PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Zechariah 3-4
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” (Zechariah 3:4)
God’s chosen servant is being accused by Satan, but God defends him.
In these two chapters we see how God stands up for his loved ones.
The high priest Joshua (Hebrew for ‘the Lord saves’) represents us.
We are God chosen servants, set apart by grace to represent God in the world.
But Joshua (Hebrew name for Jesus) also represents the coming messiah.
Through Jesus, the sin of the land is removed in a single day (Zechariah 3:9).
Because of Jesus, we our sin has been taken away, and we’ve been clothed in God’s love.
These words encourage me as I remember the Lord is defending me like this too.
I may struggle as the Lord’s servant, but I am not struggling alone.
The Spirit of the Lord is oil that keeps me burning when I feel weak.
I carry on “not by might nor by power, but by (his) Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6)
God does not see my flaws and failures; through Jesus he sees me clothed in goodness.
My weak efforts look like “fine garments” to him, because he sees Jesus in me.
I take no credit for any of this; the Lord is my strength and my defender!
PRAYER
Lord, sometimes I wonder that you keep working me me. Thank you for standing by me, when I struggle to stand by you. Thank you for being my strength and defender!
“See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” My sin, my filth, will be washed away – and then I am made ready to serve just as the light is sent out throughout the world in all directions. Jesus is the one who is ‘the branch’ the one who wiped away all the filth of sin – the one by whom I am saved. Help me Lord not to be confused but to serve – even when I don’t understand!
Satan is real ready at all times to challenge people to follow Him. Yet like Joshua, we are made clean by the grace of God through the blood of His Son, I need to walk in that SonShine this day obeying His Word. This is only a possibility when I accept His leading. Jesus Saviour pilot me.
Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.