Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20090503.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Zechariah: Paving The Path Toward A Blessed Future
Part II: Encouraging God's People About The Coming Messianic Kingdom, Zechariah 1:6-6:15
D. God's Encouraging Forgiveness That Qualifies Us For Blessing
(Zechariah 3:1-10)
  1. Introduction
    1. The blessings God wants to give to His people can only arrive if their sin has been forgiven.
    2. This truth is symbolically taught in Zechariah 3:1-10, the fourth night vision of the prophet Zechariah:
  2. God's Encouraging Forgiveness That Qualifies Us For Blessing, Zechariah 3:1-10.
    1. Following God's first three visions to Zechariah that had predicted God's blessings on Israel, and of Israel's need to be motivated to obey the Lord to experience these blessings, a fourth vision in Zechariah 3:1-10 is given on overcoming the problem of Israel's failure to heed God, and thus to know His blessings!
    2. The Day of Atonement focused on the removal of Israel's sins, and in it the high priest would appear before the Lord first for the removal of his own sins (Lev. 16:3, 11), and then for the removal of Israel's sins, Lev. 16:5, 15. In line with this pattern, Zechariah 3:1-7 illustrated the cleansing of the high priest's sins, and Zechariah 3:8-10 spoke of the final cleansing of Israel prior to her Messianic Kingdom blessings:
      1. God revealed the need for and the cleansing of sin in high priest Joshua's own life in Zechariah 3:1-7:
        1. In the fourth vision, Joshua the high priest (Ezra 5:1-2; Haggai 1:12) stood before the Angel of the Lord, the Preincarnate Christ (Zech. 1:12-13) with Satan at his right hand to oppose him, Zech. 3:1.
        2. We know from Zechariah 3:2 with 1 John 2:1 and Revelation 12:10b that Joshua was guilty of personal sin, so Satan stood there to accuse him that God might punish and not bless him!
        3. In Joshua's defense, the Preincarnate Christ interceded for Joshua, rebuking Satan, claiming God had rescued him from judgment, Zech. 3:2. This intercession was necessary, for Joshua stood in God's presence clothed in "filthy" garments ("filthy" in Zech. 3:3 is from tsoah, i.e., "excrement" that would horrifically defile especially the high priest, Merrill F. Unger, Zechariah, 1974, p. 59).
        4. An angel standing before Joshua urged that his soiled garments be removed, and the Lord replied He had cleansed Joshua from his iniquity, and would re-clothe him with clean garments, Zechariah 3:4.
        5. Zechariah himself was so moved by this scene, he urged Joshua be given a clean turban upon which was engraved "Holiness to the Lord," Zech. 3:5a; Ryrie St. Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., ftn. to Zech. 3:5!
        6. The Angel of the Lord stood by, consenting and supporting this cleansing activity, Zechariah 3:5b,c!
        7. God then announced that Joshua would heed Him, He would give him (1) long (2) rule over Israel in his temple work and (3) access to God with heaven's angels , Zech. 3:6-7; Ibid., Unger, p. 63.
      2. God revealed the need for and the cleansing of sin in Israel for her Messianic blessings, Zech. 3:8-10:
        1. As the high priest's cleansing was followed by Israel's representative cleansing through his ministry on the Day of Atonement, God indicated Joshua's cleansing prefigured Israel's future national cleansing, Zech. 3:8a. ("men wondered at" is better "men of prophetic portent", Ibid., Unger, p. 64)
        2. Indeed, God would bring forth Messiah as the Davidic "Branch," the Lord Jesus Christ viewed in reference to His first coming in His humble humanity (Ibid., Ryrie, ftn. to Zech. 3:8), Zech. 3:8b.
        3. However, since Israel would reject Christ at His first coming, Zechariah 3:9a presents Him at His Second Coming as the Stone Who judges the nations (Dan. 2:44-45) with perfect insight (7 eyes, Zech. 3:9b), a Stone engraved with the priceless marks of His death by which He atones (Zech. 3:9c) and so can remove Israel's sin in a single day, Zechariah 3:9d; 12:10; 13:1; Ibid., Unger, p. 67.
        4. So, due to her cleansing, Israel will experience God's messianic blessings, and every man will invite ("call") his neighbor to join him under his vine and fig tree, Zech. 3:10; Ibid., Unger, p. 68.
Lesson: God's blessings are available for us to experience, but ONLY if our SIN is forgiven by God.

Application: (1) May we confess our sins that God might forgive and cleanse us from all sin that we might be blessed, 1 John 1:7, 9. (2) Thus cleansed, may we (a) walk rightly in our personal lives (Zech . 3:7a) (b) and in our ministry assignments (Zech. 3:7b) (c) that we might enjoy long influence with others and an effective prayer life (Zech. 3:7c) and (d) fellowship with other godly folk (Zech . 3:10).