Zachariah 3 – God is for His people

In Zachariah 3, we arrive at the fourth of the prophet’s eight visions. The first three visions were given to encourage the builders, but this fourth vision, along with the next one, is intended to encourage the leadership of Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel.

In this vision, Zechariah sees Satan accusing the high priest Joshua of being unclean, implying that the people he represents are unclean as well. The insinuation is that after their long exile in idolatrous Babylon, they are rendered unfit to enter God’s presence. Essentially, Satan is suggesting that the people are wasting their time rebuilding the temple, as their impurity means that any sacrifices offered there would not be acceptable to God.

However, God responds to this accusation by affirming that He has not abandoned His chosen people. Although their exile in Babylon was a punishment for their sins, God has now delivered them. He has rescued them from their enemies, brought them back to their land, and cleansed their sins. Now, He is restoring the temple and re-establishing its priesthood.

In verses 6-7, Joshua and his fellow priests are admonished to remain faithful to God in fulfilling their duties in the new temple that He will entrust to them. By doing so, they are not only standing in God’s presence without fear of Satan’s accusations but are also playing a crucial role in preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. The restoration of the priesthood is a sign that assures the people of the fulfillment of God’s promise.

The Messiah is referred to as the “Branch”, a title deeply rooted in Messianic prophecy. Verses 9-10 introduce a specially engraved stone to be set in the temple, serving as a poignant reminder of the Messiah’s redemptive work. His mission is to cleanse the land of sin and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity, where everyone will be invited to sit under their vine and fig tree.

It is so reassuring to know that God will not abandon us. It encourages us to always turn to Him no matter how badly we feel about our guilt. His grace and mercy are always available. After He has dealt with us, He will deliver us from their predicament despite our past. Obedience and commitment to God are two critical requirements if we are to experience the completion of His plan in our lives. This passage also assures us of the era of peace we will have with Jesus, the Messiah.