Zechariah Chapter 3

[1] And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

·         Satan stood at the side of the high priest and accused him as unfit to serve God.

·         Satan means ‘accuser’

·         The angel of the Lord here is probably Jesus

[2] And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

·         Jesus is our councilor who defends us. This is why Isaiah calls Him “Wonderful Councilor” before “Mighty God”

·         Jude has Michael the archangel saying this in the Ascension of Moses, the Lord rebuke you.

[3] Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

·         Speaks to his sinful, unclean heart. Isaiah felt the same way standing before God in Is 6

[4] And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

·         This speaks broadly to all the priestly class and all the temple servants. It speaks to what God is going to do to His people – the church. It is symbolic not just for Joshua, but for all of us.

[5] And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
[6] And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
[7] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
[8] Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

·         Here God reveals that this is specifically a prophecy about Jesus, who is the root and offspring of David. He comes from the line of David, He is the branch spoken of here.

·         He declares Himself to be the vine, in John 14

[9] For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
[10] In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

·         The consequence of the Messiah will be that every man will have plenty, will have vines and figs and shade, they will be spiritually satisfied.

·         Their iniquity will be removed in one day, in one moment, on the cross where God poured His wrath out

·         He is spoken of as a stone with seven eyes. Peter speaks of Christ as the corner stone, Revelation speaks of Him as the lamb with seven eyes.

·         The promise to Joshua will ultimately be fulfilled because of Christ.