And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
The angel of the Lord who solemnly pledges and charges Joshua is Jesus standing by him with the authority of the Lord of hosts. His charge is given after Joshua's guilt has been pardoned and taken away, his filthy sin-stained garments removed and he clothed anew in clean raiment and fair mitre, which is Christ's imputed righteousness. It is strictly conditional: if Joshua will walk in God's ways and keep His charge and law with wholehearted obedience, he will judge God's house and keep His courts and be given places to walk among the angels that stand by God. The setting is a controversy in the heavenly courts where Satan stands to resist Joshua as accuser, and the Lord rebukes him, calls Joshua a brand plucked out of the fire, and restrains the powers of darkness in mercy to His afflicted people. What He declares to Joshua He declares to all who like him seek to stand justified, striving for victory, repenting and believing in Christ rather than their own merits, for Joshua stands as representative of God's pardoned yet still-tried people whom God has not forsaken.
Words and Vision Setting
The word rendered protested denotes a solemn pledge and charge, a proclamation and message delivered by the angel of the Lord, who is Jesus standing by Joshua, with the authority of the Lord of hosts. The charge is addressed to Joshua as representative of God's people, already repented and pardoned yet still accused and watched for defects, with glorification still future, and it carries encouragement for all who like him seek to stand justified before God. Its terms are conditional from the Lord of hosts: if he walks in the Lord's ways and keeps His charge, he will serve as judge over the Lord's house, keep its courts, and receive places to walk among those standing before the angel.
It is spoken after iniquity and guilt, his and his people's, have been pardoned and taken away, after filthy sin-stained garments have been removed and he has been clothed anew in clean garments, change of raiment and a fair mitre, even coronation robes. That new clothing is Christ's imputed righteousness, given to all of God's people who repent and believe and accept Christ as sin-pardoning Saviour rather than trusting their own merits. Cleansing and favor are thus joined to faithful service, for the forgiven standing calls to walk in God's ways and keep His charge and commands, not to pride or self-sufficiency.
The setting is a controversy in the heavenly courts, where Joshua the high priest stands in his sacred official office before the angel while Satan stands at his right hand to resist him. That resistance pictures what Satan does toward every church and toward ministers of the gospel in their official work in the ministry of the Word, opposing God's working in behalf of His people, accusing backsliding Israel and accusing the brethren day and night before God after leading men into wrong positions. The scene is parallel to Michael disputing with the devil and to Michael and Gabriel opposed by the prince of Persia, showing that angels of the highest rank take interest in the affairs of men and that both good and evil angels take active part in matters connected with earthly kingdoms. The angel's word comes in answer to intercession and in pity when the Lord comes in mercy to the relief of His afflicted people, rebuking Satan and calling Joshua a brand plucked out of the fire.
The vision of Joshua and the angel was given as symbolic messages and a personal testimony to sustain and encourage Joshua and through him all God's people in uncertainty as they rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple. It also faintly pictures the reality of the time at the end when evil springs forth, when Satan is drilling his army to develop strong parties ready against the great battle of the last great conflict, and what it pictures shall become a living reality.
Condition and Promised Honor
The charge is strictly conditional, turning on obedience after pardon: walk in God's ways and keep God's charge, commands and law, including the Ten Commandments, with wholehearted obedience and faithful service rather than pride or self-sufficiency. The solemn pledge is given only after filthy garments have been removed and the clean garments, change of raiment, fair mitre and Christ's righteousness have been bestowed, and it binds the forgiven to what follows. What is declared to Joshua as representative of God's people is declared to all who repent and believe and accept Christ as sin-pardoning Saviour and seek to stand justified before Him.
On that condition Joshua will judge God's house, serve in judgment over it, care for and keep and guard its courts, and be given places to walk among those that stand by. Those standing by are the angels that do God's bidding and stand before Him and surround His throne. The promise is encouragement for all, that faithful walking and keeping bring both service in God's house and courts and access among those who stand before Him.
The promise shows the honor God gives to those clothed with Christ's righteousness who obey Him and do right. They are made kings and priests, with continued priestly service, authority, temple care and place among the loyal angels linked to faithful obedience. That honor reaches its fulfillment at last in walking among the angels, joining the glorified throng around God's throne, and finally standing among the angels around that throne, with angels accompanying the obedient even in this life.
Cleansing and favor are thus joined to obedient service, for forgiveness and restoration follow sincere repentance and confession with trust in Christ rather than in one's own merits. The cleansing and imputed righteousness given to the repentant sinner, whose religious life has been faulty and overcome by temptation, carry a call to walk in God's ways and keep His charge, with God's rejection of Satan's accusations and continuance of redemption leading to faithful service, not pride or self-sufficiency. The restored standing calls for continued obedience in the life that follows and in the present time of probation, when obedience brings the stated privileges of service and access among those who stand before God, even at the cost of everything else.
Accuser Opposed Sinner Restored
The vision sets Joshua the high priest in his sacred official office before the angel of the Lord with Satan standing at his right hand to resist him, and it illustrates Satan's work as the accuser and Christ's work as Mediator with power to defeat the accuser. The Lord rebukes Satan and calls Joshua a brand plucked out of the fire, restraining the powers of darkness and preserving the sinner's life to leave opportunity for forgiveness and acceptance. Joshua represents the church, Jerusalem, in a position of repentance and obedience as God works for it through the coming Messiah, the Branch, and the angel's word comes in answer to intercession and in pity when the Lord has come to the relief of His afflicted people in mercy. That standing pictures what Satan now does toward every church and toward ministers of the gospel in their official work in the ministry of the Word, standing before the angel of God as the adversary of man to resist every effort made to save the purchase of the blood of the Lamb and to resist the Lord's working in behalf of His people.
Satan was accusing backsliding Israel, and in the same way he purposes to point to the mistakes, past unworthiness and unprincipled proceedings of those who have had great light in these last days. He keenly observes the backsliding of those placed at the head of the work who followed wrong principles that made void God's law and who misrepresented the voice of the General Conference president as the voice of God. After he leads men into wrong positions he persecutes those whom he has caused to sin, standing to resist them by claiming them because they dishonored God by yielding to temptation and disobeying His commandments, and accusing the brethren day and night before God, which is his special work. He seeks to revive past sins to destroy confidence in God, holding up past unworthiness to make them believe they are separated from God and hopeless. Even so, Joshua stands as already repented and pardoned and stripped of filthy garments, yet still accused and still watched by others looking for defects and failures, with priest and people as a brand plucked from the fire on test and trial in repentance unto obedience while the time for glorification has not yet come.
What Christ declares to Joshua He declares to all who like Joshua are seeking to stand justified before Him. Joshua represents all of God's people who repent and believe and accept Christ as their sin-pardoning Saviour, including those whose religious lives have been faulty and who have been overcome by temptation. When they confess their sins and trust in Christ rather than their own merits, God rejects Satan's accusations, forgives them, and continues His work of redemption in them. God guards His church with jealous care and has not forsaken His people, and those striving for victory over sin have an all-powerful Redeemer in Christ, who came in humanity to live righteousness and is able to minister to and succor repentant ones who accept Him. Their forgiven standing after the filthy garments are removed and they are clothed anew with change of raiment and fair mitre is joined to faithful service in walking in God's ways and keeping His charge, not to pride or self-sufficiency.
The attendants implied by places to walk among those that stand by include evil angels who stir people against God's people and mighty angels who protect the faithful. Those who remain firm in God and obey Him even at the cost of everything else are accompanied by angels in this life during the present time of probation. God's faithful overcomers are marked and protected when judgment falls on those who merely profess to serve God. This promise is extended to all who repent, trust Christ, and obey God, who will finally stand among the angels around God's throne.
Call to Faithful Obedience
Joshua stands as representative of God's people, the church and Jerusalem, already repented and pardoned with filthy garments removed and clean clothing given, yet still accused by Satan, still watched by others for defects and failures, still on test and trial in repentance unto obedience and not yet glorified. The solemn charge with the authority of the Lord of hosts follows that cleansing, promising on condition of walking in God's ways and keeping His charge that he will judge God's house, keep and guard His courts, and be given places to walk among the angels that stand by and do His bidding. Priest and people stand as a brand plucked out of the fire while Satan resists the work God is about to do for His suffering people through Messiah the coming Branch, claiming them because they dishonored God by yielding to temptation and disobeying His commandments. What is declared to Joshua is declared to all who like Joshua repent and believe and accept Christ as sin-pardoning Saviour and seek to stand justified before Him.
The same charge applies to ministers and the congregations entrusted to them and to church members, who must humble themselves, repent, and seek pardon standing in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. They need revival, reformation, and sanctification by the Holy Spirit, for the chapter teaches a work that advances righteousness for those hungering and thirsting for it.
All who have known the way of the Lord must take warning and decidedly change wrong principles of action, doing thorough work according to God's measurement to avoid repeating transgression. The rescued one like a brand plucked from the burning is preserved with opportunity for forgiveness and acceptance, yet must not presume on God's patience by continuing in sin. God tests and tries His people and waits to discern true repentance so He can declare it enough, receive them, pardon transgression, and grant prosperity.
Zechariah 3 also describes those who misinterpret and misrepresent, whose blinded eyes set forth figures and interpretations worked out by Satan and place an entirely wrong meaning upon words spoken. They claim to be Christ's child while standing on the accusing side like Judas, educated in Satan's school of misstating and working upon human minds to betray sacred trust in a spurious way against God's church, which is dear to God above everything in the world.
The angel of the Lord who solemnly pledges and charges Joshua is Jesus standing by him with the authority of the Lord of hosts. His charge is given after Joshua's guilt has been pardoned and taken away, his filthy sin-stained garments removed and he clothed anew in clean raiment and fair mitre, which is Christ's imputed righteousness. It is strictly conditional: if Joshua will walk in God's ways and keep His charge and law with wholehearted obedience, he will judge God's house and keep His courts and be given places to walk among the angels that stand by God. The setting is a controversy in the heavenly courts where Satan stands to resist Joshua as accuser, and the Lord rebukes him, calls Joshua a brand plucked out of the fire, and restrains the powers of darkness in mercy to His afflicted people. What He declares to Joshua He declares to all who like him seek to stand justified, striving for victory, repenting and believing in Christ rather than their own merits, for Joshua stands as representative of God's pardoned yet still-tried people whom God has not forsaken.
Words and Vision Setting
The word rendered protested denotes a solemn pledge and charge, a proclamation and message delivered by the angel of the Lord, who is Jesus standing by Joshua, with the authority of the Lord of hosts. The charge is addressed to Joshua as representative of God's people, already repented and pardoned yet still accused and watched for defects, with glorification still future, and it carries encouragement for all who like him seek to stand justified before God. Its terms are conditional from the Lord of hosts: if he walks in the Lord's ways and keeps His charge, he will serve as judge over the Lord's house, keep its courts, and receive places to walk among those standing before the angel.
It is spoken after iniquity and guilt, his and his people's, have been pardoned and taken away, after filthy sin-stained garments have been removed and he has been clothed anew in clean garments, change of raiment and a fair mitre, even coronation robes. That new clothing is Christ's imputed righteousness, given to all of God's people who repent and believe and accept Christ as sin-pardoning Saviour rather than trusting their own merits. Cleansing and favor are thus joined to faithful service, for the forgiven standing calls to walk in God's ways and keep His charge and commands, not to pride or self-sufficiency.
The setting is a controversy in the heavenly courts, where Joshua the high priest stands in his sacred official office before the angel while Satan stands at his right hand to resist him. That resistance pictures what Satan does toward every church and toward ministers of the gospel in their official work in the ministry of the Word, opposing God's working in behalf of His people, accusing backsliding Israel and accusing the brethren day and night before God after leading men into wrong positions. The scene is parallel to Michael disputing with the devil and to Michael and Gabriel opposed by the prince of Persia, showing that angels of the highest rank take interest in the affairs of men and that both good and evil angels take active part in matters connected with earthly kingdoms. The angel's word comes in answer to intercession and in pity when the Lord comes in mercy to the relief of His afflicted people, rebuking Satan and calling Joshua a brand plucked out of the fire.
The vision of Joshua and the angel was given as symbolic messages and a personal testimony to sustain and encourage Joshua and through him all God's people in uncertainty as they rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple. It also faintly pictures the reality of the time at the end when evil springs forth, when Satan is drilling his army to develop strong parties ready against the great battle of the last great conflict, and what it pictures shall become a living reality.
Condition and Promised Honor
The charge is strictly conditional, turning on obedience after pardon: walk in God's ways and keep God's charge, commands and law, including the Ten Commandments, with wholehearted obedience and faithful service rather than pride or self-sufficiency. The solemn pledge is given only after filthy garments have been removed and the clean garments, change of raiment, fair mitre and Christ's righteousness have been bestowed, and it binds the forgiven to what follows. What is declared to Joshua as representative of God's people is declared to all who repent and believe and accept Christ as sin-pardoning Saviour and seek to stand justified before Him.
On that condition Joshua will judge God's house, serve in judgment over it, care for and keep and guard its courts, and be given places to walk among those that stand by. Those standing by are the angels that do God's bidding and stand before Him and surround His throne. The promise is encouragement for all, that faithful walking and keeping bring both service in God's house and courts and access among those who stand before Him.
The promise shows the honor God gives to those clothed with Christ's righteousness who obey Him and do right. They are made kings and priests, with continued priestly service, authority, temple care and place among the loyal angels linked to faithful obedience. That honor reaches its fulfillment at last in walking among the angels, joining the glorified throng around God's throne, and finally standing among the angels around that throne, with angels accompanying the obedient even in this life.
Cleansing and favor are thus joined to obedient service, for forgiveness and restoration follow sincere repentance and confession with trust in Christ rather than in one's own merits. The cleansing and imputed righteousness given to the repentant sinner, whose religious life has been faulty and overcome by temptation, carry a call to walk in God's ways and keep His charge, with God's rejection of Satan's accusations and continuance of redemption leading to faithful service, not pride or self-sufficiency. The restored standing calls for continued obedience in the life that follows and in the present time of probation, when obedience brings the stated privileges of service and access among those who stand before God, even at the cost of everything else.
Accuser Opposed Sinner Restored
The vision sets Joshua the high priest in his sacred official office before the angel of the Lord with Satan standing at his right hand to resist him, and it illustrates Satan's work as the accuser and Christ's work as Mediator with power to defeat the accuser. The Lord rebukes Satan and calls Joshua a brand plucked out of the fire, restraining the powers of darkness and preserving the sinner's life to leave opportunity for forgiveness and acceptance. Joshua represents the church, Jerusalem, in a position of repentance and obedience as God works for it through the coming Messiah, the Branch, and the angel's word comes in answer to intercession and in pity when the Lord has come to the relief of His afflicted people in mercy. That standing pictures what Satan now does toward every church and toward ministers of the gospel in their official work in the ministry of the Word, standing before the angel of God as the adversary of man to resist every effort made to save the purchase of the blood of the Lamb and to resist the Lord's working in behalf of His people.
Satan was accusing backsliding Israel, and in the same way he purposes to point to the mistakes, past unworthiness and unprincipled proceedings of those who have had great light in these last days. He keenly observes the backsliding of those placed at the head of the work who followed wrong principles that made void God's law and who misrepresented the voice of the General Conference president as the voice of God. After he leads men into wrong positions he persecutes those whom he has caused to sin, standing to resist them by claiming them because they dishonored God by yielding to temptation and disobeying His commandments, and accusing the brethren day and night before God, which is his special work. He seeks to revive past sins to destroy confidence in God, holding up past unworthiness to make them believe they are separated from God and hopeless. Even so, Joshua stands as already repented and pardoned and stripped of filthy garments, yet still accused and still watched by others looking for defects and failures, with priest and people as a brand plucked from the fire on test and trial in repentance unto obedience while the time for glorification has not yet come.
What Christ declares to Joshua He declares to all who like Joshua are seeking to stand justified before Him. Joshua represents all of God's people who repent and believe and accept Christ as their sin-pardoning Saviour, including those whose religious lives have been faulty and who have been overcome by temptation. When they confess their sins and trust in Christ rather than their own merits, God rejects Satan's accusations, forgives them, and continues His work of redemption in them. God guards His church with jealous care and has not forsaken His people, and those striving for victory over sin have an all-powerful Redeemer in Christ, who came in humanity to live righteousness and is able to minister to and succor repentant ones who accept Him. Their forgiven standing after the filthy garments are removed and they are clothed anew with change of raiment and fair mitre is joined to faithful service in walking in God's ways and keeping His charge, not to pride or self-sufficiency.
The attendants implied by places to walk among those that stand by include evil angels who stir people against God's people and mighty angels who protect the faithful. Those who remain firm in God and obey Him even at the cost of everything else are accompanied by angels in this life during the present time of probation. God's faithful overcomers are marked and protected when judgment falls on those who merely profess to serve God. This promise is extended to all who repent, trust Christ, and obey God, who will finally stand among the angels around God's throne.
Call to Faithful Obedience
Joshua stands as representative of God's people, the church and Jerusalem, already repented and pardoned with filthy garments removed and clean clothing given, yet still accused by Satan, still watched by others for defects and failures, still on test and trial in repentance unto obedience and not yet glorified. The solemn charge with the authority of the Lord of hosts follows that cleansing, promising on condition of walking in God's ways and keeping His charge that he will judge God's house, keep and guard His courts, and be given places to walk among the angels that stand by and do His bidding. Priest and people stand as a brand plucked out of the fire while Satan resists the work God is about to do for His suffering people through Messiah the coming Branch, claiming them because they dishonored God by yielding to temptation and disobeying His commandments. What is declared to Joshua is declared to all who like Joshua repent and believe and accept Christ as sin-pardoning Saviour and seek to stand justified before Him.
The same charge applies to ministers and the congregations entrusted to them and to church members, who must humble themselves, repent, and seek pardon standing in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. They need revival, reformation, and sanctification by the Holy Spirit, for the chapter teaches a work that advances righteousness for those hungering and thirsting for it.
All who have known the way of the Lord must take warning and decidedly change wrong principles of action, doing thorough work according to God's measurement to avoid repeating transgression. The rescued one like a brand plucked from the burning is preserved with opportunity for forgiveness and acceptance, yet must not presume on God's patience by continuing in sin. God tests and tries His people and waits to discern true repentance so He can declare it enough, receive them, pardon transgression, and grant prosperity.
Zechariah 3 also describes those who misinterpret and misrepresent, whose blinded eyes set forth figures and interpretations worked out by Satan and place an entirely wrong meaning upon words spoken. They claim to be Christ's child while standing on the accusing side like Judas, educated in Satan's school of misstating and working upon human minds to betray sacred trust in a spurious way against God's church, which is dear to God above everything in the world.