Zechariah 3: Glorious Exchange

​Key Verses
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.” 
 
Meditation
God’s gracious work of justification removes our filthy rags and replaces them with robes of righteousness. This is a glorious exchange! Like Cinderella whose dirty rags were transformed into a beautiful dress, so Christians are given robes of righteousness through faith in Christ’s work. Jesus took our sin on the cross to give believers His righteous record (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ alone, the believer receives the legal status of “righteous” in the courtroom of the just judge of all the earth.  
 
In today’s reading, Zechariah’s vision is set in a courtroom. Satan stands before the Lord to accuse Joshua the high priest (vv. 1-2) who is dressed in “filthy garments.” Before the accuser can say a word, Satan is rebuked by the Lord (v. 2). The symbolism is a picture of justification: Joshua’s filthy rags are replaced with new and righteous robes, he is consecrated and cleansed (vv. 4-5), and the angel assures Joshua with Satan no longer in the picture (vv. 6-7). God’s grace alone makes His people righteous before His throne.
 
The vision declared God’s Branch to be God’s vehicle to “remove the iniquity” in a single day (vv. 8-10), an allusion to the messianic figure from the Old Testament (Isaiah 11:1-2) and the cross of Christ in the New. Through the work of Jesus, we know our accuser is silenced and our righteous status secure. Through Christ we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16) and “put on our new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Romans 4:24).
 
Today’s Reading
Then 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.”
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially the “glorious exchange” of Joshua’s garments? Do you live in the rags of sin and unrighteous “good works” or are you clothed in the garments of God’s grace, the righteousness of Christ?
 
-Satan still wants to accuse believers, to discourage them for sin and lead them to find their identity in their shame but the gospel teaches there is therefore no condemnation in Christ! Do you live in the freedom the gospel gives, life with no condemnation?
 
-Where do you need to put on your new self, the likeness of God in your life and love? Be specific and ask God’s Spirit to give you power to do so.
 
Key Verses
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.”