My Plucked Firebrand (Zechariah 3:1-10, Matthew 22:1-13)
Rev. William L. Barron, February 12, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Joshua in this book is the priest mentioned by Ezra in the postexilic era, not to be confused with Joshua, the successor to Moses. Satan, the accuser and adversary was standing at Joshua's right hand in Zechariah's vision. Joshua was clothed in filthy rags, a sewer of pollution, standing before the angel of the Lord. Joshua represents Israel. His question likely was, "Will God ever receive us back?" The answer is in the vision. The angel declared for new vestments to be put on Joshua. This is forgiveness along with a call to ministry; it is a picture of election. Indeed, Satan's accusations are true; Joshua was not fit. However, the angel shows the grace of God by His love. Joshua was chosen as those in Christ are chosen to be adopted as sons (Ephesians 1). Jerusalem, or the children of God, are the brand plucked from the fire. They are not damaged or consumed, but they are singed. They, and we, have been forgiven, but we also need righteousness. Those in Christ are declared righteous. This is the picture of the people in white robes described in Revelation 7. Their righteousness before God was purchased by Jesus' sacrifice; a righteousness imputed, not infused. The clean turban harkens back to Aaron's turban with a headpiece reading, "Holy to the Lord," or set apart for a special ministry. All of us are set apart in some way for service given by God. Matthew 22 warns us not to refuse invitations to the wedding, or to kill the messengers who bring the invitation. At the wedding, those responding well were given an expensive banquet and new garments. The garments symbolize belief, not works. Next, Zechariah sees a special blessing embodied in four words: servant, branch, stone and seven eyes. The branch is the king from the root of Jesse. The stone represents the rebuilding of the temple, or the church of God's people. The seven eyes represent the all-seeing Holy Spirit (Revelation 5). Thus, we see the blessing of Christ, the servant, branch, stone and the Holy Spirit in us. Having been cleansed, we serve.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « A City Without Walls | None | By My Spirit, Says The Lord Of Hosts » |
Zechariah 3 (Listen)
3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.
6 And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”
(ESV)
Matthew 22:1–13 (Listen)
22:1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
(ESV)