Garments Of Grace (from 31 Days of Encouragement – Laura)

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, SATAN! INDEED, THE LORD WHO HAS CHOSEN JERUSALEM REBUKE YOU! IS THIS NOT A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE FIRE?” 3) NOW JOSHUA WAS CLOTHED WITH FILTHY GARMENTS AND STANDING BEFORE THE ANGEL. 4) AND HE SPOKE AND SAID TO THOSE WHO WERE STANDING BEFORE HIM SAYING, “REMOVE THE FILTHY GARMENTS FROM HIM.” AGAIN HE SAID TO HIM, “SEE, I HAVE TAKEN YOUR INIQUITY AWAY FROM YOU AND WILL CLOTHE YOU WITH FESTAL ROBES.” 5) THEN 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, WHILE THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WAS STANDING BY. Zechariah 3:1-5

A life-changing vision. An enemy rebuked. A Priest transformed. The result? A liberating change of garments portrayed by the prophet Zechariah in the third chapter of his book. Joshua the High Priest (who represents Jerusalem – God’s chosen people) is standing before the angel of the LORD with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. This position belongs to a prosecutor in a courtroom. Satan is always ready to devour and condemn. But God says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The Lord rebukes Satan, reminding him that Jerusalem is the “chosen” of God. Grieved by her sin and having punished her people with 70 years of captivity, Jehovah God has delivered His people out of this fiery trial as His very own possession; Satan has no power over God’s chosen. Those of us who belong to Christ are like a “brand plucked out of the fire” (verse 2) by God’s miracle of grace – “the free gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Satan finds himself powerless over those who are in Christ both then and now.

“Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel” (verse 3). These garments are a symbol of sin and are “polluted by the flesh” (Jude 23). Notice that Joshua is standing before the angel of the LORD even in his filthy garments of sin. We can embrace the wonderful truth that God looks on us with eyes of grace even in our mixture of sin and wrong motives. He hates our sin but does not destroy us because of His grace. At the angel’s request, the filthy garments are removed from Joshua (the chosen) and he says to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes” (verse 4).

What an incredible trade! Filthy garments of sin and fleshly rags of self-righteousness for festal robes of the High Priest. These new robes are expensive, beautiful and made of clean, white fine linen fit for a bride. Pure garments represent the blood of Christ poured out at Calvary for the chosen, His bride. God did not abandon Joshua in his nakedness after He stripped him of his garments but cleansed and clothed him in garments of salvation – garments of grace. “He has clothed me with garments of salvation; He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10).

Can you say with Isaiah that God has clothed you with garments of salvation? Have you put your faith in the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ resulting in salvation? You are one for whom Christ died! Are you surrendering daily to His choice of clothing for you? Have your garments been changed? Come as you are. Let the Holy Spirit of truth speak to your heart, show you your nakedness apart from Him and wrap you in His garments of grace.

“For the robe is of God that will clothe your nakedness. And the robe is His Grace; it’s all you need, come as you are.” Wes King