Zechariah 3 - “Israel Restored”
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Intro
Opening Statement - What do you bring to the table? In your workplace, in your relationships, or even here in the church. Do you bring unique skills and experience relating to organizational leadership, problem-solving/critical thinking skills, or expertise relating to brand development, customer relations, or human resources? (warning - this is a setup)
Are you a gifted communicator or teacher? Are you analytical or artistic? Perhaps you have people skills and your a great salesperson.
We’ve got ALL kinds of words to describe how awesome we are.
I want you to consider your “mad skillz” and think for a minute...how God must be pretty impressed with you!
Hold these thoughts!
Opening Illustration
We’re gonna see what Joshua, who was the High Priest, brought to the table…and how “impressive” he was.
He was a “brand plucked out of the fire”…we’ll see what that means.
And we’re gonna see what God brings to the table…and how impressive we are then.
Relevance to CCB
There is a great phrase, often used in Christianity that,
“God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”
Is He impressed with your resume?
What about Israel, back then? Were they qualified? Was Joshua (the high priest) who stood for them qualified? Or called?
Is there a difference, and if so, what is it?
Opening Background
So far in Zechariah
The (primary) audience is Israel (the Jews) - as they had just returned from 70 yrs of exile.
But God’s dealings with Israel provide spiritual lessons for the entire world across history…and God’s Word is just as relevant and useful for us here today as it was for them.
Zech 1-2:
Told to repent.
Vision (#1) that God sees everything.
Vision (#2) that God will bring justice.
Vision (#3) that God guarantees a blessed future for His people.
Today in Zechariah
Zech 3 - Vision (#4) that God qualifies who He calls.
We’ll see the high priest — Joshua — who is a representation of Israel, is unqualified…but God…
If you’re here today and thinking:
I do this or that for God - you’re gonna see, maybe He’s not as impressed with you as you want Him to be...
But, is it all about what we bring to the table?!?! Or is it all about what God brings to the table?
We will see what God brings to the table for the Jews...and also what God brings to the table for you.
Message
Let’s Pray
Read along (vv. 1- 3) The Courtroom Scene of the Fourth Vision
Joshua was the high priest and a Levite (Ezra 3:8, and Haggai 1:1 identify Joshua as both)
He came from Babylon, most likely born there. (Neh 7:7)
As high priest:
He was Israel’s spiritual leader.
His place of duty was the temple, which had just begun reconstruction.
He would have been intimately involved in rebuilding the temple.
He represented God to the people (Israel).
He represented Israel to God.
He is standing in this vision, as a representation of the nation, before God - in a court-like setting.
Bear in mind - what we’re about see Joshua go through applies to us too - because the Church is a Kingdom of Priests.
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Joshua (the high priest) is standing before the Great High Priest - the Angel of the LORD - the same “Angel of the Lord” in Zechariah 1,
I made a case in Zech 1 that “the Angel of the LORD” is most likely a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, AKA a Christophany.
And plus other clues here in Zech 3. That, He can take away sins.
Jesus Christ IS the “Great High Priest”
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
So, here in Zech 3, you have a picture of Joshua the “high priest,” representing Israel, standing before Jesus Christ the “Great High Priest!”
No pressure right!?!?
And Satan was there too (who invited this guy?!?)
Satan - means adversary, opposer, or “the accuser” of the Brethren (Rev 12:10). You can think of Satan like “the Prosecuting Attorney.”
What was Satan doing? (v. 1) Opposing Joshua.
Pointing out the filthiness of Joshua!
Joshua was a brand plucked from the fire, a charred filthy piece of wood, good for nothing. Satan is thinking Jesus, is this who you want your representative to be?
This burnt, sinful, unsuccessful, charred wood? The representative of a failed attempt to rebuild your temple? Of people who care more about their own houses than yours?
Satan is thinking - Don’t you want your people to be Holy, Pure, Devoted, and Strong followers of You?
What the filthy garments represent?
In the original (Hebrew) language here? Filthy implies - Excrement, dung.
You may be thinking, are you sure, that sounds a little extreme?
Reading further reveals (v. 4) the filthy garments represents iniquity -
Iniquity = sin, depravity, perversity.
Filthy garments is used in another passage:
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment
The things we “try” to impress the Lord with…righteous deeds,
But Lord, I’ve done:
Fill in the Blank
Filthy garments, lit. “used menstrual rags,” is what God thinks of our deeds, when we try to impress Him out of our flesh.
Our works are filthy rags if they are not an outpouring of the Spirit.
Next week we will dive into following the Spirit over the flesh.
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
But i’ll give you a preview - that unless your work is being done by the power and authority of the Spirit…it’s all for naught.
If there is anything that truly scares me…it’s this.
I don’t want to be found having wasted my life…
And as a Pastor (shepherd) - I don’t want to be found having wasted the lives of the flock.
We want it to count. And it can…
So Joshua is looking pretty bad here.
Is Satan wrong about the filthiness?
Satan was right about Joshua’s filthiness.
And by extension the filthiness of Isreal.
And Satan is right about our filthiness!!
But DESPITE Satan’s legitimate accusation against Joshua, Israel, and us...
Look at God’s response.
(v. 2) The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan!
Jesus bypasses the legitimacy of Satan’s accusation - the LORD disregards Satan and rebukes Him!!
(v. 2) The LORD has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!
(v. 2b) The LORD says, Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”
Like a piece of burnt wood, pulled out of the fire...
This phrase pertains to God pulling the Jew’s out of the fire of exile.
Not unlike the Christian who has been pulled out of the fire in the world.
(v. 3) Joshua’s status. Filthy!
Israel’s status. Imperfect!
Our status. Sinners, standing before the Judge.
What will He do?
Read along (vv. 4 - 5) God’s Response
(v. 4) Then He (The Angel of the LORD) spoke to those who stood before Him (presumably angels), saying
Take away the filthy garments - this is a picture of Mercy and Forgiveness.
Mercy is taking away what punishment you deserve.
Forgiveness - Taking away from you, the ugliness, the reproach, the sin you have brought into your life.
(v. 4) See I have removed your iniquity from you.
The filth is equated with iniquity.
The Angel of the LORD - takes it UPON HIMSELF to remove this filth.
Because Jesus Christ - personally brought to the table what was needed for this this to occur.
A perfect Sacrifice for human sin. A perfect Human.
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
(v. 4b) And I will clothe you with rich robes -
He took away (the filthy garments) what we deserved = demonstrating His Mercy
Now He provides (clothing with rich robes) what we didn’t earn = demonstrating His Grace
New clothes - like the new linens we get in Heaven.
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
“His wife” - the Bride of Christ = the Church
We will receive “fine line, clean and bright. This fine linen IS the righteous acts of the saints.
Because we are covered by His Blood - His work.
Not our own work.
When you get to heaven, don’t pull our your resume, showing God all the “awesome” things you’ve done.
Show God His resume, and all the “awesome” things He’s done in your life.
And I (Zechariah) said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”
So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him.
A clean turban, suggests his reinstatement into the priesthood. (Ex 29:6)
And by extension the priesthood restored to Israel:
Near fulfillment - they finished rebuilding the Temple..
The temple will be dedicated in 5 years (March 12, 515 B.C.) from this point (Feb 15, 519 B.C.)
Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
Far fulfillment - as they will again one day return to being the priesthood over the whole world - fully realized in the Messianic Kingdom.
When Jesus, Messiah, will be King over the whole world.
Last week - We talked about the prophecy associated with Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream. And after four Gentile kingdoms rule the earth (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome I/RomeII), then the last kingdom comes in… Dan 2:44
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
The Jews and the church will rule and reign with Him...(2 Tim 2:12, Rev 20:4-6)
The Jews (Zech 8:23)
The Church:
2 Timothy 2:12 “If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
But WE HAVE A PROBLEM: a far (Messianic Kingdom) fulfillment would require God to do a miraculous work to restore Israel.
EXACTLY!!
Almost like a brand plucked from the fire
Christian “dispensationalism” has been rightly so, under the spotlight lately in light of current events. Due to our interpretation that Israel must be restored to fulfill God’s Word in the End Times.
His plan is not completed with Israel yet Read/Study Romans 11.
Just as Jesus literally came to earth the first time (1st Advent - as Suffering Servant) He will return for the second time (2nd Advent - as Conquering King).
His plan involves
Judgment of the World - this time by fire.
National Salvation of the Jewish nation (Rom 11)
Marrying His bride - the Church - the Body and Bride of Christ
A 1,000 year period (the front porch of eternity) where the Daniel 2 statue (Times of the Gentile rulers) is crushed, and Jesus will rule and reign…forever!
And then some more…
This WHOLE LESSON applies to us “the church” too!
Because, “God doesn’t call the qualified…”
We’re just as filthy as Joshua.
He qualifies the called.
And you may be thinking… “well that’s unfair. What if i’m not called?”
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
He rejects NO ONE who calls on Him. Tell me that is unfair?
When we give ourselves over to God,
He removes our sins (our filthy garments)
He restores/establishes our ministry (to Him and to each other)
And “you’re off to the races.”
Some here have “made their calling and election sure” for a while (2 Pet 1:10)
Some just started and are making great strides.
And some STILL have not called on the Lord yet…
As the Angel of the LORD stood by - obviously approving.
Read along (vv. 6 - 10) God’s Conditional Promise to Joshua
The Promise - If you walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, - this is the condition
Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts and give you places to walk Among these who stand here.
Blessings are promised for obedience: Temple service, judgment, future ability to intermingle/hang out with “among these,” probably angels…
Then God gives this wonderful promise that He will bring forth the Messiah.
I am bringing forth My Servant - Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
the BRANCH - Miraculous life from a “dead tree”
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
the stone - that causes division in all people
Some who reject and some accept as chief cornerstone -
Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
This stone has perfect knowledge - Upon the stone are seven eyes
And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day -
There is something special about the land of Jerusalem; that is must be restored/made holy.
‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I am zealous for Jerusalem And for Zion with great zeal.
Jerusalem - is a special geographical place of land that God wants for Himself/His people.
(v. 10) In that day - a picture of the Messianic Kingdom -
A picture of peace - Once and For all.
Thats what we all want.
But it requires accepting Christ as King.
Closing
In light of God’s Word - and considering current events with Israel
If God wants to use Israel - and wants to restore them - that’s His prerogative. And TRUST ME, you don’t want to get in the way of God. Why so much hatred for the Jews all of the sudden?
Paul writes (long after Jesus’ death),
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
One thing that all Christians have in common is that we have all been a “brand plucked out of the fire.”
We’ve been rescued from an eternity in hell and permanent separation from God.
We’ve been rescued from a dead-end life, tormented what will happen to me when this is all over?
We’ve been given new clothes…an eternity experiencing God’s heavens and joy with Him for an eternity.
We have a purpose in this life, and we look forward to where this is all headed.
If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your LORD and Savior, these blessings don’t apply to you. And you don’t know how long you have.
I urge you today to make that decision that you will never regret!
Let’s Pray
Benediction - Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus, Come!
