The Apocalypse of the Old Testament Chapter 3, Part 1

Transcription

1 The Apocalypse of the Old Testament Chapter 3, Part 1

2 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD [YHVH], and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the LORD [YHVH] said to Satan, The LORD [YHVH] rebuke you, Satan! The LORD [YHVH] who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him.

3 And to him He said, See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes. 5 And I 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. And the Angel of the LORD [YHVH] stood by. 6 Then the Angel of the LORD [YHVH] admonished Joshua, saying, 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tsavaot]: If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.

4 8 Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. 9 For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription, Says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tsavaot], And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day, says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tsavaot], Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.

5 This is one of the most beautiful passages in all scripture, and graphically shows us how God deals with sin, and how He loves us (and Israel) enough to take it away. It is a short but incredibly powerful chapter. The first part of this chapter addresses the Bible s central theme, and the foundation of our faith and understanding of ourselves and God: we are filthy with sin and cannot be in the company of a holy God.

6 This chapter sums up beautifully the problem, and the solution, to man s relationship with God. It is initially about Israel, and the issue is how can our holy God do such great things (as have been promised in the first two chapters) with such a sinful and besmirched people? How can He take a people to Himself (ultimately spiritual Israel, Jews and Gentiles, one new man, two sticks (houses) of Israel reunited as one), when they are so sinful? This chapter provides the answer to that predicament.

7 This chapter deals with the future salvation of the nation of Israel as a whole (dealt with later in this book in chapter 13). It explains how their sin can be wiped away in a day. (Zechariah 3:9) The first part of this chapter addresses the problem of filthy sin before a Holy God, the fact that God will wipe it away Himself (not up to man!) and the second part of the chapter is HOW He will do it, through the coming Messiah.

8 While this is on the surface about Israel and her redemption, it is the way God deals with all of us. We are filthy before Him, but He wipes it away through His Messiah. This chapter is not only Israel s story, it is OUR story. Salvation is granted by God s graceful intervention, by His own holiness and righteousness, NOT by man s righteousness which is nothing but filthy rags before Elohim.

9 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.

10 The CAST of this dramatic scene: he = angel helping Zechariah understand visions me = Zechariah Joshua = ye-ho-shua: YHWH saves = high priest at time of return from captivity in Babylon, 16 yrs before this vision (Ezra 4:3; 5:2; Haggai 1:1, 12; 2:2; Zechariah 6:11-15).

11 Angel of YHVH: Messiah, Yeshua Satan the Accuser Various heavenly attendants

12 COMMENTARY: This is not the Joshua who led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. This is the Joshua who served as high priest among the remnant of Israel who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. The name Joshua means Yehovah saves, and in the Greek language of the New Testament, the name is translated as Jesus. You remember that the angel in announcing His approaching birth said, thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). So you can see that the name Joshua is especially appropriate for this high priest and prefigures what the nation Israel ought to have been that is, a holy, high-priestly nation. (McGee)

13 Joshua is accused by Satan, who was standing at the right side, the place of accusation under the law: Set a wicked man over him, And let an accuser (Hebrew = satan) stand at his right hand. (Psalm 109:6) Zechariah Saw Satan. He is a real person. He is visible in this vision and recognizable. He is not an idea or a symbolic vision. He is very (deadly) real.

14 Interesting to note in this first verse that the same word for Satan is used twice here. Once it is used as his proper name (HaSatan, the opponent, the accuser, the adversary) and the other time it is used where our English uses the word oppose (at his right hand to oppose him, NKJV, resist in KJV). One commentator paraphrased to oppose him as to Satanize him. Anyone who is opposed or Satanized by the Accuser hasn t a chance without an advocate.

15 The charges against Joshua were valid. The charges against me are valid! However, we do have an advocate! And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1) Zechariah Chapter 3

16 COMMENTARY: Here we are brought face to face with one of those mysteries of revelation which must be classed among the things which we know not now, nor can as yet fully understand namely, the position of Satan in God s economy in general, and his relation to the moral government of this world, and to man in particular. And it is especially in his role as the accuser that the fiendish nature of the old serpent is brought out. It was he who brought sin into the world; it is he who deceives men and nations, and spurs them on to sin and rebellion against God; and yet, when the seduction is accomplished, he turns round and becomes their accuser this truly is like himself. (Baron)

17 The High Priest (Kohan Gadol) was appointed by God as mediator between God and His people, as the one on whom the sins of Israel would be taken and then cleansed by God by the blood of sacrifice. As High Priest, he represents all of Israel. This is not just about Joshua the current High Priest, it is about all of Israel as a people before God. And more than that, it is about each of us individually as well as corporately (as mankind), and our relationship with El Shaddai.

18 We can easily make application to every believer in this passage. He has called us out to be a kingdom of priests for Him. Joshua here represents Israel, but he also represents every priest to Elohim, including all believers in the ultimate Kohan Gadol, Yeshua HaMashiach.

19 2 And the LORD [YHVH] said to Satan, The LORD [YHVH] rebuke you, Satan! The LORD [YHVH] who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?

20 YHVH says YHVH rebuke you. What is implied here? Who is speaking to whom? We can assume the plurality of Elohim is speaking whether it is the Father or the Son, both present here. As the vision is introduced, we do not see YHVH present, but He can be speaking from the wings as an audible voice only. Or it can be the Angel of YHVH (Yeshua Himself) speaking. Both have the right to bear that Name, and the right to rebuke as the Judge in this courtroom drama.

21 Rebuke is repeated 2X for emphasis. It is strongly made based on the fact that God has chosen Jerusalem (Israel). This is not about Joshua, but about all Israel, people chosen by and covenanted with Elohim. When God choses a people, or a person, He does not go back on that choice. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? It looked as if Jerusalem could never be rebuilt after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it, and it lay in dust and ashes for 70 years. Then out of the ruins the city (and a chosen people) is rebuilt a brand plucked out of the burning.

22 John Wesley called himself a brand plucked out of the burning. And so are we all!

23 Notice that God will not, and cannot defend the sins of Israel here (there is no defense, the Accuser is right), but He can cover them and make Israel (and us!) clean again. Not because the charges were without merit, not because of Israel s suffering, not because of what Israel might deserve, but because of His Name, His promises, and His choice of Israel (and us!) as His people, and His boundless grace.

24 Throughout the book of Ezekiel, God uses the phrase But I acted for My name s sake In other words, He acted because He said He would, not because of anything anyone had done or deserved. He protects His integrity and holiness! Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD [Adonai YHVH]: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. [Ezekiel 36:22]

25 Brand plucked... Fire is often used in connection with Israel, and with judgment and the need for sacrifice to cover sin. Both testaments reference YHVH as a consuming fire. But God has promised He will not allow that fire to consume Israel completely. Nevertheless Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful. (Nehemiah 9:31)

26 Israel s sins caused the fire of Elohim s judgment to burn hot and complete, but before she was completely consumed, He plucked the brand out of the fire. In other words, Israel is burned, scarred, and downright ugly right now, but God would restore her to promised glory. Israel s future was doomed if it rested on her merit. Her sins have disqualified her from any future with YHVH. But in His mercy and sovereign grace He has already chosen Israel and will solve the problem of sin.

27 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

28 The high priest was to be clothed in fine-twined, white linen undergarments. And over them were to be placed the garments of beauty and glory. Joshua was pictured here as the high priest representing the nation, and his garments, which should have been clean, were unclean. (McGee) And not just unclean, but filthy = excrementbespattered; not just vilely dirty, but offensively smelly. (from the root, yatsa, to go forth, to come out, to be evacuated.)

29 COMMENTARY: Based on Exodus 28, the Talmudic sources state that every priest, while performing the Temple service, had to wear four garments: a tunic, a girdle, a turban, and breeches reaching from the hips to the thighs. These four were worn by the High Priest as well but in addition he wore four further garments. These were: the ephod, a kind of apron, worn from behind with a sash in front around his middle; the meil, a coat reaching from his neck to his feet with bells and pomegranate-shaped adornments at its hem; the hoshen, a breastplate to which were affixed twelve precious stones containing the engraved names of the 12 tribes; and the tzitz, a gold forehead piece on which was engraved the words: Holy to the Lord.

30 The breastplate is said in the Exodus account to contain the Urim Ve-Thummim, an oracle. Whatever the original meaning of the Urim Ve-Thummim, in the Talmudic tradition it was not a separate object but represented the miraculous illumination of certain letters of the stones on the breastplate so as to yield information about the fate of the people. Unlike ordinary priests, the High Priest (Leviticus 21:10-14) was only allowed to marry a virgin who had not before been married. (

31 TURBAN: of fine linen, with gold plate with engraved words Holy to YHVH SHOULDER PIECES: 2 onyx stones in gold settings, names of 12 tribes engraved on them for remembrance URIM AND THUMMIM: Kept in breastpiece next to heart. May have been used for decisions. SASH: To hold everything in place, embroidered EPHOD: linen over-garment of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarns, held by waistband BREASTPLATE: Woven linen square of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarns, doubled over. Held in place with cords of gold and golden rings to should pieces. Four rows of 3 stones each, each engraved with names of 12 tribes. 12 STONES ENGRAVED: sardius, topaz carbuncle, emerald, sapphire, diamond, jacinth, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx, jasper. UNDERGARMENT: From linen, to cover nakedness from hips to thighs. Also outer plain linen robe over undergarments.

32 britches

33 Notice Joshua doesn t speak in his defense here. His silence reminds us of Yeshua s silence and lack of defense in His six trials. Why? Because He was in our shoes! There was NO defense! How great to have God Himself as our advocate! What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:31-34)

34 Our garments? Our good deeds? But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6) Words used for filthy rags in Hebrew is actually dirty, used menstrual cloths! Sorry to get so graphic, but that is an accurate literal translation of the words used here. Makes the filth and stench before God of our own sins more understandable.

35 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And to him He said, See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.

36 those who stood before Him we don t know who these are, but they are apparently servants of the Most High God, there to attend to Him and be obedient to His direction. They most likely are not other members of the vision that are identified, but rather angels who are always in the Presence of YHVH to do His bidding.

37 COMMENTARY: Joshua represented not only the nation of Israel, he represents us today. In him we see the sin of the believer. Joshua was a priest before God God appointed priests in the Old Testament. In our day every believer is a priest before God, but some of us are standing in dirty garments. Yes, you may say, but I have been clothed in the righteousness of Yeshua. If you have been saved, that is true. And that is exactly the picture which is given to us here. You see, the dirty garments, representing sin, must be removed from him, and he must be clothed with clean garments, symbolic of the righteousness of Yeshua.

38 This pictures your salvation and mine, which makes this such a precious passage of Scripture. Let me refer you to the Epistle to the Romans. In the first three chapters mankind is set before us as a sinner before God. We all stand dirty before Him. And our righteousness even the best that we can do is filthy rags in God s sight. We stand in Joshua s condition. (McGee)

39 Rich robes The word used here is machalatsoth (plural) and means a change of raiment most likely means not only the robes of righteousness given to each of us by belief in the Messiah, but also references specifically the elaborate High priest s garments, and signals a reinstatement of Israel s position with YHVH. It symbolizes a re-consecration of Israel (all Israel, all believers!) to their priestly calling as a nation (and a kingdom of priests) - serving before YHVH.

40 THE PROMISE (Zechariah reaffirms this promise) And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:6) and THE FULFILLMENT To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood 6 and made us a kingdom, kohanim [priests] to His God and Father to Him be glory and power forever! Amen! (Revelation 1:5b-6, TLV)

41 This entire vision is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful pictures we have in the Old Testament. Even the entire scriptures. It sums up the atoning work of God to restore us to fellowship with Him.

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44 5 And I 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. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.

45 I said...? Zechariah seems to be getting into the act! It would appear that Zechariah truly understood what was happening here. Notice there is no interpretation given, and apparently none needed, for this vision. Zechariah was ecstatic at the meaning of Israel s reconsecration as a kingdom of priests. He says to put on the High Priest s turban to complete the picture, the one from which hung the words Holy unto the YHVH. Israel would be holy before God once again!

46 Turban: tsaniyph, from the root to wind around. A headdress that wrapped around the head. However, this is not a typical turban anyone would wear. It references something that is unique to royalty. The purpose of his office was in effect carried on his head with the gold plate and the inscribed words Qodesh layhvh which means Holy to YHVH. As the high priest represented all of Israel, Israel was considered holy to YHVH, set apart for Him.

47 COMMENTARY: The adding of this mitre or turban is a little something which is beautiful in its symbolism. The garments of the high priest included a turban, and on that turban were the words: HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, as in chapter 14 verse 20. This man Joshua didn t have a turban because in those dirty old garments he certainly was not holy to the Lord. But a turban is given to him now on which is inscribed Holiness unto the Lord. He will be used of God now just as Israel will be used of the Lord in the future. After the church has been removed in the Rapture, Israel will be the witness for God during the Tribulation, and then during the Millennium the entire nation will be a priesthood down here upon this earth. (McGee)

48 This signified the complete reinstatement by Elohim. This was clearly God s work, with no help from man: HIS forgiveness, acceptance, AND restoration to a position of privilege (Cf. Isa 61:10). I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

49 God s ultimate plan is for all of His people to be a kingdom of priests. This is a theme throughout the old and new testaments. (Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6.) We must keep in mind also that the High Priest of Israel is a foreshadowing of the ultimate High Priest who is the representative of spiritual Israel, all believers. He indeed is Qodesh layhvh, holy and righteous, and God looks upon Him for our covering of righteousness. That is mind-blowingly remarkable!