Devotions this week based on The Prophets Week 11 – Zechariah (WATCH HERE)
Of all the minor prophets, Zechariah stands out as one that gives clear prophecy and pictures of the coming Messiah, Christ and his person and work on behalf of God’s people, including you and me. This week’s devotions will focus on five of those.
The picture of Zechariah 3:1 is every pastor’s nightmare.
3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
To the average parishioner, they may see their pastor as one who is “above reproach,” and “example for all” and a “man of God.” To be sure we as pastors are called to be all of these, but inside, and I will speak for myself, there is a reality that sin is just as real for me as it is for every person to whom I get to share God’s Word with.
What will Satan say? What is in his opening statement to accuse me?
Satan has an arsenal of accusations that he could condemn even the most pious of pastors.
But before he has able to open his case and present the case, the LORD intervenes:
2 The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
But the court doesn’t need to hear the accusations as if there was no evidence to the guilt and the jury had to be convinced.
The clothes were covered with filth. The evidence even on the outside stood against the defendant.
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.
This would be an easy case to prove. There was no need for witnesses…although many could be called. There was no need to bring in forensic experts…even though there would be overwhelming evidence to the sins of the pastor standing there. His clothes were covered with the evidence that he was a sinner and deserved to be sent from God’s presence forever.
It’s not just Joshua, the high priest at the time of Zecharaiah, or me as a pastor today, or you as a person today. Any trip into the courtroom of God with Satan there ready to accuse us is not going to end well. The presenting evidence is overwhelming to a jury, let alone our holy God. The verdict should be “Depart from me, to the fire prepared for Satan.”
But the vision takes an unexpected and merciful turn.
4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
The picture of Zechariah 3:4-5 is every pastor’s and every person’s greatest joy and comfort. With clear and beautiful imagery, Jesus, THE angel of the LORD, became the substitute for Joshua, every pastor and every person. Joshua was an imperfect high priest. Jesus was the perfect high priest for us. He takes away our guilt and clothes us in his righteousness, his perfection.
So now what can Satan say? Nothing! He has nothing of which to accuse us because we have been given the perfection of our Savior. We didn’t clean up our act or do enough to stand in God’s presence. Simply put we have been made clean by the mercy and grace of God to stand confidently in the presence of our gracious and merciful heavenly Father.
Apply: Satan loves to accuse us and get us to believe we are not forgiven or can’t be forgiven. How can this vision God gave to Zechariah and the reality it communicates calm your heart and give you certain hope in your relationship with the Lord moving forward from today?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for removing my guilt and covering me with Your righteousness. Help me rest in Your finished work and walk in the freedom of Your forgiveness. Amen.