Zechariah 3

Chapter 3 fitly shows that the restoration of God’s earthly people to His favor must be accompanied by a moral cleansing. Here Joshua, the high priest of that day is seen clad, not in the priestly garments of his office, but in filthy clothing as representing the people before God. Satan, ever the adversary of the believer, stands ready to accuse, but God will not listen to him, for He purposes to act in grace. He will remove the sin, and spare the sinner, indeed He will clothe him in costly (or festival) robes, for “change of raiment” (verse 4) hardly expresses what is in the original language. Israel will then be a nation of priests (Isaiah 61:6⁶But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. (Isaiah 61:6)).

Joshua, for the people, is put on probation, so to speak, (verse 7), but lasting blessing will only come when Christ as the Branch, or more exactly the Sprout, returns to the earth. (See Isaiah 4:2²In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. (Isaiah 4:2); Jeremiah 23:5,⁵Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Jeremiah 23:5) and Luke 1:78⁷⁸Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, (Luke 1:78) (margin).

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