Zechariah 3:1-10

January 14, 2024

Pm svc

FBC Baxley

Illustration:

On February 9, 1709 sometime after 11pm a pastor’s family of eight and several workers who lived with them woke to screams of ‘Fire! Fire in the house!’

There was no time to get dressed or gather possessions and panic struck. The parents and workers began to gather up the children.

One of the workers ran into the nursery, grabbed the youngest who was one year old and yelled for five year old Jackie to get out of the house. All rushed out of the house but to the father’s horror little Jackie was missing.

He tried several times to go back in but was unable to

do so. Then the father fell on the ground to his knees weeping and committed his little five year old son to the Lord but just about that time little Jackie emerged from a window on the second floor, having no time to get a ladder one man jumped on the shoulders of another and grabbed Jackie’s hands. As soon as he snatched Jackie out of the window the whole roof collapsed.

The whole house burned down but Jackie and all the others were saved and safe.

Years later whenever Jackie (whose name was actually John) was asked about this terrifying incident or to summarize how he would like to be remembered his remarkable life, he simply responded with this epitaph that he wrote in his journal; Here lies the body of John

Wesley, a brand plucked from the burning, a man saved for a purpose.

As many of you know John Wesley’s purpose was to start a ministry that one day would become the United Methodist Church, but we’re going to look at an even more amazing rescue in Zechariah 3 in this study.

In the book of Zechariah the Prophet received a series of eight night visions meant to call God’s people to repentance, faithful service and to worship God in all of His greatness.

One pastor described this chapter... He said ‘It is a beautiful redemptive picture of the Gospel and our victory in Jesus Christ.’ It is a powerful testimony to the amazing grace of God.

Zechariah is what we call a post exilic prophet and that’s because the events that were taking place here were almost 20 years after the Jews had returned from the exile at the hands of the Babylonians.

So this is taking place around 520 B.C.

The rebuilding of the temple had stopped and the sense of God’s people at this time was discouragement over their sin which led them into the exile.

I’m sure they wondered if God would ever be kind to them again.

In Zechariah 3 we see the fourth vision of eight where Satan presents himself also to add insult to injury.

Satan wanted God to know how sinfully filthy they were starting with Joshua the high priest and how totally unworthy they were of God’s favor.

That is the backdrop to where we will be in this study…

READ…

Zechariah 3:1-10

“1Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.

4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”

5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

6 And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua,

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.

9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

10 In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

-PRAY

Title: "From Filth to Favor: A Restoration Journey from Zechariah 3:1-10

Point 1: The Filth of Sin and the Mercy of God

Original Language:

The text paints a vivid picture, "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" (Zechariah 3:1, NIV).

The word "accuse" in the original Hebrew conveys a legal context, emphasizing Satan's role as the prosecutor, highlighting the filth of sin.

Life Application:

We all stand accused before God, stained by the filth of our sins. Yet, in this imagery, we see the mercy of God.

Despite our unworthiness, God, in His mercy, intervenes to cleanse and restore.

Our first step towards restoration is acknowledging our need for His cleansing grace.

Point 2: The Divine Exchange: Filthy Rags to Robes of Righteousness

Original Language:

The angel commands, "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 3:4, NIV).

The phrase "filthy clothes" in the original Hebrew denotes garments stained with excrement, symbolizing the defilement of sin.

Life Application:

God doesn't just forgive; He exchanges our filthy rags for robes of righteousness.

The transformative power of God's grace takes us from a state of disgrace to being adorned with His righteousness.

As recipients of this divine exchange, we are called to walk in the newness of life.

Point 3: The Call to Faithful Service

Original Language:

The angel charges Joshua with a divine commission, "If you walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts" (Zechariah 3:7, NIV).

The emphasis on obedience and keeping God's requirements is expressed in the original Hebrew with a sense of unwavering commitment.

Life Application:

Restoration is not just about forgiveness; it is a call to faithful service.

God restores us not only for our benefit but also for His divine purposes.

As recipients of His grace, we are entrusted with the responsibility to walk in obedience, serving Him with unwavering commitment.

Jesus Dropped the Charges… song

Conclusion:

In the powerful vision of Zechariah 3, we witness the journey from filth to favor, from accusation to divine exchange, and from restoration to faithful service.

I pray we embrace the mercy and transformative power of God, exchanging our filth for His righteousness, and responding with a life of obedient service to the One who restores and redeems.

Look back at verse 9…

-PRAY

-INVITATION