Zechariah 3 describes a vision of a heavenly courtroom. Joshua the high priest is standing before a judge with Satan ready to accuse. Joshua is wearing filthy garments, personally desecrated and unfit to offer sacrifices for the people. We tend to think of Satan more as a tempter than an accuser, but accuser is the primary reference in Scripture. 

Satan accuses us of being sinful and unworthy of God, which is true. Just like Joshua, our garments are stained with sin and iniquity. We also have an accusation problem from the world and ourselves. The world accuses Christians as being naive and superstitious fools. Our own hearts accuse us of failing to measure up and not being worthy of God’s love. But God is a merciful savior.

The Lord clothes sinners in his righteousness.

Before Satan can even accuse Joshua, the Lord rebukes him and then replaces Joshua’s filthy clothing with clean and holy garments. He is then assured of acceptance and charged to walk in God’s ways. He will serve as a priest in the fellowship of the others who also have access to God.

The way this cleansing will take place is foretold in verses 8 & 9. In time, God will send “the Branch,” who will remove the iniquity of the land in a single day. This is a reference to Jesus as the branch growing out of King David’s fallen monarchy. Rather than a yearly day of atonement, Jesus offered himself once for all on the cross to pay for sin.

Taking It Home: Trust God over all the accusers in your life. Live into the righteous garments Jesus gives you. Pray for your conscience to be healed and help you walk in the right way.