Night on the cleared temple platform in Jerusalem: a plain altar of rough fieldstones with its last embers glowing red and a thin line of smoke, the dark broken skyline of the ruined city beyond, under a calm deep-blue sky with a few stars.

Eight night visions

Zechariah 3

Does your past still stand beside you, accusing?

10 verses≈ 3 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1:1–6Return to MeA call to turn, in Darius’s second year
1:7–6:8Eight night visionsHorses, horns, a lampstand, a scroll, a basket, chariotsChapter 3
6:9–15The Branch crownedA crown for Joshua, and the Branch who builds
7–8Fasts to feastsJustice and mercy, and joy in Zion
9–11Your King comesThe King on a donkey, and the Shepherd rejected
12–14On that dayThe pierced One, the fountain, the LORD King

The Vision of Joshua the High Priest

Zechariah

Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

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God

And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you!

God

Close on a single charred stick lying on a hearthstone, a thin line of smoke still rising from one end, beside the gray ash of a burned-out fire.

Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

Zechariah

A priest seen from behind, standing alone on worn stone paving at night, his long linen tunic stained and soiled dark from hem to shoulder and no turban on his head, before a tall column of soft white light.

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel.

The angel of the LORD

So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!”

The angel of the LORD

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”

Zechariah 3:4

Zechariah

Zechariah

Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by.

Question

Quick question

Think back over verses 3 to 5 before you answer.

What is Joshua’s filthy clothing a picture of?

God

Then the angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, then you will govern My house and will also have charge of My courts; and I will give you a place among these who are standing here.

God

God

Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.

God

Evening on the cleared temple site: one great squared foundation stone of pale limestone set alone on the bare platform, its faces plain and smooth, long shadows across the stones, a calm sky above.

See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

0:13

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

God

God

On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, you will each invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’”

Pray

LORD, the accuser has a long list against me, and You have rebuked him. Take off my filthy clothes and dress me in what You give. Then let me walk in Your ways.

You’ve experienced

Zechariah 3

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A verse to carry with you

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”

Zechariah 3:4

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