If You Are Filthy Stand Here

Zechariah 3:3-4
(3) Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. (4) The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

In this passage, Joshua is a high priest. A high priest was the leader of other priests and led out in priestly business at the temple. The job of the high priest entailed symbolically carrying the sins of the whole community of Israel into the temple as he sought forgiveness on behalf of Israel.

To work at the temple as a priest required a very high-level relationship with God. One had to be holy. An obvious sinner could not even be an ordinary priest, leave alone being a high priest. A high priest was a living example of holiness. Jesus is our high priest in the heavenly sanctuary (temple), Hebrews 2:17 and Hebrews 4:14-15.

Zechariah chapter three begins with a scene where Joshua the high priest of Israel is standing before the LORD (meaning God), Zechariah 3:1. Satan was also standing nearby to bring accusations against the spiritual leader of Israel. Satan had accusations against the best believer, so to speak, in Israel. Satan had accusations against the representative of people before the LORD.

Zechariah 3:2 God rebukes satan for being merciless enough to bring charges against Israel. God rebukes Satan for daring to accuse Joshua who seemed to have come for God’s favor and mercy. God expects us to be sympathetic and loving as opposed to fault finding which is satan’s occupation, Revelation 12:10.

Our text today tells us that Joshua the high priest was dressed in filthy clothes. This contradicts his role as an exemplary spiritual leader. This also means that the entire community of Israel that he represented was filthy and guilty. This was a spiritually desperate situation. The best among God’s people and even God’s people themselves were filthy and guilty!

Genesis 3:7-8
(7) Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
(8) Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

When Adam and Eve found themselves filthy and guilty, they ran away from God. They went to hide away from God. Filthy and guilty people run away from God. They run to hide in being too busy. They run to hide in family responsibilities. They run to hide in racial and tribal circles. They run to hide in pleasure. They run to hide in alcohol and drug abuse. They run to hide in wealth. They run to hide among friends, etc. The solution has never been where men and women run to.

Adam and Eve were only helped when they stood before the LORD God! Joshua was assisted from his filth and guilt because he stood before the LORD. The worst among us will have hope if they stand before the LORD. If you are filthy stand before the LORD!

Are you filthy and guilty? Are you a stranger in the place of worship because of carelessly skipping worship? Are you guilty of immorality? Are you a hater, a super hater? Are you a revenge seeker who never forgives and mercilessly punishes others? Are you a thief? Are you a murderer? Are you a sex pervert? Are you filthy and guilty? If you are filthy and guilty stand before the LORD!

1 John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:10
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

If you are filthy and guilty, stand before the LORD and He will have mercy on you, while the opportunity lasts. Dear God, here we stand, we are filthy and guilty, have mercy on us, forgive us and bless us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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