Redemption and restoration

09/29/12 Zechariah 3 is a story about redemption and restoration. Joshua the high priest is standing before the Lord clad in filthy clothing. And Satan is standing beside him to oppose him. It is a grim picture to be sure. God had moved upon the heart of a pagan king to release the people from bondage and sent them back to rebuild the temple. The captivity had, after seventy years in a foreign and cruel land, ended. But there was still a major problem. The high priest was unfit to lead the people in worship. What good would it do to have a temple if there was no one to lead them into the presence of the Lord? Joshua’s filthy clothing represents his iniquity as well as those he was to represent. Iniquity is one of the major words in the Old Testament that describes sin. One of my Hebrew dictionaries explains iniquity this way: “This word indicates sin that is particularly evil, since it strongly conveys the idea of twisting or perverting deliberately. The noun carries along with it the idea of guilt from conscious wrongdoing (Gen. 44:16; Jer. 2:22). The punishment that goes with this deliberate act as a consequence is indicated by the word also (Gen. 4:13; Isa. 53:11).” Joshua is standing before the Lord and what Satan is vomiting out about God’s high priest is true! Joshua is compared to a piece of firewood (3:2) that is plucked from the fire. At first glance it seems as though all is hopeless. But the Lord speaks for Joshua. He sends Satan backing, removes Joshua’s iniquity, clothes him in priestly garments, and tells him that if he will walk with the Lord, God would bless him and the people he was to lead. But an even greater promise was given in 3:8. God promised to send One who would one day remove all iniquity in one day! This promised ‘BRANCH’ is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever felt like all was hopeless? Imagine being like a stick in the fire that is dried up, dead, and about to be destroyed. When all seems hopeless there is the BLESSED HOPE. You may be covered in the filth of your sins but our Lord will remove then in one day if you will come to Him. He will cloth you in garments of His righteousness and put you to work in His vineyard as one of His branches. (John 15:5). He Himself will lead you into the presence of God! What a Savior! Prayer: Father, words cannot express my heart. You have done a work in my heart and I rejoice and give you all the praise and glory. In Jesus name, amen.