The priest in filthy clothes

I’m fairly new at Medium, but I may have found a kindred spirit, another Bible Nerd. The Bible is so rich in meaning and fascinating stories. And too many people never read them or get a chance to hear about them.

Here’s a very short one, an account of a vision given to the prophet Zechariah.

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

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. — Zechariah 3:1–5

The priest stood before a holy God, the Lord of the universe wearing filthy clothes. Dirty diaper filthy. Satan stood to accuse him, but never had the chance. God silenced him before he could say a word.

But even though God refused to hear any accusation against him, Joshua had a huge problem, and he couldn’t do a thing about it. As high priest, he stood before God as representative of the entire Israelite community. All Israel had a huge problem, and not a one of them could do a thing about it. It’s called sin.

God made a covenant with Israel it had wonderful promises if Israel lived up to the spiritual standards of the covenant and a frightful curse if they adopted the behavior of the people around them instead. They adopted the behavior of the people around them instead: idolatry, greed, oppression of the poor by the powerful, lewd and promiscuous sex, and worst of all, child sacrifice. The curse fell and Israel was exiled to Babylon.

Very soon, God returned them to Jerusalem, cured of Canaanite practices, but not cleansed from sin.

Having silenced Satan, God commanded, “Take off his filthy clothes.” He did not command Joshua to take them off. Joshua was powerless to take them off, just as we are powerless to take off our own sin. Jesus bore our sin (and Joshua’s, and Israel’s) on the cross. That’s what was required to take off Joshua’s filthy clothes (and give him a bath!)

God commanded the same angelic beings to put clean clothes on him. The prophet was so moved by the vision that he asked them to give Joshua a clean turban, and they did.

So why does this vision matter now?

First, Satan is the accuser, but God won’t let him accuse believers.

Second, God accepts and cleanses repentant sinners.

Third, God’s people, represented by Zechariah, do not judge anyone else’s filth, but participate in restoration.

Sometimes Christians side with Satan instead of Zechariah when they recognize a sinner. We should repent and become agents of redemption for the penitent.

This story is excerpted from a post that appeared on Grace and Judgment.