Joshua’s Challenge – Zechariah 3:6-10

Joshua’s Challenge!

Text: Zechariah 3:6-10

Priesthood is all about SERVICE, and the Lord is going to speak to Zechariah about serving Him, HE WILL PREACH A CHARGE TO JOSHUA and he will use His own service as the supreme example…

The Challenge 

1. The Charge to God’s Priesthood!

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; This is one of those occasions in the Bible, where God makes a demand of His people then promises to honour them when that demand is met. “If you will … then I will…” To live in a happy relationship with God will mean walking in His ways, obeying Him!

• True Service means OBEDIENCE to God! If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge. This is the first aspect of any charge to any of God’s people! We MUST learn the lesson of obedience to the Lord. Like Joshua, we must learn to be faithful to God and to walk in HIS WAYS! 1 Kings 2:3
• True Service implies OVERSIGHT for God! then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts. Here is part of our priestly task and responsibility, to be:-
  • A Judge in GOD’S KINGDOM! God’s house in this context means God’s people. Numbers 12:7, Hebrews 3:2, Hebrews 3:6, 1 Cor. 6:2-3 You will sit with God in judgement over the world!
  • A Keeper of the Lord’s Courts! Now in Jerusalem, the Lord’s courts, physically speaking, are in ruins! But think of the challenge that will bring! To build up the Lord’s Church, to be a builder in the kingdom of the Lord, to be a keeper in His Courts!
• True Service brings OPENNESS in Our Christian Walk! and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. Who exactly are those who are standing by, and where are the places, where Joshua is being allowed to walk. Could it be that as a reward for faithful service, God will give us opportunities to be scrutinised by others? To have others examine our lives as we walk with Him?

2. The Characteristics of God’s Priesthood!

Zechariah hears in his vision, the Lord addressing Joshua, and those who serve with him…

• The Significance of the OT Priesthood! thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: The OT priesthood were signs, types, pointing to the Saviour! And as if to show just to whom those priestly signs of the OT were pointing, we now see:-
• The Saviour of the Priesthood of Believers! for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. Zechariah now introduces the One whom God will give as a Gift to His People. He refers to that coming One as HIS SERVANT, THE BRANCH. In the OT there are 4 mentions of the Lord Jesus as THE BRANCH, and each of them presents the Lord in the way that each of the four Gospels will later do! Let me show you:-
  • The Branch is a ROYAL KING! Jeremiah 23:5   That’s the overall message of Matthew!
  • The Branch is a SERVANT of God! 3:8   That’s the message of Mark!
  • The Branch is FULLY MAN! 6:12   That’s the message of Luke!
  • The Branch is FULLY GOD! Isaiah 4:2   That’s the message of John!

The word BRANCH is in capitals is most translations, and its is so because it is a title of Christ! The OT priesthood, flawed and imperfect, is to give way to One who would be the Great High Priest! Hebrews 10:11-12

• The Stone of the Priesthood of Believers! 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. Now again we have another reference to the Messiah. He is the   STONE! 2:20 …   1 Peter 2:4   Now notice the condition of this stone in Zechariah :
  • It is a stone with EYES! An alternative rendering would be a stone with FACETS. There is an indication here of the PRECIOUSNESS of Christ!   1 Peter 2:6-8  
  • It is a stone with ENGRAVING! The promise of the coming of the Messiah, the Branch, and the salvation which will come along with Him, was a sure promise, for it was written in stone. Isaiah 49:16
• The Salvation of the Priesthood of Believers! and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. What a glorious, wonderful promise! What God has just done for Joshua, He is going to do for others as well! In ONE DAY God will remove all the sin from His people.

The OT priesthood lived in OT Shadow… we live in the light of the NT! Christ HAS come, are we pointing men to him, as they did? Are we living priests, showing the way to God?

3. The Contentment of God’s Priesthood!

In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. Here’s a miniature picture of paradise! Perfect peace and perfect provision! The blessings of the Kingdom of heaven, known by the blood bought and blood washed people of God, are far too good to keep to yourself, so you have to share them! We call upon all of our neighbours to join us in this land of God’s blessing, to march to Zion with us and to dwell in heavenly glory with us! Psalm 23:5-6.  

For further study: Consider the use of clothing in relation to salvation in the New Testament: Matthew 22:11-14, Lk 15:22, Gal. 3:27, Col. 3:10, Rev. 3:4-5, 7:14, 19:7.