in the story. Satan has come before the Lord to accuse
Joshua. Let’s note a few things about
this story. First, Satan is in the
presence of the Lord. Granted, it doesn’t
end well. But Satan is in the presence
of the Lord. Second, he is there
accusing Joshua of all of the wrong that he has done. This ties beautifully back to the fall. Satan’s fall occurred out of his jealousy for
the love that God showed to us. Satan
hates us because we are loved by God.
Third, this shows us the truth of Satan.
Satan isn’t out in the world trying to gain us as followers. Satan’s primary focus is in driving a wedge
between us and God. Satan isn’t in some
grand popularity contest with God. Satan
is in the world trying to destroy our relationship with God. That is his focus.
Satan’s Accusations
Let’s get something straight, though. Satan’s accusations weren’t wrong. Joshua was a human. I have no doubt that he was filled with
iniquity – just as I am and you are.
Satan wouldn’t need to lie about Joshua’s fallen nature; there would be
plenty of evidence of sin in Joshua’s life.
In fact, if you read the words carefully you’ll also see that God
acknowledges this fact. Why would God
speak to remove Joshua’s iniquity if he had none to begin with? No, Satan’s accusations were spot on. Joshua was a fallen person dressed in what
tattered spirituality he could provide for himself. I am no better. None of us are any better. We are all dressed in tattered spiritual rags
for that is all the better that we can do for ourselves.
New Clothes
You see, God doesn’t argue for Joshua’s self-righteousness. What God argues is for Joshua’s acquittal and
forgiveness. Joshua’s tattered
spirituality is replaced by spiritual clothing of a divine nature. It is God who clothes Joshua in
righteousness. It is God who acquits
iniquity. It is God who forgives.
This is the inherent conflict between Satan and God. God loves.
Satan has been jealous of that love for as long as God has loved. Satan can only see us for the horribly flawed
beings we are. God sees us for the image
of Himself that He has created within us.
Satan can only stand there and accuse us of our flaws. God forgives the flaws and helps us move
beyond. This is why the Lord rebukes
Satan. Satan is not rebuked because he
is wrong; Satan is rebuked because he cannot move beyond accusation of wrongdoing.
As I typed that sentence, I was convicted. How good am I at moving beyond accusation of
wrongdoing? I daresay that if I were to
be compared to either God or Satan, I might fall too close to being like Satan the
accuser more than I am being like God who forgives.
Spirituality
Having received new clothes – spirituality – at the hand of God
Himself, Joshua is charged with keeping God’s ways. Joshua is charged with being a spiritual
leader. Joshua is promised that so long
as he lives up to this charge he shall not only rule but have access to the
court of God.
This sets up what comes next.
For at the end of this chapter God speaks about “The Branch.” God speaks of this branch as a single stone
upon which the iniquity of humanity will be removed in a single day. God speaks of this branch having the effect
of causing people to invite their neighbors to come into relationship with God.
Here we see another finger pointing to the coming of Christ. In a single day – the day Jesus was crucified
– the iniquity of humanity was atoned.
After that day, His disciples began inviting their neighbors into a
relationship with God. Through the Holy
Spirit they became so proficient at this task that they eventually began to
invite the Gentiles – the whole world – into a relationship with God.
God is the one who loves first.
He is the one who forgives iniquity.
He is the one who clothes us in a spirituality that we cannot provide
for ourselves. He is the one who calls
the world to His side and receives anyone who truly answers the calls. He is great.
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