Zechariah 3 (Listen)

3:1 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. 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?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 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.” 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.

And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, “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. 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. 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.”




Devotional:

The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! May the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2)

Did you notice that Satan was ready to accuse the high priest, but God did not allow him to speak? God stopped him before he even got started. God’s grace spared the high priest from condemnation. This is a welcome reminder that God has redeemed us from the fire of sin and cleanses us. The blood of Jesus covers our sin completely, as if it had never occurred; there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:3). Rather than fear judgment, we can thank God for covering us with His righteousness. What is a good way to show the Lord your appreciation?  

Pray It: Father, thank you for removing my sin from me so that no accusation from the evil one can stand. When I am tempted to despair by his darts of accusation, remind me that you neither accuse nor condemn me because you have put my sin upon my Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Share It: Who can you share a verse or thought from this passage with today?