“Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 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 fine garments on you.’”
- Zechariah 3:3-4 -
Satan hates God’s people and seeks to discourage us with a sense of our unworthiness. That’s what high priest Joshua, a prominent leader of the Jews returning from exile, discovers in Zechariah’s fourth vision…
Joshua stands in the dock before the angel of the Lord, his judge. In various Old Testament passages this angel is a theophany, an appearance of God in physical form. Many Bible scholars believe he is the pre-incarnate Christ. Joshua’s filthy clothes represent the people’s sins, his own included. Satan’s accusations are intended to render him inoperative under a burden of guilt, but the angel of the Lord replaces Joshua’s rags with clean garments, symbolizing the Lord’s forgiveness, and charges him to lead henceforth a life of righteousness. ‘See, I have taken away your sin’, says the angel (v 4), having previously rebuked the Accuser (undoubtedly to the latter’s surprise!). The Judge becomes the Justifier!
Dear Christian, how many times has Satan cast your sins before you and sanctimoniously whispered how unworthy you are, reminding you of past transgressions until you were overwhelmed with shame? True, all are sinners at birth4 and children of wrath, but through faith in Christ you are ‘ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.’ You are clothed with Christ’s (the angel of the Lord’s) righteousness. His blood cleanses from all sin. Let the Accuser be silent in the presence of your Judge and Justifier!
Apply: ‘Praise [God] for his grace and favor … slow to chide, and swift to bless’! Thank God afresh today for your glorious salvation in Jesus Christ!
Closing Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for your sacrificial death, that I might be free from my sins. You died that I might live. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
(From Encounter with God)