Zechariah 3:1-10--A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

Zechariah 3
English Standard Version

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest
3 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.”

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In this vision, the LORD defends Joshua the high priest against the accusations of Satan and takes away Joshua's iniquity and clothes him in clean garments (the righteousness that belongs to the LORD, not based on our works).  From head to foot, Joshua is clothed with a clean turban and clean garments.  The angel of the LORD (that is Christ) is standing by to defend him or execute judgment against him the entire time, based on the LORD's judgment and command.

Then the angel of the LORD speaks to Joshua (speaking for the LORD), saying, "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 you the right of access among those who are standing here."  That is an amazing promise.  It would appear that Joshua had committed some kind of iniquity that we would assume would be disqualifying for him as high priest or any kind of priest for that matter, but the LORD has taken it all away, forgiven it and given Joshua a fresh start.  Joshua is supposed to walk in the LORD's ways from this day forward and live up to the responsibility of being, the manager, overseer, and protector of the Temple, the priesthood, and the spiritual wellbeing of the nation and people of Israel.  The LORD promises him unfettered access like the angels that were there before the LORD if Joshua would keep the conditions of the covenant. 

Then Joshua and all the priests with him are told they are but a sign of one who is coming who is greater than all of them--the one called the Branch that was promised in the book of Isaiah.  The LORD (at least in this vision) set up a memorial stone before Joshua that represents that fact that God sees everything (seven eyes, as the number seven is a number of holiness, perfection, and completion--like the seven days of creation and the Sabbath day being the seventh day that belongs to the LORD).  Joshua apparently needs a reminder of the LORD's watchful eye to keep him from sin but also to remind Him that the LORD sees everything he is going through and will reward him in the end.  The eye of the LORD is something that brings fear to those who are rebellious and wicked, but it brings comfort to those who belong to Him and are obedient and entrust themselves to His judgment, protection, and provision.