RESOLVE?
I said, “Soon as the year begins,
I must get busy, for I don’t know when
The Lord will come and call me home.”
In the Spring, I tried to find the time,
To serve the Lord, but I was so far behind
In other things, the Lord just had to wait.
In Summer, what with vacations and all,
The Lord could surely wait ‘til Fall;
I’d have lots of time then.
God was good to give us Fall,
With its colors and harvest and all.
If I’d had a chance I’d have served Him then,
But I just HAD to put Him off again.
Winter’s so cold, it just doesn’t inspire
Service, when it’s so nice by the fire.
But soon as the weather permits it, I’m sure
I’ll start serving God and doing lots more.
If the Lord delays His coming!
fcc
7.1.06
A Little Extra Effort
We have chosen this as the first 'Sermon Of The Week' in hopes that it will set the theme for all our lives in the year ahead.
However faithful we may have been in days past, we can all put out--
A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT
Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Introduction: Paul expresses his desire to put forth that extra effort needed to win the prize. Those who are crowned as champions in any endeavour have all put forth more than ordinary effort.
I. The extra effort of reaching out in the Lord's service.
A. It takes self discipline.
1 Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
B. It takes consecrated determination
1 Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
C. It is easy to quit
1. Israel said, "It is wearisome"
Mal 1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
2. Peter decided it was easier to switch sides than stand on at least two occasions
Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
Mat 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mat 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.
Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
3. Demas decided money was more important.
2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
4. Some determine that the battle is too tough for them
John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him
(Every man who hides in a foxhole or runs during a battle makes it harder on those who stand and fight.
II Some who did put forth that extra effort
A. Samson - He waited until the very end of his life but when he put forth the extra effort he slew more of the enemy than he had in all his life. Think of the powerhouse he might have been, had he not waited.!
Judg 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Judg 16:29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
Judg 16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
B. Esther - She made an extra effort even though she placed her life and personal privileges on the line. Result: She saved her people, Israel. (See Book of Esther)
C. David's three strong men -
2 Sam 23:8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
2 Sam 23:9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
2 Sam 23:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
2 Sam 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
2 Sam 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
D. The extra effort of prayer
Luke 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
E. The extra effort of giving
Rom 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
This was a 'special' offering over and above their regular tithes (tenths)
III The rewards of extra effort
A. We are blessed with gladness and favour with all people
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 2:47a Praising God, and having favour with all the people........
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Churches grow as souls are saved
Acts 2:47b And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
However faithful we may have been in days past, we can all put out--
A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT
Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Introduction: Paul expresses his desire to put forth that extra effort needed to win the prize. Those who are crowned as champions in any endeavour have all put forth more than ordinary effort.
I. The extra effort of reaching out in the Lord's service.
A. It takes self discipline.
1 Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
B. It takes consecrated determination
1 Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
C. It is easy to quit
1. Israel said, "It is wearisome"
Mal 1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
2. Peter decided it was easier to switch sides than stand on at least two occasions
Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
Mat 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mat 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.
Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
3. Demas decided money was more important.
2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
4. Some determine that the battle is too tough for them
John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him
(Every man who hides in a foxhole or runs during a battle makes it harder on those who stand and fight.
II Some who did put forth that extra effort
A. Samson - He waited until the very end of his life but when he put forth the extra effort he slew more of the enemy than he had in all his life. Think of the powerhouse he might have been, had he not waited.!
Judg 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Judg 16:29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
Judg 16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
B. Esther - She made an extra effort even though she placed her life and personal privileges on the line. Result: She saved her people, Israel. (See Book of Esther)
C. David's three strong men -
2 Sam 23:8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
2 Sam 23:9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
2 Sam 23:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
2 Sam 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
2 Sam 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
D. The extra effort of prayer
Luke 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
E. The extra effort of giving
Rom 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
This was a 'special' offering over and above their regular tithes (tenths)
III The rewards of extra effort
A. We are blessed with gladness and favour with all people
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 2:47a Praising God, and having favour with all the people........
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Churches grow as souls are saved
Acts 2:47b And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Zechariah 3
Zechariah
Chapter Three
This chapter continues the theme of the 'good and comfortable words' towards Jerusalem.
Their return and restoration after the Babylonian captivity is typical of their restoration at the return of Christ.
V-1. Joshua the High Priest. Zech 3:1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
It is certainly meaningful that the high priest at this time is named Joshua, which is the Hebrew version of the name.'Jesus' , the High Priest who shall preside over the restoration of the Temple in the millennium. That this is a picture of Christ will become even more clear in a later chapter.
A. He represents the spiritual side of Israel at that time while the political side is represented by Zerubbabel. Hag 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
B. He is a direct descendant of Aaron through Eleazer and his father Jehozadak had been among the captives carried away into Babylon 70 years before. 1 Chr 6:15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
C. Three principle 'Joshuas' in the Bible.
1.Joshua the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, who led Israel into the promised land.
2. Joshua the High Priest ,who was a leader in the restoration of the Temple.
3.Both these are types of Jesus, our 'Joshua' who will restore all things. and lead us into the millennial reign.
D. Satan stood ready to resist as he always tries to hinder God's people in their work.
V-2. The Lord rebukes Satan. Zech 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
A. We haven't the power to rebuke him ourselves. Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
B. The Brand plucked out of the fire is Israel. Amos 4:11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
They had been cast into the fire of punishment and plucked out by the mercy of God. Shall Satan be able to destroy those on whom the Lord has showered mercy?
V-3. Joshua's filthy garments. Zech 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Their sin in the past had been their defiling of their worship. Garments of the High Priest typified the condition of the people. This had led to the captivity in the first place. Mal 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Mal 1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
Mal 1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
Vv 4-5. God will now clean them up and accept their worship. Zech 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Zech 3:5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isa 62:1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Isa 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Isa 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
Isa 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
Vv 6-7. Zech 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
Zech 3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
The Lord promises them another Temple and a chance to walk in honor among the nations
V -8. Zech 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
Joshus and his brethren are types or signs as ; Ezek 12:11 Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.
Ezek 24:24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
A. The BRANCH is a definite prophecy of Christ Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
V - 9. Zech 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
The new priest is to have a new breastplate; one which has but one stone. After all ,He will represent ONE people before God. The Redeemed! Our High Priest IS our access to God.
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
A. Seven eyes - Complete knowledge of all that transpires in his kingdom. Zech 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
This is the all-seeing Lamb of Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
V -10. Zech 3:10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
This is the time prefigured in the Feast of Tabernacles. It took place after the year's labor was done and was a time of sending gifts and rejoicing. For Israel, it will be the very first time in all their history that they shall be free from worry about attack from some quarter.
Chapter Three
This chapter continues the theme of the 'good and comfortable words' towards Jerusalem.
Their return and restoration after the Babylonian captivity is typical of their restoration at the return of Christ.
V-1. Joshua the High Priest. Zech 3:1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
It is certainly meaningful that the high priest at this time is named Joshua, which is the Hebrew version of the name.'Jesus' , the High Priest who shall preside over the restoration of the Temple in the millennium. That this is a picture of Christ will become even more clear in a later chapter.
A. He represents the spiritual side of Israel at that time while the political side is represented by Zerubbabel. Hag 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
B. He is a direct descendant of Aaron through Eleazer and his father Jehozadak had been among the captives carried away into Babylon 70 years before. 1 Chr 6:15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
C. Three principle 'Joshuas' in the Bible.
1.Joshua the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, who led Israel into the promised land.
2. Joshua the High Priest ,who was a leader in the restoration of the Temple.
3.Both these are types of Jesus, our 'Joshua' who will restore all things. and lead us into the millennial reign.
D. Satan stood ready to resist as he always tries to hinder God's people in their work.
V-2. The Lord rebukes Satan. Zech 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
A. We haven't the power to rebuke him ourselves. Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
B. The Brand plucked out of the fire is Israel. Amos 4:11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
They had been cast into the fire of punishment and plucked out by the mercy of God. Shall Satan be able to destroy those on whom the Lord has showered mercy?
V-3. Joshua's filthy garments. Zech 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Their sin in the past had been their defiling of their worship. Garments of the High Priest typified the condition of the people. This had led to the captivity in the first place. Mal 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Mal 1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
Mal 1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
Vv 4-5. God will now clean them up and accept their worship. Zech 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Zech 3:5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isa 62:1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Isa 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Isa 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
Isa 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
Vv 6-7. Zech 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
Zech 3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
The Lord promises them another Temple and a chance to walk in honor among the nations
V -8. Zech 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
Joshus and his brethren are types or signs as ; Ezek 12:11 Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.
Ezek 24:24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
A. The BRANCH is a definite prophecy of Christ Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
V - 9. Zech 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
The new priest is to have a new breastplate; one which has but one stone. After all ,He will represent ONE people before God. The Redeemed! Our High Priest IS our access to God.
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
A. Seven eyes - Complete knowledge of all that transpires in his kingdom. Zech 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
This is the all-seeing Lamb of Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
V -10. Zech 3:10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
This is the time prefigured in the Feast of Tabernacles. It took place after the year's labor was done and was a time of sending gifts and rejoicing. For Israel, it will be the very first time in all their history that they shall be free from worry about attack from some quarter.
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