Joshua Clothed with Filthy Garments - Zechariah 3:3

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “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. And the LORD said unto Satan, the LORD rebuke you, O Satan; even the LORD that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”, and in chapter three and verse three of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments” where we read,

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

The verse reads, “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “now Joshua” or “at this time Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation and was the high priest of Israel” “was clothed” which means “was wearing, dressed and arrayed” “with filthy garments” or “by the use of excrementtitous and soiled treacherous and deceitful raiment and vestures”. Zechariah shared how the “chief priest” “Joshua” wore treacherous soiled raiment. 

The verse continues, “... and stood before the angel.” Zechariah added the words, “and stood” or “and remained, endured and continued” “before the angel” which means “in front, in the presence and in the face of the spiritual messenger and envoy”. Zechariah shared how “Joshua the high priest” continued in the presence of the spiritual messenger. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how the “Joshua the high priest” was not only arrayed with “soiled raiment”, but he also “stood” in the presence of the spiritual messenger. We shall see what happens to “Joshua” in our next verses, but for now, let us realize that we all stand before God in sinful array which is why He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and cleanse us from the “filthy garments” of sin and the world which have been put upon us. 

Next time Zechariah shares how the angel says, “take away the filthy garments from him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".