Clothed
- Leon Mazin
- Jul 27, 2023
- 3 min read
Shavei Tzyon | Return to Zion Congregation
Haifa, Israel
Zechariah 3:1-5
(v.1) “Then he showed me Yehoshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.”
After 70 years of captivity, forty-two thousand people returned to Eretz Israel from Babylon. This was only a small percentage of the Jews exiled. The leaders of these Jews were Yehoshua the high priest, Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Each leader represented a separate responsibility in the RESTORATION. Yehoshua (Joshua), the high priest, oversaw the Temple – the place of the glory of God being revealed. Zerubbabel was the politician, the leader of the nation. Ezra was the man restoring the tradition of the Scriptures and looking for ways to return Israel to the path of faith. Nehemiah oversaw building and supplies.
Many enemies and circumstances opposed them. The four leaders were exhausted by their efforts. To be able to continue to restore Israel they needed their souls restored. The prophet Zechariah was commissioned by the Lord to go and encourage these leaders.
(v.3) “Now Yehoshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.”
In Hebrew the word filthy is even more extreme than the English, with the connotation of human waste. Even a minister can become soiled by burnout, constant criticism, gossip, spiritual crisis, temptation, family circumstances, etc. This is a word of severe caution for ministry leaders today!
(v.4) “The angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Remove his filthy clothes.’ Then he said to Yehoshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.’”
How important it is to hear these words of Zechariah not only to the high priest, but also to each of us whose garments become soiled from day to day life, from our own filth or even others’. Everyone makes mistakes. The right thing to do is to get help and address the mistakes and the sins.
Those around must be careful to not act as an “accuser of the brethren.” YET THE LORD HELPS. Peace and justification come from Him alone, as in the case of Yehoshua the high priest.
[It is interesting to note that the name Yehoshua (Joshua) and Yeshua (the name of our Messiah) are the same name in meaning. Yeshua the Messiah is also our High Priest, the leader of the New Testament priesthood. He, too, was clothed in “filthy garments” when he took upon Himself the sins of mankind and became the sacrifice. Then He was justified and exalted in glory above every position on earth and in heaven. In Him is our purification and justification.]
(v.5) “Then I said, ‘Put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.”
A hat, crown or turban symbolizes one’s calling in life. Everyone has their own. Everyone, fulfilling their own calling, completes the divine puzzle of deliverance, which one day will be revealed on earth. You should not wish for the calling of another. It is important to fulfill your calling and do what the Lord calls you to do. Yeshua the Messiah helps each of His disciples in this.
I pray for our walk and righteousness before God, for pure garments and the fullness of His calling for everyone! Peace and grace to you in Yeshua the Messiah.
