he restoration of the church. (1-5) A promise concerning the
Messiah. (6-10)
Verses 1-5: The angel showed Joshua, the high priest, to Zechariah, in
a vision. Guilt and corruption are great discouragements when we
stand before God. By the guilt of the sins committed by us, we
are liable to the justice of God; by the power of sin that
dwells in us, we are hateful to the holiness of God. Even God's
Israel are in danger on these accounts; but they have relief
from Jesus Christ, who is made of God to us both righteousness
and sanctification. Joshua, the high priest, is accused as a
criminal, but is justified. When we stand before God, to
minister to him, or stand up for God, we must expect to meet all
the resistance Satan's subtlety and malice can give. Satan is
checked by one that has conquered him, and many times silenced
him. Those who belong to Christ, will find him ready to appear
for them, when Satan appears most strongly against them. A
converted soul is a brand plucked out of the fire by a miracle
of free grace, therefore shall not be left a prey to Satan.
Joshua appears as one polluted, but is purified; he represents
the Israel of God, who are all as an unclean thing, till they
are washed and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by
the Spirit of our God. Israel now were free from idolatry, but
there were many things amiss in them. There were spiritual
enemies warring against them, more dangerous than any
neighbouring nations. Christ loathed the filthiness of Joshua's
garments, yet did not put him away. Thus God by his grace does
with those whom he chooses to be priests to himself. The guilt
of sin is taken away by pardoning mercy, and the power of it is
broken by renewing grace. Thus Christ washes those from their
sins in his own blood, whom he makes kings and priests to our
God. Those whom Christ makes spiritual priests, are clothed with
the spotless robe of his righteousness, and appear before God in
that; and with the graces of his Spirit, which are ornaments to
them. The righteousness of saints, both imputed and implanted,
is the fine linen, clean and white, with which the bride, the
Lamb's wife, is arrayed, (Re 19:8). Joshua is restored to former
honours and trusts. The crown of the priesthood is put on him.
When the Lord designs to restore and revive religion, he stirs
up prophets and people to pray for it.
Verses 6-10: All whom God calls to any office he finds fit, or makes
so. The Lord will cause the sins of the believer to pass away by
his sanctifying grace, and will enable him to walk in newness of
life. As the promises made to David often pass into promises of
the Messiah, so the promises to Joshua look forward to Christ,
of whose priesthood Joshua's was a shadow. Whatever trials we
pass through, whatever services we perform, our whole dependence
must rest on Christ, the Branch of righteousness. He is God's
servant, employed in his work, obedient to his will, devoted to
his honour and glory. He is the Branch from which all our fruit
must be gathered. The eye of his Father was upon him, especially
in his sufferings, and when he was buried in the grave, as the
foundation-stones are under ground, out of men's sight. But the
prophecy rather denotes the attention paid to this precious
Corner-stone. All believers, from the beginning, had looked
forward to it in the types and predictions. All believers, after
Christ's coming, would look to it with faith, hope, and love.
Christ shall appear for all his chosen, as the high priest when
before the Lord, with the names of all Israel graven in the
precious stones of his breastplate. When God gave a remnant to
Christ, to be brought through grace to glory, then he engraved
this precious stone. By him sin shall be taken away, both the
guilt and the dominion of it; he did it in one day, that day in
which he suffered and died. What should terrify when sin is
taken away? Then nothing can hurt, and we sit down under
Christ's shadow with delight, and are sheltered by it. And
gospel grace, coming with power, makes men forward to draw
others to it.
he restoration of the church. (1-5) A promise concerning the
Messiah. (6-10)